White Swamp? Are You Insane?
Black Eye's voice trembled. "White Swamp...? Are you in your right mind?"
"In your right mind? What happened to all that talk about your kin just moments ago? Can't hold your tongue around your master, huh?"
[Or maybe the White Swamp changed after I died? Do you even know what's in there?]
"Of course."
Black Eye let out an incredulous scoff at my response. [Even if I grant you mastering Chil-ya, you've only got the fourth form at best. And even at full power, you can only pull it off twice. Against the old monster of the White Swamp, Chil-ya's fourth form is laughable.]
"Didn't you say no one can match Chil-ya?"
[Don't dodge the point. That's for perfected Chil-ya. The old monster isn't some pushover you can beat with just one out of seven forms.]
The old monster of the White Swamp. The server had only been open a short time, so mapping wasn't even complete—virtually no one knew about it.
The continent of Dimension World could be described as a massive basin called the central Narita, with the Northern Plateau to the north, the Land of Savages to the south, the Deus Union to the east, and the duchies to the west.
That made Narita Basin the heart of all wars between the factions.
'Those who seize Narita seize the continent,' the saying went.
As the continent's core, Narita sat at every crossroads leading to the surrounding powers. Seizing it meant claiming ownership of the ancient ruin known as the Flying Fortress within.
'It's no ordinary ruin like other dungeons with relics. It's a perfect fortress, easy to defend, and holding it lets you disrupt enemy movements on a massive scale.'
Why hadn't anyone claimed this vital spot yet? Because of the White Swamp that made even Black Eye uneasy, enveloping the Flying Fortress in death.
While battling enemies in the war-torn basin, pushing into the swamp was no easy feat.
The swamp's ruler, the old monster said to have lived a millennium: Crocodile Turtle, Kuntaka. Limited to the swamp, it wielded dragon-level power.
So Black Eye's shock at my plan to head there was understandable.
"I'm not going for fun either. You're right—it looks like suicide right now."
[You know that and still...?]
"That's exactly why I'm going."
[......Hm?]
I met Black Eye's gaze with a faint smile. "I know the White Swamp better than anyone."
How could I forget? I'd gone there multiple times in the past to perfect Yong-gong Geom-sik.
'The first time I pacified Narita Basin and led troops into the swamp was in my second loop dream.'
I recalled the memory. In the clueless first loop, I hadn't even unified the continent.
'I was just as green then. Conquered Narita Basin but failed the swamp. I'd never hunted dragons, let alone large monsters.'
The first encounter was still vivid. A shell hard as a mountain. A reptilian roar like a dragon's. Legs like unbreakable ancient trees, a tail thick as an iron mace.
'Pathetic—I froze and collapsed at the sight. It took until the fifth loop to stab my sword into its neck.'
By the eighth loop, I'd soloed the White Swamp.
Step by step, I'd advanced, grown stronger.
'Until I met the Calamity.'
Crunch—Thinking of it made me grind my teeth unconsciously.
'Compared to that thing, the White Swamp's old monster is nothing. My first solo kill there was after mastering 10 of Yong-gong Geom's 15 forms.'
Factoring in form difficulty and time, that equated to around level 80 in Dimension World terms.
A chill ran through me, goosebumps rising at the memory.
The White Swamp's difficulty was over twice my current level—practically impossible.
"...Perfect for training."
I murmured softly with a wry smile.
'The swamp's beasts are prey I've hunted before. Unlike the impregnable Calamity I could never beat, no matter the tactic.'
An opponent I'd felled once. No reason I couldn't do it again.
'Besides, brute force won't work on it. Even a level 100 swordsman would struggle to crack that thick shell with raw strength. What it takes isn't power.'
But the overwhelming level gap meant a graze from its tail would be instant death, even knowing the strategy.
'Honestly, for safe central expansion, I'd level elsewhere first, build power...'
Too slow. It'd just repeat the path to ruin.
'To complete the world quest with Chil-ya before the Calamity hits, I must meet him in Sandorim Forest, no matter what.'
That's why I chose the White Swamp as my next stop, risks be damned.
'To meet the one in Sandorim Forest, I have to conquer the White Swamp. Otherwise, he won't even see me.'
Through repeated defeats and frustrations, amid shifting futures, one iron rule remained: the Calamity's arrival.
'Three years game time. Three months real time.'
Not long.
Whether the continent unified, dragons fell, religions rose with cults rampant, beastkin rebelled sparking brutal wars with the tomb race...
Regardless of human history or continental events, the Calamity would come on schedule.
A game with a hard time limit. Humanity's preparation within it was the ultimate goal.
'But...'
All from my dreams—and without certainty it'd happen in Dimension World, who would believe this wild tale?
The answer was clear.
'No point explaining or recruiting one by one. Rise to the top and make them follow.'
That was the throne's power, a ruler's duty.
Squeeze—I gripped Tesaro's sword.
[You've got something up your sleeve, then.]
Black Eye addressed me. [I don't know what, but... fine. I've decided to follow you, so I won't block your choice. Kin exist to act, not just advise.]
I nodded at his words.
[But how do we get to the White Swamp? Walking to the central continent would take months.]
"Simple. Got it from the Karun Tribe before arriving at the Kalun Tribe. A teleport stone you get after finishing the tutorial starting area."
[Tutorial? Fascinating. Someone in the magic-less north had that?]
Black Eye stared, baffled.
I gave a wry smile at his question. Natural for an NPC.
"Just call it a perk for outsiders."
I shrugged.
Depart from the starting point? Your first return point is set to the Kalun Tribe where your character was created. You can change return points later at magic hubs with teleport circles.
Unlike other teleport stones, the starter one had no fixed destination. Abuse potential existed, but low levels limited options, and being soulbound made it untradeable—no risk to game flow.
Instead, as time passed, explorers used them to scout new areas and share info on communities—far more benefit than exploits.
'Most players head to player hubs after starters, aside from a few adventurers.'
Places like Amslanding in the Iron Kingdom, Lisal in the duchy, or White Gate fortress in the north.
Heading to a high-level zone right after leaving the starter area was absurd.
[A fresh hunter's next prey is the White Swamp's old monster... No warrior in history matches you.]
"Just the old monster?"
[Hm?]
"Started with a dragon. A turtle's nothing."
[Kukuku...]
I crushed the teleport stone in my grip amid Black Eye's laughter.
Crack!—It shattered with a crisp sound, followed by the alert.
Teleport stone activated. Beware of headaches or nausea.
Teleporting to White Swamp.
The first teleport stones after graduating starters caused a huge stir back then.
Space travel had been commercial for years but remained rich folk territory; even supercars were pipe dreams for most.
In that world, virtual or not, teleporting across space felt like hurtling at insane speeds.
Surrounded by light, landscapes flashing by in an instant—indescribable without experiencing it.
"Hoo..."
I exhaled, lungs burning like I'd sprinted kilometers.
[Wh-what was that?]
Black Eye, who'd never experienced it, sounded dumbfounded.
'No wonder. Normal summons or tames don't talk, so how would he know.'
I found Black Eye's reaction amusing. NPCs stuck to regions and lines; seeing their emotions shift was rare.
"You'll see plenty more to shock you."
I said lightly, brushing past him.
Bubble... bubble... A massive black swamp bubbled, rotten stench assaulting my nose, as if wary of intruders.
Shing—I slowly drew my sword.
[Grrrrrr...]
A sharp ring answered by growls from trees densely lining the swamp.
Whoosh! Black Eye shook off his daze, swelling with savage flames toward dozens of glaring eyes, warning them.
[Hunting time.]