The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 45: Shared Light of March

Vol 2 Chapter 45: Shared Light of March

Facing comrades all fallen around you, and an enemy beyond imagination, what choice would you make now?

Running away is never wrong, it preserves your life.

But after running, people with different personalities meet different fates. Some will feel bad for a while, then forget. Some will never escape the shadow, sinking into depression. Others will swear a poisonous oath to pursue vengeance, trying to ease the burning regret in their hearts.

The world does not follow fairytales, where every event conveniently fits a tidy plot. Real fate is fickle, full of cruel jokes.

Still, we can, in unpredictable circumstances, turn the outcome bit by bit toward the fairy-tale ending we hope for.

Thus, we call those people brave, or heroes of their era.

…

On the narrow stone stair path, Sylutia dropped her bow and arrows, drew the Tree Jade Spirit Sword at her waist. Verdant light filled the blade, covering its length, constantly sharpening the edge, making it keener and sturdier.

She adjusted her breathing, dispelling the stiffness in her body. The food she had just eaten also quickly restored her strength.It was only a single adventure;

was it necessary to fight so desperately? That thought flickered through her mind.

Yes, if she ran now, the lizard probably couldn’t catch up. But what about the result after fleeing? She hated that feeling of regret—the overflowing loss, the cold pain that numbs a life.

Such a dilemma. But since the situation had already occurred, she might as well try her hardest once, see how far she could go.

Sylutia shook the black hair at the back of her head. A faint silver aura covered her body, then she leapt with her sword, soaring over the grey mist filling the mountain path, diving toward the giant lizard.

To this Second Tier girl, the Petrification Lizard reacted indifferently. It opened its mouth again and exhaled grey-white vapor.

As her body passed through the fog, a cold sensation spread across her skin, bringing stiffness. Fortunately, the abundant Luminous Moon Aspect in her counteracted and neutralized that power, only slightly slowing her.

In the lizard’s incredulous eyes, the girl passed through the fog safely. The swinging verdant blade flashed through the confused mist and pierced its body, sending scales scattering.

Although Third Tier, that lizard had spent most of its life hibernating, ambushing opponents instead of engaging in fierce combat. As a result, its scales were not very high-grade, still lingering around Second Tier.

After encountering the girl who wasn’t afraid of its petrifying breath, the lizard clearly became unsettled, even a bit panicky, tearing and biting with its mouth and slashing with its claws. Yet its movements were far from swift—maybe being disguised as rock for so long had made it stiff.

The verdant blade flashed again and again, carving bloody gashes and flinging scales. The wounded Petrification Lizard burned with anger but could never catch the agile Sylutia.

Finally it dissipated into fog once more, drifting into the stone door at the end of the path.

When its form re-solidified, all the wounds on its body had vanished and it had fully recovered.

After guzzling a mouthful of spring water, the giant lizard charged out again, meeting Sylutia who had chased to the stone door.

Claws lunged, tail swept, blade scraped against scale, bright sparks flying. It was still injured, but its reckless, live-or-die style dealt Sylutia some minor wounds.

After several more clashes, Sylutia had to fall back briefly, clutching the wound on her arm and using herb powder to staunch the bleeding.

The giant Petrification Lizard glared ferociously, pride and bloodlust showing in its eyes. It wagged its long tail and body, then charged again.

The battle resumed.

The thick tail slashed obliquely, heavy as a cement pillar, knocking aside the parrying blade, smashing into the ground and sending shattered stones flying.

Sylutia retreated several steps, then charged toward the cliff wall to the side. She flipped in midair, brought the sword behind her, clasped the hilt with both hands, and thrust with all her strength.

A sharp verdant light cut through the air and pierced the lizard’s side of the neck, drawing its terrified hiss and struggle. The violent writhing forced Sylutia to release the hilt and fall back for a moment.

However, she had used the moment to scatter seeds into the wound—grass seeds that would grow leaves with thorns now coursed in its blood. One by one, sharp thorns pierced its blood vessels, producing a rush of blood.

Even so, the lizard survived.

Its body vaporized again, leaving spilled blood and bits of seed husk. The grey mist swept like wind to Sylutia’s back, re-condensed into form, and spewed a wide expanse of petrifying breath.

Sylutia had to dodge, moving quickly to escape the breath.

She could rely on her Luminous Moon power to neutralize petrification, but that counteraction wasn’t limitless;

every time it weakened her. If repeated too many times she would lose immunity.

What had been a life-or-death duel turned into a protracted slog;

it now came down to who would tire first.

The two separated again, clashing back and forth down the mountain path, but sadly the three petrified figures down below could not see this scene now. They could only wait stiffly.

About half an hour later, the Petrification Lizard was somewhat fatigued. Even though it could still fog its form a few more times, it could no longer be certain of killing the girl before it.

Every Breathing Technique has its traits. If Iona’s Solar Radiance Breathing Technique is fierce explosive force, then Sylutia’s Lunar Radiance Breathing Technique is long-duration recovery, providing endurance.

The small wounds on her body gradually closed and ceased bleeding under the effect of the breathing technique. Even if somewhat disheveled, she was not collapsing yet.

After a deep breath and another status check, Sylutia raised her right hand. The verdant blade and her arm formed a straight line as she slowly stepped forward.

At last, the lizard’s will before her began to waver;

it unconsciously recoiled.

Yes, compared to the massive lizard, the black-haired girl seemed fragile and tiny, but in repeated fights the opponent had to change that first impression.

A faint silver halo surfaced. Sylutia’s Fate Plate had already been fully switched to Luminous Moon Aspect abilities.

Lunar Radiance Breathing Technique (Luminous Moon), Sylutia’s Clear Spring (Luminous Moon), Meditation Method (Luminous Moon).

The three echoed and cooperated, strengthening one another. That is the advantage of specializing in a single Aspect—refinement harmonizes the Aspect to produce power far beyond peers.

At this moment, the card in the center of her soul Fate Plate was no longer the Verdant Nectar Fate Card, but a card bathed in starlight.

On the card’s face, the night sky behind the girl glittered with stars, scattering and wrapping around her. It absorbed the lunar radiance passed from the three surrounding Ability Cards, transformed and exhaled it as specks of starlight, and then fed it back to those ability cards, tinting their frames with a strange hue.

Another clash.

The blade tore scales, leaving wounds, and the lizard’s desperate biting forced the girl back again, evading the furious tail sweep.

This time, though, Sylutia retreated to the edge of a spring pool.

The heels of her feet touched the icy pool water, clearing her senses, and she drew back.

She leapt up quickly, then this time dropped directly into the pool. The special card in her Fate Plate flared.

Sylutia’s Clear Spring.

The figure on the card became clear now. Her appearance matched Sylutia’s exactly;

the only difference was the card’s version of her wore a white dress, half-sitting at the poolside, silver hair flowing like a waterfall, eyes filled with silent prayer.

Silver radiance spread from her body, filling the pool. When the Petrification Lizard anxiously charged, the pool water rose accordingly and submerged it.

The clear spring washed the wounds on the lizard, flowing along its blood into its body, letting it feel the icy chill of mountain spring for the first time.

Then the blade re-emerged from the splash, piercing its fragile throat and driving into its skull.

This time the lizard tried to vaporize and flee, but the advanced special ability it had gained upon upgrading failed here. It could only flail in panic, finally thinking fearfully of running.

There would be no next escape.

Blood ran slowly along the hilt. Its struggling only widened the wound, and then it collapsed in the pool, letting the water turn red with its blood.