Destiny(chapter 80)

Chapter 80

With the mountain sealed and fortified, Gray turned his attention to the surrounding terrain. His first destination was the forested side of the mountain. As he ventured deeper, the truth about the forest revealed itself. The trees were not trees at all but living creatures—Leshen, also known as Leshys. These forest monsters were highly intelligent, their bodies resembling ancient, gnarled wood. Known for their iron resistance, they could shapeshift into various forms to stalk their prey. While peasants believed them to be protectors of the forest, Gray knew better. They were deadly predators, waiting for the unwary. As he walked, the air seemed to hum with their presence, their forms flickering between branches and shadows.

Gray wasted no time. Drawing his newly forged third wand. The Leshen began to stir, sensing his presence, but Gray acted swiftly, channeling spells that didn't drain his own magic. "Incendio!" he called, sending waves of fire sweeping through the forest, forcing the creatures to reveal themselves. When one of the Leshen lunged at him, he pointed his wand and said, "Expulso!" silently, A powerful explosion sent the creature flying back, shattering it into wooden splinters. Another Leshen attempted to ambush him from behind, but Gray spun around, casting "Impedimenta!" to freeze it in its tracks, rendering it immobile before finishing it off with "Reducto!" to obliterate it entirely.

Despite their numbers, Gray moved methodically, weaving through the forest with precision. The Leshen adapted, their forms shifting into animal-like shapes, but Gray countered every move. "Lumos Solem!" he cried, summoning a blinding light that forced them back, disoriented. The forest seemed alive with chaos, but with each spell, Gray reduced the creatures' hold. In time, the forest fell silent, the once-dense population of Leshen eradicated. Gray lowered his wand, surveying the desolate remains. The mountain was one step closer to being completely under his control. 

Gray moved to the next part of the mountain, known as the rotting side. The air grew thick with decay, the ground littered with dead wood and an eerie stillness that seemed to hang over the area like a shroud. As he approached, his eyes caught glimpses of movement beneath the earth—hordes of small undead creatures with glowing yellow eyes began clawing their way to the surface. Not one to waste time, Gray levitated above them, his presence drawing the horde's attention. From his vantage point, he unleashed devastating spells, obliterating the undead creatures with precision and force. His attacks culminated in a final strike aimed at their source, a grotesque green skeleton embedded in the ground, radiating unrestrained chaos. With a single, decisive spell, Gray eradicated the skeletal figure, ending the menace entirely.

His journey continued as he moved to a swampy part of the mountain, its surface eerily frozen in parts. The icy terrain glistened under faint light, but the swamp's murky depths exuded a sense of foreboding. Here, Gray encountered one of the mountain's most dangerous inhabitants—a massive insectoid creature known as a Kikimora, a name Ciri had mentioned during their travels. Its spiked legs and grotesque form moved with a predatory grace, even across the ice. Gray watched carefully, his breath visible in the cold air, as two Kikimora emerged from the frozen swamp, their chittering calls filling the silence. He prepared for battle, his wand glowing faintly with an otherworldly light.

The Kikimora charged, their legs cracking the ice as they moved with terrifying speed. Gray responded swiftly, casting "Bombarda Maxima!" The explosion rocked the swamp, sending shards of ice and bits of the creatures flying in every direction. One Kikimora, still intact, lunged at him, but he countered with "Impedimenta!" freezing it mid-attack. Without hesitation, he followed up with "Reducto!" shattering the insectoid into pieces. The second Kikimora attempted to flank him, but Gray was ready. "Confringo!" he shouted, sending a fiery blast that engulfed the creature in flames, its body collapsing into the icy sludge below.

As the last remnants of the Kikimora were reduced to ash, Gray surveyed the frozen swamp. Despite its desolate and treacherous appearance, he knew it had once been teeming with life, now overtaken by corruption and death. He floated above the still waters, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. The mountain was slowly bending to his will, piece by piece. Yet, there was no time for respite. The work ahead was far from over as he floated to the ice castle atop the mountain, but something still bothered him. "I still can't see anything past when I created that sage potion," he muttered. Sin of Solace, sitting on an ice chair, commented, "There was literally no point in clearing the mountain. With the amount of cold this place is emitting, none of those creatures would have made their way here. Plus, you didn't even use me."

Gray looked at him for a second and replied, "Well, I had to stretch my legs," surprising Sin of Solace, who said, "Oh, I thought you were going to ignore me like that girl. What made you change your mind?" Gray responded, "The only reason you are with me is because I needed something to talk to." He then returned to the hole where the dew was forming. "Well, you could have let that princess stick around. I bet she would have made a nice replacement for that half-demon," Sin of Solace said as he followed Gray down. That was a mistake, as suddenly Gray appeared beside him, glaring like he wanted to tear him to pieces. Just by thinking of it, Sin of Solace was torn to pieces. Gray kneeled down to the fragments and said, "You think I don't know that you are nothing but a figment of my mind?"

Gray sighed and began to meditate, letting Sin of Solace re-form into Gray's own appearance. Once it did, it didn't speak, clearly afraid. "Scary bastard," it muttered, sulking back into a corner while Gray smirked in amusement. While waiting, Gray started to prepare the auxiliary materials for the most complicated potion he had ever attempted to create. It was a task that demanded immense focus. Midway through his preparations, Gray realized something: "The blood of a low draconic species," he thought, checking his storage. Unfortunately, all he had was blood from a highly draconic species, which was too potent. "I could dilute it, but—" he paused, sighing. "Guess it's inevitable that I go there and take that wyvern," he said to himself, knowing exactly where to find one.

Coincidentally, the young wyvern was currently fighting Ciri in a market. "Destiny," he groaned, realizing that fate seemed determined to tie his path with hers. Annoyed, he frowned, "One day, I'm going to tear destiny apart," making it a promise. He apparated and appeared above the market where the wyvern, long-necked like a serpent with a sharp tail and only two legs, had gone rogue. Telekinetically yanking the creature, Gray held it firmly while floating in the air. Ciri, who had been wrestling with it moments ago, stood flabbergasted. Her gaze met Gray's detached expression until his frown deepened. In that moment, she felt as if the world might collapse around her. Her chest heaved, but Gray didn't linger. He disappeared into the crowd, heading for another market to gather ingredients.