Chapter 227 - Apparition

Terros and the old woman arrived at the wooden hut in the middle of the forest.

She looked at him warily. "I told you to go home! I didn't tell you to accompany me home! Such a stubborn old man you are!" she scolded him.​​

Terros released a deep sigh. "Madam, no matter what you say or do, I won't leave this place unless you will tell me the location of the witch so that I can have my revenge!" he said.

The woman ignored him and went inside her house.

Terros remained rooted on the spot waiting for the woman to come out and tell him the location of the witch.

Minutes went by.

The woman never leaves her house again.

Terros settled himself comfortably on the wooden bench under the shade of the tree. He will wait until the old woman will leave her house again.

Minutes went by.

Two hours later.

The old woman exited the door and was surprised to see Terros under the shade of the tree.

"Why are you still here?" she asked in amazement.

"I won't leave here until you will tell me where can I find that psycho witch! I will make her pay dearly for killing my friend!" Terros said furiously, his eyes blazing with anger.

"Okay fine, show me how capable you are!" She pointed at the tree nearby. "Cut that tree in half!" she ordered.

Terros looked at the tree. "Easy!" He chanted a spell and rose in the air, he went closer to the tree and strike his hands in the air pointing to the tree... suddenly the tree was cut in half in the blink of an eye.

The other half of the tree falls to the ground.

The old woman clapped her hands. "Excellent! You finally convinced me to disclose the witch's location! I never thought you are this capable! You appeared just like an ordinary and frail old man to me!" she said.

Terros smiled. "Madam, did you ever hear the saying that says... Never judge the book by its cover!"

The woman continues smiling. "Don't be so overconfident! The old witch is powerful. If you want to defeat her for real, you've better bring your friends here to help you fight her. She's not easy to defeat! With just her stare or wave of her hand, your body will explode! So, if you want her dead, you need a powerful backup. Sad to say, you're not strong and powerful enough to defeat her! Trust me - you will lose if you fight her alone!" she said.

Terros took a deep breath and scratches his head in annoyance. "So... you're still not willing to reveal to me the witch's location?" he finally asked.

The old woman cleared her throat.

"Find a powerful companion to help you fight the old witch. Bring that person here, then I'll reveal to you the witch's location... and I will also tell you how to defeat that old hag! I'll wait here for your return!" she said.

"Okay, fine! I'll go home and find a companion to help me fight that witch!" Terros said warily.

"Leave now!" the old woman dismissed him and went back inside the house.

Terros rose higher in the air and teleported back to his place.

A minute later.

He appeared back at his place.

Time is just perfect, because when he landed at his place, Graven was there, watering his plants.

"Son, you're here! Thanks for taking good care of my plants," Terros said.

Graven looked at the old man and smiled. "Don't mention it! I see that you're back already... did you found Veronica?" he asked excitedly.

Terros's eyes welled, he shook his head sadly. "No, I mean yes, I already found her...but..." he faltered on his words.

"But what?" Graven went to Terros's side quickly after seeing the tragic expression on his face.

"I found Veronica's dead body buried in a shallow grave! I dug her grave myself to confirm her identity! She dies of a stab wound and her heart and blood were taken out from her body and feed to the exotic flower and plants raised by a psycho witch!" Terros ended his narration.

Graven was stunned and shocked by the old man's revelation. He was dumbfounded. "Whaaaat? Veronica was killed by a witch?"

Terros nods his head. "Yeah. Poor Veronica was captured by a powerful witch! The witch killed Veronica without mercy!" he said in an enraged voice.

Graven was having a hard time grasping everything. First, Veronica was dead, killed by a witch! And who is this witch? Have you already seen the witch's face? Who told you that Veronica was killed by her? Is there a witness?" he asked.

"The witness is the old woman who saw Veronica's dead body in the forest and buried her in a shallow grave! She told me everything about that witch. But she won't tell me the murderer's location because she thinks that I'm not capable of defeating the witch!" Terros explained further.

"Ah, okay, I got it now!" Graven said. "So... what is your plan now?"

Terros looked at Graven in the eyes. "Son, are you willing to fight the witch with me and help avenge Veronica?" he asked.

"Sure, old man! I'm ready to join your cause. Let's avenge, Veronica!" Graven said.

"Thank you, son!" Terros said, feeling grateful for Graven's willingness to fight the witch. "Can you come with me back to the place?" he asked.

"As in now?"

"Yeah..."

"Sure, anytime, take me there!" Graven said.

Terros sighed in relief. "Thank you, son!"

"So, the reason why Veronica was not able to return home, 'coz she died in the hands of the witch?" Graven murmured.

"Yeah, according to that woman who found Veronica's dead body, her place become a dumping ground of the witch victims. The witch abducted and kill young maiden to use their blood and heart to feed the exotic flowers in her cave. Those carnivorous exotic plants are the source of her power, so she has no choice but to feed them periodically if she wants to continue her life," Terros explained further.

"Oh, I see a psychotic evil witch on the loose here! Alright, let's finish this witch to avenge our friend Veronica once and for all!" Graven said. The fire of vengeance flashes in his eyes.

"Alright, let's go! I'll take you to the woman's place!" Terros said and holds Graven's arm.

Terros initiated the teleportation process in his mind.

The two men disappeared from the place in the blink of an eye.

A minute later.

They appeared outside the house of the old woman.

The woman was sitting on the wooden bench under the shade of the tree. She looked at the men and smiled. "Welcome back Terros and welcome visitor!" she said looking curiously at Graven.

"Madam, this is my friend, Graven. He is willing to fight alongside me to kill the psycho witch! We're ready to fight her to the death to give justice to all the victims that she killed through the years!" Terros said, his eyes blazing with fury.

"Alright, may I ask your friend to demonstrate his power to me first? I want to know if he is capable enough to kill the witch?" the old woman requested.

Terros looked at Graven. "Let's just humor her so that we can finish this task and get out of here," he said.

"Sure!" Graven nodded his head.

Flames emerged from Graven's fingers and balls of flames formed in his palm.

The old woman smiled brightly. "Awesome! I'm satisfied!" she blurted. "Gentlemen, burn that witch's house for me!" she ordered.

"Yes, we will!" the men replied in unison.

"I'll tell you the witch's place now. But first, I only have one request from you, gentlemen," she said.

"What is it, Madam? Please say it!" Terros said impatiently.

"After you killed the witch, grabbed the necklace that she's wearing on her neck and gave it to me. That's all I'm asking from you," she stated.

"Sure! No problem!" Terros spoke.

"Good!" She put a small pouch in Terros hand. "There's a powder inside this pouch. Go to the peak of the 5th mountain on your right and sprinkle the powder in the air. Slowly you will see the witch's residence unfolding at the top of the mountain. It's a marble house," she said.

"Hmm... marble house! What a coincidence!" Terros mumbled. He holds the pouch securely with his hand.

"What is it, old man?" Graven asked.

"Nothing, let's go!" Terros said and zoomed into the air.

Graven followed the old man above.

In the ground below.

The old woman remained rooted on the spot, looking heavenward, watching the men zooming towards the peak of the mountain.

Time to wait for good news!

She walked back towards the wooden bench and plopped down.

Meanwhile...

The men already reached the peak of the 5th mountain. They circled it for a few minutes finding nothing above it.

"There's no marble house!" Terros spoke aloud.

"Nothing here but a sea of clouds!" Graven seconded.

Terros opened the pouch and sprinkled the powder around the area.

A few seconds later... the powder finally took effect!

Slowly... the marble house materialized in front of them.

"Amazing!" Terros looked at the pouch. "The old woman was telling the truth!" he said.

"Indeed!" Graven agreed as flames emerged from his hands. I'm ready now to pulverize the witch house to avenge Veronica!" he said.

"Me too!" Terros growled.

"I will attack first!" Graven said. The flames in his hands become bigger and bigger and he's ready to unleash them. "Here we gooooooooo!" He launches the flames towards the marble house intending to pulverize it...

But before it hits the target... it bounces back hurtling toward them...

"Watch out!" Terros shouted.

"What the f*ck!" Graven shouted as he dodged the balls of fire advancing towards him! Or else he will be hit by his weapon.

Suddenly...

"Who dares attack my home!?" A loud booming voice of a woman appeared out of nowhere.

Graven and Terros looked around them, but see no one.

"Witch... why did you kill my friend Veronica? Answer me!" Terros shouted.

"I didn't kill anyone! How dare you accuse me!" the voice said in an enraged tone.

"Just show yourself to us, witch! You have to pay us with your life for killing our friend!" Terros shouted indignantly.

Thick clouds appeared in front of Graven and Terros... then it slowly revealed a beautiful woman in her goddess form...wearing pristine flowing clothes... her long hair was blown by the wind behind her back.

"Do I look like a witch to you?" Elva finally showed herself to the intruders.

The men signaled at each other.

"Son, go now and pulverize the house! I'll fight this witch to the death to avenge Veronica!" Terros said bravely.

The flames in Graven's palm grow bigger and bigger... he was about to hurl it to the marble house but was interrupted by another apparition...

"Graven, Terros...! What the hell are you doing here!?" said the familiar voice.

The men looked in the direction of the voice, their eyes widened in shock.