Nepheli cast aside her chaotic thoughts, aiming at the murderous enemy before her.
It didn't matter whether the Omenkiller was ordered here or was just looting amidst the chaos; today, he had walked right into her sights and had to be dealt with harshly.
This group, claiming to hunt Omens, were themselves extremely violent. Their composition was a mixed bag, more like they used hatred to package a reason for slaughter. Moreover, his hands were stained with the blood of the Albinauric villagers.
She had to avenge them.
Or perhaps, avenge the tragedy of her own childhood.
"Just you?"
The Omenkiller sneered.
"I've killed too many warriors for you to have even heard of."
He was more focused on the Shardbearing Lord's movements. As a result, Frieren put away her staff and switched to holding an uchigatana, completely abandoning her sorcerer abilities – an act of utter foolishness.
Although this underestimation of himself made the Omenkiller's veins throb, it was, after all, an opportunity. Otherwise, he had no confidence in surviving against the foremost sorcerer in the Lands Between. Now, there was a sliver of a chance to escape...
Clang!
Unexpectedly, the female warrior charged forward first, her battle-axe crashing against his greatmace with a crisp sound.
However, the Omenkiller's greatmace was covered in serrations. With a slight twist and hook, it actually bit into the sharp edge of the axe. Simultaneously, the greatmace in his other hand swung viciously towards his target's face.
But a long blade easily parried it.
Amidst the sparks of friction, he clearly saw Frieren effortlessly neutralize the blow. Despite the disparity in weapons and physique, her movements were fluid.
This parry caused the hunter a brief moment of hesitation. He hastily rolled to narrowly avoid Nepheli's opportunistic follow-up attack.
"Thank you. Unfortunately, I still couldn't perform at my best."
"Don't worry about it. I'm here. I don't care about your combat performance; I only want to see Nepheli's warrior heart."
The two charged simultaneously, one defensive, one offensive, with Frieren's parries protecting her teammate's safety. Several attacks from the Omenkiller missed, making him sweat profusely.
Even with his Omen helm, his panic was evident. Although the silver-haired girl didn't actively attack, she controlled the rhythm of the battle. He was just a hair's breadth away from defeat.
Crack!
Nepheli's ferocious attack actually caused a crack to appear on the surface of the greatmace.
Her movements became faster, her attack paths clear yet unpredictable. Each strike was more powerful than the last, and an icy storm seemed to swirl around her – a true warrior of the south. Her condition was improving at a visible rate!
Frieren only needed to maintain support, already reducing her defensive aid and instead focusing on blocking the target's escape routes. This fiend could not be allowed to escape; his corpse would serve as an example of the consequences of causing trouble in Liurnia – killing a chicken to scare the monkeys, for the sake of order.
In contrast, the Omenkiller was drenched in sweat. He hadn't expected the warrior he initially looked down upon to be so strong!
"It is you who are ignorant. Here in the south, she is a recognized expert,"
the silver-haired girl said with a mocking smile.
"Damn you—"
He suddenly threw hidden throwing knives. Amidst a series of sharp clangs, they were parried. Taking advantage of the opening, the Omenkiller threw down a smoke bomb to conceal himself.
The set of actions was fluid, clearly executed many times before.
But it was useless within Frieren's range of perception. The next moment, she once again used the Gravity Well sorcery. The immense pulling force sent the Omenkiller flying back, unable to even grab onto anything fixed.
When he once again faced the two Tarnished, he was panic-stricken. After all, even his hope of escape had been crushed.
The Omenkiller roared in anger, swinging his greatmaces haphazardly.
Ironically, the perpetrator was the first to lose his fighting spirit.
Now he understood completely: being targeted by a Shardbearing Lord meant there was absolutely no escape. If this person hadn't been specifically creating opportunities for her teammate, it would have been over long ago. This humiliation and despair were enough to crush a person.
Thud!
Seizing an opening, Nepheli struck his abdomen hard with the side of her battle-axe. In an instant, his organs churned, and he vomited blood, flying backward as if boneless.
"That felt good. This is the end."
She laughed heartily.
"Since you are the Queen of Liurnia, you shall carry out the execution."
After venting her anger, Nepheli felt much more at ease.
Frieren nodded and walked forward, only to see the heavily injured Omenkiller waving his hands, begging for mercy.
"I know information about this place. Can I trade it for my life, Your Majesty?"
"You must have heard similar pleas many times, haven't you? How did you respond?"
Hearing this, he stunned for a moment. The next instant, a cold sensation touched his neck and chest as a sharp blade pierced his heart, killing him instantly.
The Omenkiller's evil deeds had ended, buried along with the slaughter he committed under the guise of hunting. In the Lands Between, such extremist types loved to stir up trouble; they were chaotic factors unacceptable to the side of order and deserved to be eliminated.
Obtained the [Crucible Knot Talisman] item.
[A talisman fashioned from a knot that is said to have grown on the human body in ancient times, embodying the myriad forms of life.]
[Reduces damage and impact from headshots.]
[This is a remnant of the Crucible, the primordial form of life.]
[It is also a localized atavism, holding sacred meaning in ancient times.]
[However, after the development of civilization, it came to be regarded as a symbol of defilement.]
The effect was better than nothing, but it wasn't outstanding among Frieren's many treasures. However, the description held some value. It corroborated the history of the Lands Between: Omen were not always called Omen; they were once a sign of blessing.
The appearance of the Crucible's myriad forms should have been considered auspicious. However, after Eternal Queen Marika constructed the laws of the soul's return system, it became a different matter.
Never mind.
This wasn't the main point. Issues like the Omen Bairn weren't something she needed to consider from her current standpoint. It wouldn't be too late to think about it once she sat on the throne of the Elden Lord.
After putting away the talisman, she asked,
"What are your plans now? Are you going to question Sir Gideon Ofnir?"
"Yes, I want to see my adoptive father's true self."
"Consider this me speaking ill of someone behind their back: with Sir Gideon Ofnir's personality, he won't give you a direct answer, or he might not care at all. His considerations are far above the life of a single village. He secretly understands many conspiracies, like a detached observer."
"I know. It's just a matter of seeking an answer. I hope this won't affect your animosity towards my adoptive father. At least, you shouldn't be enemies now."
The mature Nepheli had to consider the bigger picture; she couldn't let Frieren become hostile towards the Roundtable.
If the two leading figures among the Tarnished today had a falling out, the Roundtable Hold would face a major collapse.
"Rest assured, I'm not one to fuss over minor details. Everyone has their own calculations and considerations."
The silver-haired girl glanced around.
"And I vaguely sense other life signs. There might be survivors."
"That's great!"
Hearing this news, Nepheli breathed a sigh of relief. In a way, it was a form of redemption, and at least a comfort to the heart.
"Provided we can find this clever hider..."
Although she said that, Frieren had actually already locked onto a general area. The target was a large jar.
A decent illusion.
No wonder it could deceive the village's murderers. But in Frieren's eyes, it wasn't good enough.
She gave Nepheli a look, and the latter followed her to a large, sealed jar. Its exterior was mottled, and it exuded the smell of fermenting spices.
Anyone would think it was a common fermentation jar found in a village.
However, for some reason, the female warrior felt the jar in front of her trembling slightly, terrified by their intense scrutiny. Why? Unfortunately, she really didn't understand much about magic.
"If there is a survivor, I will definitely keep his secret,"
Nepheli said resolutely.
"You're catching on. But Sir Gideon Ofnir will always find a way to verify."
"Huh?"
"It doesn't matter. This is Liurnia, under the jurisdiction of the new Shardbearing Lord. He's not the type to become hostile over such a small matter."
Frieren's tone was unquestionable, like a promise.
Nepheli nodded. Indeed, it was often said that the Lady of Soul Cinders was wary of the Roundtable elder, but in reality, Sir Gideon Ofnir was even more cautious of this newcomer.
If he didn't care about Frieren's face, he wouldn't have hastily retreated his forces.
"Alright, you've heard what you needed to. Show yourself. I will heal you."
Before her voice fell, the jar's illusion dispelled.
Inside was an old man with a long white beard and a hunched back. He heaved a heartfelt sigh of relief.
"It seems you are not with those fiends. My name is Albus, respected demigod. I offer you my sincerest greetings."
"You're injured. We need to treat that first..."
At the same time, a healing power lit up in Frieren's hands, but the old man waved his hand to stop her, showing no desire to live.
Even the strongest magic couldn't save a life that didn't want to be saved. So, she could only stop. For the people of this village, the end of the world had already occurred; there was no need to continue struggling to survive.
"This village has been utterly destroyed. Those damned curse-bearers ruined everything. There are no sane people left."
"Then what is your wish?"
"I beg Your Majesty, take this medallion. Don't let it fall into the hands of villains."
Albus tremblingly handed over the right half of the Haligtree Secret Medallion. It felt heavy, made of metal, with intricate relief totems and a special magical imprint.
"Also, if you meet an Albinauric girl named Latenna, please give this to her. For us Albinaurics, there is a paradise in this world, a land that this medallion can unlock as a key."
"We can no longer move. It's useless for us to hold onto it. It's better to give it to Latenna. She will need the medallion to fulfill her mission."
"Understood."
Frieren nodded solemnly.
At this moment, the old man's feet began to disappear. This was the end for Albinaurics, inevitable.
She knelt on one knee, hands clasped, witnessing Albus disappear with the rites of a priest. His wish fulfilled, he no longer needed to remain in this world of suffering.
Witnessing this scene, Nepheli sighed, covering her face. She had thought that finally finding a survivor would bring some comfort, proving she hadn't arrived too late. But in the end, he still died. She didn't know if his soul would be safe.
Before the founder of soul sorcery, his soul should be able to pass on peacefully.
After a moment, the silver-haired girl stood up. She had actually taken the opportunity to check the guidance on the ground. Sure enough, a kind player had indicated Latenna's whereabouts. Since that was the case, there was no need to delay.
"I know where she is. We're leaving immediately. What do you plan to do?"
"Return to the Roundtable Hold."
Nepheli, who abhorred evil, answered resolutely. Even if she mostly guessed the answer, she had to express it clearly in person.
Everyone has their own unshakable will, so Frieren wouldn't stop or dissuade her, even if this friend might encounter danger. Of course, given Sir Gideon Ofnir's personality, he probably wouldn't make a big deal out of it – just the massacre of a village and a rebellious child.
The female warrior waved goodbye, her figure appearing somewhat rushed, as if everything in the Albinauric Village was condemning her, and she had to hurry back.
Suddenly, she stopped and turned, saying loudly:
"Frieren, the guild you established in Stormveil Castle and the protection you offer to the Tarnished allow us to live like mercenaries. Since we are summoned by Grace, we should be righteous people. Thank you for giving my comrades this chance."
"Opportunities are seized by oneself, but I hear from reports that everyone is doing well."
"My adoptive father once said that no one in the world could become a true king. I think Sir Gideon Ofnir also miscalculates sometimes. He speaks from the perspective of the system, thinking that knowing secrets others don't allows him to make assertions from on high."
"—Utterly wrong. A king reigns because of strength and character; it is the will of the people. Frieren, you undoubtedly possess the grace of an Elden Lord."
"Farewell."
Nepheli smiled and then strode away.
Frieren, remaining behind, pondered why Sir Gideon Ofnir believed no more kings would arise. Was the reason in the Golden Order's system?
Never mind. She shouldn't follow the train of thought of such a cryptic person.
Regardless, she would reign in the Royal Capital. It was no longer just for herself; too many people hoped for the Lady of Soul Cinders to rule the Lands Between. She couldn't ignore the enthusiasm of those who had supported her along the way.
"That warrior has a sense of a shattered worldview about her,"
Melina murmured.
"After all, the faith she has held onto for so long has been negated. It's truly regrettable."
"She'll get through it. The key is not to get caught up in one's own head. There are always more solutions than difficulties."
"Perhaps I too will face such a day."
"I'll be here."
Frieren's light words made her pause slightly. Indeed, there probably wasn't anything in the world that could shake a Tarnished. This firmness unconsciously infected others.
If not for Frieren's resolute example, Nepheli would likely be even more lost.
And what about herself? Since Melina learned about the Land of Shadow and a series of secrets hidden by Marika, her mission no longer felt so grand.
She should understand the full picture of things, not arbitrarily add fantasies about sacrificing herself to save the world. Not for her own life, but to help her partner understand more of the truth of the Lands Between before making a decision.
"Also, that secret medallion refers to the Haligtree. How much do you know about it?"
"I only know it's a paradise nurtured by the Empyrean Miquella, the stronghold of Malenia, Blade of Miquella... But why did Albus think they wouldn't be rejected there?"
"Because its creator advocated for the equality of all races. Everyone worked together to build the Haligtree; even Albinaurics were active there."
"That's a formidable ideal."
Frieren thought highly of Miquella's achievements.
Advocating for tolerance in the Lands Between was too difficult. Admittedly, apart from special existences like Omens and the Frenzied Flame, other Albinaurics were somewhat affected by discrimination, but prejudice wasn't so easily dispelled.
Since the Haligtree still stood, it proved that this path had been walked, and quite far at that.
"So this secret medallion leads to a paradise."
Muttering to herself, Frieren weighed the treasure a few times. She had no desire to covet it; a promise made should be kept. But she was very interested in the Haligtree.
The northernmost point?
Unfortunately, it was too far. If she couldn't even get past the Altus Plateau, everything else was useless. The paradise created by an Empyrean's own hands could only be explored later. Anyway, she would have to see it sooner or later.
"Although Miquella is missing, if you had to choose between him and Ranni, how would they compare?"
"I haven't met him in person... If I were to judge solely by his deeds: a very capable and charismatic natural leader."
"Therefore, more people feel that besides Marika, Miquella is the most suitable to be a god."
"Regardless, I have to see for myself to know. I still have some judgment when it comes to people."
Melina couldn't help but feel regretful.
"Is that your sharp eye for people? You just aren't afraid of being tricked, so you try things out yourself. You clearly trust everyone you meet and grant every request."
She changed her tone,
"But perhaps that's what makes a true ruler: trusting everyone and not hesitating to lend a hand."
"To clarify, except for Patches."
"I won't take up any more of your time. Since you know Latenna's location, you should set off quickly. According to your principles, helping one more person means one more ally."
Hearing this, Frieren immediately summoned Torrent, and Melina sat behind her as they headed towards the lakeside cave.
If Melina were to evaluate, Miquella, with his brilliant achievements, had an air of transcendence, as if observing the integration of each race from an overlooking position. This atmosphere was the same as when her partner researched magic.
Although one should judge by deeds and not by heart, it was imperative to see Miquella clearly. Of course, no matter which one she chose, as a Finger Maiden, she would support them to the end.
Half a day later.
Torrent, having galloped continuously, arrived before a crystal cave.
A chilling air rushed out, rare in Liurnia, which experienced summer year-round. One could imagine it was quite deep below. A closer look revealed signs of fighting on the cave walls; monsters likely lurked within.
After dismounting, Frieren lit a Site of Grace, equipping her staff and shield as usual.
It wasn't about her strength; one could never be too careful when exploring a labyrinth. Strong enemies would likely attack head-on, but these creatures hiding in dark corners had no such inhibitions.
As expected, monsters appeared.
They resembled snails, raising their heads to spew crystal projectiles. Even though their speed wasn't fast, their numbers made them a significant threat.
Facing this type of simple attack pattern, she chose to use Thops's Barrier to reflect them. With a bang, under her exquisite mana control, the projectiles returned along their original path, exploding and shattering several monsters. It wasn't over; next came Frieren's barrage.
Cannon of Haima!
The attack, combined with immense magical power, instantly overwhelmed the targets, sending flesh and blood flying.
Frieren never showed mercy to non-human monsters, treating it as an opportunity to test new sorcery. Thus, the Cannon of Haima whistled from her hand, each projectile exploding with a shockwave. Earth and stone flew violently; flames swept through.
These attackers had assumed their enemy would be wary of the narrow terrain, but they saw the silver-haired girl bombarding them wantonly.
If there was a cave-in, she would block it with her shield; if rocks fell, she would dodge. As for fire and smoke, she mostly ignored them. Her powerful physique and immense mana overwhelmed the cave battlefield, and the targets fell one after another.
After a moment, the foothold at the entrance was finally clear.
There was another reason for her ruthless approach: this place was not far from the ruined area soon to be rebuilt. Releasing a group of monsters would be troublesome.
Rather than waiting for them to come out and cause trouble, it was better to take the initiative and clear them out.
Liurnia of the Lakes was the next key area of operation and could not afford any losses. So, upon seeing these monsters, Frieren exterminated them with lightning speed.
"Truly exaggerated."
It was the first time Melina had witnessed someone blasting their way through a cave combat environment. It highlighted a bold, death-defying approach. What if it triggered a landslide? The commotion would only be greater... Wait, there was a protective barrier on the periphery.
The caster had thought of what she had thought, so she had preemptively separated the dome with a defensive barrier.
As long as the supporting rocks weren't destroyed, it would be difficult to trigger a large chain-reaction collapse.
Meticulous amidst the recklessness; truly Frieren's combat experience. Melina, relieved, followed her steps downward. Beneath their feet was a spiraling slope extending into the darkness.
The cave generally descended in a spiral.
At the same time, she felt an immense spiritual power continuously scanning. Such extravagant output could only be sustained by a demigod, but it was being used in a way most people would never imagine: treasure hunting.
Since entering the cave, Frieren had been fighting and searching for treasure simultaneously, not missing a single nook or cranny.
"Finally found it! A place like this should have a treasure chest!"
In just a short while, Melina witnessed her partner hurriedly run over. She had actually found it. Regarding her sense for treasure chests, Melina was indeed far inferior. Even in the Lands Between, few people were interested in dust-covered things, deeming them dangerous.
Obtained [Spear Talisman] item.
[A talisman engraved with the figure of a spear and a soldier. Enhances the counterattack of piercing thrusts.]
[In the Lands Between, spears are common weapons for soldiers.]
[When facing a strong enemy, it can sometimes deliver an effective counterattack.]
After glancing at the description, Frieren looked slightly disappointed. Neither the talisman's effect nor its introduction held any special value; she had no use for it.
It was a collectible, at any rate. According to player comments, "shield poke" builds sometimes found it useful. What if she needed it later?
After taking the treasure, the silver-haired girl continued forward. It turned out the crystal cave was even deeper than imagined, descending almost vertically. Many monsters lay in ambush in the crevices of the surrounding rock walls, launching ranged attacks.
Rumble!
What awaited them, of course, was an even stronger counterattack. None were spared. Precision strikes combined with power, and monster corpses continuously fell from above, smashing into pieces.
Suddenly, Melina noticed Frieren's pace gradually slowing. She crouched low, ready to pounce. Then, a Bloodhound Knight climbed up the side of the cave wall, roaring insanely towards them.
He wore full armor that glinted with metallic luster even in the darkness, looking imposing and valiant.
"...Fighting in this environment, be careful. Keep a close eye on the enemy's movements."
"Of course. I can't give him an opportunity."
The continuous explosions had attracted the Bloodhound Knight's attention. Relying on combat instinct, he made several leaps and actually climbed to the other side of the rock wall, eyeing them.
He didn't attack proactively but waited for the monsters to gather. As expected, they accumulated magic and aimed at the target from all directions. Even the strongest defense would have a weak point, and that would be his time to reap.
Moreover, he could bombard the rocks to cause a cave-in. Even if this intruder was strong, she would be injured, giving him a chance to kill her!
Swoosh!
However, no one expected the silver-haired girl to leap into the darkness, actively plunging towards the bottom of the cave.
_______
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