With only two treasure chests and dealing with such a small creature like a Foglet, Allen didn't bother with any ceremony and opened them directly with his mind.
[Ding! Foglet Treasure Chest*2 opened]
A white and a blue light flashed.
"Not bad, at least it's not all white," Allen comforted himself, waiting for the light to fade.
[Obtained: Experience Orb1, Little Fog Pearl1]
Hmm? Little Fog Pearl?
Curious, Allen quickly opened the description.
[Name: Little Fog Pearl]
[Type: One-time Use Item]
[Function: Crushing the Little Fog Pearl can create a dense fog illusion]
[Note: Sometimes, dense fog is not just water vapor.]
"Sigh," Allen sighed.
Although it was of blue quality, from the name alone, he had hoped it was the kind of item that could melt himself into the white fog. Instead, it could only create a dense fog illusion...
Wait! Illusion...
Allen pondered.
Just now, when he was spiritually linked with the Mirage Pearl, the white fog indeed seemed to have thinned. After killing the two Foglets, the density of the surrounding fog had decreased by at least a third. So the dense fog when Foglets appear is actually a combination of two skills? One summons real fog, and the other simulates the illusion of fog?
"If it's an illusion..."
Allen instinctively touched the Mirage Pearl hidden on his chest.
"Perhaps this Little Fog Pearl could have a special effect in certain situations?"
Having opened the treasure chests, Allen decided to use the heart essence of the two Foglets. Upon using the essence, Allen only felt his throat slightly moistened, as if he had swallowed a cloud of fog. Moments later, his body warmed slightly, and all fatigue vanished. The effect of the essence was not very pronounced.
"Is it because my attributes are too high?"
Allen sighed, somewhat missing the frenzy of the Drowner King.
He switched to the attributes panel.
[Name: Allen]
[Level: 20]
[Health: 100%, Stamina: 240/240, Mana: 230/230]
[Attributes: Strength 16, Agility 17 (+2), Constitution 24, Perception 17, Mystery 23 (+1)]
Huh?
The two essences actually increased his attributes by three points. Given the previous sensations, Allen had thought it wouldn't even add a single point.It was a pleasant surprise for him. Especially with the Mystery attribute, every point was valuable.
"Seems like it's time to shift my hunting focus to Foglets," Allen thought.
Leaving the Foglets' bodies for later, Allen headed towards Killer Lake. As he walked, he reflected on the recent hunt. The most memorable moment was the slash in the fog.
"Why did the Foglet suddenly appear and look so pained even though I didn't hit it?" Allen pondered.
Was it because of the silver sword? Or the necrophage oil?
-----
By the narrow lakeshore, three apprentices stood where Allen had instructed them, looking worriedly across the lake.
"Hughes, shouldn't we go help Allen?" Bond asked, turning his head. "That noise stopped. Four people are better than one."
"Allen will be fine. Master Vesemir said he's a natural Witcher," Hughes frowned, clearly not as confident as his words suggested. After a pause, he continued, "We just need to do as Allen instructed... do what he said, no more."
Despite his friend's rapid progress over the past few months, Hughes had felt a mix of emotions. He tried to catch up but couldn't even see Allen's heels. Thus, Hughes decided that if he couldn't help Allen, he at least shouldn't be a burden. They were unfamiliar with Foglets, and rushing over might only create a vulnerability for Allen. Moreover, "Allen is stronger than us. What he says must be right..."
Hughes was trying to reassure the other two apprentices when he suddenly saw Bond's eyes light up, waving his hands excitedly. Hughes quickly turned around.
In the morning sunlight, the dense fog gradually dissipated. Across the water, a tall figure slowly emerged from the trees.
"I knew Allen could do it... I knew Allen could do it..." Hughes was ecstatic, boasting to the other apprentices as if he had defeated the monster himself.
Allen saw the three across the lake, and their genuine joy warmed his heart. His goal in this trial was not just to pass but to bring the other apprentices back safely. These three familiar apprentices would become his first followers in the Wolf School. They trusted him, fought alongside him, and formed emotional bonds, making them likely to support him in the future.
Besides, after spending a month together, who wouldn't develop feelings for these apprentices striving for their fate?
Even Hughes, freed from the mushroom soup's effects, trained diligently after the "main meal," more determined than the hard-working Fred. Reflecting, Allen beckoned them to gather in the lake.
Splash~ Splash~
Hughes swam over first, ahead of Fred and the others.
"Allen, I knew you could do it!"
Allen smiled and nodded.
"Was it a Foglet?" Fred also swam over.
"Two Foglets," Allen replied.
"Wow!"
"Allen, you're amazing!"
-----
The apprentices' simple surprises and praises always came straight from the heart, which Allen liked. It instantly erased his frustration from the unlucky treasure opening. After briefly recounting the event and receiving another wave of admiration and envy, they continued swimming toward the cave. The rest of the journey was uneventful. After using eight more Killer Whale potions, Allen and the other apprentices reached the end of Killer Lake.
The cave of Old Cyclops, Old Speartip.
Splash~ Splash~
The sound of water gradually slowed. Three people stepped out of Killer Lake one after another. After the Foglet incident, Hughes seemed particularly lively, chatting softly with the other apprentices, unlike his earlier silent caution in the lake. The other apprentices also became more active. Allen, shaking off the water, circulated mana through his body. Steaming fog rose from him, and soon, his outer leather armor was mostly dry.
This was a special use of the Igni sign at level 2. He had tried to teach the other apprentices, but their envious looks suggested they hadn't learned it.
While Allen continued drying his clothes, the other apprentices chatted and encouraged each other.
"Don't worry, Master Vesemir said the other day that the cold weather means Old Speartip only hunts every three or four days, most of them it is sleeping!"
-----
Listening to their chatter, Allen controlled his mana, initially relaxed but growing increasingly uneasy.
"What does Old Speartip hunt?" Allen suddenly asked.
The chatting stopped abruptly. The apprentices exchanged glances, unsure why Allen asked. Finally, Hughes timidly replied, "Probably drowners?"
Allen finally realized the problem. Ten days ago, the sorceress exterminated all the drowners in Drowner Lake. Even if some drowners returned these days, had Old Speartip eaten enough?
If Old Speartip hadn't eaten enough...
.....
📢20 advanced chapters on p@treaon📢
For advance chapters: p@treon.com/Uchiha_Itachi007 (replace @ with a)
64. Old Speartip Arrives!
65. The Charge of the Cyclops.
66. Do You Think I'm Alone?
67. The Path to Destruction.
68. Wild Slaughter.