130. What Are You Doing?
Loyal to Death?
Hidden Condition?
Corps: Resonance?
Allen was stunned for a moment and glanced at Fred, who had just left. When Broken Stone's grumbling resumed, Allen continued explaining to it. After the last Mountain Trial, he had asked Hughes, Bond, and Fred why they had been attacked by the clumsy trolls. It turned out that during the trial, it was just a misunderstanding caused by nervousness.
After calmly explaining the situation to Broken Stone, though it was still a bit angry, Big Rock had already sensibly accepted the explanation. After finding an excuse to avoid the trolls' gaze, Allen pulled out a few pieces of rotten meat from his inventory and handed them to Broken Stone.
"...Roar... Meat... Meat... Good troll... Doesn't hold grudges..."
Broken Stone's pea-sized eyes lit up as it glanced at Big Rock, accepted the rotten meat, and naturally let go of its grudge. However, given the recent conflict, it was obviously not the right time to ask the three rock trolls for their blood. So, after chatting with Big Stone for a while, Allen set off for the Circle of Elements.
On the way, Allen mentally opened the Witcher Log.
[Corps Name: Wolfpack]
[Rank: Tier 3]
[Achievements: 1570/5000]
[Achievement Points: 797]
[Members: 10/15]
[Loyalty: Hughes 100, Fred 100, Bond 96, Claral 84...]
[Skills: Loot Locking LV1, Teaching LV1, Resonance LV1]
[Hunting Task: Witcher III]
[Task Reward: 100 Achievement Points]
During this trial, the Witcher Corps hunted a total of forty-one drowners, four ghouls, and two Foglets, earning 490 achievement points. Achievements function as experience points, automatically leveling up the Corps when the threshold is reached, unlocking new member slots. In the Witcher Log's achievement evaluation, regardless of level, creatures like drowners and ghouls count as Tier 1, while Foglets with magical abilities count as Tier 2, with each tier earning ten achievement points per kill.
Achievement Points are a type of Corps currency similar to small experience orbs, earned through achievements and hunting task rewards. Currently, they can only be used to upgrade Corps members' skills. The 700 Achievement Points on the Corps panel are enough to upgrade the Quen sign for seven members to LV2.
As for the hunting rewards, except for the two Foglets which received a C+ grade, all other battles were graded D under the influence of Loot Locking. However, because there were too many, Allen quickly skimmed through them and focused on the newly acquired skill, "Resonance."
[Resonance]
[Level: 1]
[Type: Corps Skill]
[Active Effect: When Corps members simultaneously use the same magic skill, the commander has a slight chance to trigger a controllable resonance, increasing the skill's power and effect.]
Seeing the skill panel, Allen raised an eyebrow. This skill seemed similar to a spellcasting technique used by sorcerers. If a spell was too powerful, sorcerers would often cast it together to share the burden. For example, during the massacre in Rivia in the original story, Triss and Yennefer joined forces to summon a powerful magic hailstorm to quell the rioting mob, though they originally intended to cast Alzur's Thunder.
Shaking his head at the thought, Allen considered that while it was similar, the skill description suggested it was more about the fusion and enhancement of the same skill. Moreover, the term "magic skill" probably referred to signs, or perhaps it required a spell like Ice Spear.
As Allen pondered the new skill, he continued to climb the mountain. "I'll find an opportunity to test it out; it should be a very powerful skill!" Allen looked toward the figures at the Circle of Elements, planning his next steps while glancing at the skill's description.
"But..."
"How slight is this 'slight chance'?"
-----------
By the Killer Lake.
The croaking was incessant. At first listen, one might think someone was using a drowner whistle to summon a horde of drowners. But upon closer inspection, those making the strange noises were Witchers dressed in dark red padded armor, each carrying a pair of swords.
"Croak~ Croak-la-la~ Croak-la..."
Danthe extended his right hand, his face turning red from the effort, yet he still couldn't cast the Ice Spear spell.
"No, no, your 'croak' pitch is off."
"Listen to my 'croak'..."
Vesemir stepped forward, pointing to his mouth. The other Witcher masters immediately stopped their practice and gathered around. They bent over, closely observing the movements of his lips, tongue, and throat.
"Croak-la~ Croak-la-la~ Croak-croak-la..."
The school's emblem buzzed with vibration. Before long, a thumb-thick ice spear appeared in Vesemir's right palm. At that moment, serious and envious gazes were directed at Vesemir and the ice spear in his hand.
Yes, these Witcher masters were learning the Ice Spear spell. After Allen had organized and handed over the potions and the Ice Spear spell to the headmaster in exchange for the position in the Witcher Corps, these Witcher masters were the first batch of Witchers to learn it.
Necrophage oil, Killer Whale, and Cat's Eye were not difficult to master. Over the past month, with the Witcher masters' strong physical control, keen senses, and repeated practice, they had nearly mastered these potions. Only the Ice Spear spell, though possible for Witchers to learn, was vastly different in casting steps from signs. Apart from Vesemir, who had learned it under Allen's guidance, the other Witcher masters hadn't even grasped the basics. Thus, while everyone was gathered and waiting for the trial to end, Danthe had voluntarily suggested practicing the Ice Spear spell together.
"Whoosh~"
The ice spear traced a pale blue trajectory and pierced through a sturdy birch tree. Vesemir exhaled lightly, then explained with a series of "croaks," looking expectantly at the others.
"It's very simple. Have you all learned it?"
The others were bewildered. They couldn't understand. If they're all "croaks," what's the difference between this "croak" and that "croak"?
"You haven't learned it?"
Seeing their confusion, Vesemir scratched his head in puzzlement. When Allen taught him, he explained it just like this, and Vesemir had learned it quickly. "Could it be that Danthe and the others aren't as talented as I am?" Vesemir wondered.
"Sigh~"
The gray-haired Witcher master, Whitelock, sighed and said, "If even we're struggling to learn this, how are we supposed to teach it to the other Witchers?"
The group fell into a brief moment of discouragement when Danthe suddenly looked around and curiously asked, "By the way, where are the Chief and Lady Vera? Why haven't they come today?"
Upon hearing Danthe's question, Whitelock looked up and said, "I ran into the Chief this morning. He said he'd be here later... As for Lady Vera..."
Aristo added, "Lady Vera only cares about Allen's safety. She probably thinks there's no danger for Allen in this trial, so she didn't come."
The masters exchanged glances and accepted this explanation.
"In two days, Vesemir will lead the apprentices down the mountain. Let's make the most of the time to practice!" White ended the conversation.
Before long, the area around Killer Lake was filled with croaking sounds again, startling the birds, which circled in the sky, too confused to land.
"Clang~"
A faint noise in the distance was drowned out by the croaking, not disturbing the masters' enthusiasm for practicing the Ice Spear spell. But in the next moment...
Amidst the croaking, a cold, astonished female voice suddenly came from the woods.
"What... What are you all doing?"
Witcher Masters: "Croak?"
...…
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131. The Child of Destiny and the Child of Miracles.
132. The Acting Chief of the Wolf School.
133. Messenger Bird.
134. My Little Boy Has Grown Up.
135. Descending the Mountain.