Chapter 42: Serependity II

The Witch Doctor raised its staff and immediately fired several dark green projectiles toward Ryan.

Ryan moved to the side and avoided them.

The projectiles struck the wooden wall behind him and quickly spread across the surface.

The wood began to turn black and rotten.

Ryan looked at the damaged wall.

"Poison?"

He quickly moved away as another group of projectiles flew toward him.

This time, Ryan drew the Death Blade Greatsword from his inventory.

He swung the sword and destroyed the projectiles before they could reach him.

The Witch Doctor continued attacking.

It pulled several bottles from the robe covering its body and threw them toward Ryan.

The bottles exploded as soon as they touched the ground.

One released a cloud of green smoke, while another created several vines that shot out from the ground.

Ryan used Death Step and passed through the vines before they could reach him.

He appeared several meters away and immediately rushed toward the Witch Doctor.

The Witch Doctor reacted quickly.

It crushed another bottle in its hand.

A thick layer of green liquid covered its body.

Its physical strength suddenly increased, and it blocked Ryan’s sword with its staff.

The impact pushed the Witch Doctor backward several meters.

Ryan continued attacking.

The Witch Doctor used its staff to block each strike while moving backward.

Although Ryan had the advantage in physical strength, the Witch Doctor was surprisingly skilled at close combat.

It also used potions during the fight to strengthen its body.

Ryan noticed that the effects of the potions changed depending on the situation.

One increased its physical defense.

Another increased its movement speed.

A third potion allowed it to recover from the wounds Ryan inflicted.

"This guy really has a lot of potions."

Ryan swung his greatsword again.

The Witch Doctor blocked the attack, but the force of the strike cracked its staff.

It quickly jumped backward and threw another bottle.

The bottle shattered in midair.

A large amount of black liquid spread across the room.

Ryan immediately moved away.

The liquid hit the floor and created a large area of poisonous mist.

Ryan activated Death Blade Aura.

Death Energy surrounded his greatsword as he stepped through the poisonous mist.

The Witch Doctor’s eyes widened.

It raised its staff and summoned several corrupted roots from the ground.

The roots moved toward Ryan from every direction.

Ryan cut through them one after another.

The Witch Doctor used the opportunity to drink another potion.

Its body suddenly became faster.

It appeared beside Ryan and swung its staff toward his head.

Ryan raised his greatsword and blocked the attack.

The Witch Doctor immediately followed with another strike.

Ryan blocked that attack as well.

The Witch Doctor then kicked him backward and created some distance.

Ryan looked at the Witch Doctor.

"You’re much stronger than the other monsters here."

The Witch Doctor did not answer.

It pulled out several bottles at the same time.

Ryan realized that it was preparing another attack.

He immediately rushed forward.

The Witch Doctor threw the bottles toward him.

Ryan destroyed the first two with his sword, but the third bottle exploded before he could reach it.

A powerful shockwave spread through the room.

Ryan was pushed backward.

The Witch Doctor used the opening to attack again.

Its staff released several green beams.

Ryan moved between them while approaching the Witch Doctor.

One beam passed close to his shoulder, while another struck the ground behind him.

Ryan reached the Witch Doctor and swung his sword.

The Witch Doctor raised both hands and created a barrier made from thick green energy.

Ryan’s sword struck the barrier.

The barrier cracked but did not break immediately.

Ryan increased his strength and pushed forward.

The barrier finally shattered.

The Witch Doctor was forced backward.

Ryan followed with another attack.

This time, his sword struck the Witch Doctor’s shoulder and cut through its robe.

Dark green blood flowed from the wound.

The Witch Doctor quickly stepped back and drank another potion.

The wound began closing.

Ryan continued attacking without giving it time to recover.

The Witch Doctor blocked several attacks, but each strike forced it farther backward.

Eventually, Ryan used Death Step.

His body turned into Death Energy for a brief moment, allowing him to pass through the Witch Doctor’s defense.

He appeared directly behind it.

Ryan turned around and swung his greatsword.

The Witch Doctor reacted at the last moment and moved its body to the side.

The sword still struck its side and sent it crashing into a wooden table.

Several potion bottles fell from the shelves and broke on the floor.

The Witch Doctor quickly stood up.

Its breathing had become heavier.

Ryan could see that its movements were becoming slower.

The Witch Doctor looked at the broken bottles around it.

It seemed to realize that most of its useful potions had already been destroyed.

It reached into its robe again.

However, this time, there were no bottles left.

Ryan noticed this and rushed forward.

The Witch Doctor raised its staff and released all the remaining energy in its body.

A large amount of green energy spread throughout the hut.

The ground shook as corrupted plants grew rapidly from the floor.

Large roots surrounded Ryan from every direction. ℴ

Ryan swung his greatsword repeatedly and destroyed the roots.

The Witch Doctor continued controlling them while using its staff to attack whenever Ryan got close.

The battle continued for several more minutes.

Ryan destroyed one group of roots after another.

The Witch Doctor kept using its remaining strength to resist him.

Eventually, Ryan found an opening.

He activated Death Step and instantly appeared in front of the Witch Doctor.

Before it could react, Ryan swung his greatsword.

The blade struck the Witch Doctor and sent it flying across the hut.

It crashed into the wall and fell to the ground.

The Witch Doctor tried to stand up, but its legs could no longer support its body.

Ryan walked toward it with his greatsword in hand.

The Witch Doctor looked at him and raised its staff again.

Ryan swung his sword and knocked the staff out of its hand.

The Witch Doctor reached for another hidden bottle, but Ryan kicked it away before it could use it.

The Witch Doctor was now completely exhausted.

Ryan raised his greatsword and delivered the final attack.

The blade struck the Witch Doctor, and its body collapsed to the ground.

A system notification appeared in front of Ryan.

[Serendipity Witch Doctor has been defeated.]

[You have defeated an A-Rank Dungeon Boss.]

[You have received experience.]

[You have obtained the following rewards.]

[Ancient Bloodleaf × 12]

[Corrupted Tree Sap × 8]

[Witch Doctor’s Staff × 1]

[Ancient-grade Potion × 5]

[Random Ancient-grade Potion Recipe × 3]

[Serendipity Witch Doctor’s Core × 1]

Ryan looked at the rewards.

The potions and potion recipes immediately caught his attention.

He then looked at the Witch Doctor’s body.

Ryan activated Perfect Loot.

A familiar system notification appeared.

[Perfect Loot activated.]

[Target: Serendipity Witch Doctor]

[All valid attributes, abilities, knowledge, skills, bloodline, talents, and accumulated resources have been acquired.]

Ryan stood there for a moment as a huge amount of information entered his mind.

He could now understand the Witch Doctor’s potion-making knowledge, its experience, its recipes, and the various methods it had developed throughout its long existence.

Ryan slowly closed his eyes and organized the information.

After a short while, he opened them again.

"That was quite a lot of information."

He looked around the destroyed hut.

Most of the potion bottles had been destroyed during the battle, but several shelves had remained intact.

Ryan walked over and began checking them.

There were still many ingredients and a few finished potions left.

He collected everything that seemed useful and stored it in his inventory.

Then he looked at the destroyed hut.

"Since I already obtained the Witch Doctor’s knowledge, I don’t need to stay here."

Ryan turned around and walked outside.

However, before leaving the area, he noticed something strange.

A faint green glow was coming from deeper inside the forest.

Ryan looked toward it.

According to the information he had received from the Witch Doctor, there was another important area deeper inside the dungeon.

It was the location of the fallen Tree of Life.

Ryan looked at the forest ahead.

"If that place has survived this long, there might still be something useful there."

He adjusted his equipment and continued deeper into the dungeon.