Chapter 51

Traversing the dark tunnels carved out by the monster, I felt the air grow increasingly heavy. The walls, cold and damp, seemed to close in on me as I moved forward. Natural light had disappeared long ago, leaving me to rely on my senses and potions. Stopping for a moment, I pulled out a vial of Cat from my satchel. Unlike the classic version, this potion had been modified.

Vesemir and I had spent hours discussing the limitations of this potion. While it allowed sight in the darkness, it often failed to distinguish the shadows of monsters, which had cost many witchers their lives. We considered several solutions, but echolocation was the one that stood out. With Triss's help, we managed to incorporate extracts from bats into the formula. This improved version of Cat sent out waves with every blink, mapping the environment with unparalleled precision. However, this improvement came at a cost: increased toxicity.

I downed the potion in one gulp. A burning heat coursed through my veins, darkening my eyes and making my veins even more visible. Blinking, I suddenly saw the outlines of the tunnels take shape around me, as if an invisible map were being drawn in my mind. A slight headache pulsed, but I ignored it. The scent of blood grew stronger. The wine the count had served me earlier carried traces of it, and everything pointed to a vampiric creature. I pulled out a vial of oil and carefully applied it to my silver sword before continuing.

I arrived in a vast cavern. The air was dry, thick with the sickening smell of rot mixed with blood. Each blink confirmed I was not alone. A quick-moving silhouette darted through the shadows, too fast to make out clearly.

"You're persistent, witcher. Why do you seek to kill me?" The voice echoed through the cavern, deep and almost melancholic. "I only want peace."

I raised a Quen sign to shield my body and responded calmly.

"Peace? You've killed innocents. If you'd chosen another path, I might've helped you. But it's too late for that now."

A hiss cut through the air, followed by a guttural roar. The creature leapt from the shadows, its claws aimed at me. I rolled to the side to dodge its attack and immediately countered with a powerful Aard, followed by a burst of Igni. The explosion briefly illuminated the cavern, but the monster dodged with unnerving agility, disappearing once again into the darkness. A gust of air behind me made me pivot just in time to avoid a strike from its tail, which slammed into the wall, shaking the tunnel violently. Stones began to fall around me, and I had to move quickly to avoid being crushed.

She slammed me against the wall with crushing force, her jaws snapping toward my arm, trying to crush it. Gritting my teeth, I drove my sword into her neck while gripping her head tightly with my free hand, despite my arm being pinned. I knew my strength alone wouldn't be enough. But the Thunder potion I had taken earlier amplified my physical strength and resistance, allowing me to match the creature's ferocity.

Placing my feet against the wall, I used a blast of ice magic to propel myself backward, freeing my arm in the process. The monster, still impaled by my sword, crashed heavily to the ground.

I took advantage of the momentum to freeze the ground beneath her, causing razor-sharp spikes to erupt upward. The creature howled in agony as the spikes pierced her body. But before I could finish her off, she swung her tail violently, sending me flying into the wall. The impact knocked the air out of my lungs, and I coughed up blood.

Gravely injured but still alive, the creature slowly rose again. Her eyes glinted with a mix of rage and caution as she stared at me. Meanwhile, a strange sensation began to take hold of me. My vision blurred, and whispers crept into my mind, urging me to give up, to let the monster devour me and end my suffering.

That's when I realized I had been poisoned. Clenching my teeth, I made a radical decision. I placed my hand over the area where the poison had spread and tore out the infected flesh. The pain was excruciating, but I immediately froze the wound to stop the bleeding.

As the creature prepared to attack again, I rolled to the side, letting her crash into the wall. Seizing the opening, I pushed myself to my feet and channeled the last of my energy into one final assault. I infused my blade with ice magic and used an Aard to amplify the strike. My sword cleaved through the creature's neck with brutal precision.

The creature's body convulsed one last time before collapsing.

Breathing heavily, I fell to my knees, my vision blurry. Despite the pain and exhaustion, I had completed my mission.

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Sitting beside the corpse, I took a deep breath, trying to steady my breathing and regain some strength. My shoulder still ached, and every movement reminded me just how close this fight had been. I glanced at the corpse, still smoldering, and murmured in a slightly tired tone:

"Shit... Moments like these, I'd rather face an army of ghouls than this."

I ran a hand over my face, reflecting on the mistakes I had made. The layout of the cave worked in its favor. The perfect circular shape allowed its swift, gliding movements, while I had to constantly adjust my footing just to stay upright. And then there was the fragility of the place. The unstable walls had nearly buried us multiple times. I had let myself get caught like a rookie.

But what had really taken me by surprise was the poison. I clenched my teeth, remembering the bite and the icy sensation that had spread through my veins. I had never heard of a monster like this one before. It was a first, and I hadn't been prepared.

As I was about to stand, the sound of footsteps echoed through the tunnel. I turned my head, my senses still on high alert, and spotted the young man approaching with a torch in hand. His face was etched with worry. When he saw me sitting beside the corpse, he rushed over.

"Witcher! Do you need help?" he asked, his tone urgent.

I shook my head as I slowly got to my feet. Reaching into my satchel, I pulled out a vial of Swallow and took a sip before turning to him.

"Carl, right?"

He nodded, visibly surprised. "Yes... How do you know my name?"

I studied him for a moment before replying.

"The contract master asked me to find you. What were you thinking, trying to fight a monster we knew nothing about?"

Carl lowered his head, his expression a mix of shame and anger.

"My father was all I had left. The last member of my family. Even if it meant dying, I had to avenge him." His voice wavered slightly, but he quickly turned his gaze away, fixing it on the corpse. "But..." He trailed off, then kicked the lifeless body and spat on the ground. "Looks like you already took care of it."

I watched him silently. His anger was understandable, but his recklessness could have easily cost him his life. Without a word, I knelt beside the corpse and pulled several jars from my satchel. In silence, I extracted its fangs, heart, and a few samples of its brain. These components could prove useful for potions or future research. Once I finished, I stood, gripping the monster's head. Carl stood there, watching me silently.

"Let's head back to the surface," I said finally, giving him a nod.

He nodded and walked ahead, holding the torch to light the path. Before leaving the cave, I cast one last glance at the corpse. A monster this unusual... It deserved a detailed report. Stretching out a hand, I uttered a simple word. Flames burst from my fingers and engulfed the body. The fire danced briefly in the darkness, casting flickering shadows across the walls before dying down, taking the monster with it and ensuring the necrophages would have nothing to feast on.

Walking behind Carl, I cast one last look at the darkness behind us and murmured to myself:

"An army of ghouls... really."

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As I surfaced, a macabre sight awaited me. The workers, once controlled by the monster's magic, now lay lifeless on the ground. Their bodies, dried out and frozen in strange positions, resembled forgotten mummies. Their skin, thin and cracked, looked as though it might shatter at the slightest touch. The magic that had sustained them dissipated along with the monster's death. A heavy stench of decay lingered in the air.

I paused for a moment to silently offer a prayer for the dead. Then, with a wave of my hand, I cast an Igni sign. Flames burst forth, engulfing the bodies and ensuring they wouldn't become feasts for necrophages.

As I packed my belongings, the sound of rapid hoofbeats reached my ears. I looked up to see Ganon approaching in the distance, his mane flowing in the wind. When he reached me, he pressed his head against my chest insistently, his warm breath betraying his worry. He gave a soft whinny, almost as if he could sense my pain, his gaze fixed on my still-visible wound.

"Don't worry, Ganon. I'll heal," I said in a soothing tone, running my hand along his neck. "Let's head back to Beauclair."

I pulled out a vial of antidote and uncorked it. This wasn't just any witcher potion it was a rare remedy crafted by Triss. Capable of neutralizing almost any known poison, it was an alchemical masterpiece she kept secret. She had entrusted it to me, once saying that revealing its recipe could make her immensely wealthy, but Triss wasn't the type to sell her knowledge to the highest bidder. I drank the potion, feeling an icy wave course through my veins, neutralizing the lingering effects of the poison. Carefully, I placed the jars containing the monster's remains into my satchel.

Climbing onto Ganon, I turned my gaze toward Carl. He stood silently, holding a torch that cast faint light around him.

"Let's go. Back to Beauclair. I have a report to make."

Carl nodded and began walking beside Ganon, the torch barely illuminating our path.

The road back to Beauclair was quiet, and I let Ganon carry my weary body.

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he stone. The air was icy, thick with humidity, and the scent of ancient earth filled the atmosphere. The darkness seemed almost tangible, engulfing every corner of the cave.

On the ground, a silhouette lay motionless. Nothing moved, nothing breathed. For a moment, time seemed frozen. Then, slowly, a finger twitched. A few moments later, another moved, followed by a hand that weakly stirred. Gradually, the entire body came to life. Its movements were hesitant, sluggish, as if every action required immense effort. The figure eventually sat up, legs trembling, shoulders slumped.

Moonlight timidly filtered through a crack in the stone, gradually revealing the features of the silhouette. She slowly lifted her head, and the silvery reflection of her long hair slipped down her neck. Her eyes opened brilliant green, almost otherworldly, glowing in the darkness.

Ciri had awakened...