Chapter 26: The Sign Assistance Function
The biological AI was always at the ready, never failing to meet the trust of its user. The sign assistance function was originally designed for Lan to improve his precise control over the signs according to the training plan he had calculated.
A witcher's spellcasting ability cannot be compared to that of a true mage; it is merely a step away from tricks. Moreover, the path to enhancing spell strength seemed to offer no promising future.
Therefore, Lan pushed himself to achieve precise control.
A small iron pellet weighing three or four grams could, when accelerated to the speed of sound, smash through a knight's helmet. In contrast, a chunk of iron weighing three or four tons, left motionless, wouldn't hurt anyone.
To enhance his control over the signs, Mentos utilized its retinal projection capabilities to create an interface resembling a first-person shooter (FPS) game.
In the shadows of the woods, the young witcher's amber cat-like eyes began to glow faintly.
"The sign assistance function is now activated." A sci-fi-like blue particle effect appeared in his field of vision, forming sharp-edged outlines. On the side of his view, various values were densely printed.
When the notoriously demanding client, had requested something "like an FPS game," he had only uttered that phrase, followed by extensive usage requirements. In the end, the disgruntled AI, Mentos, produced a product that resembled a professional mapping software more than a game.
The optical illusions created by light and angles were corrected by the measuring tools in the interface. Direction, altitude, temperature, humidity—various environmental factors were captured and displayed in numerical form.
This was a view Lan had seen countless times.
Since Mentos currently lacked the authority to interfere with his physical body, Lan had to rely on this "mapping software" to correct his signs with every exertion and adjustment. In theory, he should have been able to move beyond this interface by now. However, practical training emphasized "heavy practice and light application."
When training, a thirty-kilogram tool would seem like a burden, but in actual combat, wielding a five-kilogram object would raise eyebrows. In practical situations, conserving even a fraction of energy was worthwhile.
"Tsk, still lacking experience," Lan said, lightly patting Bernie on the shoulder, startling the old hunter. "Stay put; even if the intel is lacking, we have to do it now."
They had gotten too close to the group of drowners, and it would be nearly impossible to distance themselves without attracting attention. Both Lan and Bernie understood this was not feasible. So, they had to proceed.
Seeing Bernie's trembling lips, Lan relaxed and smiled. "Don't worry; our luck might not be that bad. Perhaps there are only a few scattered drowners here."
"I'm going in!" Without further ado, Lan charged at the nearest drowner.
The light footwork honed from his sword training allowed him to move in a way that was still relatively quiet even at a sprint. But in the woods, controlling one's footsteps wasn't enough. Even the most seasoned forest hunter couldn't ensure their movements wouldn't disturb the surrounding branches. Lan certainly couldn't do that either, so the sound of rustling leaves filled the air.
The drowner, which had been gnawing on something on the ground, suddenly perked up, turning its head sharply. Beneath its blue scales, Lan could see its throat bulging. Perhaps in the next moment, its characteristic cry would echo through the woods.
But the young witcher, with his sword drawn, remained calm and focused. His idle left hand shot up in front of him, fingers extending, and a familiar sign was quickly formed.
A hazy, ethereal white light flickered for just an instant. "Axii!"
The drowner's throat suddenly relaxed, its earlier movement frozen mid-action.
Then, in a flash of silver, the purifying silver sword was pressed against the drowner's throat close to the hilt, and with the forward momentum of the witcher, it sliced through the beast's body with a deep, swift motion.
Starting at the hilt, it merely crushed the scales, but by the tip, it had grazed the drowner's cervical vertebra. A huge gash split across half of its neck, splattering its blood like a mist through the air. As the corpse fell, its head bent backward at an unnatural angle, nearly touching its back.
"The [Axii] sign has received assistance; casting time reduced by 0.20 seconds, completion…" The intelligent voice echoed in Lan's mind.
"Cancel practical results report in combat; assist me in surveying the surroundings." Lan's cat-like eyes darted around, vigilant after swiftly eliminating the drowner.
"Understood, sir." Mentos immediately implemented a new rule and participated in the young witcher's vigilance.
A human's field of vision extended only about 120 degrees in front, with the left and right edges being mere illusions. However, with the involvement of the bio-intelligent AI, those illusions transformed into trustworthy, actionable information.
The woods fell into an eerie silence. Nearby, Bernie dared not even breathe, while Lan, after the lightning-fast strike, moved like a light-footed cat. The weight of his armor and sword felt almost negligible, as if inertia had vanished altogether. This was an alternative application of the [Bear School Swordsmanship]. The precise control of his center of gravity allowed for an extraordinary stop and swift charge.
To an unknowing observer, like Bernie, Lan's movements resembled those of a specter. It was likely that few within the Bear School would utilize their swordsmanship techniques in this manner, as that group was more inclined toward direct assaults with Quen and furious sword strikes.
"Seems your luck is indeed good, sir." Mentos's intelligent voice remained calm and steady.
After Lan had swiftly moved to the position of the drowner he had just slain, he began to gather some preliminary intelligence.
"There are seven drowners within our engagement range. The good news is there's no drowner nest."
Lan's cat-like eyes turned sharply. Although eliminating drowner nests was one of his goals, he certainly didn't want to be standing right next to one without knowing it.
The ideal scenario would involve scouting the location first, then gradually reducing the number of drowners within the nest to a manageable level, finally allowing the villagers to come and destroy the nest altogether. Alternatively, he could make an alchemical bomb and stuff it into the entrance.
So, given that he had inadvertently ended up face-to-face with the drowners, the absence of a nest was indeed good news.
However, Lan knew that because Mentos had adopted his talking style, its statements were usually made in two parts.
Lan's eyes narrowed. In his periphery, amidst a damp puddle, a humanoid creature about 1.8 meters tall, covered in wrinkles and warts, was seated in the muck. Hunched, with skin that was green tinged with pink, resembling a grotesque caricature, its claws were sharp enough to rival a werewolf's. Its emaciated chest sagged down to its belly.
"The bad news is… there's a water hag here."
***
Guys, starting from Monday (when rankings reset), I am gonna implement a reward system. The more you help me, the more chapters I will release.
For every 100 Power Stones, you'll get 1 Bonus Chapter.
That's it. As simple as that.
PS: I know that I should've done this sooner ( cause let's face it, you don't give power stones if you don't get something out of it), but unfortunately I forgot about it.
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