......It's Real.
Isabel Silver stared at the battleship of the Black Fleet anchored at the cliff, speaking in disbelief.
"......It's real."
"Do-hyun!!"
Jin-su, waiting on the deck, spotted me and waved enthusiastically.
"But why'd she tag along again?"
Chan-ho, standing beside him, scowled at Isabel Silver.
"I met the Curtain God. And picked up a quest."
"A quest? What is it?"
"We have to head to the Mugung Archipelago."
"......Then what about Salt Island? That's time-sensitive too. If we delay any longer, we won't secure a ship."
Jin-su asked urgently. To stick to the original plan of heading to the Yulmun Family, they needed to claim one of the Lukhap ships docked at Salt Island.
"Of course we'll hit Salt Island first. Going all the way down to Mugung Archipelago would take too much time. Plus, we need resupplies, so we'll stock up at the Yulmun Family."
"Talking about the Yulmun Family like it's just some supply depot."
Baek Yiheon remarked in disbelief, though the glint in his eyes showed he was already looking forward to it.
"You look a bit different, though?"
"Yeah? Oh, right...... Some stuff went down at the Curtain Forest. Leveled up, skills improved too."
"And snagged a divine artifact."
Isabel Silver, standing behind me, shrugged as she chimed in.
"Oho?!"
"Divine artifact? What's that?"
The three of them widened their eyes at her words.
"It's nothing. Just a cloak."
"'Nothing'? A Relic-grade item—you're the first in the server, Kim Do-hyun."
"Kuh......"
"Figures."
They nodded in unison.
"Quit wasting time and prep for departure. Nice job scoring a battleship, at least."
"Well, it's the smallest in the fleet...... But considering our numbers, it's plenty big. And like you said, since that dwarf Norpa's heading to the Yulmun Family, he modded the ship's armaments in record time. Oh, and he sent some items for you—they're stashed inside."
"Good."
"But the Hidden Eater's coming along too?"
"For now. She joined for a Veil quest originally, but we gotta handle Yulmun Family business first. That cool?"
"Even if I said no, I wouldn't have a choice, right?"
"You know it."
She shook her head at my question.
"Plus, as a Veil Successor, you can tap into fairy power thanks to the leader Asera. You saw it at Geshutalt—the Yulmun Family's secret arts are based on fairy magic tricks."
I headed toward the ship's helm.
"To reach the Yulmun Family, we have to pass through Qimundo with its guards. But as you know, the protective formation Dunjin around it is tough to breach conventionally."
"That's why we're grabbing a Lukhap ship."
"Right. But the moment they lose it, they'll respond. Even if we smash the Dunjin, the path from Qimundo to Yulmun Family is laced with their arts."
"Hmm......"
Unlike the other three, Isabel Silver smirked bitterly, grasping my point.
"If the Yulmun Family's arts are fairy-based tricks, they're just a lesser version of the Curtain God's divine spells in the Curtain Forest."
"Exactly. No matter how skilled they are, they can't match the Curtain God's concealment."
"And the only one who can break that concealment is a Veil member?"
Jin-su finally caught on, looking at me.
"You really know how to use people."
"Agreed."
Baek Yiheon nodded at Isabel Silver's grumble.
"But it'd be a shame to smash Qimundo. Its Dunjin is something even a dragon couldn't crack easily."
I murmured softly, eyes on the approaching Salt Island.
"If luck's on our side, there might even be a guide waiting for us there."
"Hm?"
They tilted their heads at my words.
Shwaaaa—!!
Shwaak—!
Waves lapped against a small, sparsely populated island. An old ship docked at Salt Island bobbed as if awaiting passengers.
"Should we go?"
"He's coming. No way he'd abandon that ship."
"Hoo......"
Eyes fixed on the old vessel etched with strange runes dotted the area.
'Heaven hasn't forsaken me. This is my chance. With Jang Il-mun and G. Basel out, if I pull this off, I can reclaim my spot in the Six Ranks.'
"Hoo......"
A tense sigh escaped. A red line streaked quickly over his head.
'He's here.'
Grom Kyler gripped his sword tighter, staring at the horizon. A small dot grew closer—the Black Fleet.
Master, there are thirty hidden on the island. They're waiting desperately for us.
"Every time, it's wild."
Chan-ho remarked, watching Yeomhwa-ryeong flit around me.
"Just as expected."
"Who else would our 'guide' be but assassins."
"Who'd you think? I had a hunch."
"Grom, probably. No way he'd pass this up. He's dying to kill me, sure, but he also wants to restore his tarnished rep."
"Yeah, makes you wonder how much he's grinded in that hellhole."
"Looks like he brought all twenty subordinates he can command. Even leveled one to mid-tier assassin. Not totally hopeless for a Six Rank."
"So what? The two advanced assassins got wrecked. Charging us with mid-tier? Useless idiots can't be fixed."
Everyone nodded at Chan-ho's blunt take, but as a Six Rank, Grom wouldn't come unprepared.
"Whatever ace he's got, I'm not worried...... You guys take the right flank. I'll handle the rest."
"You good solo?"
"Pfft."
I summoned Yeomhwa-ryeong at Baek Yiheon's question.
Fire Command
Whoosh—!!
Flames erupted around me. Leaping from the deck's edge, massive wings of fire unfurled from the Shadow Cloak like blazing plumage.
Hides presence based on divine power consumed.
The cloak perfectly masks your presence.
Boosted divine power from the Curtain God battle made the cloak effortless now.
"......!!"
My scorching heat and presence vanished in an instant, leaving them all stunned, scanning around confused.
"Lending this for a sec."
I drew the Plunder Sword from Baek Yiheon's belt.
"H-Hey?!"
He jumped like he'd seen a ghost as his sword slipped free.
"Still on deck ahead. Party link makes 'em hazy in our vision, but visible."
Isabel explained to the shocked man.
Fwoosh—!!
Kicking off from the bow, my body shot forward like a sprint through the air.
"On deck?"
"......He's gone."
"Come on, before Do-hyun hogs it all. You know? All XP. Even in party, finisher matters for shares."
Jin-su clapped Baek Yiheon's shoulder with a grin.
"Birds of a feather—thinking just like Kim Do-hyun."
Screeech—
That's when it happened. As if answering her mutter, Jin-su on deck drew his Black Bow to full draw.
BOOM—!!!
The sharp arrow screamed off the string, hurtling toward Salt Island at blinding speed.
Thump- thump- thump-
Grom Kyler couldn't calm his racing heart as he watched the docked ship. He'd handled countless commissions, and in PK, few in Dimension World matched his confidence against Lukhap.
Yet this topped any prior tension.
Arena rank 1, Kim Do-hyun. Beyond his character's power, his skill was real—Grom knew it better than anyone.
And......
'Jang Il-mun and G. Basel hid it, but he didn't use his full power against me.'
From intel beaten out of their subordinates, Kim Do-hyun wielded divine beasts and flame spirits.
'Divine beast and spirits? Sounds like a spirit summoner, but with no solid info on spirit arts, how......'
But spirit summoner didn't fit the overwhelming swordplay that tormented him.
'What the hell's his class?'
Grom gritted his teeth, scowling.
"What're you brooding about?"
"......?!?!"
A voice from behind made him whirl in shock.
Shing-
A razor-sharp blade's chill pressed close.
"H-How?!"
My sudden appearance, residual blur fading, left him staring in disbelief.
"Yulmun Family's got great service. Sending such polite guides. Or Lukhap courtesy? Ditch the hits and start a travel agency."
"You mad bastard......!!"
Grom roared, glaring daggers.
"Raaagh!!"
His hidden subordinates dropped stealth, lunging. One beside him swung wildly.
Shwaaang—!!
Thud-!!
No—he tried to.
"Grahhh!!"
Before his blade reached, an arrow from nowhere blew his head clean off.
Thud! Thud! Splatter-!
The faceless puppet crumpled, tumbling down the rocks with a grotesque scream.
"......"
I leveled the shortsword at Grom's paling chin.
Tremble......
His body shook. Fear? He drew his sword, refusing to accept it.
But the chill creeping from his feet wasn't mere terror—it was real frost.
Crack......!
Craaaack......!
Salt Island was a crag of white rocks, named for their salt-like pallor.
"......!!!"
But now Grom saw the white wasn't just stone—it was snow dust.
Exclusive Effect: Frost Ring
Whoooosh—!!
Cold winds blanketed the island. Razor ice spikes erupted, encircling the Lukhap assassins.
"Guhk......! Kheuk!!"
"Krghuk......!!"
They screamed, impaled through limbs, collapsing.
"M-Magic?!"
Grom cried in horror.
"What, didn't Jang Il-mun or Basel mention I use magic?"
"No way......"
Shing-
Ignoring his shock, I slowly drew the Plunder Sword.
"Dunno if Jang Il-mun and Basel told you how they ended up after tangling with me."
Grom's eyes wavered at the blade.