The Dark King

by Steffen Schmidt

  Because of the precipitation the explosive inside were likely mineralized into hard mass.

  Dudian didn't regret anything as everything was within his expectations. He found some grenades, mines and two shells for rocket launchers. As he was about to dismantle them he smelled that Linda had met some kind of a monster. He knew that the other odor belonged to beast.

  This odor had long been in his range. It had been moving slowly and accidentally had met with Linda.

  "I don't know the strength of this monster." Dudian thought that if this beast could eat Linda, it would have save him from taking risk by confronting her.

  He quickly dismantled the mines. The buckle metal holding it up was rotten so he was forced to break it apart. Moisture had intruded into this mine too.

  "Yellow explosives?" Dudian noticed the color of explosives in the mines. He had collected information about yellow explosives while collecting information about the gun powder. It was kind of a gun powder which had gone through 'evolution'. It was referred to as 'TNT'. It had great power.

  "Awesome!" Dudian was excited. Even if Linda was an intermediate hunter, but with this TNTs she could be directly killed!

  Dudian took out all the yellow explosives and scattered them on the ground. Later on he found few scraps of paper rolls.

  Paper had been mixed with too much soil and dust so it was burning very slow. But it still burned till the end.

  Dudian was passionately watching the scene.

  Bang!

  The explosion sounded without warning, and it made a very loud noise.

  Dudian's eyes lit up. Although some of the explosives were wet but still were able to detonate. The power of explosion was much stronger than he had imagined.

  He immediately returned to the place and continued to dismantle the mines. He poured yellow explosives out and gathered into a pile.

  Moreover, he felt the smell of Linda and the monster while there was strong blood smell floating from them. One of them should be injured.

  "Is it monster or her?" Dudian eyes flashed and his hands began to dismantle faster. All the yellow explosives accumulated to thirty pounds. However he went after all the mines but came to the metal frame. He grasped few bullets and began to twist their caps to open them. Inside there was semi-hardened gunpowder. He knocked the bullet onto the ground and took out some gunpowder.

  He used the arrow to set aside the gunpowder.

  More bullets were emptied as time passed.

  The odor of monster and Linda had separated. The monster's odor was fixed to the same position while it was mixed with strong bloody smell. It meant it was not moving and should be killed.

  Dudian couldn't help but regret that the beast was not successful. However, the monster in area no 7 were all under the level 20. According to his estimates, as long as Linda wasn't facing them head on she could guarantee her own safety.

  Suddenly, the bloody smell coming off from Linda began to gradually to fade away.

  He immediately thought of the magic mark ability of Linda, control of blood!

  "Was she hurt?" Dudian pondered a bit. Although she could promptly control the wound to stop bleeding but the smell of blood would leak out from the wounds which couldn't be covered. Unless, the wound was not dangerous one and it was quickly recovered or at least a layer covered onto it.

  "She can control the blood so her speed of healing should be very fast. However, it will take a day or two to fully recover. This is a great opportunity!" Dudian's eyes shone as he rapidly collected the explosives.

  At the same time as he collected the tnts he locked onto Linda's smell. Once she left his range, he would rapidly try to catch up with her.

  Linda's movement speed was not fast, as she stopped from time to time to rest.

  He thought that he was neglecting something important: "She knows that I can track her by smell. So, she is likely using this to trap me. If she was injured, she would not make so many stops. She would just find a place and stop directly. She wouldn't move until the healing her wound."

  Thinking of the possibility he calmed down to ponder about the issue at hand: "If I was her, I would do my best to lure myself out. As long as, I'm exposed she will be able to catch and behead me! "

  "Well," he said, as coldness flashed in his eyes, "Let's play then!"

  He opened his backpack and loaded all the yellow explosives and gunpowder that he had piled. It wouldn't affect his movement.

  He looked at arsenal for the last time. Alone on his own it would be very difficult to move the entire arsenal. However, soon or later the area no 7 will be cleaned of monsters and the scavengers will move it. Everything will be taken into the giant wall.

  "Within the giant wall they use gunpowder only to dye stuff, including the tnt. They are treated as yellow dyes by the 'Temple of Elements'. IS it because the explosives look like soil and no one would think of using fire to burn it? " An idea emerged in his mind which seemed possible.

  "However, it is possible they have already mastered the use of explosives. Its just like in old days, they are labeled as dangerous goods and strictly controlled." Dudian thought about another possibility. After all, this was not the era of information and blocking the knowledge was very simple. Even in the old days, when computer, television and other tools were present but most were ignorant of science and technology.

  In this era, the only way to pass information widely was use of newspapers.

  However, because of aristocracy firm grasp of power, it was very difficult for newspapers to have room to play. So the things that they could report on were very limited.

  "In any case, if there are explosives inside the giant wall then there have to records of them within the circle of alchemists. But in Rosyard's notes he didn't mention of such matter. No matter, I have to inquire when I go back." Dudian didn't think much about it anymore as he turned away to leave the fortress and begin his own hunt!

  Chapter 124: Explosion

  In a small building at the street.

  Linda was sitting inside the shadows. She opened up the first aid kid and began to replace the gauze on her right arm and thigh. However, she was alert at all times as to prevent any sudden attack.

  "I've done good camouflage by getting hurt. I don't believe that you won't be fooled!" Linda thought in her heart. She had specifically stood close to the place where the beast with similar combat abilities to her was living. The purpose was to hurt herself using the beast and make it look as realistic as possible.

  The seabird beast that she had chosen was a level seventeen monster. It was an amphibious beast but it could survive on land too. If it fought within monster then the seabird could kill much higher level monsters as it was seabird homeground. However, on land its combat effectiveness and advantages were limited. As long as Linda was careful enough she could avoid being killed by it.

  She had gone all out against the beast to make it more compelling to Dudian who was tracking her smell. Even if it was very hard for her to kill the beast but she had to face it head-on to convince Dudian. Afterwards, she thought that Dudian will get enough courage to attack her.

  Her right arm and thigh were still numb as she replaced the gauze. The claws of seabird beast had paralytic toxins. She was lucky that she had control over blood and could discharge the toxins to a large extent. Otherwise she wouldn't be able to use her right arm and leg for the rest of her life.

  "After I catch you, I will impose all these pains thousand times over on you!" There was a strong killing intent bubbling in her heart. It would burst out after she would catch Dudian.

  Se controlled the amount of blood that flowed in her face so that she looked extremely pale. Especially, her lips looked like had no color or life at all. She looked very weak as she slowly breathed and leant against the wall. (TL: She could act in broadway ) One of her hands was always on sword's hilt, gripping it. However, with her weak appearance she gave an aura as if her alertness would be futile.

  Whoosh!


  A rapid arrow shot through the window.

  It's angle was diagonal, directed at her throat!

  The original 'dying' Linda disappeared as her body suddenly rolled and stood up. She swung her sword on time to block the arrow. She locked onto her target - which was on the opposite small building!

  "You are dead!"

  She didn't hide her killing intent as she jumped out of a window as if she was a cheetah.

  However, as she got close to small building her eyelids twitched. Some sort of a feeling gripped her heart. It was hunting instinct or intuition of a kind which had developed inside her after years of life and death experience. She felt a trace of terror as she stopped.

  She raised her head and looked at the window from where the arrow was shot. She couldn't see Dudian, it seemed that he had fled.

  She wasn't in hurry to chase so she carefully gazed around as she spoke: "Don't hide...I know you are inside... You have prepared a trap for ambush, don't you?"

  There was no movement.

  "You had done a good job by forbearing for so long. But once you exposed there is no option for you but death! I'll kill you!" Linda spoke in a cold tone.: " Although I hate the reality that I'm facing right now but you should be prepared to attack me as I'm wounded. However if another day passes..."

  Her heart was calming down as she talked. Her rationale was affected by her subjective assumption but now she could clearly see more.

  There was no movement at all.

  Linda frowned, is it was just a meaningless worry? Did he really run away?

  "I know you are inside." Linda didn't give up on hope to agitate Dudian.: " You are hiding inside trying to lure me in. It's so simple to understand that there is a trap inside. But you shouldn't forget that if I don't kill you this time, I'll have many other opportunities to kill you in future. After you finish the training period you will be a dead man!"

  Anger gushed out as she saw there was no response but she tried to restrain herself. She sneered: "Then let's check who's more patient!" Then she went back to her small building and sat down: "I don't believe that he is not in hurry. He wanted to kill me. This is how I will take the advantage and initiative into my hands. As long as he acts, he will be exposed!"

  She was resting while she stared at the small building in the opposite side. Her heart was upset though. Since when a dignified silver level hunter like her need to be careful of a rookie?

  After all, it was a mind consuming and psychologically affecting to be aware and wait for the moment when you will be sneak attacked.

  She still held back the anxiety as she thought of other plans.

  However, as the time passed there was no movement from the opposite small building.

  She thought: "We will see who will be consumed at the end!"

  In the blink of an eye day was replaced by night-time. She had become increasingly vigilant as night was the most suitable time for sneak attacks. Moreover, her vision was limited.

  In the latter half of the night she felt a trace of sleepiness. Even though she was a mid-level hunter but her mental fatigue had passed the limit. Moreover, the other side was relaxed all day long while she was alert all the time. If it continued like this for a few days more, she would be exhausted!

  Suddenly, she understood Dudian's intention!

  If she was told that a newcomer tried to agitate and mentally consume a mid-level hunter she wouldn't believe it at all but she was living the experience right now!

  "No, I can't be dispirited!" Linda came to the corridor on first floor and found a gap in the corner and sat down. She leaned against the wall to relax as there was no angle from where an arrow could hit her.

  Although she fell asleep but often would wake up if there was a sign of a slight movement as she was worried to be attack by Dudian.

  The night passed.

  Linda woke up in the dawn. She didn't expect that Dudian wouldn't attack at some point during the night. Her mind was angry as she thought that even if there were traps made up by him bu how lethal they could be?

  She knew that Dudian's performance at an alarming degree so she tried to treat everything with caution. But thinking about it, the other side was child. He had never been to hunting. Perhaps he had seen her during the night but couldn't get the courage to shot?

  She couldn't stop her emotions anymore.

  "Damned little devil, let's see what kind of traps you have arranged!" She looked over to the small building and then decided to go after him.

  As she entered the small building, a rotten smell blowed into her. The surroundings was dimly lit but sunlight was shining from the cracks of wall and windows. Her line of sight was not affected much. But she was still watching around carefully for traps.

  Although she was not a scout but after all as an experience silver level hunter she had seen a lot of traps. She had seen the scouts arranging a lot of traps so she was knowledgeable about trap-making too.

  At the moment, on the roof of three-storey building Dudian was standing against the wall.

  Yesterday, after failed surprise attack he didn't leave the small building. Nevertheless, all the explosives were inside the building. Once he left this building he will be in more danger than in here. When Linda was calling out to him from downstairs he thought a lot but at the end decided to control his emotions and stay silent.

  Therefore, despite how many times Linda called out to him he didn't answer. The purpose was to cause her anger and affect her judgement.

  However, to his disappointment Linda did not come.

  From his perspective the ambush had failed and he was thinking about other new plans. But he would never expect that Linda would come here on her own!

  "She still wants to confirm whether I'm here or have left. It seems it doesn't matter how good a hunter is. The may suppress the anger but can't resolve it." A trace of excitement flash in his eyes as Dudian went over to prepare the place.

  Linda passed half-collapsed stairs and went to the second floor. She looked around but still didn't see any traps which made her mood more angrier. She felt as if she was played around.

  Suddenly, she heard subtle 'hissing' sound as if dozens of snakes were close by.

  "Is her using monsters?" Linda was startled but her eyes lit up the next moment.: "he is still in here!"

  She clenched the sword with her one hand as she was ready to go to third floor. Although she took into account that there was a possible ambush but with her magic ability she could restrain the toxic attacks of monsters. She wasn't worried about not being able to escape.

  As she was halfway to third floor...

  Boom! . .

  Suddenly a violent explosion occurred which drowned the entire small building.

  From the first floor to the third floor, everything was blown up!

  Chapter 125: as promised

  Explosion sounded like a thunderbolt as numerous rocks splashed around.

  The small building was razed to the ground, only leaving few scattered rocks. The two building on its right and left side had also been exposed by its shockwave and had collapsed half the way.

  Smoke and dust was diffused into air.

  Bang!

  A slate was pushed open from the small building closeby. Dudian climbed out and looked at flat building. He was shocked as he didn't think the destructive power of the yellow explosives would be so amazing. Fortunately, he had ignited the explosives and left the building. Or else, it would be his grave.

  He sniffed a bit and soon found the source of location from where Linda's bloody smell was emitted. It was coming from bottom of the pile.

  He shook off the dust and decided to go and check out if she was dead or alive. However he suddenly stopped as he thought of previous situation where he was almost killed by her brother. She couldn't be waiting inside so that he moves away the rubble to be attacked at the last second.

  He went away but returned after a while. He had brought back fabric and withered dry wood. H
e throw everything on rubble and lit the torch. Dry wood and clothing began to burn up and a strong fire was made.

  In about 10 minutes the fire extinguished.

  Dudian looked at the rock that were burned by the flame. He thought that if she was determined to forbear the pain she would be able to stay alive. He left to the opposite side of the small building where he had put the bag with yellow explosives.

  He brought two yellow explosives and put them into the rubble. He rolled a paper and stuck it to explosives.

  After he finished making everything he lid the paper and run away to wait for the combustion. The paper was slowly burning when he saw the explosives roll down as the clay and crust was moving.

  Suddenly, the rocks were pushed away as a bloody figure jumped from inside out. She quickly grabbed the explosives and threw it towards Dudian.

  Dudian quickly raised his hands and caught the explosives. Moreover he pinched the paper to avoid the explosion. He knew that shell was not going to detonate.

  However he still throw away them. He looked at the gloomy and bloody figure. Linda was still alive.

  Linda was in a devastating state. Her left arm was completely fried while debris was embedded onto her body as the armor was not meant to protect her from explosion. She was taking in big breaths while tightly staring at Dudian. There were fresh burn marks on her face. Apparently it had happened when Dudian had burned dry wood. Most probably some of them had fallen onto her face through the gap in rocks.

  But she had held back and didn't say anything.

  Dudian saw her devil-like appearance. His heart was cold as patience such as this was beyond his imagination. But it also let him realize how horrible the existance were silver level hunters.

  Whoosh!

  He rapidly pulled the string and shot the arrows.

  At the moment, the distance between both of them were less than ten meters.