Is using prosthetics as weapons a trend in the Lands Between?
The old general's prosthetic leg reminded Frieren of Malenia's prosthetic blade, though this weapon was even more oddly shaped and its attributes were mediocre.
[Veteran's Prosthesis]
[An item consisting of a bladed prosthetic leg attached to the body and wielded as a weapon.]
[Possesses the power of lightning.]
[Niall, the veteran of Sol, offered his own leg to beg for the lives of his defeated knights.]
[Subsequently, Niall became the leader of that group of knights—the Banished Legion.]
[Unique Skill: Storm Kick]
[A skill that thrusts the prosthetic blade into the ground to create a storm. Follow up with a strong attack to wreath the blade in lightning, then perform a jumping attack.]
This commander possessed responsibility, strength, experience, and an unshakeable will; he was indeed the best candidate to guard Castle Sol. To be honest, Frieren did not know who would guard the Mountaintops of the Giants in the future.
Whoever was chosen would look like they were being exiled; she couldn't bear to send her trusted aides here.
However, as long as the troubles like the Giants' Flame here were indeed eased, at worst she could use the complete Elden Ring to terraform the environment later.
Crash!
At this moment, a large section of the city wall collapsed, and the main building began to sink into the magma.
Frieren's intention was that even if the Royal Capital's army ventured into the Mountaintops of the Giants again, they would never find a stronghold. Naturally, she had to destroy it thoroughly; the rising heat and the unextinguished flames represented the countdown of its life.
She waved her hand, signaling to leave.
The squad spurred their horses and quickly rode out of Castle Sol's range. Behind them, the massive fortress rapidly collapsed and disintegrated, gradually disappearing into the thick smoke.
Even after swallowing the city, the magma's momentum did not diminish, bursting forth like a broken dam and extending a crimson fire downwards.
Seeing that the goal was achieved, Frieren snapped her fingers, only then interrupting the continuous mana supply. The flames instantly solidified in the cold wind, gradually turning into black volcanic rock, adhering to the mountain ridges in patches, giving people a ferocious shock.
The original cliffs turned into gentle slopes; the terrain was permanently changed.
Sporadic mudslides and landslides continued, burying all traces along with the avalanche, turning Castle Sol into an echo of history.
Such a massive commotion naturally alerted all sides.
The ones who saw it most clearly were the lookouts in the Royal Capital. Maintaining their surveillance, they reported immediately:
"Castle Sol has fallen. The defending warriors have been completely wiped out."
In reality, even without the report, everyone knew; after all, the earthquake had transmitted all the way to the northern edge of the Altus Plateau.
Inside the palace.
Godfrey stood up from the throne, his resonant voice ringing out: "Since the enemy has been repelled at the Lift, then I shall lead the Crucible Knights to attack the Volcano."
He rubbed his fists and palms together, saying, "If Castle Sol is lost, the Mountaintops of the Giants cannot be held. Frieren will arrive at Farum Azula; we must seize the time."
However, Morgott blocked his path and advised: "Your Majesty, leave the attrition warfare to me."
"I have attacked the Volcano before and am familiar with the terrain. You should preserve your strength and await the final decisive battle. If you act too early, not only will the Grace not fully return, but it might also provoke the Soul Cinder King to change her itinerary."
Everyone else chimed in agreement.
The people of the Lands Between placed symbolic significance on the military expedition of a powerhouse at the level of an Elden Lord. It was of utmost importance; setting out meant the decisive battle.
If Godfrey dared to do so, Frieren would definitely respond.
It seemed she had traveled far to the North to deliberately split their forces, but in reality, she had posed a difficult problem, causing the schedule for the decisive battle in Leyndell, Royal Capital to be filled with apprehension.
The price, of course, was that the First Lord would have time to recuperate and re-embrace the Grace at its peak, but she didn't care. She welcomed it.
Morgott continued his counsel: "Your Majesty, we must guide all the remaining Grace onto you before the Erdtree burns. You must face the Soul Cinder King in your strongest state. Only if you win this battle of Kings will it be a true victory."
"...Very well, I understand. Proceed with the attack as you suggested."
Although somewhat unable to hold back, Godfrey ultimately agreed. He had to admit that now was not a good time. Moreover, battling Frieren allowed for no negligence; he must be in perfect condition.
When the Erdtree burns, that is when the Grace shall become one.
He had returned early precisely for this point. There was no need to take risks and disrupt the plan; it was better to send troops to suppress the Volcano first.
"As you command."
Morgott, having successfully dissuaded him, breathed a sigh of relief. Now, focusing on the Volcano battlefield would suffice.
"Take half of the Crucible Knights with you. With them, we can ensure the outer perimeter of the Volcano is crushed and the roads blocked. Do not let them transport troops too easily."
"One more thing. Serosh, you go and command as well. Ensure Messmer's army is suppressed. Whether in strength or wisdom, you are qualified. What do you say? Do you have a plan?"
"I will take charge of the Volcano. Furthermore, the Mountaintops of the Giants will not be so easy for the Soul Cinder King to pass."
"Why?"
"I have already issued an order to the Guardians' Garrison to remove the seal on the Evergaol and release Vyke, the Lord of Frenzied Flame."
Keeping the sane ones in the Snow Mountains forever was a last resort for if the burning of the tree failed. What would happen now that they met a successor? He had likely gone completely mad, and his strength would be even more terrifying.
One could imagine that a world-shaking battle at the level of a Would-be Lord was about to occur on the Mountaintops of the Giants. This counted as good news; even Frieren shouldn't think of retreating unscathed.
"Very well. The rest depends on the Volcano. Wear down the enemy as much as possible."
After giving the order, Godfrey strode away.
He had to continue adjusting his state. He would leave the rest to the Beast Regent. This wise beast was an old comrade-in-arms and very reliable.
The tall White Lion nodded respectfully, exchanging a glance with Morgott, both having made their decision.
It just so happened that Serosh hadn't been active for a long time; stretching his muscles and bones in advance was good. He would surely become a trump card in the defensive battle for the city.
The Royal Capital mobilized rapidly from top to bottom. Naturally, the commotion could not be hidden from the Volcano defense line.
Manor Hall.
Messmer removed the marker for Castle Sol from the sand table.
Beside him, the Mimic Tear and the Twin Moon Knight stared intently, deep in thought. According to the current trend, Frieren pointing her way to the Forge of the Giants was a foregone conclusion; it was merely a matter of time.
"...Time is what matters most. The Royal Capital will definitely storm the Volcano during this window. They must establish combat achievements before His Majesty returns."
"That is a given. Once Mother returns, she will deal with all of them."
"Messmer, who do you think will come?"
"Morgott will definitely be there, as he has attacked the Volcano before and once reached the perimeter of the Manor; he is experienced. And to coordinate steadily, the Beast Regent Serosh is also needed. There may be other forces as well."
"That is troublesome enough already." Rellana proposed: "I will take the Carian elites to guard the mountain pass defense line."
"No, quite the opposite. We will abandon the outer defense line and fight an ambush battle inside the mountain. Their strategic goal is to destroy our military strength; we will deny them that opportunity and drag it out."
The Mimic Tear pursed its lips at the conservative tactic but still followed the advice readily, and Rellana had no objections either.
After all, Frieren had authorized Messmer to be the commander-in-chief.
...
West side of the Altus Plateau.
The army of the Royal Capital passed through in a mighty formation. The sound of horse hooves made the earth rumble, banners obscured the sky, and the golden light of Incantations flickered dazzlingly from time to time.
Every single one of them was an elite, fully armed, with weapons and armor that were top-tier in the Lands Between.
Furthermore, they were strengthened by Runes accumulated over thousands of years, and the lingering rhythm of Grace remained. If it could be said that during the Shattering War they were more than capable of defense but lacking in offense, then it was different now, all because of one banner:
The First Lord.
Even if Godfrey did not rush to the front line, it was enough to boost morale.
The accumulated sense of decadence was swept away, as if they were reborn. The spearhead unit of over ten thousand men was honed to the extreme, thirsting for blood.
At the very front of the procession was impressively the Beast Regent, Serosh. Although he kept a low profile on ordinary days and his reputation was not prominent in the Lands Between, the true veterans were convinced. They knew clearly how much he had toiled to add bricks and tiles to the Golden Dynasty. Having him as the commander today made them feel even more at ease.
As for Morgott, it was hard for everyone to evaluate.
Based on his display of kinship with the First Lord, anyone who wasn't blind could guess that the rumors were true.
The rumor brought out by Mohg, Lord of Blood, that "Queen Marika the Eternal gave birth to a pair of Omen twins after Godwyn" was confirmed to be true. But there was no time to be shocked now, not to mention Morgott had voluntarily laid down most of his authority.
With Godfrey standing by him, no one specifically picked a quarrel. Moreover, the achievements of this Golden scion in guarding the Royal Capital added a point of persuasiveness, commanding admiration.
Let it be.
Since the First Lord didn't give this "Prince" any title, then so be it.
Rather, many of the Golden Order's people were satisfied with this arrangement, accepting it reluctantly and tolerating it for the time being in the face of a great enemy.
Of course, because Omen horns would absorb dead souls, everyone still tried to keep their distance.
This was the limit of their tolerance. The rest was left unsaid; they would understand and tolerate each other.
"You seem very happy?"
Hearing Serosh's query, Morgott revealed a smile and answered seriously:
"Of course. I can march out openly and let everyone understand that there are still Golden scions fighting for Leyndell when the Dynasty is crumbling."
"Not just me, my brother Mohg will also be remembered... Although he did some dangerous things, he also strove to dismantle the coalition of Lords. We have not let down... Brother Godwyn."
Originally, he wanted to say he hadn't let down the Golden Dynasty, but thinking of his experience being locked in the sewers, he changed his words.
Fight in the name of the eldest brother and the younger brother.
Morgott had indeed never been as carefree as he was today. He had finally laid down his heavy burden to protect Leyndell together with the Royal Capital's army.
"Good. Let us hope Queen Marika the Eternal blesses the Dynasty."
Serosh spurred his horse to greater speed.
Soon, they arrived at the foot of the Volcano. They thought it would be a defense line guarded by heavy troops, but instead, they encountered abandoned sentry posts, tunnels, and earthen walls serving as cover. Looking around, it was empty.
They hadn't fled, because one could see deliberate operations like burning supplies and blasting large pits to trip horse hooves. It was an orderly retreat.
The movements were quite fast, decisive and swift, sufficient to show the commander's excellence and the organization of the grassroots level. It was obviously Messmer's handiwork. Sure enough, he was a resounding famous general in the Lands Between, giving much greater pressure than when facing Edgar.
After looking around, Serosh said with a grave expression:
"The Soul Cinder Army has focused on strengthening the defense lines inside the mountain. They will not fight with their backs to the Volcano, but rather rely on the Volcano to fight."
"If we attack rashly, we will one hundred percent fall into an ambush, but we cannot sit idly by."
"Probe first."
Morgott obeyed the order, commanding his subordinates to throw stones at the mountain path. Rumbling explosions rang out incessantly. Under the acceleration of gravity, large swathes of crushed rock were kicked up, even bringing about landslides, causing collapses.
However, there was still no reaction from inside the Volcano. It was terribly quiet.
Even the knowledgeable Serosh couldn't help but click his tongue, secretly complaining. Too steady. Had they withdrawn from even the Volcano's outer perimeter? That shouldn't be.
He could only bite the bullet and order: "Advance. We must attack, but first, clear the rocks blocking the mountain pass."
"As you command."
The Royal Capital army drove Trolls forward to transport materials, gradually opening up a wide road...
Suddenly, massive Golem arrows shot through the heads of the Trolls.
These large porters died one after another. The direction the arrows flew from was above; the enemy had been staring and aiming early on, holding their breath until now to attack all at once.
As it happened, there were also a large number of combat engineers transporting along with them, jamming shoulder to shoulder at the mountain pass, unable to retreat at all.
"Cover fire! Don't give the enemy a chance!"
Unfortunately, it was already too late. Massive rocks rolled down with a crash, smashing ruthlessly into the mountain pass and wiping out the vanguard squad. Immediately after, arrows fell like rain, whistling and enveloping the area. People were instantly turned into hedgehogs and died on the spot.
Relying on their excellent quality, the Royal Capital army still reacted by raising shields to block.
But they didn't have time to form a formation.
Directly above, the Dragon Communion participants immediately unleashed dragon breath. The scorching dragon fire complemented the volcanic environment, spewing out a stream of red magma.
The Leyndell Knights, who hadn't coordinated their defense, were immediately severely burned. Even if their armor saved their lives, they would hardly have any combat power left. And this period of time was enough for the enemy to reseal the mountain pass area.
In the space of a breath, rolling logs and rocks blocked the path again.
Serosh ordered decisively: "Begin the general offensive. Occupy the Volcano's perimeter. We will conquer it step by step."
The Royal Capital army's long-range firepower instantly covered the area above with a crackling barrage, suppressing the Dragon Communion participants in an instant and buying time to clear the road.
Not only that.
A considerable number of elites built ladders along the cliffs and climbed up rapidly.
They had to treat the Volcano as a siege battle; they had no other choice. This hard bone required unusual methods. There were Crucible Knights among the leaders; under their charge, they advanced indomitably.
However, a Spirit Ash legion soon appeared before them. They took over the fiercest defense line on the perimeter, signifying the serious counterattack of the Soul Cinder Army.
Messmer responded to the general offensive with tacit understanding.
The next moment, roars echoed through the mountain ranges. The wings of Flying Dragons were seen obscuring the sky and sun, fanning up wild winds.
They launched a bombardment from high above, turning the path into a sea of fire.
The Royal Capital army naturally had Dragon-slaying Ballistas as a countermeasure, but they were already within the range of the magic corps. Amidst the flashing of Glintstones, several Dragon-slaying Ballistas were destroyed. Some mages simply created Freezing Mist and Night Maiden's Mist to obscure the battlefield.
The Flying Dragons didn't need to aim; they just bombed away. The defenders didn't need vision at the moment.
At the same time, the bubbles of the Oracle Envoys also flew into the sky, seeking out the tracks of the mages to detonate. The two sides had already unfolded a long-range duel. Amidst the banging explosions, the temperature of the Volcano rose a few degrees higher.
A large-scale battle that would be recorded in the history books of the Lands Between had formally begun.
The struggle for the Lift earlier was merely an appetizer.
Moreover, both Messmer and Serosh were clear that even this was merely the prelude to the decisive battle of Leyndell. The truly difficult part probably lay ahead...
_____
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