Thunderclap Volley, Prepare!
Aishira's command rang out, and in unison, the hunters at the lair's entrance nocked their arrows.
Chijijijik……!!
"Fire!"
With a sizzling sound, the small orbs attached to the arrowheads—thunderclap grenades—began to burn, trailing black smoke in graceful arcs as they flew.
The North was the least popular starting point for players because it lacked any magical development whatsoever. But the power balance across all starting zones in Dimension World was always set to be roughly equal. In place of weak magic, those who advanced here gained massive boosts to their physical abilities, and they had access to primitive bombs called thunderclap grenades that packed a punch against large monsters.
'Compared to alchemy's refined explosives, they're crude—but their raw power is greater.'
Moreover, the North and South alone produced the class known as secret technique master, a mage substitute capable of crafting all sorts of unique attack items.
BOOM-!!BOOM-!!KWAAAAANG---!!
The thunderclap grenades launched by the hunters slammed into the lair's entrance and detonated with unimaginable force.
'At least equivalent to a 4th-class spell's attack power. And since it's pure physical damage from explosives rather than magic... no wonder the North is called the land of hunters.'
I watched as the thunderclap volley instantly collapsed the lair's entrance, lost in thought.
'If memory serves, the finest thunderclap grenades from the North rival 5th-class magic in power. By the time I was conquering the North, the civil war had ended, and they'd burned through most of their stock...'
But not now. Hunting season hadn't even started, so every tribe was sitting on massive stockpiles.
'Once players level up and time passes, 5th-class magic-level power won't mean much. But right now, it's terrifying destructive force.'
Plus, while mages in the game struggled with accuracy despite target correction systems—requiring constant effort to land spells—the Northern hunters started with precise marksmanship as an innate trait, making them far more accurate.
'War is all about timing. In the early game, a thunderclap volley like this—equivalent to dozens or hundreds of attack spells—is at its most effective.'
I had a gut feeling that Northern hunters' thunderclap volleys would be a huge asset when pushing into the central regions after the North.
But the monster's roar echoing from the lair made me tense up, staring into the darkness. Whether pushing central or not, what mattered now was hunting the beast before us.
'Survive and get back first.'
Players could revive despite penalties, but I couldn't afford to take death lightly. Not like in the dreams. Death was death. I never wanted to feel that horrific, filthy sensation again.
Kwak-
I gripped Amur's shortsword tighter.
'We'll do this.'
My pounding heart felt less like fear and more like excitement—an irony.
When tackling the Sword Tomb, I'd leaned heavily on Kael's power. It wasn't exaggeration to say he'd swept the goblins with his overwhelming level and strength.
But this was different.
'I have to cut its throat myself.'
Not some goblin trash—a dragon. Dimension World's strongest monster.
As if to crush my resolve, a piercing roar shattered the collapsed entrance bricks, sending them exploding outward.
"Everyone to positions!! Lurers, hold your ground!!"
Through the thick dust cloud from Aishira's shout emerged the massive face of the white dragon.
Kwajik-!!
Its long neck twisted grotesquely like a serpent, snatching a hunter on the cliff by the waist in its enormous jaws.
"Uwaaaak!"
Wooduduk……!!
The vivid sound of bones snapping rang out, and the screaming hunter's waist bent in a vicious kiyeok shape.
⊳ Attack Squad Member Kalbako (Lv.45) has died.
⊳ (54/55)
Spitting out the mangled corpse, the white dragon slowly raised its head to glare at the hunters. A dragon's speed—too fast to even react.
"Kuh!?"
As it bellowed with jaws agape, the hunters instinctively faltered.
"......Get it together!!!"
"Move, now!!"
"Tribes to hunting formation!!"
They could've panicked after losing a comrade in seconds, but the tribe leaders overcame the roar and shouted.
"Take command!"
Kawara yelled at me. Maybe I was the distracted one.
'Even seeing it again, that spine-chilling presence.'
Lv.100 Spirit Devourer White Dragon Lanselro. Its name floated blood-red above its head, captivating me. The highest-level Legendary monster in existence. Compared to it, I was utterly weak.
That must be why—staring at Lanselro froze my body involuntarily.
Kwang-!!
I slammed my fist into my thigh with all my might.
'Can't cower like a fool.'
The throbbing pain finally loosened the tension in my legs.
"Listen up! It can't fly, so lure it down into the gorge. Lurers, distract its attention now—hunters on the cliffs, target the brow in unison!!"
Shwaaaaak---!!
Then—a warm breeze blew, oddly gentle amid the blizzard and gorge chill.
First Dungeon Hunter Title Effect Triggered!
Hunters calm in the blowing breeze.
Leadership over friendly hunters within 50m radius increases. Hunters will now obey your commands.
Fear reduced; hunters within 50m radius maintain cool heads.
All hunter stats within 50m radius +5.
Lemon-yellow light particles flickered around the cliff-hanging hunters, appearing and vanishing.
"Commence firing!!"
At Kawara's shout, arrows rained down on the white dragon.
'Didn't expect a title buff.'
I smirked faintly at the unexpected luck and charged toward it.
"Retreat fast!!"
"Thunderclap mines, ignite!"
The hunters moved with machine-like precision, as if the fear had never touched them. Top-tier monsters like dragons had a fear effect in their roars alone, stiffening bodies. High fear dropped stats, making massive foes even harder.
'Worthy of a Heroic title.'
No trace of terror on their faces.
"Detonate!!!"
As the white dragon followed the lurers into the gorge, buried mines erupted.
BOOM!BOOM!KWAAAAANG--!!
Lanselro's colossal body staggered from the thunderclap mines' power. But despite the blast, its sturdy scales remained unscratched.
"Everyone, aim for the brow!!!"
Kwadududuk……!!!
Arrows from both gorges sliced the air toward the white dragon. Ignoring the mines, it kicked off the cratered ground and lunged at the lurers.
Kagagagak!! Pajijijik--!!
Then—a spirit powder-coated arrow struck its head, sparking like electricity. Acrid smoke rose, and it screamed.
Writhing like it was burned, it slammed its head into the snow-covered ground, rubbing frantically.
"It's working!!"
"Keep shooting!!!!"
"Don't let it reach Lady Aishira!"
Another spirit arrow pierced its back; smoke rose everywhere, and it reared up roaring.
Kwaaang!Kwagagagang……!!
Its thrashing toppled gorge pillars mercilessly.
"Dodge!!!"
Lurers scattered amid the crumbling columns.
'Aishira.'
But in the smoke, one figure stood unmoving, bow drawn, eyes locked on it.
Pang-!!!
Aishira's arrow rocketed toward the rearing white dragon.
But sensing danger, it whipped its head, batting the arrow away.
Whoooaaaak……!Kwang-!Kwagagagang---!!!
Its massive maw opened, unleashing scorching breath. Snow melted instantly; hunters fled the collapsing pillars.
"F-Failure?"
Kawara gasped involuntarily as Aishira's reverse-scale shot was blocked.
Then—
"Th-There's one more shot!"
Tonpe's exceptional eyesight pierced the dust cloud, spotting something.
"Bait's standard in any hunt."
Aishira bounded across crumbling pillars like stepping stones, drawing on the rampaging Lanselro's neck. She'd predicted it would block, knowing the spirit arrow's power. Her previous shot wasn't powdered.
Kwadudududuk---!!!
Aishira (NPC) focuses on target.
Hawk Eye Lv10 used!
Precise Marksmanship Lv7 effect activated!
Aishira (NPC)'s accuracy increases.
Aishira (NPC) casts Wedge Arrow Lv4.
A razor-sharp vortex swirled at her arrow's tip—flash! It streaked with a sonic boom toward Lanselro, the true spirit arrow.
Pajijijik-!!
Her arrow buried into the reverse scale with ferocious speed.
Arrow Penetration Lv3 effect activated!
The instant it hit, jjjeojeok……! Cracks spiderwebbed across the scale.
The arrow shattered on impact, unable to overcome the scale's strength—but spirit powder seeped through the cracks into its body. The dragon's massive frame shuddered like lightning-struck, then toppled forward.
"It's going down!!"
With Aishira's cry, Lanselro's head smashed into the wall, off-balance. All eyes fixed on the Northern behemoth.
Tadadadot-!!!
And... now it was my turn.