"Retreat!"
Serosh issued the order decisively, having no intention of lingering in battle.
Almost simultaneously, the Black Knights charged out from the direction of Volcano Manor. In a single encounter, they overturned dozens of high-ranking Leyndell soldiers; were it not for the Crucible Knights holding the line, the losses would have expanded further.
He had to admire Messmer's composure. To think he held back this card until now—was he not afraid of starting a war in the core area of the Volcano?
"Tighten the formation and leave in an orderly fashion."
Shocked as he was, Serosh still maintained the organization in an orderly manner, gradually retreating.
However, was the Twin Moon Knight so easily dismissed? One could see Carian sorcery suppressing the Crucible Knights within the formation; a casual strike would sweep away a large swathe of the Golden Army.
Unless it was a Devonia-level Crucible Knight, ordinary ones could not stop her.
A top-tier Demigod configured with both magic and martial arts cultivation, just like Frieren, was most suited for this environment.
Like a fish in water.
While Rellana coordinated with the Black Knights to suppress the Crucible Knights and sweep away numerous Leyndell warriors, the reinforcements Serosh had ordered to the mountain pass were late in arriving. This indicated they were entangled by the Haligtree Army and were likely in grave danger.
They could only rely on this lone army that had penetrated deep to withdraw.
As Serosh and his group contemplated their retreat, they ran into a mass of black night mist—it was the battle between the Mimic Tear and Morgott.
It was too chaotic.
The two Demigods, fighting to a white-hot intensity and somewhat flushed with anger, held nothing back. There was no attention to technique, only the collision of brute force. Incantations and sorceries bombarded indiscriminately, blades and swords flashed, mixed with flying flesh and blood.
Indeed, in reality, both were constantly accumulating injuries but continued to attack fiercely without a care.
"Morgott, we must retreat."
Hearing the news, the Omen's face was grim as he dodged a Night Comet. Although he was still grazed, he could not care about that much and quickly rendezvoused with Serosh.
Only after sending out his perception did he discover that the Haligtree Army was blocking the mountain pass.
The Golden Capital had also reacted, sending a new batch of knights that made the earth rumble and echo, but unfortunately, it would take time.
Time was what they lacked the most. For this army deep within the Volcano, having their communications cut off meant they could only fight their way out on their own; losses would certainly be inevitable.
Risk it all.
The two commanders exchanged a glance and made a decision, actively taking up the rear to provide cover.
At the same time, the Mimic Tear and Rellana also rendezvoused. They were well aware of Messmer's deployment and immediately realized this was the moment to expand their battle achievements.
They simply attacked with full force.
As fellow top-tier sorcerers, the reason they were sent here was that they could cause large-scale destruction at any time. It was especially terrifying when they formed a synergy; in an instant, Night mana and Moon mana spread all around, and the layers of shockwaves overturned countless Leyndell Knights.
Even though Morgott and Serosh tried their best to stop it, they could not overcome the result of poor compatibility and a lack of countermeasures.
Originally, the Golden Army possessed a large number of anti-magic means, and they could even go toe-to-toe with Demigods. But right now, their organization was on the verge of collapse, they were in a dilemma, and their discipline was greatly discounted.
More importantly, the Erdtree, this symbol of faith, had been weakened.
Frieren igniting it was the heaviest blow to the Golden Order. It was not only a blow to morale but also tangibly suppressed the Incantations of the Golden lineage.
Unless one's bloodline was powerful enough to be unaffected, ordinary Incantation casters would become weaker.
"Misfortunes never come singly."
Serosh's pressure increased suddenly, and he gritted his teeth, retreating while bearing his injuries.
Fortunately, his coordination with Morgott barely maintained the organization. They moved amidst the crossfire like this, fighting and retreating. The path was filled with the sound of clashing blades, shouts of killing, and roars, interwoven with the smell of scorching and thick smoke...
During this time, it was unknown how many corpses were left behind; likewise, quite a few knights of the Soul Cinder Army also fell.
Both sides were already seeing red.
On the narrow mountain road, there was no such thing as formation, only a contest of brute force.
Upon seeing the enemy, they would fight. Every microscopic battle was close-quarters combat; sometimes they couldn't even deploy their weapons and would wrestle together on the spot or roll down the cliff together. Such chaotic battles were everywhere, leaving only primitive slaughter.
The only order existed in the personal guard led by Serosh and Morgott, who swept up a group of men and horses to evacuate. Seeing the banner, the others at least knew the direction.
Acting as the model for retreat was truly nothing to be happy about.
Wherever the two looked, everything was solid bodies, either facing each other with swords or wrestling together—utterly chaotic, a storm of blood.
It was too tragic.
Clearly, this was just a prelude battle for the Volcano, yet it was fought as if it were the final decisive battle.
A total of four powerhouses at the Demigod level were involved. Even now, the Mimic Tear and Rellana had not given up the pursuit, their magic constantly tracking and exploding.
Their coordination caused heavy losses to the Royal Capital Army. Unfortunately, the Soul Cinder Army, which occupied the resources of the Carian Royal Family, did not lack sorcerers. Not to mention that Rennala, Ranni, and even Frieren, who majored in magic, had yet to make a move. When that time came, it would certainly be a bitter struggle.
"If the city walls are breached, it will be more tragic than this slaughter."
Morgott muttered to himself.
He had imagined several times what it would be like if the defense fell; now, he had simulated it once. The complexity of the Volcano's narrow and steep terrain was weaker than Leyndell; urban warfare would be even more troublesome then.
"The plan this time was destroyed by the Haligtree Army. The North is in crisis; we can only defend the city," Serosh judged unwillingly.
Who could have thought that Frieren would subdue the Haligtree faction with such lightning speed?
Wasn't she just fighting to the death in the Land of Shadow? Did she possess such great charismatic leadership?
They had failed.
The frustration of the Volcano offensive directly determined that the subsequent strategy would shift to defense; they had to regroup. Carrying this regret, Serosh led the main force to retreat, and the Soul Cinder Army ceased their pursuit, allowing them to rendezvous with the reinforcing Royal Capital Army.
Messmer chose to receive the Haligtree Army and scattered a unit to maintain the northern route, clearly intending to establish long-term contact with Elphael.
His actions were seen by the Leyndell side, who could only defend.
Both sides temporarily ceased fire, each making preparations.
War would not break out again in the short term. After all, the burning of the Erdtree affected both sides. Under the crisis, the Soul Cinder Army, lacking Frieren's direct leadership, also lacked sufficient offensive power.
But as everyone knew, that Soul Cinder King was never restless, just as at this moment—
Thump!
A muffled sound came from the unattainable firmament above, as if some barrier shackle had been breached. Immediately following were the roars of Ancient Dragons; even from such a distance, one felt their scalp go numb.
It was absolutely true: the Soul Cinder King had formally entered the Sky City.
She really did it. Through the Forge of the Giants and the contracted Ancient Dragon, she stepped into the gradually collapsing Farum Azula.
"The city hidden in the crevices of space-time has seen the light of day again," Serosh murmured. "Frieren will launch a war there to ensure the Ancient Dragons cannot intervene in the battle. I just do not know what will happen with Destined Death?"
"With Maliketh there, even if she is not killed, she will be heavily injured," Morgott asserted.
"That may not be so..."
In reality, neither of them had any confidence in their hearts and could only watch and wait.
The wind howled wildly.
The first thing to greet Frieren upon arriving at the Sky City was not an Ancient Dragon, but the enduring strong wind; the force was so great that her defensive barrier reacted.
"Everyone, I am going to dive for a landing. Pay attention and hold on tight."
Before her voice had faded, Florisaxx plunged down violently, landing steadily on a broken bridge.
This place looked like a docking port, or perhaps a road; similar dilapidated ruins were too numerous to count. The silver-haired girl leaped down, fixing her gaze ahead: on an archway climbed the corpse of a giant dragon.
Dilapidation, death, and withering welcomed the visitors together. It gave a greater sense of decline than the Lands Between; it was indeed on the verge of destruction.
After all, it was the predecessor to the Golden Order.
Following closely behind, Melina and Ranni also descended to the ground along the dragon's claws.
Even with their feet on solid ground, they did not feel safe, because the entire city was swaying. Coupled with the exaggerated wind speed howling continuously, it seemed that with the slightest carelessness, one would be blown to the ends of the earth.
Initially, they imagined an open scene, watching the sunrise high above the sea of clouds, admiring the vastness of heaven and earth...
But they were wrong.
A super-large cyclone surrounded the city, accompanied by the power of space-time isolating the scenes of Farum Azula from the normal world. Wherever the eye could see, it was wrapped in debris and ruins, giving off an oppressive feeling instead. Dragon roars echoed in their ears at all times, yet no traces of them were seen.
Even Demigods couldn't help but be nervous.
Only a powerhouse at the level of an Elden Lord like Frieren could stretch her muscles and bones calmly. It looked like she was prepared to scour the place inside and out.
Even if the Erdtree was burning, she wasn't anxious, because this was a place where space-time was locked.
Florisaxx admonished, "Even an Ancient Dragon like me cannot move in the gale for a long time, not to mention the risk of destroying the space-time coagulation. So, I am sorry I cannot carry you to the depths of the Sky City."
"It doesn't matter. It is enough. Leave the rest to me."
"Your Majesty, I must go see Lansseax to ensure the Ancient Dragons of the Neutral faction do not interfere, but you may encounter hostilities..."
"I will repel them."
The silver-haired girl's steady answer laid her concerns to rest. The giant dragon head nodded slightly before flapping her wings to leave.
Before leaving, she also gave Melina a detailed map of the Sky City.
As the Priestess of the preaching side, Florisaxx's eloquence naturally needed no further description. She had the confidence to stabilize the Ancient Dragons who were already unwilling to intervene in the war, also to preserve the spark of her kin.
"The Ancient Dragons can be considered to be betting on multiple sides," Ranni reminded, gazing at the retreating figure.
The implication was that when merit was finally rewarded, this point could not be ignored. After all, they were ultimately not 'one of our own' who had completely defected to the Soul Cinder King.
There had to be a distinction between internal and external.
Frieren said, "I know. That is why I must beat a portion of the Ancient Dragons into submission here, to avoid interfering with the Royal Capital battlefield."
The two finalized the decision.
The duty of Gods and Lords was to balance the various forces of the Lands Between.
When they took the stage, it would count as the third unified dynasty in the world after the Golden Order. The change of God and Order was the symbol of dynasty transition; at that time, the Ancient Dragon Dynasty would be even more ancient, its influence further weakened.
So, should they slightly curb the decline to support them? Or give them a hard push while they were going downhill?
That would test the political wisdom of the pair of newcomers, Frieren and Ranni. It had to be handled carefully, as it directly related to long-term stability. Or rather, they had to face this problem now.
It was inconvenient to strike the Ancient Dragons too hard, yet they couldn't go without teaching them a lesson.
"This way."
After looking at the map, Melina pointed in a direction. The two immediately followed, maintaining their consistent alert formation.
One could not tolerate slackness in the territory of the Ancient Dragons.
However, Frieren, bold due to her high skill, had the leeway to observe the surroundings while traveling. Her impression of everything in sight was just one word: Big. Architectural parts like archways, stone pillars, and domes were all heightened, enlarged, and thickened; indeed, they befitted the size of Ancient Dragons.
Accurately speaking, there were few places with sealed tops; the overall architectural style led directly to the firmament.
Under the lifting force of the gale, her body felt light and airy, blowing her long silver hair to dance. Raising her head to see the crumbling ruins accompanied by the shadows of flying giant dragons, it was extremely magnificent.
It was a bit like that drakekeeper's area in Aldia's Keep, but that paled in comparison; this counted as a true "Ancient Dragon Aerie."
[Amazing view ahead]
The messages on the ground were likewise full of endless praise.
The legacy left by the first unified dynasty of the Lands Between created by the Ancient Dragons was very rich. The erosion of eons still hadn't made the Sky City appear dilapidated; the first impression was always shock.
[Too photogenic, the map with the best lighting effects in the entire Lands Between]
[Ah-Tui (The Tarnished) has a professional lighting director; the photos are as beautiful as paintings]
[As expected of the Sky City. It expanded the scale on the foundation of Aldia's Keep. I took screenshots fiercely when I first saw it, too lazy to bother with the monsters]
[It's even lonelier]
[Shocking, but it always gives people the feeling of a grave. It buried the Ancient Dragon Dynasty, and indeed buried a large number of beasts]
[This style is a veritable sky burial]
...The memories in the messages made Frieren let her imagination run wild. Releasing her perception, sure enough, it was a grave.
Not just the remains of Ancient Dragons and Flying Dragons; the most numerous were the densely packed skeletons of Beastman soldiers. Rather than saying they were buried, it was better to say many were simply inlaid into the buildings as a kind of decoration. Yet it didn't appear horrifying; there was even a sacred atmosphere.
Frieren had seen similar styles; they also existed in some ancient kingdoms in reality:
Martyrdom.
With such a large accumulation of corpses and possessing a certain commonality, being uniformly processed and inlaid proved they were produced within a short time, equivalent to the act of martyrdom. As for whether the other party was willing? There was no need to consider slaves.
"Could it be that the Ancient Dragon race places relatively high importance on funeral culture?" Frieren asked curiously.
"We are now in a place called the Crumbling Beast Grave. As the name suggests, it should be said they attach importance to piling up the corpses of slaves as decoration. So, I suppose so."
"That remark is a bit hellish."
"With such a large quantity of corpses, it should be a large-scale sacrifice." Melina likewise raised a spirit of inquiry. "It could also be punishment."
Ranni gave a definite answer: "Legend has it that in Ancient Dragon history, there was more than one slave rebellion. Even excluding the unverifiable ancient history, according to common sense, the war Bayle launched back then most likely swept up a portion of the slaves. They had to be disposed of."
The two suddenly realized; indeed, they were more inclined towards eradicating rebels and conveniently using them as decoration.
"In a certain sense, in the Age of Ancient Dragons, every race other than themselves could be called slaves."
"If we discuss the dominance of a group over the entire Lands Between, the Ancient Dragons were the strongest; even the Golden Lineage cannot compare."
"Even in the era of myself and Frieren, we cannot construct a scenario where one race enslaves the entire world. Rule based on royalty will dilute it further, I suppose."
"This is progress."
Frieren, as the future Elden Lord, gave the verdict.
_____
New Story: Bleach: Dominating Soul Society in One Sting
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