Witch Taming System

Lancel began to wonder.

Just how strong could he get?

Truth be told, he was certain he was already far stronger than most ordinary people, even most seasoned knights.

And yet, looking at his current stats, they felt... deflated.

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Primary Attributes

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Strength: 6.8

Vitality: 4.3

Mana: 3.2

Agility: 6.0

Endurance: 6.6

Resonance: 1.3

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There was a high possibility that these numbers were only an addition to his already existing abilities that he couldn’t even see.

To put it into perspective, even without exaggerating, a value like six felt absurdly low for someone who could crush a rock with his bare hand.

If Lancel were to estimate based on his actual capabilities, then his strength should be closer to something like 100.

Which meant... were these attributes acting as some kind of multiplier instead?

Moreover, if he could continue growing stronger like this, if this system truly had no limits, then wouldn’t there come a time when he would eventually reach something akin to a god?

The thought alone stirred a sense of excitement in him.

But even so... what did this mysterious power want from him?

What exactly was the system preparing him for?

"...."

Lancel glanced to the side.

Nyx had already massacred the rest of the mercenaries to the point that it was almost laughable. But even so, if Nyx was of the same category as a Basilisk, then Lancel knew this spine-like monster was not something to be underestimated.

"Hoo..."

Lancel let out a breath, brushing his hair back.

It had been a long time since he had last taken a human life, and it brought back memories of his time in the Leviathan Group.

"...."

But Lancel pushed those thoughts down.

He didn’t want to get addicted to this feeling again.

Lancel tucked his dagger back and immediately returned to the caravan, where Faust and Fiore were lying unconscious.

They were clearly not in good condition, and as he checked their pulse, he realized their body temperatures were unnaturally cold.

They needed treatment as soon as possible. This was no ordinary drug.

Whoever had created it knew exactly what they were doing, because as far as Lancel knew, there was no poison that could affect a witch.

If it were that easy, many in the Leviathan Group would have resorted to this method. But unfortunately for them, a witch’s body possessed natural immunities capable of expelling toxins.

Lancel then turned to the caravan.

Unfortunately for him, the wagon was no longer intact. Nyx had clearly gone overboard.

"...."

Lancel looked toward the spine-like monster with a blank expression, as if silently acknowledging that it had done a bad job.

But Nyx merely tilted its head, as if asking whether it had done well.

"Nyx."

As soon as those words left his mouth, Nyx disappeared.

"There should be some materials inside the wagon..."

He needed something to strap Fiore and Faust onto the horse’s back.

Lancel quickly climbed into the broken wagon and began searching through what remained. Amid the scattered belongings, he found a bag, and inside it there was ropes to be used.

"Perfect."

Just as Lancel was about to step off the wagon, the atmosphere shifted.

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[Emergency Objective!]

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"...."

Another objective had appeared.

And once again, an emergency one.

But the condition made Lancel’s brows rise in a mix of astonishment and confusion.

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[Condition:]

∎ Survive for one minute

[Rewards:]

∎ Strength: +2.0

∎ Vitality: +2.0

∎ Endurance: +2.0

∎ Agility: +1.0

∎ Mana: +1.0

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...Survive for one minute?

And more than that, the rewards were absurd.

It was the first time he had seen the system grant this much, let alone values like these.

What did it mean by—

"Oho."

At that moment, Lancel turned.

From a distance, a single silhouette, draped in black robes, was slowly approaching, with no sign of how they had even arrived here under the scorching heat of the sun.

Even Lancel had to traverse through a horse, and those mercenaries through a caravan. Yet that single person had appeared out of nowhere as if they were walking.

No, there was not much to think about.

The system had clearly deemed it a hostile enemy.

But survive for one minute?

In that case, was it on the same level as Dua Evangelist?

"...."

A sudden chill ran down Lancel’s spine. Without hesitation, he summoned Nyx.

"Go!"

Nyx immediately moved, aiming to cut down whatever that person was.

"...!"

Yet in the very next instant, Nyx’s attack was stopped mid-air, as if some invisible barrier had frozen its claws before they could break through.

Bang——!

Immediately, Nyx was sent flying back toward Lancel. Lancel hopped off the wagon just before Nyx could crash into it.

"I tried to tear it apart... but it didn’t break. You’ve got yourself quite a durable pet."

"...."

The fact that they could overpower Nyx, something even Lancel wasn’t confident in doing, already said enough.

This person was dangerous.

Therefore, Lancel saw this as an opportunity to use that certain spell. A spell that had once forced him into a blackout, only for the enemy to be torn apart the moment he opened his eyes.

"Nyarlatho—"

But the moment those words left his mouth, his chest tightened. Lancel squeezed his chest as he stumbled to the ground, coughing up blood.

"What happened to you all of a sudden?"

The voice came from right in front of him.

When Lancel looked up, he saw her.

A woman stood there, looking down at him with clear, golden eyes. If this had been her spell, then it was an impressive one.

But from her surprisingly expressive face, the way she looked at him as if she genuinely had no idea what had just happened, it didn’t seem to be the case.

"...."

Had Nyarlathotep caused this?

There was only one way to find out.

"Nyarlathotep—"

At that moment, all colors dulled into gray.

Lancel looked around and immediately noticed that the clouds above and the birds in the sky had completely stopped moving.

Slowly, Lancel stood up and took a step back from the woman. The pain in his chest had disappeared.

But then, all of a sudden...

"...!"

Something wrapped around him.

"Lancelot..."

Lancel turned.

Right there, a pure black shadow, something he couldn’t even begin to describe, had wrapped what seemed to be its arms around him.

"Lancelot. I love you."