Just as his opponent was about to falter, Russell’s vision suddenly darkened. A black-armored warrior appeared in the middle of the field, charging forward with a gust of wind.
With no time for further thought, Barnard swung his Longsword.
Barnard felt as if he had crashed into the head of a charging rhinoceros; his strength abruptly failed him.
Immediately, he and the Longsword in his hand were sent flying.
Carl brandished his broad sword, seizing the chance to press his attack.
Battle Skill—Eagle Strike!
Battle Skill—Gale Slash!
With a flash of movement, he closed in on Barnard. The broad sword swung, and seven afterimages along with his true form whistled down in a chop.
Barnard’s expression changed drastically. He swung the Longsword in his hand with all his might, his feet carrying him rapidly backward.
But no matter how he retreated or dodged, he couldn’t escape the dense, rain-like barrage of blows.
The broad sword cleaved through his guard, striking him squarely in the chest.
His body slammed heavily against the wall; it was unknown how many ribs had been broken by the strike while he was in midair. He then slowly slid down like a picture hanging on a wall.
The Longsword clattered to the ground.
He was exhaling more than inhaling, his eyes lifeless—death was imminent.
Carl sneered and shook his head.
"Such a big reputation, yet not so impressive after all!"
He had bided his time, waiting for the perfect moment to launch a sneak attack. His opponent couldn’t even withstand a single combo and collapsed.
Of course, he was well aware that he had merely taken advantage of the situation. In a face-to-face fight, the outcome would still be uncertain.
Russell spat blood, a bitter smile on his face. If he hadn’t exhausted most of Barnard’s strength, this powerful man wouldn’t have been defeated so easily. However...
Struggling to stand up, Russell bowed.
"I don’t know how to address you, Sir, but I will definitely repay this kindness once we get out."
"Now is not the time for this. Let’s talk after we get out." Carl waved his hand, his voice muffled. "What’s your plan?"
He hadn’t expected to encounter others in rebellion, including a Knight. This was perfect.
His journey here had been remarkably smooth.
He had even dealt with Barnard, who should have been the toughest opponent.
Russell’s expression became determined.
"There are others imprisoned in different tunnels by the city guard. They don’t belong here; they deserve freedom."
Carl looked surprised. He had been in the Black City for so long and had mostly seen deceitful people. He had rarely encountered someone this benevolent.
This man was truly an exception.
Nodding, Carl said, "You go rescue them, I’ll scout ahead. To prevent the city guard reinforcements from arriving, you’d better hurry."
Given the emergency, the two split up. Carl took the lead, clearing the path with Dharma Seals and Arcane Missiles.
Even if someone managed to get close, his heavy armor meant he had nothing to fear.
Moreover, with Jacqueline and others following him, they would take down any scattered soldiers from the city guard they encountered.
Carl kicked open a wooden door and slashed down the two people inside, a smile creeping onto his face.
This was the city guard’s storeroom.
In addition to mountainous stacks of food, various weapons, bows, and arrows, there were also the rarer ’collectible treasures’.
Ben charged in after him, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.
"So many... so many..." Leon stammered, a dreamy look on his face. "So much food!"
Food was all that mattered to him.
Upon seeing this, Jacqueline, Mengde, and the others exchanged glances and silently backed out of the room.
They knew that with Carl present, the items inside were not for them to touch.
At this moment, the most crucial thing was to escape from underground. Otherwise, all their gains would be in vain.
"Sir Carl," Jacqueline called from outside the door. "We’ll go scout ahead."
"Alright," Carl nodded. "Be careful."
"Without a Knight, we have nothing to fear." Jacqueline smiled, waving her hand to lead the others forward.
Meanwhile, Carl’s gaze fell on a corner of the room.
Different from other areas, the items in the corner were mostly kept in boxes.
Pieces of Exotic Beast Meat, Dharma Seal Seeds, rare items, and even heritage Dharma Seals were in plain sight.
Taking a deep breath, Carl said, "Take them!"
"Choose the valuable stuff; take as much as you can!"
Ben’s and Leon’s eyes lit up, and they nodded vigorously.