Demon Hunter: School of the Wolf.

Chapter 667 The Call of Mother Nature! The Limit of the Witcher—Just One Step Away!
The shimmering green lights, like fireflies, converged from all directions the moment the Witcher stepped onto the golden carpet.

A warm current simultaneously emerged from all four limbs and bones, merging into every muscle fiber, skin, and bone.

Not long after, the warm current suddenly stopped, as if the gushing spring water in the mountains was blocked by a boulder, the carp leaping over the Dragon Gate was pushed back to its original position by the upstream river water, and the red-hot iron ingot was only one hammer blow away from becoming a peerless sword embryo, but the next hammer blow was always in a daze with no way to start.

Filled with surging power, yet unable to find a way to channel or release it, the demon hunter paused, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

[Ding! 'Attribute: Constitution' has reached its limit - Initial stage. Please seek an opportunity to improve it.]

Hearing the cold system notification, Erin took a deep breath and tried his best to suppress the strange sensations within his body.

He didn't expect that at this moment, one of his attributes would reach its limit.

That was supposed to be the plan before rescuing Hen Gedimidis—to push all five attributes—strength, agility, physique, perception, and mystery—to their limits, and then break through those limits through a second mutation.

Unfortunately, plans can't keep up with changes.

Finding suitable monsters and hunting their heart essence and purifying spirits is difficult, and the journey was not accomplished until the free spirits were suddenly attacked.

Ben Ade's unexpected vulnerability makes one want to try something more radical.

The Witcher succeeded, but was also seriously injured.

As a result, several months have passed, and the other four attributes besides strength have hardly changed at all.

He thought he would have to wait until the Expedition to the Cave of Ten Thousand Demons to complete his attributes, but he didn't expect that the Holy Forest would give him a pleasant surprise.

As Erin sensed the changes within his body, he opened the Demon Hunter's Notes with a thought.

Name: Erin

【生命值：100%，体力值990/990，魔力1370/1370】

【属性：力量99，敏捷94（+2），体质99（+1），感知97（+4），神秘137（+10】

【亲和：水16（魔源·水6%）、地19（魔源·地9%），风11（魔源·风1%），火24（魔源·火14%），空间2，自然27】

Divine Arts (Nature):
Novice Druid Prayer Spells: Blood Boil, Nature's Sight, Concealment, Beast to Friend, Gift of Nature, Curse of Disease
[Experienced Druid's Prayer: Primal Call]

Not only his physique, but also his agility, perception and mystery attributes have improved significantly. His perception is only two points away from the limit of the initial stage, and his agility is also just one step away.

With Erin's current high attribute values, this is almost a complete transformation.

"and……"

Erin closed his eyes, and his unseen spirit traversed the mysterious sacred forest, exploring the body that lay cross-legged on the bed.

"The enhancements granted by the Druid's path are very similar to Heart Essence, Purifying Spirit... "

The Heart Essence and Purifying Spirit, closely related to the Witcher's Handbook, are different from common methods of enhancing attributes—such as training, meditation, and the Way of the Beast—and even different from other potions that can enhance attributes—several of which Vera had tried on Erin before…

The attributes improved through exercise, meditation, the Way of the Beast's Roar, and ordinary potions are all the more difficult to improve the higher the attribute, because they are essentially all about tapping into the potential within the human body.

A person's upper limit is ten. No matter how much you train or meditate, you can only increase from one to ten. Moreover, the process from nine to ten is even more difficult than the sum of one to nine.

However, Heart Essence Liquid and Purifying Elixir are different.

Although the same Heart Essence and Purifying Spirit will provide fewer attribute boosts with repeated use, regardless of who uses it—whether it's Erin, Hughes, Vesemir, or even the world's top Witcher and Dragon Slayer, Zoe—they can all obtain the same boosts to their strength and constitution from the Water Ghost's Heart Essence.

Just as the system prompts when the attribute reaches "Limit · Initial", it means "full up", which means to complete the attribute at the genetic and soul levels, and to improve the individual's upper and lower limits at the same time.

The advancement of the Sacred Grove, or rather the Druidic path, is very similar to the Heart Essence and Purifying Spirit.

Last night, when I entered the Sacred Forest and broke through from "Grassland" to "Oak Tree", the improvement was so small that it was almost instantaneous and I didn't feel anything.

But the natural power that had just seeped into his body and soul, transforming him, was so clearly audible that it almost laid bare the essence of natural power before his eyes. Erin immediately sensed this similarity.

There are some differences.

But the feeling of fulfillment that comes from the heart essence penetrating deep into the genes and the purifying spirit penetrating deep into the soul is very similar to the feeling I have now.

Or you could say...

This is evolution, not refinement.

Think about it again.

From Druid to Archdruid, from imitating the spirit of nature, to approaching the spirit of nature, to transforming the spirit of nature, until Zebi Ortega, who transforms into a raven almost indistinguishable from a real raven, is this entire process also at the mystical level, where intelligent beings draw upon the advantages of the spirit of nature and compensate for the inherent deficiencies of their species...?

Is there any connection between "The Demon Hunter's Handbook" and Mother Nature?

Erin couldn't help but think to herself.

But there was no unusual activity in the Demon Hunter's Notes, nor in the Sacred Forest.

Erin took a deep breath and continued to check the panel.

In terms of affinity, the question mark for natural affinity disappeared, and it jumped to 27 points, becoming the highest among all affinities.

It's not necessarily that all of them suddenly increased by twenty-odd points today. It's more likely that they had already increased considerably when they absorbed the "elephant-headed spirit's elements" in the past, but it's only now that these increases have been activated and manifested.

It's not surprising that no percentage of magic source appeared after natural affinity.

Vigfortz also had some connection with the druids (he was once adopted by them), but Hen Gedimidis had no connection with the druids at all, which shows that the power of the magical source has little to do with the power of nature.

"wrong……"

"maybe."

Erin shook his head, his gaze falling on the newly acquired veteran divine spell, and he rejected his own belief.

“The primordial call… the primordial… primordial magic…” he murmured, frowning.

Primal magic is a powerful talent unique to the source of magic. Is there any connection between primal calling and primal magic?
“Let’s keep exploring,” Erin shook his head, abandoning the tempting idea of ​​leaving the Sacred Grove immediately to try the “Primal Call.” “Since I’m already here, let’s see how much I can improve in the Sacred Grove and how far I can go…”

Having made up his mind, Erin put away his Demon Hunter's Notebook and looked up into the distance.

"Rustling~ Rustling~"

The aspen trees with their gray-white trunks stand tall and straight, their golden leaves rustling in the breeze through the forest.

In the world of Witcher, the sound of aspen leaves being blown is said to have the magical ability to predict the weather.

When the leaves rustle, it means rain is coming; if the wind is strong and the leaves are tumbling, it means hail is coming; and when the sound turns into a clattering sound, it means heavy rain is coming.

Therefore, unlike the oak tree, which holds a generally high position in the Druid Circle due to its strength, longevity, and vigorous vitality, the aspen, although not as prominent, also has a unique symbolic meaning in mysticism—divination.

Yes.

Although the aspen is not like the oak, it symbolizes an apprentice officially becoming a guardian of nature—a druid.

At the level of Shan Yang, a Druid is still a Druid, without any special title.

But at this level, druids can learn divination, learning to use the power of nature to predict good and bad fortune.

Generally speaking, divination is an internal organ divination method that uses the heart, spleen, stomach, and gallbladder of animals for divination.

Of course, Druids generally also perform water and fire divination, but visceral divination is special because Druids can use the natural connection between animals and nature (the sacred forest) to counteract the backlash when they divine unclean, great, or evil beings. It is safer than fire and water divination and is a very practical divination ritual.

However, visceral divination is a closely guarded secret of the Druids, and it's unlikely that Erin would learn it in the Ring of Maidal. Moreover, to be honest, with his "unstable prophetic power," he doesn't really need any other divination rituals.

The golden scenery of the aspen forest is beautiful, and the air is faintly filled with the woody fragrance of the plants.

However, Ailin was not there to admire the scenery of the Sacred Forest. So after glancing at the poplar forest in front of him, he continued deeper into the forest, heading towards the next realm, the "Banyan Tree".

Or to put it another way—the realm of the Archdruid.

"Shasha~Shasha~"

The Witcher's feet sank deep into the soft "carpet" made of golden aspen leaves.

Listen to what Simmons and Olga—Zebi Ortega's two druid apprentices, both now seasoned druids who have traveled far in the Aspen Realm—say: the obstacles in the oak forest are the thick branches of oak trees blocking the way, and the labyrinthine terrain.

Only by gradually understanding the laws of nature, or gaining the favor of Mother Nature—usually through protecting forests, maintaining biological balance, preventing human deforestation, and eliminating monsters that harm nature—can one find the path to the next realm.

However, the slender aspen trees cannot form an obstructive tree wall.

What hinders Druids from embarking on the Druid path are these golden "carpets," which deeply attract the footsteps of those who come before, like a muddy swamp, yet even more difficult to traverse.

"Only with a sincere belief in nature can one move forward despite difficulties."

These were Olga's exact words, and Simmons nodded in agreement with a mixture of wistfulness and pride as he spoke.

Zebi Ortega is a Grand Druid, and not just any Grand Druid.

Simmons and Olga, whom he recognized and often summoned for advice and guidance, were not ordinary druids, despite their honest and approachable appearances.

Both Simmons and Olga are geniuses in the Druid path, reaching the "Aspen" level at the "young" age of less than thirty, just as Vesemir is to the Witcher.

Therefore, Erin carefully remembered even the information they revealed in casual conversation.

only……

Just as he strolled leisurely through the oak forest, encountering no oak trees blocking his path or any towering, boundless labyrinth, the swampy carpet of aspen leaves remained as smooth as flat ground for the Witcher.

He was favored.

For the umpteenth time today, the Witcher realized this again.

"But why?" he wondered. "Could it really be because of his status as the Child of Miracles? Or is there some mysterious connection between the Demon Hunter's Manual, the Sacred Forest, and Mother Nature?"

As he pondered, shimmering emerald lights continuously emerged from the poplars on both sides, clustering around him, strengthening his soul, and then, through some mysterious connection, reinforcing his mortal body.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, a series of cold system notification sounds began to ring out.

[Ding! The will of the Mother of Nature has been detected. Do you wish to receive the Mother of Nature's divine spell, "Healing Blessing"?]

……

【Name: Blessing of Healing】

[Type: Veteran Druid Divine Spell/Prayer]

[Active Effect: You can use Healing Blessing to awaken the target's regenerative abilities, accelerating the recovery from minor injuries. You can also repeatedly use this prayer spell to heal fatal wounds.]

……

[Ding! The will of the Mother of Nature has been detected. Do you wish to accept the Mother of Nature's divine spell, "Thread of Life"?]

……

【Name: Lifeline】

[Type: Veteran Druid Divine Spell/Prayer]

[Active Effect: You can use Lifeline to see the life energy attached to each target within the Prayer's range, thus knowing their current injury status.]

……

"Ding! Ding! Ding!"

The cold, incessant system notifications echoed, repeating what had happened last night.

This time, however, the amount of information transmitted to his mind was much greater, which even the Witcher's well-trained brain could not handle, and he had to slow down a bit.

Otherwise, Arryn might become the first druid in the history of the Sacred Grove to die from a cerebral hemorrhage due to excessive "divine favor."

[Ding! The will of the Mother of Nature has been detected. Do you wish to accept the Mother of Nature's divine spell, "Cloud Mist Technique"?]

……

【Name: Cloud Mist Spell】

[Type: Veteran Druid Divine Spell/Prayer]

[Active Effect: You can use the Cloud spell to create a cloud. The cloud will blind any creature inside.]

……

[Ding! The will of the Mother of Nature has been detected. Do you wish to accept the Mother of Nature's divine spell, "Wind Creation"?]

……

【Name: Wind-Making Technique】

[Type: Veteran Druid Divine Spell/Prayer]

[Active Effect: You can use the Wind Spell to summon a strong wind.]

……

[Ding! The will of the Mother of Nature has been detected. Do you wish to accept the Mother of Nature's divine spell "Entanglement"?]

……

【Name: Entanglement Technique】

[Type: Veteran Druid Divine Spell/Prayer]

[Active Effect: You can use Entanglement to create a vine-covered surface that slows down creatures inside and may entangle them.]

……

As various Druidic prayer techniques were constantly being instilled into his mind, the power of nature never ceased to strengthen the Witcher's soul and body for even a second.

soon.

[Ding! 'Attribute: Perception' has reached its limit (Beginner). Please seek an opportunity to improve it.]

His mind was incredibly clear, yet burning with an intense heat.

[Ding! 'Agility' has reached its initial limit. Please seek an opportunity to improve it.]

His mortal body was both ethereal and heavy, as if it could crush mountains.

A powerful force roamed through his soul and body, and a scorching heat plunged the Witcher into a hazy, delirious state.

In a daze, he heard, witnessed, and drew near to some great being...

She is the mother of all things and spirits. She is as dazed and confused as a witcher, yet she contains all the ultimate truths of the world.

He was calling out something, but his voice was so loud that the Witcher could hardly hear him.

He instinctively wanted to get closer, instinctively wanted to speak up to ask questions, to seek advice...

He seemed to have noticed the Witcher.

The world suddenly fell silent for a moment, or perhaps for countless moments.

then……

The Witcher heard it, as if someone were whispering in his ear.

He was calling out a name that was difficult to pronounce...

“...Gwen...Gwendoria…”

Gwendolyn, the Daughter of Spring, the chief goddess of the four seasons among the ancient elves...

(End of this chapter)