Mmm!
The energy stirred by the teleportation across the Land of Shadow was immense, appearing in Frieren's eyes as a channel of flowing light.
At that moment, the Mimic Tear had already entered the Spirit Calling Bell, while Florisaxx and Melina clung to her from the left and right, ensuring they weren't thrown off by the speed of the teleportation. Fortunately, it was relatively stable.
This was mainly because the Tarnished, who could use the Grace, was actively holding the teleportation open.
If she hadn't known a bit of spatial magic, there's no telling where they would have been flung. After all, teleporting multiple people is far more difficult than teleporting one, but it was worth the attempt.
They weren't actually using the Grace.
Instead, they were taking the opportunity to try and reconnect to the slumbering Empyrean's cocoon from the plains of the Land of Shadow, using the mark Miquella had left behind to counter him.
Crack!
The continuous sound of space shattering indicated the plan was viable. At the same time, Frieren also saw the sealing barrier—a gray-black curtain, but it had been torn with numerous gaps by the Sunlight Spear and was on the verge of collapse.
As for Miquella's bewitchment attached to it, it had also dimmed considerably.
Her own psychic protection had grown stronger still. With one side waxing and the other waning, it was naturally no problem.
"Just one more step. Get ready."
Before her words faded, Frieren pushed through the spatial barrier in one go, grabbing the only sliver of a spatial anchor point to force the teleport. The stream of light before them vanished, and their bodies gradually became weightless—
They were in the air. Below them was the temple of the Mohgwyn Dynasty. They had returned.
However, she estimated their altitude to be over 300 meters, almost as high as the landmass above Caelid. She would need to use Gravity Magic to offset the fall.
"Please, leave it to me."
A gentle breeze lifted Frieren and Melina. It was Florisaxx, who had transformed into her Ancient Dragon form, her broad back easily bearing the weight of the two.
After a brief jolt, the flight quickly stabilized, and the three passengers felt as if they were walking on solid ground.
"Florisaxx, you can just fly out through the hole."
Following the direction her liege was pointing, she saw a massive opening in the sky above the Mohgwyn Dynasty. It looked like a circular impact crater, its edges lingering with traces of Gravity Magic. One could only imagine how terrifying the power of the original blow must have been—the work of the King.
So this was it. This was the place where the Lord of Blood, who had the corrupted body of a Demi-Human, was defeated, ultimately leading to the Land of Shadow.
At the same time, the long, drawn-out sound of a horn echoed.
Upon seeing Frieren wave a greeting, the garrison of the Bloody Dynasty immediately sent out a signal: Her Majesty has returned triumphant. The long journey in the Land of Shadow had not diminished her spirit in the slightest; on the contrary, she seemed even greater, and had returned with an Ancient Dragon.
It was hard to imagine what Her Majesty had experienced, something that would surely shock the bards. In any case, they just needed to prepare a fitting welcome.
"You should head to Stormveil Castle. The envoy from the city in the sky and Her Highness the Moon Princess are there as well."
"Alright."
After Frieren pointed the way, the Ancient Dragon beneath her beat its wings and accelerated, easily passing through the massive hole in the cavern ceiling with a casual flick of its tail.
The light of the Erdtree shone on their faces, warm and pleasant. The reunion after their long absence was deeply moving. Outside was the land of Caelid, but it was still a crimson-purple expanse, with flowers covering the mountains and plains. When the wind blew, it swept up a kaleidoscope of petals that fell back to the earth like rain.
No one would ever guess that this place was once a hotbed of Scarlet Rot.
Stretched out before Florisaxx was a fertile new land. The aura of the Outer God of Rot had been completely purged, leaving only vibrant life, nurturing new hope and a new future.
From time to time, a patrol of soldiers would run across the fields. If not for some ongoing repair work, skirmishes, and scattered monsters, one might mistake it for a paradise secluded from the world.
The Mimic Tear said with a smile, "You didn't know, did you? This place used to be polluted by Scarlet Rot, but Mother restored it."
"Her Majesty's achievements are truly great."
"It's not that exaggerated. I only catalyzed the growth process of the resilient life here. From now on, the people of Caelid must maintain it themselves."
Looking out, she could see the soldiers waving their banners in greeting.
It was then that Frieren noticed the Redmane banners were nowhere to be seen. Had they been abolished? Ranni must have implemented the strategy she'd mentioned before, to unify everything under the banner of the Lord of Soul and Cinder, erasing the symbols of the past.
So be it.
The banners themselves didn't matter, but if it increased organizational structure, it was a good thing.
The Redmane army alone was insufficient to patrol the vast lands of Caelid, and besides, the other southern nobles wouldn't allow them to monopolize it. Breaking up the old units and reintegrating them was the most suitable approach.
She thought it was nothing remarkable, just a few more castles.
Little did she know, Florisaxx was utterly shocked. An Ancient Dragon's keen senses could perceive the traces left behind by the Scarlet Rot—a power from an Outer God that had plagued the entire Lands Between.
It was on par with the Frenzied Flame in terms of how troublesome it was; neither was a good thing, and the longer they took root, the harder they were to deal with.
And yet, here, it had been completely eradicated.
As effortlessly as when Frieren had healed the valley of the Frenzied Flame?
No wonder she was willing to put so much effort into restoring Midra's corrupted land. How could an ordinary person comprehend the kingly bearing of one who takes the world as their responsibility? Weren't these achievements, built step by step, a form of power in themselves? A single person's will was enough to make the Runes respond in concert with great power.
To be able to defeat Bayle the Dread was truly extraordinary. The more one learned of her, the more one discovered that Frieren was like a thick travelogue of adventures, always revealing new and wondrous passages.
A moment later, the group arrived in Limgrave.
The tolling of a bell echoed from Stormhill, signaling Her Majesty's return. The sound always reminded Frieren of the ancient town of Sellia. Although it brought back unpleasant memories, it also felt strangely familiar, especially when she saw an acquaintance at the castle gate.
Ranni waved a greeting with all four of her hands simultaneously. Even she, usually so cool and silent, showed a hint of irrepressible joy.
The blonde woman beside her had the aura of Lansseax; this time, she was serving as an envoy.
It seemed the negotiations had gone smoothly.
Frieren leaped down from the Ancient Dragon's back and, in the same motion, produced a desiccated dragon heart. Even with its magic completely drained, a hint of the mad dragon's aura could still be felt. It was enough to make even Lansseax show a trace of caution; seeing it in person was still somewhat unnerving.
"As promised, I've done it. You can take this back to report your mission complete."
"The city in the sky will, of course, fulfill its promise. Although it is far from enough to repay Your Majesty's help, let us first present this gift as a gesture of friendship."
An Ancient Dragon Somber Smithing Stone was held up with both hands.
Priceless!
So far, the formidable southern army had only acquired a single one, and that was an offering from the Mohgwyn Dynasty that was ultimately confiscated by Frieren. Back then, Mohg couldn't bear to use it, and now, she couldn't either.
It was the essential material to upgrade a +9 weapon to a +10 god-slaying weapon, rare as a phoenix feather.
Moreover, it required an exquisitely skilled craftsman. Currently, the only one she trusted enough who was qualified was old man Hewg, but he claimed his confidence wasn't high enough and he needed more practice...
"In addition, we will also provide a batch of high-tier smithing stone resources."
A hush fell over the area at these words.
To directly address the southern army's sore spot—was this a decision to completely break with the capital's army?
Realistically speaking, although the power of the Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone was known throughout the world, it was also known that almost no one could forge a god-slaying weapon. Its symbolic value outweighed its practical use; it was better suited as an offering, like with the Mohgwyn Dynasty.
Furthermore, the highest-level weapon Frieren had been cultivating so far was her current +8 Dark Moon Greatsword. Which weapon would she choose to enhance to its absolute limit in the future?
The Dark Moon Greatsword?
Or the yet-to-be-acquired but highly praised Prince of Death's Staff?
Besides, her fighting style wasn't highly dependent on weapons; the key lay in constructing different combinations. In short, the Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone was not immediately useful, but providing a batch of high-tier smithing stones was a different matter entirely.
"Does the city in the sky wish for us to cultivate a force whose equipment is on par with the capital's army?"
Melina asked, her voice laced with skepticism.
Compared to the silver-haired girl whose eyes were shining, she had to be the gatekeeper and ask clearly. No matter what agreement Ranni had reached, it had to be reconfirmed, because the Moon Princess's stance naturally leaned towards the Carian Royal Family, while she stood entirely on the side of the Tarnished.
"These are merely some gifts. How you use them is your freedom. The city in the sky cannot decide where they are placed."
"What is the specific timeline? By what means will they be transported? Is an escort required?"
"The dragons' routes and plans have all been properly arranged."
Lansseax handed a detailed route map to Melina, who silently read it carefully. Only after a moment did she nod to Frieren in confirmation.
"Good."
Unwilling to fuss over various roundabout clauses, she immediately nodded, then looked to the Moon Princess and said:
"Ranni, we've contacted Rellana. She said she will facilitate the reunification of the Carian Royal Family. As for the holy war army, she will do her best to persuade them. I believe we can all work together."
"That's good. But you haven't mentioned the most important thing: did she acknowledge us?"
"What kind of acknowledgement? She didn't swear fealty to me."
"Because we are family, we don't need such formalities... Never mind, I understand. Aunt Rellana has definitely given her approval."
If she truly disliked this successor, another battle would have been unavoidable.
Even if Frieren was technically an external relative by blood, it didn't prevent her from becoming the future leader of the Carian Royal Family in terms of status. Her strength, prestige, and knowledge were all impeccable. In fact, it should be said that they should be the ones actively aligning with her.
To strengthen the new king's Carian background, thereby dispelling the influence of the Golden Lineage.
One wanes as the other waxes. The Golden Royal Family of the past would become today's "Star Royal Family" or something similar, jointly safeguarding the new order. This was Ranni's plan, and Rellana had likely guessed it.
The tacit understanding between family was profound.
Only then did Frieren reply as if a light had dawned: "She approved of our betrothal. Rellana believes we will become the future God and King."
Those who knew her couldn't help but nod, a look of gratification on their faces.
In the past, this obtuse Majesty would probably think for a day and a night without understanding, then stop thinking, forget it, and cast it aside. But now, she quickly realized it concerned their relationship. She had become much more perceptive. Was this a change brought about by the journey to the Land of Shadow?
Previously, she gave off an air of detached, emotionless indifference, only seeming human when she was fighting or collecting.
Now, she seemed to have more attachments, a spark of liveliness added to her emerald eyes.
That was good.
Ranni's only regret was that this change wasn't brought about by her. The witch who could travel alongside the Tarnished was truly enviable; she had, after all, subtly changed her.
She and Melina exchanged a look, and both tacitly moved past the topic.
"It's not appropriate to talk at the gate. Let's go to the main hall. It's a good opportunity for Lady Florisaxx and Lady Lansseax to reminisce."
The servants all began to move with grave importance, quickly preparing food and drink, especially an ample supply of fine wine, with brewing techniques passed down through the long history of the Lands Between and featuring different regional varieties.
Everyone was quite tense, their attention highly focused, their movements fluid and graceful. After all, this was a very important occasion.
At this moment, the concentration of power gathered in Stormveil Castle was simply absurd.
A quasi-king commanding the overall situation, a divine being of the new order and future god, a witch with the blood of the Golden Lineage, the King of the Night created by the Eternal Dynasty, and two Ancient Dragon high priestesses—a total of six top-tier powerhouses.
Even during the Golden Dynasty's peak, it didn't always have such a luxurious lineup stationed in the capital.
A historic moment.
In terms of the core circle of power in the Lands Between, the current Frieren was already no less than a king, especially now that even the Ancient Dragons were frequently showing goodwill.
To outsiders, it looked like she was on the verge of being crowned king.
Today's meeting was held with no secrecy. The news alone would be enough to make a whole host of golden nobles nervous.
However, those actually participating were not so optimistic. Ultimately, strength speaks in the Lands Between. Without conquering all four corners, it cannot be called true rule, and there was still some distance to go. And there was another matter:
"I've heard a few more Crucible Knights have appeared in the capital. They've confirmed that Godfrey is on his way back," Lansseax said, dropping a bombshell.
Florisaxx immediately added:
"The Crucible Knights in the Land of Shadow have also been restless for a long time. Some who were permanently stationed in one area have successively disappeared. Once the seal is broken, they will definitely rally to the capital."
The information from the two Ancient Dragons corroborated each other, basically confirming the news of the First Lord's return.
Hearing this, Frieren merely nodded, her expression as calm as ever, even showing a hint of anticipation. She would have to fight Godfrey sooner or later anyway. She could afford to wait. If he was returning on his own initiative, all the better.
Her two wise consorts, at her left and right hands, looked meaningfully at the dragons.
They weren't just giving away information for free. The subtext was, "Don't think of us as fair-weather allies. We decided to support the Lord of Soul and Cinder even knowing the First Lord is about to return." This was a way of raising their own value and gaining a negotiating advantage.
At the very least, Frieren's team could not underestimate them.
Even if the First Lord were to march with the entire order of Crucible Knights, it would not change the dragons' stance of hedging their bets.
The various powers of the Lands Between needed to give a clear answer: "What is the choice? What is to be done?" A strategic plan was especially crucial.
After a moment of contemplation, Ranni declared: "We will prioritize conquering the Land of Shadow, because Miquella, who is undergoing the ritual to become a god, is a greater threat. Moreover, once successful, the resources of the entire Land of Shadow will be open to us, allowing us to further encircle the Altus Plateau..."
"From a topographical perspective, we can also attack the Haligtree by sea. Ultimately, we will control both snowfields, allowing us to look down upon the capital from a high vantage point and leverage the advantage of magical bombardment."
"—This is our rough plan for the Third Siege of Leyndell."
"Huh?"
Frieren had never heard this before, but she at least understood she should nod at this juncture, even though everyone could see Her Majesty had just learned of it. It didn't matter, as long as Ranni and Melina appeared to have everything under control.
As for the Mimic Tear, who had been stuffing its face since the beginning, it was even more of an outsider.
The king is just responsible for being invincible and conquering all.
So far, Frieren had done this perfectly, so her cluelessness about strategy was not a demerit in the eyes of the Ancient Dragons, but rather a plus. It showed that the southern army had a clear division of labor.
As expected of the Moon Princess's strategy. What they had seen along the way also indicated she had long begun laying the groundwork for the encirclement of Leyndell.
They just hadn't expected the encirclement to be set so wide as to include the snowfields.
"The Haligtree won't be easy to deal with."
As a high priestess who had traveled far and wide, Lansseax offered a word of caution. Even she found it a difficult place; it was easy to defend and hard to attack. The entire structure was like a tall tower planted in the sea. The ocean was its moat, its height its wall—impregnable.
She looked at Frieren and the Mimic Tear. The king and her heir apparent were eager for a fight. No matter what kind of paradise it was, a feud had already been established between them.
Ranni spoke the heart of the entire southern coalition:
"The moment Miquella, the founder of the Haligtree, decided to ascend to godhood, he became a mortal enemy."
"He and his followers must all be eliminated, just as Marika killed the Gloam-Eyed Queen and passed judgment upon the Fire Giants. There is no compromise between us."
"Since the Haligtree was watered with the blood of a pure empyrean, then let the Haligtree soldiers prepare to shed their blood to the last drop to defend it."
Frieren then nodded as well.
Her high evaluation of Miquella wouldn't change; she still admired the leader who created the Haligtree. But which of the Lords of Cinder from back then had she not admired? Factional struggles were a matter of life and death. For the sake of the order of the Lands Between, things had to be done properly.
Melina cautioned, "I agree, but we must be prepared for heavy casualties."
"It's fine. If they resist so stubbornly that you believe we must pay a great price to conquer it, I will burn the Haligtree."
Since the one in charge had made the decision, it was clear that the Haligtree must be conquered.
"Are you really not in a hurry to attack the capital?"
Lansseax had heard some rumors that Frieren was looking forward to facing the capital's army led by Godfrey. She thought it was an exaggeration. Who would want to make trouble for themselves? They would be utterly defeated.
But she was serious.
Although Frieren was unclear on the specific strategy, Ranni had designed it entirely according to her philosophy of leaving the capital for last. This was also equivalent to giving them time to welcome Godfrey, so that the First Lord wouldn't return to be a king without an army.
The Lord of Soul and Cinder wanted to defeat the First Lord leading the entire golden army in a grand and proper battle. Only such a victory would count as true supremacy.
"What magnificent spirit. The Ancient Dragon race looks forward to that day."
Lansseax didn't ask any more. In truth, the information Ranni had revealed was very limited. When the strategy was executed, it would surely be a different matter, with interlocking and precisely integrated parts.
The mastermind of the Night of the Black Knives was now showing the Golden Dynasty her greatest malice.
This time, she wouldn't have to secretly move her meager pieces or rack her brains and even kill herself once to achieve her plan. The strongest quasi-king stood by her side.
"In that case, I should return to report."
Lansseax placed the desiccated heart of the mad dragon into a box and rose, making a gesture to leave.
"Florisaxx, you will assist Her Majesty with all your strength. This will represent the full support of the Ancient Dragon race for the Lord of Soul and Cinder."
"Of course."
The two priestesses nodded in perfect understanding. Theoretically, they were of equal rank and neither had authority over the other, but this time, the former represented the request of the city in the sky, placing a heavy bet for Farum Azula in the new era.
They had to take responsibility for this, to be prepared for being at the center of the storm.
The hosts all bid their farewells, exchanging a few pleasantries with Lansseax and raising a toast, after which she strode out of the main hall.
Whoosh! A gust of wind rose from the ground.
The white Ancient Dragon flapped its wings and soared straight into the clouds, departing as hastily as she had arrived. It was clear she had much to report to her colleagues; every decision from here on would be crucial.
"You're finally done talking. I was about to start my second meal."
The Mimic Tear patted its round belly. It wasn't being gluttonous; life in the Land of Shadow had been too harsh. The revitalized Limgrave was far superior, except for its mana levels.
"Why did the Moon Princess come to Stormveil Castle specifically?" Melina asked, voicing her confusion.
"I came to confirm the seal on the Shadow Erdtree's barrier. If necessary, we can work together to accelerate its decay and lift it sooner."
"You have a way?"
"It's a crude method. It will take some time."
Frieren replied, "Feel free to give it a try. In any case, I need to rest and enter a light slumber for a while. After all, I've just undergone Dragon Communion and accepted the Frenzied Flame. To be safe, I need to make some adjustments."
The addition of any new system deserved her utmost vigilance and study.
What's more, this time she had successively mastered two major systems, Dragon Communion and the Frenzied Flame. Neither was simple; they had both pros and cons.
The power of the Lands Between alone was not enough to regulate them. She needed to return to reality and use her true body's state to fully digest them, which could further strengthen her and augment her capacity as a vessel.
Hearing this, her companions all nodded in agreement. "Your well-being is what matters most."
After all, Ranni, Melina, and the Mimic Tear all knew her situation. She was always on the edge of danger, playing with fire.
The cornerstone of their group couldn't afford any mishaps.
"I'm not going to fall asleep immediately. Let's confirm the situation on all fronts first. Florisaxx, I'll entrust the Dragon Communion legion to you. If necessary, I can perform soul healing to slow their dragonification."
"That's a side effect of an insufficient Dragon Communion ritual. In reality, it can be controlled to a very slow pace... In any case, please leave it to me."
The group immediately began to discuss a detailed plan.
When it came to the specific task of expanding the Dragon Communion legion, Florisaxx took her leave. She first wanted to check on the state of the legacy in the Storm-King's domain after so many years.
After all, Frieren had agreed to allow the spread of the Ancient Dragon faith, an opportunity not to be missed.
She might as well cede some religious control to more easily bind the Ancient Dragons to their war chariot. Besides, this place already had a strong atmosphere of Ancient Dragon worship. With her presence, she could further unify and consolidate their cohesiveness, completely surpassing the south of the Storm-King's era.
She was looking forward to it.
There is no truly desolate land in the Lands Between; even the harshest environments can produce powerful individuals.
Since her own people were present, Ranni explained the details. As she truly began to speak, everyone realized it was far more detailed than the brief mention she had given Lansseax. The Ancient Dragons thought the southern army was in the strategy-formulation phase, but in reality, they were already executing tactics.
It was just that, without a specific explanation, only she knew it was being executed. One day in the future, it would all connect to forge a great momentum.
—A momentum to enthrone the new Elden Lord.
Ranni spread out a map. It was shockingly a composite of the Lands Between and the Land of Shadow, with several of the connecting points being quite impactful.
She said seriously, "Melina, you said you were born at the foot of the Erdtree. We always thought it was the capital. But we were all wrong. Your memory might be from the not-yet-isolated Village of the Venerable."
"By the same logic, there's another path to attack the capital."
_____
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