Chapter 29: Strength
Chapter 29: Strength
Iron Gate Style! With lightning speed, Karl drew his broadsword and crossed it in front of him.
Clash!
The arrow collided with the sword, sending sparks flying and causing Karl to stumble slightly from the impact.
Charge!
Among the three opponents, the red-haired man casually waved his arm and spoke in a cold tone, "Kill him!"
The other two charged without a sound, their movements not hindered by the thick layer of ice beneath their feet.
One of them held a long spear, leaning forward to adjust his stance, keeping the spearhead aimed at Karl's heart.
Thrust!
This was the most common technique for spear-wielding soldiers.
The longer the spear, the stronger it was, and with the added weight of the soldier's body, it could easily pierce through the flesh of wild beasts.
Fast!
Accurate!
Fierce!
Despite not being a knight attendant, this spear thrust was no weaker than that of an ordinary knight attendant.
Another man wielded a longsword, taking small steps to accelerate and charge, his eyes fixed on Karl, ready to attack at any moment.
Compared to the assassins and Fire Stealers of Signo City, these people were clearly more adept at close combat.
Or perhaps...
They were battle-hardened and experienced.
Clash!
The sound of collision echoed.
Karl swung his broadsword to block the spear, and his body collided with the swordsman, shattering the icy ground and sending ice particles flying.
Furious Strike!
Bang!
One of them stumbled and retreated.
Seizing the opportunity, Karl's eyes narrowed.
Zero-Circle Spell - Lesser Force Field! An invisible force field appeared out of thin air, instantly enveloping the entire area and causing the two charging men to pale in shock.
Under the influence of the force field, their movement speed changed, their attacks were hindered, and their originally seamless teamwork showed openings.
"Spell Seal..."
Puff!
Before one of them could finish speaking, a broadsword swept across, sending his head flying and his neck spurting blood over a foot high.
Slash!
Karl's face turned cold as he took advantage of the situation and furiously chopped down.
Puff!
The swordsman's chest was ripped open, and he stumbled back, screaming in agony.
Karl was about to pursue his advantage, but his expression suddenly changed, and he dove to the side, rolling to dodge.
Just as he moved, a fireball the size of a human head flew past his previous position and slammed into a wall with tremendous force.
The prolonged cold and freezing had hardened the wall, making it as tough as steel, and even a longsword could only leave a shallow mark on it.
But now...
The fireball smashed into the wall, creating an explosion and leaving a hole, melting the ice and snow.
If it had hit a person, even a knight attendant would likely have been turned into a charred corpse.
What kind of power was this?
Was it a spell?
His heart raced, but Karl didn't hesitate for a moment. He somersaulted and pounced towards the red-haired man.
It was him, the red-haired man, who had casually raised his hand and unleashed the fireball.
Unlike the people in the Black City, the red-haired man was dressed in lavish clothing, his long hair smooth and free of dirt, and even his boots were spotless, indicating a higher status.
Swish!
Instead of casting a spell, the red-haired man drew his sword from his waist, shaking it to create several afterimages.
Such speed...
A knight attendant!
And not a newly advanced one at that.
Roar!
Karl's voice rumbled as he increased his speed once more.
Battle Skill - Gale Slash!
Four afterimages appeared, joining the broadsword's main body, and the five sword shadows instantly enveloped the opponent.
The Zero-Circle Spell - Lesser Force Field further assisted, causing the air within a few meters to seem slightly stagnant.
Ding...
Clash!
The sound of collisions came rapidly, like a heavy downpour.
The red-haired man hadn't expected the invisible force field, and his expression changed abruptly, but he didn't falter.
Clash...
He blocked the attack! Despite showing great strain, he managed to withstand the onslaught with his solid foundation.
Hmph!
The longsword trembled, and the two clashed in mid-air.
Suddenly, a bright light appeared, blinding to those accustomed to the darkness of the Black City.
Light Spell!
The red-haired man closed his eyes, then realized his mistake.
Damn!
Swish!
The broadsword swept across, slicing open the red-haired man's abdomen, and Karl turned and slashed again, severing his life force completely.
Death!
Karl held his sword, breathing heavily, and turned to the last man in the field, the wounded swordsman.
After a moment, three corpses lay haphazardly on the ground, their blood flowing across the floor, and Karl's face paled.
The people of Black City were extremely fierce. Even when they were at an absolute disadvantage, they would fight back desperately, unlike the Fire Thieves' fanatical followers.
They were brutal and ruthless, treating human lives as insignificant. Not only did they disregard others' lives, but they also held their own lives with little regard, perhaps due to the harsh environment of Black City that shaped their personalities.
"Huh?"
After searching the red-haired man, Karl frowned in confusion.
"No enchanted artifacts?" He hadn't forgotten that the man had used a spell against them.
When an apprentice wizard activates a spell, it causes a mana fluctuation that ordinary people can't perceive, but as an apprentice wizard himself, Karl should have sensed it.
There was no apparent mana fluctuation earlier, which only happens when a spell is cast using an enchanted artifact.
However, there were no enchanted artifacts on the bodies.
"Strange."
Karl stroked his chin, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. He bent down and swiftly removed all the clothing from the red-haired man's body.
Then,
His gaze fell on the man's left arm.
"Swish!"
"Puff!"
The broadsword slashed down, cleanly severing the arm. Karl quickly wrapped the arm in the clothing and hurried away before anyone else arrived.
After a moment, several figures appeared in the area.
"The red-haired man is dead."
One of them squatted beside the corpse and spoke quietly.
"The killer was skilled and efficient. They fought for a short time and killed three of our men. They're definitely a high-level Knight Attendant."
"They also took the red-haired man's spell seal."
The person examining the body looked up, revealing a delicate and pretty face.
"Big Brother, is there someone this skilled in the Scythe Guild?"
A stocky man, resembling a giant bear, stood not far away and shook his head slightly.
"No."
He clenched his fist.
"All five leaders of the Scythe Guild, including Grol, died by my hand."
"Then it must be someone else." The woman shrugged, showing no sympathy for her fallen comrade.
"The red-haired man was just unlucky to encounter such a skilled opponent on his way."
"Investigate."
The stocky man spoke quietly.
"Anyone who kills our brothers will pay the price."
"Yes."
The woman nodded and let out a low whistle.
In an instant, the ground shook, and rats scurried out from dark corners, sniffing the ground before scattering in all directions.
Divine Realm Fragment.
Karl took out a large-caliber glass container from the pile of items and filled it with the experimental solidifying liquid.
Finally, he placed the red-haired man's arm inside.
He had specifically brought the arm, not because of some strange fetish, but because of the intricate patterns on it.
"A spell model?"
Karl rested his chin in his hand, deep in thought.
The patterns on the arm were complex and bizarre, and staring at them for too long could make one feel dizzy. They resembled a spell model.
"The red-haired man wasn't a wizard apprentice, and he didn't have any enchanted artifacts, but he was able to cast a spell. It must be because of these patterns. I wonder if I can analyze them."
Analyzing spell models is a mandatory subject for wizards. Otherwise, how would one know how to activate an enchanted artifact or the spells inscribed on it?
This analysis is necessary, but for a beginner, deciphering a spell model is no easy task, even for a relatively simple spell.
"Could it be that there are spells in the foreign world too?"
"Hmm..."
"Or should I say, spell seals!"
Karl had heard about spell seals, but his sources were limited to the lower-class people he interacted with.
"Perhaps..."
Karl pondered.
"I should dedicate more effort to exploring Black City."
The current Karl was no longer an ordinary man who had to be cautious and vigilant in the face of an unknown world. He was now a formidable Knight Attendant and an apprentice wizard.
The red-haired man was no weakling; he had withstood a battle technique under the influence of a force field, and although he might not have been as skilled as Diana, he was probably not far behind. Yet, Karl had defeated him.
By this calculation, Karl's strength was no less than that of a peak-level Knight Attendant.
From what he had gathered over the past few days, the top figures in Black City were Knights, and peak-level Knight Attendants were already exceptional experts among the various factions.
However, for safety's sake and to prevent anyone from tailing them from the opposite side, Karl decided not to take any action for the next few days and wait for a more opportune moment.
(End of Chapter)
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