Chapter 478: The Witherer of Old Friends

In the black night.

In an unnamed small grove of the Dusk Hills.

Flap—

The sound of wings beating.

A massive black bird, perfectly blended into the night, carried the scent of decay and death as it glided silently downward from the sky.

Its wingspan was astonishing; beneath the membrane, intricate networks of veins were faintly visible.

But the veins did not hold living blood—instead, they pulsed with a thick, dark green liquid, exuding a suffocating stench of rot.

The bird's eyes were sunken deep into its withered skull, glowing with a faint green light.

A twisted force of nature flickered past.

The black bird transformed into a human woman with black hair and red blotches encircling her left eye socket, landing gracefully.

"Dann."

The woman gazed at the tall, nonhuman black shadow standing motionless in the grove, calling softly.

The shadow was pressing its knee-length arms, covered in snake scales, against a lush, healthy tree.

It was a serpent-man.

As the same twisted force of nature flowed through him.

The tree's inner natural spirit was instantly drained, withering and decaying before their eyes.

A withering of destruction and death.

Another witherer.

"Dann, I recall the Windwall Forest was your trial ground—surely you don't expect me to help you?"

Dann, the serpent-man witherer, spoke with a rising tone, always laced with coldness.

Greta replied gravely: "The Windwall Forest's situation is complex—I need help."

"But you know the higher-ups value individual capability and external aid—this could lower your evaluation score."

"Adaptability is also individual capability. Dann, I haven't been gone many years, but the forest's power has surged too fast—you must see the spiritual energy in that forest?"

Both turned their gaze toward the west.

On the pitch-black horizon, a dense natural force only witherers could perceive rose like a flame, turning half the sky emerald green.

Greed and longing flashed in both their eyes.

"The natural force rivals that of the Elves' Verdant Court—but even the higher-ups dare not fully destroy this forest."

Dann sighed.

He turned back to Greta. "Speak. What do you need me to do? And mind your payment."

"There's a tree spirit in the forest—I once saved her life, you know. Tree spirits usually aren't very bright. I planned to use that to force her compliance, but now there are five or more high-level beings in the forest. I inquired further and learned the forest rangers even faced a dragon from Coral Bay and emerged unscathed."

"Ranger Luo De—I know him. The Snow Hill Evening News loves to boast about him. He's clearly a capable one. I heard someone up top once got beaten by him. I'm not afraid of him—he's just a high-level being—but he's no easy target. You'll have to pay more."

"No, Dann. I don't need you to defeat him."

Greta lowered her voice. "Before I became a witherer, I quietly lived in the Windwall Forest for nearly ten years. You know—Druids record history within forests. One day, I accidentally touched a century-old record left by a ninth-rank Druid. He wrote that Stone Ying Town hides a secret capable of shaking the continent."

Dann frowned slightly.

"What secret?"

"The ninth-rank didn't say."

". What's the difference between that and saying nothing?"

"The key is that the ninth-rank Druid deliberately recorded it. We don't care about the secret—but the higher-ups adore such things. If you help me contact them, it might count as a merit."

"."

Seeing Dann sway, Greta hurried on: "You don't need to fight those high-level beings in the forest—just hold them off. I have my own way to force the tree spirit into submission. When I saved her life, I planted a backdoor in her. Once I activate it, I can enslave her with my spell."

"But the ranger is close to that tree spirit. Have you considered the consequences if you're discovered?"

"That's exactly why I need you, Dann! Among witherers, who could match your skill in evasion and concealment?"

Dann snorted.

Pride rose on his face: "Of course. The ranger's direct power is formidable—but when it comes to hiding and escaping, even a ninth-rank mage's perception might not find or pierce through me, let alone a spirit warrior!"

"Exactly!"

"Fine. I'll take it. Wait a few days—I'll speak with the higher-ups."

A week passed quietly.

Calmly arrived at the end of January.

In the ranger's cabin.

The tree spirit Vivian lay sprawled on Luo De's body.

Luo De kicked the sleeping Tally at the foot of the bed; the succubus groggily stirred awake.

At this hour, Vivian required constant attention, so Tally had nothing to do all night—she waited, waited, and fell asleep.

"Ahh?"

"Clean up."

"Okay—"

After a while.

The girl's breathing steadied.

She lifted her exquisitely sculpted face, expressionless.

Her eyes, glowing with Bai Guang, couldn't show pupils—but it was clear she was staring at Luo De's lips.

"Luo De. Kiss."

"Alright, alright."

Luo De gently kissed her: "Was my performance last night satisfactory, Miss Vivian?"

The tree spirit, unable to grasp jokes, nodded dumbly, then asked:

"Luo De. Happy?"

"Very good. Vivian may seem passive, but when you're in the mood, you take initiative—I like that."

"Contrast."

"Yes. That's the idea."

Vivian didn't understand. She tilted her head, still expressionless: "Above, Luo De. Cheek. Can see."

A pair of pure, glowing Bai Guang eyes widened fully, fixing their entire gaze on Luo De's face.

"Vivian. Like. Watch. Luo De."

"I like watching Vivian too. Vivian is super cute."

Too bad.

The tree spirit had never been fond of sweet talk—she likely had no concept of it at all.

Since she didn't understand, she simply heard "like" and leaned in again to kiss him.

Vivian rarely spoke, but when she kissed, she never wanted to stop.

Luo De had to pinch her cheeks and gently push her away.

"The Druid I mentioned before—the one who lived in the forest before me and Xiao Ke—is now a witherer."

"Greta."

Vivian spoke a name.

(End of Chapter)