Chapter 77: The Dryads Are Quite Forgiving, It Seems
"Is that really necessary? I think we should just leave," Kolgrim cautioned anxiously, but Arthur just smiled at him and continued walking toward the giant centipede.
The creature was large and sturdy, and crucially, it was immobilized. It was the perfect target to test the power of Unyielding Force.
As if sensing the threat, the centipede's movements suddenly became ferocious. It thrashed and rolled in place, tearing up bushes by the root and exposing large patches of bare earth.
"Careful! Get away!"
Amidst Kolgrim's warning, a shadow rapidly spread forward, instantly covering Arthur's figure. The giant centipede had somehow summoned the strength to arch its still-mobile upper body high, snapping forward like a spring to pounce on Arthur!
Kolgrim clearly saw from the side that the momentum of the pounce carried the centipede forward five or six meters—enough to reach Arthur.
But Arthur stood there like an idiot, simply staring at the centipede, his feet rooted to the ground.
"Aard!" Kolgrim had no idea what was wrong with Arthur. He only knew that with the centipede's sheer mass, a hit, or even a glancing blow, would be enough to break bones. The Witcher didn't hesitate, raising his hand to cast a shockwave, hoping to help Arthur as he had during the Griffin hunt.
But just as the Sign was completed, Arthur suddenly took a deep breath and let out a roar like a clear-sky thunderstorm:
"FUS RO DAH!"
A tremendous force poured out of his body, transforming into a rolling mass of pale blue light. Grass and trees along its path were instantly ripped from the ground.
A cloud of red mist exploded out of nowhere. The giant centipede, like a jellyfish caught in an air bubble, tumbled and flew head over heels deep into the dense woods.
As for the shockwave Kolgrim had unleashed, it silently dissipated the moment it encountered the residual force of Unyielding Force.
"That was amazing!" Arthur shouted, his fingernails unconsciously digging deep into his palm.
The Dragon Shout was even more powerful than he had imagined. He had clearly seen that the moment the centipede was struck by the Unyielding Force, its head had burst open like a snowball on a hot iron plate!
"Huff, huff…" Arthur wanted to go over and inspect the damage, but he found he couldn't exert any force in his ankles, knees, or lower back. His whole body felt numb and light. Moreover, after the initial rush of excitement faded, the mental exhaustion surged in.
How strong was this fatigue?
It was probably enough to make a boy who just finished his college entrance exams fall asleep staring at a black screen.
Fortunately, a moment later, the centipede's soul energy surged in as streams of light, finally pulling him out of that extreme state of debilitating weakness.
Yes, this time, the monster's soul energy couldn't completely restore Arthur's condition. 'It seems that while the Dragon Shout is powerful, it can't be used indiscriminately.'
Arthur mentally assessed the situation, realizing that with his current physique, using the Dragon Shout more than once a day would completely drain his stamina.
I need to find a way to control the Dragon Shout's output power…
Arthur rubbed his brow in frustration. As his ultimate hidden ability, he certainly wanted the Dragon Shout to be as powerful as possible, but being able to control it was equally important. If one shout could wipe out a group of enemies, that was fine. But if some little runt was hiding in a corner, he'd be left vulnerable.
"[Dwarf curse] What kind of power was that! How did you do that?!"
Behind him, Zoltan ran up, shouting excitedly. But just as he asked his second question, Kolgrim grabbed him. The Witcher glanced toward the elf and Red Kite, saying pointedly:
"Arthur will tell us when he feels the time is right."
Arthur, who had been ready to boast, quickly swallowed his words. Looking at the forest ahead, which was now noticeably clearer, he turned around with some apprehension and apologized to Red Kite:
"I apologize. I couldn't control the force just now, and I've damaged your trees."
"It's fine… just be careful next time…"
Hearing Red Kite's reply, Arthur was slightly surprised. He had mentally prepared himself for a serious scolding, yet her forgiveness was so immediate.
The dryads are quite forgiving, it seems!
Meanwhile, Red-Kite sighed helplessly as she looked at the mess of the forest before her, with the mountain of centipede carcass amidst the broken wood and snapped branches. What else could she do but forgive? After all, the man hadn't done it on purpose.
She immediately cleared her throat and changed the subject: "I know where the elves who kidnapped your friend are. If you promise not to engage in combat later, I can take you there."
Arthur placed his right hand on his medallion and said solemnly: "I swear on my knightly honor that as long as those elves do not initiate an attack, I will not raise a hand against them inside the forest."
Meaning he plans to settle the score with the elves once they leave the forest… Red-Kite bit her lip, her annoyance with the elves growing. If these fools hadn't caused trouble, how could Brokilon have attracted such a terrifying presence!
Following the great battle in the forest, Red-Kite's attitude softened considerably. She seemed to have suddenly stopped struggling with her internal conflict. Not only did she diligently lead Arthur and his companions, but along the way, she communicated openly with golden orioles and starlings using a whistle: "This is to notify the nearby dryads, to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings."
Red-Kite explained this. And indeed, they encountered neither dryads nor any wild beasts or monsters along the way. It was as if someone was secretly clearing all obstacles for them.
"Hey, you green hag, are you really going to betray us?"
Seeing that the scenery ahead was becoming familiar, Toruviel became agitated on the wagon bed. She arched her body, speaking quietly and urgently to Red-Kite: "Do you know what you're doing? There are at least twenty elves resting here! You'll expose all of us!"
Red-Kite replied expressionlessly: "Arthur promised me that as long as the elves stop attacking nearby villages, he won't reveal this location."
Toruviel nearly choked with fury: "You believe him? A human's promise?"
Red-Kite frowned: "I trust the word of a Throne Knight. Furthermore, he just saved my life."
Toruviel said venomously: "You're bought off by such a small favor? I swear I'll complain to Queen Eithné of Brokilon about you!"
Red-Kite appeared unconcerned by the elf's threat: "That won't be necessary. I've already entrusted my winged friends to report everything that happened today truthfully. I will accept whatever reward or punishment comes."
Seeing that Red-Kite was unyielding, Toruviel suddenly burst out screaming: "Turn around! I command you, in the name of the Elven-Dryad alliance, turn back now! You are destroying the pact between the dryads and the elves!"
Red-Kite pursed her lips and refused to answer.
Toruviel took Red-Kite's silence as weakness, and her words grew increasingly malicious. Epithets like 'unwanted mother monkey' and 'doomed old hag' spat out like machine-gun fire. The term 'old hag' was a curse used by the Verden people against dryads, and coming from an elf, it sounded particularly spiteful. Red-Kite's fingernails dug deep into her palms, and her face was coated in a mask of frost.
"What's that ugly hag muttering about all this way?"
Toruviel was about to continue her rant when suddenly a flash of light appeared before her eyes, and an axe blade sliced down towards her head, whistling through the air.
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