Resonance

"Caw caw~ Caw caw~"

Amidst the chaotic roars, the seventeen water ghosts were swiftly divided into three parts by the Monster Hunting Legion, as if being sliced by a scalpel.

Then, amidst the flashes of cold light and fire, they were all beheaded.

The entire process should not exceed three minutes.

Fast and efficient!

"Bite!"

A cold, mechanical voice rang in my ears.

Record +170

Water Ghost Essence Fluid +17, Lesser Experience Orbs +3, Drowner's Chest +2.

After reviewing the rewards from the Legion Hunt and recalling his Witcher's Handbook, Ailin realized that his prediction was correct.

Planning the route for the Trial of the Mountains is essentially planning the monsters the apprentices will face.

The only monsters suitable for Witcher Company are actually water ghosts; the only difference is the number of water ghosts.

Vesemir and Arethos were unaware of the legion members' rocket-like ascent speed, and the number of water ghosts deployed along the route was relatively small.

Given the current level of the legion members' two-handed swords, and after so many days of close contact with the water ghosts, not a single water ghost has been able to get close to Ailin since they set off.

but.

"This is the kind of difficulty a mountain test should have," Ailin thought to himself.

The Trial of the Mountains of the past.

Once again, he was dodging the water ghosts' senses in the water, and once again, he was stealthily moving around Old Spearhead in complete darkness...

What's the point of going through the entire trial if you can't improve anything and so many apprentices die?

Does relying on mortality rates to select apprentices mean they are favored by fate?

It's ridiculous!

That witcher named Sali, who deserted in the face of battle, was clearly unqualified, yet he still survived.

Ailin has always believed that...

A Witcher apprentice is considered a full-fledged Witcher if he is capable of hunting a water ghost on his own.

You can even just pass the Trial of Grasses.

In the long life of a Witcher, many hardships await him, and his school of thought need not add fuel to the fire.

And so they continued their journey, hunting and killing as they went.

Aside from a chance encounter with three Foglet, which were then killed by Ailin using his Mirage Pearl to see through the fog and with Ghoul Oil.

The fact that there were four more Ghoul was surprising, but the ten people who were about to vomit from killing the water ghosts quickly fought to behead them all.

soon.

The Witcher Company arrived at the cave, and after each taking the Cat Eye Potion they had prepared beforehand, they reached the Rock Troll's camp.

Ailin checked the cooldown time for the Conjunction of the Spheres; it had been less than an hour since they set off.

"... Big Stone... Little Stone... the troll smells a strange smell... the troll smells a strange smell..."

A familiar silly voice came from around the corner, and a smile appeared on Aylin's face involuntarily.

He raised his hand to stop the apprentices from drawing their longswords.

"No need to be on guard, these are all friends."

Then Ailin smiled and went to greet her.

friend?

Where would you find friends in these desolate, uninhabited mountains?

The apprentices exchanged glances, then, after glancing at Ailin's retreating figure, almost simultaneously turned their gazes to Hughes, Bont, and Fred, who had been somewhat uneasy since the beginning.

Fred, in particular, had been keeping his head down ever since he left the cave, seemingly lost in thought.

Hughes was the first to concede defeat under the innocent and bewildered gazes of his apprentices:

"They are Rock Troll. The friends that Ailin mentioned are the three Rock Troll from the Trial of the Mountains."

"What? Isn't that a large monster?" Klar was shocked, as he was focused on his cultivation.

"I heard Master Aristo mention that Commander Ailin seems to have subdued three Rock Troll to help him move things... these are the ones, right?" This was Hudson, who had a good relationship with the vice-commander.

"Master Aristo would tell you this? Didn't his traveling apprentice run away in fear?" Ernie, who loved gossip, chimed in.

"Sizzle... sizzle..." This was Kaitlai's response after she was accidentally slapped in the face while hunting water ghosts.

Then the other members joined in, chattering away.

On the other side.

Before Ailin had even turned the corner, Broken Stone appeared, its tiny, beady Little Eye glaring at him, its head tilted.

Just as Ailin thought he was about to be called a bad apprentice again, Broken Stone's Little Eye widened even more, and then he shouted with "surprise":

"... Big Stone... Little Stone... The good witcher is here... The good witcher is here..."

Upon hearing this, Ailin's smile widened.

It warmed my heart like when I opened the door after get off work in a past life and my newly adopted cat or dog suddenly came over and rubbed its furry body against my leg.

Then he saw Broken Stone come running over after shouting, ignoring the Witcher behind Ailin, and after carefully looking him up and down a few times, he sniffed.

"... Good Witcher... meat... eat meat..."

Ailin, who had just been very touched, turned pale upon hearing this.

It turns out that the Broken Stone was actually eyeing those few pieces of rotten flesh!

"Bang!"

The familiar sound of rocks colliding.

"... Broken Stone... disgraceful... deserves a beating..."

Big Stone walked over and delivered a heavy punch, cursed a couple of times, and then looked behind Ailin.

"Those are the apprentices who came with me. Let them pass through," Ailin explained after noticing them.

Given his relationship with the Rock Troll, he wasn't worried that a few stones would make things difficult for the apprentice.

The Big Stone nodded in agreement.

Seeing this, Ailin smiled and turned to call out, "You guys go to the Circle of Elements first to activate the School Emblem, I'll catch up in a bit."

"Yes, Commander."

The members carefully walked around the Broken Stone that was covering its head, but their eyes couldn't help lingering on the Rock Troll.

They were all very curious as to why their leader was able to subdue these ferocious monsters.

Except for Fred.

He lowered his head, not daring to Broken Stone, and hurried to pass through the Rift.

Unexpectedly, the Broken Stone suddenly let go, twitched its nose, and then its tiny, beady Little Eye quickly locked onto Fred.

It's over!

I've been recognized!

Fred froze upon seeing this, his heart sinking.

"Thump!"

Sure enough, the Rock Troll in front of him suddenly took a step closer and roared at him:

"... Bad apprentice... Big Stone... bad apprentice... sharp stick Broken Stone..."

Fred felt as if the troll's spittle was spraying all over his face.

moment,

The Big Stone, which was chatting with Ailin, turned its head and looked over, and a powerful aura of favor pressed down on it.

All the members were so agitated that they instinctively placed their hands on the hilt of the silver sword.

Tensions were high.

"Wait! Broken Stone! Don't panic! It's just a misunderstanding!"

Just as Fred was about to look in the direction of the sound, his eyes blurred and Ailin was already standing in front of him.

"So fast!" Fred exclaimed inwardly, he couldn't even see Ailin's movements clearly.

"Ailin, I didn't..."

"Don't worry, Fred, I know... You take the apprentices to the Circle of Elements first, I'll be there in a bit."

At Ailin's prompting, Fred quietly took a step forward.

Seeing that the Rock Troll was just staring at him fiercely without making any other move, he continued walking forward.

After walking a few steps with the other apprentices, Fred suddenly turned around.

He looked at the small, thin figure who bravely stood in front of the troll, and felt something inexplicably stirred within him.

[Ding! Legion member Fred's favorability has increased to 100% loyal (+8)]

[Fulfill hidden conditions to unlock Legion: Resonance]