Silence.
The Demigods, with their extraordinary perception, were the first to sense the change. They perceived Frieren's life force plummeting, while the King of Promise and Miquella, still radiating the aura of victory, were poised to sweep the field.
With a thud, Melina fell to her knees, leaning against the corpse of the Mother of Fingers beside her, a look of utter shock on her face.
"Is it true? Brother, what do you sense?"
"...If you choose to fight to the last, I will accompany you. If you choose to retreat, I will cover your back," Messmer answered resolutely.
"I want her alive."
In a room high in the Spiral Tower, both sides, their bodies covered in fresh wounds, ceased their movements. They could all sense the situation.
Leda chuckled. "The victor has been decided. His Majesty has won. But you won't give up, will you?"
"I will fight for Lord Mohg to the very end."
Neither Ansbach nor Thiollier intended to stop. They would either die at the hands of the followers or be killed by the King of Promise as he cleaned up the battlefield. In any case, they would not retreat.
Below the Spiral Tower.
The simultaneous ceasefire of five Demigods brought a quiet to the battlefield.
The Mimic Tear, in particular, looked deeply moved, gritting its teeth as it stared at the top of the Gate of a God. "I don't believe it. This isn't over. Mother is not of this caliber."
The Farron Undead Legion remained silent, or rather, unmoved, as if certain of something.
"Your Highnesses, what are your thoughts?"
Hearing Rellana's question, the Twin Princes of Lothric shook their heads and said nothing, merely continuing to cast defensive magic upon themselves. Wait, were they taking precautions? Did they know something?
On the great battlefield of the foreign plain, the two armies faced each other. Everyone was watching the most decisive battle, the winner of which would dominate the Lands Between.
Loretta announced loudly, "The Soul Cinder King has been defeated. Your struggle is meaningless."
Edgar shook his head.
"That does not prevent us from upholding Her Majesty's honor. And I believe she will not fall so easily. That King, even in death, would fall in a world-shaking manner, never in silence."
Hearing this, even the elites of the Haligtree army were momentarily stunned, quickly turning their gazes to the Gate of a God.
A brilliant light shone. The pressure from the King of Promise and Miquella remained overwhelming, unstoppable; victory was certain. The rest was merely a desperate struggle, a refusal to accept reality based on wishful thinking.
The Haligtree army reformed its ranks, poised to crush the opposition in one fell swoop, having keenly sensed their wavering.
No matter how powerful, the situation was already decided.
The hundred thousand on this battlefield, whether they celebrated, grieved, or hesitated, could not change the outcome. As an opening ceremony for a new era, it was grand enough. Others could not compare to the gold content of the Soul Cinder King; there was no shame in losing to a God-King combination.
"Frieren will be remembered. Like the Gloam-Eyed Queen, she is a worthy loser."
After Loretta spoke, she raised her longsword. It was time to end this—
Bang!
The sky suddenly dimmed, the light of the Erdtree vanished, and a circular opening appeared at the top of the Spiral Tower, like a dim sun.
The difference was that it was blood-red, with lines of fire and blood flowing downwards. Was it magma? Or something else? Regardless, a terrifying energy was rising, unmatched.
It was the Black Sun Fire Ring.
Only at this moment did people understand why Frieren had designed her military banner in such a way.
Everyone was involuntarily stunned, their breath caught in their throats.
Not just the Spiral Tower battlefield, but the creatures of the Land of Shadow and even the Altus Plateau higher up were all watching, witnessing that black sun streaming with energy, its pressure covering the Gate of a God. Before such power, all things became insignificant.
Morgott planted his tachi in the ground, his face unprecedentedly grim as he muttered, "The Soul Cinder King's ambition... who can possibly extinguish it?"
A mournful cry came from the distant volcano.
Sensing a familiar aura, the Lord of Cinder Aldrich went berserk, causing Rykard to roar along with him. They felt the intense hostility coming from the distant Land of Shadow.
"Faster."
Malenia, on her way, looked up at the terrifying sight, gritted her teeth, and began to undo her seal. Sprouting two wings and emitting a butterfly-like aura of rot, she flew towards the Spiral Tower at top speed.
At the tower's peak, flames ignited, burning and sacrificing the human bones left behind.
At the very center of the scorching heat, like a furnace, Frieren slowly stood up, her wounds already healed.
Her light armor was replaced by black, bone-like armor, form-fitting and more suited to her than any other protection. It maintained the overall appearance of a sorcerer's robe, but its hem was adorned with a layer of red like embers, seeming to scatter ash as it blew in the wind.
Though she gave the impression of burning, she was full of vibrant life, like a torch lit in the darkness, and so all light converged upon her.
Her weapon also changed to a spiral object, part staff, part sword, concealing immense magical power.
The moment it appeared in Frieren's hand, a familiar feeling returned. Tempered by the First Flame, it was still as sharp as ever, perfectly suited.
Soul of Cinder Incarnation!
Also the final Ashen One, the last Lord of Cinder, the one who links the fire—all powers converged here.
The power of the many heroes contained within the ancient First Flame was borne by a three-time Fire Linker, connecting the past and future, spanning time, to finally bloom with brilliance on the pinnacle battlefield of the Lands Between.
Frieren held her head high and raised the sword. Almost simultaneously, a piece of her right arm shattered like broken porcelain.
As expected, she couldn't maintain it for long.
If it were her physical body in reality, which contained all her accounts, she might be able to transform for a bit longer. But in the Lands Between, it was theoretically maintained only by burning the strength of her Astrologer account. It was equivalent to a sacrificial summon; the battle had to be swift.
"You still possess this power!" Miquella's brows furrowed. "The strongest Lord of Cinder?"
Frieren did not respond, instead turning back and extending her hand. The Moon Princess, whose eyes had been dim, ignited with passion. It was a truly shocking revival.
"Come, Ranni. We go together. I need you to maintain healing."
"Understood."
Whether using the Soul of Cinder Incarnation or the form of an ancient god, what was different from before? The real difference was that she was not adventuring alone. Her responsibility was not just some vague concept of saving the world. It was bearing the hopes of her soldiers.
So, even with a thousand risks, she would never hesitate.
When Ranni sat on Frieren's shoulder again, the latter raised her spiral sword horizontally, the First Flame swirling above it.
I must win.
"Miquella, the Law of Stars, which embraces all and returns fate to the myriad beings, has no room for the deceptive and hypocritical Law of Purity. Your road ends here. We do not welcome such a God-King."
Before her voice had faded, Frieren charged forward madly. Her greatsword swept horizontally, forcibly pushing back Radahn's parry and sending him flying back dozens of meters.
For a moment, he was stunned. How could this be? The shock transmitted from the web of his thumb was no illusion.
His hands were already stained with blood.
The terrifying force was worlds apart. Amidst a deafening boom, a torrent of soul energy shot out.
Deflect!
Only upon contact did he realize gravity was ineffective. No, it was simply impossible to deflect such a massive attack. There was a vast disparity in their fundamental magic power, and a moment's hesitation led to terrible consequences.
As a result, the soul magic landed a solid, direct hit.
It wasn't just simple damage; it was burning. Even Miquella felt a scorching sensation.
Both of them felt their life force drop.
The King of Promise tried to counterattack, swinging his blades continuously accompanied by layered streams of light. However, Frieren teleported away, dodging them all. After her all-around enhancement, her speed was a cut above, allowing her to fully leverage her agility advantage.
But she had done enough dodging earlier. These few movements were merely to adapt to her new state; the real technique was here.
Parry!
With a sudden step onto the crossed greatswords, a simple move somehow prevented the King of Promise from lifting his blades. Then, he could only watch as Frieren leaped lightly, her other leg whipping out in a spinning motion:
The multi-elemental attack of the Lion's Claw Flurry step slammed into Radahn's face.
The armor on his jaw tore, and his helmet shattered with a crack. His red hair was slightly singed, the attack also carrying soul-attribute damage.
This blow was actually aimed at Miquella as well.
At the critical moment, he quickly dodged to the other side to avoid having his face kicked; otherwise, it would have been even more humiliating. That being said, he still saw a faint smile on the Ranni doll's face.
The rhythm of the battle belonged to Frieren.
Swish!
The flaming blade of the spiral sword swept across the King of Promise's abdomen. The golden armor shattered, the armament of the young Red Lion dismantled.
Immediately, the silver-haired girl turned sword into staff, generating several soul crystal swords that pierced his body. The continuous soul strikes made him grunt involuntarily, an instinctive warning from his wounds that this body might not hold out for much longer.
A gravity pull sent the King of Promise's body retreating rapidly, but not faster than a lightning spear.
Frieren casually threw out a Golden Light Thunder Shock. It wasn't a single strike but a rain of lightning from the heavens along its path, a truly extravagant output of magic power that pursued him all the way—
Finally, it completely locked onto the God-King.
With a deafening tear, a nearby spiral tower was sliced in two.
Before, she would have had to strenuously mobilize more magic to achieve such an output. Now, every single move could demolish a tower, and the shockwaves that spread outwards caused massive area-of-effect damage. She was a walking catastrophe.
The Gate of a God battlefield could no longer contain the clash of two pairs of God-Kings; its destruction was only a matter of time.
"Frieren, if you continue like this, no one will be able to pass through the Gate of a God again."
Even with Miquella's cultivated calm, he couldn't help but advise her. They should at least tacitly shift the battlefield to avoid destruction.
"Ranni, do you care?"
"I do not. What is a God and King? The people of the Lands Between know in their hearts. This place holds not only the sins of the Horned Folk but also the bloodiness of the Golden Dynasty's beginning. My dynasty with you does not begin with sacrifice, but with salvation."
"My King, Frieren, strike as you will. We will win all of this."
Before her voice faded, the First Flame burned even brighter, adding a touch of red to the silver-haired girl's armor, blazing behind her like a roaring cape.
Lion's Claw!
A blow even heavier than Radahn's shattered the paired greatswords' parry. The sword qi shot through, and a high tower collapsed.
He could no longer block Frieren head-on.
The power of the Soul of Cinder Incarnation was beyond expectations.
After changing phases, her speed, strength, and output all underwent a qualitative change. Her movements were even more coordinated and agile, as if it was meant to be, as if she had just reclaimed a familiar style from long-term suppression.
Although Miquella used incantations more frequently to intercept, the wounds on the King of Promise mounted, and the scales were tipping.
So strong!
Ranni, experiencing Frieren's fierce assault from a first-person perspective, felt it most clearly. The wind howled past her ears, a relentless rush. The flames rose but she felt no heat, only warmth, a soul-deep texture that was reassuring.
Whether lightning, fire, storm, or other elements, all were at her command, each move stronger than the last.
A bottomless well of magic power to be squandered at will.
But she knew it wasn't without a price. A closer look would reveal the silver-haired girl's body was constantly cracking like porcelain, unable to sustain itself.
Perhaps this also gave Miquella a glimmer of hope. Ranni understood that the other side was also betting on where the endpoint of this explosive power lay. They could only endure. At this moment, everyone had to compete with their willpower as well.
This explosive state wouldn't last long, which explained why her fighting style had quickened.
With Ranni's magical expertise, she healed with all her might, only slightly slowing the rate of collapse. Every moment she could buy was precious. No matter what, she had to fall one step later than the King of Promise.
Carian Greatsword!
Sword qi cut through the gravity protection and swept away the holy light, piercing the King of Promise in Frieren's hands. The tables had turned.
The spells that had been protecting him finally dimmed and vanished.
Phantom Slash! A series of golden phantoms slashed continuously, covering Radahn as he regained distance, while Miquella's light beams pursued in unison.
Dark Moon!
A moon of magic swallowed all the light beams.
The silver-haired girl, meanwhile, raised her sword horizontally. A flurry of sparks flew as she parried every single one with precision.
Perfect coordination, flawless.
There was simply no opening to counterattack. Even when a counterattack was launched, it was intercepted one hundred percent of the time. Ever since entering her Soul of Cinder Incarnation form, Frieren's style had changed again. Her movements were wide and sweeping, her combos fiercer than the last, her speed so fast only afterimages remained.
Miquella knew very well that if this continued, even the King of Promise would be dismantled.
His opponent's fierce assault wasn't aimed at vitals, but was simply灌 pouring damage to annihilate the target, arrogant to the extreme, showing no regard even for this specially enhanced body.
He controlled with all his might while trying his best to deflect the magic's path.
Rumble!
The two sides' combat philosophies couldn't help but overlap. Both were全力 driving their destructive power to the fullest, making the Spiral Tower an outlet.
Everyone on the battlefield was fortunate enough to witness the collapse of the Spiral Tower. Every single move possessed the power to smash a fortress gate. Fiery red flame slashes and a countless, brilliant array of magic flooded the tower's peak.
Though the King of Promise's holy attribute was conspicuous, it was now almost completely obscured by the opposition.
Just how domineering could a battle mage be?
Frieren's continuous, unending assault at this moment provided the answer. The other God-King pair looked battered under this power. At the same time, she had Ranni's healing and Dark Moon for breaking magic, which was enough to create an even better environment for her to deal damage.
The two were more like comrades-in-arms. It didn't matter if it was the Gate of a God or not; this magnificent scene of fighting side-by-side was the greatest majesty of a God and King.
They would witness the true God-King be crowned on the battlefield of the Land of Shadow.
The Spiral Tower was the best stage.
At this moment, whether it was the King of Promise's side or the Soul Cinder King's side, they knew that a victor was about to be decided. They had participated in the grand process of the Lands Between's rise and fall. Where would this critical juncture lead?
A golden figure suddenly soared into the sky, unstoppably climbing into the clouds. Even Frieren couldn't stop him in time.
"There must be a new move. Be careful."
Ranni quickly reminded her.
The silver-haired girl nodded, gazing at the sky. Only her perception could capture a trace.
Above the clouds, a meteorite once again condensed, plummeting straight down in front of the hundred thousand strong army. It wasn't just gravity; streams of light escorted it, even more formidable than the previous sneak attack.
If it landed squarely, the entire Spiral Tower city would likely become history.
The caster had not yet descended, but several light beams came down first to suppress her. However, Frieren took a graceful stroll—dodging them, while simultaneously charging a spell in her hand.
"You've been flying long enough. Get down here."
The flame-clad girl beckoned lightly and intercepted a thunderbolt from the skyline. The brilliant golden energy flowed with the power of time. Before it was even unleashed, it was already hundreds of meters long as she brandished it. It was less a spear and more the very force of nature from heaven and earth, held in her hands.
The Sunlight Spear was amplified too!
The next moment, the meteorite plummeted straight down, and the long spear fell just the same. The entire battlefield held its breath in silent concentration.
Tear!
It was the Sunlight Spear that cleaved the colossal meteorite, wrapped in lightning as it sped away to strike down the caster behind it. That golden figure fell helplessly to the ground.
One couldn't imagine how severe the damage from the fall alone must be.
The King of Promise couldn't believe his sure-kill ace had been interrupted. He just fell from the sky, the streams of light now only decorating his failure. Even Miquella, curled on his back, was paralyzed by the lightning.
This is bad. I have to actively defend.
He was the first to use Rock Meteor Shower to intercept Frieren, but a silver figure flickered, actually stepping on ice shards to dodge and weave.
No!
It was Ranni who actively created the ice crystals. After a brief lift, they transformed into a Dark Moon.
Frieren landed steadily on the Dark Moon and simultaneously slammed it viciously into the King of Promise's chest. The magic-breaking attribute spread, further creating a favorable environment.
She raised the spiral sword with both hands.
A phantom of a flaming spiral sword connected with the Black Sun, seeming to carry its flowing flames in a heavy chop!
The city where the King of Promise had landed melted away. The sturdy fortress was like ice meeting molten iron, hissing steam as it completely dissolved, taking half the city with it in a single blow.
No, to be precise, the area of destruction was even larger, as more energy scattered outwards.
A plain of magma appeared.
The air distorted. The high temperature made everyone sweat profusely, Demigods included. They had never expected the Soul Cinder King's second phase to be so vigorous, her fierce assault so relentless that it left no room to breathe.
"She's still alive." Melina was overjoyed. "I knew Frieren would be victorious."
"The situation is decided. We need to leave; this place is about to collapse."
Messmer transformed into a giant red serpent, carrying his sister through the ruins. Behind them, the Spiral Tower continuously collapsed and disintegrated. It was only a matter of time before it was razed to the ground.
BOOM!
Finally, the highest tower began to crumble, unable to bear the weight. Countless Hornsent defenders were turned to ash in the aftershock.
The King of Promise's aura was rapidly falling, the holy magic light gradually dimming.
Even so, the tremendous noise did not stop. The magic visible included Collapsing Stars, Lightning Spear, Rancorcall, and others. Clearly, Frieren's assault hadn't paused for a moment, more frequent than a heartbeat, determined to dismantle the pair of God-Kings along with the ritual site.
"You have lost."
Ansbach sheathed his scythe. The followers before him were all heavily wounded. In contrast, he, Thiollier, and their elite squad still had fight left in them.
Whether they fought or not no longer mattered. This place was about to be destroyed, and the enemy could not escape.
"Lord Miquella, is this the end?"
Leda gazed in the direction of the Gate of a God. The other followers also felt a sense of loss. This must be the end.
The victorious side gave one final glance before departing swiftly. There was no need to linger. Frieren, now in complete control, had decided to destroy the Spiral Tower, holding nothing back. The outcome was set.
Crash!
Everyone's retreat could not match the speed of the battlefield's storm eye's descent.
Frieren, in the sky, once again used Aspects of the Crucible: Wings to float. The difference was the conspicuous swirling flames, like a meteor leaving a trail as it plunged straight into the falling King of Promise. The spiral sword pierced Radahn's heart, and also Miquella's abdomen.
They were stepped on and fell together.
Even at the final moment, the King of Promise's power was immense. He blocked the spiral sword with both hands, but it was useless against Frieren's superior strength.
The sword sank into his chest.
The God-King's body shot like a cannonball through the cluster of buildings, crashing down onto the breach in the city wall.
There was still some distance to the very bottom, but Frieren could already see the Twin Princes of Lothric lying on the ground, lifeless.
The three who had been responsible for the attack were wounded, but victory was theirs.
As all could see, this world-shaking war ended with the victory of the Soul Cinder King and the Empyrean of the Stars. Lying on the ground, on the verge of death, were the King of Promise and the Empyrean of Purity. The losers were a sorry sight.
Executed!
Frieren raised her blade and brought it down, executing the King on the ruins of the high platform in front of everyone with her spiral sword.
A single, fatal blow brought a swift end.
Everyone was dumbfounded, not expecting it to be so decisive. This peak duel had been incredibly efficient, a gratifying outcome. Her Majesty was victorious.
She had nothing to say to this zombie monster. Ranni, however, clasped her hands and offered a final prayer of farewell. A wisp of soul was liberated, drifting towards the Erdtree. Farewell forever.
"I've taken care of what I promised Trina."
The moment she finished speaking, the silver-haired girl spun around and instantly threw a lightning spear, leaving everyone bewildered.
Until the thunderbolt interrupted a spray of scarlet flowers. Under the cover of thousands of radiant butterflies of rot, a graceful figure with two wings flew in, accompanied by the Valkyrie Malenia's Waterfowl Dance.
Frieren, already prepared, took several steps back to dodge—
No!
She wasn't injured, but crucially, she had moved away from Miquella's side. A mass of scarlet rot energy enveloped the pair of siblings.
Released at the same time was a Scarlet Aeonia, to either intercept or detonate.
"Frieren, we'll meet again."
After a brief greeting, Malenia cradled the heavily injured Miquella in both hands. The latter's breath was faint, extremely fragile, and in utmost danger. Meanwhile, the sword qi wreathed in the First Flame was burning the Aeonia flower barrier to ash.
Frieren, reacting the fastest, condensed a lightning spear and aimed at the siblings. The Valkyrie, sensing the danger, made no move to defend, only accelerating her flight.
Lightning Spear!
Simultaneously, Miquella gritted his teeth and used a final incantation of light. A thick, golden torrent cut off the battlefield.
They canceled each other out, the energy scattering into the air.
The soldiers stood tall, ready to obey the order to pursue, but Ranni gently wiped the shattered right half of the silver-haired girl's face. The charred ash spread from her neck to her right arm and side, almost burned beyond recognition.
She was caressing her.
It should have been gentle, but she could no longer feel anything.
So Frieren looked directly into those concerned eyes and slowly reined in the First Flame.
____
🔥 New releases are live! 🔥
New Story: Stardew Valley: What Do You Mean They All Became My Servants
✅ Get immediate access to 40 early chapters for all stories.
✅ Enjoy exclusive material and special announcements!
Help us unlock these community rewards:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone
🚀 140 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters across ALL STORIES!
👻 P - Walnutchan