Wizard of another World

Since the discovery of blackstone veins beneath Black City, the place had become the private domain of Duke Tydal.

The cruel and insane duke forced the city's population into becoming miners to excavate blackstone for him.

Those who could leave had long gone, while those who couldn't were desperate to find a way out.

A once-thriving city rapidly turned into a desolate wasteland, leaving behind remnants of wealth—valuable artifacts, precious metals, and more. Yet, to the starving inhabitants, even the finest treasures paled in comparison to a morsel of edible food.

Karl roamed the market, exchanging his remaining strips of cured meat for a few "delicate trinkets."

Born into a noble family and experienced in attending exhibitions, Karl had developed an eye for luxury goods. The items he acquired would likely fetch a handsome price elsewhere.

"Time to leave."

Wrapping his newly acquired treasures in a linen cloth and slinging them onto his back, Karl reminded Colone to keep an eye out for any leads on breathing techniques before departing.

As he moved, Karl's thoughts wandered:

"Thirty gold coins could buy a decent mid-tier residence in Signo City. In remote areas, I might even afford a standalone home."

"Hmm... Although Black City is oppressive and inconvenient, it's undoubtedly the best place to make money quickly."

Karl touched the bulging pack on his back, a slight smile tugging at his lips. For a moment, he felt a rare flicker of joy.

"Aside from making money, acquiring a breathing technique here is easier than in the other world, at least with the right connections. Not like—"

"Hmm?"

His musings were cut short as his sharp senses screamed danger. Karl immediately lunged forward, his sword swinging instinctively behind him.

Swish!

Rip!

The sound of air being sliced and fabric tearing echoed.

Karl felt a sharp pain on his back, while his sword collided with something solid. His belongings scattered across the ground, and the heavy clock clattered loudly as it hit the pavement.

Ignoring the state of his items, Karl quickly rolled to his feet, gripping his sword tightly as he turned to face the attacker.

The attacker revealed itself as a dark, dog-like creature, its black fur blending almost seamlessly into the dim surroundings.

This was it. The corpse that had vanished from the street earlier!

Karl cursed his earlier carelessness. The streets of Black City were fraught with danger, and he had allowed his thoughts to wander.

The creature was one of Black City's infamous undead beings—products of the city's cursed blackstone veins.

Undead creatures were said to form when "death energy" seeped from the blackstone veins, contaminating and animating nearby corpses.

This corruption extended beyond the dead. Living miners who spent too long underground often succumbed to mutation, transforming into mindless monsters driven by primal aggression.

Unlike the clumsy, shambling undead of old tales, Black City's undead were swift, agile, and relentless. They were nightmares incarnate, turning Black City into a haven of terror.

"Damn it!"

Karl sidestepped another charge from the undead hound, his sword slashing downward in a calculated counterstrike.

"Thud!"

The blade bit deep into the creature's back, carving a gash from shoulder to flank. Yet the creature, seemingly unbothered, simply stumbled and righted itself, crimson eyes glowing with malevolence.

"No vital points," Karl realized grimly. The undead hound's lack of vulnerability was a stark reminder of the challenge he faced.

Summoning his remaining strength, Karl launched into an advanced technique from his Wind Fury Swordsmanship—Raging Strike.

He feigned a heavy slash, forcing the hound to dodge. As it moved, his arm flicked upward, and two hidden projectiles flew from his wrist-mounted mechanism.

Swish! Swish!

The darts struck true, one embedding in the hound's throat and the other in its foreleg.

The beast stumbled, its balance compromised.

Karl seized the opening. With a feral shout, he unleashed Gale Slash, a battle technique requiring exceptional control and precision.

His sword cleaved through the hound in three sweeping arcs. The creature froze mid-charge, its body splitting into fragments that tumbled lifelessly to the ground.

Gasping for breath, Karl surveyed the remains. His arms trembled from exertion, and sweat poured from his brow.

He quickly collected his scattered belongings and bolted back to his shelter, barring the door and reinforcing it with iron rods.

"Damn!"

Leaning against the door, Karl slapped his forehead.

"I forgot to check for loot. The remains of undead creatures can sometimes be exchanged for blackstone. Too late now."

Returning to the "mystical place" that bridged the worlds, Karl crossed back to his residence in Signo City. Before he could even unpack, a familiar voice echoed from the living room.

"Uncle? What is he doing here?"

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