Erick's POV:
I watch as the large column of lava descends upon the witch, but it flies away at high speed, barely avoiding the column.
- I guess it wouldn't be that easy, right?
I defiantly stare up at the sky where an old woman can be seen looking down at me. Before I can even utter a word, a powerful bolt of lightning comes down at me with terrifying speed. I force my legs to move to the side as I put energy into my legs to jump at the witch, but the shockwave of the lightning pushes me slightly while the sudden sound hits me, leaving me disoriented. Knowing that wouldn't be her only attack coming, I continue running in a random direction while trying to recover from the shock of the attack.
- Her attacks are much more powerful than I expected.
Several thunderbolts of equal power hit the ground where I was standing. The attacks quickly hit the ground as the witch tries to predict my movement pattern without success.
- JUST STAY STILL FOR GOOD!
As if her voice merged with her attacks, her scream echoes throughout the clearing as I try to avoid her attacks at all costs. The increasingly numerous lightning bolts strike all around, while I manage to dodge them with very little space. By this point, my ears were bleeding from the amount of noise the constant lightning was making.
- I need to find her blind spot.
*Master, I recommend you try raising a column of lava beneath her*
- Ifrit? It's strange to hear you. You've been silent for so long that I'd almost forgotten you were here.
*…. I didn't want to disturb your alone time.*
An awkward atmosphere fills the air as I continue to escape the oncoming deluge of lightning. Following her advice, I focus my energy beneath the witch while continuing to flee from her thunder. I slowly focus energy right beneath the witch so I can finish her off quickly. I slowly focus on that point when something large suddenly appears in my path. Surprised, I look ahead to find a wall in front of me.
- Shit, I accidentally went back to the village.
*MASTER, UP!*
- Urghh
At Ifrit's warning, I manage to fling myself backward before the powerful thunderclap hits the wall I was standing in front of. The impact knocks me to the ground from its power. I quickly spin on the ground before the next bolt of lightning strikes with full force. The shockwave throws me against a nearby tree, hitting my abdomen with it.
- Dammit!
A deep pain assaults my torso as I drive my axe into the ground to activate Ifrit's power. A huge column of lava suddenly rises from beneath the witch. The column takes her by surprise and partially engulfs her. As she escapes, a shrill scream of pain I can barely hear fills the air as the witch loses control of her flight and plummets, before breaking her fall and landing near the village.
- Hahahaha…. That seems to have worked like a charm.
Clutching my stomach, I walk as fast as I can to where the witch fell. The piercing pain in my side makes me almost stumble a few times as I desperately try to endure the pain. The pain I feel is strong enough to have knocked out my old self. If I hadn't experienced the blowback from Vulk's body manipulation back then, I would have definitely lost irretrievably. Even though I hate that solution for what it meant to little ###, the fact that I'm grateful for it now leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
*Miss #### will be angry with you when we get back*
- … You don't need to remind me. I'm already preparing to bow down in front of her to apologize.
Laughing inwardly at Ifrit's unusual comment, I round the village wall to find an old woman writhing in pain on the ground. Her screams, barely audible to me, make her look pathetic as she holds her leg, which has been burned almost beyond recognition. When she notices me, she quickly scrambles back to her feet, glaring at me with clear murderous intent. She raises her hand to the sky and extends her palm. I quickly slam my axe into the ground and create a lava dome above me, absorbing the damage from the powerful impact. Although I can barely hear it, a clear thunderous sound fills the air around me. The old woman is stunned by this development. With some spite, she raises her hand to the sky again:
- Don't move if you don't want to be charred to a crisp!
The witch's expression tightens as she looks at me warily. Her mouth moves sulkily, clearly telling me something. When she closes her mouth, she looks at me sharply, as if expecting some kind of response. My inability to hear her bothers me greatly, as I think about how I can understand her.
*…. Master, do you want me to interpret what the witch is saying?*
- … Please do.
With that, Ifrit became my ears.
- If you have the ability to kill me and you don't do it, you must want something. What do you want from this old woman, wielder of the demonic sword?
- …. MY ONLY GOAL IS TO KNOW THE REASONS WHY YOU'RE DOING THIS. I ONCE MET A WITCH WHO DIDN'T LOOK LIKE A MONSTER THIRSTING FOR HUMAN SOULS, AND… THAT SHOCKED ME. THAT'S WHY I BEGAN THIS JOURNEY TO DISCOVER WHAT WITCHES REALLY ARE.
- … My reasons?... You have the nerve to ask that!? After what they did to Mia?
Two powerful booms echo above me as the witch glares at me angrily and clicks her tongue. Her gaze clearly shows her dissatisfaction with the outcome of her attack.
- MIA? ARE YOU MEANING THE WITCH OF DECEPTION? I HAD NO IDEA SHE WAS DEFEATED.
- ...
Her sharp gaze clearly searches my face for any hint of deceit. Seemingly convinced I wasn't lying, she looks at me indifferently.
- If you didn't participate in her attack, I'm not interested in you. Disappear from my sight.
Before I could respond, a strong gust of wind, powerful enough to slam me against the wall, suddenly erupts from her body. I quickly strengthen my grip on the axe handle while I force the lava dome between the wind and me. The wind disappeared as quickly as it arrived, along with the figure of the old woman.
- See you, screaming wielder!
- ….. SCREAMING?
I turn to my axe, searching for an answer. Ifrit, after relaying the witch's message to me, remains silent. A heavy sigh escapes my throat as I clutch my torso in search of a horse to catch up with the witch.
- There's no doubt she's headed for the capital.