Viewed from the back of the Ancient Dragon, the burning of the Erdtree was even more magnificent.
As the wind blew, sparks slapped against their cheeks. A scorching heat filled every facet of the sky; everywhere the eye could see was a sea of crimson, burning pervasively.
Crack! Crack!
One could faintly hear the sound of the Erdtree's branches snapping; ultimately, it could not bear the burden of the forbidden flame. However, careful observation revealed that the speed of disintegration was quite rapid, and one could barely feel the curse or resentment from the Fell God's flame.
After gazing for a moment, Melina asked with a sudden realization, "Frieren, did you add extra ingredients?"
The silver-haired girl nodded calmly.
Even Ranni, who was always calm and composed, sighed in admiration. "As expected, other flames could not ignite it smoothly, so Her Majesty actively used her own fire. I wonder how the consumption is?"
"Rest assured, it merely acted as a catalyst. Suppressing the Fell God's flame was outside my expectations, but it is a good thing that it is gone."
For safety's sake, Frieren had utilized a wisp of the power of the First Flame.
Fortunately, everything was peaceful. Moreover, there was an unexpected harvest: during the combustion, the First Flame swallowed the Fell God's flame.
Otherwise, following the original crude method might have allowed the resentment from the Giant's faith to mix in. Now, there were no worries for the future; the First Flame itself carried no pollution, was safe and reliable, and was under Frieren's control.
"However, this is merely the start of the burning. To thoroughly destroy the Thorns of Rejection and proclaim the new Order, one more thing is needed—"
"Destined Death."
Melina reminded them of the coming fierce battle, emphasizing every word.
It was widely known that Marika's Shadowbound Beast, Maliketh the Black Blade, guarded it and even utilized it in battle. The terrifying rule of power that caused death upon contact, coupled with the strength of the Lands Between's greatest killer, meant that even a powerhouse at the level of an Elden Lord had to be carefully wary.
"Your Majesty, there is one point I must remind you of," Florisaxx spoke solemnly. "I received some news from Lansseax. Some Ancient Dragons have concerns..."
"They oppose me, right?"
"Correct. Some Ancient Dragons intend to honor their covenant with the Golden Dynasty and stop Your Majesty."
"How is their strength?" Frieren only cared about this point.
"Not great. Currently, the Ancient Dragons are divided into the Soul Cinder faction, the First Lord faction, and the Neutral faction. Only the First Lord faction lacks a presiding Priestess Ancient Dragon; rather, it is precisely because they are relatively weak that they are greatly influenced by the Dynasty. However, combined, they are still not to be underestimated."
Her words were pertinent and full of warning.
The Neutral faction was naturally being operated by Lansseax; after all, she had always been ostensibly compliant but inwardly distant with the Golden Lineage, understanding the art of fence-sitting.
Those who unswervingly chose the Soul Cinder King were naturally the group represented by Florisaxx. The two of them were currently the strongest and most prestigious of the Ancient Dragon race. Except for the Dragonlord.
"Therefore, some Ancient Dragons hope to find the slumbering place of His Majesty Placidusax and ask for his instructions, even if it might incur His Majesty's wrath. But now is critical; it is a crossroads for the fate of the Sky City."
"Your arrival will certainly provoke sensitive nerves. Be prepared for battle. However, from my personal perspective, I suggest that if you can stay your hand, do not kill them."
"Rest assured, I promised Lansseax."
After receiving Frieren's affirmative reply, Florisaxx further increased her speed.
As long as the message was conveyed to Her Majesty, she was satisfied; the rest depended entirely on the King's decision. No one in the world could shake her will.
Whoosh!
With another flap of wings, they pierced through the clouds. It was not as simple as passing through 'mist'; spatial ripples swept past them, and the originally hazy Sky City became increasingly distinct.
Looking back, the Erdtree was shedding ash that obscured the sky and sun, and the wind seemed to carry bursts of shouting and killing. With the burning of the Erdtree, the war had likely become even more intense.
However, Frieren could only choose to trust her teammates. After all, this was a war, never determined by just a few people. She just needed to do her own part; the urgent task was to head to the Sky City.
Meanwhile.
The Volcano battlefield was in chaos, flashes of sabers and shadows of swords everywhere, blood flowing like rivers. Both the Soul Cinder Army and the Royal Capital Army were repeatedly contending for the same defense line.
Ancient Dragon Knights were seen throwing Lightning Spears, streaking gold across the firmament and exploding brilliantly upon the mountain ranges. The prayers of the Dragon Communionists manifested as various flying dragons, spewing out elemental attacks of all kinds.
Both sides were becoming increasingly disorganized, left only with pure bombardment.
It wasn't that Commander Serosh didn't want order, but the burning of the Erdtree had caused the faith of a considerable portion of the Leyndell Knights to collapse, subsequently affecting their Incantations. Their organizational level plummeted linearly, simply becoming unseemly.
It was already good enough that he and Morgott could maintain the army's basic operations; otherwise, it would have triggered chain accidents like collapses and stampedes.
"It's all because of you bunch of blasphemers."
"To actually ignite the Erdtree—do you know what grave sin you have committed?"
"It's over. Can our battle even salvage the situation?"
Even the Leyndell Knights who had survived the Shattering War could not help but have their willpower shaken, practically left only with the instinct to hack and kill. If not for the Crucible Knights holding the very front, they might have been pushed back by the enemy.
No. Actually, the Soul Cinder Army wasn't doing much better. A careful look revealed that the Spirit Ash Legions, which had originally withdrawn, had filled the positions on the frontline again. Presumably, they were also wavering and hesitant.
Therefore, even with the army's morale teetering, Serosh did not order a retreat. He believed in the military quality of the Royal Capital Army; they would fight on and compete with the Soul Cinder Army in stress resistance.
Viewed generally, it was instead the Leyndell Knights who were advancing, having already entered the Volcano highland area. Incantations of the Golden lineage arrived a step ahead, descending from the sky to wash over the earth.
Rumble!
With a large number of Golem warriors assisting, they finally stumbled through and destroyed the stronghold of the Dragon Communionists. At the same time, the enemy seemed to be actively contracting their battle lines.
Morgott proposed: "Charge in with a burst of morale and surround the core area of Volcano Manor. You are familiar with the route; you lead the Night's Cavalry there."
Since this Grace-Given King was brimming with confidence, Serosh did not stop him, handing this unit of heroic combat power over to him. The goal of this trip was to weaken the threat of the Volcano. Although a large number of the grassroots troops were wavering, the elite squads were still usable.
The Lion Chancellor gazed at the flames soaring to the sky in the distance, uneasy in his heart. He did not know in what state the Soul Cinder King had departed.
Was she injured? Was it serious or not?
Specific intelligence was unknown, but Frieren had indeed accomplished it, fighting all the way through the Mountaintops of the Giants. Her martial arts, power, and even spirit must have reached the peak of perfection, tempering her state to its zenith amidst consecutive victories.
Fortunately, what the Soul Cinder King was about to collide with was the Black Blade. As long as the damage of Destined Death was left behind, it could certainly weaken her, or perhaps she would be killed by Maliketh...
Initially, Serosh had great confidence in the strongest killer, but now he hesitated.
"There are no easy options in the Lands Between. We will ultimately have to face the Soul Cinder King."
He sighed and said to those around him, "But before that, we can capture the Volcano first and make him lose the stronghold of the Altus Plateau."
Morgott's troops successfully breached the Volcano highlands. His brow furrowed tighter and tighter, because there was absolutely no way the resistance would only be of this degree; there was likely a heavy ambush.
"Scout first."
Although he was cautious enough, in the next moment, a cloud of smoke exploded in the air. Dense power of the Night surrounded the peaks; one couldn't see their own fingers stretched out in front of them, and even perception became dull.
It must be the Mimic Tear playing tricks; that fellow excelled at Night Sorceries.
Immediately after, several Night Comets streaked past, precisely hitting the Night's Cavalry and knocking them off their horses. At the same time, Nox tactics flickered within the mist.
It was the forces of the Eternal City that the Soul Cinder King had subdued! Even someone as strong as Morgott wore a solemn expression, because this group of sorcerers who specialized in assassination was particularly tricky, and even more terrifying under the leadership of a Demigod. So he immediately ordered them to gather around him.
"Laughable. Are the Night's Cavalry not skilled in fighting against our Night lineage?"
Arrogant voices came from everywhere.
"You are merely an incomplete Spirit Ash lifeform; do not speak so shamelessly," Morgott retorted.
"I have long since ascended. Incidentally, I'll tell you a piece of bad news: Mother has become stronger again, so I, who receive energy feedback, have also become stronger. Just watch carefully."
Crackle!
A bolt of lightning surged within the dark mist and crashed down, a full tens of meters of materialized mana, heavy and unstoppable.
In the urgency of the moment, Morgott immediately raised his Cursed Sword to block. The reaction speed and technique of a top-tier Demigod precisely caught the lightning while deflecting the force—
However, spatial ripples flickered, and impressively, the Mimic Tear teleported into the center of the squad, daring to break into this heavy encirclement single-handedly. But almost simultaneously, Hoarfrost Stomp whipped up a cold wind, coordinating with the attacks of the Nox people so the Night's Cavalry could not spare a hand.
Too fast.
The coordinated cover of the Spirit Ash Legion allowed the Mimic Tear to attack Morgott with full force. She exchanged a blow with the battle-hardened Grace-Given King, ending in a draw, but this was enough to surprise him. Logically speaking, shouldn't this fragile Tear lifeform be at the level of the weakest tier of Demigods?
He had assumed she was at a level slightly stronger than Godefroy.
However, the recoil force transmitted up the Cursed Sword did not answer as such; the White Maiden before him had been reborn. So, the Soul Cinder King had become stronger.
While contemplating the bad news, Morgott threw a wheel of light swords speeding out, but unfortunately, Eternal Darkness rose up, absorbing all the golden Incantations.
Did unpresentable Night Magic possess such power now?
Previously, the Night lineage of magic never had powerful casters; it had a system but lacked those to carry it forward. Now, in the hands of the Mimic Tear, it was superb, and she had even mastered Incantations—
Lightning Spear!
The lightning struck Morgott's Cursed Sword, but in the next moment, the gold turned crimson, slapping onto his body through his defenses. The intense pain made even him grit his teeth involuntarily. How did the attribute suddenly change?
"It is the lightning of the Ancient Dragons!" The Grace-Given King's brow locked tight. "How many skills did you learn from Frieren?"
"It is you who became weaker, idiot. Where is the Great Rune in your body?"
"Of course I handed it over to His Majesty."
This angered the Mimic Tear into revealing a fierce glint in her eyes, her offensive becoming even more intense. On one hand, she lost the chance to defeat Morgott and seize the Great Rune to offer to her Mother; on the other hand, someone actually actively weakened themselves—it was simply preposterous.
Although he rarely used the Great Rune actively, just having it fused in the body would bring amplification. Compared to previous meetings, Morgott had more fatigue and was half a degree weaker.
"Just leave a brain as stupid as yours behind."
The Mimic Tear's offensive became increasingly violent, actually vaguely suppressing the dignified Grace-Given King under a fierce combo. However, the latter did not intend to drag out the fight, but adopted a defensive entanglement, making them inseparable for a time.
Boom!
Suddenly, an explosion sounded from the distance. Both involuntarily stopped their movements and spread their perception; the defense line leading to Volcano Manor had been breached.
Almost simultaneously, the mana of the Twin Moon Knight bloomed, crashing together with the Lion Chancellor Serosh. They had engaged.
One was a grandmaster of Carian martial arts with years of combat experience; the other was a wise beast who had campaigned in all directions with the First Lord. Unwilling to show weakness, they bombarded each other, the whirlwinds kicked up blowing out even the flames of the Volcano, filled with destruction.
However, the Royal Capital Army clearly held the advantage. The Crucible Knights had been assigned to Serosh's team and were the main force, thus splitting bamboo with their momentum.
Now it was the Mimic Tear's turn to be conflicted: should she return to support? Although Messmer could sortied at any time, having the commander-in-chief directly engage in remnant combat would inevitably make dispatching sluggish. Speed is precious in war; could this cost be borne? Furthermore, Morgott would not easily let people go.
Wooo—
Another horn sound echoed. It was similar to the Soul Cinder Army and the Royal Capital Army, yet different, inexplicably making one feel familiar.
On the north side of the Volcano battlefield, Haligtree banners flew impressively. The reinforcements from the Consecrated Snowfield had arrived. They plunged into the side where the Royal Capital Army lacked defense without hesitation.
The two sides could be called old rivals. Compared to the Soul Cinder Army, which was actually confronting the Royal Capital Army fully for the first time, the Haligtree Army had experienced the enemy's skills as early as the Shattering War, so they stabbed straight into the flank with flowing fluidity.
The timing was just right, causing the Royal Capital Army to fall amidst shouts of killing before they could react, corpses littering the field in an instant.
At the same time, inside Volcano Manor, Messmer formally gave the order: "Counterattack the enemy."
He had been estimating the timing since he knew the Haligtree Army would support, adding the confirmation from letters en route, he finally drafted a rough plan. Showing weakness to the enemy and letting a part of the Royal Capital Army in was just right; even the Lion Chancellor fell for it.
His subordinate Black Knights immediately moved out.
"Repel them."
Under the falling ash of the burning Erdtree, elite soldiers and fierce generals collided at zero distance, trading blows with murderous intent. The entire Soul Cinder Army seemed to welcome a metamorphosis. The gap in morale finally began to cash in as weights on the scales of victory.
Serosh, fighting Rellana, locked his brow tight, gradually realizing that his side could not sustain this. As soon as he stopped, the opponent also stopped, not planning a fight to the death.
The timing for the decisive battle of the Demigods was not now; she had certainly been instructed to fight conservatively. But that did not mean the elites were safe and sound; at this moment, the major losses were all on the side of the Royal Capital Army.
Attacked front and rear.
Also, the morale trauma of the burning Erdtree was constantly impacting this division of a hundred battles, and the formation was becoming increasingly loose.
"Do you intend to retreat and be a defense force again?" Rellana provoked. "When it comes to proficiency in offense, you are already inferior to us."
These words made Serosh's heart feel blocked. Honest words cut sharpest; the Soul Cinder Army, composed mainly of the Southern Army and Crusade Army that had been fighting continuously, was indeed the team with the most offensive power in the last five thousand years. Even without Frieren, they could unleash such power.
As the frontline commander, he had to make a decision: retreat or fight?
However, seeing Messmer's banner, Serosh's heart sank. It was likely not up to him to choose.
_____
New Story: Bleach: Dominating Soul Society in One Sting
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