The main road outside Shadow Keep.
The commander's banner of the Carian army fluttered in the wind as swift hooves thundered, kicking up dust as they galloped toward the main gate.
Though only a small squad, they were all elite sorcerer-knights, led by none other than Rellana and Ranni, who had rushed to the scene the moment they received the battle report.
The garrison on the city walls immediately signaled to receive them.
In fact, the defensive fortifications had long been lowered, and they were even actively clearing space to avoid getting in the way when the main army assembled.
As a battle-hardened general, the Twin Moon Knight naturally recognized this at a glance.
"It seems Messmer has responded to Frieren's arrangements and is about to deploy the main army."
Ranni had expected a bitter fight, or that she would need to mobilize a portion of the Carian army to apply pressure. But in the end, there was no unpleasantness; Shadow Keep had been swept clean with the force of a whirlwind, which was unexpected.
She didn't believe for a second it was achieved through pleasantries and consensus; the scorch marks on the castle walls were a clear sign of conflict.
As expected of Frieren, to conquer Shadow Keep single-handedly.
Although the Mimic Tear and Melina were powerful allies, her Majesty's personality would never allow the task of conquest to be left to others. She had to explore and fight personally to be satisfied.
Shadow Keep must have been quite a thrill for her.
Every piece of news about Frieren brought Ranni a pleasant surprise, and her worries about Miquella's plans eased slightly.
The heavy city gates opened even wider, now large enough for a great army to pass through, unlike the small clearance granted just moments before. This was not only a gesture of friendship to the small squad but also a preparation for the full-scale entry of the Carian army. This place would become their staging ground.
Everyone was familiar with the sight of the Crusade Army assembling in the old days; they hadn't expected to see it re-enacted so soon.
A good number of them hadn't even seen each other in centuries.
After all, Marika's seal had created an awkward situation within the Crusade Army. On one side were the core troops of the Golden Order who had been betrayed; on the other were the foreign reinforcements who had been left hanging.
Otherwise, the two sides might have even clashed in a civil war. Given their boiling rage, it was a wonder they managed to remain calm as a whole. Fortunately, all of that was now in the past.
As the gates swung open, the one who came to greet them was none other than Gaius, the Boar Knight.
"It has been a long time, Lady Rellana."
"It is good to see you well. Your martial skill seems to have improved again; you truly have not neglected your training."
"Because I have been waiting for the change that was destined to come." The adjutant turned to the blue-haired doll and bowed deeply. "You must be the Empyrean, Princess Ranni."
His etiquette was flawless, leaving no room for criticism. As expected of Caria, with its profound heritage and learning.
As the sister of his fellow apprentice Radahn, she surely understood her brother. Gaius dearly wanted to ask about the events of the past to mourn his friend, but now was not the time. So, he stepped aside and made an inviting gesture.
"I will show you the way. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. I promise to tell you everything I know."
Ranni immediately asked, "How did her Majesty get in?"
Gaius recounted the entire sequence of events, including how Frieren had infiltrated after defeating the Golden Hippopotamus. The Crusade Army, disciplined as they were, had remained completely unaware, allowing three living people to slip away right under their noses.
Had it been anyone else, they would have considered it a great humiliation, but the strongest of the quasi-kings was indeed a person of many means.
Even Ranni was astonished to hear that Frieren had infiltrated the castle. She hadn't thought her capable of such a feat. Just how many tricks did her Majesty have up her sleeve to maintain such a thoroughly adventurous style? Even the Crusade Army held no resentment, only a single thought:
In a real battle, a top-tier sorcerer skilled in stealth could strike from the heart of their formation, potentially wiping out the entire army.
Furthermore, no one could ignore the two Aeonian Flowers she wore in her hair.
"Sir Gaius, what is your opinion of her Majesty's leadership?"
"Your Highness, I believe she proved herself long ago in the Frenzied Flame Village and at Jagged Peak. She is a monarch who cares for all living things. I believe that Frieren and you can forge a better Lands Between."
There was not a hint of flattery in his words, only a statement of fact. That monarch's charisma was plain for all to see.
The group entered the storehouse.
From here, they finally saw clear signs of battle. The air was still thick with the potent residue of magic, a testament to the intensity of the previous fight. Traces of Scarlet Rot fire, Ancient Dragons' Lightning Strike, and Glintstone Sorcery were everywhere.
The walls were studded with glintstone fragments; even the debris carried by the shockwaves possessed such destructive power.
Frieren likely hadn't held back much, suppressing them with brute force.
"I hope Messmer wasn't too badly injured."
Rellana clicked her tongue as she observed the escalating battle damage. Given her lover's stubborn nature, he was bound to have taken a beating, especially in front of his sister's consort.
Gaius smiled faintly. "Rest assured. You certainly know her Majesty's and Lady Melina's healing abilities better than we do. The commander has almost fully recovered. He is just ahead."
The door to the inner sanctum was open. Messmer was seated in the main chair, with a few bandages still visible, but his overall presence was intact.
He nodded in greeting but did not rise, as a Perfumer was still applying medicine beside him.
"You must be the Moon Princess that Rellana so often speaks of?"
"—And you look like you got yourself beaten for being a blockhead again." The sharp-tongued Rellana snorted, a mix of heartache and reproach in her tone.
She had tried more than once to persuade him to side with the Soul Cinder King, but it seemed a fight was unavoidable in the end.
"It's fine. I'll be ready for the decisive battle at the Spiral Tower."
A top-tier demigod's regenerative abilities were formidable, and the healing from Frieren and Melina had laid a solid foundation. So, though Messmer appeared injured, he would soon regain his full combat strength, perhaps even demonstrating greater power fueled by his strengthened resolve.
He felt an unprecedented sense of completion and could hardly wait to finally settle the score with the Horned Folk.
Ranni looked around and asked, "Where are they? I don't see them."
"I took them to the Shaman Village. They probably needed some rest, but I'm sure it won't be for long. The Soul Cinder King isn't the type to sit idle. She should be here soon."
"Little Princess, you should pay more attention to your own monarch instead of always being so aloof," Rellana chided, shifting slightly.
The elder's reminder made her slightly embarrassed.
"The Divine Gate is an opportunity for you as well, Ranni. Fight alongside her Majesty in the final battle. Since you are to be the future God and King, prepare yourselves. You must defeat the false god and king of the present."
Messmer added, "In a moment, I also have information on the apotheosis ritual to show you."
The sky over the Shaman Village gradually took on the color of twilight.
"...And so, I defeated Gwyn, Lord of Cinder, rejected the temptation of the Great Rune, and ultimately chose to link the Fire."
Frieren murmured with a nostalgic expression, "The light was able to continue, at least in that era. The curse of the Undead was still a peculiar plague confined to a few regions. Overall, the world still moved forward. Beyond Lordran, in the vaster lands, the nations of men were still active."
"Although I never went there, I firmly believed they deserved a sliver of hope. So I linked the Fire."
"It was also a way to honor the comrades I met along the way."
Having concluded her tale, the silver-haired girl leaned against a tree and let out a long sigh, feeling lighthearted. This long-overdue recollection of the past glowed faintly as she spoke it aloud.
To the story of once being the Chosen Undead.
After Frieren fell silent, Melina was still savoring the story for a long time. Though her partner's account was not detailed, the cause and effect were clear. It was a soul-stirring epic of hardship and perseverance.
It was hard to imagine how the fledgling Tarnished—no, the Chosen Undead—had endured it all back then.
It was also no wonder why Frieren held His will in such high esteem.
"Wait, this doesn't match some of the fragments you've mentioned before..." Melina suddenly realized. "Could it be you went back again later? Only, the First Flame then was not as vigorous as it was in the time of the Undead..."
She didn't quite understand the fate of that distant land outside The Lands Between, but the weariness in Frieren's brow was unconcealed.
Ultimately, it was a difficult puzzle.
The Linking of the Fire was destined to dim from its very inception. How were later generations to choose?
Even if Frieren had accomplished the monumental feat of a destined Undead turning the tide, she could not change the systemic decay. When faced with the choice once more, could she be as decisive as she was back then?
"That's all for today. It's getting late, we should head back. I can feel that Ranni and Rellana have already reached the inner sanctum."
Hearing this, Melina readily nodded. Business was indeed more important and best not delayed.
She was already very satisfied with this brief rest.
To be able to have an intimate chat with Frieren about the past was the greatest comfort. It dispelled a trace of worry and strengthened her faith in her partner. The King who linked the Fire could act without hesitation for that decaying world; she could surely save The Lands Between as well.
"To become kindling with one's body, a self-sacrifice... If I were to continue carrying out my mission, I would probably do the same..."
"Now you have other choices, and everyone to help you strategize. Back then, I was all alone and could only make the final decision myself."
Turning her head, Frieren strode forward, not continuing the topic.
Melina quickened her pace to keep up.
And so they bid farewell to the tranquil Shaman Village. Before leaving, they even greeted the two Tree Sentinels. At least for a while, peace would still belong to this place.
The two re-entered the inner sanctum in the twilight glow.
As expected, Messmer, Ranni, and Rellana were sitting formally, along with adjutants like Gaius and Mulivell, and other mid-to-high-ranking officers. The entire high command of the Crusade Army was gathered.
The room held the absolute central command team, directly responsible for every operation of this great army.
Every one of them was a battle-hardened veteran. Facing familiar subordinates and the familiar Land of Shadow again, they could seamlessly resume their duties, which was none other than continuing the crusade against the Horned Folk for the sake of their mission.
All eyes focused on Frieren, awaiting her command.
"According to the plan, Ranni, you should have already sent out the call to arms beyond the barrier."
"Yes, the Cinder King's Army is assembling at top speed."
"Good. I arranged before leaving that if there was a call to arms, at least one demigod should accompany them. The most suitable is Farron's Undead Legion. Let them meet an old friend of the Lords of Cinder while they're at it."
"Aerial suppression can be left to Priestess Florisaxx. Since Mother cannot move easily, she will remain in The Lands Between, which is sufficient for defense."
The southern lands had a solid reserve of talent; even after dispatching troops like this, there were still top-tier combatants to spare.
Especially after expanding their presence in the Land of Shadow.
"The rest of the Carian and Crusade armies will advance towards the Spiral Tower. Be ready. We are going to vanquish the King of Promise, Miquella, the Twin Princes of Lothric, and the Mother of Fingers all at once. None of them will be easy to deal with."
Frieren then shared the intelligence on her old adversaries with the assembly.
Even powerful individuals like them raised an eyebrow. To be generous, the two brothers counted as at least two demigods, and they would be quite troublesome working together.
Add to that the mysterious Mother of Fingers, and this battle was fraught with variables.
"Leave the King of Promise to me." Frieren gave the unsurprising conclusion. "You don't need to worry about that front."
Since it was a battle between kings, they indeed couldn't interfere. It concerned the struggle for the throne of The Lands Between, and outsiders had no right to intervene. This was a deathmatch belonging solely to the Soul Cinder King and the King of Promise.
The two were even continuing the war from Caelid.
"Frieren, if Miquella intervenes, then I will fight alongside you."
Ranni proposed, "According to the apotheosis ritual data Messmer gave us, after passing through the Divine Gate, Miquella's own Law of Purity should be greatly enhanced and he should be able to actively release it, manifesting as a powerful charm. At the very least, my Law of Stars can help you offset some of it, alright?"
Ultimately, she had to ask for the king's opinion, as her Majesty was known for her love of tackling strong enemies head-on.
After a moment's hesitation, Frieren nodded.
Although she had taken defensive measures after falling for Miquella's trick last time, there was no guarantee he wouldn't enhance it and attack again. It was mainly just annoying.
Besides, letting Ranni fight against a rival god would be good experience.
Rellana concurred, "This is for the best. Even a god needs sufficient merit, just as Marika defeated the Gloam-Eyed Queen. Having a god as one's vanquished foe is an excellent credential."
The values of The Lands Between emphasized martial prowess. The intellectually brilliant Empyrean of the Stars still lacked a divine battle to prove herself. It wasn't crucial, but it was better to have one.
With the core arrangements settled, the rest was straightforward.
The King of Promise and the deified Miquella would be faced by Frieren and Ranni; this was the most important battlefield. Once a victor was decided, the overall situation would be largely determined, but the other fronts could not be neglected.
Considering the special nature of the Mother of Fingers, the crusading party would need Melina, and Messmer would naturally be there to protect her.
The Twin Princes would be left to Rellana, the Mimic Tear, and the yet-to-arrive Farron's Undead Legion.
On paper, they had the advantage.
The three combined armies held a firm upper hand in both top-tier combatants and rank-and-file soldiers.
Unwittingly, the forces under Frieren's command had become this formidable.
But they could not afford to underestimate the enemy.
So they continued to brainstorm, carefully integrating and simulating based on the available intelligence. This deployment was a thoroughly professional brainstorming session, involving detailed troop arrangements, camp setups, and formation alignments that Frieren could only endure...
And so, the crusading army's strategy and tactics gradually took shape, ready to be unleashed.
After a full night of discussion, the high command of the Crusade Army finally settled on a tactical plan, mapping out a route for the main army's advance through the Rauh Ancient Ruins.
As the clear military map was laid out before them, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
The most exhausted were the two army commanders, Rellana and Messmer, who had to be meticulous about every detail. The march of tens of thousands was at stake, and not a single mistake could be afforded; they had to be scrupulously precise in their deployment.
Fortunately, this wasn't their first time working together, so it was familiar territory.
Finally, Messmer said, "Passing through the Rauh Ancient Ruins will not be easy. Many servants of rot exist there."
"Moreover, the terrain is rugged, making it difficult to deploy formations. So we can't count on bypassing it. We'll even have to build some bridges along the way, which will be very troublesome..."
"I will take care of the initial scouting."
Frieren eagerly claimed the task.
Do you call that leading from the front? You just want to explore it first to satisfy yourself. No one was surprised by this. Her Majesty didn't have many hobbies, and this hardly even counted as a quirk. Before the final battle, it was better to let her enjoy herself.
Everyone exchanged glances and then replied in unison, "As you command."
In truth, no one was better suited than Frieren to venture into the depths of the ruins, which were teeming with servants of rot.
She had fought them more than once, clashing with them in Caelid and the Eternal City, and she was the tough one who wore Aeonian Flowers in her hair. Ordinary Scarlet Rot could not corrupt her.
The most difficult part was solved.
Rellana added, "Assembling and integrating the grand army can't be done in a day or two. We need time, about three days."
"During that time, your Majesty can conquer the Rauh Ancient Ruins and clear a path as much as possible. We will follow."
She bluntly assigned the task to her superior.
Frieren couldn't have been more pleased, even replying with a command of her own: "I came to Shadow Keep in a hurry. Are there any other collectibles? Like sorceries, incantations? The more, the better, they might be useful on the road."
"I have prepared them for your Majesty."
Messmer waved his hand, and Flame Knights brought in crates of magic scrolls and various items.
A quick glance inside revealed that [Rain of Fire] and [Distant Arrow] were quite suitable, along with other noteworthy items...
This could be considered a final sweep for anything missed after the conquest.
He then added a reminder, "Besides the servants of rot, the Rauh Ancient Ruins are also home to the most senior Crucible Knight, Nia. However, there is also intelligence suggesting this ancient hero has already left. In any case, just know of his existence. We will face him sooner or later."
"He must have left in response to the First Lord's summons. The Crucible Knights I've heard of have also mostly gathered at the Royal Capital."
So, one day, they would have to face a nearly full-strength Order of Crucible Knights.
Only Frieren looked forward to it; everyone else's expression was grave. After all, the Crucible Knights plus the First Lord were tantamount to being invincible, with an undefeated record. But that was a long-term consideration.
"What are the arrangements next?"
Ranni answered, "I need to prepare to receive the Cinder King's Army on the Gravesite Plain. Blaidd will find a suitable spatial entrance based on my magical signature. Timing-wise, it should be right after the seal is broken, for a seamless connection..."
All eyes fell on the commander of the Crusade Army. Regarding the final step of breaking the seal, he should know.
Messmer instructed, "The goal is to burn the Shadow Tree to break this land's seal."
As he spoke, a carefully refined flame rose in his hand.
Unlike any flame before, this was a highly purified Fire Seed of the Evil Serpent, immensely powerful.
After carefully accepting the fire seed, Frieren immediately used a sealing art to carry it. No one was worried about her keeping it safe, given her strength. With that, the most critical step was also deployed.
The Land of Shadow was destined to return to the world.
This task was to be entrusted to Frieren, Melina, and the Mimic Tear.
They would serve as the vanguard, forging a path through the Rauh Ancient Ruins, responsible for defeating the servants of rot entrenched there, and then breaking the seal. There were too many variables; it was safest to entrust it to the strongest team.
"Plans never keep up with reality. We cannot rule out the possibility of Valkyrie Malenia joining the battle. Be mentally prepared for variables in the final confrontation."
"We shall meet again at the foot of the Spiral Tower."
When it came to adventure and exploration, the ever-impetuous Frieren wasted no time. She exchanged a knowing glance with Melina and then strode out of the inner sanctum.
Those who remained at the meeting conducted a final check of their work.
After a while, they too dispersed to handle their respective tasks. After all, the military mobilization involved was extremely complex and allowed for no negligence. Constant supervision and checks were necessary to ensure they didn't fall behind.
The path to the ancient ruins entrance.
Even Frieren and Melina, who had been briefed beforehand, were somewhat surprised. The scenery was quite pleasant, similar to the Shaman Village, likely due to the same topography and climate.
The Mimic Tear, having rested for a long time, emerged in its liquid form and perched on the silver-haired girl's shoulder, looking around:
"It's rare to find such a nice place in the Land of Shadow."
"My perception hasn't detected any decent enemies yet. They must have been cleared out by the conquest squad. We can pass through this section safely, at least."
With Frieren's confirmation, the other two sighed in relief, no longer on edge.
Even the cautious Melina began to admire the scenery.
With a flick of the reins, Torrent accelerated and leaped frequently, traversing the rugged paths of the ancient ruins. Frieren, seated on his back, was not idle either. To her, clearing a path meant only one thing: explosions.
A continuous barrage of gravity, fire, and storm magic forcibly cleared the way.
Small hills, piles of rubble, and even stubborn vines and bushes along the path were all eliminated. At this point, there was no time to worry about destruction; a grand thoroughfare had to be carved out for the army.
Only Frieren could accomplish this.
Even other top-tier mages could not squander mana as she did, blasting a path forward as if it cost nothing.
With the spirit steed's every stride, beasts fled in terror and the earth shook.
Due to the rush, she didn't even collect items meticulously this time, relying mostly on auto-pickup to do a quick sweep as she headed straight for the ancient ruin structures ahead.
A heavy door blocked their path. When Frieren's senses revealed it wasn't one of those 'cannot be opened from this side' doors, her brow furrowed slightly. Could there be some other trap waiting?
Since when were there simple, straightforward doors like this?
Melina proactively explained, "The map says this is a remnant of the old ruins, not some kind of mechanism."
"Ahead is the main body of the ancient ruins proper. There are moth-like monsters and servants of rot inside, with some signs of contamination..."
Before she could finish, Frieren had already impatiently opened the door.
A deep hall unfolded before their eyes.
A cloud of dust billowed towards them.
The white maiden, still in tear form, coughed, then actively molded herself into a complete Mimic Tear, standing beside Frieren. The atmosphere was wrong; there was a great deal of hostile presence.
The sound of the door opening was loud enough to be a declaration of war. Sure enough, it attracted a large swarm of flying monsters, which began to shriek.
"Those are the moths. They've been active in the ruins."
"Mother, Witch, you two keep an eye on the surroundings. Leave them to me."
The Mimic Tear mercilessly annihilated them one by one with large-scale magic, even provoking them to draw their aggro. Rather than hunting them down individually, it was better to wipe them out from the start. Adhering to this philosophy, its barrage was relentless.
In terms of total mana, it was also a first-rate powerhouse.
Besides, if it ever ran low on magic, the Mimic Tear would drink a flask to replenish it. The team's Flask of Cerulean Tears was mostly used by her, as Frieren hardly needed it.
With a bruiser clearing the path, their progress was unimpeded.
The demigod sorcerer's assault left the monsters in the ruins in misery, swept away in a single encounter. So Melina only needed to guide the two according to the map, barely having to worry about enemies.
Having explored together for so long, their teamwork was perfect, their formation fluid and adaptable.
As for Frieren, she picked up collectibles along the way as usual. Sure enough, as she delved deeper, she came across a new treasure:
[A talisman fashioned from the light wings of the Crucible's aspects, said to have grown on human bodies in antiquity.]
[Enhances the evasiveness of backsteps, but increases damage taken.]
[The Crucible was considered sacred—]
[For at the end of that tempered evolution was the misbegotten blood within them.]
The item's description was intriguing. Could it be that these moth-like monsters were actually products of the Aspects of the Crucible? Though they looked a bit bizarre, they were lives born from the ancient Crucible.
Its effect was nothing special; not only was it mediocre, it was even a net negative.
"The path ahead will be very winding," Melina reminded, checking the map. "We will be repeatedly entering and exiting the ancient ruin structures. The number of enemies and the detailed terrain are unknown. Stay alert."
"Understood. I'll clear the way."
The Mimic Tear drank a flask to replenish its resources and continued to unleash a fierce barrage of damage. The monsters encountered along the way were no match for it.
As for Frieren, she was responsible for clearing a path.
They also picked up some scattered collectibles during this time, but overall, they were nothing noteworthy.
The white maiden at the front pointed. It was unmistakably Miquella's cross-and-ring, which they hadn't seen for a while. Though she knew the fellow was casting off parts of himself, Frieren still approached to investigate, following the principle of knowing one's enemy.
But first, she found an Ash of War: [Ash of War: Whirling Leaf Kick], likely left by the martial artist Dane.
His silent demeanor had left an impression on her; he was an excellent warrior with a seeker's heart for the martial arts. What a pity. Choosing to follow Miquella meant he was destined to be a mortal enemy.
The mark below indeed presented a message:
[The words engraved, surface in the mind: The last of the flesh I would leave behind, I leave here.]
Up to this point, they had basically traced a path of Miquella's pilgrimage, from the Gravesite Plain to the Cerulean Coast, from Shadow Keep to the Spiral Tower. It seemed like an indispensable ritual to prove his determination, casting everything aside just to pass through the Divine Gate and ascend to the supreme throne.
"What part is the 'last of the flesh'?" the Mimic Tear asked curiously.
Frieren answered honestly. It wasn't as if she could dig up the mark to check, and she had no interest in wasting her penetrative perception on such a thing.
The child's blunt words left the two elders speechless.
Melina changed the subject, saying, "We are in the eastern part of the Rauh Ancient Ruins, which we have now mostly explored and cleared. We are about to head west, just across the broken bridge."
With Torrent's speed, carrying them was no problem, especially since the Mimic Tear often reverted to its lightweight liquid form.
A moment later, the broken bridge came into view.
It spanned both sides of the chasm, and the roar of the rushing river below echoed in their ears. A gust of wind carried a great deal of moisture, dampening their hair. The air was quite humid, and the flowers, grass, and trees on both sides of the path were covered in a layer of dew.
The ecological health here was no less than that of the southern Limgrave region, but the colors were more vivid.
Thanks to the embellishment of flower fields and bushes, the ancient ruins were not just desolate, but also had pleasant scenery.
Heavy footsteps accompanied by tremors came from ahead.
It was a massive Wicker Man, pacing back and forth on patrol, as if searching for any trace of the enemy, leaving no clue unchecked. It was more complete and its magical aura stronger than the one they had met before, not to be underestimated.
Logically, the squad should have already entered the giant's field of vision. After all, from its high vantage point, it should be easy to spot any movement. But it didn't react.
"This must be what my brother meant by having the Wicker Man stand down."
The giant Furnace Golem had clearly glanced at them just now but continued its patrol as if it saw nothing, obviously excluding them. Though it looked simple-minded, its basic identification ability was not bad.
The spirit steed easily crossed the broken bridge.
However, the moment they set foot in the western part of the ancient ruins, several streams of white light shot up from below.
The Mimic Tear easily parried and reflected the magic back along its original path. She was becoming more and more proficient with parrying techniques.
"Where did all these flowers come from?"
She unleashed flames at these plant-like monsters. Frieren, riding Torrent, coordinated by having him charge downwards. Sure enough, she saw a large patch of burning flower buds, and a new incantation:
First, the form on the scroll was very strange. A person grew a flower from their abdomen and thrust forward. Because of the posture, it looked more like a flower blooming from their lower body...
[Aspects of the Crucible: Flower]
[Forms a Miranda Flower in the chest, summoning a rain of light.]
[Can be charged to increase its power.]
[In ancient times, when this land was not yet hidden by shadow, the life of the Crucible did indeed pulse.]
But Frieren couldn't imagine the scene of blooming a flower in such a strange posture. Magic is the materialization of imagination; if one is unwilling to imagine it, one cannot do it. In any case, she wasn't interested. It could only be a collectible.
Melina murmured, "There are many residual traces of the Aspects of the Crucible here. A Crucible Knight was indeed active here."
"That would be Nia. I can only sense his residual aura; he has already left."
"To answer the First Lord's summons, one must at least break the barrier, so Nia has no reason to stop us."
However, before Frieren could finish, the Wicker Man roared, its magic growing violent. A vast pressure enveloped the squad, menacingly.
"Is this piece of junk in disrepair from old age?" the Mimic Tear's lips twitched. "Or is Messmer unreliable?"
"We'll just have to take it down. Let's do it."
____
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