The Witcher: Grinding Proficiency Starting with the Witcher

The entrance to the Witcher's Dungeon.

One by one, the apprentices walked out, each with a heavy expression on their face.

The mouthwatering aroma of stewed beef wafted from the kitchen in the distance; its rich and mellow flavor would normally be enough to send them running like hungry wolves.

But today, no one was in the mood for it.

The unknown and fear of tomorrow's final trial weighed on everyone's hearts like a boulder.

Li Wei was also somewhat nervous.

He didn't go to Mavis's place to help as usual, and the sorceress, knowing this, gave him a three-day leave.

I quickly finished my stewed beef in the kitchen and returned to my room.

Pushing open the door, his nose twitched as he caught a faint, delicate scent in the air—a blend of chamomile and cloves.

Li Wei's pupils contracted slightly, and he whispered, "Professor Mavis?"

Mavis stood with her back to him, still wearing that mysterious black wizard's robe, silently by the window, without saying a word.

Li Wei understood what she meant, quickly stepped inside, and gently closed the door.

Mavis's gaze fell on the small blue blade of grass in the corner.

"Are you cultivating this Star Grass?"

"Yes," Levi nodded. "I feel it hasn't completely lost its vitality, so I want to give it a try."

Mavis turned around, a ripple appearing in her clear, lake-like eyes, and she chuckled softly.

"I've tried to grow this star grass before."

"But this little guy is notoriously delicate; once his magic is completely drained, it is extremely difficult for him to recover."

"Unexpectedly, there are signs of recovery here."

Li Wei scratched his head. "I just water it occasionally and let it shine the moonlight at night."

Mavis slightly raised her eyes, her gaze clearly showing disbelief.

Li Wei could only spread his hands, looking completely innocent.

"Ms. Mavis, I'm telling the truth."

Mavis did not dwell on the matter.

She lifted her sleeve and extended her fair, jade-like right hand, in which lay a crystal-clear red pendant.

"I have infused this red crystal with a third-circle spell, [Great Fireball], and a [Vigilance] spell."

"【Vigilance】 allows you to sense the magical energy and monster fluctuations around you, helping you avoid danger."

"If you encounter an enemy that you cannot handle, crush it and throw it at the opponent; the [Great Fireball] spell will be triggered automatically."

Li Wei's expression froze, and a deep sense of astonishment appeared in his eyes.

"Professor Mavis, this...this doesn't seem to comply with the rules of the trial."

"You can keep it." Mavis smiled, her tone gentle. "Remember, you're not just a Witcher apprentice, but also my assistant and my research subject. Even if Turka sees it, he won't say anything."

Upon hearing this, Li Wei's Adam's apple bobbed.

He reached out and took the still-warm crystal, then solemnly gave Mavis a standard apprentice's salute.

"Li Wei, thank you, Professor Mavis."

Mavis nodded slightly, turned around, and began to chant an ancient incantation.

Behind him, the space rippled like water, and a silvery-white point of light appeared out of thin air, rapidly expanding until it was the size of a door.

Li Wei recognized it at a glance.

It's a portal.

Just as Mavis was about to step inside, she suddenly turned around, her expression becoming extremely serious.

"Li Wei, don't die in the trial."

Li Wei felt a warmth in his heart. He gripped the red crystal in his hand and nodded vigorously.

The portal vanished along with Mavis's figure, as if she had never existed.

Only the lingering scents of chamomile and cloves in the air proved that what had just happened was not an illusion.

Li Wei took a deep breath and stared blankly at the spot where she disappeared.

"Having a portal is really convenient..."

He opened the window; the air outside was growing colder, and darkness was rapidly descending.

After placing the star grass on the windowsill, he knelt by the window and began his nightly, unwavering breathing and meditation.

……

A loud rooster crow shattered the pre-dawn silence, echoing throughout the Witcher's castle.

The sky was still dark, and a cold wind howled in front of the castle gate.

Eleven Witcher apprentices stood in formation before the massive, heavy gate.

Li Wei glanced at the crowd out of the corner of his eye; everyone's expression was unusually grave.

Especially Lant, whose eyes were bloodshot and who looked listless, clearly hadn't slept all night.

Turka, Daniel, Ete, and Mavis arrived one after another.

Daniel brought up the rear, pushing a wooden handcart crammed with backpacks wrapped in waterproof tarpaulins.

All four were fully armed.

The witchers donned their studded leather armor and carried two swords.

Mavis held a staff with a large green gemstone set at the top.

Turka didn't waste any words, his expression as indifferent as ice.

"Look at the weapon racks on your right, choose a weapon that suits you, and then come here to collect your packs."

Without hesitation, everyone stepped forward.

Li Wei once again chose his most familiar two-handed knight's sword.

[Sword Sense] activated.

[A two-handed knight's sword, 108 cm long and weighing 2.35 kg, forged from fine iron with four quenching flaws, making it a superior piece among ordinary iron weapons.]

He ran his hand over the cold blade, the sharp aura making his palm tingle slightly.

This sword, aside from Ete's Irenera, is the best ordinary iron weapon he has ever seen.

After choosing his weapon, Levi walked up to Daniel.

Daniel grinned, a smile that looked somewhat sinister on his resolute face, which lacked even eyebrows.

He took a backpack out of the car and tossed it into Li Wei's arms.

The allocation process was completed quickly.

Turka's voice was icy: "Check everyone's backpacks. Inside are a flint, a day's worth of rations, a bottle of recovery potion, an oilcloth, and a bottle of ghoul sword oil. Once you've checked, report back immediately."

Upon hearing this, everyone quickly opened their backpacks to check.

"Reporting to Master Turka, Ravin is fine!"

"Reporting to Master Turka, Arsh is fine!"

Li Wei also looked into the bag.

A bottle of pale blue potion, a small oil jug, a wad of dark, dry rations, an oilcloth, and a flint.

A sharp sword to kill the enemy, medicine to save lives, food to fill one's stomach, a fire to keep warm... everything is available.

Turka had clearly made ample preparations for them and was not really sending them to their deaths.

After confirming everything was correct, he shouted loudly, "Reporting to Master Turka, Livi is fine!"

……

"Reporting to Master Turka, Lan...Lant is fine."

Turka's golden cat-like eyes swept over the crowd, and he nodded in satisfaction.

"Very well, I now announce the task for the final trial: Reach the summit of Eagle's Gorge, across from the castle, before sunset tomorrow."

"If you fail to complete it, pray to the goddess Marina that you may be able to leave Eagle Mountain alive and survive this desperate winter."

After saying that, he looked at Mavis.

Mavis sighed, a hint of pity in her eyes.

She raised her staff high, chanting a powerful incantation from her red lips.

Behind the apprentices, a silvery-white dot of light reappeared.

The spot of light rapidly enlarged, whipping up a gust of wind that made everyone's hair flutter wildly.

Portal.

Before Li Wei could react, his vision was completely swallowed up by the dazzling silver-white light.

A strong feeling of weightlessness and dizziness, as if the world were spinning, struck at the same time.

In just three breaths, the silver light faded.

The sound of flowing water reached my ears, and the rich aroma of water vapor and earth filled my nostrils.

Li Wei bent over, feeling his stomach churning. He gagged a few times, almost vomiting up the stewed beef from last night.

I wiped away the tears from the corners of my eyes with the back of my hand, and my vision gradually cleared.

Before me lies a river that flows ceaselessly.

Li Wei's chest heaved violently as he took deep breaths of the crisp, cold air and looked around.

On both sides of the river, besides the muddy swamps, there are towering cliffs, the steep rock walls eroded smooth by years of cold wind.

Apart from the sound of water, all was silent.

Even water ghosts couldn't be seen.

Winter is coming soon, and the birds have long since flown south, and even the insects are hiding away.

I walked carefully to the riverbank.

This river flows down from the top of Eagle Gorge and is called Eagle Gorge River by the Witchers.

His face was reflected in the clear water.

He had short, neat black hair, prominent features, and a handsome appearance.

Li Wei cupped his hands in the icy river water and washed his face, forcing himself to clear his head and shake off the dizziness brought on by the teleportation.

He opened his backpack, hurriedly ate a few bites of dry rations, then took out an oil bottle and a rag, carefully applying the amber-colored ghoul-eating creature sword oil to every inch of the sword.

"Take advantage of the current safety and get the preparations done."

The sword oil has been applied.

[Sword Sense] is triggered again.

[Two-handed knight's sword, coated with ghoul-eating sword oil, increases damage against ghoul-eating creatures by 30%]