"Quasi-King or not, it makes no difference to me, but if that's what everyone calls me, I'll accept it. Elemer, was it? Don't act so righteous. You're merely an occupier of this castle, a self-proclaimed guardian of House Marais."
Frieren retorted sharply.
It was just an empty title, something she never cared for, though she admitted it was convenient for intimidating others.
"So it really is you. I don't know if I'm unlucky or fortunate to actually meet the Lord of Cinder... But I cannot let you pass. Unless you leave the prosthesis behind."
"Are all people in the Lands Between so unafraid of death?"
"Your Majesty has been here for too short a time. Under the Erdtree's grace, life and death are of little consequence. What matters is the honor of martial prowess. Any battle on the Altus Plateau can be seen as an offering to the colosseum, even if that weakling king consort shut it down."
"Radagon really is disliked. So that's how everyone sees him, huh."
The silver-haired girl murmured thoughtfully:
"Although I won't choose the Golden Order, an Erdtree that allows everyone to fight without restraint doesn't sound so bad. It should be able to resolve everything."
"No. Even if we are returned to the Erdtree, we are no longer ourselves." He said, "It's similar to how those outside the Lands Between understand death. What's important is the will itself. Your Majesty, I will make you feel it."
Before his words faded, Elemer's greatsword swung down.
CRACK!
This time, Frieren didn't meet the blow. Instead, she moved aside, letting it shatter the weak floor. As expected, both lost their footing and fell from the tower's upper level.
The brief moment of imbalance in the air was the most fatal of openings. Star Shower, in successive bursts. The blue brilliance illuminated the tower's passage, beautiful and sharp, every projectile locked on target.
A direct hit would be enough to riddle the opponent like a sieve—no, it would likely blast them to pieces, regardless of what armor they wore. Ultimately, it comes down to the target's own defense.
At the critical moment, he rolled repeatedly to evade.
A few sharp glintstones still struck him, but they didn't cause the expected damage.
There was something strange about his body. It was as if he were encased in a layer of crimson, transformed into another state of being.
Frieren raised an eyebrow, thinking to herself that she had hardly encountered a single normal creature since arriving on the Altus Plateau. Perhaps the golden blessing, while making them stronger, also made them more resilient to modification, hence their bizarre forms.
The greatsword chopped down!
In the time it takes to blink, Elemer charged towards her position, using the momentum to regain his balance and continue his descent toward the lower levels of the tower.
The two clashed again in mid-air, then retreated a certain distance, landing steadily amidst the ruins as bricks and tiles rained down from above.
The fall from the tower was high enough to be lethal. And they were both wearing armor. To fall with such weight was perilous, yet they landed with perfect stability.
Melina, peering down from above, breathed a sigh of relief, almost thinking they had been injured and preparing to heal them. As expected, Frieren's reaction time was extraordinary, but what about the other one?
That body seemed to have undergone multiple modifications, a far cry from the rumors...
The next moment, she witnessed the two figures clash again. On one side was the Carian Slicer, emphasizing speed; on the other, a greatsword focusing on power. This confrontation was a masterclass of hard and soft styles, fluid in both offense and defense, with afterimages intertwining amidst the dazzling sword light.
Clang! Clang!
Her vision was filled with nothing but the flash of blades.
She had to admit, Elemer's swordsmanship was impressive. Paired with his armor that armed him to the teeth, he was not to be underestimated.
That weapon possessed both weight and sharpness, and his heavy armor and special constitution ensured a high margin for error, allowing him to withstand ordinary aftershocks.
However, he sacrificed speed, a fatal flaw before a magic swordsman.
And it wasn't just Frieren, the caster herself, who was attacking. Simultaneously, Magic Glintblade, Greatblade Phalanx, and Carian Phalanx all swept forth.
In Melina's eyes, it was almost a flicker of blue light, the sharp blades instantly crossing dozens of meters to envelop the target.
It looked like a clash of swordsmanship, but in reality, it was a suppression by magic. A world of difference.
Every blue glintstone sword grazed Elemer's body, either leaving a gash, piercing his armor, or running him through. His defense was as fragile as if it didn't exist.
He hadn't expected the Lord of Cinder's mastery of even such simple magic to be so divine.
"Was I wrong to be on guard against high-tier sorcery all this time?"
Facts proved that the Quasi-King's strength couldn't be judged by common sense. He wasn't even worthy of witnessing her more powerful magic; his opponent could defeat any hero with fundamentals alone.
The use of high-tier sorcery was the domain of the divine, something Elemer could not hope to reach, yet he was utterly fearless.
His injuries didn't affect his movements in the slightest; on the contrary, he grew faster and faster.
"Truly tenacious."
As the one on the offensive, Frieren knew exactly how much damage her target had taken. An ordinary person would have long since been lying motionless.
This required a formidable will, and of course, the foundation laid by years of the golden blessing.
She could feel a faint but firm Grace rooted within Elemer, supporting his battered body and allowing him to retain his combat strength even after thousands of years. If he lacked the guidance of conviction, that Grace would be like a rootless duckweed.
Instantly, her magic sword assault became even fiercer—
Clang!
Suddenly, Elemer unslung the greatshield from his back and actively raised it. The man-high, thick defense blocked the fragile glintstones, which clattered against it, unable to break through.
Almost simultaneously, the more agile Carian Phalanx circled around and sped forth, aiming to attack from behind. This level of maneuver posed no threat to Frieren; she had long anticipated he would use this weapon.
What was unexpected was Elemer roaring as he charged with his shield raised.
He completely disregarded his injuries, betting his final will and strength, channeling all his magic to become a living siege ram. It was too fast.
In the narrow space, there was no room to maneuver; even the escape routes were enveloped by the gale.
So Frieren didn't intend to dodge.
"Too reckless." Saying so, she unleashed a Comet Azur head-on, a response to his straightforward attack.
The highly concentrated energy slammed violently into him, exploding into a cloud of dust and smoke.
Elemer used the momentum to slam his shield into the ground. The surging red energy slightly offset the comet's light, and immediately after, he threw his greatsword!
Clang.
But all he could see was Frieren catching it with perfect stability.
It wasn't a parry, much less a dodge. The mighty, heavy greatsword was tamed by absolute power. She had actually caught the full-force throw with a single hand.
How was that possible? She was, as expected, powerful beyond measure. It was a pity his own strength was spent.
With a thud, his massive body collapsed. Pain and exhaustion rendered Elemer immobile.
"So it's finally over."
Instead of anxiety, he now felt a sense of relief. The long years of toil had finally come to an end. To be sent off by another Quasi-King could even be considered an honor. That was enough.
The next moment, he lost consciousness, his body gradually dissipating. Frieren, who was about to step forward and confirm his condition, let out a long sigh.
The Altus Plateau seemed prosperous on the surface, but in reality, it had been hollowed out by the decay of long ages, a shadow of its former self.
Never mind. Wallowing in sentiment was never Frieren's style. After seeing her enemy off, she began to focus on the spoils of war.
Since the Altus Plateau was on its last breath, she should choose to restore it. That was all. Just like the path she herself was walking, the power of the collected Great Runes would naturally make it possible in the future.
The urgent task now was to examine her new collection:
[Marais Executioner's Sword]
The plain-looking greatsword in her hand. It seemed its previous wielder hadn't had time to activate its weapon skill. Perhaps its mechanics were lacking, forcing a stable, cautious approach against a strong foe?
Fortunately, its stat bonuses were good, and upon closer inspection, its material was extraordinary—sharp and sturdy, with strong magic conductivity.
What was its origin?
[The lord of the Shaded Castle, also of the executioner's stock.]
[One of the legendary armaments, the treasured sword of House Marais.]
[The Marais family has a tradition of the head of the house becoming an executioner. This sword, stained with blood and warped by curses, became Elemer's own weapon. He bestowed upon it the weapon skill of his homeland, Eochaid.]
[Weapon Skill: Eochaid's Dancing Blade]
[A skill where one imbues the sword with energy, spins it, and then launches it forward.]
[The entire sword will spin violently, dealing continuous damage.]
[By charging the attack, its flight distance and rotation time can be increased.]
Though unassuming, it was one of the legendary armaments. But based on the description alone, what made it 'legendary'? It didn't feel as impressive as the Sword of Night and Flame. Perhaps its legacy was simply ancient.
Dancing blade! The red spiral that thrusts toward the target has multiple hits. Its strength lies in its surprise factor and ability to interrupt, allowing one to control the rhythm of battle.
The reason Elemer didn't use it earlier was likely because he judged that her speed and safe distance would render it a wasted effort.
The weapon skill could be replicated with magic. She had done similar things more than once. A sudden use in close combat would be absolutely devastating.
No wonder it was called a legendary weapon. If Frieren were to use it, she could bring about earth-shattering changes. This was a weapon with a very high skill ceiling.
It's a weapon where the strong get stronger, while an average user might struggle to find an opportunity to unleash it. A fully charged attack would be even stronger, capable of accumulating a large amount of damage in a short time.
If Elemer had successfully used it just once, he might have been able to wound her. But alas, the greatsword's master was in too poor a state and wasted the opportunity.
Next, she looked expectantly at the other item: [Briar Greatshield]
[An exotic greatshield bound with iron thorns, the weapon of 'Elemer of the Briar'.]
[The iron briars on the shield's face can also be used for attack.]
[That exotic land is named Eochaid, a place of proud ascetics.]
The silver-haired girl murmured the unfamiliar name, mulling it over. She had been a ruler for a long time and received intelligence from all corners, yet she had never heard of it. Could it be like the so-called Land of Reeds, merely background lore?
Just then, Melina came to her side. Seeing her partner's confusion, she took the initiative to explain:
"The Lands Between has many things from the outside. Just as others see us as being beyond the fog, so too do we see them. No one knows how many wonders exist in the outside world. I have heard a little about Eochaid, only that they are skilled in ascetic training, elevating themselves through discipline."
She also mentioned some unsubstantiated rumors.
This kind of orally transmitted information is hard to record in writing and often only appears in specific, related contexts. Only a thousand-year traveler would know a bit about it.
It was nothing strange.
Now, the Briar Greatshield was more interesting. The silver-haired girl held it with one hand, then both, and practiced some basic moves like blocking, parrying, and shield bashing, though it looked a bit clumsy with her small frame.
Frieren had used a Brass Shield at the very beginning, but that was only a medium shield.
Under her use, the towering heavy greatshield moved very slowly, making her look like a small animal with a thick tortoise shell, tumbling around.
"It doesn't suit you at all."
"I know. I just heard shield pokes are very strong, so I wanted to try it out. It might be useful someday."
Melina couldn't be bothered to ask where she'd heard that. Anyway, her partner's style was to constantly try new weapons and moves, making every battle different, for the sheer enjoyment of it.
The conclusion was that it was lacking and not good enough. If there were a more powerful shield, she might consider building a strategy around it.
It seemed the [Briar Greatshield] was destined for the collection, but the [Marais Executioner's Sword] was usable.
After reaching a basic assessment, she checked the 'advice', since one person's judgment isn't always comprehensive and she didn't want to miss any hidden mechanics.
[Combo, and combo again, so satisfying.]
[It's definitely usable, but not a crutch. It's still skill-dependent, you have to find the right opportunity to use it.]
[Sorry, I can't do it. I miss the wind-up every time. Either I whiff or I get interrupted. I'm going back to my hound-fang, a flexible, low-stance weapon suits me better.]
[There are too many choices for greatswords, no need for the Executioner's Sword.]
[As a legendary weapon, it's commendable. If paired with combo talismans, the damage is indeed good, but the build comes online too late, not something to consider for a first playthrough.]
[This shield is no good either. Most importantly, it's ugly.]
[For shield pokes, I only recognize the Fingerprint Stone Shield, the one and only dedicated weapon for that build. It may be an ugly way to fight, but I must win.]
[If you use buffs, physick flasks, and the like, you can settle for other greatshields. After all, you have to consider the time and difficulty to get the build online.]
[I was originally a mage build, because it's easy to develop in the early game and you can just steamroll everything. Later I switched to a shield poke build, and it was still super easy. That's when I realized, the one who was strong all along was me.]
[I suggest switching to shield poke early. Some guys just can't be beaten with normal builds.]
[Does a single solution even exist?]
[You're already at the Altus Plateau, there's no shortage of good stuff. Find all the crutch weapons so you don't suffer later. The more versatile your build, the better, especially considering the Land of Shadow, which is even more absurd. To deal with stat-checked monsters that don't play fair, you have to drop the formalities.]
The conclusions were more or less the same as Frieren's. The key was the information revealed; clearly, everyone had strong opinions about the stat scaling later on.
As expected. The Haligtree and the Land of Shadow would probably not be easy to deal with.
The Royal Capital would most likely be a sprawling maze, easy to get lost in, and constantly at the center of an enemy encirclement. That time would also be trying.
The silver-haired girl clapped her hands and put away her spoils.
"What's the plan now? You must have sensed it too. There are gargoyles circling in the sky, and the Royal Capital's scouts are on the move. As long as we're active on the Altus Plateau, it'll be hard to escape their watch."
"Do we take a portal or go through the valley ruins?"
"Neither. We're taking the Grand Lift road. Morgott had better have withdrawn his garrison, or I'll do him the favor."
Erdtree-Gazing Hill.
A long wind danced through the golden maple leaves. Bathed in the warm light, the grass on the ground swayed, and dandelions seemed to drift in the air.
Parting a clump of bushes, Millicent let out a sigh of relief. She had just dealt with a few living corpses and was finally safe. But she was panting and weary, her left hand holding the sword trembled slightly. It would be trouble if she encountered another enemy.
The enemies on the Altus Plateau were indeed strong, more threatening than those in the south.
Missing a right arm was not just the loss of her dominant hand, but also a disruption of her body's coordination, a fatal flaw for a warrior.
That she had made it this far was largely thanks to her weapon. The more she used it, the more she realized that the Sunlight Straight Sword gifted by Frieren was upgraded to an absurdly high level. It cut through iron like mud, unstoppable, and could deal high damage to any enemy.
Both its reinforcement level and the traces of magic left by its user pushed it to the pinnacle. With a bit more tempering, it would soon be legendary.
"But how much further can I go with you? Have I reached my limit?"
Millicent murmured to herself as she examined the straight sword. The road ahead was vast, but for her, it was filled with challenges.
To lack the strength was the greatest source of unwillingness, but she would not stop. A true swordswoman would not be deterred by such a minor obstacle. On the contrary, her skills would advance further. This land, filled with the golden blessing, was the perfect stage.
Feeling the radiance of the Erdtree seemed to even slow the progression of her Scarlet Rot injuries.
Clip-clop!
Suddenly, the wind carried the abrupt sound of horse's hooves. She immediately gripped her sword hilt, but after a breath, she gradually relaxed, sheathing her sword and lowering her guard, because the sound of the hooves was all too familiar.
After hearing it enough times, you remember. It was unique in all the Lands Between: the Spirit Steed Torrent, the beast of the chosen king.
Sure enough, from a distance, she saw Frieren waving a greeting.
The long wind blew through her silver hair. She looked travel-worn, as if she had just been through a great battle, yet she seemed even more spirited than when she first arrived on the Altus Plateau.
Sitting sideways behind her, Melina gazed at the Erdtree, occasionally making a prayer-like gesture.
This pair was certainly conspicuous.
As they approached, the hiding and wandering living corpses and other monsters fled for their lives, desperate to get away.
They couldn't withstand such a terrifyingly oppressive presence. It was best to keep a distance to avoid being casually dispatched.
In a few breaths, Torrent was right before them. Melina took the reins while Frieren leaped down.
"What's so urgent? Or were you looking for me?"
Millicent was puzzled. Logically, the two of them shared no close connection, yet fate always seemed to have them part ways and reunite multiple times.
That life-and-death battle in Caelid had forged an unbreakable bond. To meet again so soon after parting in the vast Altus Plateau was truly moving, and the weariness in her heart was swept away.
She saw Frieren holding out a long, slender metal arm, exquisite and light, with a lustrous texture.
"The genuine article. It took me a bit of effort to get it, but it should work."
"Where did you find it?"
Then, Millicent heard a brief account of the adventure, surprised that there existed someone who admired Malenia so much as to even collect her prosthesis. But what shocked her most was Frieren's incredible efficiency. She acted as soon as she spoke, moving like lightning.
She didn't know where the intelligence came from, but for a Quasi-King to remember it and act upon it was a great honor.
Millicent watched as the silver-haired girl casually offered the prosthesis and couldn't help but smile. Her counterpart didn't treat it as a favor at all, but rather like picking something up for a friend along the way, an obstacle not even worth mentioning.
The heavily corrupted Shaded Castle was no tourist spot to be brushed aside lightly.
"So you're giving it to me... I've been in your care all this time, yet I have nothing to give in return."
"You've already helped me a few times. Besides, consider it an investment. I believe in Millicent's potential."
The red-haired girl solemnly accepted the prosthesis. Acting on instinct, she fitted it to the stump of her severed arm, and surprisingly, it fit perfectly.
She tried moving it a few times and felt no discomfort.
This sight made Frieren and Melina exchange a look, a deeper meaning in their eyes. Their guess was correct. She definitely had a profound connection with the Valkyrie Malenia, likely involving some secret. Her origins were significant.
It was worth the trip. As long as they had a lead, it was a gain.
Immersed in her restored health, Millicent immediately tried switching to her right hand for the sword. It felt a little unfamiliar, but she was certain she could take her strength to the next level.
She just needed some time.
"Thanks to you, I can finally wield my sword again. Otherwise, this would have been the end for me..."
"We're heading back south now, and will come back later to explore the Altus Plateau in detail. What are your plans for the near future?"
"In that case, I'll stay on the Altus Plateau and retrain myself to use the Flowing Sword style with the prosthesis—no, seeing your sword techniques has given me new insight. I will advance even further."
Millicent clenched her right hand, which made a mechanical whirring sound.
"When I become stronger, I can repay your kindness. Let's fight side-by-side then."
Frieren nodded enthusiastically. In her eyes, Millicent was the strongest sword fighter she had met so far in the Lands Between, not even the Demi-Human Sword Saint could compare.
A tempered will combined with the power of a whole body would push her to new heights, and could also inspire Frieren herself. That's why she never held back in helping; it was always better for friends to become stronger.
This connection would not be broken. Perhaps it would only be revealed at the Haligtree.
The silver-haired girl mounted her horse again, took the reins from Melina, and turned towards the Grand Lift road.
Then, she cast a Sunlight Heal and added a final piece of advice: "The reason you were injured was also because you were lost. Don't worry about your identity, and don't dwell on your connection to Malenia. You are you. The swordswoman I admire is Millicent."
"The next time I ascend the Altus Plateau, you will likely witness a grand war. I'm calling on your help in advance."
With that, Frieren spurred her horse and galloped away at full speed, as decisive as when she arrived, without a single look back.
Left behind, Millicent watched them go for a long time. She saw Melina, on the back, also wave her hand in farewell. They were truly a carefree pair, perhaps the most unrestrained people in the Lands Between.
"A destined war in the future? To end the chaos that followed the Night of the Black Knives?"
If it were an ordinary person making such a claim, she would dismiss it as boasting. But a Quasi-King's judgment itself shapes the landscape of the Lands Between, and this one wasn't a loner like Vyke or Bernahl.
Under Frieren's command, the entire south was sharpening its blades, and sooner or later, a world-shaking third siege would erupt.
She started walking in the opposite direction.
____
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