Chapter 59
Hunting
As her gaze swept across all the witchcrafts listed in the attributes, a bold plan gradually took shape in Lucy's mind.
"System, simulate 'Basic Phase Wing Leap', 'Basic Venomous Fang', 'Basic Ultrasonic Shockwave'." She issued the command in her consciousness.
Buzz~
A buzzing sound that only Lucy could hear rang in her ears, and blue characters on her retina started flashing wildly.
[Not content with short-distance gliding, you consume 3 Academic Points to conduct a witchcraft simulation for 'Phase Wing Leap'.]
[This model, personally dissected and constructed by her, was not complicated. The direction of improvement soon became clear.]
[You initially analyzed the 'Phase' portion of the model and successfully upgraded it.]
[By consuming another 4 Academic Points, you successfully upgraded 'Phase Wing Leap' to Intermediate.]
[Basic Phase Wing Leap → Intermediate Phase Wing Leap (a mid-range displacement witchcraft triggered by phase energy simulated and improved through the magical vein of 'Banshee's Phase Wings')]
[Academic Points: 83 → 76]
...
Lucy blinked her eyes. "Continue."
Buzz!~
[You further optimized the 'Phase' portion of the model.]
[After consuming 10 Academic Points, 'Phase Wing Leap' received significant improvement.]
[Intermediate Phase Wing Leap → Advanced Phase Wing Leap (a mid-range displacement witchcraft triggered by phase energy simulated through the magical vein of 'Banshee's Phase Wings' and repeatedly improved, capable of evading non-mental strength locked attacks during phase shift)]
[Academic Points: 76 → 66]
...
Buzz!~
[After consuming 8 Academic Points, 'Venomous Fang' received significant improvement.]
[Basic Venomous Fang → Intermediate Venomous Fang]
[After consuming 12 Academic Points, 'Venomous Fang' received significant improvement.]
[Intermediate Venomous Fang → Advanced Venomous Fang]
[Advanced Venomous Fang (a Tier-0 attack witchcraft constructed through the magical vein of the 'Three-Eyed Banded Serpent’s venom gland, causing piercing damage to the enemy, followed by stackable, continuous poisoning damage)]
[Academic Points: 46]
...
Buzz!~
[This is your first time simulating a Tier-1 witchcraft. The model for a Tier-1 witchcraft is ten times more complex than that of a Tier-0 witchcraft, with difficulties far exceeding your imagination.]
[After investing 10 Academic Points, you gained little insight.]
[You repeatedly and pointlessly drew the magical vein diagram of the 'Banshee Wail Resonance Cavity', which drove you into a state of exhaustion.]
[After investing 20 Academic Points, you realized that you must break free from the original framework and explore a new path toward the secret of witchcraft evolution.]
[After investing 30 Academic Points, you accidentally had a revelation — the principle of sound amplification in a paper tube.]
[Sound propagates through compressed and rarefied air; the shape of the tube can guide and concentrate sound waves, making them more focused and clear. A smooth inner wall can reduce energy loss of the sound...]
[You added a witchcraft model to 'Ultrasonic Shockwave' based on the amplification principle, and the power of the witchcraft was indeed enhanced.]
[This discovery excited you greatly, and you invested more Academic Points without hesitation.]
[Basic Ultrasonic Shockwave → Intermediate Ultrasonic Shockwave]
[Academic Points: 6]
...
Curled up in the pile of decaying leaves, Lucy suddenly opened her eyes. The moonlight reflected in her azure pupils, making them resemble a hunting night owl.
Not far away, two followers of the Golden Cult were carrying water bags as they walked toward the river.
After losing the protection of the evil god, these heretics were nothing more than ordinary civilians. Days of traveling had already left them exhausted, and most of their riding horses were utterly spent.
Thus, after capturing the witch, they decided to rest briefly by the creek instead of continuing the journey, planning to set out again at dawn.
As the two heretics waited for the goatskin water bags to fill, they failed to notice the figure quietly approaching behind them.
When they finally heard the sound of dry leaves being crushed, they thought it was other believers coming over.
One of them turned around completely off guard.
"It must be that fool Kuer trying to scare us."
But what greeted him was a silently flying Venomous Fang.
As the cultist who had turned around collapsed, the other heretic who was still fetching water finally realized the danger.
He immediately invoked divine possession, golden flames blazing in his eyes, and his enhanced vision clearly saw Lucy's face in the darkness.
"It’s you!"
The surprise on his face quickly turned into viciousness and killing intent. He swiftly grabbed the short-handled axe at his waist.
But a Venomous Fang shot toward him at a speed far beyond his reaction time, instantly piercing through his throat.
Unlike the previous dark green, this time the venomous fang shimmered with a pearlescent multicolored glow.
The fear on the heretic’s face and the scream in his throat were simultaneously dissolved by the venom.
His eyeballs collapsed like melting candles, yet his body remained frozen in place in a sword-drawing stance — the neurotoxin of the Advanced Venomous Fang had acted before its corrosive effect.
By the time Lucy approached, the cultist's skeleton, fully consumed by snake venom, finally crumbled.
"Eleven remaining."
She walked up to the cultist who had been killed by the regular Venomous Fang, quickly stripped off his dark cloak and wrapped it around herself, making it easier to blend into the darkness.
After pushing all the corpses into the stream, Lucy hid once again in the pile of dead leaves.
Ten minutes later.
Bishop Woven, noticing that the two had not returned, sent others to investigate. Three armed heretics advanced in a triangular formation.
When they reached the riverside, the foul-smelling pool of corpse fluid on the ground quickly caught their attention.
"This is..."
One of the heretics lifted a rusted ring from the corpse fluid.
"The ring Tyne used at his wedding, I saw it on his hand!"
"Where are they?"
Realizing the danger, the three of them simultaneously ignited the golden flame.
But the Advanced Venomous Fang was already far beyond what ordinary heretics could handle.
Hidden in the pile of dead leaves, Lucy fired three Venomous Fangs, taking down two heretics. The final Screech of Agony ruptured the eardrums of the remaining one, who rolled on the ground clutching his head, wailing in agony.
In the end, to conserve mental strength, Lucy picked up the short-handled axe and split his head in two with one swing.
She tossed the blood-dripping axe onto the corpse and clapped her hands.
"Eight remaining..."
...
By the time Bishop Woven arrived with five subordinates, Lucy was long gone from the scene.
He looked at the three corpses and the pool of corpse fluid on the ground. The merciful smile on his face was slightly distorted.
"Looks like you’ve run into some trouble."
A mocking curve appeared at the corner of Olivia’s lips.
"You knew she would follow us?" The Saint Radiance at the center of Bishop Woven’s forehead flickered, as if peering into hearts.
"Of course."
"Where is she?"
"How would I know?"
The princess's sincere reply made the bishop frown — the Saint Radiance's detection showed this was indeed the truth.
But her next remark drained the blood from his face: "However, if I were you, I wouldn’t have split your men into two groups."
Woven was stunned, then his expression changed dramatically.
At that moment, two desperate screams came from the direction of their camp.
"Back! Quickly!"
The armed heretics ran as fast as they could. But when they returned to the camp, all those left behind were already lying dead around the bonfire.
Without exception, each had been killed with a single fatal blow. Even the divine power of the Lord of Golden Worship had not managed to keep them alive for even a breath longer.
More than that, the dozen warhorses tied to the trees had all vanished.
Judging from the wounds, the attacker was undoubtedly the same witch from earlier.
But judging by the power of the witchcraft, she was far stronger than before.
If she was hiding behind some tree and ambushed him, would he be able to dodge the first spell?
The answer was already clear in his mind, and a trace of madness gradually spread across the bishop’s face.