Chapter 22: Lesser Force Field Spell
Chapter 22: Lesser Force Field Spell
A few days later...
In the real world, Karl opened his eyes, brimming with excitement, and waved his arms vigorously to express his joy. After a period of trial and error, with the power of the Divine Domain, he successfully constructed a spell model of the Lesser Force Field Spell within his Sea of Consciousness.
Unlike the meditation technique, constructing a spell model was incredibly complex, making it impossible to meditate on it before each casting. However, once established, it became a stable form that could be brought into the real world and would not collapse upon leaving the Divine Domain.
"I've managed to create a Zero-Circle Spell without even mastering meditation techniques. I suppose I'm the first to achieve this," Karl muttered to himself. Following the instructions in the book, he carefully activated the spell model within his Sea of Consciousness.
Lesser Force Field Spell!
A silent tremor emanated from the Sea of Consciousness, followed by an invisible force field that enveloped the area within a few meters.
This was a unique sensation that momentarily captivated Karl, and it took him a while to snap out of it.
"Activating the Lesser Force Field Spell continuously consumes Mental Energy. With my current capacity, I can maintain it for five to six minutes at most," Karl noted.
"And that's without any external interference."
"Defense..."
Karl picked up a calligraphy brush, dipped it in ink, and jotted down his observations on paper:
"Ordinary people without weapons would find it difficult to break through the force field, but those with weapons could withstand three strikes."
"This is clearly weaker than Miles."
"It seems that the same spell, cast by different individuals, yields varying power."
When Miles cast the Lesser Force Field Spell, he could effortlessly distort the attacks of the Knight Attendant and even block most of Lady Dena's sword techniques when she unleashed her full potential.
This was far beyond Karl's current capabilities.
However, it was evident that Miles also had limits to his spellcasting, which led to his demise by a sleeve arrow.
"Casting spells consumes Mental Energy, and I can feel the fatigue. I suspect it's due to insufficient Mental Energy."
After constructing the Zero-Circle Spell in her Sea of Consciousness, felt not only excitement but also many doubts.
Now, Karl was eager to visit the manor outside the city to seek answers to his questions.
"No rush," he said, putting down his brush and gazing at the moon outside the window. "Let's go to the alternate world first."
The monthly Safety Day in Black City was approaching, and he couldn't afford to miss this opportunity.
"Squeak..."
Karl pushed open the door, taking in the gloomy street ahead. He stretched and exhaled a deep breath.
With his newfound skills, Karl felt bolder than ever before. Not only had he mastered the Poison Wolf Breath Technique and become a Knight Attendant, but he had also learned a Zero-Circle Spell.
His strength had skyrocketed.
Even the oppressive atmosphere of the eerie Black City seemed to have lessened.
At Rakka Market.
Karl stood at the entrance, cloaked in a black robe, gazing at the scaffold made of wooden stakes ahead.
Several corpses hung from the scaffold, bearing the marks of brutal torture and vivid bruises.
The cold wind carried a putrid stench from the bodies.
These were the remains of those who had violated the taboos of Black City, most notably those who had attempted to escape.
"Colin..."
Karl whispered with a sigh, "Why couldn't you just stay and run your business here? Leaving Black City is not an easy feat."
"And now, look where it's gotten you."
Colin, the very person who had sold him the Poison Wolf Breath Technique, had mentioned a way to escape Black City during his last visit.
Now, he hung on the scaffold as a warning to others.
His eyes bulged, and his face bore a grim expression, indicating that his escape plan had ultimately failed.
"Sigh..."
Karl sighed and strolled into the market.
"Fresh rat meat, unspoiled, half a portion for half a black stone!"
"Fine Caria longsword, sharp and lightweight, perfect for slaying those half-dead creatures..."
"Filtered water, free of impurities, just one black stone!"
The vendors' cries remained unchanged, unaffected by the grim sight of the hanging corpses.
"The price has increased."
"Whether it's meat or clear water, there's been a rise in cost. It's probably harder to get food during the winter."
Along the way, Karl stopped and inquired about the market prices, occasionally pausing at stalls that caught his interest.
"What's this?"
He picked up a yellow lump that resembled mud and asked curiously.
"It's mud clay," the stall owner explained.
"It contains secretions from underground worms. It's edible, and I'm offering ten pieces for one black stone."
◇6◇9◇Book◇Bar
"Food?" Karl furrowed his brows.
This was clearly just an ordinary piece of dirt.
"Of course," the stall owner said, seeing his skepticism. He licked the clay and then offered it back:
"It has an earthy flavor, but it's edible. If you savor it, you can even taste a hint of sweetness. The clay I have here is all top-quality, with plenty of secretions."
"If the secretions are insufficient, eating too much can block your intestines. Many people have died from eating dirt."
Looking at the piece of clay being offered, with obvious saliva marks on it, Karl waved his hands in refusal.
Eat dirt?
Were the coming days going to be that difficult? He pointed at a pile of powder beside him and asked:
"What's this?"
"Soul Powder," the stall owner put away the clay and explained casually.
"When you kill half-dead creatures, you can find this near their corpses. Eating it will make you feel energized and slightly stronger. It's said to be an essential ingredient for certain secret potions."
"Two black stones for a portion."
"Oh!" Karl stroked his chin.
"Do you want some pickled meat strips?"
"Yes!"
The stall owner's eyes lit up.
"Of course, if the quality of the meat strips is good, I can offer you a better price."
After a while, Karl carried a package and continued to wander the market.
"Uncle?"
A timid voice sounded.
"Is that you, Uncle?"
Karl turned at the sound of the voice and saw a shabbily dressed boy standing not far away, staring intently at him.
"It's you."
Karl thought for a moment and recalled the boy's name.
"Aya?"
Since Colin was preparing to leave the Black City, his stall would have been transferred to Aya beforehand. This boy, who appeared to be a teenager, was actually a girl.
"It's really you, Uncle Karl!" Aya exclaimed excitedly.
"It's been a long time since you left last time. If there's anything you want to buy, I'll give you the best price."
Aya's enthusiasm made Karl feel a bit embarrassed, as he hadn't planned to visit Aya's stall in the first place.
"Alright!"
Sighing, he approached the stall and casually browsed through the goods.
"You don't have what I'm looking for here," Karl said. Aya's eyes dimmed, but she quickly brightened up.
"Next time, I'll prepare it for you in advance."
"I don't have anything specific in mind..." Karl shook his head lightly.
"It's fine..." Aya forced a smile, hiding her disappointment.
"I'll prepare more and better things. Next time you come to the market, you can drop by and take a look."
"I'm not sure when I'll come next time. Let's talk about it later!" Karl stood up.
"Okay."
Aya nodded with difficulty.
"Take care, Uncle. You're always welcome here."
Karl didn't respond.
Setting up a stall in the market also required paying in black stones, and Aya's business seemed so poor that it was uncertain if she would still be there next time.
The likelihood of her not being there was greater.
A young girl, no need to worry about her.
(End of Chapter)
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