The labyrinth on the eastern side of Liurnia was intended for the army; Frieren didn't need to handle everything personally, but there was no shortage of Black Knife Imprints.
How could she not collect and study such things?
Upon receiving the imprint, Rogier lamented, "Very well, this will give me something to study for a while. You might find it amusing, but according to my research, Those Who Live in Death don't actively harm the living; it's just another form of existence... I wish to save them."
"How tragic it is to be ostracized from the Golden Order. The Eternal Dynasty, by making itself eternal, sacrificed the right to the cycle of life and rebirth. Everything has a price."
"So, I want to improve the condition of Those Who Live in Death under the existing laws."
"You're doing the right thing," Nepheli quickly replied, as if also answering herself.
Previously, she might have looked down on Those Who Live in Death, but now, everyone was struggling—existing, according to Sir Gideon Ofnir.
As long as someone was willing to try and improve the current situation, it brought comfort and deserved support.
Hearing this, Rogier smiled. "What do you think, Frieren?"
"I'll remember about the curse-mark and speak to Ranni about it later. However, if you ask me, the most fundamental solution is to unleash Destined Death."
"But Maliketh, the Black Blade, guards it."
"Mm."
The silver-haired girl nodded frankly. It wasn't that she didn't know; the assassin's reputation was thunderous. Still, it didn't stop her from concluding that the Rune of Death had to be seized.
Wait, didn't you catch the warning in my words? The Black Blade is incredibly strong.
Everyone then reconsidered. Throughout their journey, when had the Ashen One ever hesitated? If she were easily deterred, she wouldn't have reached such heights.
If she said she would obtain Destined Death, she would definitely do it. Her declaration today was tantamount to a declaration of war.
One could imagine that a future battle between Maliketh and Frieren would literally shake the Lands Between, deciding the fate of countless lives.
"Let's see if I achieve my research results first, or if you seize Destined Death first," Rogier said.
"You're quite pleased with yourself, aren't you?"
Suddenly, D's voice came from the side. As expected, Rogier looked embarrassed, and the others took a few steps back.
One wanted to save Those Who Live in Death, the other had been hunting them. They were friends, so Rogier had always kept it a secret.
The sudden exposure today was too awkward and could lead to irreconcilable conflict...
"You did nothing wrong," D's reply was unexpected.
His masked face scanned the surroundings, his gaze sharp, then he smiled. "You don't think I'm some deranged fanatic obsessed with killing Those Who Live in Death, do you?"
"Hunters know better than anyone that as long as Destined Death remains sealed, their numbers will only grow. The corruption from the Erdtree's roots exacerbates this. Therefore, Destined Death must be released sooner or later, even if it means ending people's eternal life."
"Eternal life? It's a fate worse than death," Frieren stated bluntly. "Life should be dynamic. A soul imprisoned in a decaying body isn't truly living."
"Indeed, many have long grown weary of this deathless, lifeless cage."
Nepheli murmured, "But won't it deprive many of their right to a long life?"
"It will. Therefore, a more ideal approach would be to incorporate a dynamically adjusted indicator. For instance, when an individual's will wanes to an extreme, they would naturally return to the Erdtree, allowing the world to flourish, rather than continuously hollowing."
As the now recognized expert on curing Hollowing, Frieren had the most authority on the subject. Indeed, an additional adjustment indicator would be much better.
It was too difficult.
Unfortunately, the grander the rule, the more rigid it tends to be. Once established by the power of the Elden Ring, it's hard to change. In the end, one can only endure the cost and fight against it step by step.
"That kind of thing is still too far off." Rogier waved his hand. "Don't take such a huge risk because of a sudden inspiration of mine, Frieren. I think a little healing at a time is enough for now."
D chimed in, "Because the Hollowing has weakened, the corruption has slowed, and even the numbers of Those Who Live in Death have decreased."
"Your great deeds have already permeated the Lands Between."
Throughout long history, few beings had achieved the level of influence of the Ashen One. Now, Limgrave and Liurnia were practically thriving. The hope of revival that people had long awaited was becoming a reality.
Her persistent efforts had not been in vain. The champion who once burned herself to sustain the world continued to enact her will in a different land.
The Roundtable Hold embodied the heroic spirit of the Tarnished but had long been without hope. Now, the newcomer's every action stirred the situation, as if truly instilling confidence that everything would get better, igniting passion in their hearts.
Rogier eagerly asked, "By the way, can you tell us about the battle with the Queen of the Full Moon? As fellow sorcerers, no one isn't looking forward to hearing about a contest of that caliber."
"Warriors too."
Besides Nepheli, Roderika, Corhyn, and others looked like curious children.
The seemingly unshakable demigod sorcerer, the pinnacle of magic, had been defeated just like that. It was incredible.
Of course, there was also the matter of the battle at the Church of Vows; hearing it from an eyewitness was naturally the clearest way.
The hall was filled with a celebratory atmosphere. To congratulate Frieren, a banquet was skillfully arranged.
The wine was ready, just waiting for her story.
Unable to refuse their hospitality, she took a seat and generously recounted the whole affair, including teleporting from the gates of the Academy of Raya Lucaria, briefly mentioning Caria Manor, and then focusing mainly on the battles within Raya Lucaria...
The crowd nodded frequently. Whenever they heard about the Academy sorcerers getting their comeuppance, they not only smiled but also drank a few more cups of strong liquor.
In truth, Frieren also enjoyed this kind of atmosphere. In the Elven village, everyone was indifferent, let alone holding banquets. As for the world of Dark Souls, it was even more desolate.
So she had always believed that the Lands Between actually had the potential for vibrant life.
That was good.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to muster so much motivation to diligently seek opportunities. Only a world that could be saved was worth investing in.
A world like the one where the First Flame was fading could only save a few people; hoping for everyone to continue on was incredibly difficult.
Therefore, Frieren would not give up on the Lands Between.
As she spoke, she mentioned the disposition of the Leyndell forces. Even those who had heard of it before wore grave expressions.
After all, the strength Leyndell retained was still beyond imagination, truly befitting the most central power.
"Actually, I wouldn't have released the Scarlet Rot back then because of its universally reviled symbolism. It practically makes one an enemy of the world."
"But the Leyndell forces didn't trust each other, and their rejection of the Omen shattered their morale to continue fighting."
"All in all, let's call it a narrow victory for me, thanks to Margit's voluntary retreat."
As Frieren concluded, the crowd was still on edge.
What kind of indomitable will was required to fight demigod-level强者 consecutively? It was no longer something that could be determined by strength alone.
Before an army of thousands, one needed the spirit to overwhelm all heroes; otherwise, they would crumble just the same. The Ashen One had not only won the decision but also achieved victory as a commander.
Thrilling enough.
But without a doubt, the entire Roundtable Hold acknowledged that the strongest Tarnished had overcome a difficult trial.
After Frieren finished recounting the events of the second Liurnian war, the crowd was still eager for more. Besides praising the powerful Tarnished, their heartfelt exclamations were:
"We actually live in the same era as such a major event."
"I was active in Liurnia not long ago. I didn't expect such a big thing to happen in the blink of an eye."
"Fortunately, it was brought under control."
If multiple demigods had been allowed to rampage through the lake region, eighty percent of life would have been devastated, benefiting no one.
That Omen, Margit, probably considered this as well, which is why he decided to retreat.
Regardless, the outcome was that the Ashen One had defended her territory.
Since then, the traditionally staunch Limgrave region and the Carian forces, which had an old marriage alliance but had not merged, joined forces, a union of a strong power.
Thinking about it carefully, the only force capable of resisting the current Golden Dynasty could only come from here.
Moreover, they possessed the ability to establish a governance system, setting this team apart from the destructive group at Volcano Manor.
They acknowledged that Volcano Manor might be able to launch another siege, but they were deeply uneasy about Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy.
No one believed they had the ability to govern.
In contrast, Frieren's team was like a ready-made administration, born from Southern nobles, Stormveil vassals, Carian royalty, Primeval Sorcerers, and Roundtable Hold members, making them more flexible.
As always.
In other words, once they entered Leyndell, Royal Capital, they could effectively rule.
At this thought, everyone couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement, eager to witness that scenario. However, the silver-haired girl in question remained calm.
"Don't misunderstand. I didn't take the Queen of the Full Moon's Great Rune. I'm still missing one to go to the Capital."
"Huh?"
So you fought such a spectacular battle but really didn't take the shard.
Although there were some rumors that the Ashen One had deliberately left behind a Great Rune not part of the shattered Elden Ring, most didn't believe it, thinking she was being modest.
But now, she openly admitted to giving up such a top-tier treasure. What magnanimity!
This directly meant that in the next festival of combat, Frieren would face Radahn. Without taking that Great Rune, she couldn't advance.
Mentioning the one known as the strongest demigod, everyone felt a lingering fear. After all, the combat festival had been going on for so many years, and a lot of information had circulated. They were well aware of the Starscourge General's terror.
Roderika quietly suggested, "That's too dangerous. Why not borrow the Queen of the Full Moon's Great Rune to go to the Capital first?"
"Becoming a Lord is not such a childish affair."
The hoarse voice came from Finger Reader Enia. Today, Enia had rarely come to the hall, supported by an attendant. The Tarnished quickly made way, as she was definitely a veteran who had witnessed their growth.
What was done.
"Frieren, since you publicly renounced that Great Rune, you must choose another. To hit a wall and then go ask for something from a defeated foe is not the way of a true Lord."
"Of course. I intended to defeat Radahn from the start."
"You have chosen a difficult path, but you will become an undisputed Lord."
Even the attendant of the Two Fingers acknowledged her so highly, demonstrating her worth.
Even the divine envoy of the Roundtable Hold understood that the Ashen One's journey was now grander and more magnificent, forging a kingly quality that perhaps surpassed Radagon's.
The Tarnished looked at the silver-haired girl with even greater respect. She was serious; simple options were not for her. She was determined to walk the path of the strongest.
However, some felt that the Starscourge General was unbeatable. The best outcome would be a severe injury on her return, most likely squandering the excellent situation she had built, which would be a real pity.
They admired her, but always felt it wasn't worth it, that there was no need for such a head-on confrontation.
"May your fortunes in war prosper."
Regardless, they offered their blessings, sincerely hoping that Frieren would be the one to sit on the throne of the Elden Lord.
The heart to redeem all living beings could not be faked. Although for her it was an adjunct to her magic research, they couldn't find a demigod with such a conscience. It had to be her.
If another prospective Lord among the Tarnished failed, the Roundtable Hold would lose its last breath of hope.
They had waited too long. Let the victor be decided in this era.
Everyone stood up and raised a glass to today's undisputed protagonist.
Frieren solemnly returned the toast. Too many people had invested their hopes in her journey. The responsibility on her shoulders was no longer a matter of one person's willingness. This journey could not afford failure.
The true main course of the banquet was her story. After three rounds of drinks, the Tarnished began to chat and exchange information:
Corhyn was still diligently cultivating incantations. He heard that Goldmask was active on the Altus Plateau but was frustrated that he couldn't get past the blockade. The Grand Lift of Dectus had not yet been reactivated.
Essentially, it required an authorized person holding a medallion to activate it, allowing normal passage thereafter. Currently, Frieren only had half a medallion.
Unless she forced it with magic, she would have to wait. In any case, she wasn't in a hurry.
But soon, a Tarnished mentioned the crucial news: "The other half of the medallion is in a fort in Caelid."
Fia, on the other hand, was inquiring about signs of Those Who Live in Death.
Diallos sadly mentioned that the companion he was searching for had been killed by a recusant.
...For Frieren, there wasn't much new intelligence.
Besides, she could learn a lot through her subordinates, and Ranni would warn her if any major events occurred.
After a moment, she left her seat and went to the smithy.
As expected, Smithing Master Hewg was still pounding away at a block of metal, his blows swift and precise, sending sparks flying.
His seemingly gaunt body erupted with astonishing energy, no less than a warrior unleashing a skill.
"Master Hewg, I have some armor parts that need adjustment and reinforcement. Is that possible?"
"Of course."
What Frieren took out was precisely the Dancer's Set armor. Some parts had been repaired by smiths in the southern army, the cloth parts given to Boc, and the crucial metal armor sections were entrusted to the Roundtable Hold's foremost smith.
If successful in the end, it would be a masterpiece crafted by many skilled artisans.
Although only a few parts, they contained immense magical power. The owner's repeated tempering and nourishment had increased its protective capabilities day by day.
"The materials are top-grade, but it lacks systematic forging. Besides, it doesn't suit you at all, does it?"
"Indeed, your insight is exceptional."
"Leave it to me. Are there any other weapons you need to strengthen?"
Having a challenging task, Hewg was eager to try. The client hadn't disappointed him, bringing out top-tier weapons and rare smithing stones. He would, of course, do his utmost to strengthen them.
He liked these weapons. The seemingly plain Brass Shield and Uchigatana had clearly been through countless battles. The clashes between weapons had polished them into strength.
"The rank of the smithing stones is also good. As expected of the renowned Lord of Shards, you're much wealthier than before."
"It's almost at its limit. You can't get many high-tier smithing stones below the Altus Plateau."
"There's nothing to be done about that. After all, the Leyndell forces occupy the vast majority of resources." Hewg changed the subject. "But there should still be some stock in Caelid. After all, the Redmane Army preserved a large amount of weapons and equipment from the past. It's better to use them than let them gather dust."
Frieren mentally noted the reminder.
The southernmost part of the Lands Between was half Weeping Peninsula and half Caelid. The latter had received a lot of resources from the Stormveil era.
After the Golden Dynasty defeated the Limgrave forces, they began to dismantle and divide. For example, Latenna told Frieren that Castle Sol in the far north was one result of this division.
They were quite thorough, splitting the continent north to south.
One should not underestimate the political wisdom of the dynasty.
The resources of the Storm King, the last bastion of resistance, were the most severely divided.
Due to the principle of local resolution, the adjacent fief of Caelid received many good things, as well as subsequent transfusions from the Royal Capital.
Therefore, Hewg's claim that there was a large amount of military equipment there was well-founded, and the combat effectiveness of the Redmane Army also attested to it.
History proved that the Carian Royal Family was smarter, directly forming a marriage alliance with the Golden Dynasty, resulting in a situation of "you are in me, and I am in you."
This is where things in the world become difficult.
This allowed the Liurnian forces to have a seat at the table, becoming a strong claimant team to support a new Elden Lord.
The Golden Dynasty's feudal checks and balances were calculated meticulously, but a series of mistakes ultimately pushed the world into an abyss where no one fared well. Everyone was a loser.
Frieren nodded. "I understand. So there are still high-grade smithing stones in Caelid?"
"Correct."
Hewg immediately added, "But the quantity is very scarce, better than nothing, I suppose. It's too difficult to expect to arm a super legion. It's just enough to keep your weapons up to par with your combat strength. Don't underestimate the Leyndell forces; they were once supported by the entire Lands Between and are powerful."
"Understood. But I also have my methods—"
She turned to look at the Spirit Tuner girl, Roderika, who had just eaten and drunk her fill and come to the corridor.
Noticing her gaze, Roderika excitedly asked, "Is there something you need my help with? Feel free to ask about Spirit Ash reinforcement."
"I'll be troubling you then."
Ordinary Spirit Tuners couldn't keep pace with Frieren like she could. In fact, there were very few in the Lands Between who could do this job, and now the difficulty had to be increased to keep up with the combat environment.
"When you reinforce the Spirit Ashes, you need to guide my soul-reinforcing magic to permanently engrave it onto the target, ultimately enhancing their attributes."
"That's too difficult. Making Spirit Ashes stronger than they were in life violates the rules of souls."
"We will use the rules of souls to make them stronger. I will allocate some Runes to them, plus the blessing of the Elden Ring's shards, to make every reinforcement twice as effective with half the effort."
"Then let's give it a try."
Initially, Roderika felt it was too difficult, even fantastical. But after Frieren showed her Spirit Ashes that had already been nourished by soul magic, she changed her mind.
Why not try to challenge a higher level of skill?
Wanting to repay the Ashen One for her help, her current meager skills were not enough.
She was well aware of the Southern Army's weakness due to the lack of powerful troop types and guessed that Frieren, as the commander, was trying to compensate.
So, she decided to help, to let the Leyndell army see the power of a Spirit Ash legion.
Roderika held up the Spirit Ashes with both hands, magic gathering.
Among them, the strongest and most intelligent was Latenna the Albinauric, who surprisingly and actively accepted her spirit tuning enhancement.
At the same time, the silver-haired girl took out a large quantity of Grave Glovewort, neatly arranged them, and linked them with magic.
Plenty to go around.
Since becoming a claimant to the title of Lord and mobilizing various search parties, she had no shortage of these, at least low-grade Gloveworts were abundant, and she didn't even need to find them herself.
In a sense, Frieren was now going to forge a super Spirit Ash legion, centrally supplied by all the resources of the South, to reach a level comparable to the elite of the Leyndell forces.
Otherwise, she could forget about winning the war on the Altus Plateau in the future.
The two exchanged a glance and began the soul reinforcement simultaneously.
They held the Spirit Ashes together, guiding the power of Runes and blessings into them. The Spirit Tuner was responsible for the specific infusion, while the demigod sorcerer, with her overwhelming power, focused solely on supplying the energy.
A howling gale filled the corridor, causing even Hewg, who was engrossed in crafting equipment, to look up.
The originally plain Spirit Ashes rapidly transformed in their hands. Even the lowest-level ones like Lone Wolves, Hollow Soldiers, Marionettes, and Spirit Jellyfish were strengthened significantly, becoming no less than formidable regular troops.
"What a fine technique!" he thought. This too was a form of smithing, turning the rotten into the magical.
At this moment, Frieren and Roderika, fully engrossed in the tense spirit tuning work, completely forgot the passage of time, working day and night.
Because this wasn't an enhancement for one or two targets, but the creation of an entire army in one go.
So they prepared for a long battle, settling down in the Roundtable Hold and concentrating on strengthening the Spirit Ashes...
Nearby, Hewg continued to clang away at his smithing, completely unconcerned even when a magical storm erupted.
The small corridor seemed to exist in a bubble, its time unaffected by the outside world.
Occasionally, Tarnished would pass by and glance, unable to help but admire the two's focused attention.
A month flew by.
This was the standard within the Roundtable Hold; perhaps even longer had passed outside.
However, the Southern Army wasn't worried. Even if Her Majesty disappeared for a year and a half, it would only be a flick of a finger.
During this period, Liurnia and Limgrave developed rapidly according to plan, operating as usual, enjoying a rare period of swift prosperity.
The only difference was probably the lack of genuine soul-healing arts, requiring some Hollows to accumulate and wait in line.
The collective enhancement of the Spirit Ash legion gradually neared its end. The magic output, instead of decreasing, increased, frequently causing the Roundtable Hold to shake.
"Pouring in so much magic, and even Runes, what exactly are you trying to create?"
In his office, Sir Gideon Ofnir muttered to himself, a rare trace of unease in his voice. Even knowing it was a Spirit Ash army, he couldn't predict its strength.
This was becoming troublesome.
With Frieren's proactive nature, she would probably reach the foot of the Erdtree sooner or later, perhaps even intending to venture inside. That would be the real trouble.
She was destined to fail, and failure would breed an even greater disaster...
"Forget it. There are many strong enemies waiting for you later. Let us cooperate until the very last moment."
With this thought, he felt relieved.
According to Sir Gideon Ofnir's intelligence, the truly powerful demigods had yet to reveal their full might. Even Margit, the Fell Omen, hadn't used his full strength back then.
Plus, the forces under the demigods were enough to give any challenger a run for their money. She would most likely fall midway, so his worries were unnecessary.
The magical storm in the Roundtable Hold continued for a long time.
But this day finally came. Frieren had, after all, completed the unprecedented grand project of collectively strengthening the Spirit Ashes:
Om!
When the last trace of magic and blessing dissipated, the enduring pressure vanished, replaced by several Spirit Ashes in the silver-haired girl's hands, glowing brightly and exuding a powerful aura.
Roderika said, her face beaming, "We did it! You even made their souls transcend their original life form's strength, becoming a different kind of spiritual being! This works! It's simply a miracle."
"It's also thanks to you. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to manage it at all."
"Now they possess the potential for growth themselves. In the future, they can become powerful troop types."
_____
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