"But I'll still find the Dectus Medallion. It's always good to have another way."
With this good news, Frieren's plan became clearer in her mind. She heard the other piece was in the Caelid region, which wouldn't affect her itinerary. It was a perfect fit.
The premise was to occupy the Academy.
The road to the Ancient Ruin precipice isn't easy. If the areas along the way aren't under control, it's easy to be cut off.
Even if the Academy is occupied, it's just conquering the most solid fortress in this region. To truly pacify monster spawn points, cave dungeons, and rebuild the people's strength will take a long time, no easier than managing the Limgrave region.
Rya said excitedly, "I look forward to Your Majesty's visit."
"By the way, you talked so much about your home earlier, but things don't stay the same, right? Is there any special news from Volcano Manor recently?"
"If I had to say, it would be that a monster claiming to devour gods has arrived from outside the Lands Between..."
"What does it look like?"
Frieren raised an eyebrow, a bad feeling arising within her.
Rya made an exaggerated circle with her hands as she described, "It's a huge blob of black slime, crawling around the volcanic zone. There's a person on top of it who uses magic. Although it looks weird, it's very strong and is an honored guest at Volcano Manor."
"That person on top is an unlucky soul it hasn't completely devoured yet."
After hearing this, she confirmed it was the Lord of Cinder, Aldrich, also known as the Saint of the Deep—a difficult fellow to deal with.
You're here too!
As expected, the vitality of the Lords of Cinder is stronger than imagined. They can be burned more than once and can even reshape their bodies.
Moreover, back then, Frieren had taken the First Flame into herself and carried it away from a decaying world, so they weren't actually burned too severely.
Ultimately, she had used her accumulated power to forcibly burn them, which was equivalent to taking the place of the burning the Lords of Cinder were originally supposed to experience. Therefore, they should still retain significant combat strength.
It's best to annihilate scum like the Saint of the Deep.
Furthermore, through the 'Item Sharing Module,' she could summon a precious treasure from an Undead's account: the Soul of Gwyndolin.
Devoured but not properly digested. In any case, Gwyndolin, as a god, wouldn't die so easily.
Previously, Frieren could only capture the Lords of Cinder and use them as kindling. Now, her proficiency in soul sorcery had advanced further. Coupled with a wondrous Great Rune, she might be able to rescue his soul, or even help it devour the Saint of the Deep in turn.
She would remember this for now.
"...Um, Your Majesty, Rya and I should probably get going. After all, Volcano Manor still needs to be contacted."
Patches wiped the sweat from his forehead and forcefully pulled Rya, making to leave. Otherwise, if they continued to be questioned like this, wouldn't everything be exposed?
For example, if Frieren learned that the demigod Rykard was of a similar nature to Aldrich, his extermination priority would surely be raised.
He wanted a bit more peace and quiet, unwilling to attract the 'plague god' too early.
Frieren nodded. "I won't force you to stay. Then, let's meet at Volcano Manor later. Take care, everyone."
Receiving her reply, Patches quickly slipped away.
Actually, she had guessed that the situation at Volcano Manor was likely dire, but she couldn't intervene for the time being. So, whether she knew the details or not didn't matter much.
"And you?"
The shrimp boiler stared curiously at the silver-haired girl. In his view, an ambitious Shardbearer Lord would most likely attack the Academy in a hurry, and her next answer was indeed as expected.
"I need to take care of the Academy as soon as possible. After all, Eastern Liurnia is still in a standoff."
"Respected Your Majesty, we'll meet again if fate allows."
Frieren summoned her Spirit Steed and rode off. This rare gathering had been a decent rest. Since she was now refreshed and revitalized, it was time to press on with vigor.
If they wanted to count on the Blessed King's army to retreat, it would only happen if the Academy had already changed hands.
Otherwise, that fellow would likely dig in at the Grand Lift and not budge, possibly even launching an offensive against the Southern Army. Her side had to win a swift victory to protect them.
...
North of the Liurnia Highway, the temporary camp at the Watchtower was bustling with activity.
A group of battered and bruised scouts were carried back, most of them on the brink of death. Clearly, the enemy was strong. These were all elite soldiers, yet they had suffered such heavy losses.
"It's the Night's Cavalry. Be careful," the scout leader reported. "The Blessed King's army shows signs of advancing."
At the same time, the Watchtower released Stormhawks. These eyes in the sky continuously scouted the ground, coordinating to track the movements of large armies around the Grand Lift.
However, they could easily miss scattered units, especially since the Night's Cavalry often possessed combat power comparable to heroes, making even a lone rider troublesome.
The situation was not in their favor.
No one knew if the Blessed King's army would advance on a whim. Although they hadn't even passed the Frenzied Flame Village yet, if they wanted to, with the quality of the Royal Capital Army's soldiers, this distance wouldn't be an issue.
Within the camp, there was no shortage of wounded soldiers groaning in pain, yet most remained steadfast and committed to their duties.
The next reserve scout team was already armored and mounted.
Even knowing the danger, they couldn't afford to lose control of the forward areas, especially since they also had to guard against a sudden westward push into the lake region.
The captain shouted loudly, "We cannot entrust our fate to a false king who has sat idly in the Royal Capital for millennia, achieving nothing! We must seize our own destiny! These Lands Between should belong to Her Majesty Frieren! The winds of revival have already swept out of Limgrave!"
"Advance!"
Inside the commander's tent, Commander Edgar received a stack of bloodstained reconnaissance maps, among which was a ground defense layout of the Grand Lift area, delivered by scouts at the risk of their lives.
However, his expression grew increasingly grim, because the types of troops involved were terrifying enough on their own.
Was there any point in fussing over specific deployments?
They were facing the likes of Gargoyles, Tree Sentinels, Ancient Dragon Cultists, and high-ranking Leyndell Knights... If they attacked, there was an eighty percent chance they wouldn't be able to hold.
The remaining twenty percent chance lay with the Abyss Watchers. At this moment, they stood at the camp's perimeter like a wall, leaning on their swords and gazing into the distance. The Lord of Cinder, the Abyss Watcher, sensed the aura of war and was poised for battle.
His presence served as a backbone for everyone, as he was a powerhouse capable of contending with demigods.
"Unfortunately, the difference in quality between our armies is too great."
Seeing Edgar's worried frown, the ancient hero Samir beside him consoled, "Back in our day, we experienced their solid foundation in warfare. Don't expect to win a decisive victory in a field battle. Maintain surveillance and defend. Be prepared to retreat."
"The enemy is also scouting. If we show any signs of retreating, they will enter the lake region and pose a threat to Her Majesty."
"Although I'd like to say her personality enjoys fighting against groups, that probably doesn't align with a soldier's duty. You need to make choices, Edgar. Preserve your strength when necessary."
"Of course."
He drew a line at the end of the Liurnia Highway of the Lake.
"Thanks to the advantage of the road, this is the limit for rapid support radiating from Stormveil Castle. Assume a defensive posture here. We must hold back the Blessed King's army and then wait for Her Majesty to determine the outcome."
Liurnia Lowland Valley, the path to the Ancient Ruin precipice.
The Volcano Manor group tread through dense vegetation, advancing through a mineral ruin. Around them were numerous mine shafts created by years of excavation, as well as haphazardly placed abandoned minecarts.
Desolate and gloomy.
A long time ago, the Altus Plateau and Liurnia were connected by a massive mine shaft, comparable in height to a Divine Tower, climbing up the rock face. This also became a vulnerability under the watch of Leyndell, the Royal Capital.
"Every time I walk this way, it's exhausting." Patches wiped the sweat from his forehead. "And monsters attack at the drop of a hat..."
"With Lady Frieren's personality, she will definitely cleanse this place thoroughly later."
Upon hearing Rya's words, he sighed.
That person's temperament would never pass up an opportunity to grind monsters for levels, and she especially detested monsters that holed up in mountains, obstructing ecological recovery.
When the time came, she would most likely reorganize the entire mine shaft area. This would also mean controlling another route to the Altus Plateau, placing it under surveillance.
How did I not know before that you possessed the qualities of a king, and a competent one at that? Can a Lord of Cinder also become a reigning sovereign?
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a Stormhawk flew across the sky. Its massive wingspan and majestic demeanor were unmistakable as it bathed in the sunlight, its pair of sharp eyes locking onto the mine shaft.
It tilted its head curiously, then flew resolutely towards the enormous rock face supports of the ancient ruins.
It didn't enter, to be cautious, but still got a general look.
The next moment, the Stormhawk changed direction, glanced at the Volcano Manor group, and then departed with satisfaction, speeding towards Stormveil Castle.
Its flight altitude was high enough to be beyond the reach of most magic, and coupled with its small, agile body, it was an excellent aerial scout—an advantage for the Southern Army.
"The Stormhawks have pledged allegiance to the new master of Stormveil Castle. It seems Frieren listened to your words and immediately sent a scout to investigate."
Rya nodded in gratification.
In her eyes, she had helped a friend, while Patches couldn't be bothered to fuss over it. This route would be exposed sooner or later anyway.
"Speaking of which, scouting is just a quick glance?"
"Yes, because the real scout and main force has always been her herself. Just confirming the general location is enough. It's like a gourmet saving the best delicacy for themselves, to be savored slowly alone."
While they were chatting, they unexpectedly discovered a migrating group not far away, just a few hundred people, with families in tow.
The existence of scattered settlements nearby wasn't a secret. The issue was that these people weren't dejected.
Rather than fleeing as refugees, they seemed more like they were seeking refuge with someone, and they warily avoided the group.
"Where are you all heading?"
While asking, Patches didn't forget to offer some Runes as a toll for directions, showing goodwill to the village chief.
"Generous friend, we are, of course, heading north of Liurnia, to Carian Manor."
"Although there are indeed some noble manors there, it's hardly a place for long-term peace and stability, is it? It might even face war."
"We don't know. We just heard that Carian Manor has become a bit livelier. War Counselor Iji received some nobles and issued a call. He probably reached some agreement with the Soul Lord of Cinder. We believe Liurnia will get better, so we're setting off first. If worst comes to worst, we'll go south."
"Just because of that?"
"Yes, that's enough. Hope is very important. At least it can prevent us from turning into Hollows... But it doesn't matter much anyway, the healing magic will soon spread to the lake region."
The village chief said this with heartfelt anticipation.
What was leaving home? They had experienced it many times. The key was to have hope, something long absent.
Before the Southern Army truly controlled this place, hope had already conquered the people's hearts, drawing them towards it.
"You all believe in Frieren?"
"That's right."
"She's really an enviable fellow. Clearly a magic fanatic, yet she's living more and more righteously." Patches was full of emotion, finally offering a blessing, "Then, have a safe journey. Your belief is correct."
The two groups, who had met by chance, bid each other farewell and then set off on their respective journeys.
The Volcano Manor group looked at each other, all feeling that events were developing rapidly. So, the Carian Royal Family was making a move?
Even the Moon Princess behind them intended to truly intervene in the situation? Could it be an alliance? Wasn't Frieren, the Tarnished, afraid of the Two Fingers' matter?
Thinking carefully, the two of them indeed had much in common: both were sorcerers, both were demigods, and both wanted to reclaim the Academy.
In any case, upon entering Liurnia of the Lakes, she felt that the world had been turned upside down. She had to report back as soon as possible.
They quickened their pace.
Before the Academy's main gate, the sun shone brightly, and iron hooves moved back and forth between the defense lines.
This place had been fortified into an impenetrable bastion. In addition to the original magical coven, magic knights, and puppets, the Cuckoo Knights had also joined, assembling nearly all the mobile field forces of the lake region.
Moreover, the Academy of Magic had always been renowned for its defenses. With their support, they felt more confident.
Even so, they weren't at ease. Many even had worried expressions, as they had just received news: small skirmishes had broken out between the Southern Army and the Royal Capital Army on the Liurnia Highway.
It was truly bustling. Regardless, the claws of two behemoths had reached in.
"Everyone, stay alert! Strengthen the guard!"
Nerves taut, everyone patrolled the perimeter of the entire defense line, staring in all directions, especially at the water surface and the forest.
If an attack were to come, the paths would inevitably lead through these two areas, so they had to be defended to the death.
Swoosh!
Suddenly, a Death Rite Bird emerged from the clouds in the sky, its skeletal form sending shivers down their spines.
What was happening in broad daylight?
Then, the next moment, they witnessed the silver-haired girl appear on the bird's back. She then allowed its talons to hook her clothes, suspending her upside down, headfirst, aiming her staff's tip towards the ground.
This peculiar posture added a touch of eeriness. Why?
In any case, this was the signal of an all-out offensive from a demigod—not one who had been enfeoffed as a monarch, but one who would conquer and reign through sheer force.
"Enemy attack! From directly above! Everyone, prepare—"
It was too late. Immediately after, Frieren's staff bloomed with purple magic, and with a hum, it enveloped the main gate.
The magic of a converted Gravity Ash of War.
Everyone present felt their bodies suddenly lose weight, forcibly pulled into mid-air by a suction force.
It was gravity magic, and its output efficiency was incredibly high, covering the entire front defense line in a single strike, without exception.
They struggled in the air to no avail, like drowning people screaming desperately, yet unable to resist while captured by the purple magic.
Even sorcerers skilled in academics didn't know basic gravitational attraction could be used this way. How did she come up with it? Attacking from directly above and destroying them in one blow?
The next moment, everyone realized in despair that Frieren had deliberately cut off the output.
"Fall."
It began to rain from mid-air, and the raindrops were the guards of the entire defense line, crashing down one after another.
The first person to fall was dazed and disoriented. Then, as more fell on top, the one beneath was instantly crushed, their internal organs rupturing.
This cycle thoroughly destroyed the defending troops, without even causing much damage to the fortifications.
They could actually fight like this!
So it was possible to fight this way?
The approach to magical tactics Frieren demonstrated was so shocking it was like a slap in the face to the Academy's conservatism. They had never imagined gravity could be used in such a manner.
Just the simplest round of attraction and release had left hundreds of people dizzy and disoriented from the fall.
Sorcerers were frail; such an ordeal nearly robbed them of their combat ability. The heavily armored warriors fared even worse.
As they made intimate contact with the ground, their rigid armor caused a secondary impact, their internal organs suffering severe shock and vibration.
On the ground lay people wailing, scattered haphazardly, in a miserable state.
They had profoundly experienced the demigod's powerful magic, but more importantly, as fellow sorcerers, her unfathomable insight. How could an ordinary person conceive of using gravity magic in such a way?
However, some survivors still managed to struggle to their feet, attempting to reach the ballistae to shoot down the enemy.
But it was useless.
Immediately after, they discovered in despair that Frieren was concentrating her magic while hanging upside down as the Death Rite Bird flew at high speed.
Loretta's Greatbow!
Though it was a charged attack, in the silver-haired girl's hands, it was fired shot after shot, like falling stars. The rate of fire, accuracy, and destructive power were all impeccable, easily destroying large siege weapons.
How was she aiming under these conditions?
The top-tier combat proficiency Frieren displayed was equally terrifying, sufficient to handle any battle environment.
Her arrows stopped after destroying the weapons. Now, there were almost no means left to threaten the enhanced, super-high-speed Death Rite Bird. But everyone knew the next wave of attacks was coming.
Then, the unadorned yet inherently insulting Demi-Human Queen's Staff began to glow brightly.
Glintstone Icecrag.
The attack, imbued with a strong frost aura, surveyed a radius of a thousand meters. The attack range of a single spell actually stretched across an entire line, freezing the guards stationed there one by one.
Just like that, hundreds more ice statues filled the Academy's periphery.
Because Frieren wasn't here to slaughter. People were different from monsters, after all. So, she held back slightly; neutralizing their combat ability was fine.
That was why she had to conquer it personally. If she had dispatched a large army, it would easily have resulted in a Pyrrhic victory with huge losses on both sides.
The surviving commander of the Cuckoo Knights struggled to his feet and looked around. It was all ice sculptures; they were completely useless.
"You're all a bunch of trash!"
There was no time for complaints. He watched helplessly as the Death Rite Bird released its talons, and the silver-haired girl drifted down, landing steadily before the gate.
She didn't arrive directly before the sealed gate but chose an open and honorable approach, symbolizing absolute conquest.
...
"I've heard of you. One of the few who must be killed."
Hearing this, the Cuckoo Knights' commander's heart sank. He tightened his grip on his longsword and immediately activated the Endure Ash of War.
He had to survive the first wave of attacks and wait for more survivors to get up before trying to maneuver...
Crack!
Suddenly, an extended Carian Piercer penetrated his armor, accurately striking his heart, killing him instantly. He was stunned, black blood trickling from the corner of his mouth as he fell, his pupils dilated.
Even in death, he couldn't understand why the enemy's magic was so fast.
The few people nearby who had just gotten up were instantly shocked. It was too terrifying.
The power Frieren displayed at this moment wasn't due to any special bloodline or talent, but purely due to fundamentals so solid they were unfathomable. Even the simplest magic could be endlessly varied and couldn't be underestimated.
No wonder she was currently the most famous collector of sorceries. She didn't just gather them; she mastered and integrated them.
"Don't even think about passing."
"Just an outsider, a barbarian sorcerer."
Facing these targets who were struggling to resist, Frieren easily subdued them with a few Glintstone sorceries, knocking them all unconscious.
It wouldn't be too late to deal with any remaining resistance after taking control of the Academy of Magic. Anyway, she had gone through the same routine at Stormveil Castle once already.
She looked at the Death Rite Bird in the sky and instructed, "I'm about to enter the Academy. Have Stormveil Castle dispatch an army to take over. Secure advantageous positions first. Set out as soon as you receive the message."
Upon hearing this, it quickly changed direction and flew off at full speed towards its destination.
Spirit Ashes enhanced by soul sorcery possessed greater intelligence and superior overall strength, making them more than capable.
According to the original plan, a troop was already on standby in the city, and Teacher Sellen would also arrive with them.
All preparations were complete.
Frieren released a wave of magical perception and found that some people were simply lying on the ground playing dead, while some guards at the main gate had chosen to retreat deeper inside to defend.
In their eyes, the attacking demigod possessed enough firepower to annihilate an entire city and couldn't be confronted directly.
Ultimately, the Academy wasn't a military organization; it specialized in academics. Although sorcerers naturally possessed some combat ability, they couldn't compare to a regular army.
At critical moments, they often relied on forces like the Cuckoo Knights.
And now that the commander of the knights was dead, their morale had naturally plummeted.
However, to be cautious, she still unleashed a few blasts of pure magical shockwaves, making sure these individuals fainted before she approached the gate.
The moment the Glintstone Key made contact, the seal actively dispersed. It didn't destroy the structure but rather, after being dispelled, opened an entrance... A good design, worth referencing as a sealing sorcery.
Frieren stepped inside.
What greeted her eyes was a castle of spires, ancient and dignified, solemn and august.
If Stormveil Castle gave the impression of a super fortress standing tall amidst a storm, full of oppressiveness, then the Academy was mysterious and tranquil, prompting one to contemplation.
She liked this special research environment.
"I should immediately plan a route after activating the Site of Grace, explore every corner of the Academy for treasures..."
"Wrong." Melina, knowing her partner was prone to getting lost in exploration, immediately appeared. "The priority is to quickly suppress the Academy's resistance. Anyway, once you control it, you can still get those collectibles. Besides, you have no other choice now."
Swoosh swoosh!
A barrage of Glintstone Comets rained down, covering the spot where the silver-haired girl stood. This volley consumed more than half of the sorcerer group's magic, the sound shaking the surroundings.
However, they discovered that a ripple effect easily deflected the magic.
Frieren, who was becoming increasingly proficient with Thops's Barrier, could seamlessly transition between actively relying on the barrier and passively on a light wall.
Both had reflective effects, and she also had countless other failsafe defensive measures.
Dealing with this level of attack was simple.
"If I keep fighting my way in alone, it will indeed be rather troublesome. Let's speed things up."
With a crisp ring of the Spirit Calling Bell, a dozen or so spirit ash combat units materialized.
If one had seen Frieren's spirit ash legion before, they would definitely be shocked by its completely different appearance now:
The weakest wolf pack and noble undead were more than two sizes larger, even more robust, exuding a strong sense of oppression.
Weren't those piercing gazes an expression of a soul? How was that possible? It was nothing short of a metamorphosis.
Unlike the scavenged necromancy found in the Lands Between, this seemed like an entirely new form, akin to the legendary Death's Guard Knights under the Prince of Death.
Not only that, the summoning continued.
Actually, Frieren had been contemplating creating temporary spirit ashes for some time now. This was the perfect opportunity.
Summon Lobster Soldiers!
______________
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