"Too close!"
Allen gasped for breath, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.
The @#￥%& chests were left behind by the Evil God.
Of course, he had never really expected to gather seven of them and fuse them into a red-grade chest before opening.
But he couldn't let a careless mistake turn five golden chests from the Evil God into mere blue-sky-and-white-cloud trash, either.
That would be enough to regret for a whole year… no… with a witcher's lifespan rivaling that of the mountain folk, he'd regret it for at least ten years!
If not for that consideration, after the Gargoyle's chest, he never would have chosen the Colossus of Moryu's chest to follow.
"Whew~"
Only after a long while did he let out a breath, calming his shaken nerves.
With a thought, he didn't rush to sort the chests, because the Blessing of Harvest usually had "aftereffects."
[Ding! Opened: Alghoul Chests 18, Drowner Chests 33]
One purple light, followed by a blue light, and then one after another, forty-seven neat streaks of white light.
That was not normal probability.
Last time under the Blessing of Harvest, he had opened nine gold, two purple, and three blue.
Clearly, Melitele's Blessing of Harvest (Greater) was indeed "great," but it also wrung his fortune dry.
If he had been careless just now, truly opening those five @#￥%& chests—
Forget a century, Allen would have remembered that mistake for the rest of his witcher's life.
[Ding! Obtained: Schematic – Alghoul's Simulated Howl Flute (Purple) 1, Pouch of Experience Orbs (Blue) 1, Rotten Flesh 33]
-----------------------------------
[Name: Alghoul's Simulated Howl Flute]
[Type: Crafting Blueprint]
[Requirement: Alchemy LV2]
[Recipe: Alghoul Throatbone 5, Mandrake Water 1, Bear Fat 1]
[Function: When played, the flute produces a howl mimicking an Alghoul's cry, luring Alghouls together as though summoned by a true Alghoul.]
[Note: Witcher + Alghoul's Simulated Howl Flute + Axii Sign = a temporary Alghoul squad under your command.]
Not bad!
Basically a drowner whistle, but the upgraded, command-capable version for Alghouls.
Beyond luring them to save on hunting time, it clearly had plenty of other uses.
Like using Alghouls as bait, or as meat shields…
Maybe even to manipulate other necrophages with it…
"This will be really useful for Erni, Klar, and the others. We're not short on Alghoul throatbones, Mandrake water, or bear fat. I'll craft a few when there's time."
Allen stroked his beard, thinking.
"The ten experience orbs from the pouch are solid, and the rotten flesh isn't bad either. With the Conjunction of the Spheres coming, I'll need plenty of gifts anyway."
After a quick tally of the Alghoul and Drowner loot, Allen focused his will and opened the Witcher's Log.
[Ding! Opened: Fanatic Lydia's Treasure Chest 2, Ronnie Dickinson's Treasure Chests 5, Summoning Ritual Chests 5, Monster Nest Chests 5]
[Obtained:
— Fanatic Lydia's Treasure Chest: Breath-Song of the Maiden of Spring 1, Songstone 1
— Ronnie Dickinson's Treasure Chests: Demon's Pact of Silence 1, Sword Oil Formula: "Superior Hanged Man's Venom" 1, Potion Formula: "White Raffard's Decoction" 1, Potion Formula: "Drowner Pheromones" 1, Spirit of Ronny Dickinson, Aeromancer
— Summoning Ritual Chests: Experience Orb Crates 2, Ritual: Flesh Synchrony, Ritual: Eye Cultivation, Ritual: True Sight
— Monster Nest Chests: Nest Seeds 3, Experience Orb Crate 1, Coordinate Crystal Seed]
-----------------------------------
[Name: Breath-Song of the Maiden of Spring]
[Type: Hymn / Divine Art / Spell]
[Requirements: Earth Affinity 10, Mystery 50, Chaste Woman, Blessing of the Maiden of Spring]
[Function: Under the Maiden of Spring's blessing, her followers may chant the Breath-Song in the Elder Tongue to achieve:
1. Calm the turbulence of chaotic magic in a given area, align elemental flows, making the affected region more habitable for intelligent beings. After being harmonized by the Breath-Song, the dead are less likely to transform into spectral monsters for a time.
2. When used on intelligent beings burdened by chaotic magic, it may awaken their latent magical talent, soothe their inner chaos, and refine their internal magical circuits.
3. When used on beasts and unintelligent monsters, it can lessen their aggression to some extent (especially effective on elemental creatures).]
[Note: In the age when the gods of the Mountain Folk still walked the world, "singer" was the honorific for the Maiden of Spring's priestesses.
Though unlike sorcerers they did not possess innate magical power, the Lady granted them voices that could shape magic itself. By chanting the Breath-Song, they calmed the violent surges of magic from the Conjunction of the Spheres, soothing unruly elements and ley lines, and thus won even greater reverence than sorcerers.
Nature itself, enriched by their songs, gifted them in return the power to weave the magical circuits of intelligent beings.]
-----------------------------------
[Name: Songstone]
[Type: Relic / Ritual Tool / Source of Magic]
[Function: Serves as a substitute for the Maiden of Spring Gwendolyn's blessing, a token and source of strength for her singers.]
[Note: Before her fall, the Maiden of Spring Gwendolyn diminished her divinity, condensing her remaining power around a natural locus of magic. This became her final gift, left for the few priestesses and faithful who survived the catastrophe.]
-----------------------------------
"Chaste woman…"
Allen saw the requirement for the Breath-Song of the Maiden of Spring and immediately looked exasperated.
Obviously, this kind of gender-restricted skill was something he could never learn.
"Vera probably won't qualify either. But since it doesn't specify a chaste elf woman, maybe Mary could try." Allen rubbed the stubble on his chin. "If I remember right, Mary should meet every condition perfectly."
As for the actual effect of weaving elements and ley lines, he wasn't entirely sure what that meant.
In the witcher's world, he had never heard of regions so corrupted by Chaos that intelligent beings couldn't survive—unlike in the Warhammer world. He'd have to wait until Mary learned it, then test it out.
But…
"Used on intelligent beings burdened with chaotic magic, it can awaken their latent magical talent, soothe their inner chaos, and refine their circuits…"
Allen muttered the description under his breath, and a figure appeared in his mind— a little monster wrapped in a black scarf, always unwilling to be seen by others.
"…Eh."
He sighed lightly, closed the Breath-Song panel, then opened the Songstone's display. After a glance, he closed it again.
The two treasures from Fanatic Lydia's Treasure Chest were clearly a matching set, much like the potions and mutagens tied to great monsters.
The Breath-Song of the Maiden of Spring was originally divine magic bestowed by Gwendolyn herself to her priestesses.
But now, with the Maiden of Spring fallen, the Songstone allowed one to still chant it.
Allen willed forth an item—a slender silver ring set with a vibrant green gem—into his palm.
In the flickering firelight, he examined it closely.
The gem was clearer and purer than the finest emerald, as if it held all the fresh green life of a spring forest within.
But that was all.
When brought close, the stone emitted no aura, not even the faintest reaction from his wolf medallion.
"So it really does require a chaste woman…" Allen shook his head and stored it away.
The panels for both the Breath-Song and the Songstone held much to ponder. For example—
The notes said that Gwendolyn's priestesses could harmonize the magical currents of nature with the Breath-Song.
But their ability to weave the circuits of intelligent beings was not the Lady's gift, but nature's reward in return…
Divine arts were supposed to be the power of gods lent to their chosen. Yet now, even with the Lady fallen—or at least in slumber—this tiny stone, smaller than a fingernail, could still call forth that power…
The relationship between god, nature, and the god-touched held curious implications.
But that could be pondered later. Allen turned to the next treasure.
-----------------------------------
[Name: Demon's Pact of Silence]
[Type: Magic / Divine Contract]
[Function: A pact in the name of some "demon" from another world. If either side of the contract breaks it, they will suffer punishment from the "demon."]
[Note: I know what you care about! Safety. This contract is perfectly safe—as long as you don't intend to break it. The so-called "demon" is simply a name for any powerful being from another realm. Of course, as the host of the Witcher's Log and the Child of Miracles, you have certain privileges. You alone hold the right to break the pact—I said so!]
-----------------------------------
[Name: Superior Hanged Man's Venom]
[Type: Sword Oil Formula]
[Alchemy Requirement: Level 8]
[Recipe: Alchemic Paste ×1, Enhanced Hanged Man's Venom ×1, Devourer's Blood ×1, Bloodmoss ×1, Fool Parsley Leaf ×1, Green Mold ×1, Quebrith ×1]
[Function: When applied to weapons, massively increases damage against humans and non-humans.]
[Note: From this moment on, you are the bane of all humanoid intelligent life!]
-----------------------------------
[Name: White Raffard's Decoction]
[Type: Potion Formula]
[Alchemy Requirement: Level 3]
[Recipe: Dwarven Spirit ×1, Ribleaf ×5, Nekker Heart ×1]
[Function: Instantly restores a percentage of vitality.]
[Note: One bottle of White Raffard's Decoction is equal to one extra life.]
-----------------------------------
[Name: Drowner Pheromones]
[Type: Potion Formula]
[Alchemy Requirement: Level 5]
[Recipe: Dwarven Spirit ×1, Drowner Brain ×1, Sewant Mushroom ×1, Puffball ×1]
[Function: After drinking, the user will not be attacked by Drowners for a certain duration.]
[Note: Do you see the combinations this could allow?]
-----------------------------------
[Name: Spirit of Ronnie Dickinson, Aeromancer]
[Type: Single-use Magical Item]
[Function: Upon use, grants knowledge of all of Ronnie Dickinson's air-based spells and increases Mystery by 20.]
[Note: Though Ronnie Dickinson was famed for his practical combat magic of the air, his greatest pride in life was neither the endlessly unfinished "Superhuman Project," nor the high rank in the Brotherhood of Sorcerers sought by all. It was, instead, the mastery of his aeromancy that made his name known.
He loved to play with lively air elementals… but things rarely go exactly as one wishes, do they?]
-----------------------------------
Among the items from Ronnie Dickinson's treasure chest, the Demon's Pact of Silence and the formula for Superior Hanged Man's Venom weren't worth much comment.
The former might come in handy tomorrow during the meeting with Vilgefortz.
The latter once again increased the odds of rescuing Hen Gedymdeith.
But Allen had never actually used Hanged Man's Venom before. After all, other blade oils could be tested freely, but one couldn't exactly experiment with Hanged Man's Venom on some random passerby—let alone on fellow witchers of the Wolf School.
And humans themselves relied on armor and magic for protection—their bodies were actually fragile. Aside from witchers, most could be killed with a single brick to the head, and their resistance to poison was extremely low.
He was genuinely curious about the difference between Hanged Man's Venom, Enhanced Hanged Man's Venom, and Superior Hanged Man's Venom.
But that would have to wait until he reached Ban Ard.
The Drowner Pheromones and Killer Whale potion (which enhanced breath-holding and underwater vision) made a perfect pair. If Hughes had possessed those two at the time, he would never have been so gravely wounded while fleeing underwater.
That combination could drastically reduce the mortality rate of ordinary witchers.
As for White Raffard's Decoction—there was nothing new to say. It was an even better lifesaving potion than Swallow. Enhanced White Raffard's Decoction restored a massive amount of vitality instantly, while Superior White Raffard's Decoction restored all vitality at once and granted short-term immunity to all damage.
Yes.
That was literally an "invincibility" potion.
In his previous life in the game, Superior White Raffard's Decoction had been one of Allen's most frequently used potions—since the Abandoned Wolf of Piercing Cold had only one weakness: fragility.
As for the Spirit of Ronnie Dickinson, Aeromancer…
"Twenty points of Mystery is tempting, but…" Allen shook his head. "Not worth it."
For others, learning all of Ronnie Dickinson's air spells might be an incredible stroke of fortune. But for Allen, it was nothing short of a nightmare.
Because of his recent upgrades in Mutation Studies, his level was already nearing one hundred. If he used the Spirit of the Aeromancer, he would probably be forced up to level one hundred fifty, or even two hundred.
Although he was transitioning from solo hunting to leading legion hunts, and no longer deliberately suppressing his skill growth—it still had to be worthwhile.
Ronnie Dickinson's massive collection of spells ranged from strong to weak…
No!
Absolutely not!
Allen lightly tapped his coiled knee with his forefinger. "Then I'll just let Mary have it."
"She's been squeezed for so long, it's only fair she gets some sweetness in return…" He let a faint smile curl across his lips. "And it won't be wasted on her. Later she can even teach Yennefer. I can still pick and choose the ones that suit me."
"Perfect plan!"
Having decided the fate of the Spirit of Ronnie Dickinson, Aeromancer, Allen was about to continue tallying his spoils—
When suddenly—
His brow furrowed, as if sensing something, and he turned toward the cave entrance.
Flutter flutter~
The soft sound of wings echoed in the empty cavern.
He extended his right hand, and a crystalline bird gently alighted on his finger, pecking at his knuckle as though urging him.
"Mary's messenger bird?"
Allen frowned, raising his hand so the crystal beak touched his forehead.
In the next moment—
Mary's anxious voice rang in his mind.
"Allen, the Arch-mistress… the Arch-mistress of Aretuza suddenly came to Kaer Morhen…"
"Tissaia de Vries?" Allen froze. "Didn't we just agree to meet tomorrow… wait… Kaer Morhen…"
His face changed.
"Shouldn't it have been in the village below the mountain, with Vilgefortz…"
Before his thoughts could settle, another message from the bird interrupted him.
"She brought two strange people with her—they're facing off against Master Aristo, Erni, Klar, and Fred in the training yard…"
"They're about to… about to… about to fight!"
....
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