Chapter 4: Half-Dead Creatures
Chapter 4: Half-Dead Creatures
Ever since the discovery of the Blackstone mines beneath Black City, the city has become the private territory of the Tyrant Duke.
The ruthless and mad Duke forced the entire city's populace to become miners, toiling away to extract the precious Blackstone for him.
Those who could leave had already fled.
Those who couldn't were desperately seeking ways to escape.
In a short time, the once bustling city turned into a desolate place, inevitably leaving behind some valuable items.
Expensive handicrafts, precious metals, and other treasures were now worth less than a piece of meat to those struggling to survive.
Carl, from his noble background and having attended various exhibitions, had a keen eye for luxury goods. He strolled through the market, trading his remaining meat rations for a few 'delicate trinkets'.
His acquisitions could fetch a good sum of money.
"It's time to go!" Carl thought to himself.
Wrapping his finds in linen cloth and carrying them on his back, he once again reminded Colom to keep an eye on the Breath Technique's movements. With that, Carl set off.
'Thirty gold coins could buy a decent mid-range house in Signo City, or even a standalone house in a remote area.'
'Hmm...'
'Although Black City has a depressing atmosphere and many inconveniences, it's the perfect place to make a fortune.'
Carl subconsciously smiled, feeling a surge of excitement as he patted the bulging package on his back.
'Besides making money, it's easier to acquire the Breath Technique here than in the other world. At least, there are ways to do so.'
'Unlike...'
"Hmm?"
As Carl's thoughts wandered, his eyes narrowed, and he suddenly lunged forward, instinctively drawing and swinging his broadsword.
"Swoosh!"
"Pfft!"
The sound of slicing air and ripping cloth filled the air.
Carl felt a sharp pain in his back as if his broadsword had struck something. The package on his back tore open, and the heavy clock inside clattered to the ground.
Without checking if his items were damaged, he quickly got to his feet, turning to face his attacker with his broadsword at the ready.
Gale Sword Technique - Iron Gate Style!
"Swoosh!"
A black shadow pounced towards him with astonishing speed, like an arrow shot from a bow, carrying immense force as it collided with Carl's broadsword.
"Clang!"
"Ugh!"
Carl grunted, staggering back a couple of steps. The attacking entity was knocked away by the force of the broadsword.
In this brief respite, the true identity of the attacker was revealed.
It was a dog-like creature, its black fur easily blending into the dark surroundings.
This creature had sneaked up on Carl from behind. Fortunately, the package on his back and his soft armor protected him from injury.
A dog-like creature?
Carl's eyes darted towards the street, his instincts on high alert.
As he suspected, the corpse on the ground had mysteriously vanished, and in its place stood this half-dead creature.
He had let his guard down! Overwhelmed with excitement, he had forgotten to observe his surroundings. After all, this was Black City, a place where death could find you at any moment.
Half-dead creatures were a specialty of Black City.
To the location of the Blackstone mines.
- It is said that the mines contain a 'Death Aura', and as the excavation progresses, the aura leaks out.
- Corpses infected by this Death Aura would 'revive' as half-dead creatures.
Not just corpses, but also living beings, if exposed to the mines for too long, would mutate, losing their sanity and transforming into monsters.
After mutation, their speed and strength increased significantly, and they felt no pain. They only possessed the instinct to attack living creatures.
These half-dead creatures were similar to zombies but far more agile.
No one knew how many of these half-dead creatures lurked within Black City, making it an increasingly dangerous and terrifying place.
"Woof..."
The 'Hunter Dog', its body covered in rotting flesh, opened its mouth, revealing sharp fangs and blood-red eyes.
"Swoosh!"
The creature lunged again with incredible speed.
This time, Carl was prepared. He sidestepped, sliding his feet, and delivered a powerful downward slash with his broadsword.
"Pfft!"
The broadsword sliced through the 'Hunter Dog's' fur, piercing the rotting flesh and clanging against the bones within.
The impact caused the 'Hunter Dog' to tumble to the ground, and Karl felt a numbing sensation in his arm, his heart racing with a sense of foreboding.
'Such speed and strength, but the key is... this thing doesn't have the vital spots of a living creature.'
The 'Hunter Dog', struck by the broadsword, simply rolled over and stood up as if nothing had happened.
The rift extending from its back to its abdomen seemed to have no effect on it.
"Haa!"
Karl grunted, pushing off the ground and surging forward, his broadsword stirring up a gust of wind.
Fierce Strike!
This was a lethal move in the Gale Sword Technique, enhancing the sword's attack power by harnessing the momentum of the body's charge.
Mastering this move had taken a considerable amount of Karl's energy.
The Half-Dead Creature showed no signs of fatigue, but Karl was exhausted. If he couldn't end this quickly, he would surely perish once his stamina ran out.
After a brief moment of thought, he decided to launch the first attack.
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"Wuu..."
The 'Hunter Dog' whimpered, seemingly aware of the threat posed by this attack, as it leaped sideways with its limbs tucked under.
This also revealed that the Half-Dead Creatures in Black City had not completely lost their rationality; at the very least, they retained some of their instincts from their previous lives, knowing to seek good fortune and avoid danger.
"Clang!"
The broadsword struck the ground, emitting a crisp sound, but oddly, it left no deep marks.
Feint!
Karl's seemingly ferocious strike was merely a ploy to expose the 'Hunter Dog's' weakness, allowing him to raise his arm and launch a surprise attack.
But his arm trembled, and the sudden recoil force caused his body to lean back.
Sleeve Arrow!
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
Two shadows darted from his sleeves, and in a flash, they pierced the 'Hunter Dog's' throat and front leg joints.
Colom hadn't exaggerated; the power of the sleeve arrows was astonishing, making it difficult for even a Knight Attendant to dodge at close range.
However, this level of attack was far from enough to kill a Half-Dead Creature; at most, it would cause the 'Hunter Dog' to lose its balance.
"Hmmph!"
Karl's eyes reddened, and he surged forward, his broadsword swinging so fast it left afterimages in the air.
Battle Technique - Gale Slash!
Knight-level sword techniques often came with accompanying battle techniques to maximize their lethal potential.
Ordinarily, only Knight Attendants or Knights themselves could master these battle techniques due to their complexity and the high physical requirements.
Of course, there were exceptions.
Like Karl.
With the help of the Mysterious Place, his absolute rationality, and fine control over his physical form, he had mastered this Gale Slash.
The two afterimages and the broadsword itself intersected in mid-air, slicing down and causing the 'Hunter Dog's' pouncing body to stiffen.
The next moment, several fine cracks appeared on the 'Hunter Dog's' body, and it disintegrated into a pile of corpse fragments.
Even a Half-Dead Creature would be utterly destroyed in such a situation.
"Huff..."
Karl exhaled heavily, his sword-wielding hands trembling as if he could barely hold onto the broadsword.
"Let's go!"
He was nearly exhausted, his heart pounding with fear. Bending over, he quickly wrapped up the scattered remains on the ground and rushed forward.
Upon returning to his 'residence' in Signo City, he closed the door and lowered the iron railings, finally letting out a sigh of relief.
"Pat!"
Patting his forehead, Karl realized, "Half-Dead Creatures leave behind something after they die, which can be exchanged for Blackstones. I forgot to check just now."
Though he said this, it was impossible for him to go back.
After calming himself down, he returned to his residence in Signo City through the Mysterious Place. Before he could organize the spoils of his adventure, a familiar voice called out from the living room.
"Uncle, how is he?"
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(End of Chapter)
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