Chapter 46: Descent into the White Swamp
As if the stage had gone dark and lights suddenly flooded in, a notification window appeared the moment they entered the swamp.
[Entered the White Swamp.]
“……Hmm?”
At that moment, Kim Do-hyun felt a strange sense of dissonance, like he'd forgotten something.
🏛 Dungeon Grade:Rare
⚔ Entry Level Requirement:Level 25+
Description: A massive black swamp enveloping the secrecy of Narita Basin in the heart of the continent. Don't be fooled by the name into thinking it's a white-colored swamp—it's called the White Swamp because a hundred different types of monsters inhabit it. It's one of the forbidden zones where no one is known to have entered the swamp and returned alive.
💀 Discoverers So Far:1
The notification appeared as soon as he stepped into the dungeon entrance, revealing the source of that odd feeling from moments ago.
'No First Discoverer perk?'
Just like when he'd entered the Sword Lord's Tomb, he'd assumed it would be there as a matter of course—but it wasn't.
'That's weird. If this were a beginner zone, maybe, but this is the central basin that even mid-level players don't visit...'
He couldn't help being surprised that someone had arrived at the White Swamp before him.
“Hmmm……”
In a situation with only one discoverer and no First Discoverer perk, there were two possibilities.
The first was if the dungeon's boss monster had been cleared, turning it into an open dungeon.
'But judging by the respawn state of the monsters, it doesn't look like the dungeon's been cleared...'
Monsters respawned after time, but unless the dungeon itself reset after a full clear, traces of battle wouldn't vanish.
Yet the monsters at the swamp's entrance were untouched, with no signs of combat anywhere.
'If the discoverer fails to clear it and dies inside, the First Discoverer perk disappears. Then it applies anew to the next discoverer.'
But unless someone like him, who'd succeeded in multiple hidden pieces, no one stepping into the White Swamp right now could survive.
In other words...
'Someone's still alive inside the dungeon...'
He wondered who could have found this place before him.
'Just coincidence? With only one discoverer, it doesn't seem like a party... How many people could survive solo in the White Swamp anyway?'
He ran through a mental list of candidates.
Like Rerto Karen, called the strongest in Dimension World 1 and leader of a massive clan, or those like him who enjoyed arena fights—there were also players who relished bizarre playstyles like exploration and ruin discoveries.
'Red Emperor Moro, Angler Nachel, Mysterious Transporter Baek Yiheon, and others... There are a few possibles, but this isn't late-game yet. With leveling being crucial, would anyone really risk an adventure like this?'
He furrowed his brow slightly.
If there was some unavoidable reason forcing them to seek a high-level dungeon despite the risks...
'Hidden class.'
That was the only explanation that made sense.
“I doubt there's a class specifically tied to the White Swamp... Could be part of a linked quest. Whatever—whoever it is...”
He gazed at the approaching monsters and murmured in a low voice.
“Anyone who touches my prey won't get away with it.”
Scang—!!!
His sword moved on instinct.
Kagagak……! Kak……!
Tesaro's blade sliced straight through the jaws of a massive crocodile monster lunging at him.
“……”
Was it thanks to the recent sword specialization trait? He felt his grip on the sword had become even more solid.
But more fundamentally, the draw itself came even faster.
Whether using skills or basic attacks, focus was a prerequisite for striking an enemy.
Maintaining stance during combat demanded immense mental stamina—a player issue not reflected in the system's stamina, mana, or vitality stats.
Yet moments ago, his sword's motion felt utterly flawless, as if no blind spots existed, perfectly sensing the monster's attack.
'...Because of the Formless trait?'
He'd struck its vital point precisely, ending it in one effortless blow without fatigue.
Neat.
Black Eye commented on his attack.
Hwaruruk—!!
As he reached up, flames above his head morphed into a massive greatsword.
“Good. As your familiar, I must fulfill my duty. I can't just stand by watching my master fight.”
“Music to my ears.”
This was his first time seeing Black Eye hunt in action. He was curious just how capable the Sin-su body was as a summon.
'Familiars share experience with their master. They allow solo party play, but the common view is that no matter how strong, familiars can't surpass NPC limits.'
That was why summoner or tamer classes weren't popular among players.
“If you don't pull your weight, I'll unsummon you without mercy.”
“Kekeke……”
Black Eye remained unfazed by the threat.
“I've lost much of my former power since becoming a Sin-su body, but experience will more than make up for it. Plus, there are a few new abilities I gained that I've been itching to test.”
He and Black Eye shared the common ground of having experienced Dimension World, albeit in the past and dreams of different worlds.
One might dismiss it as irrelevant for a familiar's combat, but it was actually a huge advantage.
Typical spirits or summons followed fixed commands like attack, defend, or evade from their master.
But that command structure was inherently half a beat slow, limiting utility in fast-paced raids or arenas.
'Black Eye, having been human, is different.'
He could think and fight independently, surpassing that with even greater hunting knowledge than Kim Do-hyun.
Kikik……! Kikikikik……!!
Dozens of sharp-beaked birds burst from the giant trees encircling the swamp.
Slightly larger than pigeons, with head crests and venomous beaks—flying monsters, Kukans.
Flududuk……! Fludududuk……!!
'C-grade monsters around level 40.'
He quickly scanned the surroundings.
Low-level for a dungeon entrance, but dangerous in a flock.
“Kraaaah!!!”
Kwang!! Kwaang!! Kwagagang—!!!
Black Eye slammed his Sin-su power-forged greatsword into the ground with full force.
[Black Eye has activated Crowd Control Lv4.]
[All hostile entities within a 10m radius have slowed movement.]
[Kukans fall into panic.]
The birds, wings flapping furiously for attack, shuddered like they'd been electrocuted.
Tuk— Hududuk—!!
Some lost control, stumbling and crashing to the ground.
“Hup……!!”
Black Eye charged the trembling Kukans.
[Black Eye has activated Focus Lv3.]
[Attack success rate increases.]
[Black Eye has activated Insight Lv4.]
[Kukan weaknesses identified.]
Hwarururuk……!!
Each blue-flamed sword arc shattered Kukan heads, tore wings to shreds, and scattered feathers everywhere.
Seogeok—
He didn't miss a single flailing, wingless one, severing their breaths one by one.
'Level 1 taking down level 40 Kukans that easily... This is cheat-level in a whole other way.'
He almost laughed in disbelief.
A dozen or so Kukans turned to corpses in seconds, and Black Eye leveled up for the first time from level 1.
“Hmm……”
Unlike Kim Do-hyun, awed by the overwhelming strength, Black Eye wore a dissatisfied, peculiar expression.
“What's wrong?”
“I'd suspected it after becoming a Sin-su body... Seems I was right.”
“Hm?”
“I can no longer use Chil-ya.”
He gave a wry smile.
“Strange feeling... It's in my mind, but I can't manifest it.”
Revived not as his former self Gullak but through a Sin-su orb, he'd inherited traits from life, but swordsmanship skills hadn't carried over.
'Technically, becoming a Sin-su body is like a class change.'
Sometimes after second job change, old first-job skills became unusable depending on the class—so Chil-ya was likely system-blocked for him.
But as a non-player, he couldn't grasp that.
“Regrettable, but unavoidable. Just as I shed Gullak's name, Chil-ya must find a new master.”
His words rang hollow with regret, which Kim Do-hyun caught.
“I'll carry on the Chil-ya legacy, so don't worry.”
He replied calmly, hiding his feelings, then began slicing beaks from the Kukans Black Eye had killed with his dagger.
“Let's see……”
He gathered the severed beaks on a rock and crushed them with the flat of his blade.
Eudeuduk!
Thanks to extra points into strength post-first job change, crushing them was effortless.
He gutted the Kukans, stuffing the powdered beaks into their lungs.
“Should be growing around here somewhere……”
He pulled and mashed fern-like plants from around the swamp.
He botched a few lungs early on without strength control, but soon got the hang of it.
By the tenth lung pouch...
[Perfectly butchered the Kukan.]
[Acquired skill: Butchery Lv1.]
[Effect: Increases success rate when skinning beasts and handling entrails.]
With the new skill, he neatly stored the pouches in his inventory.
“Hmm... Kukans have venomous beaks. Making Hornbeak Powder?”
Black Eye asked, watching.
“Exactly.”
“Impressive. I've only seen the finished product—first time watching it made.”
“This is a crude version. True Hornbeak Powder needs nineteen ingredients mixed in. But since Kukan beaks are the main component, it'll have similar effects.”
He held the last lung pouch.
'Originally, the formula was developed by Illeon, the duchy’s alchemist...'
So what? Not using known tech would be foolish.
“Hmm... Hornbeak Powder is potent paralysis poison, but alligator turtle skin is too tough for it to penetrate...”
“Right. Useless as paralysis against the alligator turtle. But there's a problem before that.”
He lifted the pouch and walked slowly toward the swamp.
“To reach its lair, we cross this swamp—but the monsters living in it need dealing with first.”
Bubgle……. Bubgle…….
Gazing at the bubbling, boiling-like swamp, he said,
“I'll use this here.”
“Sprinkle it in the swamp? The powder just dissolves in water.”
“Opposite.”
He hurled the powder-filled lung pouch into the swamp with all his might.
That instant—
Kwaaaaaang—!!!!
Like igniting oil, massive flames erupted across the White Swamp's surface.
“Hornbeak Powder works like this too. Shock it in a sealed space, and it explodes. Unlike normal swamps, the White Swamp is volatile, keeping flames afloat—and those aren't just fire damage; they're toxic too.”
[Kehek……! Kek!!]
[Kueeeeh—!!]
Hearing screams from all around, he pulled out two more pouches and flung them hard into the swamp.
Kwaang—! Kwang—!! Kwagagagang—!!
Amid deafening explosions, swamp monsters charred black and thrashed.
[20 Swamp Alligators killed by explosion damage.]
[9 Poison Toads killed by flame damage.]
[14 Wooden Beetles killed by poison damage.]
He spoke softly to Black Eye, who stared at the burning swamp with a dumbfounded look.
“Follow me.”