The long-awaited battle against the Lord of Cinder had arrived. Recalling the disgusting creatures beneath Farron Keep, Frieren found the Undead Legion almost felt familiar, even amiable by comparison.
Crack!
The Captain shouldered his greatsword, lowering his body slightly in preparation for a charge. The Abyss corruption within also roared defiantly; today, using this body, it would avenge itself by separating its old enemy's head from her shoulders.
If you can truly purify the power of the Abyss, then let's see you try.
The next moment, he had already crossed hundreds of meters, appearing right before her. So fast! It seemed adapting to the magic of the Lands Between had made him even more agile. Frieren barely dodged the close-range strike with a leap, a strand of hair from her temple drifting down.
Dodged, but not entirely. The flames wreathing the greatsword grazed her cheek, even burning near her eye.
Miracle: Minor Heal.
A minor injury like this was easily smoothed over, but it certainly proved the Captain was strong. Frieren, not at peak condition and with various abilities on her 'account' still sealed, had taken a hit. It also allowed her to clearly see where the Abyss resided.
The corrupting energy, mixed with the Wolf's Blood, pierced into the heart. Her own First Flame wasn't yet mastered to the point of casual purification; she had to decisively defeat him first.
Subduing a target was much harder than simply killing it; the victory condition was stricter than before.
The Abyss let out a mocking laugh, seemingly certain of victory.
"Go ahead and gloat while you can. You shouldn't have come to the Lands Between. It's chaotic enough here already. Disappear!"
Empowering both her staff and blade with Magic Weapon, the silver-haired girl proactively closed the distance. The Captain leaped forward simultaneously. Sparks flew and flames erupted as their weapons clashed.
Too fast.
From a distance, Melina and Auluo felt anything but safe. Both combatants employed ultra-high-speed styles, exchanging over a dozen blows in mere moments. They maneuvered across the vast fortress area, the shockwaves plowing the earth's surface.
They had no choice but to retreat further.
Even so, they experienced the scouring force of the mana tides, rolling unceasingly, traversing in all directions.
Neither side showed any intention of holding back; the pace grew faster, the power stronger. There was also a sense of shared origins – the light of Farron Dart and Greatsword spells repeatedly intersected and annihilated each other in mid-air.
They use similar types of magic. Victory will go to whoever has more solid fundamentals.
Dong!
Suddenly, amidst a surging burst of flame from the Captain, Frieren's Astrologer Robe began to burn, and cut marks appeared on her body.
She was currently primarily in her main self state, supplemented by the Astrologer 'account.' Many spells and pieces of equipment were actually unavailable, imposing certain restrictions. Her main self's attributes weren't well-suited for 'game' activities, lacking compatibility. The underlying gameplay still revolved around building up the 'account.'
One incomplete, one weak – purely a hindrance. Thankfully, she compensated with skill; otherwise, just juggling all these miscellaneous elements would be mentally taxing.
Could switching to another 'account' work? Exchange limited usage time for a complete version? Restricted, but worth a try.
The Captain was pressing his advantage, but unexpectedly, Frieren's aura abruptly changed.
The Ashen One stands here.
Every cell in the Captain's body trembled; a flicker of fear seemed to arise from the depths of his soul. He couldn't help but roar and charge forward. Suddenly, several Spirit Ashes rose from the ground – 13 units in total, firmly blocking his path. This strange power caused the Abyss-controlled Captain to pause slightly.
"I held back until now precisely to catch you off guard."
Only after instantly killing one Spirit Ash did he realize how weak they were, but it was too late. Surrounded by several summons, Frieren raised her staff, fully charged. The ultimate spell from a top-tier sorcerer:
Soul Stream!
A torrent of azure energy slammed into the Captain's body, erupting like raging waves, impacting his internal organs. The Abyss power within him was annihilated on the spot.
It lost. It couldn't maintain its host. Because this move was far more than just a sorcerer's technique; it carried the unstoppable momentum of her brilliant soul, surpassing even the sun in the sky!
Even so, Frieren didn't stop attacking. She used Soul Stream to channel the First Flame within her, cleansing the Captain of the corruption. As expected, focusing on a single individual yielded outstanding results.
At this point, the aftershocks were earth-shattering. The target finally collapsed, and only then did the silver-haired girl cease her attack.
Looking up, the firmament was dyed azure by the lingering magic.
People far away felt the shock in their hearts. Even laymen could tell the immense power of this magic, yet it wasn't terrifying. The resplendent soul energy it radiated was genuine – that of a powerful and imposing warrior.
Subsequently, Frieren deactivated the Ashen One max-level 'account.' Just enough time for one spell, and it was over. Simultaneously, a massive influx of Runes and souls flowed into her; a new MOD draw was imminent.
There were no item drops, as she had defeated them once before, recorded in her now re-sealed 'account.' As expected, her beloved Soul Stream remained overwhelmingly potent, becoming increasingly useful and perfectly suited for her, the bearer of the First Flame.
[From the time of the founding of the Grand Archives of Lothric]
[The sorcery imparted by the First of the Scholars]
[Can fire a torrential volley of souls]
[The First Scholar doubted the linking of the Fire]
[And was also said to have been the prince's private tutor]
—That scholar was a great innovator of magic, and Frieren, possessing a powerful soul, was the one to elevate it further.
Clatter.
Suddenly, the Farron Undead Legion, having separated back into individuals, struggled to their feet and bowed slightly. They felt immense guilt for bringing the power of the Abyss to the Lands Between. Fortunately, she had helped them. But where could they go from here?
They had almost lost themselves entirely; their mission was their sole driving force – act collectively, eternally eradicate the Abyss. Now, they looked to their former adversary for an answer.
Sensing this emotion, Frieren smiled faintly. This reunion was indeed a rare twist of fate.
"If you don't mind, join me in experiencing the Lands Between. There are things here more worthy of extermination than the Abyss."
Hearing this, the Farron Undead Legion nodded. Their only connection to this new land was arguably their old foe, the Ashen One. One battle fought for the Linking of the Fire, another to bury the hatchet. Acting together might be good. Setting down their responsibility after so long felt like being relieved of a heavy burden.
"Is everything alright?"
Only now did Melina and Auluo cautiously return.
"Relax, it's all settled. I see you've cleared out the Misbegotten and Hollows too. Fort Haight should be quiet now."
"I saw some nobles heading this way earlier. Their knights probably sensed the fighting here had concluded and came to investigate," the Black Knife Assassin reported, accustomed to reconnaissance.
"Then let's rest here for now."
After the high-intensity battle, Frieren felt sleepy. Stretching languidly, she sat down on the fortress steps, hugging her knees. Glancing around, the forest had been razed to the ground – a testament to the ferocity of the aftermath.
However, for top-tier warriors, it wasn't particularly surprising. For example, the long-renowned Battle of Caelid had turned an entire nation-sized area into wasteland.
Destructive power was a symbol of strength, possessing its own aura of prestige. The nobles would understand.
"This is the largest war Limgrave has seen since the First King," Auluo murmured. "The sword monuments record the last major conflict when the Valkyrie passed through Stormveil on her way south to Caelid, forcing Godrick to kneel at her feet."
"Strange. So, what exactly is that demigod's level?"
____
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