Frieren's magical senses instantly spread out, bypassing the ruins to lock onto a troll wearing a helmet and mask. Noticing this wary perception, he turned his head slightly before continuing to hammer at the weapon in his hands, sparks flying intermittently.
A blacksmith?
The silver-haired girl leaped lightly from the other side of the ruins, arriving in this northern lake district. The view opened up, wider than before. The most prominent landmark was undoubtedly Caria Manor, its imposing structure undiminished despite the ravages of war.
However, there was a powerful magical reaction emanating from there…
"Iji, blacksmith of Caria, greets the Shardbearer of Limgrave. For what purpose have you come?"
"I heard an acquaintance is here," Frieren said, holding up the Spirit Calling Bell.
"Further ahead lies the royal residence. After the Academy betrayed the Royal Family, they dispatched Cuckoo Knights to set fire to this place, even attempting to slaughter everyone in the Manor. Fortunately, the Royal Family repelled the enemy, and those magical traps are still effective to this day."
"The technique is quite good."
Even without experiencing them firsthand, just based on her mage's eye and perception, she understood the magic surrounding Caria Manor was highly sophisticated, enduring, and powerful.
"Your Majesty is indeed as fond of magic as the rumors say. Most people would shrink away from such energy fluctuations," Iji shifted the topic. "By the way, I am a blacksmith, after all. I have quite a few smithing stones on hand. Care to trade?"
"Alright."
"Couldn't be better. One can never have enough smithing stones."
Having fought her way here, Frieren certainly didn't lack Runes. The key was the merchant's inventory. A closer look revealed it was indeed quite good. The highest quality reached Smithing Stone [4], considered rare in the Lands Between. These stones had almost no fixed sources, dwindling with each use, obtainable only by chance. Thus, she bought his entire stock with her abundant wealth.
Caria was truly rich.
The entire lake region solidified its image of affluence and power; it hadn't disappointed her yet. Or perhaps, coming from the relatively weaker South, she was just easily impressed? She still needed to travel more.
After the transaction, Iji nodded. "Business dealings like this make things simple, enough to understand a person. Constant interrogation would be rather impolite, wouldn't it?"
"So you were using this to gauge me?"
"Your reputation precedes you. Your Majesty is the most powerful demigod in the Lands Between today, the closest to the Elden Ring."
"Ah, I almost forgot to mention, Blaidd referred me here. He mentioned your stronghold north of the lake."
"He has spoken of you to me. Quite unusual for someone who typically keeps to himself. Blaidd must have seen a certain quality in Your Majesty. In that case, allow me to sell you this special talisman as well."
Frieren purchased the rare item without hesitation. What she received was an oval-shaped crest, intricately carved with various patterns and inlaid with gemstones for a finishing touch—regal and luxurious.
[Carian Filigreed Crest]
[A talisman adorned with the royal crest of Caria. Reduces the FP consumed by Skills by 25%.]
[It is said that among the Carian knights of old,]
[only those who directly served the princess were granted this crest.]
[There is currently only one princess—]
[Rennala's daughter, Ranni.]
Undoubtedly a good item. For a mage, talismans reducing magic consumption were crucial, significantly enhancing endurance. Of course, its effect on Frieren was moderate, as she had ample magic power and could replenish it with flasks. It would be nice if a universal talisman mod appeared when I get another large influx of Runes, like in those old games. Stacking multiple effects guarantees explosive damage.
But that was a thought for later. Right now, Frieren was more focused on the Carian Filigreed Crest's description. The princess was indeed Ranni. Furthermore, it seemed to have a rich history, representing a form of honor.
"...Only those who once served the princess were worthy of receiving it?"
"You know!"
It was an ancient tradition, one even Iji had almost forgotten. Yet, unexpectedly, a Shardbearer had hit the nail on the head. Wasn't this awkward now? It could easily lead to strange conclusions. As one of Ranni's trusted confidants, he had been rather careless, making a mistake. Annoying.
Fortunately, she didn't seem intent on pursuing the topic. She solemnly put the talisman away and gazed towards the Manor.
"Thank you, Iji. I need to go to the Manor. I hope I won't disturb you."
"You seek Lady Ranni, don't you?" The blacksmith tightened his grip on his large hammer, speaking seriously. "I hope Your Majesty is a demigod who brings peace. Please avoid causing further trouble."
"Perhaps we'll become allies." Based on previous 'player advice,' Ranni's faction was highly likely to side with the Tarnished. Therefore, Frieren walked towards the Manor openly. This forthright demeanor made Iji take a deep breath.
In truth, he still couldn't see through her. She was unfathomably deep, yet didn't seem like the scheming type—very pure. The aura of someone who had faced ultimate challenges, a profound confidence that nothing could truly harm her, emanated from her. She seemed to be thoroughly enjoying everything the Lands Between had to offer, giving her an imposing yet charismatic presence. No wonder the southern forces had submitted to her so willingly.
Could a rising demigod like her change the fate of the Carian Royal Family?
Boom!
Suddenly, magical traps within the Manor triggered, releasing volleys of magic arrows that rained down menacingly. Just as Iji was about to shout a warning, he saw Frieren raise her Jellyfish Shield, combining it with some unknown force-field magic—deflecting the arrow storm, effortlessly bathing in the bombardment, completely unscathed as she strode forward undeterred.
As expected of a pioneer of soul magic, Iji thought. Such magical mastery is top-tier even across the Lands Between. Having reached the level of a demigod with skills like these, she'll only become more formidable once she claims a Great Rune.
He averted his gaze, refocusing on his forging. "How this destined reunion should be handled... I leave it to your judgment, Lady Ranni..."
Entering the Manor, Frieren found herself in darkness. Seeing this, she immediately cast Starlight, a spell becoming increasingly comfortable to use. Indeed, training her 'Astrologer build' with the inherent powers of the Lands Between felt right.
However, this illumination revealed something unsettling: a multitude of strange creatures. A hand? No, maybe two hands stacked together? Whatever they were, these things were crawling and writhing on the ground.
Hm?
A binding spell triggered resistance and dissipated—it came from a Giant Fingercreeper. But it couldn't breach the layers upon layers of magical defense she couldn't even recall applying. Attacked, she hesitated for a moment but decided to strike back, even within potentially allied territory.
Glintstone Pebble easily crushed a dozen Fingercreepers—making an example of them. The remaining monsters froze, visibly terrified. Frieren seized the opportunity, releasing a wave of pressure, using a mental attack to drive them away.
Once these disgusting things had departed, the Manor finally returned to tranquility. She looked down at the crawling tracks left by the monsters and muttered, "Less of these things, please. They're almost as ugly as Basilisks." The sense of otherness was too strong. What kind of place was the Carian Royal Family's domain to harbor such creatures? There must be many more surprises awaiting discovery.
Iji, guarding the Manor gate protecting northern Liurnia, immediately relayed the news.
Stand down defenses.
Aside from some magical constructs that couldn't be shut down, the Carian knights, noble soldiers, and others were ordered to restrain themselves and not provoke the intruder lightly. After all, Frieren's strength was plain to see; there was no need for rash conflict. She represented not just a traveling Tarnished, but more importantly, someone linked to Princess Ranni's fate—a demigod of significant consequence today.
Stormveil Castle's domain in the South was indeed somewhat weak, but consider it from another angle: which faction currently possessed both a demigod and offensive capability? Leyndell, the Royal Capital, certainly counted. As for the rest? They were mad, crippled, or simply causing trouble within their own sealed lands, decaying further the more they struggled. In contrast, Limgrave and the Weeping Peninsula were rapidly recovering and growing stronger, possessing true potential for expansion.
Caria should align itself with Stormveil.
Iji's orders, acting as strategist, caused the garrison forces within the Manor to actively withdraw, making the place seem much quieter. Frieren, now inside, clearly felt presences keeping their distance, their hostility gone, replaced at most by wariness. Since that was the case, there was indeed no need for a major fight. She enjoyed experiencing the power of magic, but she wasn't a battle maniac.
Continuing deeper.
The silver-haired girl strode swiftly up the Manor's steps, standing atop the old ramparts. Turning back, she could overlook the vast expanse of Liurnia of the Lakes. In its heyday, the Royal Family must have surveyed their domain from here just like this. By the standards of a nation, it should be called the Caria Dynasty, ruling the central-southern Lands Between—a fertile and beautiful land.
"A pity it's another ravaged place. This world is full of magnificent buildings steeped in regret." Having seen so many ruins, Frieren couldn't help but wish for their reconstruction. Otherwise, they constantly gave her an unpleasant feeling of decay—everything withered, bleak, and sorrowful. Only when every region had prosperous and active cities could the Lands Between be considered truly reborn.
"They're actually quite well-off," Melina materialized. "After all, Caria Manor didn't suffer a devastating blow, it's just a bit dilapidated. And there aren't that many corpses."
"Our standards might differ somewhat."
"You'll understand when you reach the walls of Leyndell. Over there, a single arrow could seemingly pierce the city gates, and the ground is littered with deep craters."
"The Shattering War, which wagered the very essence of the world... I will see its aftermath eventually." Frieren might do more than just witness; she would likely become the instigator of the Third Siege of Leyndell. The Blessing-King clearly had no intention of granting passage. Even holding two Great Runes, a great battle would be necessary to gain an audience with the Elden Ring.
How much strength could the current Lands Between muster? Melina doubted it was enough, but she worried more about the Tarnished's safety when the time came.
"We're here!"
Suddenly, a wide area opened up ahead—a meeting hall? A circle of chairs was arranged around a pool courtyard.
"Wait, I have a bad feeling. You should head back first."
As she warned Melina, the silver-haired girl was already rapidly applying a series of buffs: Golden Vow, Vow of Vengeance, Contagious Fury—stacking enhancements that left Melina momentarily stunned. Cautious as ever; despite being so strong, she never forgot her pre-battle buffs.
No sooner had she spoken than the pool began to bubble, projecting the image of a tall female knight clad in silver armor, mounted on a steed. She wielded a war sickle, swinging it with imposing power that generated palpable pressure. It was a magical projection meant for interception!
Royal Knight Loretta had engraved her magical projection into Caria Manor to fend off any external enemies, guarding the path to the innermost core. Until now, she had remained undefeated, unshaken.
Melina instantly recognized the profoundness of this magic. "Leaving behind a projection is a technique akin to a demigod's apparition. Her true self is likely comparable to a divine being."
"But it's just a projection, after all. Unfortunate," Frieren remarked.
"Be careful, Frieren. She's at least a top-tier hero. Fighting her in such a confined space is disadvantageous—"
Too late. At that moment, the tall Royal Knight raised her weapon and, with a light tap, generated Glintblade Phalanx, the spectral swords floating around her protectively. The silver-haired girl, excited by the prospect of a worthy opponent, mirrored the move, yet her summoned blades were more numerous and larger.
"A fellow battle mage type? So, the strong should indeed master all forms of combat."
Hearing this enthusiastic comment, Melina sighed. As expected, the Tarnished was here to experience the Lands Between, not even rushing for a quick victory, deciding instead to use this as a training opportunity. Of course, there were few top-tier heroes left in the world; even a demigod would need some effort to defeat them.
Swoosh!
The opposing Glintblade Phalanges collided first. Frieren's superior blades pierced through the defense, heading straight for Loretta's face. Suddenly, the steed performed an ethereal sidestep, dodging gracefully and elegantly. A pity my own mounted combat skills are so poor, otherwise bringing Torrent would have been appropriate.
Suddenly, the great sickle came crashing down. Powerful and fierce, its edge tore through the air, threatening to steal one's breath. But the silver-haired girl reacted faster, raising her Demi-Human Queen's Staff—Clang!—to block. It was the first time she had used her staff to parry; one would think a mage would cherish it. This sudden block momentarily stunned Loretta.
The opportunity was fleeting. Frieren instantly closed the distance with Carian Slicer, performing a spinning slash at point-blank range. Light tore through the air, leaving a gash on the Royal Knight's armor. If it weren't a projection, blood would surely have spurted. Even so, the powerful magical impact had clearly damaged the projection's overall stability.
Not good, I shouldn't have closed the distance so easily. Her warrior skills are high level. With this thought, Loretta spurred her horse backward. Possessing superior mobility, she easily evaded the ensuing Glintstone Pebbles.
Boom!
Even the simplest spell blasted a crater in the ground, clearly infused with high quality and explosive force. Evading was the right choice. This battle mage needed to be treated with caution.
Frieren, having missed, wasn't discouraged. She began circling, facing off against Loretta, gathering a wisp of purple magic in her staff.
Wait, something was wrong? Loretta sensed an extremely rare but distinctive type of magic.
The silver-haired girl planted both hands on her staff, bent low, and stabbed it fiercely into the ground. The pool instantly transformed into a vortex, exerting a terrifying suction force. Grass and trees were swept up, nearby chairs disintegrated into dust, and the clouds above swirled into a tornado shape—all things converging into one. The roar within the wind sounded like a command, pulling at the target. It was the pull of gravity magic, so powerful that even the formidable Royal Knight struggled to resist.
She held her ground initially—a reaction worthy of a master—but then Frieren raised her staff and made a grasping motion. Loretta, horse and all, was lifted into the air, completely losing her balance.
In that instant, Frieren had already switched to the Grafted Blade Greatsword, bringing it down in a two-handed slam. At this point, Loretta could only choose to meet it head-on with her war sickle. Up versus down, a direct clash. The force was terrifying; the shockwave even tore away a layer of the Manor's wall tiles.
Struck by the blow, Loretta was sent flying backward, horse and rider crashing into the Manor wall with a loud Boom! Dust and water splashed everywhere.
Across the courtyard, Frieren maintained her two-handed downward smash stance with the Grafted Blade Greatsword, clenching her fists as if wanting more, feeling unsatisfied because the latter half of the attack lacked solid impact feedback.
"Did she actively roll away to evade?" Just in that critical moment, had the Royal Knight used a parry-retreat to get to a safe distance? She had even seized the chance to counter-attack; a Glintstone Dart was now embedded in the shoulder piece of Frieren's silver chestplate. However, it hadn't pierced flesh, while her opponent's aura had significantly weakened.
Her first attempt at converting a gravity Ash of War into a spell had been exceptionally effective, catching the enemy completely off guard. Unfortunately, such a move could likely only surprise a strong opponent once. Its wind-up was a bit long, and it required follow-up close-quarters combat. It was probably more suited for clearing mobs in actual battle. No wonder they said Starscourge Radahn's gravity magic was terrifying on the battlefield.
Crash!
Loretta burst free from the rubble that had nearly buried her. Her steed neighed spiritedly beside her, eager for its rider, showing no fear in the face of a strong enemy, ready to charge. She responded to her comrade, swinging herself onto the saddle.
The night was hazy now, the courtyard pool reflecting the pale moon. The Royal Knight raised her war sickle, resonating with the moon and the glintstone light, enveloping herself in a strengthening aura. Her presence became calm again, yet even stronger than before. Though silent, her actions clearly declared, "I will bring forth strength sufficient to challenge a demigod," refusing to back down. In the Lands Between, one could be outmatched in skill, but never lose fighting spirit. The fate of those without spirit was to become Hollow.
Frieren responded by switching back to her staff and Uchigatana, preparing for an all-out offensive, eager for a satisfying fight against a fellow battle mage of her own type.
Swoosh!
The firing rate of Glintstone Pebble reached its apex in her hands, dozens of bolts condensing into beam-like streaks that shot forward with astonishing speed. An ordinary mage would be turned to dust instantly. However, Loretta instantly swung her left-hand shield, its curved surface easily deflecting and scattering the attack. That shield must possess considerable magic resistance, specifically modified.
Not only that, but charging forward with her shield raised, Loretta swung her long, massive war sickle, unleashing magical slashes no less powerful than a full-force Glintstone Arc. If that's how it is, then I'll meet you head-on.
Carian Slicer and the magical slash cancelled each other out. The silver-haired girl moved faster, the length of her sword-light constantly shifting as it bypassed the war sickle to strike the knight's body. But Loretta managed to evade even while mounted, barely dodging the blow.
Frieren raised an eyebrow. The enemy in this battle was special—a battle mage with exquisite horsemanship. Truly eye-opening.
It wasn't over. The next move was unexpectedly a horse stomp, heavy and powerful, crashing onto her blocking blade. The weight difference was too great; this time, she was sent flying back. However, she lightly dispersed the force mid-air and landed unharmed.
Then she saw countless Glintstone Stars—locking onto her. Royal Knight Loretta had held back this move until now. Combined with the pressure from the Glintblade Phalanx swords, she was determined to seize control of the battle's rhythm.
"Good, I didn't want to use large-scale destructive magic here anyway. Let's settle this with the basics."
Identical spells detonated against each other in mid-air, but Frieren held the upper hand. Her speed, accuracy, and quality surpassed the Royal Knight's. Loretta could only rely on her steed's mobility to cover openings, constantly circling her target, waiting for an opportunity.
"Be careful, Frieren. She likely hasn't used all her moves yet," Melina reminded her, as if recalling something. "Loretta's mounted archery skills are quite famous..."
Vwom!
Suddenly, a greatbow materialized in the Royal Knight's hands. This action also directed the stream of stars and the phalanx swords to converge, completely sealing Frieren's maneuvering space. Such an offensive caught even the silver-haired girl off guard for a moment—unexpected.
Use Thops's Barrier? No, these attacks have physical mass.
Block with the shield? No, there are too many.
Bullseye!
In a flash, the massive arrow struck Frieren's figure squarely. The move terrified Melina, her heart seizing. "Why do you insist on using only Astrologer abilities? Use your unique magic system—"
Before she could finish, she clearly saw a purple glow of gravity magic. Frieren had actively enveloped her surroundings with gravitational interference, adding Thops's Barrier for repulsion, completely disrupting the trajectory of Loretta's Greatbow attack.
The arrow landed mere inches away, but for a demigod-level mage, that was enough to remain completely unscathed. The crucial question was, how did she do it?
"Such control... And you're simultaneously maintaining conflicting types of magic? Don't be reckless, isn't that dangerous?"
"I have plenty of conflicting powers within me."
"Combat really does spark some novel ideas. This trip wasn't wasted." Frieren's method was simple; Melina's insight allowed her to guess most of it. Yes, from start to finish, it relied entirely on extreme mana control, understanding of spell properties, and a powerful physical body capable of supporting dangerous experiments. Imagination and magical power were both indispensable. It made one suspect she was perpetually experimenting with new magic—it wouldn't be surprising if an accident occurred one day, yet this was precisely why she was growing stronger so rapidly.
Madness, perhaps only such a person could be invincible outside the Lands Between and still thrive after being summoned here. Melina relaxed slightly.
Conversely, the Royal Knight, whose confident attack had merely left the silver-haired girl slightly dusty, felt a chill in her heart. This is bad. Her opponent possessed seemingly invulnerable combat strength, defending flawlessly, offering almost no openings. Exploiting her magical characteristics was useless because she only used the most basic spells.
Glintstone magic versus Glintstone magic, Carian style versus Carian style—when two paths cross, the braver prevails. They both knew every technique, yet in every aspect, Frieren was stronger.
By now, Loretta had also consumed a large amount of her projection's mana and could only shift to a defensive stance. Consequently, her opponent's oppressive aura suddenly changed.
"Is that all you have to show me?"
"I can feel it. This is probably the end," the silver-haired girl gathered crimson lightning in her hand. "The Lands Between are truly vast. I hope your true self will demonstrate more magic—"
Annihilation Lightning!
The pillar of lightning, carrying soul-searing power, struck the target. As expected of a Royal Knight, she still had the strength to block with her shield, but she was clearly paralyzed, steam rising from her body. She had deflected part of the force, but facing a demigod truly getting serious, in her weakened state, she couldn't fully block it... Where did she go? In an instant, Frieren vanished, reappearing right beside the horse's legs. Carian Slicer struck the warhorse first.
A fatal blow. The powerful steed dissipated into particles of light, its energy gone.
Carrying the momentum, the silver-haired girl advanced again, combining a dashing skill with her sprint to precisely strike the shield.
Clang! The immense recoil sent the shield flying from the dismounted Loretta's grasp, catching her off guard.
However, her other hand didn't slow in the slightest. The war sickle swept horizontally—yet it didn't move an inch. The Ash of War: Storm Stomp pinned the weapon down.
At this moment, Frieren's staff was aimed directly at Loretta's forehead.
________
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