CHAPTER 356: CHAPTER 253: MELEE_1

Geralt, holding his longsword, charged forward. The Bald Sorcerer, of course, noticed and, though not afraid, still became fully alert.

The moment Geralt looked at him, the Bald Sorcerer immediately shifted his attention from his original target, Tamara, to the Witcher Master who had been tailing him for so long.

He grabbed the triangular pendant on his chest with one hand and continued to mutter incomprehensible words. The next second, his eyes turned pitch black. At the same time, an inexplicable force descended from the Void as he cast, making the already dim surroundings even darker. As for the Bald Sorcerer himself, he vanished, disappearing into the darkness.

Having lost his target, Geralt didn’t dare to attack rashly. He had to stop and scan the profound darkness around him.

Tamara had initially wanted to escape, but she was always brave. If she could use the chaos of this battle to obscure her tracks, it seemed she might finally shake off that relentless "tail." The primary reason, however, was her knowledge of this Master Witcher. He roamed the continent hunting monsters, could be motivated by coin, and, importantly, had a sterling reputation. Not to mention, his strength was more than enough to deal with the Bald Sorcerer; he just needed a little help right now.

The Crystal Ball in her hand then emitted an unusual glow, projecting the Bald Sorcerer’s location. "He’s right here. Don’t give him time to prepare the ritual," she said. Tracking and revealing someone’s form was quite simple for Tamara, who excelled at divination and prophecy.

Without much hesitation, Geralt charged with his sword in the direction she indicated. Although he couldn’t be certain the guidance was correct, allowing a Wizard to complete an unknown and eerie ritual was foolish and reckless.

The Bald Sorcerer realized his position was exposed, and the half-prepared ritual could only be cast hastily. Bizarre symbols materialized in the air, accompanied by an indescribable evil force descending. Geralt felt something targeting him, attempting to invade his body. Thankfully, his Witcher’s unique constitution resisted it. Of course, it was also possible the Bald Sorcerer’s ritual had been interrupted.

"Damn it!" The Bald Sorcerer, naturally sensing the failure of his secret technique, couldn’t help but glare at Tamara. His expression turned ferocious as he clenched his fist, crushing the ritual materials into dust that scattered from between his fingers. His reaction, however, was gratifying to Tamara. A strange smile touched her lips, and she even taunted, "You should regret provoking a Romani..."

Yet the battle continued. With his position exposed and the Witcher charging at him, the Bald Sorcerer dared not waste more time on complex rituals. Instead, he thrust the Bone Furnace forward, and a dense black gas spewed from its beast-like opening.

Geralt didn’t pause for a second. He raised his hand to cast a Dharma Seal, muttering something. The next second, an intense spiritual fluctuation erupted at his command. Against the backdrop of the black gas, a clear, fan-shaped shockwave visibly dispersed the fumes and even struck the Bald Sorcerer hiding behind them, forcing him back several steps.

As an experienced Witcher, Geralt wouldn’t miss such an opportunity. He immediately surged forward, swinging his longsword.

The Bald Sorcerer appeared slim and unarmed. However, after inhaling a faint blue mist that rose from the Bone Furnace, his movements instantly became more agile, allowing him to dodge the longsword’s attack range. A Wizard’s methods primarily rely on Art and items; close combat poses a significant threat. Thinking of this, the Bald Sorcerer grew impatient. If the ritual had succeeded earlier, this wouldn’t be so difficult. Now I have to use consumables. He fumbled in his pocket, then spun around and threw its contents at the advancing Geralt.

The experienced Geralt had noticed his subtle movements. Facing the unknown substance scattered over a wide area, he once again brought his hands forward, forming another gesture. The powder seemed to hit an invisible wall of air, but this didn’t prevent a further reaction; upon contact, the powder erupted in a blinding flash.

In the darkness, the flash was exceptionally dazzling, even painful. Even Geralt couldn’t help but shut his eyes. Fortunately, the shield had successfully blocked the flash powder, preventing it from getting closer and causing greater harm. The next second, the shield shattered and dissipated into the air, along with the now-blackened powder that had adhered to it, which scattered as it fell.

Meanwhile, the Bald Sorcerer seized the opportunity to widen the distance again. His figure was gradually swallowed by the darkness and vanished. The last thing Geralt saw was him pouring something into the beast-mouth of the Bone Furnace.

Seeing this, Geralt had no choice but to charge. Can’t give a Wizard time to prepare—that’s a consensus among all Transcendents...

Tamara had just recovered from the flash. She too had been affected, but fortunately, not seriously. In contrast, the abilities displayed by the two combatants had truly piqued her interest. The Dharma Seals were one of the most important manifestations of a Witcher’s combat prowess.

The first Dharma Seal, which dispersed the black gas and repelled the Bald Sorcerer, was likely the Ald Dharma Seal. It could generate a telekinetic impulse strong enough to send enemies flying and destroy weaker obstacles. And the second, used to defend against the flash powder, was probably the Quen Glyph. Its specific function was to create a temporary protective shield against physical attacks.