Chapter 4: Half-dead Creatures.

Since the discovery of the black stone vein under the Black City, the Black City has become the private territory of Grand Duke Taidar.

The cruel and crazy Grand Duke Taidar forced all the people in the city to become miners to mine black stone for him.

Those who can leave have already left.

As for those who cannot leave are also trying to leave.

Such a big city has become a deserted city in a short period of time, and it is inevitable that some good things will be left behind.

The once valuable handicrafts, precious metals, etc..., are far less valuable than the meat strips that can fill their stomachs in the eyes of people who have trouble eating and drinking.

Karl walked around the market and exchanged the remaining meat strips for a few "exquisite gadgets".

He was born in an aristocratic family, participated in various exhibitions, and had a certain appreciation of luxury goods.

The few things he got should be able to exchange for a lot of money.

"It's time to go!"

After wrapping the things in linen and carrying them on his back, Karl once again told Cologne to pay attention to the movement of the breathing method, and then stepped away.

'Thirty gold coins can buy a nice middle-class house in Sino City. If one choose a remote area, they may even be able to buy a single-family villa.'

'Hmm...'

'Although the atmosphere in Black City is depressing and there are many inconveniences, it is very convenient to make money.'

Touching the bulging package on his back, Karl's mouth curled up subconsciously, and he was a little excited.

'In addition to making money, it is more convenient to obtain the breathing method here than in the main world. At least here there is a way.'

'It's not like...'

"Hmm?"

While his imagination was running wild, Karl's eyes shrank, and the whole person suddenly rushed forward, and at the same time, he grasped the sword and swung it back like a conditioned reflex.

"Shua!"

"Puff!"

The sound of breaking through the air and tearing cloth sounded.

Karl felt a pain in his back, and the broadsword seemed to have chopped on something. The things in the package were scattered all over the ground, and the heavy clock made a loud bang.

Without time to check whether the things were damaged, he turned over and stood up from the ground, turned around and held the broadsword across his body.

Fierce Wind Sword Technique - Iron Gate Style!

"Shua!"

A black shadow rushed towards him, as fast as an arrow shot from a bow, and hit the broadsword with great force.

"Dang..."

"Ughh!"

Karl groaned, staggered back two steps, and the attacking object was knocked away by the broadsword.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the true face of the black shadow finally appeared in front of him.

It was a dog-like creature, and its dark hair was easily overlooked in the dark sky.

It was it that attacked him from behind just now, and fortunately the package on his back and the soft armor on his body protected him so that he was not injured.

Dog-like creature?

Karl's eyes jumped, and he subconsciously looked at the street.

Sure enough!

The corpse on the ground when he came here had disappeared at some point, and there was a half-dead creature in front of him.

I was careless!

I was so happy that I forgot to observe the surrounding environment. Since this is the Black City where people can die at any time.

Half-dead creatures are the specialty of the Black City.

It is said that the Black Stone Mine contains "dead air". As the mine is excavated, the air leaks out, and the corpses infected by the dead air will be "resurrected" and become half-dead creatures.

Not only corpses, but also living people who stay in the mine for a long time will be distorted and mutated, completely losing their minds and turning into monsters.

After the mutation, the speed and strength increase greatly, and they don't feel pain, only have the instinct to attack living things.

It is similar to the impression of zombies, but much more flexible than zombies.

There are countless "half-dead creatures" hiding in the Black City, which makes this city more dangerous and terrifying.

"Woo..."

The "hound" covered with rotten flesh opened its mouth, revealing its hideous fangs, and its eyes were as red as blood.

"Swoosh!"

It pounced again, and its speed was quite amazing.

But this time Karl was prepared. He slipped and dodged sideways, and at the same time chopped it down fiercely.

"Puff!"

The broadsword cut through the fur of the "hound", penetrated into the rotten flesh, and collided with the bones inside.   

The impact caused the Hound to roll to the ground. Karl also felt his arms go numb and a warning sign rose in his heart.

"It's very fast and powerful, but the key is... this thing doesn't have any vital points like a living thing."

The Hound, which was hit by the sword, just rolled over and stood up as if nothing had happened.

The crack extending from the back to the abdomen seemed to have no effect on it.

"Hah!"

Karl shouted, and he rushed forward with his feet, and the broadsword in his hand rolled up a gust of wind.

Furious wind attack!

This is a killer move in the Fierce Wind Sword Art, which can use the power of the human body to strengthen the sword and increase the attack power.

Karl spent a lot of energy to practice this move.

The half-dead creature is tireless, but he isn't. If he can't end this fight quickly, he will die when his physical strength is exhausted.

So after a brief thought, he took the lead in launching the attack.

"Woo..."

The Hound whimpered, and seemed to have sensed the threat of this move, and fell to the ground with all four limbs and leaped to the side.

From this, one can also see that the half-dead creatures in the Black City have not completely lost their minds. At least they have retained some of their instincts before they died, and know how to avoid danger and seek good fortune.

"Dang!"

The broadsword fell to the ground, making a crisp collision sound, but strangely, it did not leave a deep mark.

Feint!

Karl's seemingly fierce attack was just to expose the flaws of the "hound" so that he could raise his arm and launch a surprise attack.

But seeing his arm tremble slightly, a rapid recoil force made his body lean back.

Sleeve arrow!

"Swish!"

"Swish!"

Two shadows flew out from his sleeves, and in just a flash, they penetrated the throat and front leg joints of the "hound".

Cologne was indeed not bluffing. The power of the sleeve arrow was extremely amazing, and it was difficult for even knights to avoid it at close range.

But this level was far from enough to kill a half-dead creature. At most, it would make the "hound" lose balance.

"Humph!"

Karl's eyes turned red, and his whole person rushed forward suddenly, and the broadsword in his hand actually swung out several afterimages.

Combat skills - Fierce Wind Slash!

Knight-level swordsmanship has its own set of combat skills that can maximize the lethality of swordsmanship.

Generally speaking, only knight squires and even knights can master combat skills.

Because combat skills are very complex and require high physical fitness, it is difficult for ordinary people to master them.

Of course, there are exceptions.

Just like Karl, with the help of that mysterious place, he has absolute rationality and a subtle control over his body, so he mastered this style of fierce wind slash.

Two afterimages and the broadsword body staggered and fell in the air, and the figure of the "hound" that was rushing forward suddenly froze.

In the next moment, several fine cracks appeared on the body of the "hound", and then scattered into corpses all over the ground.

In this case, even a half-dead creature would die.

"Hu..."

Karl exhaled a long breath, and his hands holding the sword trembled slightly, as if he couldn't even hold the broadsword.

"I have to go back!"

At this time, he was almost exhausted, and his heart was full of fear. He bent down to wrap up the things scattered on the ground and rushed forward.

When he returned to his "residence", closed the door and lowered the railing, only then he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Pah!"

Karl tapped his forehead and spoke after realizing it:

"Half-dead creatures will leave something behind after death, which can be exchanged for black stone. I forgot to check it just now."

Having said that, it is impossible for him to go back.

He calmed down and returned to his residence in Sino City through the mysterious place. Before he could pack up the gains of this trip, a familiar voice came from the living room.

"Uncle? Why is he here?"

...

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