After a sustained Comet Azur, all that remained of the corrupted flying dragon was the tattered torso from its belly to its legs, its former arrogance gone.
"Did it become brittle after being hit by dispelling magic?"
Frieren weighed the thought for a few seconds. It had been quite effortless. Logically, even a comet's impact shouldn't have annihilated the target in one blow. It seemed the wounds Ekzykes had accumulated during the intense battle were too severe, leading to its instantaneous collapse.
It would never again threaten the border security of Limgrave. The alert was lifted.
One had to admit, the flying dragon's advantages had amplified the threat of Scarlet Rot, narrowing the margin for error. As a rehabilitation exercise for her return to this reality, it wasn't bad.
Snap!
The silver-haired girl snapped her fingers, and with a spark, ignited Ekzykes's remains, turning it into a massive torch.
This move drew upon a wisp of the Fell God's Flame, but its effect wasn't much different from ordinary fire-starting. It seemed her proficiency was because the Giants possessed the power to worship the Fell God; for an ordinary person, it would merely grant a bit more power.
She clapped her hands, witnessing the corrupted flying dragon turn to ash.
I kept watch throughout, fearing Scarlet Rot might have other tricks. Now that even its ashes are scattered, resurrection is impossible.
With the massive obstruction to their view gone, they saw the warriors of the Southern Army in the distance, relentlessly pursuing the corrupted creatures that had been drawn over, easily flattening the weaklings.
Victory.
These dregs, unable to survive in central Caelid, weren't strong to begin with.
Ultimately, they were fringe elements of the corrupted ecosystem. In reality, the center harbored even larger crows, more ferocious hounds, and various other monsters. Legend said the Lake of Aeonia, left from the great war of yore, was still emitting contamination...
"Your Majesty, fortunately, I did not fail my mission."
The captain, his armor covered in scratches, reported the situation excitedly. With the support of allied forces, they had finally pacified this area.
Though they were disheveled and panting, they had ultimately won, and more importantly, avoided rot contamination. They had defended the border while keeping losses under control and repelled the enemy's attack.
"However, it was still thanks to you. Otherwise, Ekzykes might have breached our defenses."
"So, your main task now is defense. We'll discuss offensive actions when the main army arrives."
"It is indeed very dangerous," Frieren cautioned. "My healing is not omnipotent. Against slightly more severe Scarlet Rot in living beings, it's ineffective. You must be more vigilant. You are the most precious asset of the south. Retreat when you must. Even if the land becomes somewhat infected with rot, it doesn't matter; I can handle it."
"Is it true, Your Majesty, that you can repair the corruption in the soil?"
"That is precisely what I am about to do—"
Before she finished speaking, Frieren removed the Flower of Aeonia from her head. The surrounding soldiers were taken aback but placed their utmost trust in the renowned First Sorceress.
As the flower drifted to the ground, it instantly bloomed. Simultaneously, it absorbed a vast amount of energy. A shocking scene unfolded: the soil, as if its pigment had been drained, turned a pale red.
In its place, normal soil color appeared. The residual Scarlet Rot rapidly dissipated, converged, and was devoured by the flower at a single point. Even more incredibly, the affected area expanded.
Whoosh!
A gust of wind, accompanied by energy fluctuations, caused the Scarlet Rot within a radius of several kilometers to actively gather.
It was as if Frieren had issued a command, and the masses responded.
Even the strangely red sky was refreshed. The unsettling mist began to dissipate, and a wind of revival returned to the land. Superficially, several kilometers of land had their contamination drawn out; in reality, this would dilute the rot over hundreds of square kilometers.
The celestial anomaly was observable from very far away, especially for sensitive individuals.
Radahn, gnawing on corpses atop a dune, looked up and roared, a low growl rumbling in his throat.
Gowry, in his shack, clenched his fists and bellowed, "Who dares to destroy the great bed of corruption! This is clearly a new world—"
"What is that?"
The red-curly-haired traveling girl gazed into the distance, an inexplicable unease stirring in her heart. The self-destructive nature unique to Scarlet Rot was continuously diminishing.
Numerous informants sent out secret dispatches, notifying their superiors with utmost speed. They never would have imagined that the corruption could actually be healed! The Soul-Kindling King wasn't joking; she might gain a fertile territory.
Regardless, the news of the Shardbearer's arrival in Caelid spread like wildfire.
Frieren, engrossed in healing, continued to increase her mana output.
Sensing her complete concentration, Melina proactively stood guard. Although she couldn't fight, an extra pair of eyes provided an additional layer of security; no openings could be left.
A moment later.
The convergence of Scarlet Rot stirred up by the silver-haired girl finally reached its end.
It wasn't due to insufficient mana; the Flower of Aeonia was nearing its limit, unable to accommodate more energy. After all, it was merely a product of a rot incantation and had an upper threshold. She had to stop.
"Cease blooming. Close."
With a command, it rapidly shrank back to the size of a hair ornament, yet it exuded a dangerous aura, so red it seemed about to drip blood.
Directly absorbing the Scarlet Rot from an approximate five-kilometer radius and then wearing it on her head to slowly dilute it?
Frieren's feat at this moment was less greatness and more madness.
But no one could deny the adventure undertaken to save lives. Whether it was her invincible power or her compassionate character, in the recorded history of the Lands Between, she was unique, and there would likely be no other like her.
It wasn't over yet!
Suddenly, the silver-haired girl held her staff with both hands, raised it high to condense mana, and then fiercely plunged it into the ground, the force so great she half-knelt.
In an instant, colorful flowers bloomed beneath her feet – a profusion of purples and reds. A flowerbed rapidly spread out with Frieren at its center. The fragrance assailed the nostrils, petals danced in the air, reaching for the clouds. Everyone was stunned, dazedly watching the flowers swaying in the wind.
They spread at an astonishing speed, replacing the Scarlet Rot soil in the blink of an eye, transforming it into a veritable sea of flowers.
"This is my latest research, flower field magic that can bloom in the Lands Between," Frieren announced with a proud smile.
She had displayed so many miraculous spells before with an air of normalcy, yet faced with this scene, a look of pride appeared. She genuinely loved its effect from the bottom of her heart.
Melina bent down, cupped a bouquet of flowers in her hands, and then passed through them.
"No destruction, only gentle flowers," she murmured. "Frieren, this is the most beautiful magic I have ever seen."
Moreover, it couldn't be cast without the true bearing of a monarch. The magic of the Lands Between leaned more towards the academic, but it also reflected the user's heart. The realm of one who could create such magic was extremely high.
Some soldiers even carefully examined the flowers in the sea of blooms, thinking it might be an illusion.
"I've lived on the border all my life; I never thought the soil of Scarlet Rot could become like this."
"Praise Her Majesty!"
"Caelid rightfully belongs to Her Majesty!"
For the umpteenth time, the thought of allegiance arose in them. In the entire Lands Between, only one person was fit to be Elden Lord.
Frieren waved her hand and smiled. "I merely used flower field magic to awaken the life force within the soil. It itself is fundamentally good; otherwise, one cannot create something from nothing. Success wouldn't be possible if any single element were missing."
She gently stroked a rose.
"From another perspective, life is tenacious. Even after years covered by Scarlet Rot, hope was not extinguished. We waited for each other."
"As long as one persists, a turning point will come, won't it?"
Her gaze turned towards Melina, who was looking at the wildflowers, a reminiscent expression on her face as she nodded.
Undoubtedly, the encounter between the Tarnished King-to-be and the Kindling Maiden relied on waiting, using endless time for trial and error, hopefully welcoming an encounter. This moment's conversation felt like such a convergence.
"Your Majesty?"
The soldiers looked uneasily at the silver-haired girl talking to the air. Had the Flower of Aeonia addled her brain earlier? Or was the soul sorceress seeing something else?
Similar symptoms hadn't been a one-or-two-day occurrence. Perhaps it was an unseen companion; there probably wasn't much to worry about.
"In any case, I should be going." Frieren dusted off her armor and summoned Torrent.
"Won't you wait a little longer? The earliest a unit can arrive is in two days."
"According to the tactics we discussed, I am to delve deep into Caelid first to deal with the troublesome strong enemies. Also, tell everyone not to get too happy too soon. If the corrupted creatures are allowed to rampage, there's a risk of the contamination returning. The situation must be contained."
"As you command." The officer then reminded her, "I suggest you take the route through Gael Tunnel and along Fort Gael. You will be able to coordinate with the expeditionary force there."
"That's quite a memorable name..."
It reminded one of a certain Mournful Soul Knight. Fortunately, all of that was contained within the First Flame. If one day her body became strong enough to wield its power, then everyone would surely meet again.
Just, the First Flame at the level of the High-Temperature Great King wasn't enough, not to mention there were other great powers to suppress alongside it.
"I'll be on my way then."
She swung herself onto the horse, grabbed the reins, and Torrent immediately reared its hooves and galloped off, leaving only dust behind.
The soldiers left behind looked at each other. The officer couldn't help but shrug and smile faintly. Everyone knew Her Majesty was the restless type, either conquering or on the way to conquer. Being able to rest in Liurnia for so long had probably been stifling for her.
"Repair the fortifications and spread out the sentries! We cannot rest until the main army arrives! Are you prepared?"
"As you command!"
Having made their decision, they immediately busied themselves with fiery enthusiasm.
They had already looked somewhat bad in front of Ekzykes, the corrupted flying dragon; they had to make up for it. The upcoming battles were not just for themselves, but also for the revival of the Lands Between.
The eradication of corruption Frieren had demonstrated earlier was subversive in its significance. There was hope.
Aboard her horse, the silver-haired girl looked around.
She had long heard of Caelid's fame, and seeing it today, it was indeed extraordinary: all sorts of alien, swollen things, indistinguishable as plants or animals, resembling trees or bushes, yet covered in vein-like textures and pulsating...
The deeper she went, the more such disgusting things there were, too numerous to count.
Scarlet Rot's transformation of the environment was more severe than imagined; a corresponding special ecosystem had already formed based on it.
Once it reached the "ecosystem" level, it was no longer a question of purification or not, because objectively speaking, it was a unique characteristic.
Blame the old creatures for not adapting.
Frieren pulled the reins, slowing Torrent. The silver-haired girl, riding on its back, frowned deeply as she observed the corrupted creatures, continuously releasing rings of sensory magic to scan them.
"This is troublesome. Scarlet Rot is too deeply rooted in this land. It will take more time."
"You don't need to worry too much. The main target is the Great Rune," Melina comforted her from behind. "The creatures of Scarlet Rot have actually been expanding all along."
"What's the principle?"
"Originally, it symbolized reincarnation, a part of life's cycle of revival. Corruption to a certain extent would naturally dissipate. But Destined Death was sealed, so it can only continue to corrupt indefinitely, thereby growing stronger. Therefore, it is part of the contradiction within the Golden Order's undying system."
"Destined Death both caused the expansion of Scarlet Rot and gave rise to Those Who Live in Death... Even if indirectly, it's very troublesome."
"Do you think sealing Death was right or wrong?"
"I think most people would prefer to live a little longer. One cannot deem it wrong simply because of the drawbacks under Destined Death. The mechanisms of the Eternal Capital are interlinked; it's not so easy to adjust."
Actually, from the perspective of a long-lived race, Frieren thought it was quite good for everyone to live long.
One thing she liked about the Lands Between was that it perfectly matched her own concept of time. Moreover, the system created after the sealing of Destined Death had more merits than demerits.
After all, there had been an Age of Abundance.
The Shattering War represented hidden dangers, but it wasn't the time for wholesale denial. Perhaps the "hidden dangers" didn't come from the law itself, but from a hidden hand manipulating things behind the scenes.
Therefore, she was more inclined to repair the disasters brought about under the circumstances of Destined Death being sealed.
Melina nodded.
"You are right. The path of the Golden Dynasty, once blessed with dewdrops of grace, is viable. Also, Frieren, I have another angle to consider... though it's a bit tricky, and rather dangerous..."
"Are you asking me to kill Maliketh, the Black Blade?"
"I originally wanted to just talk about it, but you should have a strong desire to collect Destined Death, so it's irreconcilable."
The silver-haired girl stated the trenchant conclusion for the Kindling Maiden:
"Part of the responsibility lies with Maliketh for mechanically sealing Destined Death without proactively clearing out corrupted creatures and Those Who Live in Death. Research should be done on targeted death to maintain the ecosystem."
"Not everyone is as brilliantly talented as you. Besides, that fellow who killed Queen Marika on command is just a frenzied beast."
"So, Destined Death should change to a new master."
Frieren made no secret of her interest in the treasure guarded by the Lands Between's strongest killer.
To discuss it so openly without a hint of fear, even pondering the other's treasure – it was indeed very much her style, making Melina resist the urge to facepalm.
"In any case, what I mean is, if the path of purifying corruption doesn't work, there's still the option of seizing Destined Death... though that is also very difficult."
"Of course, we use both methods together."
"Huh?"
"I will need Destined Death sooner or later. As for Scarlet Rot, don't worry. One more Great Rune will allow my magic to align more closely with the rules of the Lands Between, liberating even more power. Rest assured, Melina, there are always more solutions than difficulties."
Simultaneously, Frieren activated her resource map module. Sure enough, she discovered a gleaming light in the tunnel ahead.
Thus, she spurred her horse onward, heading towards Gael Tunnel.
At this point, Melina could only trust her ever-reliable partner, hoping the Caelid expedition would go smoothly.
_____
Greetings! ✨ Walnut here!
🔥 AN INCREDIBLE OFFER IS ON THE TABLE! 🔥
We're only 13 members away from our 65-member goal! 🎯
The second we hit it, 10 BONUS CHAPTERS for ALL STORIES will be released to everyone. No exceptions!
🪦 Your membership is the key. Let's make it happen!
100 powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone! 5 reviews = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone!
Secure your early access before it's too late!
👻 patreon.com/Walnutchan