The Principality of Axia, also known as the "Principality of the Arc Coast", is a vassal state of Redania, one of the four major kingdoms in the north. It constitutes the northern coastline of Redania.
Not long ago, a civil war broke out in the Principality of Acosi between a duke and his daughter Helena Lange-Hall. After a bloody civil war, the baroness overthrew her father and was crowned duke.
"The Baroness had condescended to invite the demon hunters to join the righteous path, but the ungrateful mutants actually humiliated the Baroness. Damn usurpers!"
"Does the witcher think he can escape the Baroness's judgment by fleeing to this lair of pirates, bandits and criminals? Impossible!"
The deck beneath his feet shook even more violently, but Knight Chastek ignored it.
"Chastek..." A sailor seemed to have discovered something and called the knight's name in an attempt to alert him.
"The gods must have blessed our quest, allowing us to find the evil trail of Ged! It's a pity that we couldn't kill him on the Great Skellige Island. The damned pirates actually defended him and even killed Knight Charimir and half of our people!"
"Chastek..."
"What an honor it is to serve the most honorable lady! Anyone who refuses to serve is an unforgivable villain! A witcher whose humble mission is to hunt monsters is unwilling to kill the beast in human skin of the usurper. This is against morality and the rules of witchers, and he should pay the price with blood..."
"Chastek! The storm is coming!"
The sailors shouted in horror.
The knight turned, and the blow came like a heavy blow from the storm hammer on his well-maintained steel armor.
They didn't know when and how it moved. The small sailboat, which they had to use a telescope to see clearly just now, was now less than a hundred yards away from them. They could vaguely see a bald man in a robe and a big beard standing on it. The Chestack Knight had never seen such a fast sailboat.
[However, if the transport ship under my feet collides with the sailboat, the other ship will definitely be destroyed and the people will die. ]
As Chastek was thinking this, the next second he felt the small transport ship under his feet flying up.
He was confused:
"Why... is that sailboat still so stable?"
…
The sea was turbulent and the sky was gloomy.
The huge waves that rose up from time to time gathered in mid-air, like a giant hand that couldn't catch its prey, and it felt like one or two warships were missing in its palm.
This is the kind of weather that any experienced sailor or fisherman would not choose to go out to sea.
However, this huge wave seemed to have intelligence. It formed a circle and only wreaked havoc on the edges, while there were only a few ripples in the center of the wave circle.
Attis stood on his boat. The sails were bulging high, and the strong wind stretched every fiber to the extreme, as if it would be torn apart in the next second. But at the same time, the sea breeze also brought the speed of the entire ship to a speed that its structure should not have been able to achieve.
The fallen druid was meditating with his eyes closed, concentrating on controlling his natural magic. Suddenly, his ears moved and he seemed to hear a faint sound, which seemed to be screams and cries for help.
But he didn't care much: "Just think of it as a new blood sacrifice."
The Fallen Druid Attis sailed in the storm for another half day, until the wooden structure under his feet began to creak and shake, and he finally saw his goal - Udvik Island.
After Artis's feet touched the rocks on the coast, the small sailboat that had worked so hard finally broke its mast with a wail and disintegrated behind him. Vines connected the wooden boards, and it was obvious that the ship had already collapsed long ago, and had only been relying on the druid's natural magic to maintain its existence.
Kneeling on the ground, placing his oak staff in front of his knees, Attis began to meditate with a pale face, trying to restore his magic power that was almost exhausted.
It was not until the moon was high in the sky that he finally opened his eyes, and his face barely regained its rosy color. At the same time, the terrifying roar of a monster began to appear in the sky.
Looking up, I saw the sky filled with winged monsters with human bodies and snake tails. They had obviously smelled a living person and came to hunt.
Attis also showed a bloodthirsty smile at the right time, swallowing his saliva with a hungry look on his face: "Siren... hybrid beast... so beautiful!"
…
Half a quarter of an hour later.
Atis pulled the head out from the broken snake tail, chewed it with his teeth, and swallowed it. The blood and meat went down his stomach, eliminating the fatigue brought by a whole day of casting spells.
Along with the sticky blood, Attis took out the bright mushrooms and herbal juice that he had prepared long ago. Although he had just had a full meal, he still ate everything in his hands clean again like a hungry refugee.
Then he turned his gaze to the snow-capped mountains of the island.
Meditation restored a lot of magic power, but at this moment Attis did not use any magic. He held his oak cane, which had turned into a long stick, and walked step by step towards the snow-covered area.
Along the way, his robes were burned by the explosions of the Corruption Demons, his head was caught by the bloody marks of the swooping sea monsters, and countless monsters tore his robes and body along the way. However, Attis still used his combat skills to fight these beasts, saving his magic power like a treasure.
Until a huge cave appeared in front of him, and a huge figure appeared in the cave.
The wounded Attis smiled: "Ice Giant!"
He thrust his oak staff into the hard frozen rock, chanted a spell, and began to generate magical fluctuations around him. In a burst of blood-red light, his oak staff began to extend and deform, gradually turning into a wooden sculpture with claws and bear-like fur, and every line of it was covered with blood scabs.
Statue of Svablo.
The magic fluctuations attracted the attention of the ice giant, and the sound of a landslide echoed from the throat of an ancient being. Then, more frantic magic fluctuations began to surge from the giant body as if in response. The temperature around it dropped suddenly, and the prelude to a blizzard began faintly.
Even Attis in his prime was no match for the ancient beast before him—not even physically, and not even in spellcasting ability.
But the eyes of the scarred Attis lit up and a drunken smile appeared on his face.
"An unrivaled body, an innate ability to cast spells, a thousand years of unrivaled battle record, and the majesty of a king who commands the beasts of the snowy mountains. All of this is truly..."
“It’s so beautiful!”
The statue of Svablo, which was transformed from the oak cane, began to emit a terrifying bloody light, and a fishy smell surged painfully on it, and there seemed to be faint prayers and screams echoing in the air.
Attis knelt down and piously shouted in the midst of the snowstorm and the roar of the giants: "My god Svalblod!"
"Six hundred and sixty-six islanders with the blood of the hero Hemdor, one hundred and sixty-six of the most elite Welka warriors, thirty-three desperate berserkers under the rule of the archipelago, seven of the most devout believers who fed the bear with their bodies, and three druid apprentices who offered their blood full of magic, together formed a blood sacrifice for you."
"The betrayal at the family banquet, the chaos among the islanders fighting for power, and the final battle cry of the believers before their sacrifice, all just to please you, my God!"
The ice giant roared, and when he saw the little man in front of him, who was emitting a strong smell of blood, standing still, he strode forward.
"Although... a few berserkers escaped, which makes the blood sacrifice seem incomplete. But it doesn't matter. The seeds of faith have been planted in their hearts. They will continue to pray for you on my behalf and provide you with strength."
"I have fought all the way, hoping that my bravery alone can temporarily attract your attention. In the end, I will make the final sacrifice."
Looking at the big hand reaching out to him, one of the lines on the palm was longer than himself, and the terrifying cold air made people shiver even from a distance.
Atis smiled: "The final sacrifice... is me, the source of the devil."
The big hand closed, holding the little man in the palm. The arm was raised high in the air, and then it was released, throwing the flesh and blood down.
Faintly, one could still hear the fanatical shouts: "My God, Svalblod!"
…
All sounds were cut off by teeth as big as door panels, and the ancient beast made a swallowing motion, burying everything in its body.
Its sight shifted and it looked at the wooden stick stuck in the entrance of its cave, which just blocked its way out.
Taking each step that caused the ground to tremble, the ice giant was about to remove it like trimming a stone. However, at the moment when its fingertips touched the statue of Svalblo, an ominous light suddenly burst out from the wooden eyes of the statue.
A stench like a huge wave of blood and flesh rolling in a slaughterhouse with thousands of corpses bubbling with blood rolled in the cave. The rich blood light almost dyed the ice-blue rock wall red. Then the blood light detected the existence of the ice giant, and spread over its body like a conscious leech, drilling under the skin.
寒冰巨人开始发出惨叫声，声音沉重而嘶哑，像是从深渊中传来的那样；它的眼睛变得通红，散发着狂暴的光芒，仿佛要将周围的一切都燃烧起来。
那巨大的声音在山洞中、在山谷里、在悬崖上、在海岸边久久回**，巨大的音波让习惯的寂静的山顶积雪被惊扰，滚滚而下形成了雪崩。数不清的飞禽、走兽、怪物们惊慌失措，消失在这宛若天灾的场景中。
最终，那声音变得越来越尖细，好似从岩石变成了刀子。寒冰巨人身上的肌肉、骨骼也开始诡异地收缩。雪山的天上晴空霹雳，好似酝酿着什么绝世的凶机。
……
小史凯利格岛中，地牢。
三名幸存的狂战士被严加看管地关在这里。但是史凯利格的士兵对他们还是有着特殊的优待，因为他们并不是真正的囚犯，甚至是伊斯特大人特地嘱咐以后会收编的对象，只是现在尚不好控制暂时看管于此而已。
这些“狂战士”以前毕竟只是老实的农家渔民。虽然有和他们作战过的士兵或许带着仇视，但是也有不少士兵报以同情。敏锐的伊斯特从这些士兵中各自挑选出了几人作为看守，再加上连攻城车都轰不开的坚固铁笼，构成了关押这些狂战士的囚牢。
他们本以为一切万无一失。
然而今天，三名狂战士突然一起倒在地上，痛苦地抱住了脑袋。他们曾经在迷幻状态下被人灌下药汁，好似洗脑一般被人灌输进了大段的祷文。此刻那些文字突兀地出现在了他们的脑海里面，甚至带动起他们的喉咙和嘴巴，不顾一切地开始背诵起来。
“发生了什么？他们都怎么了？”地牢里面顿时慌乱起来，但是慑于狂战士的凶威，没有人愿意进去一个随时会出现三头史凯利格巨熊的笼子里面查看情况。
这个时候，走廊尽头有两个人出现了。
一个人是比尔，他面色忧郁，似乎剿灭维尔卡人的大本营并不能让他从阴影中走出。陪同他的是应兰恩命令的豪斯。
“你来干什么？”
正烦心于异动的看守看到又来了一个狂战士，脾气实在算不上好。
面对态度粗鲁的史凯利格士兵，豪斯微微皱眉，将比尔护在身后：“我们来送饭，也让我的同伴来探望一下同乡，毕竟之后他就要跟我们回辛特拉了。”
在看清了混乱的现场之后，豪斯也有些着急，他看着口中背诵着模糊音节的狂战士，朝着比尔问道：“他们三个同时出现了情况，只可能是狂战士的问题，你有没有什么不舒服的地方，你知不知道他们为什么会这样？”
已经成为兰恩侍从的比尔摇了摇头：“我什么感觉都没有，也什么都不知道……”
……
乌德维克岛上，原本正在发生骇人变形的寒冰巨人突然停住了。
笼罩它全身的血红光芒似乎有了一个漏洞，没能够宣泄出计划中的能量强度。那木质的雕像此刻更显狰狞，却隐隐透露出一股后继乏力。
……
听到比尔略显无辜的话语之后。
史凯利格士兵急了，大步上前就想揪住比尔的衣领，但是忌惮地看了眼豪斯，只是大喊：“你肯定知道什么！你跟他们是一样的，快说！”
比尔愣了愣，非常质朴地说：“如果他们嘴里在念叨什么的话，把嘴堵上不就好了。也可以防止他们咬到舌头……”
士兵们愣了一下，看向铁笼。
似乎是看出了他们的怯懦，同为狂战士的比尔再次摇了摇头，自告奋勇：“我去吧……”
……
寒冰巨人身上的一切变化戛然而止。
橡木血色神像中喷涌而出的光芒好似霜打的茄子一般收缩而回，最终变淡，消失不见；天空之上的阴影消散，雷霆和狂风也一起平息下来。
只有被巨吼引发的雪崩仍在持续，不过好在从出生起就生活在雪山的生命们总有自己的办法避开天灾。可惜它们依旧失去了家园，此刻只能够战战兢兢地看着那造成了一切的地方，那个上古巨兽的巢穴——
诡异的颜色从岩壁之上褪去，这里又变回了那冰冷了上千年的洞窟。
寒冰巨人好似被搓揉的泥块一般瘫倒在地上。不知道了过了多久，它的眼睛猛然睁开。
疯狂、迷茫、狰狞、饥饿、鄙夷、欢喜、恐惧，无数种情绪在这双眼睛之中闪现，而且左眼和右眼所呈现出来的情绪都不尽相同，好似有复数的意识在争夺大脑的控制权一般。
寒冰巨人痛苦地抱着自己的脑袋，轰隆轰隆地在岩壁上面锤撞，似乎想要用外界的疼痛来缓解自己脑中的痛苦。
渐渐地，它的惨叫突然更加清晰，更加具体，甚至变成了能够被听懂的音节。
“我神！斯瓦波……”
“我神，嘶……”
“我神……”
在某一个瞬间，寒冰巨人停下了动作，痛苦潮水一般退去，但是困难还没有结束。
在岩壁坍塌的灰尘中，寒冰巨人迷茫了，它看着洞口的那具雕像，又看了看外面广袤的冰川和天空，似乎在寻找什么东西。
“我神……”
“神？”
……
“诸神保佑！”
一艘商船收起了自己的船锚。数名水手死死地抓着绳索，让自己的身体脱离冰冷的海水。
“哐当”一声，身体砸在了甲板上面，水手们四处打量，发现遭遇了船难的伙伴们奇迹一般地居然存活了大半——除了一个人。
“查斯特克呢？”被救上来的人中，唯独不见那身披弧形海岸公国纹章的骑士。
“一落水就沉下去了，那蠢货在大海之上还穿着全套的铠甲，找死……”
“没有人试着去救他？”
答话的人不屑一笑：“你去了吗？”
水手们沉默不语，似乎没想到自己等人居然这么滑稽地落水，而且准备去小史凯利格岛暗杀的他们现在居然又被史凯利格人所救。
“等等，不对。”有经验丰富的水手突然说道，“他们不是史凯利格人，这也不是一艘商船。”
“这艘船上根本没有一个商人，他们各个都身手矫健。如果说是护卫，那也绝对不是一名商人能够出得起价钱的，绝对是更加精锐的，甚至是正规军。”
“这条船的吃水也很浅，根本没有什么货物……呜呜！”
这名水手的嘴突然被捂住了，为了不让他继续说话。
刚刚被从冰冷的海水中打捞上来的水手们只觉得身边寒气更浓了，开始剧烈地打颤。
将他们“救”上来的“商船护卫们”目光不善地打量着他们。紧接着，人群突然分开，一个穿着皮甲，带着头盔的健硕身影缓缓走出。
来自弧形海岸的水手们屏住了呼吸，因为对方的身上有着极具标志性的纹章，而对方似乎也没有打算掩饰自己的身份。
那是一轮黑日。
这是一名尼弗迦德军官。
这名尼弗迦德人一摆胳膊，顿时就有几名士兵上前抓住这些水手，一人一个强迫他们做出死刑犯即将被刽子手处决的姿势，让他们难以呼吸。
水手们颤抖地更加剧烈了，这次却是因为恐惧。
“我原本只想要抓一个问话的本地向导，不过你们似乎格外团结，求生意识也格外强。虽然你们看着似乎不像是史凯利格人，但是我也因此有了更多的选择。”
“听好了，我只需要一个人，我的问题也只问一次……”
没等尼弗迦德军官开口，一开始就道破这艘“商船”真实身份的水手再次开口，在恐惧之下，他的牙齿几乎停不下来打颤。
“大人，我们是来自亚可西公国——也就是弧形海岸的水手！我们来这里是奉女爵的命令来诛杀叛徒，看大人您的航行方向也是要前往小史凯利格岛的，我们在那里已经经过了精密的侦查，绝对足够作为向导。”
说到这里的时候，他还颇为机灵地打量了一下周围：“而大人您这边的人似乎不是很多。但是不管干什么，总是需要战士的吧？我们不知道什么大局，只是史凯利格与我们也有仇，如果有需要我们也随时可以拿上刀冲在第一线！”
尼弗迦德军官噎了一下，仿佛看到了什么极其有意思的东西。
水手咧嘴笑了出来。
下一秒，刀光闪过，水手保持着被处决的姿势被刽子手斩下头颅。
尼弗迦德军官摇了摇头，再次不紧不慢地重复道：“听好了，我只需要一个人，我的问题也只问一次……”