The mages besieging the main gate entrance stared wide-eyed, some even unable to resist removing their hoods to get a better look: the Spirit Ashes had actually transformed into a giant lobster! It was unmistakably a Liurnia of the Lakes specimen, and furthermore, it had been enhanced. How was this possible!
Damn it.
From its hazy form, it was clearly a necromantic entity, but in the hands of a Soul sorcerer, it was different. Frieren's other summoned warriors were also significantly stronger—this was not good.
In the next moment, the lobster actually used its signature water jet.
Swoosh—a stream of water accurately hit a distant mage, not forgetting to sweep around and knock down more. It was clearly a drastically enhanced entity, a world of difference.
"Quick, dodge!"
"The Spirit Ash legion is charging! Defend! Retreat deeper into the corridor!"
At the same time, they noticed the silver-haired girl dancing her staff above her head, turning invisible and vanishing into thin air. Her mana concealment was perfect, leaving no trace. She had ultimately escaped, the cunning fox.
In reality, everyone was sweating bullets. If a demigod chose to fight to the death, they would most likely perish.
However, in the next moment, they realized they had celebrated too soon.
The Spirit Ash legion's base attributes were exaggerated, as if to compensate for their stiff movements with immense strength. They charged almost recklessly into the Academy, easily dispatching several mages and incidentally smashing through their formation.
They could even coordinate with each other, forming an impenetrable line, step by step compressing the Academy's defensive front.
The lobsters led the charge, suppressing the enemy with ranged water jets and sweeping their large pincers. And there were a full three of these powerful units attacking together.
Rumble!
Like war chariots colliding, they provided cover for the squad behind them as they advanced.
The core commander was Lhutel the Headless. Feeble mages and warriors were felled with a single blow of her hammer, ensuring the center of the formation remained as stable as Mount Tai. The Spirit Ashes on the periphery cleared enemies along the way. United, they were unstoppable, their momentum growing ever stronger.
"Prepare to coordinate your aim and blast them to death!"
Thud!
A round of large-scale concentrated magic fire engulfed the targets. In an instant, flames erupted, sending men and horses flying. From the outside, it even looked like a plume of smoke was rising from the Academy straight into the sky.
As expected, after the smoke cleared, the Spirit Ash legion was battered and broken, some even lying strewn about.
The mages burst into triumphant laughter. That's right, this is what a shoddy puppet should be like!
The Academy had conducted similar research, but the key issues were poor intelligence and fragility. Even with specialized enhancement magic, it wasn't enough; the cost-effectiveness was too low, so the project was abandoned. These were no exception…
However, within a few breaths, the Spirit Ash legion climbed back up. Runes actively flowed into their bodies, repairing physical damage and restoring them to their original state.
What on earth had happened?
They couldn't believe their eyes, but the enemy simply continued to advance.
"No, this aura is the blessing of a Great Rune! If ordinary people cannot withstand it, then they are purely using necromantic beings as vessels to be filled. They are simultaneously blessed warriors!"
"Back then, only the Golden Erdtree and the Goddess of the Elden Ring working together could bestow blessings on a large scale. Theoretically, a fragment could do it, but this is truly audacious, simply genius!"
Frieren's technical skill was beyond question.
Admiration aside, the battle would not stop. Those garrisoned in the Academy would not allow these Spirit Ashes to take another step. In the next moment, the intensity of the exchange between the two sides escalated, the sounds shaking the surroundings. Frieren, who had already infiltrated the inner Academy, couldn't help but turn her head, feeling the Spirit Ashes fighting fiercely.
In her conception, the Spirit Calling Bell should be able to mobilize a force comparable to the Royal Capital's front-line troops, and it needed to have a numerical advantage—preferably a large Spirit Ash army to counter Leyndell's years of accumulated basic troop strength.
That was why she had spent Runes to bestow blessings; the cost was not low.
High investment yielded high returns. Facts proved the gamble was correct; this battle for the Academy would serve as a good training exercise for them.
Continuing forward.
If her goal was to directly break into the core of the regional map, focusing on clearing strong enemies rather than exploration, then she wouldn't take the straightforward route through the building's interior. Instead, she would scale walls and rooftops, infiltrating from above as much as possible to avoid combat.
Just now, she had evaded several patrolling enemy groups; there was no need to waste time on them.
These soldiers didn't notice the silver-haired girl's figure leaping continuously between the eaves, easily bypassing one hidden sentry post after another, as if she knew them like the back of her hand.
Suddenly, Frieren noticed a point of light not far away, on a long corridor.
What?
Her intuition told her she should go take a look.
She leaped down from the attic, entering the corridor from a balcony courtyard. Her mana perception detected no patrols; it should be a secluded place. And there, amidst a large pile of magical supplies, stood a staff.
Although there was a guard, he was rendered unconscious by Frieren's sneak attack in a single encounter, no longer able to resist.
[Azur's Glintstone Staff]
[One of the Primeval Sorcerers, Azur's Glintstone Staff]
[Only those who have touched the wisdom within the stone, the wisdom of that distant forerunner, can wield this staff]
[Shortens the casting time of all sorceries but increases FP consumption]
Azur?
Both Teacher Sellen and player advice had mentioned him. The former considered him a respected master, while the latter only had one impression: "Comet Azur" kills everything in seconds — in short, very effective.
She checked her basic attributes and found they were just enough.
In terms of her Astrologer account alone, she had already reached 52 Intelligence. Equipping it would allow her to unleash its corresponding power; in a way, it could be considered a master-disciple inheritance.
Azur's Glintstone Staff was deep green, a branch-like crystal, heavy and cold to the touch, with strong mana conductivity.
"Not bad as a pre-battle supplement."
To find such a treasure just by casually strolling around, it seemed she should appropriately explore the building's interior routes. After all, according to the map, further ahead was not a place one could easily vault over, and moreover, there was the aura of a strong enemy…
Not far away were some high-ranking mages; it was best to suppress them beforehand.
With this thought, Frieren entered from the school building area. Sure enough, several mages were wandering about.
Some were reading, some meditating, some tidying up in preparation for support, when suddenly they saw the silver-haired girl appear out of thin air, nearly scaring their hoods off.
"Quick, capture the intruder!"
But Frieren moved faster. With a dashing sprint combined with Carian Slicer, she delivered a fatal blow to the throat. There was no need to show mercy to these absolute Academy purists who had persecuted Sellen; they deserved a thorough cleansing.
The mages beside her aimed their glintstones but couldn't hit her at all. The narrow school corridor had become her hunting ground.
The silver-haired figure moved through them, each step leaving a spurt of blood – a ruptured carotid artery, every strike fatal.
She made no superfluous movements, cleanly dispatching over a dozen enemies. When someone, terrified, tried to flee, it was already too late. An arrow pierced their heart from behind. With that, all the school building's defenders were annihilated.
Azur's Glintstone Staff would never have imagined its first battle after being unsealed would be resolved with a sword.
"Feels pretty good."
Next, Frieren fought her way to the building on the other side, fully testing the new weapon's various capabilities.
For the Academy mages, being defeated by Azur's Glintstone Staff was better than being taken down by the Demi-Human Queen's Staff. The latter was too humiliating, a true ravaging of body and mind.
A single adventure in the Academy had continuously strengthened the Astrologer's power, the efficiency so high it surprised Frieren. She had come to the right place; it was indeed the convergence point of the world's magic. Even a few steps yielded good rewards.
"Feels like I should head upwards, the route is correct."
She glanced roughly at the map to confirm the general direction. The mages she dispatched along the way grew stronger, yet their fighting spirit dwindled, their morale almost shattered, and they showed no organization whatsoever. These fellows were only good for academic factionalism; they couldn't accomplish anything significant. Their willpower was weaker than imagined.
Meanwhile.
As the controller, she could feel the Spirit Ash legion still rampaging. Although they had fallen several times, she could simply send Runes to repair them. Suppressing the Academy was impossible, but it was enough to create chaos, ensuring they couldn't focus on defense.
The main purpose was to create space for Stormveil Castle's elite troops to take over later. The first fortress in the lake region had to be occupied as soon as possible.
Only by threatening them with a strategic advantage could the Grace-Given King be forced to give up.
Frieren continued up the stairs. Before her stood mages, ready for battle.
However, they all lowered their staves. Even through their hoods, their terror was evident. They bowed repeatedly, some on the verge of kowtowing in fear, their heads hitting the ground with thuds.
"Don't kill me."
"Your Majesty, we can actually cooperate and drive out the influence of the Royal Capital's army."
"The Academy is not your mortal enemy."
By now, even a fool could see the power of the Soul of Cinder King. She was probably a sorcerer unseen in a thousand years. Everyone here followed the Glintstone school; why fight to the death? Following a demigod sorcerer wasn't shameful; on the contrary, it aligned with ancient tradition.
There was no need for infighting within the Lands Between's foremost magical institution. Faced with an outsider like Frieren, were they supposed to keep sending themselves to their deaths?
Were they defending something that couldn't be compromised? There was no need to fight so stubbornly.
They could discern her general plan: suppress the grassroots and mid-level mages. At worst, Sellen, the Carian Royal Family, and others could use their prestige to subdue them later. As for the higher-ups, they would be dealt with harshly, primarily through eradication.
Why?
They were speechless with frustration. Were they necessarily more evil than others? There were clearly different factions; things should be sorted out properly.
"I'm from the Glintstone school! We share the same origins!"
"It was all those anti-Origin anti-Primeval Current faction people! If you're going to kill someone, kill them!"
"You're the one who should die—"
Facing a great enemy, the Academy's high-ranking mages perfectly demonstrated the essence of factional infighting. Even surrender turned into mutual accusations, their hatred for each other even stronger, wishing they could start fighting immediately.
This scene made Frieren watch with great interest. There was clearly an element of acting, but they genuinely wanted to strangle each other, and the more they acted, the angrier they became.
She truly wasn't here for a major purge. Keeping more professors would be convenient for later use.
"So, where is your sincerity?"
Hearing this, the mages looked at each other. There was a chance! Indeed, she wasn't some bloodthirsty person. As long as they were willing to cooperate, she wouldn't mind some minor grievances. Ultimately, there was no fundamental conflict of interest between them, so they had to seize the opportunity to show their worth.
"Please follow us. There's a hidden room here."
A mage guided Frieren upstairs, actively dispelling a layer of illusion, revealing a neat room.
Boldly, she stepped forward. Opening the treasure chest, a prompt indeed appeared:
Obtained [Comet] sorcery.
[One of the Glintstone sorceries of Raya Lucaria Academy]
[Can release a comet equivalent to a great magic comet]
[Can be cast while moving, and also continuously. Charging increases power]
[Taught in Carah's classroom, the highest-ranking sorcery, but few in history have mastered it]
As usual, Frieren first checked the player feedback. Unsurprisingly, it was overwhelmingly positive, basically one of the mages' most commonly used attack skills, sufficient to carry them through the game. A huge gain indeed, an unexpected joy.
As for some players mentioning that Comet was being read by the AI, that was for the operator to consider. How to outplay the AI was key. In any case, this trip was not in vain.
Hum!
With that thought, the tip of her staff flickered with light.
"Your Majesty, the Comet sorcery is wondrous, almost legendary. We only heard you like to collect recommended ones; it's very difficult to learn…"
Before they could finish, the mages witnessed the silver-haired girl effortlessly scattering glintstone shards, one after another, practically forming a line as they shot out the window. Then she tried charging, filling up in a single breath before attacking again, and faster and faster.
For her astonishing mana pool and control, the difference between charged and normal attacks was negligible.
Frieren was immersed in her experiment, unaware of the mages' utter shock.
Mastered just by seeing it? Such talent was truly enviable.
"By the way, Your Majesty, there's also treasure in this hidden room, something even we were reluctant to use and kept preserved."
Next, she received a talisman [Graven-School Talisman] that could boost damage. The item was good, but its description was thought-provoking, hinting at a layer of danger.
[The Academy's nightmare—known as the Graven-School Talisman]
[A talisman made in its image, can enhance the power of sorcery]
[Among Glintstone sorceries, there is a taboo known as "Origin"]
[Gathering sorcerers into a ball, transforming them into star seeds—]
[For those of the Origin Primeval Current faction, this is a means of exploration]
Wait!
Could it be that one of the ultimate forms pursued by the Origin Primeval Current faction was this thing? Could Teacher Sellen one day become like this? Probably not… Now that she had been led onto the path of Soul magic, she was likely still deducing the perfection of the forcefield with Thops.
However, Frieren still couldn't rest easy. This ending had to be avoided. At least, she should look at the players' reminders:
[I call this talisman, Petite Sellen]
[Too hellish]
[It's a common talisman for mages, but we have many ways to increase damage, not lacking this one]
[Why would Teacher Sellen become a Graven-School Talisman? How to avoid it]
[Just don't tell her when you're looking for the two Primeval Current masters. Lusat is in Caelid, Azur is at the Volcano. They give Stars of Ruin and Comet Azur respectively. You don't even need to find the former, but the latter is a must-get]
[One Azur Comet to insta-kill the boss, satisfying]
Knowing the gist of it, Frieren felt somewhat relieved. If it could be avoided, that was good. Besides, she didn't think the current Sellen would dive headfirst into it.
"I've received your sincerity, but I still need to meet the Full Moon Queen. I'm a bit interested in her secret arts."
"No, Your Majesty, the room ahead is the only way through. Inside is Radagon's Red Wolf."
"Who is it?"
"Your Majesty, it's literally Elden Lord Radagon's Red Wolf, placed in the Academy of Magic to protect the Full Moon Queen. Normally, it wouldn't bother with ordinary mages like us, but you, Your Majesty, will provoke its hostility."
The mages spoke tremblingly, still unnerved by the memory of being intimidated by the Red Wolf.
That monster—no, it should be called an intelligent beast. In the Lands Between, many beasts accompany kings and possess profound wisdom; the Red Wolf was no exception.
Anyway, ordinary mages were full of awe for that kind of beast.
Frieren continued to press for information.
It turned out that before Radagon became Elden Lord, he had left many arrangements for his wife's family. For example, the Red Wolf guarded the interior of the Academy, controlling the only path to the depths, making it almost impossible to bypass.
Strange, this person who had vanished without a trace, whom the world thought missing, didn't seem so heartless. Although some jokingly called him "Consort King," he was at least a top-tier hero back then.
The arrangements he left behind shouldn't be too simple.
In Frieren's eyes, this person was also one of the targets that had to be thoroughly investigated, as it concerned the secrets of the Erdtree.
After all, the dismissal of the First Elden Lord, Godfrey, and the welcoming of the second, Radagon, was a huge turning point for the Golden Dynasty, paving the way for many subsequent conflicts. There must have been clandestine plans unknown to the world.
Therefore, after hearing about the Red Wolf's background, she was not afraid but rather increasingly interested.
"No."
"Even if Your Majesty is very powerful, as a sorcerer, it would be difficult to deal with that kind of Red Wolf. It is very agile, can take to the air, excels at high-speed magic, and is physically strong. It's practically what Radagon prepared for us sorcerers. Moreover, fighting in a confined space is disadvantageous."
"The Red Wolf is definitely monitoring the Academy, making you wary. Otherwise, you usurpers would have plotted against the Queen long ago."
"Rennala is at least a demigod; how would we dare?"
"Your Majesty, we've analyzed it this far. You should be careful or find a way to avoid it…"
Amidst the seemingly persuasive clamor, some were actually instigating a fight between the two.
If the Soul of Cinder King and the Red Wolf fought and both were injured, wouldn't they pick up the pieces for free? Everyone would be happy; perhaps the Academy could eliminate two threats at once.
Frieren saw through it but didn't expose them.
She spread out the map and examined it carefully. This was a more detailed map of the Academy, actively presented by the mages. It was indeed difficult to bypass the Red Wolf. Unless she was willing to scale walls and rooftops, but did they really think it wouldn't move?
It had already locked onto the intruder's aura. Even if she actively avoided it, it would still come for her; there was no escape.
Moreover, Frieren had no intention of hiding, because the Red Wolf was strong enough to threaten the army that was about to garrison the place. And it would never submit; the conflict between them was irreconcilable. So, there was only one choice left:
"Red Wolf, I'm coming to kill you."
After this greeting, the silver-haired girl strode into the fog gate.
The mages nearby scattered, moving to other floors as much as possible. Anyway, this place was not suitable for a long stay.
Who would win?
They didn't know, but one thing was certain: given the minimum hero-level strength of both sides, it was enough to overturn the surroundings.
Entering the room, she saw the Red Wolf, which had been resting on the ground, conserving its strength. Only when it witnessed the powerful aura finally approach did it slowly stand up. It arched its back, its fur bristling, its size seemingly expanding by a circle. Its two front paws carved scratches into the ground, its presence imposing.
The Red Wolf knew it had encountered a tough opponent, absurdly strong. Yet, the boredom and frustration of guarding the Academy for so long seemed to be swept away. Wasn't its existence precisely for this moment?
"Among the opponents I've encountered since entering the Academy, you are the first with fighting spirit."
"Awoooo!"
A sharp howl responded to Frieren's praise.
It wasn't the type that could communicate like Beast Clergyman Gurranq, or perhaps it didn't intend to waste words? Beasts that followed kings had their own dignity. It had to display its majesty before the new shard-bearing king who dared to provoke, leaving no room for doubt.
In the next moment, the Red Wolf pounced, its movements as swift as a war chariot, arriving before her in an instant, giving the sorcerer no chance to gather mana.
The silver-haired girl easily leaped aside. It had been a long time since she had used this method; she usually used blocking more often, but today was different.
The Red Wolf was strong enough. It was best to free up both hands and first test it with dodges.
Swoosh!
In the instant they passed each other, a red longsword materialized in its mouth, cutting through the air, aimed straight at the target's throat.
This move was infallible against sorcerers.
However, Frieren parried with her Uchigatana, using the momentum to launch herself upwards, lightly stepping on the blade and landing gracefully, completely unharmed. Facts proved her intuition was correct; if she had chosen to block the claw attack with a weapon, then this next move would have required more effort.
The Red Wolf, having missed its attack, was not discouraged at all. It immediately turned around, regrouped, and aimed at the enemy, its four limbs tense, ready to unleash a full-force attack with all its mana at any moment.
If such a small trick had injured a demigod, then it would truly be unworthy of its name.
Time to fight for real.
Glintstone swords manifested around its body, dozens of blades attacking, each capable of piercing a shield.
It had hoped the enemy would reveal an opening while blocking, but the silver-haired girl leaped and weaved with leisurely steps. A round of suppressive fire didn't even touch the corner of her clothes. It was an utter disgrace.
Until now, it hadn't even managed to force Frieren to use her defensive measures, nor had she shown any offensive intent.
Are you here for a stroll?
The enraged Red Wolf suddenly leaped and pounced. This was a deliberate opening, but the silver-haired girl didn't fall for it, so it could only continue its attack.
Swoosh!
A stream of glintstone light shot out first, falling towards the airborne Red Wolf. The extremely high mana content indicated the possibility of a large-scale explosion. Did you still think you could dodge this time?
Unexpectedly, Frieren used a ripple to deflect the magic and then switched to her shield.
With a heavy, crisp sound, the Brass Shield blocked the sharp claws. Its old force spent and new force yet to be generated, its movement faltered for a moment. Then, the Grafted Blade Greatsword came crashing down.
"You were too hasty."
Before the words fell, the sharp sword left a bloody gash on the Red Wolf's massive body. The latter rolled in pain to maintain distance.
But the opponent was still pursuing, this time with a continuous barrage of Comets.
Injured, it found it difficult to take to the air to dodge and could only circle around, trading space for reaction time. As a result, it was exhausted from running. Missing just one turn had cost it the initiative in battle, and the rhythm was now firmly in the enemy's grasp.
Comets whizzed past its ears, each streak of light piercing the room and causing explosions, faster and larger, as if adapting.
You're using me as a sparring partner!
However, the Red Wolf suppressed its anger and carefully observed Frieren's movements. They had changed again!
She was actually switching to other magical abilities, not focusing on any single one. There was no time to think further, because an ice mist suddenly enveloped the entire area, filling the room with white fog and intense frost.
______________
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