The squad continued their advance.
Aside from finding an [Erdtree Seal], Frieren didn't discover any collectibles of particular note.
The journey from the outskirts of Volcano Manor to this point had been a bit shabby. After all, the Mt. Gelmir region was already a poor and treacherous landscape; it would be strange if it hadn't fallen into decay under Rykard's repeated tossing and turning. Putting oneself in their shoes, even after the Lands Between stabilizes in the future, it will be difficult to develop a place like this.
She continued deeper while thinking, noting that there weren't even any decent mini-bosses.
However, this actually gave Frieren a chance to search.
Inside a room guarded by a Man-Serpent, a torture device was emitting points of light. The treasure map, which she kept active, also reacted, and there were numerous messages left by others.
Could it be something good? The silver-haired girl stepped forward in a rush to check:
[Albinauric Staff]
[A short staff with a blue glintstone embedded in the tip. The glintstone staff of the ancient Albinaurics.]
[The Albinaurics harbor a secret.]
[They cast sorceries using their Arcane attribute.]
Frieren immediately tested its feel, but it was unremarkable and nothing special. It was slightly inferior to the dual-catalyst nature of the Staff of the Great Beyond or the reinforcement of Lusat's Glintstone Staff; using it would actually hold her back.
Its greater significance lay in proving that Arcane investment could also be used to cast magic, revealing the secret of the Albinaurics.
Evidently, the Volcano Manor didn't welcome them either, having once dissected and studied them.
After putting away the Albinauric Staff, Frieren turned her attention to a cosmetic item: a round and large headgear that looked smooth and comfortable, inlaid with two large black eyes. Simple yet cute, it looked quite comical.
Try it on?
Melina and Ranni were standing guard at the door when they saw Frieren put on the mask and suddenly spin around.
The face of an Albinauric was revealed before their eyes. The stroke of genius was the curvature of the mouth—neither happy nor sad, yet appearing cute—which made it impossible to keep a straight face.
Even with their composure, they couldn't help but chuckle.
This mask seemed to possess a natural magic that could make people laugh; it was hard to hold back when looking at it. It was even more infectious when worn by Frieren, who was usually up to all sorts of antics.
"Be serious, we are in the enemy camp."
Only after Melina spoke did she finally take off the Albinauric Mask. Glancing at the messages, she saw a wave of acclaim:
[The most unhinged mask.]
[Half of the 'hard to keep a straight face' impression of the Albinaurics comes from this broken mask.]
[As long as you wear this into a cutscene, you'll be the biggest scene-stealer.]
[I finally found it, so it was here. You actually reminded me, it's time to go to the Blood Bank and continue farming Albinaurics.]
[Equipped on the spot, it's already welded to my head.]
Facts proved that to be remembered, one needed either intensity or antics. The Albinauric Staff, which touched neither, was right within reach yet ignored by everyone. For Tarnished of the mage school, there were plenty of choices.
Collection plus one.
Frieren didn't mind; having one more staff was a good thing. She continued to move forward.
The squad easily took the lift mechanism to higher ground.
For the Volcano Manor, built against the mountain, the higher one went, the closer they were to the core area. It was of vital importance; the auras of the two blasphemous monsters were also emanating from there. Although they hadn't been spotted yet, they had to be prepared for a fierce battle at any moment.
The spacious Volcano Manor gave them room to maneuver, but as they went deeper, she issued a warning:
"Godskin Noble ahead."
The moment Frieren spoke, Ranni struck first. A round of Glintstone magic flew toward the obese Godskin Noble, who hadn't even reacted yet.
He was hit fully without surprise, his body pausing briefly.
Just as he was about to counterattack, Frieren cast a cloud of Night Maiden's Mist. The sharp ice crystals within it left him covered in cuts and bruises.
Bad.
Relying on the combat instincts honed by guarding this place for years, the Godskin Noble began to roll, dodging the rapid-fire Glintstone shards by a hair's breadth. The commotion was very slight; the opponents must have controlled their force. They were infiltrating stealthily.
Realizing this, he immediately intended to issue a warning, but it was too late.
The Blade of Calling pierced him from behind.
The aura of the Rune of Death instantly flowed through his entire body. Even relying on his divine physique, his fate was sealed, for a girl with silver hair and emerald sleepy eyes walked out of the Night Mist. The characteristic long pointed ears were known to all.
Is it really necessary for three Demigods to attack together?
In the next moment, the Godskin Noble died under Frieren's Dark Moon Greatsword, killed in a single blow. Her current stats were already those of a powerful Demigod.
With their combined efforts, it was practically an instant kill—a fast assassination battle of unilateral crushing.
Phew!
In an instant, the massive Godskin Noble turned into Runes and vanished. Only then did the three breathe a sigh of relief. If they were exposed and attracted a siege without confirming Rykard's specific location, it would indeed be quite troublesome.
Frieren excavated the spoils of war as usual. First was a grey-black shockwave technique characteristic of the Godskin Noble:
[Noble Presence]
[Ancient power of the Godskin Nobles. Thrust out belly with gusto to produce a shockwave that knocks back nearby foes.]
[Charging enhances potency, sending enemies flying.]
[Once a sign of the wrath of the Gods.]
[In time, became a trophy of the Nobles' god-hunt.]
The power was commendable, but Frieren really couldn't compliment the casting posture. Wasn't there anything more elegant? It certainly suited the Godskin Noble's physique, but she would pass.
There were plenty of similar shockwave Incantations, and simply releasing mana could achieve the same effect.
The other weapon was what Frieren focused on. It looked light and flexible, suitable for her style.
[Godskin Stitcher]
[Elegant piercing sword with a celadon-colored blade.]
[Wielded by Godskin Nobles, whose fencing skills are unique.]
[Considering the weapon's size, the Nobles' consecutive attacks are exceptionally fast, and hard to see with the naked eye.]
Frieren had witnessed their swordsmanship more than once; the threat released by this sword was significant. If they hadn't struck first and combined forces to kill him just now, he might have really caused a commotion.
However, she cared more about the players' acclaim:
[Shield Poke artifact.]
[Thrusting swords and spears can all be used for Shield Poking, but in terms of compatibility and feel, the Heavy Thrusting Sword is easier to use, especially this one.]
[One shield plus one Stitcher: gods block, kill gods; buddhas block, kill buddhas.]
[It still has the stress-resistance capability of an old-school 'Wheelchair' build. Even the bombardment of the Promised Consort is no problem.]
[My build has taken shape.]
[Superficially it's in a late-game map, but in reality, you can run to the Volcano early to get the Stitcher. But the best shield is still the Fingerprint Stone Shield; you have to honestly do the platforming puzzle.]
[Unprecedented sense of security. Your Volcano really produces a lot of Wheelchair weapons.]
Frieren rarely used shields, and since she always had to use a staff, the concept of Shield Poking didn't exist for her. However, adhering to the principle of enriching her builds, she pocketed it.
The trip to the Volcano had yielded quite a lot so far.
It seemed barren, but if one dug carefully, they would find that Rykard had buried quite a few good things.
Next, she looked toward the church altar, where a translucent object lay quietly.
What is this?
Frieren felt a residue of life aura from it, which even resembled Rya's aura a little?
She walked forward cautiously and held it up. It was unmistakably a Serpent's Amnion.
Beside her, Ranni also examined it seriously. "This should be the material for the special magical ritual left behind for Rya's birth. It is very unique; this could not have succeeded easily. Tanith must have sacrificed a lot."
"What kind of person do you think she is?"
"Brother Rykard likes her, and she loves him, sparing no effort to find ways to create offspring. At least she is a qualified lover."
"Lover?"
"A true wife must advance hand in hand, helping her husband at critical moments. Tanith bears part of the responsibility for Rykard being devoured by the Great Serpent; she spoiled Rykard too much. Or perhaps, the disparity in status prevented her from advising him too much... Regardless, this was a successful romance, but not a successful marriage."
Ranni's words contained regret and pity, as well as a hint of blame.
Evidently, she had quite a few complaints. As family, she indeed had a standpoint of concern; she couldn't let it go in her heart.
Frieren remained noncommittal.
It wasn't that the Lunar Princess had to have some concept of status and hierarchy appropriate for marriage, but rather the reality of the Lands Between: being husband and wife required power and responsibility.
It was truly a pity that Tanith failed to fulfill these obligations.
From this, one could see some of her views on marriage. For instance, when urging Frieren to handle government affairs, she was unceremoniously strict. When facing battles against strong enemies, she also fought on the front lines, having just recently faced the unprecedented God-King alongside her own Lord and won.
Melina also nodded and evaluated: "The identity of a King's wife requires considering many things; it is also a responsibility to those around you."
For example, she would absolutely not fight with Ranni.
No matter how much she liked Frieren, when it concerned the Order of the God-King, only Her Majesty and the Deity were most suitable.
The two partners exchanged a glance, confirming their mutual understanding.
Frieren continued to focus on the spoils. There was nothing left in this small church, but within her perception, she discovered another familiar face. So, she followed the aura and walked quickly.
After some travel.
Sure enough, she saw a Warrior Jar standing with arms crossed in the magma pool, emitting a roar of "Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh!" as if undergoing some kind of training.
At the same time, a Magma Wyrm glared covetously nearby, but as per routine, it was quickly killed by Ranni and Melina. With the coordination of this tactic, ordinary enemies didn't even have a chance to make a sound.
"Alexander, to think you are in a place like this."
"Your Majesty, it has been a long time since we parted in Caelid. Burning the flesh makes one stronger. That is correct, I am training."
"Your body is indeed robust, worthy of being forged from the flesh and blood of heroes."
"You came at just the right time. I made this while traveling. Please accept it; I think it will definitely suit Your Majesty."
Alexander presented a gift:
[Jar]
It was ordinary, but Frieren glanced at the player messages and found it was another classic cosmetic item, widely popular for antics and an indispensable part of eccentric outfits. So your Volcano also produces bizarre head ornaments?
Frieren accepted it based on the principle of collection and expressed her thanks in passing.
"By the way, this temperature is lower than I imagined. Right, are you still planning to head east?"
"Where in the east?"
"The stories passed down mentioned it. Above the sea of clouds, on the Mountaintops of the Giants covered in thick snow, there is a Flame of Ruin that never extinguishes. It is guarded by the Fire Giant. If only I were lucky enough to fight him."
Alexander the Jar's expression couldn't be seen clearly, but it must have been full of yearning.
"I will go there sooner or later. We might meet in the Snow Mountains then."
"Alright! Challenging alongside Your Majesty will surely be exhilarating."
"Speaking of which, I have been able to sense Rykard's aura, but I am unclear on the specific location. Do you know where he is?"
"Below. There is a cave called the Audience Pathway; he and Aldrich are both there. But you have to pass through a section of buildings where manpower has been increased. It will be hard not to be exposed."
"I understand. Many thanks."
After obtaining accurate information, Frieren waved goodbye. There was no need to delay; everything had to be done quickly. Alexander also waved his hand enthusiastically. Although it was a hasty meeting, there was no reluctance to part.
The Warrior Jar would continue to travel until he reached the end of his battles.
In reality, his jar was already damaged, and Frieren had sensed it, but she saw through it without speaking of it.
Alexander still had time to toss and turn.
Her urgent task was to eliminate the Lord of Blasphemy, Rykard. Otherwise, letting him continue to throw trash toward the south would tie up military forces for nothing; he had to be subjugated.
Below the Manor.
Just as Alexander had said, after carefully sensing and searching, Frieren indeed discovered a path leading downward. The dull buzzing sound of the ground spoke of correctness; she had found the right place.
However, as she gradually moved forward, she also discovered another familiar aura.
The fully armed Bernahl sat on a chair with his hands resting on his sword, having also sensed the uninvited guests.
He responded with pressure. The white Beast Champion Armor moved slightly with its master's actions, his aura restrained and steady. He was a veteran of many battles, and now he was about to face another peak showdown.
A silver-haired girl walked out from the staircase entrance.
"Long time no see. The Volcano is truly a place full of reunions; I've seen quite a few old friends along the way."
"Indeed. Being able to see many friends along the journey is a fortunate thing."
The two looked at each other and smiled.
They didn't act like enemies about to cross swords at all. Although each displayed pressure, there was not the slightest intention to strike; they were at peace.
Behind them, Melina and Ranni were nervous, because a war between Would-be Lords was about to erupt.
In a sense, this was the first time in the Lands Between that a situation of confrontation had appeared between strong individuals who both bore the title of Would-be Lord. Originally, they were either from different eras or governed independently, but now they were finally about to have a great battle.
"Are Rykard and Aldrich just ahead?"
"They have been waiting for you for a long time, Frieren. Especially that black slime monster, chanting about revenge every day; it is very annoying."
"I understand."
"By the way, Rya and Patches suddenly disappeared. Did you see them on the road?"
"They are all fine and will return safely later."
"...Thrones and such have nothing to do with me anymore, but I must take revenge on the Erdtree and complete my Maiden's unfinished business. My target is Maliketh; our conflict is not here. But I have to do a friend a favor. Soul Cinder King, stay here."
The two looked straight into each other's eyes. The encounter at Stormhill back then had long been worn away, replaced by fighting spirit. The grievances of the Volcano had to be settled.
In the next moment, the Storm Blade fell.
Frieren did not dodge or evade. A dagger lingering with black-red Destined Death blocked this blow firmly for her.
"Very well. Let me witness Destined Death in advance."
____
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