The Cornflower Witch

"My name is Kossel, an ordinary patrol hunter."

(Patrol hunter: Hunters and patrollers of the wasteland who watch herds and beasts roaming the wilds, report sightings of powerful monsters, handle Shadow World Erosion, and deal with beasts that threaten livestock and crops, etc.)

"Judging by your strength, you are far from ordinary." Kossel possessed Fourth Tier Beast Fang strength, not something an ordinary patrol hunter could match.

Sylutia summoned one of her team members, gave a brief set of instructions, then went to fetch the guard captain who had escorted them earlier.

"Do you know this patrol hunter called Kossel?"

The captain walked over, scrutinized him for a moment, thought back, then nodded.

"I remember him. I ran into him at the tavern a few times. He always ordered the cheap beer, kind of distinctive. He seemed to be from out of town. The first time I met him was about half a year ago."

Even patrol hunters, who were not high-earning professionals, would still have enough money for drinks; a single gold coin could buy several barrels of decent beer.

"That's right, I'm not a local." Kossel replied, then continued.

"My hometown is on the northern desert. I grew up in a tribe, but later I was fortunate enough to be recommended to a nearby town to study. I learned some knowledge and secret arts there, then returned to my tribe afterward."

"As for why I sabotaged the rails, I couldn't stand the City Lord and those people's actions any longer, so I secretly assisted in blowing up a section of the rail."

"Where did you get explosives?" Sylutia asked, curious.

"I studied related knowledge before. After the wind disaster, Worze District fell into chaos, and some mines stopped operating. I could easily find materials there." he explained.

"Although I have Fourth Tier strength, the ordinary people around me do not. Direct rebellion would mean death. But I noticed the City Lord had several times specially inspected the rails in the past days, and even had people guarding near the tracks. I knew an opportunity had come."

"Someone important must be passing through here who could directly affect the City Lord's power and position."

"After discovering this, I began planning and organizing, then blew up a section. Unfortunately, because it was my first time doing such a thing, many companions were injured, some were captured, and some sacrificed themselves."

"But things can't end like that. If the City Lord repairs the rails and gets through this difficulty, who knows if we'll have another chance. And if we can't bring him down, all those sacrifices will have been for nothing." He said, breathing heavily; stubble at the corner of his mouth was covered by a fine white frost. This was the result of Slumbering Winter Aspect erosion.

"So you're saying you acted purely out of a sense of justice to help the common folk?" Sylutia raised her left hand. The bird on her shoulder hopped lightly onto the back of her hand, letting her stroke it slowly.

"Of course. Otherwise, a mid-level professional like me wouldn't starve or freeze to death wherever I go." he answered.

"I see…" Sylutia gave no clear reply, simply watching the small, lifelike bird on her hand.

Then the bird took off, chirping, circled above Sylutia's head, suddenly darted toward the tree canopy not far down the street, and transformed into several razor-sharp threads that shot out in multiple directions.

A hidden figure instantly revealed itself and easily melted through the threads, then transformed into flowing flames that rushed at the detained Kossel.

At that moment, several Inspection Department members reacted as if facing a deadly enemy, drawing swords and charging at the flowing flames. Silver-cold runic imprints appeared on the blades, and an icy chill radiated outward.

A few Inspection members beside Gu Yu Tiya also protected her, layers of azure barriers appearing. Several deep-blue orbs rose and formed layered barrier formations beneath the street, dividing the external space into several separated sections.

Up front, seven Inspection Department members produced specially made inscribed hand cannons and aimed at the direction from which the enemy attacked.

In the air, the first to make contact was the hissing figure fighting the flowing flames. The flames were nimble within their pattern and shifted several times, twisting and evading sword strikes with eerie trajectories, slipping past the seven's encirclement.

When it approached the barrier, the flames suddenly surged, eroding a hole through the azure shield, then retreated.

Just as it neared the detained Kossel, the armed Inspection member locked onto the target and pulled the trigger. An orange-red bullet shot out, piercing the twisting extinguishing flame and spraying a small burst of blood.

Before the attacker was mortally wounded, it finally revealed its form: a fox the size of a calf, burning with red-and-white flames. Its aura was uncanny; as the flames flowed, its shape blurred and shifted, turning once more into a phantom flame and charging toward Gu Yu Ke.

Clock Disc Engraving • Hulier's Eye

At that moment, a vast cerulean flame-eye opened in the night sky, its gaze sweeping across the fire fox. The fox's phantom flame dispersed, revealing its true body.

Illusion Flame Firefox (Fifth Tier · Scorching Sun · Mist Shadow)

As it neared Kossel, the fox's flames surged like a flood, sweeping across the whole street. Every Inspection Department member focused on their swords, their silver-blue blades standing like pillars in a raging torrent. The Slumbering Winter chill they gave off dispersed the sweeping sea of flames.

No one died, but the man who had been detained vanished into the fire.

After those actions, the street flames were drawn back like a long whale inhaling water, returning into the fox's body. Then it sped off toward the distant night sky.

So this was a patrol hunter's companion. Kossel must have formed a contract with this fox, their life forces linked. Otherwise a Fourth Tier like him could never subdue and command it. Sylutia watched as their figures began to vanish into the night sky. Without hesitation she leaped, wings unfurled behind her, crackling like lightning, turning into a streak of light as she pursued them.

Seconds later, Sylutia intercepted the flowing red-and-white flames. A huge clock appeared behind her; the ornate, beautiful dial lit up with dazzling beams like activated clock markers, lighting up in sequence behind her and continually striking the approaching red-and-white flames.

Clock Disc Engraving • Anash Impact

The crystalline pointer on the silver dial turned and aimed at the clock's first mark, the stars igniting in sequence, each shining forth.

The whistling beams lit the night sky. The power they carried felt almost tangible; each strike shattered parts of the red-and-white flames. By the time all twelve beams had slammed down, the flowing flames were broken and weakened, revealing the Illusion Flame Firefox once more.

It bore Kossel on its back and leapt through the air, trying to bypass Sylutia's position, but before long, a flock of silver-winged raptors opened their broad wings and circled behind Sylutia.

They traced long intersecting arcs, charging toward the escaping fox and Kossel. Threads they carried wove an exquisite cage in the air, and the intricate runic imprints on the cage flickered, imprisoning the weakened fox.

The fox tried to struggle; its flames surged again. The flowing red-and-white blaze swept the birdcage, attempting to blur the boundary between solid and phantom so it could pass through. But the silver light on the cage flashed and washed over it, dispelling the blurring changes and restoring the cage's clear, frost-cold form.

At that time, more Inspection Department members arrived. silver-blue orbs floated up and gathered around the birdcage.

Three beams...

Ten beams...

Thirty beams...

Slumbering Winter's piercing rays hit the fox's body precisely, leaving it increasingly debilitated until it finally froze into an ice crystal, fixed inside the cage.