Witch World Warlock - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Take Action

“Wind force and humidity are being calculated! Trajectory is set!”

As the chip adjusted the trajectory, Leylin drew back the crossbow’s trigger.

“Swish!” The powerful crossbow bolt flew, and the recoil made Leylin’s arm numb.

Puff! The bolt struck the scavenger wolf's left eye and emerged from the right. The wolf roared and collapsed.

“Thanks to the chip, I have a huge advantage in high-precision situations. Unlike a bow, the crossbow is more convenient—just aim and fire!” Leylin compared the crossbow to his sword, noting, "Long-range attacks seem to suit me better. They’re safer, too. But I’m still uncertain about harnessing a knight’s life energy. Is a bloody battle necessary?"

Leylin had avoided using the crossbow until now, partly to avoid stress and partly to test if it could trigger the knight’s life energy. With the chip as a safety net, he hadn’t faced life-threatening situations to genuinely experience it.

“Leylin! Great job!” George exclaimed, slapping Leylin on the back.

“From now on, this crossbow is yours!”

“Thank you!” Leylin beamed. Even without George's gift, he had desired the crossbow.

“Leylin! Lord Leylin! Save us!” Cries filled the air as more scavenger wolves charged into the camp.

Thanks to George’s preparations, the damage was minimal. With Leylin and George, the reserve knights, present, it was the safest place aside from the white-robed wizards.

Olin, panting heavily, fought off a giant wolf with his sword. A powerful force knocked his sword away.

“I’m the heir of my family! I can’t die here!” Olin roared, seeing two of his companions fall. The rest were either dead or fleeing.

Hearing “Lord Leylin!” his hope reignited. “The Plantagenet Alliance still has power, and Leylin is strong. He’ll save me!”

Olin ran towards Leylin, desperately shouting, “Leylin!! Lord Leylin!!! Help!”

Leylin, reloading his crossbow, spotted Olin, now disheveled and injured, pursued by a giant wolf.

“What a pity! You chose the wrong person to rely on!” Leylin smirked.

“Even though the white-robed wizards are here and I dare not risk killing, a delay in rescue isn’t grounds for trouble.”

Leylin’s smile widened.

Olin, hopeful and encouraged, sprinted towards Leylin. “He’ll save me!” Olin thought, though his hope faltered as he saw Leylin shoot another scavenger wolf.

Olin stumbled, tripped by a stone, and fell. The scavenger wolf closed in, and blood flowed...

On the other side, a grateful girl approached Leylin. “Thank you so much!”

“Glad to help!” Leylin replied with a smile. Lilith, nearby, watched Leylin with a blush, her gaze dropping.

George whistled and gave Leylin a knowing look.

“George, you haven’t changed!” Leylin commented.

“Even in the abyss of death, I’ll yearn for love!” George declared dramatically, preparing for the worst.

“You can’t die; the white robes are about to act!” Leylin rolled his eyes.

Amid the chaos, the giant wolves seemed to avoid the three white-robed wizards, forming a protective circle around them.

Leylin’s chip-enhanced senses picked up the white-robed wizards’ conversation, perhaps unintentionally left open.

“Crow! Not yet. Too many apprentices will be killed, lowering our evaluation!” A woman’s voice.

“Don’t worry! I’ve counted—only ten have died so far, within limits!” A cynical male voice.

“But it’s at the limit. Hurry up. I need to stabilize this spell! Damn, the negative energy here is too high to complete ‘Dog Wuli’!”

“I’ll handle it!” A silent white-robed man stepped forward.

“Mysterious wizard! Will the nature-controlling enigma finally act?” Leylin thought, eyes fixed on the wizard.

“How dare you, these beasts, disturb honorable wizards! Death is your only end!”

As the white-robed wizard chanted, Leylin’s chip alarmed: “Warning! Radiation energy source detected! Negative energy detected! Immediate evacuation recommended!”

Despite the glaring warning, Leylin focused intently on the wizard’s incantation, noting its ancient, complex language.

The surrounding scavenger wolves retreated in fear.

“Secondary Energy Fireball!”

A blazing fireball appeared, its temperature scorching the air. It hurtled toward the scavenger wolves.

Boom!

Leylin shouted, “Get down!” but it was too late. The blast threw apprentices and wolves alike to the ground.

Leylin, covered in mud, spat out dirt. He climbed onto a carriage, surveying the devastation. A massive fire pit had scorched the area, and the wolves fled in terror.

“Is this the power of a wizard?” Leylin’s eyes shone with determination. “I must obtain it!”

“Quick! Clean the battlefield!” The white-robed man ordered, returning to his colleagues.

He paused by Olin’s body, taking a small golden bag from his arm.

“Is that Olin’s magic stone pouch?” Leylin thought, realizing the wizards might be embezzling magic stones from the dead apprentices.

“Thankfully, the dead apprentices’ danger could mean more safety for us!”

“Everyone, pack up and leave. The scent of blood will attract more predators!”

Angre, the black-robed knight, changed into a new cloak, sweating and looking weary.

Leylin noted, “Activating secret skills has a toll…”

“Hey, Leylin, look!” George whispered, pointing to a black carriage where Besta, wounded and distressed, sat alone.

“Besta’s team is nearly wiped out. She’s in a bad situation!” George said, with a glint in his eye.

“I’m not interested right now! And with the danger we’re in, let’s focus on survival,” Leylin replied, noting George’s lipstick-stained collar.

“Hehe… In crises, reserve knights show their true strength! Girls admire the saviors; it’s basic!”

George proudly displayed his handkerchiefs. “See? I’ve already won three ladies’ favor today…”

Leylin shook his head, thinking of his own past.

“Let’s go!” Leylin said, seeing the black-robed wizards collect and search the apprentices’ bodies for magic stones. He quickly changed the topic.

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ongoing, stay tuned.