Lesser Force Field

Chapter 22: Lesser Force Field

A few days later.

The real world.

"Success!"

Karl opened his eyes, his face filled with excitement, waving his arms wildly to vent his elation.

After a period of experimentation, with the help of the Divine Domain, he had successfully constructed the Spell Model for the Lesser Force Field within his Sea of Consciousness.

Unlike the Meditation Method.

Constructing a Spell Model was extremely complex; it was impossible to meticulously plan one out before every casting.

However, once successfully constructed, it would solidify and could be brought into the real world without collapsing upon leaving the Divine Domain.

"I haven't even grasped the basics of the Meditation Method yet, and I've already mastered a Rank 0 Sorcery. I must be the first to do this, right?"

Karl muttered to himself, then, following the instructions in the book, he carefully activated the Spell Model in his Sea of Consciousness.

Lesser Force Field!

"Hum..."

A silent vibration emanated from his Sea of Consciousness, followed by an invisible force field that extended outwards, enveloping an area of about one meter.

It was a peculiar sensation.

For a time, Karl was lost in it, only snapping back to reality after a long while.

"Activating the Lesser Force Field continuously consumes Mental Power. With my current Mental Power, I can maintain it for at most five to six minutes."

"And that's without any external forces affecting it."

"Defense..."

Karl picked up a quill, dipped it in ink, and made a note on the paper:

"It's difficult for an ordinary person to break the force field with their bare hands. If they're holding a weapon, it can withstand three strikes."

"This is clearly weaker than Miles."

"Looking at it this way, the same Sorcery, the same Spell Model, when cast by different people, does not yield the same power."

When Miles cast the Lesser Force Field, he could effortlessly distort the attacks of a Knight Squire and even block most of Dina's full-powered sword techniques.

It was far beyond what Karl could do now.

However, it was clear that Miles also had his limits when casting Sorcery, which was why the force field disappeared and he was killed by a Wrist Dart.

"Casting Sorcery consumes Mental Power, and I can feel a distinct fatigue. I suspect it's due to insufficient Mental Power."

After constructing a Rank 0 Sorcery in his Sea of Consciousness, Karl felt not only excitement but also many lingering questions.

He was already eager to go to the manor outside the city to seek further knowledge.

"No rush."

Putting down his pen, he looked at the moon outside the window:

"I'll head to the other world first."

The Safety Day in Black City, which falls on the first day of the first month, was fast approaching. It was an opportunity he couldn't miss.

*

*

*

"Creak..."

Pushing open the door, Karl stretched his limbs in the gloomy street, exhaling deeply.

"Where there's skill, there's courage."

He was completely different from his former self now.

Not only had he cultivated the Poison Wolf Breathing Technique to become a Knight Squire, but he had also learned a Rank 0 Sorcery.

His strength had practically exploded.

Even the oppressive atmosphere of the grim and dark Black City felt less daunting.

Laka Market.

Cloaked in a black cloak, Karl stopped at the entrance of the market street, gazing at the wooden frame before him.

Several corpses were hanging from the wooden frame.

The bodies had suffered brutal torture before death, their bodies covered in slow-moving wounds, with conspicuous bruises and contusions.

The cold wind blew, carrying the stench of decay.

The people hanging here were all criminals who had violated Black City's taboos. The most common offense was attempting to escape the city.

"Kolon..."

Karl lowered his head and whispered, his voice filled with emotion:

"I told you, don't always think about leaving Black City. Wouldn't it be better to stay and do business peacefully?"

"Look at the mess it's gotten into now."

Kolon was dead.

He was the one who sold Karl the Poison Wolf Breathing Technique. The last time Karl visited, Kolon had said he had a way to escape Black City.

Now, he was hanging on a wooden frame for public display.

His eyes bulged, his face contorted in a grimace. His escape plan, it seemed, had ultimately failed.

"Sigh!"

With a sigh, Karl paced into the marketplace.

"Rat meat, fresh, not rotten rat meat, half a Black Stone for a tael!"

"Top-quality Calia Longsword, sharp, light, the best choice for slaying those Undead Creatures..."

"Clean water! Filtered water, not a single impurity, eight liters for just one Black Stone..."

The vendors' cries were as usual, unchanged by the corpse hanging on the wooden frame.

"The prices have gone up."

"Both the meat and the water have increased somewhat. It's probably harder to get food in winter."

Karl walked, stopping and starting along the way, inquiring about market prices and pausing at stalls that interested him.

"What is this?"

He picked up a yellow lump that looked like dirt and asked curiously.

"Clay," the stall owner explained.

"It contains mucus secreted by underground worms. It's edible. Ten pieces for one Black Stone."

"Food?" Karl frowned.

This was clearly just a clod of dirt found everywhere.

"Of course." Seeing his disbelief, the stall owner dodged the clay, licked it, and handed it back.

"It has a bit of an earthy taste, but you can swallow it. If you savor it, you can even taste a hint of sweetness. The clay I have here is top-grade, with a lot of mucus content."

"If there isn't enough mucus, eating too much will clog your intestines and kill you. Many people have died from eating dirt."

Looking at the lump of dirt being offered, with clear saliva marks on it, Karl repeatedly waved his hands in refusal.

Eating dirt?

Were the days already this hard to endure?

His thoughts churning, he pointed to a pile of powder next to it.

"What is this?"

"Soul powder," the stall owner replied casually, putting away the clay.

"When Undead Creatures are killed, this stuff appears around their corpses. Eating it makes you mentally excited and slightly increases your strength. It's said to be an essential ingredient for certain Secret Potions."

"Two Black Stones per portion."

"Oh!" Karl rubbed his chin.

"Do you want some cured meat strips?"

"Yes!"

The stall owner's eyes lit up.

"Definitely. If the quality of the meat strips is good enough, I can give you a better price."

A moment later.

Karl, carrying a package, continued to wander around the marketplace.

"Uncle?"

A timid voice sounded.

"Is that you? Uncle?"

Karl turned his head at the sound and saw a raggedly dressed youth standing not far away, looking intently.

"It's you."

Karl thought for a moment and remembered the other person's name.

"Aya?"

Since Kolon was preparing to leave Black City, his stall would have been transferred in advance. The one who took over his stall was Aya.

This girl who looked like a boy.

"It's really you, Uncle Karl," Aya said, her face full of excitement.

"It's been so long since you left last time. What do you want to buy, Uncle? If I have it, I'll definitely give you the cheapest price."

Her enthusiasm made Karl a little embarrassed. He hadn't intended to visit Aya's stall in the first place.

"Alright!"

He sighed and went to the stall, casually flipping through the items.

"You don't have what I'm looking for here."

"What are you looking for, Uncle?" Aya's eyes dimmed for a moment before she perked up again.

"Next time you come, I'll prepare it for you in advance."

"What I'm looking for..." Karl shook his head gently.

"There's nothing specific I want."

"Oh... that's okay," Aya forced a smile, hiding her disappointment.

"I'll prepare more and better things. Next time you come to the market, you can come and take a look."

"I'm not sure when I'll be back next time," Karl said, standing up.

"We'll see!"

"Okay."

Aya nodded with difficulty.

"Take care, Uncle. You're always welcome here."

Karl didn't respond.

Setting up a stall in the market required paying Black Stone. Aya's business was so poor, it was uncertain if she'd even be here next time.

It was more likely she wouldn't be.

She's just a young girl, no need to worry about her.