novelraw Chapter 365: The Witch’s Past
Chapter 365: The Witch’s Past
Fear? Chen Qi instinctively contracted his pupils.
And in that instant, the Ice Witch's crimson pupils also abruptly transformed into cat-like vertical slits. As her body grew increasingly feverish, her consciousness gradually awakened from the long dream.
……
Dusk, the orange-red sky merged with the sea.
Waves crashed repeatedly against a solitary island.
A ragged couple struggled to dock a dilapidated steam boat by the shore, stumbling as they ascended this uninhabited island.
Due to prolonged starvation and wound infections, their bodies were already emaciated to skin and bones, riddled with wounds.
They had crossed kingdoms, snowy mountains, deserts, and seas, witnessing ghost ships, tsunamis, deep-sea titans, storms, avalanches, wars...
These two weak individuals had endured two full years of adventure in this dangerous world.
And all of this was for this day, to meet the legendary prophet, the Great Sage, the world's last witch, the destroyer and guardian of the sea—the Witch Angela!Their long-cherished wish over many years, their journey of many years, finally had a result.
The frail husband pulled off a red crab biting his lips along with his own flesh, then spat out the salty, fishy seawater.
The sea breeze gently blew past.
His soul-lost eyes, his seaweed-like messy green hair, once again radiated brilliance:
"Finally, we've finally arrived!"
"Finally here!!! We're saved!"
The husband excitedly spread his arms and cheered.
However, his wife beside him, holding a girl in her arms, trembled uncontrollably.
"No, no, no..."
In this witch's dwelling, an indescribable stench of rot and blood assaulted their noses.
The husband looked forward, his pupils instantly contracting.
Legend said Angela was an elegant witch, her dwelling always filled with flowers, her home full of precious books and rune stones.
Yet, what lay before them now was only piles of rotting corpses.
People were piled up on this island like plague-stricken livestock.
Corpses, corpses, the witch's dwelling was filled with countless corpses...
And these stinking black corpses were covered with eerie pitch-black tentacles and dark patterns.
Additionally, on the land, bizarre crimson flowers grew, constantly absorbing nutrients from the corpses.
These corpses covered with flowers and tentacles, densely packed like soil, filled the entire island.
On these writhing corpses, one could still see the distorted, struggling faces from before death, and faintly hear the strange sounds of whale calls.
The excited light in the husband's eyes instantly turned to fear.
Even after countless adventures, the scene before him remained horrifying.
He remembered countless adventurers' legends.
The witch's forgiveness and blessings all came with a price;
only by offering sufficient tribute could one's wishes be fulfilled.
Supporting each other, the two walked toward the island's center.
Soon, they reached the island's center.
A white cloth covered a highly elevated pile of corpses.
On the white cloth, a white-haired girl in a white rose gown sat on a wooden chair, holding a book in one hand and a cup of black tea in the other.
She gently swirled the black tea in her hand, took a small sip, a faint smile curling at the corner of her mouth, lost in the world of the book.
Her movements were extremely elegant, as if the tragic scene before her was merely beautiful scenery.
The Ice Witch Angela!
The husband choked in his throat;
he was merely a third-tier pharmacist, and his wife was only a third-tier astrologer.
Before the Ice Witch, they were no different from the corpses on the ground or the ants beneath their feet.
Absolutely, they absolutely must not approach the monster before them! Driven by instinct, the husband's withered feet continuously stepped backward.
"Wah, wah, wah—"
And at that moment, the husband heard the crying of the girl in his wife's arms.
Their child was crying.
The husband froze for a moment;
their child still needed good medicine, needed the witch's good medicine!
This was also the purpose of their journey.
Finally, he mustered his courage and took a step forward.
And the instant he took this step.
Crack!
The world's colors turned blue in that moment, freezing!
Crack!
With three cracking sounds!
The scene before the husband and wife instantly changed, froze twice, and they underwent two spatial teleportations out of thin air.
In just a blink, they arrived before the Ice Witch and assumed a pious prayer posture!
What happened?
Why are we in this posture?
The husband and wife were utterly shocked;
the two of them simply couldn't comprehend the power before them.
A white pigeon gently flew past the horizon.
Under the dusk's glow, the witch closed her book, tilted her head, and softly inquired:
"What do you desire? And what are you prepared to offer?"
During her brief periods of awakening, countless adventurers had come to pay homage to her—for power, for knowledge, for loved ones.
All blessings come with a price;
this was the witch's principle.
The husband didn't offer much explanation, pulling a Canary family emblem and a book titled "Seagull's Book" from his waist.
Then, both husband and wife knelt down, violently knocking their heads against the ground:
"Respected Witch, I am from the Canary family of the Goldenfinch Kingdom.
We are willing to offer a Canary family emblem and a forbidden book written by our grandfather specifically for taming sea beasts, in exchange for medicine to cure our daughter!"
The witch took the emblem and book, a smile curling at her lips:
"A book from the Canary family, betraying your family just to obtain medicine..."
The Canary family was the right hand of the Goldenfinch Kingdom;
any books from the vast Canary family were strictly controlled.
The Ice Witch crossed her long legs, slightly lifting her hood to reveal her crimson eyes beneath:
"Remove the cloth from your child."
"Following your command, Great Witch!"
The wife carefully removed the blood-stained cloth from the girl in her arms.
In her arms was a beautiful girl with emerald green hair and flower-like eyes.
However, on her slender neck, a crimson rose grew wildly.
The thorny rose stem, covered in poisonous spikes like infinitely extending toxic needles, pierced through her collarbone, legs, cheeks, firmly rooted in her fragile heart.
Wah! Wah!
In the girl's mouth, there was also a cloth strip to prevent her from biting her tongue in agony.
"Hmm?"
The witch gently tugged at the flower's stem, attempting to hear the girl's agonized cries from the thorn-pierced flesh!
However, the girl before her remained expressionless.
The pain that would make grown men kneel and weep elicited no reaction from the girl.
The girl had already adapted to the boundless suffering.
"Congenital Blood Blossom Disease..."
The witch took another sip of black tea.
The husband anxiously asked:
"Witch, can our offering exchange for medicine to treat Blood Blossom Disease?"
The witch replied:
"Excellent material for a flower affinity madman. The fact that you two managed to bring her before me is somewhat interesting~"
The Ice Witch continued:
"However, this isn't ordinary Blood Blossom Disease. This is the calamity your Canary family incurred from excessive contact with forbidden dimensional rifts."
She said expressionlessly:
"Unless I personally raise her, I can extend her life by five years. However, this price is not something you can pay.
Find a place where flowers bloom and bury her. Even with the best medicine and surgery, she can live at most two more years."
Bury... The husband's pupils abruptly contracted, his entire body trembling uncontrollably.
His child had just been born!
Why! Their family head, the Great Sage of the Witch Sea, the Prophet, couldn't save their daughter either!
The husband loudly, desperately refuted:
"No, Witch! I beg you, I'm willing to offer my soul, my flesh, more offerings, even if it's just extending her life by three years, two years!
Let her have a normal childhood! I beg you!"
The husband wept in agony, banging his head against the ground, trying to grasp the Ice Witch's feet, pleading for help.
"I'm also willing to offer everything, Witch, she's our only child!"
The wife imitated her husband, knocking her head against the ground, trying to gain the witch's sympathy.
However, the Ice Witch's eyes remained unchanged, without even a trace of pity or compassion.
Having experienced long ages, the Ice Witch was both the Witch Sea's guardian and its most merciless slaughterer.
Probably all the joys and sorrows of the world could hardly touch the witch's icy heart.
And so, the two knelt on the ground, continuously begging until their heads were broken.
"......"
A long time later, the Ice Witch poured another cup of black tea, gazing at the girl in her arms.
The girl in swaddling clothes opened her blood-stained eyes, looking at her.
And the moment she opened her eyes, the rose growing on her body lost its petals in the sea breeze.
"......"
Seeing this scene, the Ice Witch's expression finally showed some change.
She picked up a list.
The husband looked up, secretly glancing at that list.
He saw that the list was filled with portraits of young girls.
Legend said the Ice Witch would abduct talented girls, raising them to become her followers.
She could see every girl's future, know every girl's talent.
This was the legendary power of the Lamp affinity.
"Damarro Town has a better choice..."
The Ice Witch muttered to herself, then snapped her fingers:
"Forget it, let me make a prophecy."
Bang!
With a crisp snap, in the dusk's light, illusory scenes appeared!
A sublime Lamp power bloomed forth!
Those illusory scenes didn't belong to this world, nor to the past, but to a future that had never occurred!
Prophet!
Prophecy!
The husband and wife were utterly shocked. They vaguely remembered their old clan leader saying that manifested prophetic ability was a power only possessed by those above Saint-level, no, above even Saint-level, those approaching divinity!
In this continuously declining era, in this desolate place like the Witch Sea near Beiguo, there actually existed such a powerful being!
Like an old camera, in the scenes, future stories flashed by like mirages, one after another.
Crack!
Although extremely blurry, the couple could still see the protagonist in the story—their daughter.
Under the Ice Witch's care, the little girl holding a large staff practiced forbidden life arts, made potions, farmed day after day, finally gaining the Ice Witch's recognition.
While scolding the girl, the Ice Witch piloted a small boat to her old friend's homeland, the Black Soil, passing on the Flower Witch's legacy piece by piece to the girl before her.
Then, the two adventured together, traveling across this dangerous sea.
The Ice Witch taught the witch's knowledge to the little girl one by one.
They also handled the civil war between the Blood Blade Pirates and the navy together, clearing out the many deep-sea humanoid monsters resulting from the navy and Blackfin Crew's forbidden experiments.
However, most of the time, the little girl saw nothing;
she only saw the Ice Witch returning with monster heads.
They spent a happy time together;
during this period, the Ice Witch carefully cared for the girl covered in wounds and illnesses.
Finally, one day, the Ice Witch bid farewell to the girl, returning her to her parents, and instructed the girl to be sure to learn the Canary family's forbidden knowledge.
Amid her parents' fearful gazes, the two parted ways;
the girl returned to the Goldenfinch Kingdom and spent a carefree period.
And so, scene after scene flashed by.
Hmm? The Ice Witch watched everything in the scenes with great interest.
The husband and wife watched the heartwarming scenes before them, finding it hard to believe.
Their sickly, wounded child could actually learn legendary pharmaceutical knowledge, could walk freely!
In the blink of an eye, over ten years passed;
the former little girl grew up, becoming a talented pharmacist, a vibrant young woman, though the innocence in her eyes hadn't yet faded.
Amid her parents' tears, she bid them farewell and, according to the witch's agreement, traveled alone by passenger ship to the Witch Sea.
From then on, her beautiful life ended, and nightmares struck.
The moment she arrived in the Witch Sea, her ship was attacked, she fell into the deep sea, nearly drowned, and eventually faced starvation, foraging for food in Moonstone City.
In boundless hunger, she killed human traffickers from the Black Rabbit Gang, obtained money, exchanged it for food, and continued advancing for her 'teacher'!
On Sea Flower Island, to obtain Dragon's Breath Grass, she encountered the Blood Blade Pirates' genius Little Red Riding Hood and Fenrir;
they reached cooperation, jointly opposing the Blackfin Crew.
She grew stronger, but this was far from enough to resurrect the Ice Witch.
Seeking greater power, she went to the sea witch's territory;
under the sea witch's bewitching song, at the cost of ten years of lifespan, she unleashed Blooming Bloodflower despite insufficient power, defeated Mad Shark's forces, became famous overnight, and made it into the White Pigeon Newspaper!
After gaining fame, while traveling with the Blood Blade Pirates to the Black Soil to make medicine, they encountered Carol's attack.
At the final moment, she used Blooming Bloodflower again, barely controlling Carol.
However, the Blood Blade Pirates crew members she had just met all died in the sea;
in the end, only she survived.
After this incident, the young woman increasingly craved powerful strength.
To no longer rely on others' help, to become stronger, she continuously consumed her lifespan's power and learned the Blood Blade Pirates' Blood Demon forbidden arts.
However, power abuse worsened her Blood Blossom Disease, tormented her mind, increased her wounds, turned her hair increasingly white...
On countless nights, the pain from her blood blossoms drove her insane;
to alleviate this suffering, she hid in dark corners, constantly stabbing her thighs with sharp blades until dawn, when the Blood Blossom Disease's pain subsided...
And so, painful and lonely days repeated, day after day.
In the lonely sea, she had no friends;
people either revered her or wanted to kill her.
And the few who approached her with goodwill were ultimately killed by the Blackfin Crew.
She watched Blood Blade Pirates warriors she'd never met die one by one protecting the 'witch'.
The Blood Blade Pirates, for the 'Flower Witch' legendary card, for revenge, waged a protracted war against the Pirate General Dragon Tamer King;
amidst countless deaths, the young woman obtained the blood-stained legendary profession card.
She attempted suicide repeatedly but stood up again and again because of her 'teacher'.
And so, she advanced to legendary rank, using life as energy, dragging her heavy body forward.
After reaching legendary rank, her strength grew rapidly, her fame increasing.
She explosively killed the Ice Demon Pirates' supernova Burry, slew the Rift Sea's Black Lantern Dragon, fiercely battled the Blackfin Crew's Carol, clashed with the Disaster Messenger's disciple, and ultimately defeated her!
Finally, the innocence in her eyes completely vanished;
she became a cold, ruthless witch, just like the legendary Flower Witch!
Powerful, ruthless!
However, even so, she still struggled to contend with the Blackfin Crew's power in the sea.
Everything was too late.
The Blackfin Crew, having completed the Black Blood experiment, had become a calamity among calamities!
Under surging tides, the Blackfin Crew performed rituals, devouring the entire sea;
the deep-sea ancient god called the Great Whale began descending upon the Witch Sea!
Only resurrecting her teacher could save the Witch Sea from crisis!
She knew her teacher's prophecy was fate, an unchangeable fact, immutable destiny.
Finally, in pitch-black waves, dragging her wounded body, following her teacher's instructions, she allied with the Blood Blade Pirates and came to the Great Sea Coffin!
Along the way, they were pursued by two of the Seven Sea Pirate Generals—the Dragon Tamer King and the Black Death Doctor.
Ultimately, she fought one against two, at the cost of twenty years of lifespan, defeated the combined forces of the Dragon Tamer King and the Black Death Doctor, shaking the seas with her fame!
Finally, the scarred, dying young woman reached the Witch's Coffin, using her thin hand to gently brush her teacher's face, awakening her slumbering teacher.
"Teacher, I found you..."
In the young woman's soft call, the witch reopened her eyes.
Finally, the nearly extinguished young woman lay in her teacher's embrace.
The husband and wife watched this horrifying scene.
Their child, in the future, could actually become a legend!
In this era where rifts were rare, becoming a legend in the Canary family would be considered a respectable middle rank.
However, what frightened them more was their child's future.
Their child would become a pitiful person tormented by pain, attempting suicide.
Because of her teacher, the Flower Witch who originally had no great ambitions in life, she was forced onto a path of saving others, causing countless people to die for her.
In the future, she would have countless suicidal thoughts, self-harm repeatedly.
Moreover, having consumed so much lifespan, after resurrecting the person in the coffin, her own lifespan would be at most one year...
The husband and wife looked at the dying girl in swaddling clothes, trembling uncontrollably.
Could it be that from the moment of her birth, their child was destined to live such a miserable life?
The husband asked:
"Witch, are these events destined to happen?"
The Ice Witch stated decisively:
"The sea's fate is vague, but once begun, no one can defy destiny."
In the future, can you rescue me from the coffin? The Ice Witch looked at the girl in swaddling clothes, then glanced at the white-haired, green-eyed girl from Damarro Town she had selected from the list.
At this moment, the witch made a new choice.
She gently swirled her black tea, a faint smile curling at her lips.
The witch again stroked the girl's forehead, saying condescendingly:
"A useful tool capable of resurrecting me."
After speaking, she looked toward this island filled with corpses:
"Fate cannot be defied;
the Great Whale's power has already contaminated this sea."
"As you've seen, this sea will, at some future time, suffer an unprecedented catastrophe;
a deep-sea ancient god from another world will rule this sea.
And I, soon after, will fall into slumber. I must prepare a tool that can resurrect me, to collect tidal witch relics for me..."
After speaking, the Ice Witch put down her black tea, stood up, and made a motion to receive the 'child'.
The husband and wife looked at each other, frozen in place.
They didn't understand what the witch was saying, but they knew the witch was proposing a transaction to them!
Under the dusk, the Ice Witch lifted her hood, her hair like dazzling golden silk, like a goddess descending from heaven to save the world:
"I am willing to accept your request, save your child, extend her lifespan.
However, as the price, you must offer your child's fate and future. She will inevitably follow the destiny I've depicted, live a brief life, become my resurrection tool...
No one can defy fate.
If you agree, make your offering."
The Ice Witch bathed in radiance, like a saint from a monastery, quietly awaiting a reply.
The husband and wife were stunned.
Even if the witch saved their child, their child would inevitably die in agony.
The Ice Witch's prophecies never erred.
Perhaps the process might vary slightly, but the outcome wouldn't change at all!
Fate cannot be defied.
Should they let their child live a life destined to be miserable?
The husband hesitated.
However, hearing their child cry, he couldn't help but step forward.
He couldn't bear to watch his child die like this.
Perhaps dying as a hero of the sea would be a good choice for her.
"Sorry, Fen..."
Tears welled in the husband and wife's eyes.
They vowed to keep their child away from the Goldenfinch Kingdom nobles' dirty affairs, let her grow up healthy.
Finally, the husband knelt on the ground, in the future scenes, handed their child to the witch before them.
The moment the girl was held in the witch's arms, she instantly cried.
Holding the child, the Ice Witch stepped forward, standing between the two, saying:
"I have received your offering."
After speaking, the Ice Witch looked at the girl in her arms, smiling slightly:
"Fen, your name is Fen, right?"
"In the future, I will train you to become someone as powerful as the Flower Witch..."
"When I next awaken, I will personally welcome you, Fen..."
In the radiance, the Ice Witch gently infused healing spiritual energy into the girl.
The husband and wife remained silent for a long time, supporting each other;
they mustered courage and said:
"Witch..."
They wanted to obtain the witch's promise not to torment their child.
The Ice Witch's lips curled:
"No, I won't raise her as a daughter;
she is merely my resurrection tool."
"As fate dictates, in the future, your child will die in the sea's tides..."
The husband and wife froze but didn't refute;
the Ice Witch was cold and ruthless, and having her raise their child was already their fortune.
After the transaction was completed, the Ice Witch then looked into the distance.
At that moment, a cold breeze gently blew.
A monster burning with blue fire suddenly appeared before her!
Dream...
Is this a memory dream...
The entire dream began shattering like glass!
The Ice Witch gently waved her hand, condensing an ice crystal greatsword.
She had already seen it—after countless trials at sea, the Flower Witch bearing the rose flower had come to welcome her!
Swish!
The dream shattered.
The awakened Ice Witch elegantly swung her ice sword, slashing through the Azure Beast's neck.
Blood and snowflakes splattered!
However, at this moment, compared to the Azure Beast before her, the Ice Witch was more concerned about Chen Qi and Fen in the distance!
She looked at Fen, countless scenes from the dream flashing through her mind.
Why hadn't Fen's hair turned white? Why were the blood blossoms on her body so sparse?
Why was Fen's witch attire still green?
Why was there no fear in Fen's eyes?
Why was Fen so weak?
No one can defy fate! No one can defy prophecy!
Why hadn't the scenes from the dream come true!
Most importantly, who was that little black-haired guy next to Fen with pitch-black tentacles growing from his back, that damned humanoid monster full of deep-sea aura?
Was this person in the prophecy?
The Ice Witch's worldview was massively impacted in this instant!