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 could leave would have left long ago.

Those who cannot leave are also trying to find ways to leave.

Such a big city turned into a deserted city in a short period of time, so it is inevitable that some good things were left behind.

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

Carl walked around the market and traded the remaining strips of meat for a few 'exquisite trinkets'.

He comes from an aristocratic family, has participated in various exhibitions, and has a certain appreciation for luxury goods.

The few things I bought 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, Carl again told Cologne to pay attention to the breathing technique, and then he left.

'Thirty gold coins can buy a nice medium-sized house in Signo City. If you choose a remote area, you may even be able to buy a single-family house.'

"Hmm..."

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

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

'Besides making money, it is also easier to obtain the breathing method here than in another world. At least there is a way.'

"It's not like..."

"Um?"

As Carl's imagination ran wild, his eyes narrowed and he suddenly lunged forward, while at the same time swinging his sword backwards as if by reflex.

“Swish!”

"puff!"

There were sounds of breaking air and cloth tearing.

Carl felt a pain in his back, as if the broadsword had hit something. The contents of the package fell to the ground, and the heavy clock made a loud bang.

Without having time to check if anything was damaged, he rolled over and stood up from the ground, turning around and holding his broadsword across his body.

Fierce Wind Sword Technique——Iron Gate Style!

“Swish!”

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

"when……"

"Um!"

Carl 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 revealed itself.

It was a dog-like creature, and its jet-black fur was easily overlooked in the gloomy sky.

It was it that attacked me from behind just now. Fortunately, I was not injured thanks to the protection of the package on my back and the soft armor on my body.

Dog-like?

Karl's eyes twitched and he subconsciously looked towards the street.

really!

When I came here, the corpse on the ground had disappeared at some point, and there was a half-dead creature in front of me.

I was so careless! I was so happy that I forgot to observe the surrounding environment. You know, this is a dark city where people can die at any time.

Half-dead creatures are the specialty of Black City.

It is said that this is because the Black Rock mine contains "death energy". As the mine is mined, the energy leaks out, and corpses infected by the death energy will be "resurrected" and turned into half-dead creatures.

Not just corpses,

If a living person stays in a mine for a long time, he or she will become distorted and mutated, completely lose his or her mind and turn into a monster.

After the mutation, his speed and strength increased greatly, and he felt no pain, only the instinct to attack living things.

Similar to the zombies in our imagination, but much more flexible than zombies.

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

“Woo…”

The rotting 'hound' opened its mouth, revealing its ferocious fangs, and its eyes were blood red.

“Swish!”

It pounced again, still at an astonishing speed.

But this time Carl was prepared. He slipped and dodged to the side, while at the same time chopped down hard.

"puff!"

The broadsword cut through the Hound's fur, penetrated deep into the rotten flesh, and collided with the bones inside.

"It's very fast, and its strength is not bad either. The key is... it doesn't have the weak points of living things."

The 'hound' that was hit by the sword just rolled over and stood up as if nothing had happened.

The rift that stretched from its back to its abdomen seemed to have no effect on it.

"drink!"

Carl growled, exerted force on his feet and rushed forward suddenly, the broadsword in his hand stirring up a gust of wind.

Angry attack!

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

Carl spent a lot of effort to master this move.

The half-dead creature knows no fatigue, but he cannot. If he cannot win quickly, he will surely die when his strength is exhausted.

So after a brief thought, he took the initiative to attack.

“Woo…”

The Hound whimpered, as if it had sensed the threat, and leaped to the side on all fours.

It can also be seen from here that the half-dead creatures in the Black City have not completely lost their sanity. They have at least retained some of their original instincts and know how to avoid danger and seek good fortune.

"when!"

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

Feint!

Carl's seemingly fierce attack was just to expose the flaw of the 'Hound' so that he could raise his arm and launch a surprise attack.

But he saw his arm tremble slightly, and a sudden recoil force made his body lean back.

Sleeve Arrow!

“Swish!”

“Swish!”

Two dark shadows flew out from between his sleeves, and in a flash, they penetrated into the throat and front leg joints of the 'hound'.

Cologne was not exaggerating. The power of the hidden arrow was extremely amazing, and it was difficult for knights and servants 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 its balance.

"snort!"

Carl's eyes turned red, and he rushed forward suddenly, swinging the broadsword in his hand, leaving several afterimages.

Combat skill——Fierce Wind Slash!

Knight-level swordsmanship has matching combat skills that can maximize the lethality of swordsmanship.

Generally speaking.

Only knight squires or even knights can master combat skills.

Because the fighting 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 Carl.

With the help of that mysterious place, he had absolute rationality and subtle control over his body, and thus mastered this Fierce Wind Slash.

The two afterimages and the broadsword itself crossed and fell in mid-air, and the Hound's forward-leaning figure suddenly froze.

The next moment.

Several tiny cracks appeared on the 'hound's' body, and then it was scattered all over the ground.

In this situation, even a half-dead creature must die to the point of death.

"call……"

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

"Walk!"

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

I heaved a sigh of relief only after returning to my 'residence', closing the door and lowering the railing.

“Bang!”

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.

After calming himself, he passed through the mysterious place and returned to his residence in Signo City. Before he could pack up his gains from this trip, a familiar voice came from the living room.

"Uncle, why is he here?"

Please add to collection! (End of this chapter)