Chapter 34: 34. The Conjunction of the Spheres.
Witcher Master.
An honorary title bestowed by various schools upon those witchers who have hunted down large monsters. Though granted by one's own school, this title is recognized by other witcher schools, nobles, and even kings. However, even with the same title, the strength among different witcher masters varies.
After all, the category of large monsters ranges from high-tier creatures like dragons, demons, and vampires to griffins, trolls, and basilisk. Regardless of the type of large monster, killing one alone will earn the title. Thus, a witcher master who has slain an ordinary griffin is naturally less esteemed than one who has slain a dragon. Someone who has killed a griffin only once is not as respected as someone who has done it multiple times.
Though Master Vesemir has never killed a dragon, he has numerous records of slaying griffins and basilisk lizards. He is a seasoned witcher master. As long as the terrain is suitable, the number of drowners doesn't make much difference to him. This narrow cave entrance is exactly the kind of place Vesemir prefers to deal with swarms of monsters.
"Swish, swish, swish."
Three streaks of silver light flashed, the blade slicing through the air, severing the arms of the leading drowner before a final thrust pierced its throat. Vesemir doesn't have a penchant for beheading. He prefers a methodical approach.
Hands, feet, wings...
During hunts, the witcher master is accustomed to weakening the monster's mobility and attacking ability first. He prioritizes neutralizing the threat before finding an opportunity to kill, a lesson he learned from a past hunt against a large griffin. This habit is ingrained in his instincts, so even against weaker creatures like drowners, he doesn't change his approach. Or rather, he is unwilling to change it for these creatures.
After all, Vesemir was skilled enough to proceed while killing and still spare a few drowners for Allen to practice on.
"Glug, glug, glug."
As Vesemir's figure gradually moved towards the cave's entrance, the drowners' cries grew fainter. The witcher apprentice, Allen, did not have the luxury of being as composed as his master. Vesemir was well aware of his apprentice's capabilities. The number of drowners allowed to pass through was just enough for Allen to handle without being too overwhelmed. Naturally, the witcher apprentice had no complaints about this; in fact, it suited him perfectly.
"Swish!"
Stepping back to dodge a drowner's claw, Allen spun around and decapitated one.
[Hunting Task: Drowners I (Drowners killed: 197/200)]
"Three more to go!"
With another silver arc, an ugly, snarling face was split in two.
"Two left!"
Avoiding the foul, putrid blood, the witcher apprentice stepped forward, circling behind another drowner in a few quick strides. With a swift cut, another drowner met its end.
"One left!"
Reversing his sword and spinning, Allen's sharp footwork left the final opponent struggling to keep up. Its steps faltered, balance lost. The fierce dancer stumbled, and Allen, frowning at its clumsy moves, swung his sword upward.
Slash!
[Ding! Hunting Task Completed: Drowners I (Drowners killed: 200/200)]
[Reward Received: 4000 Small Experience Orbs, Monster Codex]
Whoa!
4000 small experience orbs!
Ducking under a pounce and striking upwards, Allen stepped aside, avoiding the splatter of drowner blood before opening his Witcher's Journal to check.
[Would you like to spend 7101 small experience orbs to unlock the Alchemy skill?]
The reward of 4000 small experience orbs, combined with the nearly 2000 already in his inventory, left Allen just over a thousand orbs short of unlocking Alchemy and crafting the "Killer Whale" potion.
A little over a thousand small experience orbs, which meant that even at the previous rate, killing drowners for ten days would suffice. He hadn't expected the hunting task rewards to be so generous!
Spinning to dodge another drowner's lunge, Allen couldn't contain his excitement. After being disheartened by Mary's alchemy class that morning, Allen thought unlocking alchemy before the Trial of the Grasses was impossible.
But now...
He had one foot over the threshold. Buoyed by the prospect, even the hideous, stinking drowners seemed adorable. These weren't disgusting creatures, but shining experience orbs, keys to unlocking alchemy, steps to passing the Trial of the Grasses. Charging forward, Allen swiftly entered the center of four attacking drowners.
Spin!
In the dim cave, a silver moon rose. Four drowners were instantly cut in half.
Looking around the now-empty cavern, Allen wiped the blood from his forehead, exhaling deeply, and involuntarily sighed: "Awesome!"
Before Vesemir could let another drowner into the cave, Allen mentally opened the Witcher's Journal.
"It seems the hunting task also unlocked the Monster Codex..."
As the interface opened, Allen quickly found the Monster Codex tab next to the character interface.
Whoa!
The instant he mentally clicked it open, Allen was startled. A grotesque blue-skinned face with red eyes and yellow teeth suddenly filled most of his vision, a gaping mouth lunging towards him. It was the face of a drowner.
The animation was so realistic, but please, no more surprises like that!
Staring at the realistic animation effect fading away, Allen couldn't help but grumble internally.
[Ding! Monster Codex "Drowner" unlocked. Conjunction of the Spheres "Drowner" will appear in 54 seconds. Please prepare!]
Hmm?
Allen knew about the Conjunction of the Spheres. It was a unique phenomenon in the witcher world. Different dimensional worlds collide, directly connecting and infiltrating each other. Many creatures in this world are products of the Conjunction of the Spheres. Ghouls, high vampires, and even humans originally came from other worlds. But the last Conjunction of the Spheres was over a thousand years ago, and now, killing a few hundred drowners could connect two worlds?
Unbelievable!
Just unbelievable!
Allen had always valued the Witcher's Journal, but he realized he had still greatly underestimated this boon.
"It can connect two worlds? Does that mean I might have the chance to travel between worlds?"
The witcher apprentice began to feel hopeful.
[Conjunction of the Spheres "Drowner" will appear in 23 seconds. Please prepare!]
The Witcher's Journal didn't give much time, and there was no time to make any real preparations.
Allen could only find a spot against the wall to prevent appearing in the middle of a drowner swarm. But this was just a precaution; the witcher apprentice didn't really think he would be in any danger. After all, he had already killed many drowners.
...4, 3, 2, 1
As the countdown ended, Allen's vision suddenly turned red. It was as if a layer of blood covered his eyes. While it didn't affect his sight, everything he saw was blood-soaked and terrifying.
"What the hell is this!"
...….
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35. The Drowner King.
36. Allen, Dead?
37. Demon Hunting.
38. Slaying the Drowner King.
39. Return with Honor.