Frilian at Elden Ring

172

Chapter 172 How many children did Marika have?

Volcano frontline outpost.

The continuous battles had left Menggot somewhat fatigued, especially since he was operating in clone form.

Although the ominous demon Malkit is strong enough, it gets tired when facing the ever-evolving fire slimes, basilisks, and other disgusting enemies, and must be wary of their sudden attacks.

Demigods are not omnipotent; they always need an army to stabilize the front lines.

Fortunately, they've finally settled down now.

For some reason, the offensive at the Volcano Mansion gradually slowed down, as if they had retreated to continue their research. Whatever the reason, our side can take a breather and prepare to withdraw the main force to defend the city again.

"Report."

A messenger brought a letter, and a glance at the insignia "Mongt" told me it came from the front lines of Galid, and there was more than one.

"Because the war was so intense, there were delays in intelligence gathering, resulting in a backlog of letters..."

"It's alright, it's already quite an achievement that it was delivered at all."

At least he knew that a battle had broken out involving three top demigods—Monger, Ratan, and Frilian—along with a combined force of about 50,000 elite troops. It was unimaginable how terrifying it would be; the land would be shattered and the sun and moon would be darkened, and the aftershocks would be enough to cause widespread devastation.

Even during the Battle of Rodel, there was never a scenario where three demigods simultaneously engaged in a chaotic melee.

What will it become?

Montgomery read the letter with trepidation, sometimes frowning, sometimes taking a deep breath. He had rarely read such an unusual war report, full of twists and turns, which showed how intense the war was.

He then silently handed out the letter for the officers to read among themselves.

"What! It's the Battle of the Four Gods!"

"I haven't looked closely yet. Could it be that Galid was destroyed? Will the Weeping Dunes sink?"

"what?"

"No wonder the Moon Princess didn't appear when we almost breached the elevator; she's been active in Galid all along."

"Wait a minute, so you've collected both the God and the King runes?"

Silence fell upon hearing this, and everyone exchanged bewildered glances. Strictly speaking, the three large runes should be under the control of Frilian, but there was no need to correct that, as the quasi-king had appeared.

The closest player to the Elden Ring has emerged, and his achievements are the real deal, earned through hard work and dedication.

She has always been open and aboveboard, her actions are completely transparent and traceable. In just ten years, she went from a newcomer to a near-ruler. Her prestige, military equipment, territory, and character are all top-notch, and all of these qualities are concentrated in one person.

It is qualified to be a royal capital.

As a challenger, this is the most severe challenge that the royal city of Rodel has faced since its founding, perhaps even more severe than the ancient dragon's siege.

No one doubted that Frilian could cross the First Wall.

Back then, the "Great Ancient Dragon" Gransanx could do it, and so could the world's strongest magician. However, now, without the First Prince "Golden" Godwin and the Royal Army at their peak to stand in their way, things are different now.

Having learned her lesson, she would not easily charge into battle alone, and the defending side had been in decline for many years.

Oh no.

The officers all turned to look at Montgomery, who abruptly stood up.

"No need to hesitate, retreat, forget about the Volcano Mansion. Adjust our strategy, shrink our lines, and focus our defenses on the outskirts of Rodel. The third defensive battle is inevitable."

His unwavering attitude inspired everyone, but their faces showed even more fatigue, and their eyes became cloudy.

The third time was pure torture.

Most of those present had defended the walls of Rodel twice, and they were well aware of the price they had paid. To the ordinary people, the border region was a fortress standing firm against storms, but only they knew how much of the Golden Dynasty's lifespan it had consumed.

After the War of Shattered Souls, it was half buried in the ground. Is Frilian going to be buried completely this time?

boom!

Montgomery struck the ground with his staff, making a sound that made everyone instinctively stand up straight. They saw the ominous demon's sharp gaze sweep across their faces.

“A negative attitude is unacceptable. Remember, you must set an example.”

"Also, you should remember the clone left behind by the first king, Gefulei, before the Queen's chambers, right?"

His voice grew increasingly serious. "I will. I will ask the Blessed King to contact His Majesty through that clone. Since the situation is critical, it is time to return."

"But it will definitely take time to return from outside the border, possibly several years, so we must hold on. Do you all understand now?"

"——As you command!"

As for the matter of the banishment of Goddess Marika, let's put it aside, since she herself has disappeared anyway, and besides, the Golden Dynasty is in a very urgent situation.

The thought of the Highland War King's imminent return made them feel much more at ease.

Montgomery was uneasy; who knew if the ex-husband and ex-wife had other plans? In any case, the storm that Frilian had stirred up was real, and all parties would react.

Hopefully, this time I made the right choice in protecting them.

Furthermore, his biggest worry was the situation of his younger brother, Mongo. He wondered how much of an impact the loss of his clone had had. And that Michaela was no pushover.

……

Round table hall and office.

Sir Hundred Wisdom looked up from the candlelight on the table, his thoughts inevitably interrupted by the commotion outside.

The banquet celebrating Frilian's victory at the Battle Festival was filled with cheers and laughter, breaking the silence of the Great Blessing once again. The same person was the center of attention, yet each had achieved different feats.

The thought that his colleague was just one step away from becoming a champion made him nervous.

"Should I go and tell them to be quiet?"

Ensha asked a question tentatively, and was met with a look from Sir Baizhi that made him look like he was an idiot.

"Don't spoil the fun. Besides, you already displeased Frilian by showing hostility towards her. That person doesn't have any strong emotions. The others will just get drunk and beat you up."

"It seems so."

Normally, Soul King gives the impression of being a detached research fanatic, indifferent to worldly affairs and actually unconcerned about outside opinions, such as those who are still making a fuss about his demi-human hybrid ancestry. However, this doesn't mean his subordinates are indifferent; disrespecting their lord is an insult to their subjects.

"And I quite like this atmosphere; it was just as lively in the early stages of the roundtable..."

Ensha stared at the melancholy Sir Hundred Wisdom for a moment, then paused.

Could this person actually show genuine emotion?

Little did he know that he always believed the original Round Table group was the best and had even reached a near-level. It was just that Frilian had taken the name of the Faded Ones to a new height, as if the boundaries of the old era were gradually becoming clearer.

"Forget it, it's not right for a leader of the Round Table to stay cooped up here. Let's go meet him."

He slowly stood up, leaning on his staff. His back was slightly hunched, but the magical aura he exuded was extraordinary, and he immediately drew everyone's attention.

Very lively.

At the head of the round table sat Frilian with her legs crossed and her hands on her knees, as Rodrika presented her with a small red hood adorned with a floral wreath.

"You must really like flowers, right? That's why I made this gift."

"Thank you, it's a nice piece of clothing for your collection."

"Isn't the answer 'I like it'?"

"This is probably the highest praise a collector could give. Your masterpiece is excellent, Miss Rodelica."

“It’s a pleasure to have you here, Ophniel. I have something to ask you.”

"I will answer any questions I have."

Sir Hundred-Minded Sage spoke with great conviction.

Frillie smiled faintly; she took those words as a joke, and wouldn't believe a fool. However, her original plan was simply to share information, hoping the Faded Ones' intelligence network might provide some clues.

"Actually, before Rataen died, he told me that the past of the Golden Dynasty was hidden in the land shrouded by the Shadow Tree..."

She described the scene at the time.

She also mentioned the information she had gathered so far: ever since she learned the keywords, she had mobilized Stoneville and the magic academy's library to search with all their might, but to no avail.

“A large part of history has been erased and covered up, beginning with how Marika became a god and ending on the eve of the twilight of the Age of Abundance.”

"What happened during that time? I think it's about the most fundamental secret."

Frillie's information plunged the Round Table Hall into complete silence. Everyone was still pondering, utterly shocked. It turned out that a hidden continent existed at the border, concealed for five thousand years. How many secrets did it hold? And she had touched upon a crucial point:

Abundant.

Those were days that everyone fondly remembers; could investigating the Shadowlands bring back abundance?

"...I don't know much."

Sir Hundred Wisdom continued, "But once a holy army went to an unknown land. This army was of complex composition, with many Rhodes Knights and Kalia Knights, all of whom were quite powerfully blessed. Who were their enemies? Who warranted such a force?"

"However, no one knows the outcome of the holy war; it ended without a trace, merely concluding with the end of an era of abundance."

"A saying once circulated in the border region: that the blasphemous serpent brought an end to the bounty. It seemed to point to the leader of the holy war army."

"I don't know any more detailed information."

Stopped abruptly.

He met Frilian's slightly questioning gaze directly, his expression righteous and indignant. "The intelligence has been provided; how you judge it is your duty as a monarch. Think about it yourself."

Little did they know that the silver-haired girl was simply glancing at the air.

“This guy wasn’t lying; there was indeed such a saying in the border areas before. But it was fleeting, and even the rumors quickly disappeared. I came out to work after the War of Shattering, and I only heard fragments of the legend, so I don’t know much more than him.”

Melina shook her head regretfully; she had lived through much earlier times but had never witnessed them.

"However, one thing is certain: the Holy War Army was formed later than Radagan and Renara's marriage, but earlier than the Night of the Black Knife."

Frillie's deduction was confirmed by everyone.

Roger added, "I believe the army is led by a demigod."

"why?"

"Lord Ophniel just mentioned the composition of the army. Those Rodel Knights must at least have the bloodline of the Golden Clan, or be granted a title. In short, they are demigods? To put it more precisely, they are most likely the offspring of Marika, since she appointed them."

However, D shook his head: "How could a demigod suddenly appear? And he's hidden even deeper than the Shadowlands, with not a single clue to him so far."

"No, I agree that he was a demigod, and he was probably older than most demigods, or even the eldest son."