Although it was just a quick glimpse, Wayne quickly deduced that the monster that had attacked Geralt was a fogler.
Geralt did not anticipate that, while pushing his body to the limit in eliminating the drowners, there was, in fact, a fogler lurking nearby him. Seizing the opportunity, it managed to sneak up on him.
This is also due to the excessive dark surrounding environment. Even though the cat potion enhanced their night vision, enabling them to perceive objects in low light, their vision remained almost monochromatic, making it difficult to discern the mist in the darkness clearly.
This made the fogler almost invisible, without being noticed.
To be on the safe side, Wayne refrained from immediately approaching Geralt, who had been thrown into the air. Instead, he promptly activated the remaining magic power within him and enveloped himself with a Quen shield.
In the intense battle that transpired within the last half-hour, Wayne almost cast nearly thirty spells—which was at a level that was hardly accomplished by any witcher.
In addition to his talent, system bonuses, and potions, it is also thanks to the Doran Ring he got yesterday.
The ring granted him mana recovery with each enemy he vanquished, significantly enhancing his endurance. This enabled him to confront the group of drowners, a challenge that even the seasoned white wolf, Geralt has to approach cautiously, showcasing Wayne's prowess as a witcher.
Wayne breathed a sigh of relief after adding a layer of insurance. Upon looking up, he noticed that the fogler, which had been launched into the air by his Aard sign, had seamlessly blended into the mist upon landing, escaping his sight.
This kind of monster is quite troublesome. Apart from maintaining a high level of vigilance, the best way is to wait for it to show itself before taking the opportunity to deal with it. As a last resort, he could only give up chasing the enemy. He walked over to Geralt's side and began to check his injuries.
Geralt seemed to be stunned by the powerful sneak attack just now. He put his hands on the ground, spit out a mouthful of blood, his arms trembled slightly, and tried his best to support his body, but failed.
Seeing Wayne's approach, Geralt reached out and clasped Wayne's extended arm, using it as leverage to stand up.
"How are you holding up, Geralt? Are your injuries manageable?"
Witnessing Wayne's concerned expression, Geralt managed a wry smile. Physical pain had become a familiar companion to him, but the embarrassment of being injured in front of the young witcher made the famous White Wolf feel a little embarrassed.
He shook his head lightly, and said in a hoarse voice, "My armor was not penetrated, but I've got some internal injuries, nothing too severe. Just be cautious, these foglers are stronger and craftier. It hasn't left; the battle is far from over."
Upon confirming that Geralt was fine, Wayne breathed a sigh of relief but couldn't shake off a lingering sense of vigilance.
Although he knew that it was common for witchers to be injured, he never expected that even a veteran like Geralt would turn over in front of an ordinary fogler. This realization heightened his awareness of the potential fatality when facing more powerful monsters or adversaries.
Considering this, Wayne restrained the arrogance that arose from his victory over the drowners. He redirected his focus to perceive the environment around him.
Although he has the blessing of system ability, his defensive power is not stronger than Geralt's. If he was the one who was hit in the sneak attack just now, he probably won't be better than Geralt.
Monsters are creatures of instinct. While the Fogler may possess an inherent cunning nature, its dominion over the underground ruins has likely left it devoid of fear or the concept of retreat. Struck into the air by Wayne's Aard sign, was far from restraining its sneak attack, it instead seemed more determined to launch a fierce counterattack.
This also allowed Wayne, who had calmed down, to discover its traces. The fogler, displaying a level of cunning, had covered itself in mist, silently approaching the vulnerable Geralt from behind. It seemed determined to exploit the opportunity and launch a lethal attack on the already injured target.
But Wayne didn't give it another chance. He let go of Geralt's arm, and directly turned back with a charged Axii sign, freezing the fogler's movement for a second, and then with the sword he directly pierced through its throat.
Despite the piercing blow to its throat, the monster displayed an astonishing resilience, showing no immediate signs of weakening.
Undeterred by its injuries, the fogler unleashed a fierce roar, waving its claws toward Wayne's sword-wielding right hand. In response, Wayne opted not to engage in a direct confrontation. Instead, he released his grip on the silver sword, rolled to the side to evade the creature's sharp claws, and swiftly positioned himself at the flank of the fogler.
He didn't give the monster a chance to hide itself again in the mist. After stabilizing his figure, he immediately rushed towards the Fogler skillfully evading its slashing claws, he grasped the hilt of the sword again, and using the momentum of his body, he twisted it violently, directly wringing the Folger's head off.
Losing its head, a large amount of blood spewed out, spraying everywhere like a fountain, and the Fogler's body froze for a few seconds, as if it had lost its support, and fell on its back, completely losing its voice.
Seeing that the enemy had been completely killed, Wayne shook off the blood on the silver sword, and then approached Geralt, extending a hand to lend support.
"Alright, Wayne. Let's head back to camp. The doctor there should be able to patch me up," Geralt said, offering a wry smile, not attempting to downplay his injuries.
As a seasoned witcher, Geralt recognized the importance of preserving one's life over any commission. Even with his injuries, he felt the need to maintain a certain level of pride and face.
Wayne nodded, respecting Geralt's desire to maintain his independence despite the injuries. They started their journey back to the camp, with Wayne keeping a watchful eye on his surroundings, knowing that more challenges might lie ahead in the depths of the elven ruins.