Chapter 63: The Witch’s Sacrifice

As the Lion King was about to bite him, Draxel quickly braced the Wolf King Sword with both hands and positioned it horizontally in front of the Lion King’s mouth. The Lion King bit down on the blade.

He thought it would cut the Lion King’s mouth wide open, but to his surprise, the Lion King’s teeth were harder than the Wolf King Sword. Not only did it not get hurt, but it also chipped the sword in several places.

However, Draxel used the sword to trap the Lion King in place. He looked up and shouted to Ronnie in the distance, “Now! Now! Shoot!”

Ronnie didn’t hesitate. She aimed and fired the steel crossbow bolt, which blazed like a wild horse, speeding toward the Lion King’s right eye.

The Lion King felt a chill down its spine. It sensed the deadly threat of the burning bolt. It tried to break free from Draxel’s hold, but he showed no sign of letting go, ready to go down fighting.

Seeing this, the Lion King thought, ‘If you want to die together, then I, the king, will oblige!’

Unable to avoid the flaming bolt, the Lion King bit down harder on the Count’s sword, immobilizing Draxel’s hands.

Next, it quickly extended its front claws, viciously slashing at Draxel’s chest.

Swish!

Thud!

As the burning bolt deeply embedded itself in the Lion King’s right eye, its claws gouged a horrifying wound in the Count’s chest, exposing several of his ribs.

Immediately, the severely injured Count fainted from the pain, his consciousness fading.

Just as the Lion King was about to deliver the final blow to send the Count to heaven, Ronnie quickly fired two more flaming bolts, hitting the Lion King’s front paws and deflecting its attack away from the Count.

Roar!!

The Lion King’s face was now covered in blood, and its right eye was shattered. It was furious. This woman had interfered time and time again. It turned and charged at Ronnie.

“Hmph… little kitty. Count, it really is as you said, just a little kitty. Don’t worry, Draxel, you won’t die alone. I’ll go to heaven with you.”

Ronnie dropped her crossbow and drew her finest dagger. She coated the blade with oil and lit it on a candle, then waited for the Lion King’s ferocious charge.

“Come on… come on… come on!” 

As the Lion King was about to bite her, Ronnie plunged the burning dagger into its left eye, breaking off the steel crossbow bolt embedded there with such force. But she didn’t escape unscathed. 

Although the Lion King missed her head, its claws tore through her waist, leaving two gaping holes.

One human and one lion, both fell to the ground after this clash, their breaths ceasing. 

In the distance, Draxel, barely conscious, saw this scene before he completely blacked out.

He wanted to call out Ronnie’s name. He wanted to crawl over and die beside her, but his vision darkened, his hearing faded, and saliva dripped uncontrollably from his mouth.

Maybe… maybe this time, he was going to die too.

***

As night fell, far away in Yanzi, Yanzi was deeply worried about Draxel and Ronnie. She returned to her room and, ensuring no one was around, took out a crystal ball meant for witches.

Through the crystal ball, she saw the scene where both Draxel and Ronnie, along with the Lion King, were dead.

Yanzi’s master, the first and strongest witch of the Calradia continent, had once warned her about the most powerful spell in witchcraft called “Revive from the Dead.” This spell could bring people back to life.

But as a price, the caster, the witch herself, would need to sacrifice not just her youthful appearance or lifespan but her entire life to perform this most potent spell.

“I’ve never used this spell before and I don’t know if I can save two people at once.”

At this moment, Yanzi was unsure of what would happen after casting the spell, whether she would disappear forever during the process.

Although she had only been with the Count for a few days, those days were so wonderful. What she felt was not love but familial affection. Even though the Count hadn’t revealed much, it seemed he regarded her as a mother.

As for Ronnie, she was Yanzi’s best friend on this continent. 

Years ago, Ronnie had saved her life by shielding her from enemy blades and spears.

Thinking of these moments, Yanzi smiled a rare and joyful smile. 

So this is what it feels like to sacrifice oneself for others.

“Ancestors and spirits above, Goddess of Witches, I, the second-generation witch, Mary Yanzi, hereby declare to cast the Revive from the Dead spell. Please accept my soul and body as a sacrifice, and let Draxel and Ronnie return to life!”

After she finished speaking, she began chanting the spell she knew so well. She felt a vague response from the Witch Goddess, but whether it could save one or both of them, she truly didn’t know.

***

Three days later, in the lord’s hall.

“Count, Count! Wonderful, my noble lord, you’re awake. Madam, quickly, prepare some food!”

Old Smith Aubrey saw Draxel slowly open his eyes as he lay on the bed and shouted excitedly.

Draxel groggily sat up in bed, checking his body. Amazingly, there wasn’t a single wound. He vaguely remembered that his ribs had been exposed…

“Old Aubrey, I… where am I?”

“My noble lord, this is Uxkhal. You’re in your own room. Don’t you recognize it?”

Hearing this, Draxel looked around. Indeed, this was his bedroom.

“How did I get here? What about the Lion King? And Ronnie?”

“My noble lord, don’t you remember anything? It’s no wonder. You’ve been asleep for three whole days and nights! It was the merchant Marnid and Little Ma who found you outside the town. But the Lion King and Proft Empress Ronnie have disappeared without a trace.”

“What do you mean by disappeared? Call Marnid over. And, yes, I am quite hungry. Get me something to eat.”

“At once.” 

Old Aubrey turned and left, and moments later, the merchant Marnid hurried over.

“Count, you’re awake! That’s wonderful. You truly have great fortune.”

“Marnid, did you find me near Ronnie’s tavern?”