Liurnia Reignites War
The heavy reinforcement of the Grand Lift area by Liurnia sent a clear signal: don't expect to overcome the Lakeland forces while challenging Frieren.
Commander Moongrum, entrusted with significant responsibility as a general this time, would not overlook a single detail.
The main army firmly sealed off the area around the Grand Lift.
Church of Vows.
Every day, the ground rumbled, and dust billowed without cease. Even inside the church, Pastor Miriel felt the world spin, a clear omen of a great battle, an intense conflict bound to erupt sooner or later.
He sighed deeply, "Ever since you became active, Frieren, it's been lively everywhere."
Such a thing hadn't happened in millennia. Indeed, the new Lord of Souls had brought change to the world. He just didn't know what would happen to the Royal Capital…
"Am I disturbing you?"
Moongrum called out from the entrance as he passed the church.
"It's quite alright. I've kept company with solitude for too long; a little liveliness is fine. Rather than worrying about me, you should be wary of the Royal Capital. They won't give up so easily."
"Of course, that's precisely why I've come."
"The last time we met was at Her Majesty the Queen's wedding, wasn't it? Time truly flies. How is she now?"
"She's no longer continuously creating flawed lifeforms like before; she's much more stable now, thanks to the comfort from Her Majesty Frieren and Princess Ranni. The Academy is also developing well, so I will protect the Lakes at all costs," Moongrum stated firmly.
"May your martial fortunes flourish."
Miriel watched as the army, led by the First Carian Knight, strode forward, the Black Sun Cinder Ring banner, symbolizing the new Lord of Souls, snapping in the wind.
They trod the path once walked by the Golden Order at its peak, this time to proactively strike at the enemy forces.
...
The Altus Plateau region was equally restless.
Basilisks charged from the volcanic region towards the scattered surrounding villages. This time, there were also slimes differentiated from the monstrous spawn of Rykard, devouring all living things, even causing architectural structures to rot. Not for siege, but for destruction.
The flames of vengeance from Rykard lashed out solidly at the Altus Plateau.
Main Hall of the Royal Capital.
Morgott, holding a letter, carefully read the reports line by line, his brow subsequently furrowing.
"They're already fighting? They move quickly enough."
The report detailed the battles around Fort Gael, especially emphasizing the Southern Army's fervent construction work under Frieren's leadership, though they intended to take root in western Caelid.
Considering the poor geographical conditions of the northern Dragonbarrow and the central Lake of Rot, there was indeed only one suitable place for the Limgrave forces to set up camp, though there were many options.
He just hadn't expected hostilities to have already broken out.
The two forces had clashed, ending in the Blood Dynasty's retreat, but he knew they would return.
A Night's Cavalry member said, "Some Bloody Fingers hope for our cooperation in attacking Liurnia. Your Majesty, what are your thoughts?"
"Wait..."
Morgott hesitated. He was indeed aware of the mastermind, most likely his own brother, Mohg. Having his subordinate relay the message was probably to avoid awkwardness. Although both shared a similar plight, their differences outweighed their common ground.
Back then, during the defense of Leyndell, everyone had worked together, but that didn't mean their stances were aligned.
Regrettably, his own brother was likely still under the bewitchment of the Formless Mother, an Outer God, and even the news of Miquella's disappearance was thought-provoking…
Of course, this didn't mean no cooperation at all.
After a moment of thought, he changed his tune, "First, dispatch a portion of the Night's Cavalry to scout and harass, to test the response from the Liurnia region. Don't underestimate the Academy of Raya Lucaria's foundation, especially since they just won the Second Liurnian War; their momentum is strong."
"As you command."
"Don't expect to siege. Start with harassment. Don't forget the Abyss Watchers and the Lunar Princess are there. Pushing too hard will provoke their fierce counterattack."
"The reason the rebels are causing trouble is because of Frieren's unification. If we further suppress her power, we can open up the situation."
"Therefore, we must seize the opportunity... However, there is evidence that she has healed the Scarlet Rot."
"She is a formidable researcher, even as an enemy."
It was never Morgott's style to condemn someone outright; he judged by actions, not intentions.
Frieren's eyes were bright.
The legend of Caelid's blooming flower fields spread far and wide at astonishing speed. Everyone knew that wherever the new Lord of Souls passed, even the Scarlet Rot receded. Coupled with her previous reversal of 'corpseification' and suppression of the dead, every step targeted the disasters of the Shattering.
The new shardbearer was dedicated to healing wounds and had indeed achieved monumental feats, at least eliminating the scourge of the living dead and curbing the most prevalent monstrous threats.
She had become the concentrated representation of the will of countless beings in the world yearning for restoration, and their numbers were the largest.
Absorbing this spirit, the Southern Army erupted with a power reminiscent of the Storm Lord's era.
The former grace of the Erdtree was fading. It was precisely for this reason that Morgott worried, forcing him to mutter, "Let's just consider what happened at Fort Gael a coincidence, on the premise that Frieren must be victorious."
"Understood."
The soldiers who received their orders departed one by one to conduct reconnaissance.
"Another point, we cannot relax the suppression of the army in the volcanic region. If necessary, I will fight as Margit."
"Have you made your decision?"
"Yes, Rykard and I have quite a few old grievances. After all, that battle at the volcano was brutal."
Moreover, that fellow was mad now. One couldn't predict a madman's actions, so Morgott couldn't easily leave the Altus Plateau, forced to remain in the Royal Capital to guard against a surprise attack from his opponent.
They likely acted while Liurnia was preoccupied, so the focus had always been on Frieren.
Morgott hoped to achieve results through cooperation with Mohg.
...
Fort Gael was quaking.
Amidst rumbling roars, earthen mounds rose one after another, hollowed out in the middle, forming scattered fortress-like structures, constructing a solid defensive line.
Frieren waved her staff, tirelessly and continuously transforming the landscape, an unprecedented spectacle.
The sapper teams skillfully reinforced and roofed the structures. Among them were Trolls, Misbegotten, and even Magma Wyrms helping out.
They were long accustomed to Her Majesty's magical might. Shocked at first, they later grew numb. It seemed that apart from combat and healing, her skill points also lay in architecture; truly a magical inventor skilled in creation.
"That's about enough. Don't expend too much mana."
"Rest assured, Melina, just one more direction to secure, and then it's finished."
"Do you think the fortifications of Frieren's New Fort Gael can withstand an attack from the rot creature army?"
"No."
After Frieren's definitive reply, she immediately added, "But as long as we raise the cost of attacking high enough, the Blood Dynasty will naturally give up. I guess they'd prefer to decide the outcome in a field battle."
"You're becoming more experienced. From these signs, they indeed seem to be planning that." Melina nodded. "Activities in Caelid are best done with an army, otherwise, it's too dangerous. According to your philosophy, increasing the cost of attack means less trouble, and you'll have more opportunities to explore."
Indeed, Frieren learned everything quickly.
It was more like she had encountered similar situations in her early years, thus drawing parallels and activating those memories.
She was pleased that her usual advice to this sovereign was equally important; otherwise, she would most likely be immersed in magical research, unable to extricate herself.
RUMBLE!
After the fortress cluster in the final direction was completed, the silver-haired girl, her mana depleted, tilted her head back and drank from her flask, instantly returning to her full state.
"Your Majesty, the second contingent of 5,000 troops has arrived."
Following the report was an even larger-scale tremor. Stormhawks soared and sang, banners rose from the horizon, followed by a forest of spears, as another elite unit of the Southern Army rushed to the front lines.
They were in perfect condition, well-equipped, and their approaching aura was imposing.
There were originally more, but the immediate task was to defend the city and maintain the Limgrave supply line. So, rather than numbers, they were equipped with more warhorses.
"Our army is fully prepared. Your Majesty, please give your instructions."
The leading commander dismounted, removed his helmet, and knelt deeply before Frieren.
His group had practically rushed nonstop to take over the fortress's defense.
According to strategy, a long-term, stable supply line had to be established in western Caelid to support operations deeper in the region.
Their job now was to secure this key central city, with true frontline elite troops to follow.
"Make camp."
"It's been a while, and you're busy with magic work again."
"Of course, it's to make Fort Gael safe. You can all rest assured here and receive the follow-up forces. We'll handle the front lines."
The two chatted briefly and continued the handover.
They truly envied the frontline elites who could campaign alongside Her Majesty. Although their own contingent was also composed of crack troops, they were still slightly inferior, regrettably unable to join Frieren's initial conquest of Caelid, so they had to obediently stay in the fortress.
The transfer of control over Fort Gael was completed very smoothly. Simultaneously, Frieren dismissed the Spirit Ash legion; she had been testing their limits these past few days.
It turned out that as long as their mana was frequently replenished, they could exist for a long time.
The only drawback was probably that they couldn't be too far from her. But that didn't matter; they could cover the range of a city, serving as the sovereign's personal guard in battle without wasting other high-end combat power.
Since Margit the Fell Omen could deploy such a team formation, Frieren had to try it as well.
The Spirit Ash legion was suitable for training and wasn't afraid of being destroyed by large-scale magic damage.
It was her turn.
"Your Majesty, there's news from acting castellan Jerren."
Edgar continued, "All of Redmane's scout teams are active in the Dragonbarrow area. The letter contains a detailed map they drew, hoping we can go to their aid. Various wyrm-type monsters are active there; it's very dangerous."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Frieren summoned her spirit steed, Torrent. "Let's get there as soon as possible. Don't let the Redmane Army's scouts be lost."
"Assemble! March immediately!"
A grand army of fully twenty thousand strong surged towards the distant horizon, dust and the scarlet skyline vanishing together.
Actually, the scarlet moss at the edge of Caelid had diminished somewhat, but it was denser deeper in. The will of the Goddess of Rot was accelerating the contamination of this land, stirring restlessly.
The fortress defenders watched them go with unease, unsure if their allies would return safely.
Smoldering Wall.
As the army passed, what entered Frieren's vision was a wall of raging flames. Unfortunately, it did nothing to stop the spread of Scarlet Rot.
The surrounding red was a shade deeper, and there were even pinkish-purple, bizarrely shaped plants, or were they animals? This scenery, down to the background, evoked the deepest sense of aversion, making one uncomfortable.
No matter how many bizarre things she had seen, she would always despise Scarlet Rot; this stemmed from the repulsion of normal life.
The closer they advanced towards Dragonbarrow, the more severe the contamination felt.
Melina reminded her, "It and the Swamp of Aeonia are the two most severely affected areas. One originates from a living creature, the Grandmother of Dragons, and the other from a transformed natural environment. Be careful; resistance might not be effective against them."
"I'm aware. And now, with the power of the flame's gift, I have an extra layer of insurance."
The flame's gift, modified by Frieren, not only had its original effect but could also evoke a wisp of the First Flame's power to protect the body against attribute attacks like Scarlet Rot.
Unfortunately, it only worked on herself.
The army continued its march along a road riddled with signs of corruption. Bizarre plants sprouted from the cracks in the flagstones, their tips askew as if trying to infect the land once belonging to the Storm Lord, full of ambition.
The border between Caelid and Limgrave wasn't the result of everyone's desperate efforts to stop the spread; it was caused by the contagion reaching its limit.
If this calamitous will were allowed to rage on, it would sooner or later devour more.
"Your Majesty, there's a Finger Reader ahead."
Upon hearing this, Frieren glanced over. She was no stranger to these old crones. Gods, were they? Since she encountered one, there was no reason to miss the opportunity. So, she strode forward and greeted her with a wave, asking:
"Excuse me, what's the situation in the Dragonbarrow region ahead? Can the Grandmother of Dragons move?"
"It's terrible. Perhaps, having completely transformed into a creature of rot, it can move and create disaster."
"Any other intelligence?"
"I need to see—see your palm."
The Finger Reader crone took Frieren's hand across the table, examining it carefully. A faint light gleamed in her dry, dark eye sockets.
The nearby soldiers, who had never seen a Finger Reader before, were stunned. In their eyes, this charlatan was too bizarre; who knew what nefarious schemes she might have.
"Quite special. The strength in your body is so great that you've tamed them for your own use. Truly rare." The crone's tone then shifted, "In the south, there is a grand festival that moves the stars; in the east, a pomegranate is about to bloom. Will you go?"
Frieren nodded in response, but she was actually looking at the messages on the ground.
Too vague, hard to understand. The players should have translations:
[Petal guidance, could it be Malenia, Blade of Miquella? Didn't she bloom once already?]
[Most likely refers to Miquella's Haligtree, otherwise why use the phrase "about to bloom"? Thinking back, there were early hints, every sentence is key information.]
[Actually, the Finger Reader's lines are quite spoilery.]
[Didn't think so on the first playthrough, but after piecing the story together later, I realized the old crone is one of the few who speaks sense. She's a good person.]
[My Miquella, ah!]
[According to the sequence, go to the Church of the Plague first. That's what I did.]
[No, there are other sequence flows...]
Since even the players praised her, then the Finger Reader in Caelid was at least not an enemy. For Frieren, as long as they weren't hostile, she could interact generously, especially since the other party provided information. A person named Miquella and the Scarlet Rot were related.
Her interest piqued. Every normal person infected by bodily rot was precious, greatly beneficial for magical research.
The east was the area around the Lake of Aeonia.
Coincidentally, a player had previously mentioned the existence of a meteorite there, compatible with gravity magic – a treasure not to be missed.
"Regarding the pomegranate that is about to bloom, how much do you know?"
"It is best for you to seek it out yourself. I don't know the rest. Measuring the Lands Between depends on your judgment."
"Are all Finger Readers like this?"
"As a Tarnished, you should have been to the Roundtable Hold and met my colleague who serves the Two Fingers. How is she faring?"
"All is well. She is very safe in the space of the Great Grace; nothing will happen to her." Frieren suggested, "If you wish, you can be a guest in Limgrave."
"My destiny lies here. There's no need."
The Finger Reader crone shook her head firmly, not looking like she could be persuaded.
This gesture was equivalent to seeing a guest off. All that needed to be exchanged had been, no need for further superfluous talk.
"Farewell."
Frieren knew very well that prying into the affairs of superstitious characters was pointless. Besides, a sense of mystery was part of the joy of exploration. The urgent matter was to rescue the Redmane scout team; there was no room for delay. She had to leave first.
After a brief rest, the twenty-thousand-strong army continued its rapid march, disappearing down the road in an instant.
The Caelid roads, built countless ages ago, were dilapidated. Only some intact sections could indeed provide high-speed transport, which was somewhat convenient.
The Finger Reader crone looked back at the departing silver-haired girl.
"Truly special."
Over long ages, she had seen fortunes of all kinds, witnessed countless turbulent destinies, yet never had she beheld one so complex and grand. Even an icicle's tip of it could move the world.
The divination interlude didn't affect the Southern Army's advance. Traveling day and night, they soon arrived.
In the sky not far away, roars of great dragons echoed.
Although she had heard the awe-inspiring moniker of Greyoll, the Grandmother of Dragons – the most supreme of wyrms – countless monsters around were connected to her.
Even if intelligence said she was on her last breath, a safe conquest couldn't be guaranteed.
For many years, wyrms had frequented this place, even spreading Scarlet Rot, becoming the largest source of distant contamination. It had to be contained.
"Prepare to engage the enemy—"
Edgar immediately ordered the formation up, as reconnaissance from all sides reported a large number of monsters, especially a significant mix of wyrms.
Boom!
Suddenly, a gout of intense flame breath shot out from the front, igniting a Stormhawk and causing it to plummet.
The wyrm, successful in its sneak attack, shrieked and flew into the sky, looking down smugly at the crowd. Its entire body was covered in the decaying remnants of rot. This action also attracted the attention of other wyrms, and in an instant, monsters took the initiative to attack.
The roars simultaneously drew a large number of Rotten Strays, living corpses, and others, all advancing towards the Southern Army, forming an encirclement, intending to turn them all into hosts for the rot.
"We're exposed anyway, fire the signal flare—"
A fiery red flare trailed smoke as it ascended, and sure enough, another one rose in the distance not far away.
The successive responses indicated that the Redmane Army scouts were still alive, but everyone also knew their position was exposed; they had to hurry.
"Quickly, over there!"
Before Edgar could give further orders, several wyrms arrived above the army, looking ready to breathe fire.
They aimed at the army below, contempt in their eyes.
"Get down here, you!"
The first to act was a Magma Wyrm. It raised a giant boulder with both hands and accurately hurled it at a target, smashing it into a daze, its wings going limp.
Jahn, proud of his first contribution, glanced triumphantly at Frieren, who nodded in satisfaction. The entire Magma Wyrm squad, their own wyverns, and the crossbow formations all sprang into action, forming a tight aerial combat force.
Don't think you're so great just because you can fly. The Southern forces were used to dealing with dragons and were very familiar with their tactics.
Frieren, who had intended to summon her Spirit Ash legion, instead spread out her perception.
The Southern Army's strength was sufficient to cope, so the priority was to find the Redmane Army's position. After a moment, her spiritual power captured a faint life reaction:
"This way."
She led the army forward, fending off monsters. A series of pits appeared ahead.
With Frieren leading the way, it was no problem.
A Redmane Army banner stuck out from inside. She walked over, grabbed an arm, and pulled out a soldier, grievously wounded. There were five others in similar condition, all on the verge of death. Clearly, the wyrms were not easy to deal with; they had nearly been wiped out.
Several medics came forward and examined their wounds – Scarlet Rot erosion. This was good news; Her Majesty could save them.
In this situation, a single 'Sunlight Heal' would sort them out.
Frieren immediately cast the targeted healing. In truth, these individuals had faint rot energy on them, but as long as it hadn't reached the stage of altering their bodies, they could be saved.
After the golden light shone, they finally regained some vitality, color gradually returning to their faces, their breathing no longer labored.
"This magic..." The wounded soldier's hazy vision gradually cleared. "Are you Frieren?"
"We've come to support you. Rest assured, the rot creatures stop here." This sentence was directed at both the Redmane Army and served as a promise to the Southern Army of a new, peaceful land as a reward.
"Thank you, but we must evacuate immediately."
"Why?"
"It's her. That Grandmother of Dragons can move. We misjudged."
Before his words had even faded, a roar echoed, shaking souls, causing splitting headaches. Many soldiers clutched their heads and dropped to the ground, the army like pasture grass blown down by the wind.
Amidst the rumbling of the hills, a colossal white dragon crawled forth, more than ten times larger than an ordinary wyrm, its entire body covered in marks of Scarlet Rot. It was no longer a dragon, but a completely different, thoroughly mutated form after being utterly eroded.
Even in its current ugly and battered state, it carried its former majesty. That terrifying aura made all creatures submit.
It was clearly a mountain moving. Two massive claws burst from the earth, kicking up dust. It raised its head and roared, a heart-rending sound that shook the heavens.
Its enormous figure stood amidst astonishing power, looking down on the hillside below.
The Grandmother of Dragons, Greyoll.
The magnificent creature, completely eroded by Scarlet Rot, did not intend to make a quiet exit. It would offer its final strength for one last great battle.
These humans alone were not worthy of burying her.
Frieren emerged from the cave where the Redmane soldiers were hiding and immediately saw the unprecedentedly colossal wyrm. Even with its wings folded, they covered an entire hilly area. The entire army was within its attack range.
Not good.
The dangerous battle position wasn't the most critical issue. What was terrifying was that Greyoll carried a massive amount of Scarlet Rot. As she walked, vegetation rotted and mutated, entering the cycle of decay.
She was practically a mobile source of pollution.
_____
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