Chapter 388: Evil of This World, Is That All?
Mousesack's oak staff was not edged, but the ball of green light cloaking its tip behaved like a silver-plated longsword. Sweeping across the Dagon Shade's body, it left its own trail of deep scratches.
While Lynn, Geralt, and Mousesack besieged the Dagon Shade, the sorceresses were not resting. Tissaia, Marguerite, Triss, and Yennefer took turns firing instant-cast, single-target spells. These were mostly low-level magics—their destructive power wasn't a match for high-level spells, but they had a negligible cast time, low mana cost, and, crucially, single-target spells avoided friendly fire.
Spell after spell detonated against the Shade's body. Lynn, Geralt, Mousesack, and the sorceresses were working together for the first time, yet they moved with perfect coordination, never once interfering with or harming a teammate.
Both sides settled into a stalemate. The Dagon Shade couldn't land a decisive blow, and the group couldn't crack Its defenses.
But Lynn was confident. The Dagon Shade's defense wasn't impenetrable. It was like a giant boulder: at first, a pickaxe might not immediately crack it, but with persistent effort, the stone would eventually give way.
As he thought this, Lynn suddenly noticed the Dagon Shade starting to inhale again. He glanced sideways, and Mousesack, the closest to him, looked back. Then, as if sharing a single mind, both men swiftly ran toward each other.
Just as the dreadful black water—which had the power to corrode even a higher vampire's flesh—sprayed out, Lynn reached Mousesack's side. He jammed Aerondight into the ground and simultaneously cast the Quen sign with both hands. A bright orange protective shield enveloped both the witcher and the druid.
When the black water struck the Quen shield, a chilling, high-pitched sizzle rang out. Lynn felt the Chaos Magic within him draining rapidly. Mousesack grunted, swung his oak staff, and conjured a wall of green light from the ground, replacing the Quen shield and intercepting the corrosive black water, giving Lynn a moment to breathe.
Meanwhile, Geralt, positioned outside the black water's range, reversed his grip on his silver sword and shot an Igni sign from his left hand toward the Dagon Shade, forcing It to interrupt the spewing attack.
Encouragingly, as the fierce battle continued, the Dagon Shade's seemingly impregnable skin, which had felt like an unyielding fortress, began to transform. The countless scratches deepened, and tiny fissures started to appear. These cracks grew wider and more numerous, instilling hope in the group.
Lynn slammed Aerondight against the Dagon Shade's trident. He refused to pull back, forcing the Shade to remain in a parrying stance. Mousesack and Geralt seized the opportunity to repeatedly stab the Shade's flanks.
"Everyone, push harder! It's starting to crack!"
No sooner had Lynn's declaration left his lips than, as if to prove his point, the Dagon Shade took another deep, furious breath.
"Run!"
Lynn launched a bone-chilling Aard Sign from his left hand at the Shade's face. The icy cold instantly froze the Shade's features. Lynn took advantage of the brief window to land one more greedy blow, then immediately leaped backward to create distance. Mousesack and Geralt joined him, two Quen shields and the druid's defensive spell already ready.
The frost on the Dagon Shade's face lasted only a few seconds before melting. But just as the group prepared to receive the spray attack, the Dagon Shade turned tail and bolted toward the lake.
"Shit!"
The Evil of this world... is that all?
That was far too cowardly.
The three men quickly dropped their shields and gave chase.
However, two black shadows were even faster, intercepting the Dagon Shade. It was Regis and Dettlaff, whose immense regenerative capabilities had overcome the black water's corrosion.
Without the need for any slow, verbal commands, Regis and Dettlaff savagely attacked the Dagon Shade. The three 'individuals' clashed. The Dagon Shade tried to repeat Its attack, but a Saint never makes the same mistake twice, and neither do higher vampires. The two higher vampires continuously shredded the Shade with high-speed strikes, never lingering in one spot for even a second. The moment they saw the wind-up for the spewing attack, they pulled back and dodged.
The Dagon Shade was infuriated by these two annoying 'flies' and yet couldn't manage to swat them down.
While the Shade was distracted by the higher vampires, Lynn grasped Aerondight with both hands, executed a leap-smash, and drove it down onto the Dagon Shade's back.
The skin, which had withstood countless attacks, finally gave way. Lynn distinctly felt the initial sensation of striking steel vanish, replaced immediately by the feeling of sinking into flesh and blood. As Aerondight tore through the Dagon Shade's back, the blade was finally stained with blood for the first time, and the Shade let out its first true howl of agony.
This might have been the Dagon Shade's first wound since arriving in this world with the Conjunction of the Spheres, untold centuries ago. Perhaps It had forgotten what pain felt like. Today, a witcher had forced It to remember the sting of agony.
The Dagon Shade's first reaction to the pain was not to pursue Lynn in a blind rage, but to suddenly spray black water wildly in all directions, forcing back the surrounding witchers and higher vampires. It then continued its frantic retreat toward the lake.
It was afraid.
It was truly terrified. These creatures... these mere ants... actually possessed the power to kill It.
Even though It was only a projection, this projection had developed a self-awareness. If It died, the main entity, countless worlds away, would be unharmed. The problem was that It would be utterly annihilated forever. Even if the main entity sent out another projection or clone, it wouldn't be It.
It didn't want to die.
But It couldn't escape.
Mousesack released thick, large Thorns, which erupted in the Dagon Shade's path, firmly wrapping Its lower body and legs. Even though the massive Thorns only held the Shade for a mere two or three seconds... even though the Dagon Shade immediately sprayed black water to block the advance of Its enemies...
It was already too late.
A crashing sound descended from above. The Dagon Shade instinctively looked up and saw the silhouette carrying Aerondight getting closer and closer.
BOOM!
Dust and debris billowed.
When it cleared, the Dagon Shade was pinned to the ground. Lynn stood on Its back, Aerondight thrust deep into Its heart from behind.
Lynn jumped off the Dagon Shade and stood alongside Geralt and Mousesack, who had walked over.
The three men didn't speak, but a shared glance was enough to convey their intentions.
In the next moment, scorching flames erupted from their palms and the tip of Mousesack's oak staff.
.............
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