Ranni took a long, deep look beside the silver-haired girl. With the keen eyesight of a demigod-level mage, she could naturally perceive Melina's spiritual form. To be favored by the maiden associated with the flame – this new Tarnished was indeed remarkable.
"If you were merely an ordinary Tarnished, I might bid you farewell forever," Ranni stated. "But now, our meeting holds significance. I've been calling you Tarnished all this time; may I ask your name, esteemed one?"
"Frieren."
"A fine name. I, the Witch Renna, shall await you at Caria Manor. We can speak in detail then."
"If we have the opportunity to cooperate in the future," Frieren interjected, "then simply offer me magic as payment. I am collecting them."
Relying solely on drops from defeated monsters wouldn't suffice. Therefore, she had to exploit the game world's freedom as much as possible, seizing every chance for collection, such as trading with NPCs.
"A peculiar hobby," Renna noted. "Most people would struggle to learn magic even if they collected it."
The Lands Between operated on a Memory Slot system; there was a limit to how many spells one could actively wield at once. The number of spells one could actually learn was even more restricted, not to mention mastering their application in combat. Biting off more than one could chew yielded little benefit; having numerous techniques didn't necessarily equate to strength.
But Frieren seemed different.
Ranni roughly guessed that her counterpart commanded a vast repertoire of magic, seemingly surpassing the conventional limits. If it came to a fight, she suspected Frieren would unleash an endless arsenal of techniques. Ranni hadn't just appeared suddenly in the dead of night; she had dispatched observers beforehand to watch the new Tarnished fight. Frieren had eliminated monsters using a diverse array of methods, almost as if systematically testing the performance of each spell, rarely repeating the same approach.
"Very well," Renna agreed. "If you are willing to join me, the chances of my plan succeeding will increase significantly."
"What plan?" Frieren inquired.
"We shall discuss that once mutual trust is established. However, I can offer you a hint: it involves treading a path that betrays everything."
"—Now then, savor the taste of the Lands Between, Frieren."
With that, Ranni's form became ethereal, eventually vanishing completely.
Far away, atop a tower in Caria Manor, the blue-haired doll seated on a chair opened her eyes. Having dispelled her projection, the sense of trepidation felt even more pronounced, lingering like a shadow. Why did this Tarnished carry such a peculiar power?
Flame.
In the Lands Between, anything associated with flame usually spelled trouble. Yet, that flame possessed a warmth that seemed to embrace all, sustaining existence itself – a stark contrast to Frieren's own inherent coldness.
"A Tarnished like this is bound to cause ripples in Limgrave," Ranni mused. "I must contact Blaidd and have him keep watch..."
After sending the message, a wave of drowsiness washed over Ranni. Had she not been subjected to the slightly intimidating pressure of the Tarnished's mana sense, she might have remained active longer. No matter. She needed to conserve her magic for the inevitable, destined hunt for the Two Fingers. As a witch, she trusted her intuition: a great, unpredictable variable had arrived in the Lands Between.
Back at the Church of Elleh.
Frieren abruptly turned, trying to follow the fading wisp of magical energy with her gaze, but it vanished too quickly. Clearly, Renna's magical proficiency was considerable.
"I wonder what level Renna is considered in the Lands Between?"
"She lied to you just now," Melina's spiritual form materialized beside her. "Her true name is not Renna, but Ranni, known as the Lunar Princess. She is one of the acknowledged children of Marika, a demigod, and the rightful heir to the Carian Royal Family."
"I don't know much about the affairs of royalty and nobles," Frieren replied, "but she's clearly an exceptional mage. For instance, she noticed you, didn't she?"
"Yes. Even hidden within you, I could not escape the Lunar Princess's perception."
"Hidden? So, does that mean you don't have to be?"
"If you wish, I can accompany you in my spirit form. However, only you and a very select few would be able to see me." Melina then shifted the topic. "Before that, perhaps we should examine the Spirit Calling Bell. I sense a familiar presence within it."
Ting-a-ling.
Frieren gently shook the bell, activating the Lone Wolf Ashes that Ranni had gifted along with it. Three wolves materialized, standing tall with chests puffed out, radiating an eager, combative aura. Low growls rumbled from their chests, seemingly warning off any unseen creatures lurking in the night.
Frieren felt a slight drain on her mana, confirming that summoning consumed magical energy. Was this, in a sense, a form of necromancy? The performance likely depended primarily on the quality of the ashes themselves. These wolves seemed a bit weak.
What if they could be strengthened?
Coincidentally, she recalled a scroll dropped by a demon she had previously slain – something related to empowering undead.
"Use 'Magic that Enhances Undead Units'. Target: Lone Wolf Ashes."
A ripple of magical energy spread outwards, invigorating the wolves. They bared their fangs, their fur bristled, and their muscles even seemed to bulge slightly, their forms becoming more defined.
Magic from her reality combined with the magic of this game world was effective; she had discovered this early on. That was precisely why she needed to collect all sorts of materials for experimentation.
Frieren, thoroughly intrigued, commanded the wolves to run in circles to test their speed, bite a wooden post to test their jaw strength, and drag stone blocks to test their power. She lost herself in the activity, delighted. The results were indeed remarkably different.
She had grown stronger again.
Specifically, the flexibility of her 'game immersion' magic system far surpassed its previous capabilities. For instance, such cross-combination of different magic types wouldn't have worked before. Drop mechanics had also been a headache – items only appeared where they were meant to appear, requiring specific grinding spots. Yet, in just one short day in the Lands Between, she suspected the underlying mechanics here were far more open, brimming with possibilities.
She had even unexpectedly obtained the Wandering Noble Ashes earlier – proof that her luck stat was still proving useful.
Ting-a-ling.
With another shake of the bell, the nobles materialized, joining the wolves in wandering around the church ruins.
Witnessing this, Melina finally lost her composure. Enhancing spirit ashes could perhaps be explained by some esoteric magic, but summoning multiple types of ashes simultaneously utterly shattered the established rules.
"How can you summon multiple ashes? That... shouldn't be possible, should it?"
"Based on what principle is it impossible?" Frieren inquired.
The question actually stumped Melina. After a moment's thought, she explained uncertainly, "Because it's said the user's soul must bear a portion of the burden, and one person can typically only sustain a connection with one type of ash... I think? Very few can even use the Spirit Calling Bell, so there's a lack of clear examples. Perhaps... perhaps you could assemble an entire legion of ashes."
Gazing intently at the silver-haired girl, a guess formed in Melina's mind. Frieren's soul felt like a fiercely burning, inextinguishable flame; no wonder she could bear the cost. Even the lowest-tier ashes, like wolves and living corpses, could be forcibly infused with power and amplified. Tarnished truly defied common sense.
"An Ashen Legion!"
Frieren had heard tales of demons employing methods to control corpses, usually termed puppetry or control magic. But these ashes seemed different. She felt a distinct resonance with her summons; it felt like their acknowledgment, their acceptance. Therefore, the ashes weren't mere string-puppets but partners possessing a degree of combat intelligence.
"As you can see, Tarnished," Melina continued. "In the future, you will likely acquire the ashes of legendary heroes and warriors. When they recognize you, they will undoubtedly become a formidable source of strength."
"Does that mean I can just keep collecting ashes and build an army?"
"That," Melina concluded, seeming to grasp the core truth about Frieren, "depends entirely on your own power, Lady Frieren." She had figured it out: the only rule Frieren followed was the rule of defying logic itself.
________
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