Betrayal

A great deal of viscous liquid flowed from the strange, spherical root mass. Chen Xu had no suitable container, so he put it into his storage space along with the entire corpse of the Tree Heart.

[Soul Juice] The concentrated sap of a twisted oak, which had nourished a decaying soul.

Once purified, it can serve as a universal base for attribute potions of Mortal Transcendence rank and below, randomly removing 1-2 negative modifiers.

Sale price: 2,435 points

Pour it on me.

From then on, Whispering Hillock was nothing but a hillock.

The dust cleared, and the last rays of sunset filtered through the great oak's lush branches and leaves into the cave.

Standing at the village entrance, the ealdorman of Downwarren saw this sight in the distance. He fell to his knees in excitement, loudly praising the Ladies of the Wood.

Countless people rushed toward the great oak, hoping to gather their loved ones' remains.

In the Orphans' Village in Crookback Bog, the Crones spread their arms in rapture, embracing this new territory.

Their hideous bodies rapidly changed shape, transforming into three beautiful women in scant clothing.

Their wills spread swiftly outward. Without the Tree Heart holding them back, their control over Velen reached unprecedented heights:

"My subjects! This year, everyone will enjoy a bountiful harvest!

Offer up your loyalty! Ears-we want more ears!"

It was time to expand their territory!

As long as they planted more ears in the forest, they would eventually become all-knowing!

They would manipulate fate, bestowing blessings and curses at will!

The divine decree resounded in every believer's heart, but not everyone looked delighted.

What the Crones could grant was limited, yet they demanded more and more. At this rate, people would have to cut off children's ears as offerings!

The voluptuous Brewess, a woven golden headband across her forehead, lowered her head. Pressing a slender, fair finger against her luscious red lips, she asked in a sweet, seductive voice:

"Now, shall we take these little ones away, or find them another good nanny?"

Anna looked toward the witcher with hope in her eyes.

"You're not taking any of them." Geralt drew his silver sword, his gaze utterly grim.

Sure enough, the Tree Heart's demise had brought the Crones unknown benefits. This was also why he had opposed resolving the matter through violence.

"Really? Hee-hee."

As charming and dainty as a young girl, Weavess spread her fingers. The curse mark that had already vanished from Anna's arm actually appeared again!

"You thought! You could make fools of! The great Ladies of the Wood!"

Even in human form, Whispess looked like an aging beauty, but her fury had twisted her pretty face beyond recognition!

She exploded with rage-literally exploding into a great cloud of black smoke.

Countless crows burst out of the smoke and swept toward them!

"El non-Astri-"

The light in Fringilla's hands turned into chain lightning, darting through the flock with remarkably good results!

Every crow that so much as brushed the visible current dissolved into black smoke!

Whispess was forced back into her original form and landed on her backside in the muddy water.

Her old enemy's demise had briefly gone to her head. She had actually forgotten which creatures truly ruled this world:

Humans.

Elves, dwarves, dragons, and gnomes were this world's original inhabitants. Like the Crones, humans were monsters who had invaded this world during the Conjunction of the Spheres!

Over the centuries, humans had squeezed the world's other species out until they had almost no room left to survive!

Meanwhile, the Crones were still bullying Velen's common folk.

Weavess beckoned, sending an invisible will through her web of magic into the bog and forest.

Every monster that could be mobilized came surging toward them!

The first to reach the battlefield was a Fiend that charged out of the woods, sporting enormous elk antlers, a body packed with muscle, and a mouthful of alien-like fangs.

The third demonic eye in the center of its forehead suddenly opened wide:

[Sleeping Demon Eye]!

Unlike a Chort's degenerated third demonic eye, this Fiend opened with its ultimate move!

The White Wolf immediately began swaying his head, falling into a daze. The defensive stance he had prepared collapsed without a blow!

Brewess revealed her true form and viciously brought an arm as thick as an elephant's leg crashing down at the White Wolf.

This blow could very well put Geralt out of the fight outright!

"Don't touch him!"

Fringilla roared, and magical light spread from her fingertips.

With Whispess's example fresh in her mind, Brewess thought a heavy blow was coming and hurriedly raised both arms to defend herself.

Yet the anticipated attack never came. Instead, the wind and water elements in the air seemed to come alive, dragging the entire Orphans' Village into a mirage!

The White Wolf's figure warped, then vanished into thin air!

Fringilla's uncle was a master of illusions who had nurtured her talent in this field since childhood.

"Breaking an agreement comes at a price."

The second to enter the battle was, without question, Chen Xu. Anna's safety had a direct bearing on his mission.

[You spent EXP ×500. Current [Detective] Lv.5 (max)

Constitution +1, reaction +1, free attribute points +1

Your will was overwhelmed. Your free attribute point has been automatically spent!

Will +2 (0.4)!

You learned the skills [Tracking Technique: Delusion Breaking] and [Stealth Technique: Faint Sound]. Your skill [Disguise] has advanced to Lv.3!

You have reached Mortal Tier Peak. Obtaining a [Class Qualification Certificate] as soon as possible is recommended.]

The [Heart of Nature] rested close to his body in a recess in his plate armor. With intermediate nature affinity enhancing him, the mirage became flowing colors of elements in his eyes.

This kind of "visual illusion" differed from a "mental illusion" that acted directly on [Will]. Its effect on him was negligible.

Insight came in a flash-eyes that broke through delusion.

With a few calculations based on the patterns of elemental flow, the true positions of the bewildered Crones and Fiend within the mirage were completely exposed!

Whispess could turn into a flock of crows, Brewess was built like a boar, and the Fiend could rival a Chort. His chances of successfully assassinating any of them were low.

Chen Xu set his sights on Weavess, with her withered frame and pointed witch's hat.

[Stealth Technique: Faint Sound]

"Faint sound" could mean an extremely subtle sound-an unusual sound. It could also mean silence, a sound that went unheard.

He had become a venomous snake in the bog, moving silently in stealth.

His stamina gradually drained. The skill concealed every sound, from the air he displaced as he moved to the muddy water beneath his feet.

Weavess's magical network was disrupted by the illusion. Every thread of magic that should have served as a warning was now trembling!

A ring of roots twisted and grew out of the ground at her feet, surrounding her protectively.

Yet by the time she sensed the killing intent, the silver sword Moonblade had already flashed across her neck.

The 100% critical hit chance and +50% critical damage granted by Assassination made this strike terrifyingly powerful!

"Damn mortal!" Weavess's head splashed mud in a circle as it struck the ground, yet she continued to sneer:

"You think you can kill me?"

Her headless corpse remained upright and beckoned. The curled roots at her feet actually tried to lift her head from the ground!

[Assassination: Weakness Insight]!

The silver sword shredded the roots and slashed open her withered chest. Chen Xu plunged a hand into her torso and pulled out a murky crystal.

[Mottled Heart of the Land]

"Give it back!" Weavess, who had been so composed a moment earlier, screamed in terror!

Crack! Chen Xu tightened his fingers, crushing the crystal without hesitation!

"No-"

[You killed Mortal Tier Middle Stage [Weavess]. EXP +400]

The first strike was just to stop you from casting. Did you really think I was some ignorant bumpkin, you ugly thing?

The [Heart of Nature] contained a vast amount of insane, twisted knowledge. Ever since obtaining it, Chen Xu had been sorting through and digesting it.

This was a more valuable gain than the equipment itself.

The spirit +2 attribute boost also allowed him to truly sense the mysterious power that filled nature, like wind and mist, like light and lightning.

"Baba Yaga-"

Sensing the death of the sister they had lived with for centuries, Whispess and Brewess let out mournful howls.

Treachery and betrayal were in their nature, yet over hundreds of years, they had never betrayed one another!

The natural elements in the air became incredibly violent and difficult to control.

As though a bug had appeared in it, the mirage grew closer and closer to reality.

Fringilla's face was pale. She held both arms high, doing everything she could to maintain the illusion, but creation was ultimately far harder than destruction:

"I can't hold on much longer!"