CHAPTER 52: CHAPTER 52: STRUGGLING ON THE VERGE OF DEATH (PLEASE COLLECT)

However, looking at the short wings of the Crow Witches, it hardly seemed like they could generate enough lift. Aiven could only guess that this was some kind of innate magic-like ability.

Step—

They landed on the treetops at least thirty meters away from Aiven and the others. Even turned into demons, the instincts of maintaining distance, typical for those in magic professions, were still apparent.

The two Crow Witches had a deep impression of the Crowman team that had been tracking their sisters since Frostleaf Forest, although their appearances were similar, in reality, they were "demons" always wanting to cut them down.

On their own turf, new and old grudges combined, the Crow Witches weren’t going to be polite; naturally, they greeted them with extreme "enthusiasm"!

Gah! Gah!

After letting out two strange calls,

The large army of crows hovering like a dark cloud overhead suddenly poured down like a flood, disregarding casualties, and swarmed the attacking Aiven and Crowman squad.

With their masters present, these crows were even more fearless, and even the two oversized crows risked getting shot down to dive bomb, relentlessly sapping their will.

The battle returned to its white-hot intensity.

At this time, Aiven and the Crowmen had very different strategies in response. Aiven wielded his longsword into a whirl of silver light to protect himself first, and then sought to defeat the enemy.

However, the three Crowmen, with their impenetrable gear, ignored the crows’ attacks, forming a formation with their firearms, and shouting "Long live the Queen!" as they directly charged towards the Crow Witches.

"What are they thinking?!" Although complaining in his heart, Aiven had no choice but to brace against the crow swarm and follow closely.

It was then that Aiven realized, unlike himself who occasionally stumbled, these Crowmen seemed highly resistant to the Demonized Crows’ will-sapping attacks, barely pausing even in the charge - truly professionals.

Thinking that he had identified a shortcoming, he resolved to find ways to compensate for it in the future.

The charge was only halfway through when, clearly not just for show, the Crow Witches launched their attack under the cover of the crow flock.

Boom—

A black clay pot was thrown over, exploding instantly, spreading a large green cloud rapidly.

While Aiven swiftly evaded, the three Crowmen ignored it and plunged straight into the cloud, without any change of pace.

As previously mentioned, many low-tier wild mages don’t have many combat methods, and brewing various poisons is a highly cost-effective staple option, also a primary reason why the Crowman troop is uniformly equipped with beak masks.

Seeing both sides separated by the poisonous mist, the two Crow Witches cackled wickedly, flying towards Aiven, treating him as an easy target.

Bam—

Bam—

Two gunshots rang from the green haze, indicating the Crowmen sensed something wrong and attempted long-range support, but to little effect.

With the poisonous mist blocking vision, the gliding Crow Witches weren’t easy prey for the occasional firearm shot, and they dodged effortlessly.

Not daring to let himself be surrounded, Aiven leapt onto the treetops, utilizing his agility. Like a nimble monkey, he maneuvered quickly, matching the Crow Witches in their gliding speed.

Also instinctively avoiding the poison mist, the density of crows clearly reduced, allowing Aiven to fully utilize his speed advantage.

"You two ugly freaks, come and get me!"

Whoosh—

One leading, two chasing, the three figures darted across the treetops.

Aiven kept a safe distance, wary of their spiritual witchcraft. Then, taking advantage of an opening, he shot down the last two surviving Demonized Crows, driving the Crow Witches into a frenzy against him.

Their strange calls became more urgent.

Leading them in a big circle, Aiven found himself unconsciously back at the starting poiht where the poison mist was released, also the position where the Crowman squad paused.

Aiven believed that since the Crowmen’s target was these Crow Witches, they must have an ace up their sleeve. He’d created the opportunity for them, surely they wouldn’t miss it?

Just as he thought of this, a needle-like premonition of danger suddenly struck.

"Watch out for the bomb!" a shout burst in Aiven’s ear.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a fiery object heading towards the two Crow Witches following him. Realizing what it was, terrified, Aiven cursed and dove from the treetop to the ground.

Just as he hid behind a tree trunk.

Boom—!!!

A thunderous explosion, mixed with dazzling firelight, echoed through the forest, followed by countless shattered branches and leaves falling. Although some distance away from Aiven, he was still shaken to ringing ears, his body covered in dirt and leaves.

"Pah, pah, pah..."

Ever since witnessing the extraordinary power of Alchemy Bombs on the Silver Wings, he knew there had to be smaller versions, but he didn’t expect to encounter one today.

Those two demons should be done for now, right?

Peeking from his hiding place, Aiven realized he’d been a bit too optimistic.

At the moment he sensed the danger, the two Crow Witches reacted swiftly, the crows that had been guarding around them displayed their sacrificial spirits again, forming a barrier with their bodies, blocking the Alchemy Bomb’s most lethal shrapnel.

And the two Crow Witches were merely blown away by the bomb blast, falling apart afar but now shaking their heads and slowly getting back up.

Meanwhile, the Crowman squad was charging towards one of the Crow Witches.

Without a word, Aiven also charged out, targeting the other Crow Witch. There was no time to dwell on the Crowman squad’s near-miss earlier, as the final moment of the battle was at hand.

The crack of firearms shot echoed from behind as Aiven sprinted forward, determined not to be outdone.

To prevent the injured-looking Crow Witch from having any fight left, Aiven drew his gun five steps away and fired, confident that he couldn’t miss at this range.

Bam—

After the shot, the Crow Witch’s mouth hung open, full of yellow teeth, like it was silently mocking him. Yet, the lead shot had flown God knows where.

This Crow Witch was clearly stronger than the first one they killed, still able to mislead Aiven’s senses at this point.

"Tch, struggling in vain!"

Moving with the swiftness of a cheetah, Aiven closed in, swinging his longsword in a gust of wind. After two swift missed slashes, a strikingly sharp slash accurately and impeccably swept across its neck.

Clang—

Thud!

Sidestepping back two paces, shaking off the dark red bloodstains, he sheathed his sword.

Letting a formal knight like Aiven get close, the outcome was inevitable; this Crow Witch couldn’t even utilize her last tricks before being done.

Staring at the demon’s corpse on the ground, Aiven felt a tingling in his fingers; he couldn’t just leave a magic professional’s body untouched, that’d be too wasteful. Besides, he remembered Leon’s notes on the Crow Witches described them as not being proficient in curses.

Noticing the fight on the other side wasn’t over yet, Aiven chuckled, rubbing his hands together, as he reached towards the Crow Witch’s body...