The Full Moon Queen's Glintstone Comet Shard activated first, followed closely by Frieren's Soul Stream.
Boom!
The latter effortlessly annihilated the opposing glintstones, completely overwhelming them. The mere shockwave of the impact forced Rennala back several steps, compelling her to summon creatures once more.
One had to admit Frieren had the upper hand. The Soul Stream, combined with soul magic, was a perfect fit for her, allowing her to wield its power far more effectively than other casters. Once she broke through in a hurry, her aim on the target's position didn't waver.
Thud! A spectral dragon, with its tattered body, barely managed to block one attack.
Its battle-tested form finally fell, but it created an opening for its master to cast. Rennala, relying on combat instinct, dodged a shot and, while maneuvering, attempted to regroup and cast a protective spell on herself.
Frieren, having failed to catch her with the ranged pursuit, immediately changed tactics, conjuring an ice mist to restrict the enemy.
Both combatants, true to their top-tier mage instincts, gradually familiarized themselves with each other's attacks over dozens of exchanges. Their evasion success rate climbed higher and higher, making the fight incredibly close.
What truly decided victory and defeat was their condition.
The Full Moon Queen was currently mostly on the defensive, unable to launch effective threatening attacks. After all, a portion of her mana control relied on Ranni's will, and her own body was gradually tiring, unable to sustain the effort.
In contrast, the silver-haired girl, though injured a few times, recovered more quickly.
Drinking a potion was all it took.
Moreover, she was full of vigor, showing no signs of fatigue. Her bottomless mana pool and combat experience allowed her to maintain high threat with low consumption. The advantage provided by her dual staves established an absolute dominance, the gap widening.
Actually, Frieren observed more than she attacked.
Once in the rhythm of battle, her main focus was predicting the enemy's movements, and besides, she couldn't injure the Full Moon Queen too severely.
She was waiting, waiting for an opportunity to break the equilibrium, but more importantly, to actively create one.
Hum!
The silver-haired girl, wielding two staves, continuously released Ancient Death Rancor, a overwhelming swarm tracking its target, imbued with soul attacks.
Rennala, who had been barely coping, was suddenly thrown into disarray. She had to use all her strength to block, yet was frequently knocked aside by the impacts, unable to maintain a stable output of offensive magic. No, she had to save one Full Moon spell for when the opponent came to her.
Even at a disadvantage, she maintained basic composure, repeatedly maneuvering against the enemy, even unexpectedly using a Carian Greatsword to strike Frieren's armor. So tough, how could a mage wear such thick armor?
In reality, Rennala was now the one who needed to close the distance, as she could see the silver-haired girl gradually falling behind, her offensive zeal waning, seemingly presenting an opportunity. Better observe for a while.
At this moment, both sides' magical attacks filled the illusionary space, a back-and-forth exchange, neither giving an inch. The pool water, originally reflecting the moonlight, was now a swirl of multicolored mana. Winds howled, and vision became obscured; they relied almost entirely on mana perception to locate each other.
Even so, numerous illusions, clones, and other deceptive techniques were mixed in, making it easy to be fooled.
Their duel wasn't just about powerful legendary magic, but also about fundamental battlefield skills; not a single opening could be afforded.
A mage's offensive power meant a small margin for error, especially since both had stacked various buffs; a single hit was powerful enough to pierce city walls.
Realm of Magic!
Standing at the center of a totem, the Full Moon Queen's output increased further.
Frieren, who had been observing the incantation, was slightly startled. With the eye of a battle-hardened mage, she could naturally discern its general composition. It wasn't profound, but its effect was outstanding, boosting power by about thirty percent. She definitely had to learn this thing later, and that moon.
Facing the barrage, her light steps dodged most of the damage; she even used the Hound Step.
The Full Moon Queen frowned slightly, gradually feeling the effectiveness of her pursuit diminish.
However, Frieren maintained the standoff, appearing as if she intended to decide the victor with ranged combat, making Rennala wonder if her opponent's condition was also poor.
The next moment, the Queen transformed into the moon.
Ordinary magic was immediately nullified by its anti-magic property, and the surrounding death spirits completely dissipated. Frost spread everywhere as the bright moon, a blade of mana, plunged towards the illusionary water surface, flying towards its target.
Instantly, Frieren unleashed an unprecedented mana barrier. It shattered layer by layer, but it slowed the attack. Letting it fly towards her, she then used Carian Retaliation, striking the sphere's surface with her staff, creating a crisp sound.
She had released a Soul Stream upon contact, a head-on clash.
Rennala's determined attack was blocked. Far away, having just released the moon, she was slightly stunned.
Not good, her concentration had wavered, and this opening was seized. The silver-haired girl actually guided the moon's mana with her staff, then raised both hands, a greatsword of light burgeoning forth.
Great Carian!
At this moment, her energy reached its peak. A magic mirror even appeared beneath her feet; she had learned it on the fly just by seeing it. Extreme compression led to an extreme explosion, erupting suddenly with a delicate shout.
The impact sent the Full Moon Queen flying, and the light from above also sundered the illusionary barrier. Vision was rapidly fragmenting.
The formidable enemy fell with a thud, drifting into a deep sleep. The moonlit pool beneath her feet completely faded, and in an instant, they were back in the grand library room.
The sudden tremor sent them scrambling, unsure of what had happened. Could an illusion created by a demigod be broken so easily? And the dissipating energy was terrifying, shaking the entire Academy of Magic. A sword light seemed to flash across the sky.
Even the Royal Capital army at the far end of the Liurnia Highway could see it.
The pinnacle of magic was unfolding before them. All eyes focused on the dust cloud; whoever could move would be the victor.
Sure enough, a silver-haired girl with twin ponytails walked out. Her iconic silver half-armor was dented and battered, covered in wounds. Though healing, the marks of a fierce battle were evident.
Frieren scanned the familiar faces, and amidst their shock, she announced:
"The conquest of the Academy of Magic is over."
A straightforward sentence, yet it carried immense weight. Everyone stared at the silver-haired girl, dual staves in hand, clad in silver armor. Only the victor stands. This battle between demigod-level mages had a clear result.
Although Rennala hadn't fought in many years, her battle record was illustrious, her genius renowned. Unexpectedly, she had lost to a new Shardbearer who was also a mage.
It was true!
The honor of the Lands Between's foremost sorcerer would likely be relinquished. Times change; a new powerhouse had risen to the peak in the blink of an eye.
If there were some doubts after the battle with Godrick, this fight left no room for question.
In the Grand Library, the Soul of Cinder had dueled and defeated the Full Moon Queen in a one-on-one fight, a truly gold-standard victory. As for other factors like Ranni's will, Rennala's mental state, or Frieren being worn down, they weren't considered. Otherwise, a victor could never be determined; a strong individual shouldn't be easily swayed by their environment.
The strong don't always win.
But the one who wins is definitely stronger.
At this moment, the Full Moon Queen lay exhausted on the ground, her consciousness muddled. In contrast, Frieren was still full of life, seemingly ready for another fight.
Melina was the most worried. If the Tarnished suffered any major injuries, the entire plan would be ruined. The Lands Between, which had just shown signs of recovery, would fall back into decline, and she herself would be heartbroken.
"There will be many more things like this in the future, right? If only I could help..."
"All hail Her Majesty!"
The Stormveil Castle contingent breathed a sigh of relief; their anxiously-held breath was finally released.
If the Soul of Cinder had lost, they would have had to consider a rescue, fighting their way out of the Academy to retreat for healing. On a smaller scale, this battlefield would have cost a significant number of troops. On a larger scale, the world's situation would shift, and the South would be destined for turmoil.
Too many nobles depended on the King's system. If this banner fell, they would instantly retreat to their manors, preferring to endure decay and perish rather than act proactively.
It was simple: in the Lands Between, strength was the only currency, the only thing that could truly protect a region and establish order. Otherwise, you just hide and live a meager life.
Previously, Frieren's rule had an unstable foundation.
Now it was different. This title of the strongest mage would only make people believe more firmly in the banner of the Southern Army.
Of course, it was too early to celebrate; no one forgot the Grace-Given King's army stationed near the Grand Lift.
"Your Majesty..."
"It should be about eastern Liurnia, right?" She glanced in that direction. "I see a dense magical reaction, but that's not the main point. Ranni, you should check the situation first."
An officer wanted to report, but the silver-haired girl stopped him with a gesture. The priority was to confirm the Full Moon Queen's condition; hopefully, her mind wasn't damaged.
Ranni went to Rennala's side, carefully examined her, and then nodded. The latter seemed to wake briefly and say something, a nostalgic look on her face.
Everyone chose to step aside, not disturbing the mother-daughter reunion.
Taking this opportunity, the group gathered at the library entrance to exchange current intelligence:
The Academy of Magic was basically suppressed, thanks to Teacher Sellen leading the way; she was very familiar with dealing with this bunch. Mages unwilling to cooperate were dealt with, while the rest, awed by the demigod's prestige, were willing to submit. The situation would only become more stable.
As a stalwart of the Primeval Current faction, her leadership was still intact, enough to unite a portion of the professors. Moreover, the Graven Witch's strength was sufficient to stand alone, and with the army, they easily controlled the situation.
Very smooth.
Mainly because Frieren and the Spirit Ash legion had broken their spirit; otherwise, the die-hard Academy faction might have put up a desperate resistance. Now, even the Carian Royal Family was active again, so they had to accept reality and surrender their arms one after another.
"Apprentice, there are still some staunch dissenters locked up. What are your orders?"
No time to waste on them. Kill them.
Those who couldn't understand reason were no different from demons and should be severely punished. Depending on their stance, swift and decisive measures should be taken.
If Frieren were more like a traveler, as in previous game worlds, it wouldn't matter; she wouldn't even bother with those who didn't provoke her. But now, she was responsible for a large collective, for the safety of her subordinates. Rather than worrying about being backstabbed, it was better to clean them out.
In fact, her on-the-spot decision won the approval of the Carian faction.
Well done! The Queen was too kind to you all back then, and you took advantage, even going so far as to put your master under house arrest. Treason! They should be thoroughly purged.
"Your Majesty Frieren, my name is Moongrum. I am the knight commander responsible for Queen Rennala's safety. As per our previous discussion with Her Highness, I am willing to go to the eastern battlefield."
"You are welcome."
"Actually, it's not just because of Lady Ranni. We believe you are the Tarnished who can become the Elden Lord, and we wish to witness that moment together."
No need to beat around the bush; it was a straightforward pledge of allegiance to the new King.
Her strength, influence, and character were all impeccable, a once-in-a-millennium occurrence. If they missed this chance, they couldn't afford to wait for the next one.
Therefore, the Carian Knights would, as promised, march together to eastern Liurnia, partly to demonstrate their strength to Frieren and to show those presumptuous invaders from the Royal Capital the resolve of Liurnia.
Moreover, they were deeply grateful to Frieren for finding the princess and restoring the Queen from her previous state, an act of kindness deserving reciprocation.
A moment later, Ranni arrived at the door.
"Rest assured, everyone. Mother is fine; she just needs to sleep for a while... She's too tired and truly needs rest. As for Frieren, don't worry about the esoteric art of life. The Great Rune Amber can be researched, as long as you don't leave Mother's side."
"If you continue your healing experiments on the failed apprentice products of the esoteric art, I will gladly repay you with more knowledge."
"Also, she wishes us smooth cooperation."
Ranni's message put everyone at ease; it seemed the dust had settled.
Although the Full Moon Queen remained withdrawn, communicating only through her daughter and showing no further desire to interact, it was still better than being sealed in a barrier, constantly creating various experimental subjects and causing chaos.
The Carian Royal Family and related nobles could become active again. The out-of-favor mages were destined to be marginalized, and the former welcomed Stormveil Castle's dispatch of troops.
Moongrum immediately stated that since the Queen no longer needed as much protection, he could temporarily join the army.
"I do this not only to thank Her Majesty Frieren but also to protect the lake region. The Fell Omen's army should not be allowed to set foot here."
"That's right, drive them out!"
The knights shared a common enemy, their morale higher than ever.
Everyone knew the two sides would cooperate long-term. More importantly, in the eyes of the Royal Capital, the Carian faction had once again raised the banner of rebellion, even having selected a god-and-king combination. How could this not be a thorn in their side? The Golden Lineage nobles would be very nervous.
The Grace-Given King was the type who wouldn't claim kingship himself but also wouldn't allow those he called traitors to do so—truly infuriating.
The Carian Knights, who believed in honor and tradition, didn't mind teaching the intruders a lesson.
It seemed things were progressing more smoothly than expected.
Frieren naturally agreed to Moongrum's request. At the same time, Ranni also indicated that some nobles had already dispatched troops as reinforcements; this was part of her assistance.
The only problem now was: should they immediately set off to contain the Grace-Given King's army?
Despite the silver-haired girl's triumphant return, she was actually disheveled. Her silver armor was dented and twisted, her mage robe torn, and her skin bore numerous dried bloodstains. Apart from her spirit, every part of her indicated a poor condition.
Although her willpower was admirable, she didn't look like she could fight another battle. If Radagon's Red Wolf was included, hadn't she been in a continuous gauntlet against three powerful opponents?
Melina actively materialized and advised, "You should rest a bit longer, at least think about it again in a day."
"No, we must be quick."
She glanced into the distance, where lightning flashed in eastern Liurnia.
From this far, no significant mana fluctuations could be observed, so she trusted her intuition, and her intuition told her the war situation there was not optimistic; they needed to provide aid as soon as possible.
Everyone could see Frieren's worry. Although they didn't know who she was responding to, the conclusion was correct.
"Apprentice, we'll clean up the battlefield here and take care of the disobedient ones," Sellen said. "If you need to provide support, go quickly. Otherwise, Mr. Edgar and the Farron Undead Legion won't last long."
"Right, Margit won't easily engage in a positional battle with a demigod-level enemy. He's very cautious and will definitely use his legion's advantage to suppress them."
"What do you mean?"
Facing Frieren's question, Ranni's face showed a hint of regret.
"During the Shattering, my brother had already flown over the city walls with gravity magic. Even against unexpected demigod enemies, he could win. But his opponents also included Ancient Dragon worshipers, Leyndell Knights, and other at-least-top-tier heroes... In the end, he could only retreat."
"Since Margit brought a full army this time, he will definitely use group tactics."
"You must be careful. The Royal Capital's elite, when coordinated, are enough to suppress a demigod, and they have many ways to deal with magic. Don't fall into a trap."
She had given similar advice to her brother Radahn.
A pity.
If the Redmane Legion had charged into the Royal Capital back then, history would have been rewritten. The current fragmented state of the Lands Between was the product of various failed plans. Who ultimately completed their conspiracy?
No one knew, and dwelling on it was pointless. Regardless, a new round of games had been initiated by the new Shardbearer.
After nodding, Frieren took another Wondrous Physick to replenish her mana and stamina.
Wasn't it just a boss rush at a critical moment? It wasn't as if she hadn't experienced it before, just a long, drawn-out, exhilarating battle. Besides, it was simpler than before; with so many allies helping, there was no reason not to go all out.
Her own physical condition wasn't the most crucial. What mattered was reawakening the offensive power of the Academy of Magic, joining forces, and using morale to compensate for shortcomings.
"Is everyone decided? Moongrum, Frieren, you are the core."
Ranni received their replies.
"Actually, my remote projection during this awakening is also at its limit. But I will hold on until you return, for Mother, for Liurnia. See you later."
"We hope Your Highness can help us stabilize the Academy."
Sellen promptly suggested, clearly intending to use the Carian Royal Family's claim to legitimize and subdue most factions within the Academy.
They exchanged a glance and agreed. If not for Frieren as a common link, these two, who had no connection, wouldn't even communicate, let alone cooperate to control the Academy.
Half of Stormveil Castle's soldiers were then dispatched as reinforcements to the east.
However, an officer raised a question: "Wait, we're too far away. Can we make it in time?"
______________
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