The Shaveliger Intruder
"Hmm……."
When the tent flap of the barracks was pulled back, revealing Grom's bewildered face, I couldn't help but smirk.
'As expected, the guy's here.'
I had no idea what he'd do this time, but judging by his martial prowess alone among Yukhap's Six Great Powers, he ranked around second or third in the previous game. Strong, no doubt.
'But power isn't always about raw strength.'
In some ancient era of warlords, maybe—but if Grom was a beast, the rest of Yukhap's Six Great Powers were foxes riding atop those beasts.
'The dirty work always falls to you, huh? Perfect. A great chance to test out Chil-ya.'
"You bastards……."
Grom Kyler stepped out of the barracks, glaring at us. With each heavy footfall—thud!!—the ground seemed to groan under his weight, even though it was just footsteps.
"……."
Nam-gung Yun instinctively took a half-step back beside me, overwhelmed by the monstrous pressure radiating from the man.
"Bro, you really gonna fight that monster?"
He whispered cautiously in my ear.
"I know you're amazing now, but…… Yukhap are pros at killing people. Hunting and PK are totally different……."
Who was worrying about whom? But his voice was genuine, so I chuckled at his words.
"Yukhap was impressive back in Dimension World 1. This is a different game now."
I gave Nam-gung Yun's shoulder a light pat.
'Black Eye, what do you make of that guy's class?'
"It's hot as hell, and that stuffy outfit covering his face screams Yulmun Family. The higher the rank in Yulmun, the less markings on the body. But that guy's covered in them, so probably just a low-rank Suras at best."
Grom, who had emerged from the barracks, was clad in black assassin robes that shrouded his entire body like a shadow. Three white lines were etched across his shoulders.
I nodded at Black Eye's assessment.
'A low-rank Suras should be manageable. Yukhap's no joke, though—true to their info-gathering rep. Or maybe it's Mutsa who's impressive…… Using Yulmun Family's island as a base, even though it's not a starting point.'
I knew Yulmun Family's power well. Back in my dreams of conquering the continent, they'd tormented me in their own special way.
They mastered a unique breathing technique called poison arts, undetectable even by mana sense, making them hell to track.
'Perfect base for Yukhap.'
Yulmun's patriarch, Galrung, was a snake of a man. His island lay beyond the continent's straits, yet their influence snaked across the land.
Mutsa was no slouch either—a schemer on par. Snake meets wildcat.
I couldn't help thinking Mutsa and Yulmun might mesh better than Rerto Karen with Eltia Iron Kingdom's Kartinin family.
'Without me, they might've actually tripped up the Eight Great Clans this time.'
But at the thought, I pursed my lips.
Mutsa wouldn't get his shot this time either. Sorry, but not just Yukhap—the Eight Great Clans would all end up under me.
"I asked if it was you bastards."
Grom Kyler growled at me.
"……."
I eyed the sword in his hand. Unusually, the blade of his shortsword gleamed green, unlike a normal sword.
But what caught my attention wasn't the odd blade—it was that he wielded just the one sword.
'Yulmun swordsmanship is dual-wield flying blades. Two daggers and one sword, a unique assassin style. But Grom's only got one sword.'
Made sense. A fresh low-rank Suras like him couldn't have mastered Yulmun techniques yet.
'Needs at least a few more months and level 100 for second job change to unlock Yulmun's hidden classes.'
Meaning even with Yulmun's famed assassin class, he was no different from a generic lowbie killer right now.
'Time's equal for all, but as it passes, they gain the edge. For now, though, I'm ahead.'
So the moves a low-rank like Grom could pull were predictable.
Scang-!!
I ignored his question, snatching a sword dropped by one of Yukhap's downed goons.
"Hmm. Not bad for starter gear. Yulmun quality."
I swung it through the air a few times, testing the balance.
Three days of grinding had worn Tesaro's sword and even Amur's dagger to scraps.
Even with more time, hunting would've been dicey—but eyeing the fallen foes, I nodded in satisfaction.
"Weapons everywhere. No worries for a while."
"Gurk!!"
I stepped over the assassin underfoot and closed in on Grom.
"Grom, cut the crap and relay this to Mutsa: If he wants the Eight Great Clans, hunt down Yulmun's snake first."
"……What?"
Grom scowled, like he couldn't process it.
"Kukuku, no way a small fry like him knows Yulmun's secrets."
Only Black Eye seemed to grasp my meaning, chuckling coldly at Grom's expression.
"Think that'll fly? You dare point a blade at Yukhap and expect to live?!"
As expected, Grom gripped his sword two-handed, kicking off the ground with all his might and charging.
Kwaaaang--!!
Despite the shortsword, his strike packed weight—blocking it sent my legs whoosh! lifting off the ground.
'Masterful form. Third stance, Heavy Chariot.'
My arms throbbed. For an assassin, it was a reckless body-slam charge.
Whoosh-!Kwang!!
Each swing cleaved the air with explosive cracks piercing my ears.
Kaang……!!
The moment my sword met his in a block, it shattered like glass.
"……?!"
Yulmun techniques were strong, but not enough for a low-rank's single blow to pulverize a blade.
"Kukuku…… Don't know where you crawled from, you cocky shit, but you're done."
Grom grinned viciously at the fragments.
Woooong…….
The green blade in his grip quivered like it was laughing.
"Not a normal sword, huh."
Black Eye pointed out Grom's blade.
'Weapon destruction effect? Rare option—hard to find even in regression tiers. Heroic-grade weapon already, and game's barely started?'
I had two Heroic swords myself, so not my place to talk—but for Grom, not Mutsa, it was surprising.
"Bro!!"
Nam-gung Yun snatched a fallen sword and tossed it to me in a panic.
"Where'd you get that sword?"
I caught it and asked Grom.
Not dumb enough for that, though—Grom snorted and charged.
"No need to humor a dead man!"
Kwakwakwang-!!!
His blade arced sharply toward me.
'Hmm…….'
I retreated, kicking up spears and hammers snagging my feet and hurling them at him.
Kang! Kang! Kakang-!Pajik……!!
Grom didn't slow, batting my projectiles aside—every few, one shattered on his blade.
'Breaks regardless of durability. Definitely a weapon destruction item.'
"What the hell are you idiots doing?! Grab him!!"
To test his sword's limits, I widened the gap. My agility outpaced his, frustrating him into a yell.
"Block him!!"
Veins bulging, he bellowed—the goons staggered up and rushed me despite being outmatched.
Wooduk-!!
Yukhap orders were absolute; they threw bare bodies at me anyway.
I flat-smacked the face of one swinging at my back with my sword's flat.
A dull thud—his head snapped back, slamming into the dirt.
Scang……!
I stabbed the nape of the downed goon without hesitation.
"……Guk!"
A death rattle, and his body went limp.
"Still don't get why I left you alive……."
Giant's Martial Prowess effect triggered!
Attack power increased by 5% for 15 seconds.
I eyed the surrounding thugs in a low voice.
Sreuk- With Martial Prowess active, a faint aura coated my blade.
The assassins faltered at their comrade's death—but I charged them instead.
"Kuk?!"
The targeted goon desperately blocked, but the gap was clear from prior clashes.
'Minimum level for White Swamp, sure—but three days chained up means no grinding. Around level 35 at best.'
Our level gap was over 10; with Chil-ya Sword Master bonuses, nearly 20.
Skaang-!!!
I ducked low, slashing up—severing the assassin's shoulder.
"Kaaaaak!!!"
His arm tumbled through the air amid screams, but his pain didn't register.
'7 seconds left.'
Just focus to chain Martial Prowess.
That's why I'd left them breathing.
Giant's Martial Prowess effect triggered!
Attack power increased by 10% for 15 seconds.
"Like fighting kids. This without skills……."
I rammed my sword into the one-armed assassin's gut; the alert chimed, aura thickening on the blade.
"Your swordplay's on another level. Makes me wonder sometimes…… what kind of life have you lived?"
Black Eye's voice held admiration. I gave a wry smile.
'When you've got someone you desperately wanna beat, this happens.'
"You bastard……!!!"
Grom swung at me atop the corpses. Green trails followed his blade, a eerie wail like kaaaak!
A familiar sword cry.
"……I see."
I dodged, nodding as it clicked.
"Grom Kyler. In Dimension World 1, your title was Plunderer, right? Unique skill Shatter…… Got that sword as a title perk?"
First time seeing another's title perk; I eyed his blade with interest.
"So?"
Panting like a wild bull, he spat.
"That sword looks useful."
"……What?"
I told him straight.
"Drop it and get lost."