The inscriptions on the teleportation array gradually lit up under the infusion of magic power from the four people. Yennefer, Ailiya and the two warlock apprentices stood at the four corners. The magic power pouring out of their palms was like a trickle flowing into the dry river bed, slowly spreading along the ancient rune lines on the ground. A light blue light rose from the bottom of the array little by little, like the first star to light up before dawn, which stood out in the gloom of the ruins.
But they still need time before the teleportation array is fully activated.
A few dozen steps away, the offensive of Yavi and Red has entered a fever pitch. The two of them are like two heavy hammers falling alternately, one left, one right, one up and one down. They take turns pouring heavy blows like a violent storm towards Cahir. The rhythm of the two people's rotating attacks makes Cahir The black active substance on the surface of E is exhausted - it has to move, condense, and block back and forth between Cahir's chest, ribs, side of neck, and back. It is like a chess player in a hurry facing two opponents who are making moves at the same time, with no time to judge from which direction the next blow will come.
"Clang--!" Red's broadsword was blocked by the buckler again, and the black substance splashed out with several droplets.
"Chi!" Yavi's silver sword took advantage of the gap and pierced Cahir's left rib, cutting through the black material about two inches and touching the weak body.
Cahir let out a low groan, leaned his body to the right, and staggered a step.
It was suppressed.
Yavi and Red exchanged a look - they were still a little short of it, if they held on for a few more breaths, the teleportation array would be completed. Yavi gritted his teeth, the Rabbit Talisman and Ox Talisman in his body had reached their limit, and his muscles and bones let out an overwhelmed whine, but the sword in his hand was still as stable as a rock.
However, at this moment--
Cahir's empty eyes suddenly glanced behind him. They saw the increasingly brighter blue light on the teleportation array, saw the last circle of lines on the runes that were about to be filled with magic power, and saw the four warlocks standing in the array who were about to escape.
"No... no!!!"
A roar mixed with greed, rage and fear exploded from the depths of Cahir's throat. The voice was hoarse and twisted, with a kind of despair that did not belong to human beings - after devouring the memories of Cahir and the two sorceresses, it knew the methods and background of that magic academy better than anyone else.
If these people are allowed to run away...
If these people are allowed to report its existence to Aretuza...
Those warlocks who are proficient in magic and have mastered countless sealing techniques and magical methods will never let it go.
It will be like a snake with its fangs pulled out and crucified on the experimental table.
I would rather risk being seriously injured than leave all these people behind!
Cahir's body suddenly straightened up and let out a deafening scream. The black active substance covering the body surface - all of it - was mobilized crazily at that moment, peeling off from the limbs, trunk, and cheeks, like countless black streams flowing into the main trunk at the same time, condensing in Cahir's right hand into a huge black whip as thick as the torso of an adult man!
"Give me--stay!!!"
The giant black whip swept out!
The whip roared as it tore through the air, carrying a strong aura of corruption and corrosion. Like a roaring black dragon, it swept across the entire battlefield! Its wide coverage, speed, and power far exceeded any previous attack!
"Red!" Yavi shouted violently, and before he had time to think about it, Moonlight Cursed Blade stood in front of him. Ox Talisman's strength was squeezed to the extreme, and his whole body muscles were as tight as cast iron!
Bang--!!!
A huge force came. Yavi felt like he was hit head-on by a crazy rhinoceros. Moonlight Cursed Blade's sword pressed hard on his chest, and the huge impact was transmitted along the sword. It reached his arms, shoulders, and spine, and whipped his whole body out like a kite with its string broken! He flipped twice in the air, and after his feet landed on the ground, he still slid back several meters, plowing two deep ravines on the ground, and a stream of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth!
"Pfft--!"
Red on the other side was even worse. His broadsword was hit by a giant whip from the front, and the blade was broken on the spot. He was shocked to the point of vomiting blood. He flew backwards like a thrown stone, and fell heavily into the rubble of the ruins. He rolled several times before barely stopping, and he couldn't get up for a long time.
"Red!" Ailiya shouted in the teleportation array.
Yavi leaned on his sword and knelt on one knee. Severe pain came from his chest and at least one of his ribs was cracked. He gritted his teeth and raised his head, his amber cat eyes locked on Cahir.
And Cahir is also panting.
The layer of black active substance covering the whole body has now been gathered on the right arm, turning into the huge black whip. Cahir's body has lost its black substance covering, revealing the human trunk and limbs - Cahir's original skin is pale and shriveled, covered with black veins left by the long-term adhesion of black substance, like spider webs soaked in ink, densely crawling all over the body.
It's weak.
The retracted black substance slowly squirmed on the right arm, and the frequency dropped significantly, like a tired python panting. Cahir's legs were trembling slightly, and the body's physical strength was approaching its limit.
But there was no flinching in its eyes.
Those empty eyes looked straight past Yavi, locking on the four people next to the teleportation array - Yennefer, Ailiya, and the two warlock apprentices who were activating the teleportation array with all their strength. The black giant whip was slowly raised, like a poisonous snake that was ready to attack.
As long as we absorb those four more warlocks...
Not only can you restore your peak state, but you can also further enhance it.
Not only can the host be replaced with a more suitable one, but the body of the demon hunter... although annoying, is indeed not something ordinary people can compare to.
Longing flashed rapidly in its mind.
However--
"Boom--!!!"
A powerful concussive force was like an invisible wall, slamming into Cahir! It was Aard Sign--Yavi who, at the critical moment, poured all the remaining magic power in his body into his left hand, launching this extremely condensed shock wave!
Cahir was caught off guard and was shaken back by the force of the shock. The black giant whip waved in vain in the air, but was unable to organize an effective counterattack immediately.
And just in the few breaths it was retreating--
The teleportation array is completed.
The light blue magical light suddenly surged, and the rune patterns were like ignited galaxies, spinning and rising rapidly on the ground, forming a dazzling beam of light that shot straight into the sky. The space began to distort, the air hummed with resonance, and the portal was like a huge water mirror, slowly unfolding in front of everyone.
The channel has been opened.
Yavi knelt on one knee, Moonlight Cursed Blade leaned in front of him, panting heavily, and the blood from the corner of his mouth dripped on the silver sword. He raised his head and said to Yennefer behind him without looking back - his voice was hoarse, but extremely calm:
"Yennefer, take Red... you go first."
"I stayed to stop him."
"Otherwise, if we let him escape, I don't know how many villages and people in the surrounding area will suffer from this murderous attack."
"Ask for help as soon as possible after you return."
"No!"
A hoarse and urgent voice came from the rubble. Red stood up tremblingly, holding the broken broadsword, with wet blood still hanging from the corner of his mouth. His left arm hung softly by his side, obviously broken, but there was a determined light burning in his eyes.
"No, Yavi. You are no match for him." Red gritted his teeth and said word by word, "You go with the four of them. I'll stay."
He raised the broken broadsword and pointed the sword tip at Cahir.
"Although I am not his opponent... but at least, I have the last resort - no one can survive."
Red's voice carried a long-suppressed heaviness. As the leader of this team of warlock apprentices, he was responsible for failing to bring these young people back safely. The difficulty of this mission far exceeded the intelligence given by the academy, but he would not use this as an excuse. Unexpected situations could happen, but he could not allow himself to stand by and watch.
At least, more people should be allowed to go back alive.
However, Yavi was unmoved.
He did not look back, but stood up slowly, holding the blood-stained silver sword in front of him again, and his amber cat eyes locked on Cahir coldly and firmly.
"Don't worry, Red."
His voice was as calm as if he was talking about today's dinner.
"Although I may not be able to solve it... but at least, I can delay it."
"I could spend all day with it like this."
"I will hold on until you come back with reinforcements."
He paused, and there was a hint of unquestionable determination in his tone.
"Yennefer, take Red back to the academy."
"I'll wait for you here."
Ailiya had already rushed to Red, put his arms on his shoulders, and dragged him towards the teleportation array without any explanation. Red's lips moved, as if he still wanted to argue, but his body's weakness and Ailiya's firm strength made him unable to resist.
Yennefer stood on the edge of the teleportation array, with countless emotions surging in her purple eyes - anger, worry, reluctance, and something deeper that was almost overflowing. Her hands clenched the dress tightly, and her knuckles turned white.
She looked at Yavi's back.
The back that was still trembling when kneeling on one knee was now as straight as a pine. The back that was stained with blood and scarred, but still pointed the silver sword at the enemy.
She knows Yavi better than anyone else. She knows that if he says he can hold him back, he really can hold him back.
She also knew that no one could change what he decided.
"Be careful, Yavi."
Her voice was very soft, but it reached Yavi's ears clearly.
"When I return, I will immediately call the teachers to come and support you."
Red was also supported by Ailiya and retreated into the teleportation array. His voice came from the blue light, carrying the commander's final dignity and worry:
"Be careful... hold on. Reinforcements will be coming soon."
Yavi There is no looking back.
He didn't respond.
All his attention was locked on the figure in front of him who was re-condensing the black matter. His Witcher Senses was running at full strength, capturing every breath, every squirm, and every subtle muscle twitch of Cahir.
His only mission is to hold it back.
Until reinforcements arrive.
Until Yennefer comes back.
Behind him, the blue light of the teleportation array grew stronger and stronger, and the hum of space distortion became louder and louder. After a violent shock of magic power, the light pillar suddenly shrank, and all the light and figures were swallowed up in an instant, leaving only the disintegrated light blue magic starlight, like countless tiny fireflies, slowly floating in the air of the ruins.
The teleportation array dimmed.
The ruins returned to silence.
There are only two people left.
Yavi, and Cahir.
The demon hunter waved the silver sword in his hand, and the tip of Moonlight Cursed Blade made a crisp sound on the ground. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and his amber cat eyes shone with a cold light in the dim ruins.
Opposite, Cahir once again covered its body with black matter, its empty eyes staring at Yavi. Having lost its prey, its anger and hunger reached its peak at this moment.
"You..." its voice was hoarse and distorted, "You actually... let go of my food..."
"Your food?" Yavi tilted his head, with a very faint, unsmiling arc at the corner of his mouth, "Your food is me."
He raised his silver sword and pointed at Cahir.
"Come on. Aren't you hungry?"
"See if you can eat me."