Damn it, how could I think something like that?
At that thought, a faint blush appeared on Xiya's face.
She knew she had been drawn to the witcher's handsome appearance the first time she met him.
In all her years studying at the Magic Academy, she had never seen such a handsome man.
She had even entertained a little hope that she might share some tender moments with this witcher during her training journey.
But reality had soon defeated her.
Dick was all show and no substance. Not only did he refuse to take any monster-hunting commissions, he even bullied the common people, which made her feel considerable disdain for him.
Yet after just a dozen or so days, the witcher had changed her impression again as they hunted Drowners together and researched potions in the laboratory together.
Moreover, Dick had stormed into the Jatu camp alone to save her.
Somehow, a trace of sweetness welled up in Xiya's heart, and her steps quickened.
Soon, she arrived at the entrance to Dick's courtyard.
However, Xiya keenly sensed the agitation of magic in the air.
"Something's wrong. Why do I feel like something's wrong?
"That's right. There aren't any birds singing or insects chirping."
The smile immediately faded from Xiya's face. With a wave of her right hand, a small glowing orb with a tail, like a tadpole, appeared above her palm.
The orb circled once in the air, then slowly flew toward the courtyard wall above the witcher.
But when it reached a certain point, it stopped moving.
"A warding spell!" Xiya exclaimed in alarm.
She immediately stepped forward and tried pushing the courtyard gate.
It did not budge.
Then she took two steps back, seemingly reached some decision, and began chanting.
As she recited the unknown incantation, the apprentice sorceress's complexion grew increasingly strained, as though she were expending tremendous effort.
Finally, she raised both hands high and shouted, her face pale but her eyes resolute, "Thunder, heed my call!"
In an instant, countless blue-violet, serpentine bolts of lightning swirled around the girl. As her words ended, they shot forward, the wind stirred by their tremendous speed sending Xiya's hair flying.
In the courtyard, Dick was knocked down once again. By now, he felt as though he was about to lose control of his body.
This time, even the self-healing ability granted by the potion he had drunk could not keep him struggling.
With a trembling hand, Dick pulled a bottle of Swallow Potion from his belt pouch, bit off the stopper, and drank the liquid inside.
But it was no use. The agonizing pain in his skull persisted, and his body was still mutating.
The Broom Witch slowly approached Dick, the large blade in her hand already raised high.
"Witcher, I admit you're strong."
The Broom Witch was drenched in blood, clearly having suffered considerable injuries herself.
"But this farce ends here."
She was just about to swing her blade and sever the head of the witcher below her.
Suddenly, she felt the sky darken as the moonlight slowly faded.
Lifting her gaze for a casual glance, she discovered that several masses of dark clouds had gathered overhead, blocking the moonlight. The clouds above the courtyard gate seemed even denser.
The next moment, she heard the girl shouting outside the gate:
"Thunder, heed my call!"
Blue-violet light bloomed outside the courtyard gate. The old woman's hair stood on end; she could already sense danger approaching.
Before she could act, the crackle of striking sparks rang out.
The protective formation shattered instantly, followed a moment later by the wooden courtyard gate.
As a monster, the Broom Witch was naturally afraid of lightning. She wanted to dodge, but fear left her body slightly rigid.
In an instant, the little lightning snakes formed a torrent as thick as a bucket and struck her.
Boom!
Electricity snaked all over the monster's body as she was blasted against a courtyard wall.
She was now charred black all over and looked utterly wretched.
Her face pale and covered in cold sweat, Xiya stepped into the courtyard. At a glance, she saw the Broom Witch struggling to rise again, while Dick lay on the ground, his fate unknown.
Dick's figure also seemed to have undergone some ominous change.
Xiya was worried, but she could not concern herself with all that now. She immediately took out a Dimeritium Bomb and hurled the pitch-black, apple-sized object toward the Broom Witch.
But she had been captured by the Jatu, then spent the night developing the bomb, and then forced herself to cast the Lightning Strike Spell. She had no strength to spare. Judging by its trajectory, the bomb clearly would not explode beside the monster.
Just then, Dick mustered every ounce of his strength, abruptly planted both hands on the ground, pushed his body up, and delivered a slanting kick in midair, striking the Dimeritium Bomb just before it landed.
Instantly given additional momentum, it shot straight toward the Broom Witch's face.
With a bang, a golden substance spread through the air, blocking their view. The monster's anguished screams came from within.
The thick mist dispersed, revealing the Broom Witch. Her flesh was split open all over, and she had reverted to the form of a stooped old woman.
Her transformation ability had been blocked by the Dimeritium Bomb.
Dick took a deep breath, forced himself to rise despite his discomfort, tightened his grip on his sword hilt, and slowly approached the monster.
The Broom Witch raised her head. Looking at the witcher before her, who had already mutated beyond human form, and into his cold, blood-red eyes, she said fearfully, "Dick, spare me. I'll develop an antidote for you."
But the witcher before her merely grinned, the corners of his mouth stretching all the way to his ears, as he raised his blade high.
"No!" the Broom Crone roared.
The next moment, she felt the world spin.
In her final glimpse, she saw the witcher looking up at her.
So I've already been beheaded?
Then the old woman sank into eternal darkness.
Her head landed right at the mutated witcher's feet.
Expressionless, Dick stomped down on it, and a sound like a watermelon smashing rang out.
He ground his foot down hard again, crushing the head to pieces.
Then he bent down, opened the bundle at the old woman's waist, and took out the previous Broom Witch's head. It was completely still, seemingly having died along with the second witch.
Still uneasy, Dick raised his foot and stamped down hard again.
He crushed this head as well.
Only after doing all this did Dick relax, but he felt the pain in his head worsen.
"Dick, what's wrong?" Xiya's worried voice came from behind him.
Dick did not answer. He merely closed his eyes, searching for a way to deal with this.
Several notifications appeared on the panel:
Killed Lesser Ghoul ×2. Gained Energy Points ×10. Killed Broom Witch ×1. Gained Energy Points ×25. Current total: Energy Points ×200.
Not only that, but the School of the Lynx Witcher entry in his talent section had also changed.
[School of the Lynx Witcher]: Twice the physique of an adult male, with further enhanced reflexes, movements, and nerves; greatly enhanced sense of smell, hearing, and vision, with night vision. Witcher senses can be activated at will.
His physique multiplier had increased by a full 0.5. No wonder he had felt much stronger just now, and his movements had been faster too.
After all, the gains brought by an increase in physique were not linear, but nearly exponential.
It was an all-round improvement.