Chapter 50: Hunt and Slay
Chapter 50: Hunt and Slay
A few days later.
Karl and his companions had already ventured deep into the Frontline District.
What they encountered here were not ferocious beasts or aberrations, but rather half-dead creatures that had been corrupted by shadow energy.
These creatures retained some of their former instincts, felt no pain, knew no fatigue, and had seen significant increases in speed and strength.
Moreover, they had an insatiable craving for fresh blood.
Once targeted, their victims often faced an unending demise.
The key was that if one of these creatures managed to inflict an injury, the wounded would also undergo aberration if not treated promptly.
Thus, few dared to provoke them.
"Groan... "
A few half-dead beings swaggered towards them from the street, their clothes tattered, and their skin and flesh exposed, with callouses on their fingers, indicating they had been miners in the Underg round Mines in their former lives.
Though their movements were slow at the moment, once they spotted a target, they would launch a frenzied attack.
They had no weaknesses and knew no fatigue...
Only slaughter remained.
" Swish! "
" Plop! "
Several arrows pierced through the air, embedding themselves into the half-dead beings.
Three of them began to emit white smoke and emitted shrill cries, while another showed no reaction and even accelerated towards the group.
"Xiaonan! "
Aya called out:
"You forgot to dip the arrows in holy water again!"
"I did," Xiaonan's forehead beaded with sweat:
"Maybe the water dried up."
Holy water contained divine power, but its essence was still just water. If it was applied too early, it would evaporate over time.
At that point, it would lose its effectiveness against undead creatures.
For example, now.
"Quiet."
Karl drew his broadsword:
"It's charging."
With a swift movement, he met the charging half-dead creature with his broadsword, creating a fierce wind.
Stab! Sweep! Slash! ...
After several strikes, the headless corpse of the half-dead creature fell to the ground.
Aya and the others also joined in the fight.
The half-dead creatures, weakened by the holy water, moved sluggishly like corpses, and the threat they posed diminished significantly.
However, the battle was quickly resolved.
Aya pulled out her dagger and cut off a little finger of a half-dead creature, using it to trade with the city guard for supplies.
Karl collected the soul dust from the ground.
"Hmm?"
His ears twitchedlightly, and he stood up, looking towards a dark alley nearby. His expression turned serious, and he raised his hand, casting a fire seal.
"Roar..."
The fireball roared out, exploding in the darkness.
"Scram!"
Karl's voice was icy, and the shadow in the alley flickered, accompanied by the sound of rapid retreat.
"Uncle."
Aya walked over:
"Someone else trying to take advantage of us again?"
"Hmm."
Karl nodded:
"Deep in the Frontline District, the danger isn't just from the half-dead creatures, but also from living people. Let's call it a day here."
"Ah!"
Xiaonan looked disappointed:
"Uncle, it's still early. Why don't we look around a bit more? Perhaps we'll find more."
The others nodded in agreement.
For them, with the help of holy water and Karl as their anchor, battles were relatively easy.
However, each time they were about to have more fun, Karl would call it a day.
"Human endurance is limited. Beyond a certain point, fatigue sets in, and it becomes hard to react in time of danger."
Karl shook his head:
"Let's head back. While we still have the energy, let's not be too greedy."
He only had one vial of el ixir left, and holy water needed to be restocked. Moreover, it was indeed getting late.
The group reluctantly agreed.
Karl and his companions rarely encountered danger while they ventured deep into the Frontline District.
Firstly, with the help of holy water, the threat posed by the half-dead creatures was greatly reduced. Secondly, with all of them working together, their strength in numbers saved them from many troubles.
It was different for others, though.
In a certain block, a pair of identical-looking twins were stopped by a group of people.
"Hand over what you have, and you can leave."
The leader, bald and with strange patterns on his face, held a long stick bristled with spikes, grinned:
"Unless..."
"Your lives for the stuff in your hands, not worth it."
"The twins' faces were taut, and they exchanged a glance, understanding each other without a word. They turned and left in perfect sync.
'Heh...'
The bald man shook his head at the sight.
'Idiots!'
Moments later, two nearly identical heads were severed and hung on flagpoles, their faces contorted in horror.
...
'Cough!'
'Cough, cough!'
A man with a strange long sword staggered forward, coughing up blood from time to time, but he dared not stop.
Only when the sounds from behind ceased did he lean against the wall, gasping for breath, his body trembling uncontrollably.
'Damn devils, how could there be a Holy Knight here?'
...
'I almost died!'
'Cough, cough!'
'Huh?' At that moment, a surprised voice sounded, followed by several people appearing in sequence from the front intersection.
One of them laughed, 'Lucky, we just stepped out and found prey delivered to us.'
'A dying man probably has nothing on him,' someone shook his head and walked over with a large cleaver.
'I'll send him to meet the God of the Dead!'
'Pfft!'
A sharp spike pierced the speaker's chest, exiting through his back, the slender spike covered in blood.
Strangely, the spike seemed to tremble like a living thing, and the blood on it was slowly devoured, until it shone bright as new.
'Clang...'
The heavy cleaver fell to the ground, and the man who intended to send someone to meet the God of the Dead took a step closer to death himself.
'Heh...' The man leaning against the wall chuckled softly, 'What a bunch of trash, daring to be arrogant in front of me?'
'Swish!'
The man's thin sword in his hand trembled slightly.
Instantly, countless afterimages flashed, and the corpses in front of him were evenly sliced like tofu, scattering to the ground.
'Hiss...'
The man raised his neck, his face filled with satisfaction, 'Fresh vitality, truly intoxicating.'
Only then did the others get a clear look at the man's appearance. His golden hair was disheveled, and his features were ordinary, but there was a strange scar running from his forehead to his chin.
It was as if a sharp sword had split him in two.
'You...'
'He's the Blood Stinger of the Shadow Alliance!'
'Run!'
Upon seeing the man's face, the others' expressions changed drastically, and they had no desire to fight. They turned and fled.
'Hmmph!'
The cold snort started several meters away, and by the time it ended, it was already by their ears, accompanied by flashing sword shadows.
The man's sword was thin and long, like a slender blade growing from the hilt.
He strode forward, his thin sword lightly brandished, and the people in front of him fell to the ground one after another.
No one could block a single strike!
'No!'
A woman cried out, kneeling on the ground, 'Please, don't kill me, I'll do anything you want!'
'Oh!'
The Blood Stinger stopped and grabbed the woman's chin.
The woman had delicate features and smooth skin, a rare sight in the Black City, and she even put on a flattering expression.
Her eyes were full of allure.
'Tsk, tsk...'
The Blood Stinger clicked his tongue and then thrust his sword.
The thin sword pierced the woman's mouth, exited through the back of her head, and with a light flick, he split her head in two.
'She was quite a beauty, what a waste.'
...
In the distance, on a rooftop, a man frowned and withdrew his gaze.
'Brother.'
The woman beside him spoke up, 'What's wrong?'
'I saw a madman,' the man took the longbow from his back, drew the bowstring, and aimed into the distance.
'Twang!'
The bowstring vibrated, and a long arrow streaked through the air, pinning a wandering half-dead man to the ground.
The incredible range, terrifying power, and precise archery would make any archer despair at the gap between their skills.
'A madman?'
The woman shook her head.
She didn't have her brother's Eagle Eye Seal, so she couldn't see that far, but she had her strengths.
'Brother, the Rat Lady from the Brotherhood is coming.'
(End of Chapter)
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