Chapter 57 :Black Jade City Mutation (Part 3)

Swapping into leather armor might slow me down a bit, but the boost in defense is worth it—I can’t rely on my clothes to block blood zombie bites or stray projectiles. Even if I can revive, being a helpless “corpse” in this chaos would be bad news.

Especially with my two egg babies on my back.

“Phew…”

After gearing up, I exhaled deeply, gripped my dagger, and pushed open the door.

By now, everyone in Golden Skull was gathered. The staff, once behind counters, were fully armed with shields, swords, and some magical firearms, fortifying the auction house with whatever they could find.

The sudden attack left too many goods unmovable, and the loss was too great for the branch to bear, so they had no choice but to hold their ground.

Most looked relaxed, thinking this was just a small-scale infiltration, no big threat—unless the enemy was at the gates, it wasn’t a problem.

The human frontline had stood for decades, never breached by vampires or dark elves, so they saw no cause for alarm.

But I didn’t share their optimism. The sooner I left this mess, the better.

Why would vampires go to such lengths for a mere infiltration? Beyond causing damage and casualties, there are only two reasons—

First, training their forces. Second, disrupting Black Obsidian’s order behind the frontlines, throwing the city guard and garrison into chaos to prevent them from aiding the front, or even coordinating an inside-out attack to conquer the city!

If it’s the former, fine. If it’s the latter, this place will only get more dangerous, and escaping will become harder!

Of course, these are just my thoughts. The auction house staff wouldn’t abandon their goods to flee with me just because I said so.

Though I couldn’t leave with their armed support, I wasn’t staying to die. If the frontlines and Black Obsidian’s defenses fall, even a Gold-rank warrior guarding Golden Skull would be overwhelmed by an army.

So, without wasting words, I bid the supervisor farewell and slipped out through a side door into an alley.

Explosions echoed through the city, signaling ongoing battles. Heart pounding, I crept along the wall, careful not to draw attention.

I inched toward the alley’s exit and peered at the main street. It was a wreck—debris and garbage littered the road, with bloodstains and chunks of flesh scattered across the ground.

…Should I take the main road to the city gate?

At the alley’s mouth, I glanced around, weighing my options.

I’d lived in Black Obsidian for a while, but the winding alleys were a maze—easy to get lost or trapped. They’re safer but time-consuming.

The main road would save time, but walking alone there would make me a target.

The situation was too murky to analyze further—no city guards or enemy forces in sight. Who knew what was going on?

“Damn it… No choice! I’ll take the main road!”

Gritting my teeth, I made my decision. Crouching low, I darted along the street’s edge, heading for the city gate.

…Good thing I trained my stamina. With my old frail body, barely able to do ten push-ups, I’d never make it out on foot with the egg babies!

Like a scurrying rat, I ran, cautiously scanning my surroundings, thinking to myself.

But as I crossed a block near my old apartment, blood-curdling screams pierced the air, mixed with the sounds of combat.