[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world":3,"chapter-level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-578":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Level 4 Human in a Ruined World",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1848592,2454,"Chapter 578","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-578",578,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 578: The Black Zone (10)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s the Black Zone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo widened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Kejen pointed at was a bizarre, colossal object floating in the middle of space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked like someone had torn off a giant piece of tree bark and just tossed it there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A ship can look like that…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo muttered in disbelief, and Kejen pointed a finger at the Black Zone’s rough, uneven outer surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—What you’re looking at is the surface of the Black Zone. You could call it a moving city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, the Black Zone’s size rivaled that of a large continent on Earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—And from what I know, no one’s ever actually seen it… but the real hull of the ship should be underneath, supporting the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Under the city? I mean, sure. But how has no one seen it? If you enter from the opposite end, wouldn’t the bottom be visible?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—That’s how it should be… but the Black Zone’s hull is in a transparent state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Transparent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—You can’t see it with the naked eye or with normal scanners. And whatever tech they’re using, it doesn’t even show up on radar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait—ships can be made transparent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—It’s similar to the cloak you’re wearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except, Kejen explained, regular ships only used transparent films, like stickers—one-time use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And transparency films still showed up on radar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—But the Black Zone’s camouflage doesn’t show up even on radar. Who knows how the hell they’re doing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But they couldn’t hide the entire city, obviously.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—That’s practically impossible. Countless small ships and transports pass through the city constantly. You can’t hide all their traces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why bother hiding the hull at all? The top is visible anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—One of the Black Zone’s many mysteries. Stop trying to dig too deep. For now, worry about surviving long enough to get out of there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yeongwoo—whose curiosity ranked somewhere in the upper cosmic percentile—couldn’t stop thinking about the enormous hidden hull supporting that city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen only managed to divert his attention when he abruptly accelerated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>FWEEEEEEEEE—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the aircraft was basically scrap with wings, the engine’s acceleration shook the interior violently, and the first to turn pale was Jeonggu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I-Isn’t this a bit too fast?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—We need speed to punch through the Black Zone’s atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Kejen turned toward Yeongwoo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—And stop getting distracted. Start preparing to fight. Thought I was joking? Once we land, you really will have to fist-fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of fist fight? If we lose, do they kick us out?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen’s whiskers twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—You can’t win anyway. The goal is to last as long as you can.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fight where winning didn’t matter—only enduring longer?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did that even make sense?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean we can’t win?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—It’s not a match designed for visitors to win. Your entrance pass grade depends on how long you last against the Gatekeeper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that, another question popped up for Yeongwoo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is the Gatekeeper that strong? Some people won’t even last a second before collapsing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen responded with utter calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—That’s fine. That’s what the Gatekeeper is for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—If you drop instantly, you get the general admission pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fail instantly, basic pass?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the fight truly wasn’t meant to be won.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what’s above basic?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Grade-5 pass. With that, you can start selling things inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What…? So basic passes can only buy, not sell?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—You can still trade in the open bazaar. But you can’t use the Black Zone’s official listing system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meaning, if you were willing to conduct trades in the open street—where anyone might interfere—basic passes were fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—But I don’t recommend bazaar trading. Just having others see what you’re carrying seriously increases the chance of trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what’s the advantage of using the official system?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—You get a private trading room. At least then you only have to fight your trading partner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…So fights still happen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—But that’s far better. On the street, if a fight breaks out, every bastard nearby swarms in. Sometimes you get hundreds brawling at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re ridiculously strong, that might actually be better.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—And you think the guys camping the bazaar didn’t consider that? They jump in because they think they can win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—And among them are real masters who slip in through the chaos and just snatch the goods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You mean you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—A thief steals. A robber fights. A thief doesn’t need high martial strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen’s “thief philosophy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yeongwoo—unlike Kejen, and firmly in the robber category—was far more interested in pummeling everyone and being the last one standing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, so street trading is suicide. Then what’s above a Grade-5 pass? Grade-5 already lets you trade.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Ah, that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen raised a fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—The stronger your fists, the lower your commission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s a commission?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Yep. Using the Black Zone’s system comes with fees. Basic pass: 15%. Grade-5 pass: 10%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Street trades had no commission—but were death traps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—So basic pass folks basically have to pay 15%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then Grade-4 is 5%?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Kejen said something Yeongwoo couldn’t help but perk up at.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Yep. Grade-4 is 5%. Grade-3 and above: zero commission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“WHAT?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—If you’re strong enough to earn a Grade-3 pass, you’re no normal visitor. Just having monsters like that loitering around boosts Black Zone security. So they don’t charge them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what about Grade-2…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—No clue. Maybe they give you a free room or something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are rooms?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—I told you—this place is the safest sanctuary for criminals. It’s a marketplace, but also a hideout and refuge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is basically…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo’s ideal version of the Earth Fleet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And someone had already built it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The universe really is huge. Makes sense that a place like this exists somewhere.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yeongwoo still believed he had a shot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Still, the Earth Fleet has potential. With a few more conditions met… we could become a superior version of this.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Accidentally, he was conducting market research.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I should check property prices and rent here.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Yeongwoo was thinking that, Kejen placed his hand on the controls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Hold onto something. We’re breaching atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost immediately, the front window began glowing red-hot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRRRRRRRRACK!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last, they entered the Black Zone’s upper atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>TATATATATATATAT!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were no windows near Yeongwoo, Jeonggu, or the Golden Goblin, but they could tell the hull was rapidly being torn apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are we even going to make it? I don’t want to burn to death over a black market.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Trust me. You’re alive this far because of me, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fair enough—if the landing failed, Kejen would die too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Yeongwoo put his faith in Kejen’s survival instinct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where exactly are we landing? Do they have parking lots here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—One wing will break off on the way down, so we need to ditch in the lake. There’s a big one right in front of the Black Cliff passage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Black Cliff?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Think of it as the Black Zone’s outer wall. The Gatekeeper is blocking the only entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that Gatekeeper was the examiner who judged a visitor’s status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—As we approach the passage, the Gatekeeper will throw us an emblem. Whoever catches it is the representative and takes the test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Simple enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—The fight ends quickly too. So don’t stress too much. But getting at least a Grade-5 pass would be best. You need to sell the Seal and your ingot, remember?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRACK!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A loud snap echoed—one of the wings tore off exactly as Kejen predicted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—That’ll be the joint we welded on Dik. Still, it did its job.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It detaching in mid-air counts as doing its job?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Wings aren’t needed for water landings anyway. Useful, but not essential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The craft was plunging diagonally at high speed, fully taking the brunt of the Black Zone’s atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed full concentration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Here we go!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Kejen’s shout, the aircraft shifted angle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The turquoise upper atmosphere vanished, replaced by a black expanse stretching endlessly—like a night ocean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The infamous black market finally revealed itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Holy…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jeonggu covered his mouth, stunned by the size.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo glanced down at his fists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘One Gatekeeper keeps the entire city in line?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of monster was he?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>GUUUUOOOOOOOONG…!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The craft banked sharply toward the lake before the outer wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Impact incoming. Everyone sturdy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right as Jeonggu asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How sturdy?”—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KWAAAAAAAH!!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A violent roar erupted from below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their bodies slammed around like dice in a cup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the—?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“UWAAAAA!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hull tore open and water blasted in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>FWOOOSH!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo realized they were skimming across the lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he saw Kejen shoot upward with the cockpit section, and it became very clear the bastard knew he’d survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That son of a—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“G-Goblin! Grab your friend!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jeonggu screamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo kicked Jeonggu aside, lunged for the Golden Goblin rolling toward the tail, and grabbed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>THUP!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The goblin’s tiny body was covered in dark bruises.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Kiii…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right—unlike Yeongwoo or Jeonggu, the goblin wasn’t superhumanly tough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What, you’re not dying yet, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the hull split again and water poured in like a waterfall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“UWAAAGH!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jeonggu flailed in panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo cut open the opposite wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>SHRRAAAAAK!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Water burst in, revealing a vast dark void—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the aircraft was sinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re almost—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Water rose past his philtrum and into his nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo kicked the wall out, grabbed the goblin and his father, and forced their way outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>WHOOSH!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below them lay mountains of wreckage from past visitors’ ships.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lake bottom was a graveyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This place is insane.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo stared in disbelief, then swam upward fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when he reached the surface did he meet Kejen’s eyes—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the thief waiting at the shore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>SPLASH!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo burst out of the water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen stepped back, shaking droplets from his whiskers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—I knew you’d make it. I can’t do this deal without you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You crazy bastard… I saw you eject by yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—I need to stay alive to find the Seal, right? I simply chose survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He held out a hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—And I mean it—you’re essential for this deal. I can’t take that guy’s punch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen looked behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heavy footsteps echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>THOOOM…!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Gatekeeper of the Black Cliff sensed the newcomer’s arrival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo crawled onto shore and instinctively reached for his belt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah—no weapons allowed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—No. Do not mess with the Gatekeeper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So shields are out too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Your hands must be empty. Feet and mouth as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apparently someone had tried charging in with a knife in their mouth before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And without coordinates, I can’t bombard him either…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo rolled his eyes once, then asked very carefully:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then… what about Sword Mountain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1764,"2026-06-09T07:04:15.797Z",1,"novelbin.me","dac9d09b919842b8923b207919fa3435eef4c29f5496d82d8d119da9e84aacf9","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-579","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-577",688,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flevel-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-cover.jpg"]