Chapter 198 Sword and Sword

meditation.

While being half asleep and half awake, you can quickly recover your energy while maintaining a certain level of alertness.

This is a common skill for demon hunters, but not every demon hunter can learn it.

This is a difficult skill to master, at least for the cat school witcher.

The flaws in the herbal decoction formula caused most cat-faction witchers to have some mental and physical problems.

Pain, mania, irritability, madness...

Many demon hunters of the Cat School need alcohol and hallucinogens to numb their nerves even for a good night's sleep.

What’s more, meditation requires an extremely high mental state.

but.

There will always be outliers in this world.

The Cat School also has demon hunters who are very good at meditation.

For example, Guksat.

He can meditate and is very skilled at it.

Apart from the leader, Guksat is the only demon hunter in the Cat School who has learned this skill.

He used to be proud of this, and even felt a sense of superiority when facing other companions who had incomplete or excessive mutations.

Just this one night.

No matter how hard he tried to control his emotions or calm his heartbeat, he could not enter that peaceful and tranquil state.

Guksat knew why.

Glancing at his companion who had taken medicine and fallen asleep, he pulled out a wooden bottle that emitted a faint fishy smell from his leather armor.

It was given to him by Teresius this morning, and contained a few ominous dark red pills.

They have no name and their composition is unknown.

Coming from an ancient witch doctor, each one can allow a person to burst out with power far beyond normal.

Although the cost is high.

After each burst of power, he needs to lie in bed for at least half a year to recuperate.

That's just the normal version.

The bottle in Guksat's hand has something added to it.

The explosive power of ordinary pills may be twice as strong as usual, but this bottle is at least four times as strong.

of course.

After taking it, the price to pay is even more expensive - life!
In the silent room.

Guksat stared at the four cat-faction witchers, the oldest of whom was only twenty-one years old, for a long time.

Many memories kept turning over and over, floating in his mind.

Teresius hardly cared about anything.

For a long time, he was responsible for training new people in the school.

So although these demon hunters in front of him are companions, they were actually once his apprentices.

It was he who brought them back to the caravan from the dark corners of a city, from a village affected by war, and even from an old and decaying castle...

Train them, teach them to kill, watch them go crazy...

Although they always contradict him, they always obey him and rely on him in the end...

"The new Cat School cannot accommodate so many people. They are the necessary sacrifices for the survival of the Cat School!"

The words of Teresius circled in his mind like a scavenging vulture.

in fact.

To win tomorrow's match, the strength of these four Cat School Demon Hunters is more than enough, and there is no need to use such dangerous pills.

Even if there is an apprentice of the Bloody Red Fox, the demon hunter who has just passed the trial of the Wolf School is no match for their swordsmanship.

Even the result of tomorrow's game is not important to the school.

The school just doesn't need them anymore...

Or maybe the Cat School just wants them to die...

That's it.

In a trance.

Guksat's eyes wandered aimlessly in the small room.

do not know when……

Its daybreak.

outside the window.

The sky was hazy and the morning glow was blood-red.

The voice of Teresius sounded in my mind again:

"Guksat, trust me!"

"The wolves in the Ancient Sea Fortress are doomed to perish!"

"The future of the Cat School will surely grow stronger in your and my hands, on the corpses of the wolves!"

Will it really get better... Guksat sighed softly and clenched the wooden bottle in his hand.

……

Waking up from meditation.

After a simple wash, the Wolf School Demon Hunters arrived at the arena early under the leadership of Robin, but they did not expect that there were still two hours before the start of the competition.
There were already crowds of people here, and there were even long queues.

Obviously.

Although both wizards and wizard apprentices don't like witchers.

But this does not stop them from being curious about which of the two witcher schools in Kaedwen is stronger!
Or……

It is precisely because they hate witchers that they are so eager to watch the witchers kill each other, even if they have to queue up early.

Following Robin's guidance, we walked into the arena, which was empty except for the main stand.

The other directions were filled with black-robed wizards who came to watch the fun.

However, such excitement could not bring glory to the participating demon hunters or make them excited. Instead, it made them frown.

The demon hunter from the Wolf School was standing at the edge of the arena, taking a rest.

Two steps behind me are the five-meter-high stands.

"...Saiban, why are you here too? Don't you have Potions class in the morning?"

"It's over... Freaks fighting freaks, how can we miss such an opportunity!"

"It's a pity that they are just small monsters fighting each other. I don't know when I can see them..."

"Mutants……"

"monster……"

……

These wizard apprentices didn't care if their disparagement of the witcher was heard.

Some apprentices even faced in their direction and raised their voices provocatively for everyone to hear.

Hear how brave he was when facing the monster created by the wizard!

Fred, who was in a very bad mood because of the disgusting wizard apprentice, complained in a low voice:

"These wizards are so annoying!"

Vesemir frowned and patted Fred on the shoulder, saying soothingly:

"Business matters!"

"I know... I am..." Fred gritted his teeth, "I am..."

"Which mentor's students are you?" Robin suddenly turned around and looked at the noisy and noisy wizard apprentice behind him with an expressionless face.

The apprentices glanced at the teacher's emblem on Robin's black robe and immediately lowered their heads and fell silent.

Dare not say another word.

Ailin looked at Robin, who was always dull, in surprise.

Robin, who was unwilling to even approach people in Kaer Morhen, had become so bold after not seeing him for a few months.

"Are you jealous? This is just a small bit of the prestige of Teacher Ben Ade!"

Robin adjusted his glasses proudly.

……

The Wolf School has Robin to help them, but the Cat School on the other side is not so lucky.

Farouk leaned against the steel fence, ignoring the wizard apprentices behind the Cat School Witcher, which encouraged the wizard apprentices' arrogance.

The cat-faction witcher, who was in a bad mood and had difficulty controlling himself, reached behind his back several times to grab the steel sword.

If the team leader Guksat had not stopped it, a bloody conflict might have occurred long ago.

of course.

Ban Ade College seemed to have anticipated this a long time ago, and the number of wizards arranged by the Cat School Witchers to maintain order was obviously twice as many as that of the Wolf School.

And their eyes are always glued to the cat-faction witcher.

Ailin was gloating as he watched his colleagues being tortured.

There was a sudden commotion in the audience seats on both sides.

"Woo——"

The loud sound of the horn suddenly drowned out the noise in the arena.

Then the voice of the attendants calling the names came from the main stand:

"Here comes the King of Kaedwen, Heir to the Unicorn Dynasty, King of Ard Kalai, Grand Duke of Ben Ard, and ruler of Kangon and Maliur, Haxor!"

this moment.

Every pair of eyes looked towards the main stand.

"Oh! The King is so fat!"

"Nonsense! Otherwise, why would he be called a big eater!"

The wizard apprentice's whispers came from behind.

Fred was also surprised:
"How come this king is fatter than the wild boar in the back hill?"

Even Arryn had to admit that even though he had imagined Hacksor's size many times, he still greatly underestimated how obese the King of Kaedwen was.

Hackso was so fat that he couldn't walk normally by himself.

You have to be supported or carried by someone to move.

After the king took his seat, Soi and another wizard came out from behind and sat on either side of the king.

Next came the other wizards, and men and women who looked like they were of noble status.

Six knights in sturdy armor finally walked out and guarded both sides of the main stand.

"Why a wizard?"

"Where is the head of the Cat School?"

Aelin asked curiously.

Since the chief of the Wolf School is sitting next to the king, shouldn't the person sitting on the other side be from the Cat School?

“Do you think anyone is qualified to sit beside the king?” Vesemir shook his head. “The head of the Cat School is not even worthy of sitting on that high platform!”

"You are even less worthy to sit beside the king!"

Ailin was about to ask again.

A servant standing beside the king.

He bent down and asked Hackso who was sitting on the bench for instructions.

As if knowing that he was unwelcome in this place, Hakeso didn't say a word.

He glanced at Soi, waved his hand, and asked the servants to arrange the game.

After receiving the order, the elegantly dressed attendant loudly announced to the arena:
"The fighting competition between the apprentices of the Wolf School and the Cat School begins now!"

The quiet arena suddenly exploded with noise.

After the male wizard apprentices' screams stopped, the attendant continued:
"First match, melee!"

Ok?
Melee?

"Wasn't the first match a sword fight?"

The Wolf School's witchers looked up at Robin at the same time.

"It was... Farouk who told me the news... Why did he... lie to me?"

Robin was stunned for a moment, then instinctively looked at Farouk opposite him.

Farouk smiled at them, shook his head, and looked away.

What does it mean?
Aelin frowned.

Did Farouk deceive them?
Or were the events of this competition modified at the last minute, without even Farouk knowing about it?

The key is……

why?
Why did Farouk or anyone else hide this from us!
What's in it for them?
Seeing that the Cat School Demon Hunter opposite was acting normal, it seemed that he had already known the news.

Arryn and Vesemir looked at each other, their faces suddenly becoming serious.

The attendant's explanation of the rules did not stop because of the Wolf School witcher's doubts:
"...Eight people will fight with swords. The use of seals is not allowed. The school whose people can stand to the end will win the fight!"

"Now!"

"Demon hunters on both sides, change your weapons and put on unsharpened swords..."

Immediately, a servant came from behind to help the Wolf School witcher take off the silver sword and steel sword, and then handed them an unsharpened long sword.

Thinking there was a trick, the Wolf School Demon Hunter checked it several times but found no problems.

Clang!
The long sword is sheathed!

Ailin took a deep breath, suppressed the uneasiness in his heart, and said:

"Don't think so much!"

"We have the strength to do this. No matter how the game turns out, the final result cannot be changed!"

Upon hearing this, Hughes, Bont, and Fred felt relieved when they thought about their recent rapid improvement in strength.

Vesemir also patted the shoulders of several young demon hunters and encouraged them:

"Alin is right. No matter how many tricks the scum of the Cat School play, garbage is garbage!"

"Come on, guys from the Wolf School, show them what we can do!"

"Don't worry, Master Vesemir, they are bound to lose!" Fred said confidently.

Hughes and Bonte also nodded seriously.

“Very good!” Vesemir grinned.

I noticed that Robin had his head down, still absorbed in what had just happened.

Ailin patted his shoulder and comforted him, "It's not your fault. Don't blame yourself!"

Robin forced a smile and nodded reluctantly.

Seeing this, Ailin patted his shoulder again.

Then he leaned close to Vesemir's ear and whispered:
"Master Vesemir, you have to be careful too!"

"If the king wants to deal with the chief, he will definitely not forget that there is a master witcher from the wolf school present here."

"So you're dangerous too!"

"Don't worry! I'll pay attention!"

Vesemir squinted at Hackso and nodded seriously.

Then look back to the future of Wolf School:

"Be careful! There is no shame in giving up when you encounter danger!"

"Hughes, Bonte, Fred, and the rest of you, don't be impulsive!"

"I'm standing right here, ready to rescue you at any time!"

"To the school, honor and money are not as important as your lives. Do you understand?"

"Got it!" the young demon hunters of the Wolf School said in unison.

"very good!"

Vesemir nodded.

At this time.

"Witchers from both sides enter!" the king's attendant shouted.

Ailin took a deep breath, nodded slightly to his companions on both sides, and then walked into the arena at the same time.

"Sand~sand~sand~"

The sound of leather boots rubbing against the sand was particularly clear in my ears.

The demon hunter from the cat school on the opposite side was getting closer and closer.

He was so close that he could clearly see the fine hair on the cat-faction witcher's face, his bloodshot eyes, and his flushed cheeks...

Amid the noise, I heard their excited gasps...

Something is wrong!
The strange behavior of the cat-faction witcher made Ailin instantly alert.

"Be careful, there's something wrong with these people!"

Ailin said softly.

"Stop!" said the attendant.

The two groups of demon hunters were less than ten meters apart.

"Glory to the great Lord of Kaedwen!"

The attendant smiled in reverence and praised loudly.

Unfortunately, no one in the entire arena responded, even Hackso himself had a blank expression on his face.

The attendant could only cough twice, and then raised the white horn in his right hand with a serious expression as if nothing had happened:

"Woo——"

The moment the horn sounded throughout the arena.

"Qiang!"

The eight demon hunters drew their swords from their backs almost at the same time, stomped hard on the soft sandy ground, and rushed towards their opponents!

Instantly.

The misty yellow-brown dust was flying.

(End of this chapter)