Lord: I have built a witch's sanctuary.

Chapter 22 Hope Dies to Protect Kindness

"It's so noisy..."

A lazy, slightly grumpy voice suddenly rang out on the battlefield.

next second.

The earth roared.

"Boom—!!!"

Centered on the blasted opening, countless thick, dark green vines, as thick as giant pythons, instantly pierced through the hard frozen soil and shot into the sky!

The crimson flying insects that were about to rush into the gap didn't even have time to react before they were pierced and crushed by these vines like skewers of barbecue!

The walls that had collapsed due to the explosion were now visibly healing as the vines wrapped and wove around them.

No, it's not healing.

It's fusion!

The vines merged with the frozen soil and rocks, transforming into an even more ferocious and wild thorny barrier.

"This...this is..."

Victor stared blankly at the scene, forgetting even to swing his sword.

The lord's absurdly bizarre method of awakening actually succeeded?

Even a count's territory like Frostwolf City only has three incomplete paths for witch advancement.

White Wolf Territory, a small baronial territory.

A small outpost has two complete paths to becoming a witch?

Amidst the swirling thorns, Olivia's figure slowly rose.

She is no longer the comical figure buried in the ground.

The soil beneath her feet rose up automatically, supporting her body.

Countless tiny roots connect her to her feet, as if she were an extension of this earth.

The once somewhat dirty gold-plated robe has now been transformed into a magnificent robe woven from countless tender leaves and flower buds.

She opened her eyes.

Those brown eyes, which always carried a hint of shrewdness and calculation, had now turned into a pure, emerald green, as if containing the entire forest.

Second-tier special witch advancement path: Fertile Earth Mother, Awakening!

"Is it you little bugs who disturbed my sweet dream?"

Olivia gently raised her hand, her fingertips pointing towards the swarm of insects outside the city walls.

"Grow."

With that soft whisper.

Outside the city walls, on the wasteland that was originally covered by ice and snow, a green ocean suddenly burst open.

Countless barbed, bloodthirsty vines burst forth from the snow; they were no longer passive plants, but had transformed into ravenous predators.

Those living snowflakes that would explode at the slightest touch were utterly powerless against these plants.

The vines secreted a viscous sap that instantly enveloped the flying insects, preventing the fire element within them from contacting the air and extinguishing the fuse of the explosion. Then, they devoured the insects as nourishment!

This is a reverse predation.

The insect swarms that originally held an absolute advantage became the best fertilizer in the territory of "Mother Earth".

Absorbing nutrients, plants grow and spread, and more vines kill more insects, creating an endless cycle.

In just a few minutes.

The overwhelming swarm of red insects was completely swallowed up by this terrifying forest of vines.

The world returned to silence.

Only the crunching sound of the vines chewing on the insect corpses sent chills down one's spine.

The crisis has been averted.

Lorraine let out a long breath, quickly jumped down from the city wall, and rushed towards the farmland.

The light emanating from Olivia gradually faded, and she swayed weakly as the earthen platform beneath her feet slowly descended.

But Lorraine did not go to see the witch who had just performed a great service.

He rushed straight to Layla, who was lying in a pool of blood.

The girl's face was ashen, and her left arm was completely bare. Although the bleeding from the wound had been stopped by the life energy that had just erupted, it still looked horrifying.

"Sir...sir..."

Leila struggled to open her eyes, her vision blurry as she looked at the figure in front of her.

She wanted to laugh, but the movement aggravated her wound, causing her to gasp for breath in pain.

"I...held it..."

"I don't owe you anything..."

"I can... leave now..."

The sound was so faint it was like a mosquito's hum.

Looking at her blood-stained little face and the hideous wound, Lorraine felt a surge of complex emotions.

It was anger, but also admiration.

He reached out and gently placed his hand on Leila's head; the warmth of his palm made the girl tremble.

"Who told you to get out?"

Lorraine's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.

"But...my hand..."

Lyra looked at her severed arm in despair. "I'm a cripple now... and I'm unlucky... I'll get myself killed..."

"Shut up."

Lorraine interrupted her self-pity.

He turned to look at Olivia, who was inspecting her wheat field with a pained expression.

"Hey, you radish spirit, that girl saved your life and everyone else's lives just now."

Olivia rolled her eyes, but still walked over.

She looked at Leila's wound, a hint of surprise flashing in her emerald eyes.

"Such a strong affinity for life... If it weren't for her blood activating this land just now, I might not have woken up so quickly."

Lorraine turned around, looked at the bewildered Lyra, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

"Did you hear that? You're not a jinx."

"As for your hands..."

Lorraine paused, her tone becoming meaningful.

"Don't worry. Once you awaken your witch powers, this level of injury is nothing more than replacing a part."

"Once you awaken, you can restore the integrity of your limbs."

Leila was stunned.

She stared wide-eyed at Lorraine in disbelief, as if she had heard something out of the blue.

"A...witch? Me?"

"I've done the tests... the crystal ball shattered... I'm a useless piece of trash with no talent..."

"idiot."

Lorraine gently tapped her forehead.

"The crystal ball shattered not because you lacked talent."

"It's because that inferior crystal ball simply couldn't contain the excessively violent and unique magic within you."

"That kind of power that can cause natural disasters, disrupt probability, and even overload and destroy magical devices..."

Lorraine leaned down and whispered in Lyra's ear, like a devil tempting a lost lamb.

That's not bad luck.

"That is yours, unique—authority."

"Take good care of your injuries. When the time is right, I will personally help you awaken."

"Welcome to the White Wolf Clan."

"The future... Witch of Misfortune."

Leila stared blankly at the man in front of her.

Tears finally burst forth.