Truly never a dull moment. Where did this monster pop out from now?
Frieren and Melina, who had just been chatting idly, exchanged glances, both sensing the major commotion.
What was that?
The former, eager to investigate, released her magical senses to quickly track the source. The latter felt weary, as if trouble was just one thing after another. Did Tarnished possess some kind of trouble-attracting constitution? The events experienced in just over a month surpassed those of a thousand years. Indeed, the saying "Life is lived in depth, not length" felt very accurate.
They swiftly ran towards the source of the immense sound.
Simultaneously, alarm bells rang out. The entirety of Stormveil Castle now knew some kind of monster existed underground. For some veteran soldiers, this wasn't entirely unfamiliar news, so they quickly evacuated the area.
"Be careful, they say a huge Putrid Tree Spirit lives down there."
"So where did it come from?"
"Who the hell knows? Definitely nothing good. I've only heard rumors, never seen it myself."
Fortunately, the siege had just ended not long ago, so everyone's nerves were still taut, maintaining a high level of combat readiness. They rapidly moved away from the epicenter of the tremors, revealing a large collapsed section of ground, bricks and stones tumbling down noisily.
Immediately after, fiery sword energy surged upwards and exploded outwards – boiling hot, making cheeks feel flushed and breathing difficult even from afar. No one would forget this signature power: the Farron Captain. As Lady Frieren's strongest trump card, capable of single-handedly holding off two Crucible Knights, he had already made a name for himself in the Lands Between and was one of the first to breach the castle. Could there be another powerful enemy? For him to directly use his Captain form meant the target was either incredibly strong or a detestable, corrupting entity. Either way, caution was necessary; this was the heart of a city teeming with people.
Then, a tremendous shriek arose, sharp and agonizing, seemingly from something massive, accompanied by that repulsive stench of death and decay.
Who?
Even veteran soldiers garrisoned here for years couldn't help but curse Godrick. How dare he allow this thing to continue existing? The Crucible Knights must have known too. Honestly, you all have nerves of steel.
Just as panic began to set in, the silver-haired girl rushed forward like an arrow, leaped into the collapsed hole, and vanished into the darkness. She looked so eager, afraid to miss out – truly fitting for their new leader. That being the case, they probably didn't need to worry. It was handled.
In their eyes, Frieren's demonstrated strength was already comparable to the demigods of a generation ago – not the weaker types like Godrick. Moreover, her limitless potential meant she would surely grow even stronger.
However, the creature below was no pushover either. Many had heard related spooky tales since moving into Stormveil. They hadn't expected a real monster to exist, one that must have developed terrifying power over countless years, perhaps even capable of destroying the city.
Rumble!
The moment Frieren landed, she saw... a tree? Simultaneously, the player's perspective showed a boss health bar: [Putrid Tree Spirit]. So, was this a hidden bonus?
She had missed the most intense phase. Currently, the Farron Captain was relentlessly pursuing the monster. The latter, dragging its bulky, plant-like body, was fleeing desperately, already engulfed in inextinguishable flames – a clear victim of elemental weakness. Bad luck for it, as the Farron Undead Legion detested such corrupted beings most. Encountering one meant absolute annihilation, ensuring its complete eradication.
It should have been a slow grind. But the corrupted roots were continuously channeling energy into the monster. On one side, an Undead; on the other, constant regeneration. The two were locked in a stalemate. The Farron warrior had the upper hand amidst the branches, but it would take time.
This was likely an aftereffect of the demigod battle. Frieren guessed the Putrid Tree Spirit wouldn't normally be so violent. However, her grand battle with Godrick had alarmed everything around, making it feel threatened and causing it to constantly absorb energy from the roots. Its volume rapidly swelled, eventually reaching a new level...
Whoosh!
Suddenly, the Tree Spirit spat out a dark gale straight at the silver-haired girl. She hastily dodged, yet noticed that merely touching it for a moment caused signs of decay to appear on her right hand. A chilling sensation crept into her heart; she had experienced energy of a similar nature before.
"It's a Death Blight attack," Melina warned worriedly. "If it accumulates to a certain point, it causes instant death. This one is different from other Putrid Tree Spirits – more corrupted and resilient."
"Don't worry, I can handle it."
Before the words even faded, Frieren had already repaired the damage from the Death Blight. Having encountered it countless times, she was well-versed. Whether using magic from the game or magic researched in reality, she had plenty of countermeasures.
"You must be careful. It seems to have absorbed different energies, evolving into a special new monster. It's best to interrupt its evolution quickly."
During her travels across the Lands Between, Melina had frequently witnessed such things: a monster encountering something inexplicable, changing, and becoming another troublesome foe. Such cases were numerous; the abundance of dangerous elements was to blame.
Its attack having failed, the Putrid Tree Spirit left an opening, which the Captain exploited, pinning down its roots.
Immobilized!
It immediately thought of severing its own branches, but a battle-hardened veteran needed only an instant. A flaming greatsword technique flew through the air, carving a trench, accompanied by the monster's piercing shrieks. But it wasn't giving up; countless surrounding vines whipped towards them simultaneously.
Amidst cracking sounds, the Glintblade Phalanx targeted each vine individually. The sharp blades sliced through them with ease, effectively creating a protective shield of blades that caused all the Tree Spirit's attacks to miss.
Damn it, how can this be?
Though its intelligence was primitive, it felt an overwhelming rage, an offense. How dare this mere demi-human? Little did it know, Frieren's precise magic control had reached a new level. The large amount of Runes scattered when Godrick fell had all gone to strengthening her attributes; her "Astrologer account" in this world had become significantly stronger. She could now easily wield magic she hadn't fully adapted to before.
Otherwise, following her usual cautious principles, she would have circled the target warily. Now, however, she took the offensive. Of course, another major reason was that she couldn't allow the enemy to continue rampaging in the city center. The losses would be too great to manage, and she couldn't let her Tarnished comrades suffer unnecessary casualties.
Protect my Stormveil Castle.
Swoosh!
The Carian Slicer expanded into a long arc of light. Under Frieren's exquisite technique, it rapidly circled the Putrid Tree Spirit, cutting swiftly. Yet, the target's main body remained unharmed. It immediately let out a dry "Hahaha" laugh, mocking her aim. But in the next moment, it realized all connections to its main roots had been severed, even the flow of corrupting energy interrupted. The powerful magic had completely vaporized the severed sections, preventing the spirit from replenishing itself anytime soon.
Infuriated, the Tree Spirit launched another storm of Death Blight breath.
Just die already!
Frieren, already prepared, naturally wouldn't leave such an opportunity open. She easily dodged. Simultaneously, the Farron Captain charged forward, fearlessly assaulting the target despite the Death Blight, under the cover of scattered crystal shards. Whenever the Tree Spirit tried to use entanglement to restrict the Captain's high mobility, the crystal fragments shattered the smaller vines. If it tried to attack Frieren in the rear, the Captain would even revert to his multiple forms, creating a human wall under covering fire, firmly blocking the path.
This was their first time coordinating as a team. Yet, they executed the mage-warrior combination perfectly, as if they had fought countless battles together. Perhaps enemies and allies truly could be interchangeable.
Even without exerting their full strength, the suppression from two demigod-level powerhouses quickly clarified the situation. The retreating Putrid Tree Spirit struggled to mount an effective offense. The Captain glanced back and gave Frieren a look – truly eliminating this thing would take time due to its regeneration. Better check on the injured first; they weren't Undead, after all.
"Looks like my support isn't needed anymore."
Nearby, Nepheli was helping the injured Rogier. Perhaps aid was needed more here than on the front line. She approached the pair and saw the wound was severe and contaminated.
Shaking his head, Rogier lamented, "Curiosity kills the cat... I might lose this leg. You must be careful; those are roots infected by the aura of Those Who Live in Death that flowed here..."
"Don't worry, I'll prepare treatment now. Depending on the nature of the corruption, there might be pain. Endure it."
"Don't waste your effort. I've actually been trying to save myself, but failed whether using potions, magic, or incantations."
Hum!
Before he could finish, the Sunlight Heal magic was already cast, enveloping the wound and forcefully expelling the corrupting power – a miracle capable of shaking off even death itself. After years of research and adaptive modifications, the [Sunlight Heal] in Frieren's hands was far beyond its original form. Compared to its use in the Dark Souls world, it now emphasized brute-force solutions: regardless of the affliction's nature, remove it first, then heal. This was why it could be painful. Many magics were hard to analyze but could be recognized. Recognition meant identification, and the identified part could then be excluded. It excelled at clearing negative statuses.
Because she often faced various environments in battle – poison, frostbite, corruption... countless examples – and in reality, fighting demon-kind meant only one life, carelessness could be fatal. Compared to offense, mages, typically high-attack and low-defense, needed to compensate for weaknesses. Thus, the demand for restorative magic was high, and hers were the most potent. This level of affliction was naturally well within her capabilities.
Rogier stared in shock as the festering, distorted wound rapidly healed, his numb leg regaining life.
"Thank you so much! Now I owe you a great debt."
"It's alright. Save the pleasantries for later. What's crucial is the information you have. If you have magic or Ashes of War as payment, that would be even better."
"Of course. Also, Nepheli here beside me is Sir Gideon Ofnir's adopted daughter. She can recommend you for magic exchanges. You and that Roundtable elder should have much to discuss."
Frieren's undisguised request actually brought a knowing smile to the faces of the two Tarnished. So pure. There was too much scheming in the Roundtable Hold; it was no longer as prosperous as before, filled with more and more pretenders. Perhaps a newcomer could bring a breath of fresh air. Before even becoming a member, she had already become a Shardbearer.
As they were talking, a loud crash echoed. The Farron Captain's greatsword brutally tore a hole in the Tree Spirit. Not only that, but the wound continued to burn. The Putrid Tree Spirit was terribly mismatched against the Farron Undead Legion. Beaten back relentlessly, it was now on its last legs. Just moments ago it had been flaunting its power; now it was subdued, sensing it couldn't afford to provoke its opponents. Setting aside the greatsword user whose movements resembled breakdancing, the silver-haired girl's magic was even more terrifying. Too strong.
Must retreat quickly. Its survival instinct even drove it, unprecedentedly, to try and escape the underground.
No more delays. Continuing like this means certain death. Must escape the battle's center. Yes, the castle walls would naturally block some attacks. Use its roots to cling on and quickly scale the wall. Just escape, then hiding in the vastness of Limgrave would be easy.
Countless branches transformed into arms, desperately grabbing the edge of the collapsed opening, and with immense effort, it pulled its body out. The path ahead opened up.
But what greeted it was not a path to safety.
The war-hardened army remained on high alert. Their organization, discipline, and combat readiness were at their peak. Crossbows, fire pots, and other weapons were already aimed, unleashing a barrage at the massive target. Dare to show your head? We'll hit you! No soldier stationed in Stormveil Castle would tolerate this creature's continued existence. They hurled spears, shot arrows, threw stones with all their might, using every means to annihilate it. The intensity rivaled the high-stakes meat grinder of the siege two days prior.
"Ugh!"
With a cry of pain, the Putrid Tree Spirit's head lolled, its grip loosening, nearly causing it to fall. But it stubbornly continued climbing, aiming for the castle gate. Not far now, just reach that place...
However, in the next instant, a crescent blade of pale blue light shot up from below. Its terrifying sharpness easily sliced through the monster's body. The massive form immediately collapsed, the colossal entity formed of countless branches now withering.
People were certainly familiar with this technique – Glintstone Arc. But only Her Majesty could wield simple spells with such large-scale destructive power. The light, its momentum unchecked, soared into the air and burst like a flower, scattering azure sparks that mingled with the golden dust of the Erdtree, like a blessing descending upon the main castle.
"Long live Her Majesty!"
"I knew it! A mere old monster like that was nothing!"
The soldiers finally breathed a sigh of relief. Just moments before, some were even preparing to abandon the castle and flee, as there were no walls defending this breach. Thankfully, Frieren, the Demon-Slaying Sword, lived up to her name, crushing the enemy once again. For a genuine demigod-level powerhouse, it wasn't difficult.
Order was quickly restored. Ultimately, there were few casualties; it was treated merely as a minor incident.
Within the hole, Frieren watched the Putrid Tree Spirit lose its life force, while the Captain didn't forget the finishing blow, setting it ablaze. The hidden danger was eliminated. For years it had lurked beneath Stormveil Castle, spawning various rumors. Today it finally saw the light of day, only to meet its end. As her future stronghold, she wouldn't permit such monsters.
Meanwhile, the silver-haired girl stared intently into the deeper underground, where countless roots intertwined around a bizarre object:
It looked like... a face? Two eyes, a mouth, its skin shriveled and desiccated – utterly grotesque. Even accustomed to the weirdness of Souls-like worlds, she felt an inexplicable chill. It was the aura of the source of Death! Frieren was already on high alert. In her view, this strange face deep underground was a potential monster, bound to cause major trouble sooner or later.
Without waiting for the others to react, she strode forward quickly. She found an unexpected treasure, but it came with a nauseating stench. Utterly unbearable; she hated strange scenes like this the most. After a moment's thought, the silver-haired girl took out a handkerchief, wrapped it around her fingers, and only then carefully bent down to inspect it.
[Prince of Death's Pustule Acquired]
[A foul, purulent, face-like pustule]
[Increases Vitality (Death Blight Resistance)]
[Said to be the face of the Prince of Death]
[In the past, he was called Godwyn, the first demigod to die]
[Later buried deep beneath the Royal Capital, at the roots of the Erdtree]
The detailed stats showed +90 Death Blight Resistance. Quite strong indeed. After all, a quick guess suggested Death Blight was similar to equivalents in other worlds – easily causing instant death. The performance was adequate, but weren't the stench and appearance a kind of cost? Definitely for Frieren. No matter how slow-paced and relaxed elves were, they valued hygiene. How could she easily accept such a strange item? Should she put it in her Grace-given space? If she needed to use it, would she have to carry it around? Maybe the Death Blight creatures were scared off by the smell.
A dilemma.
Just as Frieren was pondering, Rogier, now recovered, stood up, took out a Perfume Bottle, and sprinkled some powder, finally reducing the foul smell in the air somewhat.
"This is my own concoction. Since I was searching for related clues, naturally I needed corresponding tools," he said with a proud smile. "Many ladies like it; perhaps it will become popular."
"As long as it doesn't stink so much, it's somewhat acceptable."
"Have you seen similar things?"
"Far too many."
"...Sounds like you have quite a few stories. You must have faced extraordinary trials outside the Lands Between."
Everyone could roughly guess. Based on the unparalleled strength Frieren possessed right from emerging from the Chapel of Anticipation, she must be a powerhouse from beyond the Lands Between. A significant portion of Tarnished were already skilled individuals, or awakened from slumber like Sir Gideon Ofnir. Each of these was powerful, but Frieren was likely the strongest case of summoning in millennia. What kind of terrible world must one have experienced to be optimistic about the Lands Between?
Frieren, however, focused on observing the [Prince of Death's Pustule], carefully wrapping it to suppress the odor before storing it. Death Blight resistance was an important attribute; she couldn't discard it just because of a minor flaw in the item. Practicality came first.
Meanwhile, the never-idle Farron Captain and Nepheli worked together, finishing off the encroaching corrupted roots, clearing them out to prevent another Putrid Tree Spirit from forming.
"The face seems to belong to the first of the dead, the great prince Godwyn? How much do you know?" Frieren asked Rogier.
"As is widely known, he became the first among the demigods to die. But his physical corpse continued to grow, buried beneath the Erdtree, constantly releasing the contamination of Death... leading to the disaster of Those Who Live in Death."
"So he's the source of Those Who Live in Death. Does that mean if we go to the Erdtree roots and deal with the corpse completely, it will be resolved?"
"I know Your Majesty wishes to remedy this situation, but entering the roots is easier said than done. It's no less difficult than assaulting the Royal Capital, and Godwyn is very hard to kill."
"Hmm." The silver-haired girl seemed not to have fully registered his words. Her eyes shone, her expression filled with a scholar's thirst for knowledge. Clearly, her interest in Leyndell, the Royal Capital, was growing, eager to research and eliminate the calamity emanating from there.
Knowing well that a mage fixated on something couldn't be easily dissuaded, Rogier smiled and offered advice:
"Fia, the Deathbed Companion at the Roundtable Hold, knows more about this than I do. You can talk to her later."
"I'll go after dealing with the nobles' tedious ceremony."
Whether she was crowned or not didn't really matter to Frieren, but the nobles and soldiers cared immensely, likely because it allowed for titles and blessings to be distributed. Fine, she'd cooperate. For the short term, she would remain in Stormveil Castle and collect everything here.
"Also, I have some magic Ashes of War here. Would you like to learn them?"
"Of course."
As agreed payment, Rogier handed over a series of magic Ashes of War to Frieren. However, none were particularly powerful, far inferior to Teacher Sellen's reserves; they were still rather basic. First was [Glintstone Pebble], which she already knew, but the Ash of War could be applied to weapons, offering another attack method. There was also [Carian Greatsword], which she didn't have. She could probably reverse-engineer the spell from the Ash of War. This way, Frieren finally wouldn't have to struggle to enlarge her blade's range and would possess a true greatsword magic matching her combat style, making her a genuine battlemage – and using native magic wouldn't invite rejection. There was also an incomprehensible [Spinning Weapon] Ash of War, not particularly useful.
The silver-haired girl didn't hide the disappointment on her face. After all, there was nothing special, even giving off a sense of cheapness.
Rogier coughed awkwardly a few times.
"Actually, I have some magic scrolls I can give you, but I don't have them on me. Let's discuss it when we meet at the Roundtable Hold. Rest assured, they will satisfy you."
"See you then."
"—We're done over here!" Nepheli waved from the other side. While a complete cure was impossible, dispelling the contamination wasn't a major issue, at least ensuring the safety of the underground area. With the corruption gone, Frieren's magical senses became much clearer. She bent down to observe carefully. The roots felt rough but resonated with astonishing energy. What if she used them as a medium to probe far distances?
The slender roots beneath her feet stretched endlessly into the distance, carrying the faint murmur of flowing water. The scale was immense, almost perfectly aligned with the direction of the roots. Calculating from the map, did this mean the roots of the colossal Erdtree in the Altus Plateau extended all the way to the southernmost region?
"River water?"
Rogier nodded. "As expected of you. You sensed it? Yes, two long rivers flow from the Deeproot Depths, traversing the continent. Legend says several ancient civilizations existed there, mostly lost to time. The one not yet forgotten should be the location of the Eternal City."
"So, there's actually a vast space underground?"
"Yes. It's said to have an unchanging starry sky – a magical effect, yet beautiful and almost indistinguishable from the real thing. However, this is all legend. I haven't been there myself, so I can't be certain."
Based on Frieren's experience, most so-called legends were true. Besides, her own magical senses wouldn't deceive her.
An underground world? Ancient civilizations? The vastness of the Lands Between exceeded expectations. It was already a supercontinent, yet it concealed a three-dimensional space, a whole world existing beneath her feet.
"He's right. The Eternal City exists. It was once a great civilization. Later, they committed a taboo and suffered devastating punishment from the Greater Will, eventually fading from everyone's sight. Likely only some ruins remain, clinging to existence." Melina's voice sounded by her ear, carrying a tone of warning. The Greater Will was not simple.
Hearing this, Frieren had different thoughts:
"Even though I've conquered Stormveil Castle, the world feels even larger to me now. This feeling is wonderful."
______
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