The Black Knight, who had traveled a great distance, leaped down from his warhorse.
He drew a vicious-looking greatsword from his back, cold light glinting in the indifferent eyes beneath his helmet.
He raised his sword, pointed it at the Witcher, and said in a hoarse, grim voice:
"Enough talk. Today, either you die or I do!"
The Witcher burst out laughing, his face full of scorn as he mocked him:
"Hahahaha! You? You were no match for me decades ago, and you still aren't. Did you chase me all this way just to die by my blade?"
"If that's what you want, I'll gladly oblige!"
In an instant.
He drew the demon-slaying saber from his waist, and roaring flames immediately erupted along its blade.
The wind whipped his robes, and the smile on his face was cruel and icy.
"We'll see who comes out on top!"
The Black Knight's eyes flickered.
Pop-
With a slight movement of his fingers, he pried the wooden stopper from the potion in his hand.
He downed the potion in one gulp.
Then he smashed the bottle against the ground.
"Come on!" He narrowed his eyes and took his stance.
"A potion?" The Witcher smiled faintly. "It's useless, Black Knight. No matter how many potions you gulp down, the gap between us won't change. You can never beat me. Still, I'm more than happy to give you this chan-"
Ding-
The Witcher froze, instinctively raising his head to look at the Black Knight's helmet.
He wasn't sure if he had imagined it, but something inside that helmet seemed to have flashed just now.
It even seemed to come with some strange sound effect...
Ding-
It flashed again?!
The Witcher's expression grew uncertain. Narrowing his eyes, he said:
"Looks like you've prepared some powerful concealed weapons to deal with me?"
The Black Knight said hoarsely, "You think I'm like you? A knight of hell would never stoop to using such underhanded things!"
Ding, ding-
The Black Knight: "..."
The Witcher: "???"
Both of them heard those two clear chimes.
The Black Knight clenched his fists with a series of cracks, his eyes closed and their corners twitching wildly.
"What is it?" the Witcher asked, even more suspicious.
"Something inside your helmet just flashed twice again."
The Black Knight ground his teeth and said with his eyes closed, "All you need to know is that it isn't a concealed weapon..."
Ding, ding, ding-
The Black Knight: "..."
The Witcher: "???"
A light breeze blew.
"A mana bomb?" The Witcher grew more suspicious.
"No!" The Black Knight kept his eyes closed, his fists cracking as veins bulged at his temples.
"A holy scroll?" The Witcher found him increasingly suspicious.
"No!" The Black Knight ground his teeth furiously.
"Then what is it?" The Witcher's curiosity had been thoroughly piqued.
The wind whipped around the Black Knight as he stood with his eyes closed, their corners twitching wildly.
Click-
At last, he tore off his helmet, revealing the gleaming, polished forehead beneath.
Ding-
That smooth, bald head let out a brilliant flash.
The Witcher: "Holy shit! What a shiny forehead! (ΩДΩ)!"
The Black Knight stared savagely at his hands, his muscles swelling with a series of cracks as he said through gritted teeth:
"This is a small price to pay to defeat you!"
Ding-
"Though I've gone bald, I've also gotten stronger!"
Ding, ding-
"To quote that human kid, my critical hits are already maxed out!"
"Ding, ding, ding-"
He abruptly raised his greatsword and pointed it at the Witcher with a roar, his bald head gleaming as black power instantly enveloped his entire body like flames.
In an instant, he charged toward the Witcher in a fury, like a primordial beast.
"And this day next year will mark your death!"
Roaring, he leaped a hundred meters and brought his greatsword crashing down toward the Witcher with the weight of a mountain.
The Witcher: "(ΩДΩ)!!"
An hour later.
Wandering Soul Alley.
Knock, knock, knock-
Another knock sounded at the door.
"Welcome!" Lynn immediately put on his professional smile and looked up at the customer outside.
But when he saw the figure in the doorway, he froze.
Because it was someone he knew.
[Demon Hunter, Ocalos (severely injured)] [Race]: Human [Level: ???] [Combat ability]: Severely injured and dying
The Witcher clutched his blood-soaked chest, torn wounds covering his body. He panted continuously as he leaned against the doorpost, blood still dripping from his fingers.
"Holy shit, it's only been a day! How did you get hurt this badly again?!"
Lynn looked utterly stunned.
"Cut the crap." The Witcher gritted his teeth and pressed hard against his chest.
"Hurry up and treat me! The faster, the better! I can pay you double!"
[Ding! You have triggered a quest: Treat the Witcher's injuries. Quest rewards: Skeleton Coins +200, base experience +300, Witcher affinity +20]
Wide-eyed, Lynn immediately went to the door, helped the Witcher inside, and sat him down.
"You're badly hurt!"
The Witcher struggled to take off his hat, panting heavily, anger and frustration glimmering in his eyes.
"I ran into someone I used to beat. He was never a match for me before, but who knows what damned potion he took today? All of a sudden, he became ridiculously powerful!"
"Every fucking slash was a critical hit! Fuck!"
With a (艹皿艹) expression, he swore, his chest heaving as he slammed a fist against the counter to vent his anger.
Lynn: "???"
If he hadn't run so fast.
He probably really would have fallen to that bastard today.
He struggled to rub his dry, bloodshot eyes.
Especially because of that incessantly flashing bald head.
Every time he focused on launching an attack, that gleaming forehead would blast him with another flash.
Not only did it seriously disrupt his concentration, it was also so fucking bright it nearly blinded him!
That bastard.
He must have used some holy enchantment on his forehead!
"That damned baldy! (艹皿艹)"
"It must've been that stupid potion he took. If I find out who gave him that fucking potion, I'll chop them up and chew them to pulp!"
Furious, he slapped the counter repeatedly, only to tug at his wounds and suck in a sharp breath of pain.
Lynn: "..."
Could he...
Be talking about me?
That Black Knight bought a potion from me just to fight this Witcher guy?
Why did I suddenly feel like I was in danger again?!
Lynn widened his eyes and said, "Wait here a moment. I'll go to the back courtyard and get you a more effective Recovery Potion."
"Then hurry up and go!"
The Witcher was seething with anger and extremely irritable.
Lynn let out a breath, quickly lifted the curtain, and headed for the back courtyard.
Still, it seemed the Witcher didn't suspect him. After all, how could a tiny potion shop in the middle of nowhere possibly have such a powerful potion?
Best if he doesn't find out!
Otherwise, I'll have no choice but to get the hell out of here!
The main room.
The Witcher sat at the counter, grimacing as he rubbed the bruises on his body.
He casually picked up a few Recovery Potions Lynn had left on the counter and gulped them down, finally feeling much better.
He glanced around.
But at that very moment, an empty bottle in a corner of the counter abruptly caught his attention.
Buzz-
In an instant.
His expression froze.
"This is..."
He reached out and picked up the empty bottle. The bottle of the potion that damned baldy had downed before their fight an hour ago immediately surfaced in his mind.
It... it was identical!
Before you continue