Magic Town Exploration

The grand army assembled smoothly, and finally, the Southern Expeditionary Force gathered the planned 30,000 elite troops.

Saphira, atop her spirit steed, looked at the military formation arrayed in a line—imposing, majestic, orderly, and with high morale. This was no watered-down army; all members were combat-ready, well-equipped, sufficiently trained, and a considerable portion had participated in the battle at the Church of Vows.

Truly worthy of a world blessed by the Erdtree.

In reality, mustering a complete force of 30,000 elite soldiers would be incredibly arduous. Regardless of the battle's outcome, just mobilizing them would be enough to trouble a major nation.

Now, however, under a single command, they were heading towards the perilous Caelid, rubbing their fists, ready for battle.

Saphira, atop her spirit steed, looked at the military formation arrayed in a line—imposing, majestic, orderly, and with high morale.

"Your Majesty, on my way, I also encountered a small contingent of the Blood Dynasty's army."

The leading officer's serious report made Frieren and Edgar frown.

"Details."

It turned out that this 10,000-strong army had also clashed with the Blood Dynasty on their way. The opposing force consisted of Blood Knights, Albinaurics, and a large number of bloodfiends. Fortunately, the enemy did not linger in battle and quickly concealed themselves, departing amidst blood.

But regardless, it was a fact that they had infiltrated the Caelid region. They likely had a hidden, assembled army, its numbers difficult to ascertain.

The enemy was in the dark, while they were in the open.

Even if they suffered losses, it wouldn't stop the Blood Dynasty from continuing its machinations. Were they preparing to concentrate their forces for a major move? It was enough to make one sit on pins and needles.

"What other intelligence do you have?" Edgar pressed.

"General, we only had minor clashes, no substantial gains. My apologies."

"Never mind, your enemy was too cunning. They are well hidden, and we still haven't found any clues. So, be prepared; we may have to fight a bloody battle."

"We are always ready."

"There's nothing to be nervous about. Everyone is vigilant, and Her Majesty is with them."

Saphira nodded and said, "Then let's move quickly. Set out."

The great army sped towards the Lake of Rot, treading across the scarlet land. The crimson of the skyline grew ever more intense. Though they were clearly advancing towards hell, the Southern Army's morale was sky-high.

The next day.

After entering Sellia Tunnel, they naturally reached the not-too-distant Sellia, Town of Sorcery. What greeted their eyes was a stretch of relatively intact buildings.

The damaged parts of the buildings looked as if some colossal entity had smashed through them; the destruction must have been very sudden. A breeze whistled through the ruins, astringent and unceasing. There wasn't that sense of sorrow that comes with age; perhaps traces of life activity still existed, worthy of attention.

The army dispersed on its own, subtly surrounding the buildings. However, upon trying to advance further, they discovered a magical seal.

Pale blue runes were engraved on its surface, containing profound magical power.

Some mages accompanying the army stepped forward to study it carefully.

After a cursory inspection, Edgar believed this place was suitable as a temporary stronghold, serving the same relay station role as Fort Gael, or even being directly renovated into a castle to manage the surrounding area.

Of course, the premise was to clean it up thoroughly.

Everyone busied themselves with their tasks; they couldn't possibly let Her Majesty do everything. While the army cleared out scattered nearby monsters and studied the magic, Frieren, on the contrary, found herself idle.

She spread out her perception, extending it towards the Town of Sellia, and indeed, encountered an obstruction.

They were clearly heading to the Lake of Rot. Why would they think they could rest here, only to find their path blocked? It was indeed a bit troublesome.

Melina pointed to a distant lighthouse.

"It is said that the people of Sellia once placed a seal here to protect their town. Long ago, it was world-renowned for its magical research, but now it's a field of ruins. Perhaps the souls of sorcerers still wander here."

"This magic is indeed profound, different from the current system. Do they have a special origin?" Frieren was very curious.

"The Sellians are a branch of the descendants of the subterranean Eternal City, also known as the Nox civilization."

"No wonder."

A civilization that once served as a tomb and punished necromantic will surely had its commendable aspects.

For example, the seal before them was remarkable. For Frieren, who was not skilled in barrier arts, it indeed presented some difficulty. It seemed they were very cautious, maintaining a state of seclusion from the world.

But now, it held little meaning. There was no sign of life; even if it once existed, it had now fallen to the Scarlet Rot.

"You might be interested in their magical system."

"Why?"

"Night Sorcery is passed down in Sellia. When they cast it, its trajectory is difficult to dodge. There are also obscuring spells that create darkness and mist. Compared to scholars, they are more like a group of assassins, especially targeting other sorcerers."

"That does sound interesting." Frieren gathered mana in her hand. "Then let's not wait. Let's hurry."

Such overwhelming energy made Melina raise an eyebrow. "Are you planning to break it by force? Be careful of the wide-ranging repercussions."

"Yes."

Before her words faded, the silver-haired girl hurled a sphere of mana, condensed to its absolute limit, towards the sky.

It wasn't any specific spell, merely composed of powerful energy, possessing the ultimate impact against magical formulas, specifically designed to counter all ostentatious displays by fundamentally dismantling their precise systems.

For ten kilometers around, the rising ball of light could be clearly seen, like a sun.

It maintained a floating state, releasing ripple after ripple of disrupting energy. Sure enough, the sealing magic quickly began to waver.

It was also clearly visible from the small hut outside the town.

"Truly exaggerated."

The old man in sage robes sitting inside had a glint in his eyes, mixed with a hint of endured malice. No mistake, it was this person who was purifying the sacred, conquered land, and she had already reached the Town of Sellia. And she had an army.

Not good. Although he had many life-saving measures, they might not be effective against a demigod.

Running away was also not an option; there wasn't enough time, and he had to watch from here... With this thought, the old sage decided to stay.

At worst, he could first chat with the legendary Fell Lord of Cinder.

The Nox people hiding in the Town of Sellia immediately concealed themselves. They clearly sensed the intense magical fluctuations; the ancient seal would definitely not be able to withstand it.

No matter who it was, they would not be allowed to disturb the peace of this land. The enemy could not be spared.

Frieren, at the town gate, also sensed the auras that had actively hidden themselves. Indeed, this violent dismantling had the effect of startling the enemy, attracting hatred and making them reveal themselves, which also saved the trouble of searching. According to Melina, were they magic assassins? Worthy of note.

The next moment, she increased her mana output.

Sure enough, the seal at the main gate shattered layer by layer. The runes on its surface vanished with a clatter, fading rapidly.

In the shockwave ripples of the massive mana sphere, the more precise the magical formula, the more susceptible it was to disruption, leading to automatic collapse.

No technical skill involved, just overwhelming brute force.

If that still didn't work, the alternative plan was relentless bombardment.

Frieren made a gesture. The vanguard of the Southern Army, already prepared, crossed the steps into the Town of Sellia. The view before them suddenly opened up: the ruins of once-prosperous streets stretched out longitudinally, exquisite and solemn.

The land, sealed for a thousand years, was now revealed before them, finally welcoming uninvited guests.

"Are you satisfied now?"

Melina knew very well that this old friend had always liked various ruined areas. Coupled with her keen perception, she could often discover extraordinary treasures, making such trips always worthwhile.

"Of course, thank you for the recommendation." The impatient Frieren immediately began her search.

She even had the soldiers advance slowly to maintain the fresh feeling of a new map.

Edgar, long accustomed to her ways, immediately ordered the army to rest temporarily at the edge ofthe Town of Sellia.

Perfect.

An excellent commander wouldn't rashly lead his troops into such a battlefield of ruins. Firstly, the army couldn't deploy, losing its advantage of scale. Secondly, they were susceptible to ambushes from hidden enemies.

Since Her Majesty liked it, let her explore.

Melina was also immersed in the magic town. After all, it was one of the ancient civilizations, with certain connections to the Golden Dynasty, worthy of investigation.

However, with a professional treasure hunter at work, the silver-haired girl was picking up trinkets here and there.

Initially, she thought the Tarnished's explorations were a waste of time, but gradually, she learned from Frieren to enjoy the world itself. It sounded grand, but actually, it just required having passion for the things around oneself. She had traveled too, but back then, she had no such inclination, probably missing many beautiful sights.

The journey isn't important; who your travel companions are is what matters.

Melina and Torrent searched the ruins together. Frieren, however, stepped lightly in all directions. Setting off with Frieren again didn't feel familiar, but rather like accepting new things anew.

Truly strange.

As she was pondering, souls of sorcerers actually materialized on both sides of the street.

Though dead for many years, their souls were filled with resentment, staring intently at the silver-haired girl, then raising their staves.

Spell after spell rained down.

Hmph!

Blue light streaked through the air, heading straight for Frieren's position, but was blocked by Thops's Barrier. Simultaneously, the staff in her other hand swung out, countering with Rock Sling magic, accurately blasting them one after another.

She was exceptionally skilled at dealing with souls, sending them back to the Erdtree in minutes, never to wander again.

The few spectral sorcerers before her were wiped out, but the attacks didn't stop.

The silver-haired girl switched to her bow, nocking an arrow, condensing shaft after shaft with Loretta's Greatbow, precisely sniping every enemy within her mana perception.

Brilliant blue light constantly streaked across Sellia, Town of Sorcery.

Ultra-long-range magic combined with a sorcerer possessing a wide perception range was a perfect match. What followed was garbage time; all that was needed was to pick them off one by one. Some wandering spectral sorcerers didn't even know what happened before they were pierced by glintstone arrows falling from the sky.

Rumble!

After a continuous volley of shots, the town streets finally fell silent, albeit with some new pits and craters.

"It's finally over. Truly as powerful as ever," Melina remarked with emotion.

"No, someone is hiding."

"What's going on?"

Frieren bent down and gently touched the ground. A trace of tracking magic disappeared ahead. "The Night Sorcery you mentioned is indeed good. If the distance is too great, even I can't perceive it."

"The traces you see there were likely made by someone stepping there just now."

Could there still be remnants in the Town of Sellia? It was normal. In many people's minds, this was a sacred land of magic; perhaps they would return to pay homage. Furthermore, the rampaging Scarlet Rot didn't necessarily mean no survivors were left.

However, Melina decided to help Frieren keep an extra eye on the surroundings, as she couldn't confirm if the Night Sorcery user was an enemy.

Or perhaps, even if they weren't enemies, they were startled by the earlier barrage.

"Be careful, they are skilled at dealing with sorcerers."

"Understood."

Despite saying so, the silver-haired girl didn't even spare a glance for the treasures in the ruins, not even letting go of a single glintstone fragment.

It wasn't that they were particularly rare, but rather that she felt they had archaeological value, which was why she collected them. This mindset, in Melina's view, was more like that of a scholar. Others studied the stars, while the Tarnished studied the Lands Between itself, even taking notes.

"Are you perhaps planning to compile an 'Encyclopedia of the Lands Between' or something similar in the future?"

Frieren paused slightly and closed her notebook.

She nodded with utmost seriousness.

"I hadn't really thought about it before, but you've reminded me. Because everyone is long-lived on average, they feel memories are more reliable, and as a result, they neglect written records. This will sooner or later become vague and easily scattered. It's necessary to establish a truly grand library, and it must be kept updated."

"Alright, then I'll take notes too: how about calling it 'Things to Do to Become Elden Lord'?"

"Couldn't be better."

The two exchanged a smile, enjoying a moment of tranquility. Even in the land of Scarlet Rot, a corner of peace existed, like the tenacious proof that Sellia still stood.

As Frieren continued deeper into the town streets, she maintained her magical perception, not missing any detail. At this time, Edgar was moving slowly.

Suddenly, the silver-haired girl stopped abruptly before a ruined wall, then looked up at the sky.

"What's wrong?"

"There's the tremor of gravity magic here... I'm not sure if the attack originated from the sky, but the area beneath our feet has generally been bombarded by falling rocks. Also, it's empty very deep beneath our feet."

"Are you perhaps referring to the Eternal Dynasty? In the entire Lands Between, only they were bombarded by monsters sent by the Greater Will."

"Most likely them. And have you noticed? There are characteristics of the Nox civilization here. Perhaps they moved up here as refugees."

"You've indeed had similar deductions before, but now you've found clear evidence."

Melina looked thoughtful.

It wasn't strange for Caelid to also have an entrance to the underground.

Traces of distant history lay quietly beneath their feet. If the stars were unsealed, perhaps they could truly witness its splendor, journeying to the underground world sealed for ancient ages.

After some more searching, Frieren indeed made a discovery, right in an inconspicuous room, its seal just broken.

[Night Comet]

[One of the Night Sorceries of Sellia, Town of Sorcery. Can release an unidentifiable comet of magic.]

[Can be cast while moving, and also continuously. Power can be increased by charging.]

[It is said that the sorcerers of Sellia were assassins.]

[And their targets were fellow sorcerers.]

Frieren immediately tested it. Sure enough, a dark night-colored magic lit up at the tip of her staff, profound and tranquil. Even the casting process was so silent; it was indeed suitable as a tool for sneak attacks.

Her partner was already accustomed to her ability to use any spell just by reading its scroll—truly an unfathomable intellect attribute and talent.

"You found it." Melina was also happy for her. "Yes, one of the Night Sorceries I mentioned is this one. It's a common method used by the Sellians."

"It feels good. It just consumed a bit more mana."

For some time now, Frieren had indeed felt that Comet was easily defended against, wasting many attack opportunities and consuming a lot of mana.

Can you do it?

If the description was correct, she would gain a convenient primary offensive spell.

The feel was one aspect; the players' references were equally important.

Moreover, message information indicated there wouldn't be a hidden usage method for a single spell. Frieren had experienced this; for example, some dragon incantations could actively track hidden enemies, adding another means of perception.

Although she didn't use them herself, she heard from the soldiers of the Dragon Communion Legion that the effects were very good, and they volunteered, feeling they could fight as substitutes.

So, whenever she encountered a special spell, she would definitely look at the reviews:

[Finally got it!]

[You like to read inputs, huh? Let's see you read this! Try reading another one, can't dodge it now, can you?]

[The moment I attack, the opponent dodges. Who's the player here, really?]

[Watching the opponent repeatedly dodge my spells, I only feel a kind of humiliation. It shouldn't be like this. It even got to the point where if I moved, the opponent moved too. So annoying, I laughed out loud.]

[The difference isn't huge when clearing maps. In my opinion, Night Comet is an upgrade to Comet, each with its pros and cons.]

[It's fine if you don't mind that little extra mana cost.]

[Just enjoying the feeling of the enemy being completely unable to dodge. Now let's see you read inputs. No more embarrassing situations of being dodged repeatedly!]

[I can use it, but it can't be useless.]

[Essential!]

[Later on, some elite mobs in dungeons feel like they're reading inputs. Night Comet is a permanent fixture; otherwise, I can't hit them at all.]

[Sellia has plenty of treasures, like the Magic-Shrouding Cracked Tear, Lusat's set. Looting the whole map back then was exhausting, but I got a ton of good stuff. They were generous for once. More, please, I love it!]

[Unfortunately, it's too desolate; otherwise, it would be another small magic academy.]

[They overreached and got wiped out by the Greater Will's lackeys. Astel's damage output is indeed high.]

...The players' information gave Frieren a general idea.

Firstly, Night Sorcery was a good thing, with high practical value, capable of producing miraculous effects against many later-game enemies.

Indeed.

Lately, she had felt that relying solely on Comet was somewhat inadequate. In the future, she could switch between the two spells, one Comet, then one Night Comet to adapt to the rhythm of her damage output.

Secondly, there was the mystery of the Nox civilization's destruction.

Frieren's conclusion based on magical residue was correct. Beneath their feet lay a prosperous underground world, largely destroyed by pawns of the Greater Will. To destroy a great nation must have been an extraordinary feat; Astel was most likely still in the Lands Between.

The silver-haired girl cast a few Night Comets, gradually getting a feel for it.

"There are other treasures here."

"Then let's continue."

Melina never doubted her partner's keenness in this regard; she was too accurate, never missing any treasure.

She watched as Frieren wandered around, then suddenly entered a spacious room. It was very quiet around, completely different from the ruined streets.

"...Be careful, there should be some kind of trap." Melina quickly warned.

Hmph!

The silver-haired girl tilted her head with uncanny foresight. A hidden weapon whistled past her ear, fast as lightning.

Before her stood two Nox individuals, their iconic night armor and silk white robes revealing their identity. Their aura was full, clearly displeased with the intruders, striking without mercy from the outset.

"Get out!"

The uninvited guests enraged them.

Frieren, who had intended to talk, hesitated. A sense of madness emanated from them, not quite normal; communication would likely be difficult.

What a pity. The only remaining people of the Nox civilization had become like this, treating the entirety of Caelid as their own, completely ignoring the Tarnished, as if they were the only ones in this world.

How could ordinary people communicate? Only the language of blades remained.

Two Nox monks/warriors flanked her, while spectral sorcerers rose from the ground.

They had been prepared ever since the opponent stepped into the Town of Sellia.

Nightmaiden's Mist.

One of the sorcerers struck the ground with their staff, stirring up a greyish-black mist tinged with starlight that obscured vision. Even mana perception became dulled, almost no different from visual range.

"I'll watch for you. Let's leave this place first."

"There's no need for that, Melina. Just a little trickery."

The next moment, the Moonveil katana appeared in Frieren's hand. A horizontal sweep struck sparks as the swords and hammers of the two Nox individuals were parried away.

They immediately retreated a few steps.

Only then did they realize the silver-haired girl hadn't even looked in the direction of their attacks. Her movements were faster than perception; she had reacted purely on instinct.

"Relying solely on eyes and mana perception does not make a swordsman."

"Since when were you a swordsman?"

As Melina could see, ever since obtaining Moonveil, Frieren had been frequently using swordsmanship. Did a sorcerer have to use magic all the time? Actually, she had never cared about such distinctions.

The opponent's sudden change in stance threw the surrounding attackers into disarray. She wasn't a sorcerer?

However, they had no time to change tactics, because the silver-haired girl sheathed her blade, gathered her power, and in the instant of drawing it again, a brilliant cerulean light burst forth, tearing through the mist and sweeping in all directions.

Transient Moonlight!

The weapon skill was entirely different in the hands of different users. The sword energy released by Frieren enveloped the surroundings, raining down indiscriminate cutting light.

With a series of slicing sounds, more than half of the spectral sorcerers disintegrated.

They hadn't even reacted, only seeing a flash of light before they were cut down. It was too fast, and net-like cutting lines spread from various directions. Anyone within range who didn't react in time had no hope of dodging.

After the horizontal sweep, traces of sword energy still lingered around her, glowing faintly, refracting various colors.

The Nightmaiden's Mist suddenly seemed laughable.

This is bad.

They had used up all their anti-magic trump cards at once, only to find their opponent switching styles. However, as Nox guards, they weren't flustered enough to lose their composure. They immediately had the remaining spectral sorcerers pull back, and the two commanders also began to retreat.

However, the next moment, they witnessed the moonlight sword gently sweep away the mist.

Frieren stood within, staff in one hand, Moonveil in the other, her aura even more imposing than before. Now she would demonstrate the methods of the descendants of the Eternal Dynasty.

Consider this a preview of the underground world. Watch closely.

White light rose from the tip of her staff. It was Crystal Release, ascending into the air, a rain of dagger-like fragments madly pouring down.

Boom!

Each crystal triggered an explosion. Amidst the deafening sounds, the surrounding ruins were easily destroyed, leaving no enemy anywhere to hide. No perception skills needed, just pure firepower coverage.

The Southern Army at the entrance of the Town of Sellia immediately went on high alert.

"Scouts, what happened?"

"General, Her Majesty is fighting... that attire, are they Nox warriors? They still have survivors! Her Majesty is currently battling people from the Eternal Dynasty. It's very intense, a lot of smoke. Given Her Majesty's magical style, I can't see clearly."

"They are also Sellians. I've heard they excel at alchemy, perhaps they are even its founders."

Edgar frowned deeply. If that was the case, this temporary resting spot was far more complex than it seemed.

They had to be vigilant; there might still be hidden enemies lurking.

_____

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