401. Finding the [Witch]

Defeated [Raging White Tiger Beastman (Great Chieftain) - Lvl. 135]!

Experience is awarded for defeating an enemy!

I scoffed as I turned away from the ashes of that annoying Beastman. He’d been prattling on about getting into some legendary battle, but he barely even put up a fight. Seriously, I highly doubt that he was even Level 100 in his second Class. Or did Beastmen do evolutions?

Whatever the case, I won the fight with ease after he’d issued a challenge to me. It was like my own [Zealous Call], except it didn’t compel me to rage. It forced me to get into a duel with him. Some kind of honor ritualistic duel like with Zix, I guess.

It was resolved much quicker, fortunately. I didn’t even really struggle in that fight at all. In fact, I was quite annoyed to see what that [White Tiger Beastman] had done. He had threatened Mountaintooth, Sharpbraid, and Amberarm. I wasn’t really close to those three [Lion Beastman] cubs, but I had saved their lives before, and they had helped me out. While I wasn’t too attached, I would rather they not die to some annoying wild thing.

Sighing, I turned my head to face the three [Lion Beastman] cubs. I cast my gaze over the flood of faces. All the Beastmen present were frozen in fear. They’d halted their fighting and were staring up at me. I looked past them and found Mountaintooth standing right behind a nervous looking man. A short man— about the same height as the cubs. Maybe a little bit taller.

He had pointed ears and white hair. He was relatively high-leveled too. A [Necromancer], which is a Class I didn’t see very often. But more than that, he was..

“An Elf?”

I blinked as I leaned forward. I beat my wings once, carrying myself towards them. A few of the nearby Beastmen went scrambling as I landed before the Elf.

“What is an Elf doing here?”

But the Elf didn’t answer. Instead, a susurration ran through the crowd. Heads turned to each other. Beastmen pointed at me as they whispered.

“Is that.. a talking Wyvern?”

“I’ve never heard of a talking Wyvern before.”

“Is this an illusion?”

“Do you think the curse has anything to do with this?”

“No— it has to be witchcraft! The [Witch] sent this Wyvern after us!”

They spoke amongst themselves, trembling, fearful. A few of the Beastmen— the higher-leveled once, mostly cat-like Beastmen— drew back and prostrated before me.

“Please, spare us! We were bringing you your sacrifices! We are sorry it took us so long! Don’t punish us!”

I gave them odd looks.

“What are you guys on about? I’m just here for them.”

I gestured towards the [Lion Beastman] cubs. They hid behind the Elf [Necromancer], whimpering.

“I will not let you harm these children, Wyvern!”

The Elf spoke as he stood protectively over them. I blinked.

“Why would you think I would— ooooh, right.”

I stared at myself. At my current form. Then I rolled my eyes and my body shifted. The Elf and the cubs stared as I shrank rapidly, no longer looming over them. I stood in front of them, now back as my regular self. No longer a Wyvern.

“It’s me, Mountaintooth, Sharpbraid, Amberarm. Remember? I’m Salvos!”

The Elf just gaped as I spread my arms wide. The three cubs stared at me, recognition flashing in their faces.

“The Avenger is here!”

They exclaimed. A few of the Furious Whispers Tribe members turned to me in shock. They knew who I was, since I was, of course, the one who slayed the Cursed Boulder for them when I visited a few months ago.

“Avenger, Avenger! You saved us once more! How did you know we were in peril?”

Mountaintooth ran up to me, round-eyed. I shrugged.

“Oh, I just saw what was happening and flew over.”

“You did? Woah.. amazing..”

He stared up at me, in awe. I beamed, raising my chin.

“Well, yep. I am indeed great. Anyway, what’s the deal with these guys? Why did they capture you?”

I eyed the feline Beastmen— they glanced at each other, unsure of what to do. Mountaintooth shifted back, trying to work his jaw. The Elf was the one to speak up.

“I believe I can, uh, explain.”

My gaze turned to him, and he hesitated. Scratching the back of his head, he spoke slowly.

“I’m Minnow Fellingchamp, by the way.”

“Hi! I’m Salvos!”

I greeted him cheerfully. He cleared his throat and gestured towards the still-kneeling feline Beastmen.

“These Beastmen belong to the Grave Hill Tribe. They are a warrior tribe from further up north, and I believe they’ve kidnapped us to use us as sacrifices for some kind of ritual.”

“A ritual?”

My eyes narrowed.

“A Demon summoning ritual?”

“Demon summoning ritual?”

Minnow replied with a blank stare. I crossed my arms, frowning.

“Is that a no?”

“It’s a ritual to cleanse the curse!”

A voice cried out. I turned to the source. It was a [Leopard Beastman]. He looked at me pleadingly, head bowed low.

“Please, show mercy. Our land has been cursed, and the [Witch] told us the only way to save our land was to bring sacrifices for her ritual.”

“Huh.”

I furrowed my brows. The curse is.. I knew what that meant immediately. It was the corruption. The very same one that had come from Endlands. I destroyed the Cursed Boulder while I was here last time around, but I guess there was more of it spreading around if their lands were taken over by a curse as well.

Well, it was a good thing I was here to deal with the corruption. Stepping forward, I spoke loudly for the Grave Hill Tribe to hear.

“Hey! You guys are going to let the Furious Whispers Tribe go. Or else.”

I raised a fist threateningly. The [Leopard Beastman] cowered back, but he still protested.

“But our lands..”

“I’ll deal with the corruption for you guys, alright? This doesn’t have to end with bloodshed.”

I paused. I glanced back at the ashes of the [White Tiger Beastman] I had killed. Then I looked at all the dead bodies scattered around from the fighting. I shuffled back, averting my gaze.

“I mean, it doesn’t have to end with any more bloodshed than it already has shed.”

Still, the Grave Hill Tribe didn’t relent. The [Leopard Beastman] protested.

“We can’t! We made a deal with the [Witch]! If we fail to deliver on our promises, we’ll be punished!”

I narrowed my eyes. I bared my teeth dangerously at him.

“Either you deal with that [Witch], or you deal with me.”

A flame flickered into existence at the palm of my hand. He shrank back, trying to work his jaw.

“B-b-b—”

“I’ll take care of this [Witch] for you too if you let the Furious Whispers Tribe go. Do we have a deal?”

I loomed over him. The [Leopard Beastman] finally acquiesced. He nodded hurriedly, prostrating with his head touching the ground.

“We agree!”

—--

It took a while for the entirety of the Furious Whispers Tribe to be freed from their chains. I smiled at Tuktox as he walked out of his cage. He blinked as he looked at me, then he bowed gratefully.

“It seems we owe you two great debts, Avenger.”

“Aw, it’s fine! I was looking for your guys’ help anyway.”

I waved a hand dismissively. The [Ape Beastman] smiled. His face then dropped as he looked towards the burned soil— the crater where I’d incinerated the [White Tiger Beastman]. He spoke in a dour voice.

“So I take it Nalok is dead.”

“Yep. Didn’t take me long to deal with him.”

“I see.”

He didn’t look glad though. In fact, he hung his head, speaking softly.

“It is a shame things had to end this way. May his soul rest in peace.”

I looked at Tuktox. At the way the [Ape Beastman] stood there silently. He was paying his respects to his enemy. But perhaps that had not always been the case. Perhaps there was more to it. A history— one that stretched back decades.

I didn’t care. I waved at Tuktox and excused myself.

“Anyway, I gotta go now—”

I took off into the air, having already gotten directions to the [Witch]’s lair from the [Leopard Beastman]. I flew up, returning to where I had left Willy. The [Will O’ Wisp] was hovering high in the sky with Novis, Bellum, and Oriur floating beside him.

I had them quickly get off my back so I could fight without endangering them. It was a good thing Willy had levitation fire. I beamed at them, expecting to come back to praises at how quickly I’d dealt with the [White Tiger Beastman].

“I’m back—”

And they screamed.

“Monster!”

The three baby Wyverns failed to run in the air to get away from me. My shoulders drooped. I looked over at Willy dejectedly.

“Do you think they’re ever going to get over that?”

“No.”

I sighed, changing back to a Wyvern.

“I thought so.”

Grimfang stared down at her cauldron as a scene played out. She watched as Nalok was burned to ashes before the Furious Whispers Tribe was freed from their captivity. Her lips twitched as she raised her head.

“Fool. His father was a better man than he.”

The [Witch] had expected him capable of doing at least bringing her a thousand sacrifices. But he failed miserably. And now, the one who had slain him was coming after her.

“How annoying.”

The [Rat Beastman] would have to make preparations for that. She waved a hand over the cauldron, focusing the scrying spell on the Demon. Grimfang watched the Demon fly into the air and scare the three baby Wyverns accompanying her. Then the [Witch] saw how the Demon morphed, taking the shape of a [Lesser Wyvern].

“Interesting..”

The baby Wyverns returned, excitedly hovering around the false Wyvern, Grimfang ran a hand over her whiskers. Then she turned around, dispelling the scene.

“Then I’ll just use that against that Demon.”

With that, Grimfang set off to ready herself for battle. Not that she wasn’t always ready. After all, she didn't get to live for five hundred years being an unprepared fool.