What a fast sword.
Even Frieren, who had witnessed countless experts in the Lands Between, marveled in her heart; this dual-wielding Banished Knight was indeed formidable. He seemed similar to the one destroyed in the explosion earlier, but this spirit form was obviously different.
In the midst of her thoughts, the opponent's twin swords struck again, the momentum like rushing thunder, intending to leave the target no chance to breathe.
But what kind of martial arts did the Would-be Lord possess? She remained calm and composed.
She strolled easily to dodge the combo, and seizing the gap, she suddenly unleashed Carian Retaliation. Sure enough, the red-eyed Banished Knight's figure wavered—a good opportunity.
Whoosh!
A javelin speeding over interrupted Frieren's move. The second and third that followed closely were intercepted by Ranni and Melina, and almost simultaneously, their attacks landed on the Banished Knight.
With a loud boom, a large pit was left behind. What fast evasion!
The next moment, the silver-haired girl turned with a sword strike as if she had foreseen it, parrying the attacks of two red-eyed Banished Knights.
Are the numbers increasing?
At this thought, Ghostflame burst from beneath her feet. The frigid flame of death swept out, obscuring the vision within the inner city while causing the ramparts to collapse, sending everyone falling together to the castle grounds. Seeing this, the defenders who had planned to continue their fire pursuit could only desist.
While falling, Sorcery: Carian Slicer flashed, cold light blooming, instantly carving fine, dense wounds.
With a thud, the two Banished Knights were sent flying.
Before they could stand firm, Frieren launched a Sorcery: Carian Piercer, flipping one of them into the air, while Ranni on her shoulder followed up with a heavy hit from Sorcery: Comet.
The other knight suffered a kick from her, frozen by Sorcery: Zamor Ice Storm, his feet solidified and unable to move.
Crack!
The Blade of Calling pierced his chest from behind. Melina, who had circled to the rear, delivered a one-hit kill, finally resolving this spirit-form berserk Banished Knight. The three exchanged glances; uninjured, their combat power remained intact.
Only after taking a breath at this moment did Frieren have time to ponder the messages covering the ground.
So "Castle Sol's Number One Expert" referred to this one. Indeed, his movement techniques and attacks were quite strong, making him very prone to sneak attacks.
Just relying on that speed to dodge the magical bombardment earlier was not simple. It was a pity it was three against two, not to mention the fundamental gap in strength. Presumably, summoning them as vanguards was one of their trump cards.
Suddenly, a blade-wielding Lion Guardian charged out of the inner city, roaring as it scented the three of them.
Even the Stormhawks in the sky were circling and sharpening their talons.
A dragnet.
The entire Castle Sol displayed the oppressive presence of the number one fortress on the Mountaintops of the Giants to the invaders, showing no timidity even when facing a squad of Demigods.
Commander Niall was very clear that the Soul Cinder King would not let this fortress off; she would only rest assured if the nail was pulled out.
"There is only death in this battle."
He was prepared, as were the subordinates fighting alongside him. Rather than nervousness, they felt more anticipation for liberation. Their years of guarding were finally approaching an end; their souls were about to return to the Erdtree.
Therefore, they had to exert their full strength in the final moments of their lives to be worthy of their thousand-year vigil.
At this moment, a great fire was ignited in the outer city. The scarlet snake fire emanated an aura of blasphemy, even carrying corrosive properties. The heavy snow of the Mountaintops of the Giants could not extinguish it. Amidst billowing smoke, a magma pool formed, gradually swallowing the ramparts. Naturally, the Lion Guardian and the Stormhawks were already dead.
The outer walls that had acted as sturdy protection just moments ago were actually sinking little by little into the magma, turning into wisps of green smoke and vanishing.
They guessed correctly.
The Soul Cinder King did not plan to keep Castle Sol; she was destroying it directly.
She was already doing so. With the strength of a Lord-level Tarnished, it was only a matter of time. To rush the schedule, she released it in advance, swallowing the area as she fought.
Frieren's footsteps led the speed of the magma. Under her intentional control, the crimson flame turned into a "moat" surrounding the fortress, both preventing support from the Guardians' Garrison on the other side and ensuring no one could leave.
A thorough siege war was not her style, but the situation now was special; it had to be foolproof.
The magma advanced with her steps.
The crimson flame had already overflowed the floor tiles, sweeping towards the first floor.
In her perception, life auras were retreating to higher ground; after all, everyone feared the terror of the snake fire. Conversely, Melina, likely because her constitution shared the same origin as Messmer, remained relaxed and comfortable. As for Ranni, as long as she stayed on Frieren's shoulder, that was the best defense.
Since the people had run away, the things left behind naturally couldn't be wasted in vain. Following the light of treasure, she quickly found a chest.
[Eclipse Shotel]
[Storied sword and treasure of Castle Sol that depicts an eclipsed sun drained of color.]
[One of the "legendary armaments".]
[In Sol, the sight of an eclipse inspires a dreadful awe, preventing an onlooker from averting his gaze.]
[Unique Skill: Death Flare]
[Set the lusterless sun ablaze with the Prince of Death's flames, inflicting the death ailment upon foes. Follow up with an additional input to bring the sword down, triggering an explosion.]
Another legendary armament acquired. She hadn't expected to encounter one even as far away as Castle Sol; it was indeed a pleasant surprise. Frieren, delighted by the find, immediately tested it out. It was one of the few weapon forms she was once very proficient with, reminiscent of an old friend:
The Murky Hand Scythe.
It felt quite handy to use. Although the skill's power was a bit small, it was completely sufficient; primarily, her muscle memory was reviving.
The silver-haired girl carefully stored it away.
Harvesting a legendary armament could already be called a small profit, not to mention the other collectibles.
Frieren made her way up along the path, simultaneously continuing to release snake fire. The speed at which the magma swallowed the area became faster and faster, and the foundations were rapidly collapsing.
In reality, at this point, even if she didn't act, Castle Sol was going to be destroyed all the same. Viewed from afar, it looked like a torch gradually collapsing, thick smoke rushing into the clouds, declaring the destruction of the ruler.
He had once been spared by the First Lord and submitted, but the new King might not be the same.
Only a fight remained.
Even people far away in the Royal Capital could see it and understand the principle within. The chess piece buried thousands of years ago was finally being used, hoping to impede the Soul Cinder King's steps, yet it was also an abandoned piece.
The return they could offer was to attack the Soul Cinder Army with full force, blocking them dead in the Volcano region to wear them down.
On top of Castle Sol's inner city, swords flashed and shadows danced.
Frieren summoned the Spirit Ashes of Cleanrot Knight Finlay, Latenna, and Haligtree Soldiers. With them pushing forward together, it was almost a one-sided situation.
She only needed to automatically pick up items along the way; the enemy army was not even an opponent for a single round. Unfortunately, Castle Sol was a bit poor. Aside from the legendary armament, it was nothing but small odds and ends like Talismans. Presumably, the fortresses on the Mountaintops of the Giants wouldn't have too many resources either.
Whoosh!
Amidst the storm of ice shards, the old general, Commander Niall, leaped down from the high watchtower.
He wore armor, held a command standard, possessed a prosthetic leg, and had a face carved like stone. A pair of sharp eyes stared tightly at the invaders as he simultaneously summoned two Banished Knights, and the few remaining warriors around him also formed a tight encirclement.
"Let us decide the battle here, Soul Cinder King. You are pressed for time too, right?" Niall had already assumed a fighting stance.
"That couldn't be better."
The first to strike were the surviving soldiers of Castle Sol.
Their fearless charge was covered by Ranni and Melina's magic, blasting out a shockwave. Heavy snow fluttered, and smoke and dust filled the air.
Immediately following, the two summoned Banished Knights arrived for the kill, their blades pressing straight towards the mages and the assassin.
Ping!
Frieren swept out a Sorcery: Adula's Moonblade, beating back the knights while simultaneously slicing open the smoke to reveal the old general's figure. The latter rolled his command standard, sweeping away the storm, ice and snow battering the surroundings.
In that case, use fire.
She flicked her finger, and Messmer's Fireball instantly blew away the cold wind.
Along with it, the crowd of soldiers attempting to rush up was lifted and thrown a great distance, falling into a dazed confusion. Fortunately, the old general reacted and used his command standard to wrap around part of the flames in time; otherwise, had it exploded completely, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
The disparity in magical power between the two sides was absolute. Even blocking with all his might, his internal organs were still shaken and injured.
He looked around to see his subordinates who had been beaten back; they were more or less injured, and more had breathed their last. After all, they had been charging two Demigods just now.
Not being killed in a single encounter counted as the opponent holding back.
Neither the God of the Stars nor the Golden Maiden were something Castle Sol could contend with, yet they happened to visit together with the Soul Cinder King. Years of tempering on top-tier battlefields had taken their strength a step further; ordinary Demigods could not contend with them.
Niall smiled bitterly: "This lineup... isn't it prepared for Farum Azula?"
"Of course."
Accompanying Frieren's answer was Sorcery: Rykard's Rancor. The vengeful spirits, carrying the fire attribute, drifted about, brandishing their claws and fangs.
The cold air was replaced, becoming hotter and hotter, causing dry mouths and parched tongues. Echoing the constantly rising magma beneath their feet, they sought out the defending soldiers one by one.
How could they resist the attack of the Would-be Lord mage?
Ice and fire, two extremes, washed over the front ruthlessly. In an instant, they enveloped everyone. Within the span of a single encounter, the knights suffered heavy casualties, forcing the few remaining survivors to constantly retreat and use cover.
At the critical moment, they withstood the pressure, avoiding it in time to escape total annihilation.
The defenders of Castle Sol could display excellent military quality at the drop of a hat; otherwise, they would have been defeated long ago.
Whoosh!
The old general, Niall, rolled his command standard to urge a wild wind to neutralize the remaining ice and fire attacks. Simultaneously, he stomped his foot, causing a collapse to create a safe distance.
However, the three were unmoved. Before absolute strength, these battle tactics were merely insignificant tricks. Frieren was seen reaching out and grabbing; ice and snow condensed into a crystal ball, and in the next moment, it exploded and shot out.
Crunching cutting sounds covered all directions.
Even knight armor could not stop Frieren's impromptu attack in the slightest. Every single one of these fragments was comparable to an arrow, piercing protection while tearing flesh; the defense was unable to withstand a single blow.
Immediately after, Melina's Golden Wave extended along the ramparts, reaping another wave.
The anxious old general commanded the summoned Banished Knights to block.
Instead, they suffered Ranni's Dark Moon attack. In fact, in this world of ice and snow, this was her home field, and the power of her magic became even more terrifying.
Boom!
After a burst of explosions, the entire section of the ramparts collapsed, and the battlefield became open instead.
Meanwhile, the magma beneath their feet continued to swallow, ready to melt any unlucky soul at any time.
One could not drop their guard.
The flames Frieren created had reached perfection. Even in a harsh place like the Mountaintops of the Giants, they still burned ragingly, even conversely reshaping the environment. And this was not the Frenzied Flame or the Flame of the Fell God—those special substances—but relied entirely on the mage's own attainments.
Her total destruction of Castle Sol was only a matter of time.
Things having reached this point, General Niall could delay no longer. Forced by the situation, he had to fight head-on.
Crackle!
Golden lightning wound around the command standard, immediately thrusting towards Frieren. However, she was too familiar with this type of attribute. While blocking with the Dark Moon Greatsword, she used Lightning Retaliation, completely diverting the energy back to explode thunderously upon Niall.
The old general's armor disintegrated immediately, and he stumbled before barely managing to stand.
What fast reaction speed.
He hadn't expected Frieren's speed to be so fast, and she applied the lightning element proficiently, proving a cut above himself. Amidst his thoughts, the opponent had already launched a counterattack.
Sorcery: Night Comet fired in rapid succession, sealing off the surroundings. Although he couldn't see clearly, Niall still did his best to dodge based on intuition.
However, how could Night Sorcery be so easy to deal with?
A comet hit, carving open a wound. helpless, he had to let the summoned Banished Knight spirit form block. Under a single blow, it turned into flying ash.
He could not let this opportunity pass.
Taking advantage of the cover from the magical explosion, the flagpole turned into a spear shaking out a cold glint, stabbing straight at Frieren's throat.
But the silver-haired girl turned her body sideways. The Dark Moon Greatsword deflected the attack path with an upward strike, and then she turned, bringing up the Sorcery: Carian Piercer on her staff.
Pu!
The slender glintstone sword pierced through the body, but just as it prepared to tear the wound open, it was kicked and broken by the old general's prosthetic leg.
Niall took advantage of the momentum to roll and open up the distance, leaving a trail of blood on the floor tiles.
Several close calls in the exchange left his stamina far worse than before. His aged body was difficult to sustain; even in the generally long-lived Lands Between, guarding the Mountaintops of the Giants consumed vitality greatly.
Frieren did not pursue actively but continued to set fires casually to speed up the burning rate.
There was no need for her to act. At this moment, Ranni and Melina had already cleared out the other defending soldiers, leaving only Niall as a commander without an army. The outcome was set.
The two had already formed a pincer movement, ready to attack.
The next strike would be fatal.
Don't look at how he dodged Frieren's attacks several times; in reality, the injuries accumulated just now were already enough to be fatal.
"...Soul Cinder King, even the letter the First Lord wrote to me said the South is very prosperous. You made the region under the Storm King's rule shine with new life. Correct? Are Limgrave and the Weeping Peninsula now free of the Undead?"
"Correct. And I will make the entire Lands Between free of such disasters. The South is where I started; I will manage it well."
As soon as the words fell, the old general Niall smiled, then shouted a war cry and charged.
Crack!
The edge of the Dark Moon Greatsword beheaded him first. The frost slash carved a fatal wound on the already broken armor, dripping with fresh blood. Under the blowing cold wind, it took away a massive amount of vitality, killing him on the spot.
This move was quite crisp, a one-hit kill. No one present even noticed the movement of the strike.
The guardian of Castle Sol bid farewell eternally without pain.
On the other side, Melina found a Haligtree Secret Medallion: "It's useless now. Consider it as us piecing together the commission the Village Chief of the Albinaurics gave us."
Frieren took it and stored it away.
It looked like the normal process should have been to obtain the key to the Haligtree from here.
At this moment, Ranni let out a long breath and sat back on the shoulder from her floating casting state, immediately entering meditation to adjust her breathing. Obviously, she judged that fierce battles were inevitable next; this battle was just at the level of a warm-up.
Then, the silver-haired girl pulled out the weapon left by the old general from the ground. One could not call it a weapon; it was the prosthetic leg that resembled a blade.
____
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