Ch 42: Swing of a Sword

Zane had also asked Gobu to contract a stone mill to grind his rocks. This cost another 50,000 credit points. With extra incentive for him, he had made quite a lot of profit.

Three days later, Volatile sand rocks' sacks were in his warehouse. He had paid another 50,000 points for Gobu to contract a stone mill to grind his rocks.

He wasn't worried that it would explode because you need two things. First, you will need to separate the mixed rocks from the pure volatile rocks. The second was the right catalyst, which was highly unlikely that the workers would know it. Zane then transported them to his underground base.

Zane then started purchasing his catalysts and stabilizers, which were also cheap but buying large amounts adds up right away.

After purchasing quite a lot of materials and weapons from Perry, Zane was broke. He was spending faster than he was selling his potions.

The good thing was that Zane won around 200,000 worth of credits from the previous arena battle. Now he was back to being broke again. Furthermore, he won't be getting paid any time soon from Perry.

When Cecilia saw that Zane started bringing out the rocks from his dimension space, she was in awe. Although his father talks about magic on the continent, he never told about such type of magic. In the end, she did not bother to ask but just considered Zane as something special.

With everything ready, Zane just needed to make a kind of manual conveyor belt to separate the volatile rock from the mixed rocks.

That process took about two weeks. After having the first refined volatile rocks, Zane started to produce small-scale dynamite the size of a firecracker.

In one of the rooms, Zane was holding a 3-inch firecracker. Cecilia was very curious the result of Zane's hard work since he had seen him working nonstop just for this. She wanted to know how effective this so-called 'dynamite' was.

'3 Inch Dynamite'

Introduction: A refined volatile rock combined with catalysts. Can cause a chemical reaction that leads to an explosion. Contains 5 grams of volatile rock.

Zane lit the five-inch firecracker and threw it on the ground. He signaled Cecilia to step back. With full focus, she stared at the firecracker with expectation.

'BANG!'

When the ground shook and the explosive sound came, Cecilia was startled to the point where she instinctively drew her sword. Zane chuckled when he saw this.

"That was just 5 grams of Volatile rock! Imagine 500!"

Zane was very eager to test a higher amount of volatile rocks but gave up in the end. Although he was at his secret underground base, he wouldn't want to risk it. Especially when Gerax's plan is about to start.

"The Age of Gunpowder has started in our hands!" Zane laughed maniacly next to Cecilia.

…

Early in the morning, Zane started heading to the training area when he saw a large crowd of people walking toward the plaza.

He has been to the plaza numerous times, and he wasn't very fond of it. The plaza was also called Nobles' executioners plaza. It was where criminals, murderers, disobeyers, and escapees got executed publicly.

Nobles use the plaza to put fear towards the other slaves.

Somehow, Zane saw that the plaza had more people than usual. He decided to check it out due to curiosity. Moving closer to the center, he heard some merchants talking.

"Did he offend the higher nobles? Normally, he is very cautious not offending the nobles."

"I don't know, but he is a good man. Far better than the others."

"What would happen to our supplies now?"

An angry merchant said to him, "All you think about is profit!"

"Who cares he is a slave!" he retorted.

"YOU! Did you not get a lot of benefits from him too!?"

Another merchant sighed, "I will really miss his enthusiasm."

The others nodded.

...

With body strength, he was able to easily maneuver to the crowds arriving at the almost center of the plaza. There he saw a red-haired man he was quite familiar with, Perry. Iron chains bounded his hands and feet. Meanwhile, his red hair was a mess, his nose was at the wrong angle, his face was full of black and blue bruises, and his eyes were swollen. One can tell he suffered quite a lot of beating before he was brought to the plaza.

Together with him, ten people were with him, suffering the same fate.

'Perry!!' Zane was extremely distraught when he saw his state. Perry has been one of his close friends in Capricia. He can even say that they had a close bond together. Seeing him bounded and mistreated made Zane's blood boil.

Suddenly, more than 20 guards came in led by two middle-aged men. Just one look, these guards have stronger bearing and were better equipped than a typical guard you can find in Capricia.

Furthermore, the two lead men had a dominating aura. These two men were also not something you can easily brush off.

Zane used to identify right away the moment they walked to the platform. The guards were all level 8 and 9. For a guard, they were sure the cream of the top, Zane had concluded. Meanwhile, the two middle-aged men were both Awakened warriors.

Level: 13

Name: ??

Strength: 28

Agility: 25

Perception: 7

Constitution: 32.9

Mana Capacity: 8

...

Level: 14

Name: ??

Strength: 43

Agility: 35

Perception: 15

Constitution: 37.9

Mana Capacity: 13

Passive Skill: Swordsmanship (Lvl 3 - Master)

...

The grey hair man was a level 13 who was holding a scimtar. Meanwhile, the other man has blonde hair. He was level 14 and had two longswords on his sides.

'The grey hair is probably manageble but the problem lies on the second one, the blond-haired man who has swordsmanship of level 3 whose holding a two red swords. '

This was the first time Zane saw a level 3 swordsmanship, and even his own was only at level 1. By Capricia standards, it was already undefeated.

Brute forcing his way to free Perry will be a suicide. For once, he doesn't know what to do.

Few minutes later, a very exquisite carousel also arrived in the plaza. The carousel has an insignia of flames.

"A High Noble!"

"Look at the Flame Insignia"

"It is from the Vermilions!"

"What are they doing here?!"

Soon, a young man around his 20s came down from the carousel. The 20 guards made way for him. When he came, all the people started to bow.

Even Zane, who wasn't very fond of bowing, had to bow. All slaves were required to bow, especially to high nobles.

Ash started walking toward the plaza, seeing everyone bow, "Disgusting people!"

Soon, he stopped in front of Perry who was being held by two guards. He grabbed his hair forcefully and lifted his face up.

"WHO IS YOUR SUPPLIER!"

Perry, who looked at him, instead of showing fear, he smiled and said, "YOUR MOTHER!"

When Ash heard it, he instantly smacked his face.

"I WILL ASK AGAIN! WHO IS YOUR SUPPLIER!"

Perry having trouble speaking, said in a hoarse voice, "I feel pity for you. You won't be a king. You will be stuck in this rotting place with us, but among us, you are the trash!"

Perry smiling, closed his eyes and murmured, 'Peace comes with light..'

With anger in Ash eyes, he drew his sword and sliced at his neck.

"YOU PIECE OF TRASH!"

Not satisfied with the head, he started hacking his body from his arms, legs, and torso. Soon, a bloody mess of internal organs was left on the stage.

When Zane saw this, he was full of anger for the first time. He almost couldn't control his rage. His fist clenched to the point where his nails dug into his palms. Just to stop him from doing something that will cost his life as well.

Zane murmured, 'This trash city needs to be burned to the ground.'

Everything went too fast, he wasn't able to perform a 'life-saving miracle to save a friend. In the books, one would typically come up with a super elaborate plan to save someone, becoming a hero.

Lard and Vox, the two middle-aged men, were internally shaking their heads. It took them a while to capture the guy, only to be killed in a rage in a mere moment of anger.

Both of them did not stop Ash, they knew that it was best for them not to get involved in his anger, lest it would be transferred to them.

Ash looked at the other captured slaves with blood all over him and said to them.

"It is best to tell me now what you know; otherwise, YOU WILL SUFFER THE SAME FATE!"

One by one, the slaves started to deny their involvement.

"I don't know where the potions came from! I was just helping him transport it, I did not even know it was potions!"

"The gods are my witness. I don't know as well. I was just helping him!..

"I have no idea as well. I am a merchant that bought his potions! I don't care what you do to me! Leave my family alone!"

"Please don't kill me! I don't have any idea.."

One of the screaming men said, "I don't know his supplier, but I know that he had constant communication with a person from one of the houses!"

Ash heard them one by one. He signaled the guards and said, "Hang those who don't have information! Leave that one behind," pointing at the last guy. "Torture him and find good information from him."

Ash then started walking back to his transportation, but then he suddenly turned around and said, "Oh, kill their family as well."

...

Ash Vermillion

Strength: 31

Agility: 35

Perception: 9

Constitution: 16.5

Mana Capacity: 3

Gene Skill: Flame Conversion (Locked)

Passive Skill: None

Talent: Low

...

Zane went back to his underground house and went to his room. He had contemplated just what happened. Although for him this was a different world, he had met some good people. After a few hours of contemplation, he did not know that he had been staring into a wall.

The cruelty of this world is beyond imagining for him. Although he had shortly adapted to the ways of this world, it was quite hard to stomach someone you know dying.

Zane then turned around, he saw Cecilia at the door. Surprised, he said, "How long have you been standing at the door?"

"Quite a long time." She paused and said softly, "Want to spar?"

Zane looked at her, "Yeah."

But give me a few moments.

'Interface'

Swordsmanship 1 -> 2

Swordsmanship (Lvl 2 Intermediate)

...