Chapter 44: The witcher's silver sword

[Mission - Isolated and defenseless town: A small town on the border is being harassed by monsters. They attack cattle, sheep and their owners. It seems that you can help them, since you are their lord.]

[Accept / Reject]

Lann had not planned to tackle this task until after finding Ciri, perhaps then he could count on the help of the witcher Geralt. If he did not want to help, he preferred to pay and entrust the task to the witcher, then he would wait in the village for the mission to be completed. Leave professional matters to professionals to solve.

He just didn't expect the target of his mission to appear in front of him so soon.

Soaring in the sky are two creatures called 'Griffins '.

Griffins were once only found high in the mountains, where they would hunt marmots and wild goats. When humans encroached on their lands, however, griffins soon discovered a new source of much more plentiful and easier-caught prey: cows, sheep and shepherds. Though still wary of main roads and towns (where folk with the means to hire a witcher are like to dwell), these half-eagle, half-wildcat creatures have gone from rarities to oft-encountered pests known throughout the Northern Realms. Especially hated are the subspecies known as royal griffins and Archgriffins.

In addition, griffons are not afraid of attacking armed humans, and even prefer this kind of prey, because defeating knights makes them proud. They even attack fiends, so their nature is quite noble.

They are usually considered to be a symbol of courage, loyalty, and fighting spirit. If provoked, they will not give up until they tear their opponents into pieces.

This 'noble' quality may be praised by scholars of heraldry or biology, but for front-line soldiers, it is an out-and-out nightmare.

Lann hurried his horse, about to leave the forest. Shouts, orders and screams filled the air.

This battle had obviously started for some time, and at this time Lann was watching the smaller of the pair of Griffins catch a scout in mid-air and throw him down. As the short screams stopped, Lann lost a soldier.

"Braenn, help me take care of Geralt and Ciri!" Lann shouted.

He got off the horse, took out a package from the backpack Black Wind was carrying, and hit the horse on the rump.

Black Wind entered the forest, his animal instinct quickly taking him away from the battlefield. Braenn made a few jumps between the branches of the trees, then jumped onto Black Wind's back, holding Ciri and moving forward together.

Outside the forest, four dead scouts lay in various positions, a gruesome scene. Some were torn apart by enormous claws, others had their skulls split open by a long, sharp beak, one had been thrown from a height, its bones shattered, and one appeared to have been burned by a strong acid that had partially melted it.

The dryads hardly suffered any damage. They were hiding among dead human soldiers, fallen trees, and destroyed carts. They fired arrows from their hiding places, but against the thick plumages of the Griffins, they had little effect. Only precise attacks to the eyes or vital points on the wings could have any real impact, but there were not enough archers to do so.

On the contrary, smart people wanted to find the right opportunity to hide in the woods and use the cover of the trees to confuse the griffins, but the extremely intelligent griffins did not give them this opportunity. The corpses of those soldiers died from this action. They fell very close to the woods. After several failures, it was discovered that griffins would focus on people who wanted to escape, so no one had the courage to try again.

Finally, from his hiding place, Ace found an opportunity. He adjusted his bow and, with the string taut, shot an arrow that stuck in the griffin's shoulder.

Accurate, but he underestimated the Griffin's feathers and muscles. Despite the smaller size, the faucet barely wobbled in the air. Its flight became a little stiff, but it was still rotating in the sky.

Ace patted his head in annoyance and decisively rolled away from the original hiding place. With the next breath, he watched as the other, larger Griffin fired a jet of acid that dissolved much of the cart he had used as cover.

That was not an ordinary [Griffin] but an [Opinicus] that could spit strong acid as a weapon!

A Griffin and a Archgriffin unexpectedly became partners, and now they come out to attack humans together!

The wounded Griffin flapped its wings, raising its height. It circled and used its beak to try to pull out the arrow stuck in its body. The arrow was placed at the connection between its shoulder and its wings. Every time it flapped its wings, it would sting. Greatly reduces its flexibility and speed.

At this moment, a faster, lighter, and more powerful arrow appeared out of nowhere. The arrow hit the shaft of Ace's arrow and exploded with a 'click' sound. Into the wings of a gryphon.

The shards of wood, the arrowhead, and the new arrow shattered the griffin's wing, spilling a gush of blood before the wounded creature could bear it no longer and fell from the heights.

Ellie stretched her body in mid-air. In order to shoot this magical arrow, she had to jump out of the bunker.

In order to attack, she forgot her cover. In the past, she rarely had to think about this issue in the forest. As the daughter of Brokilon she had a unique way of using trees for protection, which made her inexperienced in outdoor fighting.

When she turned around, Ellie saw the Archgriffin rushing toward her. There were no trees around that could stop the Griffin nor vines that she could use to avoid it.

Everything happens in the blink of an eye.

A steel sword was thrown like a javelin, flying from a considerable distance. This method of launching from such a distance is naturally not accurate, but it is perfect for scaring off the Archgriffin.

Lann strode out of the jungle and threw away the scabbard. Turning around, he met Ellie's frightened gaze.

Lann shouted, "Where are your fellow dryads? Get them out to help us! There was a whole team before!"

Ellie responded angrily: "Didn't you say to only bring three dryads with me? And now you're asking me?"

Lann roared angrily: "Can't you secretly let them hide? No wonder they have been bullied by humans for so long for being so honest!"

Ellie was so angry that she turned red and roared: "Don't compare me with cunning humans like you, I swore an oath to the oak tree!"

"Okay." Lann patted his head in frustration. Without support, it would be a tough battle.

"Everyone, keep the Archgriffin busy so he doesn't bother me. I'm going to take out the other Griffin first!"

With both hands, Lann took out two items from Black Wind's riding bag. Then Lann headed towards the injured griffin that had fallen from the sky.

The strap of the alchemy backpack in the left hand contains highly toxic alchemical potions that only witchers can handle.

In his right hand, he held a long sword with a lion's head hilt reforged. The blade reflected a dazzling light in the sun that was completely different from that of a steel sword.

The witcher's silver sword!

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