Cornflower Witch

Chapter 96 Facing a Powerful Enemy
"That is?"

Hiltiya stopped, took off her hood, and tried to make out the faint sounds coming from the distant mountains.

Had someone encountered a powerful monster? She stood there for a long time, but unfortunately, no other sounds came from the distant mountains. She could only shake her head and continue on her way.

On the other side, Mick finally caught up with Jero's team, but what lay before him was a scene of utter devastation.

Someone died
He looked at the mess on the ground, the clothes stained with blood and bits of flesh, and the broken sword blade, and felt a chill run down his spine.

As for Brother Geralt, his eyes darted around anxiously, but thankfully he didn't find any armor or weapons similar to Geralt's.

Walking to a corner of the scene, he picked up a weapon with a bent and dented blade and silently estimated its strength.

Such a powerful enemy was able to twist and bend the iron sword directly, and there was also a broken piece of armor next to it, which showed the tragedy at the time. The person who was originally inside the armor must have had half of his body smashed.

Brother Jero is a powerful warrior and won't die here easily, Mick could only encourage himself with this thought. Now he had completely given up on participating in the assessment and just wanted to find his former teammates as soon as possible to help them escape danger.

He silently searched for clues and set off again along the faint trail.

……

About half a day later, he finally found the marks and traces in a secluded mountain hollow.

He rushed in, but before he could even call out his companions' names, he was attacked.

The black greatsword slashed down the mountainside, crashing into the rocks beside him, sending sparks and white marks flying, startling Mick.

Only then did he see everything clearly inside the cave.

Jero stood in the cave, covered in blood. His legs trembled, his lips quivered, and his large arms gripped the greatsword, yet he cowered like a child.

"You...you don't come any closer." He shook his head in a daze, taking steps backward, then tripped over the bundle behind him and fell to the ground.

"Brother Jero, it's me, it's me, Mick!" the boy called out anxiously, opening his arms and slowly walking over.

"No, don't come any closer." Jero seemed not to recognize the boy in front of him, and answered in a panic, wildly swinging his greatsword.

Why is this? Why doesn't Brother Jero recognize me? Mick searched the ground and found the tobacco residue.

Is it 'sunflower' again? It's said that excessive consumption of this stuff can cause hallucinations.

With the clues in hand, he scanned the remaining traces in the cave and found a considerable amount of ash from the 'sunflower' plant.

It is said that this tobacco can suppress pain and relieve tension, but the side effects are that it is easy to become addicted and cause hallucinations. Excessive smoking will make people emaciated and withered. Therefore, people who use this kind of thing are usually ridiculed as cowards by the people in the tavern.

While comforting the terrified Jero, Mick talked to him and waited for the effects of the drug to wear off.

Time passed slowly in agony, and it was two hours later when Mick finally grasped Jero's hand and made him put down the sword.

"Brother Jero, what happened?" Mick asked anxiously, looking at Jero, whose demeanor had changed drastically.

"I... I can't remember." Jero seemed particularly reluctant to recall the events of the past few days. He kept his head down, occasionally covering his head with his hands, as if he dared not look at Mick, who was a size smaller than him, beside him.

“Brother Jero, you remember, you escaped all the way from there, you must remember.” Mick asked anxiously again, eager to know the whereabouts of the others.

"No, no..." Jero lost his ability to speak again, only able to repeat these few words. Faced with Jero like this, Mick was filled with disappointment. Why had the incredibly strong, reliable, and admirable older brother Jero, whom he used to worship, become like this?

Even if one is afraid of death, it shouldn't be to this extent, especially since it's safe now.

He didn't understand, and even felt a pang of disappointment.

However, faced with Jero who remained silent, he had no good ideas and could only stand up again, leave the cave, and search for other clues.

……

In the mountains, Iona held two black steel rapiers, looking up at the tall ogre in front of her. The ogre had a thick, tough, bluish-gray hide, no hair on its head, and rough, wrinkled skin on its brows, making it look quite ferocious.

This ogre was probably around level one, but it was huge. The large beast bone it held was like a giant hammer. When it swept across, it brought up a strong wind and easily smashed the rock where Iona was standing.

Race: Ogre (Low-tier)
Status: Healthy (Bloodlust)

talent:

Mighty [Excellent]: Ogres are born with exceptional strength. Their tall stature and physique bring them power far exceeding that of other life forms of the same level.

Fate Card: [Wilderness Ogre] (Tier 1 - Blood Law)
Ogres have enormous appetites; nothing of flesh and blood can escape their consumption. And in the Ninth Age, the most common and abundant creature of flesh and blood was humankind.
-
Effect: [Mighty Body Lv.4], an innate talent that grants you immense strength and physique, making even a rhinoceros a mere plaything in your hands.

Ability Cards:
【Blood Devouring Technique Lv.2】(Blood Law): Digests and devours flesh and blood, transforming it into its own 'Blood Law' elemental power.

【Thick and Tough Outer Hide Lv.2】(Blood Law): A tough outer hide, like thick leather armor, to protect you from damage.

【Intimidation Aura Lv.2】(Blood Law): After you have killed many creatures, you have gained an aura that intimidates other life forms, causing them to lose all fighting spirit and dare not resist.

Facing this powerful ogre, Iona leaped through the trees like a wasp, dodging its howling, bone-smashing attacks.

As trees fell one by one, she leaped between the treetops, her body soaring into the air. When she reached the highest point, she plummeted downwards, the blade in her hand gleaming with a dazzling golden light, piercing straight into the ogre below.

……

A flash of golden light, and massive animal bones swept across the forest, igniting a fierce battle.

Half an hour later, Iona leaned against a tree, panting. Her once smart gold and red hunting outfit was now covered in blood and dirt, and one of her arms was bruised and difficult to move. Behind her, the tall ogre lay on the ground, its eyes pierced, and several gruesome wounds on its chest and abdomen, from which foul-smelling blood flowed, emitting bursts of heat. Occasionally, some flying insects landed on its exposed internal organs, sucking up the dried blood.

She defeated the ogre, but at a great cost; at least one of her arms is temporarily immobile and will likely not recover until tomorrow.

However, the arduous battle has yielded some results. She has now completed her first and second objectives, and only the final 'Blood Flower' remains to be found.

Deep in the forest, Hilti also encountered a terrifying opponent.

This was a gigantic ogre with two heads. Its skin was dark red, like lava. It held a thick iron bar in its hand, and the hot breath it exhaled from its nostrils stirred up the fallen leaves on the ground. At this moment, it was looking down at the tiny figure in front of it.

Behind this towering ogre, a cliff rises from the mountaintop, where a strange, blood-red flower blooms quietly, emitting an irresistibly sweet fragrance.

The ultimate goal of this assessment is the 'Blood Flower' (Second Tier: Blood Law).

(End of this chapter)