It's so painful! So hard! So difficult!

A man of Leidenhal's character naturally had no prejudice against Katie, so he sat down beside her naturally. It was mid-morning, and the sun was a bit glaring, but Leidenhal's large frame did provide some shade for Katie.

"I want to ask you what you know about the so-called rumors about witches."

Katie took a sip of her tea and cast her gaze at Leightonhal. Her eyes held a depth and mystery that changed Leightonhal's opinion of her.

Chapter 42 Prelude

He had never seen Katie look like this before, or rather, he had never paid special attention to this witch doctor.

However, this was definitely not the look a witch doctor should have... If I had to describe it, it would probably be like that of a wise man who was planning and strategizing, although Leidenhal had never seen such a person before.

Leidenhal's expression changed slightly, not only because of Katie's expression, but more because her words mentioned some taboos. He spoke tactfully:

"As for the witch, what I know is not much different from the rumors in the village." He spoke in a calm tone, but his face was rather gloomy.

Katie Pello naturally couldn't fail to see the problem. She put down her teacup and spoke softly.

"This matter may be related to Bai Lin's life, uncle."

Leighton's body trembled. "You mean, you've already met her?"

Katie nodded, realizing that the Ice Witch might indeed be a special individual. Based on what she had seen yesterday, she had some rough ideas in mind.

For example, the falling snow that obscured vision, like the snow-capped mountains, might be inextricably linked. Also, the traps were able to directly drive away the wild animals that had previously been there.

This is also very suspicious.

"Well then, let me tell you about the Guards... no, my own experiences."

-

Bai Lin leaned against a tree to rest. Several hours passed. The number of monsters she encountered along the way was much greater than when she was traveling with Katie, and her armor became even more tattered.

Fortunately, Katie didn't suffer any obvious injuries. Monsters generally had sharp claws and teeth, which was a good opportunity for heavy armor. Monsters with incredible strength, such as the Frost Giant, were almost incapable of hitting Bai Lin.

I have to admit, this body is incredibly convenient. Whether it's speed, reflexes, or wrist strength, it completely surpasses that of an ordinary person. And as his level continues to rise, if he controls it properly, Bai Lin can often kill ordinary monsters in the Ice Forest with a single blow.

She would use a shield return to expose her opponent's weaknesses, then use the energy she had accumulated to strike them directly. With constant practice, she had mastered the timing of shield returns against most monsters.

Even if she occasionally made a mistake, her heavy armor would increase her tolerance. When under siege, she never spared her stored energy, believing that only a quick victory could prevent the danger from escalating.

After all, there's no point in taking your energy to the grave.

She stood up again. Not far away was the destination of this trip. Bai Lin naturally couldn't explore blindly. Her goal was very clear.

The place in front of you is naturally the important core of the entire forest, the central lake.

Bai Lin exhaled a few puffs of white mist, casually broke off a branch, and threw it hard to the ground not far away. Seeing that the branch was firmly embedded in the snow, she walked over with peace of mind.

If he fell into the ubiquitous cliffs at this time, the noise would definitely alert the monsters swarming by the lake, and Bai Lin would be in trouble.

Although it cannot ensure that there are no other traps, doing so can at least ensure some safety.

Her goal is to cause yesterday's changes again.

With Bai Lin's intelligence, he naturally guessed that the forest had changed because of some kind of disturbance yesterday.

So, she had just killed the eagle she encountered in the forest and roasted it. But the answer is obviously not this.

So, she speculated that it might be because she had killed a large number of monsters. However, when she first entered the Ice Forest, she had killed a lot of monsters. After eliminating these factors, the answer surfaced.

That is, "continuous killing of enemies."

There are many games that increase difficulty through special conditions, but this is a new situation where continuously killing enemies attracts more monsters and even changes the entire forest terrain. Bai Lin is very interested in this. She wants to know what will happen if the conditions are met again.

In addition, Bai Lin also took note of the approximate location of the advanced area and wandered around the outer areas. She discovered that these so-called traps were truly randomly generated. She even witnessed the rifts connecting with each other, a true miracle in the world of geography.

Well, it's just another world, so it's not hard to understand what would happen. So Bai Lin wasn't too surprised, but instead pondered the underlying principle.

Completely random generation, if expressed in code, was still difficult to achieve in the era she lived in. Therefore, she judged two possibilities: one was that the forest itself had its own will, and the other was that someone was manipulating the forest from behind.

At this point, Bai Lin was very close to the correct answer. If she and Katie saw the human-shaped ice sculpture together, they would probably figure it out immediately.

Unfortunately, she didn't see it. So Bai Lin could only use the most primitive method, which was to try.

There were about thirty monsters in sight, and charging straight at them would be foolish. Bai Lin threw a small stone, and a few small, white-skinned, blue-eyed, dog-like monsters were attracted to him.

It was truly an unfortunate day for them. They were just strolling by the lake when a human adventurer suddenly appeared and took them down, taking several of their own kind with him.

However, to Bai Lin, they were just monsters. Just like a powerful minotaur tribe would invade a village, it was not their fault if humans were not strong enough to bully them.

Activating his energy release mode, he dispatched three pitiful, weak monsters with just two strikes. The commotion of the blazing flames attracted some of the monsters, who suspiciously moved towards him. But when they reached the scene, they found only the bodies of their companions, with no sign of Bai Lin.

Just as one of the larger white dogs was about to howl to the sky, Bai Lin plummeted down from the sky. Clearly, she didn't have enough time to run far, and in the dense jungle, she would be unworthy of her status as a gamer if she didn't use the trees.

Two more slashes fell, but this time, she was completely exposed at the edge of the open lake, with no shielding. All the monsters noticed Bai Lin immediately, howling and then retreating in fear.

Among the scattered birds and beasts, some remained expressionless, gazing calmly at Bai Lin. They didn't roar, didn't threaten, they simply stared at her.

For example, several beasts of Aldaeus, three or two tall snow wolves, and other powerful monsters.

Chapter 43 Ice Witch

Bai Lin took a few steps forward calmly, staring directly at the group of monsters. The monsters didn't show any expression, but instead spread out to the sides, leaving a path for Bai Lin.

It looked strange on the surface, but Bai Lin sat by the lake very naturally.

Even all of this was within her expectations.

She reached out and touched the lake water, which she had long wanted to touch, but then she was annoyed that she couldn't touch the lake surface in her iron suit. Although it looked calm on the surface, Bai Lin didn't dare to take off the canned food on her body.

Some of the monsters dispersed, leaving behind a group of seemingly powerful ones. It was obvious that this was actually their leader.

The present calm was merely the quiet before the storm. However, the monsters around her didn't pose any threat to her, so Bai Lin concluded that the so-called "boss" wasn't completely hostile to her. This was why she dared to sit there.

Ripples rippled across the water, and streaks of ice and snow twisted into spirals from all sides of the forest, condensing on the lake's surface. The temperature in the air suddenly dropped, and even Bai Lin's vision seemed to grow even darker.

This was the first time Bai Lin had felt such bone-chilling cold since crossing the Ice Forest. Her teeth chattered slightly, but she tightened her grip on the sword.

Gradually, the cold current solidified into a humanoid form, a lifeless ice sculpture covered in frozen branches. Its bizarre face featured a single, oddly smiling mouth, and its long hair and figure barely revealed it to be a woman.

In summary, this appearance is indeed very suitable for the final boss scene. The younger brother watched, and the world was in a strange state. However, Bai Lin felt a little strange, that is, the pressure of the ice sculpture was too low.

It can even be said that there is no desire to fight at all.

Seeing this, Bai Lin raised her sword to her shoulder. She held the sword back to show she had no hostility. She asked:

"You were the one who set those traps?"

The ice sculpture didn't respond clearly, nor did it show any physical movement. Instead, it let out a cacophony of laughter, its age and gender indistinguishable. Bai Lin frowned. It seemed that communication was proving difficult.

After all, this is just a small map next to the Novice Village. The first large dungeon is at the Snow Mountain, so it's understandable that the boss here isn't very strong... maybe.

Despite this inner comfort, Bai Lin couldn't hide his uneasiness. If his opponent had no intention of fighting, one possibility was that they were friendly. Another possibility was that he was simply too weak to pose a threat.

As for the former, she had never encountered this ice sculpture before, and she had to kill many monsters to summon it, and these monsters seemed to respect it very much. Bai Lin couldn't imagine under what circumstances she could have a friendly relationship with this guy.

Just as she was thinking this, the ice sculpture stopped its strange laughter and let out two sharp screams. The monster next to Bai Lin instantly bared its teeth at Bai Lin, as if it was about to launch an attack.

What? It didn't want to fight just a second ago. Is there something wrong with its brain circuit? Bai Lin looked around, took two steps back, and took a fighting stance with his sword and shield.

There was an unfathomable opponent before him. If he wanted to save his experience, it would be best to flee. However, using his immortality to learn about his opponent's attack methods at the cost of his life was also an option.

Which one should I choose?

A sudden blast of cold air suddenly appeared within Bai Lin's field of vision. She reacted quickly, leaping to avoid it. Although a little frost stained her shield, it was harmless. The shield was the core of the energy release, so naturally, the temperature wouldn't be very low. Soon, the frost melted away.

Ah, it turns out I was wrong.

It is not Bai Lin who decides whether to run or stay, but the opponent with strong strength has the real right to choose.

And it seems that this ice sculpture doesn't want to let itself run away.

Now, Bai Lin understood everything. She raised her sword and shield and began to confront the ice sculpture.

Since the other party has made a decision, how can I just sit there and wait for death?

-

"That's about it. In short, the so-called witch doesn't intend to kill you with all her might. Most of the time, she'll target your strength to torment you..."

Leidenhal told Katie about a time when he was young and hunting with his companions. Due to some arrogance and mistakes made by his companions, he lost his life. After all, so many years had passed, and under Katie's questioning, he was still able to speak about it.

"So, if someone encounters it, no matter who they are or what their situation is, they will basically not die?"

Katie rested her chin on her hand and expressed her understanding based on Leyton's words. Leyton nodded. Out of guilt, he had gone to the Ice Witch again. Although he always returned in misery, the Ice Witch had even personally carried him back to the village when he was seriously injured.

Katie felt much more at ease after receiving this answer. She began to think about some countermeasures, but she had already received enough information from Leidenhal. So she stood up and said goodbye to the uncle.

The uncle felt a mixture of emotions. He'd confided in a young girl about a sorrow he hadn't shared in ages, and she had even politely offered him some psychological counseling. Was she really just an ordinary witch doctor, as she appeared?

At least, Leidenhall no longer thinks so.

After leaving the guard's house, Katie bought some daily necessities on the way, and then returned to the small tent she and Bai Lin shared, and began to formulate a strategy.

Since Leidenhal had already explained the Ice Witch's characteristics, she naturally wouldn't enter the forest at this time. Doing so might only cause trouble for Bai Lin. The right thing to do was to wait here for her return.

Picking up a herb from the storage room, she had her own thoughts...

-

In this bitingly cold environment, Bai Lin's breathing had become erratic due to the fighting. Large gulps of cold air poured into her chest. The effect of the scorching iron forging technique was no longer enough. The surrounding coldness was undoubtedly affecting her physical condition.

So far, she had only killed three monsters and hadn't reached her primary target. Now, she experienced firsthand how terrifying a magician combined with the front line could be.

Even the magician had only used a few small spells like spraying cold air to torture her like this. Now Bai Lin's shoulder armor was flattened by a big wolf's claw, and she felt that her shoulder was almost unable to move.

Chapter 44: Battle with the Witch

The remaining energy is not very abundant, and with the presence of the ice sculpture, the monsters' cooperation has become more diverse. Bai Lin believes that he still needs some time to adapt.

But judging by her current injuries, she didn't have the luxury of testing her opponent's strength and tactics. Even if she wanted to escape, it wouldn't be feasible in this trap-ridden ice forest. This was her opponent's territory.

In desperation, Bai Lin decisively put away his shield. He gripped his sword with both hands, and the flaming blade slowly condensed into shape. The temperature around Bai Lin eased slightly, colliding violently with the witch's icy cold.

If the opponent's force was a raging, violent display, then Bai Lin's was like a sword aimed at a weak spot. While the power was not comparable in sheer volume, it was more concentrated. At least during this cold snap, the impact on her was reduced. With this change, the confidence-inspired strength bonus of the Blazing Iron Forging Technique returned to her.

Bai Lin raised the sword in front of him, pointing the tip of the sword at the ice sculpture surrounded by monsters.

Her original intention was actually to use this life to fully explore the strength of her opponent.

However, with Bai Lin's many years of experience in soul-like games, if he doesn't make up his mind to kill his opponent, the possibility of losing for free will be greatly increased.

The heavy blade put some pressure on Bai Lin's shoulders, making the stinging pain worse. But it didn't matter anymore. Right now, giving his heart to the sword and delivering the blade to his opponent was the most important thing.

The Ice Witch's laughter abruptly ceased. Two massive magic circles instantly appeared behind her, sending a cloud of icy spikes flying from the woods toward Bai Lin. Seeing this, the Beast of Aldaeus also launched its own attack, trapping Bai Lin like a net.

Bai Lin took a deep breath, allowing his brain to be filled with nutrients. Next, he would consume a large number of his brain cells.

With his mind highly concentrated, Bai Lin swung the sword in a side ring with both hands. The ring of fire cut through the ice in front of him, and at the same time he stepped out, leaving a piece of ice that he failed to hit in the original place.

In the first few seconds, the distant attacks hadn't reached the range to restrain her. If she could break the deadlock at this time, it would be the only possibility of breaking through.

Want to jump directly to attack the ice sculpture? That's unrealistic. The opponent is flying in the sky. No matter how strong Bai Lin's jumping ability is, he can't fly. You know, it's difficult for a person to control their center of gravity in the air. If he jumps into the air, he will just be a sitting duck for the ice sculpture.

Obviously, Bai Lin didn't make that decision. What she wanted to do was much simpler than this.

In her original world, she was also somewhat familiar with this kind of barrage. With her enhanced physical condition and the slight time she had gained by stepping forward, she successfully saw a blind spot in the icy world.

That is, next to the monster.

The remaining monsters that Bai Lin hadn't killed were still in their original places. Perhaps out of consideration, Bai Lin saw a slight gap around them. So her goal was naturally to get closer to the monsters.

Shifting his center of gravity three inches to the left, Bai Lin used the weight of his body to compensate for the stiffness in his shoulders. With a swift and fierce strike, he slashed off Xue Lang's head. Hot blood splattered, and even the wound where the snow wolf had been slashed started to ignite in flames.

A slight smile appeared on her face hidden under the helmet because the energy bar was rising.

It seems that if I can kill with one strike using my weapon's released form, I can also accumulate a certain amount of energy. This way, I can at least add a little warmth to my dwindling energy.

She tilted her body, raised her sword to her side, and flames burst out again, dissolving a small portion of the ice spikes, but the ice spikes above her head were already approaching her. Without pausing, Bai Lin disappeared from the spot, and in the blink of an eye, she had stabbed the snow tiger in the eye.

Don't think about how to avoid the ice spikes, but keep attacking and let them chase you. This way, you will have a strong source of power and will take the initiative into your own hands.

With a smooth, flowing movement, Bai Lin used his sword to crack the opponent's skull. He took a step to the right, sheathed his sword to the side, and turned to dodge several attacks while completing Zanshin. Then, he struck another fierce sword to meet the frost attack from the ice sculpture.

The katana was originally a knife suitable for cutting meat. This weapon was extremely vulnerable to armor. If the monsters could wear the same protective gear as her, Bai Lin would definitely have a much harder time.

Unfortunately, no matter how strong the monsters' bodies were, whether it was the giant ape's steel-hard abdominal muscles or the frost giant's arms as thick as paulownia pillars, they were all the same under her sword. People are alive, and as long as they seize the initiative in battle, Bai Lin will definitely target their weaknesses and attack.

The two monsters from before had been restrained by the ice spikes, so they barely put up much resistance before Bai Lin dispatched them. The sword, once unleashed, was fierce, yet concealed a layer of restraint, and the monsters didn't realize its danger.

In the space of a few breaths, Bai Lin defeated two powerful enemies with just two swords. Although there were still many ice spikes, he decided to continue attacking.

The impact was split in two, colliding with the ice spikes behind Bai Lin. She ignored it and continued charging, swinging her sword as far as she could. Several ice spikes struck her knees and back, but they had no effect on her.

Pain irritated Bai Lin's nerves. Although the knee injury had a significant impact on her, the freezing property actually helped her at this time. Combined with adrenaline, Bai Lin was able to continue moving.

Even with the injury, she continued forward, naturally to force the ice sculpture to attack. Bai Lin, who had been defeated by multiple magic arrays before, focused on this aspect. She used the momentum to leap upward, even though she was helpless in the air. The ice spikes that were staring at Bai Lin actually helped her at this moment.