"Finally, something that looks like a real army," Frieren thought.
Up until now, most enemies she'd encountered were mere rabble, hardly representative of the baseline capabilities of an organized military force in the Lands Between. Now, finally, she had a proper reference point. In any era, an army embodied the pinnacle of a civilization's power – not just in craftsmanship, but also in organization, discipline, and troop quality, all backed by a significant societal infrastructure several times its size. Of course, some of these soldiers also looked barely human, corrupted victims of whatever afflicted the Golden Tree.
She observed the general situation with magic from a safe distance.
"So, these are the ones who took down countless Tarnished? Makes sense. Attacked by a force like this, organized and in formation, it would certainly be dangerous."
Melina peered over Frieren's shoulder, gazing at the encampment. "Given how easily you dealt with the Tree Sentinel, handling some garrison troops shouldn't be an issue for you."
"Caution is always wise," Frieren replied.
Melina noted internally that despite her unfathomable strength, this new Tarnished preferred a cautious approach, seeming to savor the process of steady advancement. Melina made no comment; everyone had their own style. The silver-haired girl had reached her current level through her own methods, proving her unique strengths. Melina decided to trust her partner's judgment.
Unbeknownst to Melina, Frieren had begun observing elements only she could see: bloodstains, white phantoms, and messages left by others. When in doubt, check what other players had to say. Although she was well aware of the differences in their 'gameplay' – hers being far more real and less restricted, while theirs was constrained by various mechanics – the warnings could still be useful.
[Many enemies ahead, careful of swarm, best to clear heavy units from range]
[Brother at the Gatefront, I've brought new wares!]
[Bro thought the boss weapon drop would be awesome, tried it out with the boys, turned out to be a total toy]
[Welcome to the world's shooting range]
[Though the soldiers at the Gatefront never move, thanks to Ah Tan they get to see all the sights of the Lands Between. Broadens their horizons!]
[True home]
Next, Frieren observed the various bloodstains. Even from afar, without examining them up close, she could see the movements of the white phantoms. As always, they loved to roll, likely due to invincibility frames. Why didn't she have i-frames on her rolls? Though, as compensation, her character possessed extremely high mobility, unlike these phantoms before her, each appearing clumsy and slow, running out of stamina after just a few moves – hardly resembling potentially powerful Elden Lord candidates. She even witnessed several wipeouts where players got themselves killed by unfamiliar weapons.
Frieren mentally noted the awkward appearances of these detrimental weapons, planning to steer clear of such pitfalls. She rejected flashy but impractical armaments. A staff was much more reliable, and the left hand could be paired with a second staff, a shield, or a seal for various playstyles – versatile yet capable of direct, efficient killing power, which suited her aesthetic.
Therefore, Frieren also made a mental note of a few particularly interesting weapons glimpsed via the phantoms. One stood out: a large red greatsword, its details unclear from afar, but seemingly entwined with countless serpent-like forms. It could somehow unleash fire and drain life force – truly extraordinary. According to player messages, it belonged to the "crutch weapon series"; obtaining it supposedly unlocked easy mode, allowing one to slaughter indiscriminately. Of course, such 'crutches' were relative to low-performance characters. For someone like Frieren, who could run and jump without getting winded, the options were vast. Seemingly powerful weapons might be meaningless to her; practical application was the ultimate test.
"...That's about all there is to see. Torrent, let's go. Melina, hold on tight, it's going to get bumpy."
Hearing this, the cloaked maiden wrapped her arms around Frieren's slender waist. In the next instant, the spirit steed leaped forward, emerging openly onto the main road, charging straight towards the Gatefront encampment.
Wooo!
The sound of a long horn signaled the alarm.
Godrick's soldiers immediately went on high alert, taking positions behind the camp's fortifications, ready to repel the enemy. They had dispatched countless foolish Tarnished in the past, most unworthy of mention. Had another idiot appeared today, charging in alone?
However, in the next moment, they realized something was terribly wrong. The speed! It was incredibly fast! A white figure on horseback charged towards them, effortlessly dodging crossbow bolts like a streak of light, their posture nimble and unstoppable.
Though still a hundred meters away, alarm bells screamed in the minds of the Godrick soldiers. Their hair stood on end, and a chill crept into their hearts as the silver-haired girl's gaze swept across each of them, locking onto her targets.
Farron Arrow Rain!
In an instant, soul arrows materialized continuously in the air, spreading out in a wide fan. Each arrow was heavily infused with magic, enhanced to pierce armor. The first volley struck home immediately. Soldiers hit were run through, even in full plate, leaving large, bloody holes where flesh exploded.
Due to its speed and area coverage, Frieren frequently used this spell. Her proficiency and precise mana control had practically transformed the magic, even allowing the arrows to curve slightly based on her will, tracking targets. What good was a greatshield? The arrows simply bypassed them to strike true.
The suppressive force of the Farron Arrow Rain pinned the soldiers down, preventing them from even lifting their heads. Gaps had already appeared in the front ranks, making it impossible to hold the line. From the tents further back, another hundred or so soldiers emerged, leading some auxiliary troops – a force befitting the garrison guarding the approach to Stormveil Castle; their numbers were indeed adequate.
"Again."
As Frieren waved her staff, the seemingly ordinary Farron Arrow Rain transformed. It surged higher into the air, expanding into a massive fan hundreds of meters wide, its range covering the entire camp, before the arrows plummeted downwards like lethal rain. This was no nerfed version of combat limited by player game mechanics; this was a true clash of magical power in the Lands Between—
The Godrick soldiers who had barely survived the first volley were finished off by the follow-up strike. The remaining survivors and the reinforcements further back finally learned their lesson, managing to block some of the now slightly weakened soul arrows with their shields. Seizing the opportunity, they reformed their ranks, standing shoulder-to-shoulder to form a wall, preparing to encircle the attacker.
Frieren, charging closer on Torrent, narrowed her eyes. She had to admire their organization. They must have witnessed considerable power before to make such a rational tactical decision under pressure. It was the correct move, but they had gravely misjudged the gap in strength between them.
Farron Flashsword!
The silver-haired girl gently stroked her staff, and instantly, a blade of brilliant energy erupted from its tip, sharp and unstoppable. With her other hand, she switched to another long weapon (or perhaps enhanced her hand itself) and similarly imbued it with magic, effectively dual-wielding Farron Flashswords.
Although she specialized as a mage, she never neglected rigorous training to adapt to different combat situations. Relying solely on ranged attacks taught little and could lead to misjudging opponents; charging into the fray was the only way to truly know both oneself and the enemy.
With a sharp neigh, Torrent accelerated further, his evasive movements giving the enemy absolutely no chance to aim. The Godrick soldiers behind the main line lost track of her in their peripheral vision for just a second—where did she go?
No.
The wind howled past their ears. A silver-haired girl with a cold, impassive expression was suddenly right before them. Pale blue blades of pure magic swept across their line. Any soldier touched by the blades collapsed instantly, blood spraying, demonstrating the swords' equally potent armor-piercing and formation-breaking capabilities.
...
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