Chapter 14: Once a Witch, Not Just Scribbles

A Sudden Crisis

Instantly, Weng leapt downstairs. “Borrowing a horse!” Grabbing the reins, she steadied herself. Swiftly, she raced toward the mountains. “Wait for me—!” Rila shouted, unable to stop her. Weng had taken her horse! Meanwhile, the church to the stables was a long trek. Without Rila, it’d take ages! This woman, usually so calm, turned frantic when trouble struck. Using magic, Weng cleared obstacles gently. Thus, she galloped out of the village. Villagers remained unaware of the danger. By the lake, Vik, fishing, opened his eyes slowly. His gaze locked uncertainly on the deep mountains.

Tremors in the Mine

Suddenly, strange tremors shook the mine violently. Dust scattered as supports wobbled precariously. Lights flickered, malfunctioning. Workers froze, gripping their tools. However, with prior experience, they fled—though too late. Abruptly, the ground collapsed. Everyone tumbled down without warning. As dust settled, a faint glow pierced the fog. A grating screech echoed through. Lumbering forward came a figure, tall as a building. Each step, heavy like metal, cleared the dust.

The Monstrous Threat

Swallowing hard, workers retreated despite their pain. Behind them loomed a smooth, towering wall—carved by some absolute force. Suddenly, a light flickered eerily in midair. Then, two, three… eight eyes glowed! Seeing the spider-like monstrosity, fear surged uncontrollably. Its scythe-like legs towered over them. Pain and dread paralyzed their legs. Grabbing a fallen pickaxe, the nearest worker charged. Summoning fleeting courage, he lunged forward. Yet, the creature swatted him away, leaving him crumpled. Closing in, the monster pierced a thigh with its metallic blade. “It’s over…” Unable to fathom this nightmare, they closed their eyes in despair.

Weng’s Swift Rescue

A blaze struck suddenly, tilting the monster back. Darting forward, a slender figure reached the injured worker. Stone walls erupted, shielding the group. “Lady Emissary—!” Whirlwinds roared through the narrow tunnel. Quickly, Weng worked to pull workers out. However, her basic magic couldn’t lift their combined weight. Lacking specialized spells, her limits were clear. Thus, she hauled them up one by one, tossing them. In a split second, the stone wall was pierced. Corrosive liquid sizzled through the rest.

Confronting the Beast

Sharpening her gaze, Weng summoned blooming flames. Her magic resonated with an abyssal force. Fire streams shot forward. Yet, the steel-spider creature charged unscathed. Straight at her, it barreled relentlessly. ‘Arthropods—hated them then, hate them now…’ Those eyes repulsed her. Despite its massive size, its speed was a nightmare. Leaping onto the wall’s edge, Weng hovered midair. Probing wind blades struck the shell, thudding dully. Noticing a glowing rift in the fog, she paused. No time to think—the monster scaled the wall toward her.

Tactical Retreat

With a thought, another stone wall blocked its sight. Swiftly, Weng dashed to the tunnel entrance. Fleeing outward, she kept moving. Her magic never faltered; boulders tore from the mountain. Sealing the passage, she bought time. However, this wouldn’t hold long. Emerging from the mine, she saw workers slumped in disarray. Moving them quickly was impossible. Facing this for the first time, she had no plan. Hoping Rila would arrive soon, she pressed on.

Tending the Wounded

Bandaging a wounded leg, Weng disinfected it swiftly. She stemmed the blood flow. Meanwhile, healing magic stabilized the others. Tracking the creature, her mental energy wove through cracks. Following blood’s scent, it dug outward. Oddly calm, she seemed unfazed by this overpowered monster. ‘Just kidding—I’m out of moves.’ Their lives weren’t her deepest concern. Rather, their deaths would mark her misstep. Even so, this crisis was unpredictable. Had she been more cautious, would things differ?

A Glimmer of Doubt

Estimating Vik’s strength, she relied on guesswork. Never having seen him fight, especially post-injury, she wondered. Could the village handle this? Suddenly, events spiraled beyond control. Powerlessness crept in faintly. ‘Flee?’ Scanning the exhausted faces, she hesitated. Then, falling rocks sounded—sharp and clear. Urgency gripped her entirely. Like drowning, her mind sank heavily. Workers’ eyes widened as a shadow loomed. It shouldn’t have been this fast. Yet, dwelling on it was pointless now. Laughing almost at her own calm, she steeled herself.

Courage Against Instinct

Fear is instinct; courage is humanity’s anthem. As the scythe-blade sliced air, a gust exploded. Flinging workers away, Weng sidestepped leisurely. Earth spikes surged, blocking the monster’s path. A water film coated her hand subtly. Darting beneath, she struck boldly. Surprisingly, one punch staggered the creature. However, recoil numbed her arm entirely. Gritting her teeth, she hit the topmost eye. Retreating, she created distance. ‘This brute courage—past life’s obsession or arrogance?’ Survival alone would reveal the truth. Her silver hair danced in the wind.

Primal Fury

Those training days weren’t wasted. Feeling power coalesce, she trusted her body. Even without the [Witch] path’s display, strength surged. Wind-cleared small fry bought time for Rila. With the battlefield clear, focus sharpened. Her fists roared fiercely! Choosing primal combat, the witch went all in! Bursting, the secondary eye spewed reeking sludge. Twisting its joints, the creature crawled forward. Sharp pincers spread, venom spraying wildly. Sliding across its body, secondary eyes refocused on her. Its aura turned terrifyingly intense! Surging with magic and blood, Weng stood firm. Undaunted, she threw another fearless punch!