Chapter 60: The Sword of Plunder
"Gah...!! Guhkk!!"
Twisting his blade deep into the shoulder of the last surviving Yukhap assassin, the man shuddered with a scream. As Kim Do-hyun yanked the sword free, the assassin collapsed to the ground without even a final plea for mercy.
Tsssseee...!!
His body turned pitch black in an instant, crumbling into ash that scattered on the wind.
Even after repeating this several times, he'd come to appreciate the system settings. With sensitivity maxed out, wounds bled realistically red—but players turning to ash upon death? A blessing, really. Staring at corpses in the endless battles ahead would have been a grim affair.
"Ugh...".
Nam-gung Yun, however, flinched every time a sword pierced an enemy, as if he were the one wounded.
...How can anyone fight like that?
But the prickling sensation wasn't just from empathizing with the enemies' pain.
"What're you doing?"
Kim Do-hyun glanced at the ashes where the bodies had vanished and called out to him.
"Pick up the items."
"Ah, y-yes! Right away!!"
Nam-gung Yun snapped out of his daze, scrambling to gather the loot.
Only then did Kim Do-hyun let out a quiet sigh.
"Pretty exhausting, huh."
Of course it is. Facing over ten foes alone—what would be strange is if you didn't feel worn out.
Black Eye chuckled at his words.
It had been ages since he'd tangled with such numbers. And unlike the arena, where he'd unleashed battle magic, wielding a sword again felt rusty too.
"Still, the harvest was good."
His gaze settled on the sword Grom Kyler had left behind.
◈ Durability: 75/100
◈ Attack Power: 100
◈ Memory privilege granted to the plunderer Grom Kyler. Cursed blade that triggers Plunder's Wail on successful hits, with a chance to seize another's body.
◈ Plunder's Wail targets only the body.
◈ Skill: Plunder's Wail (Deactivated)
◈ Reputation may fluctuate based on faction when using the sword. Hostile to forces opposing the Lord of Death's power—affinity decreases.
◈ Warning: Activates between 5-10 strikes after every 5 strikes.
◈ Warning: Plunder's Wail usable up to 9 times per day.
Hmm. Usage limit, huh. No wonder it didn't trigger while I was mopping up the rest...
Only after finishing them off and reading the description did he nod.
"...".
Compared to Tesaro's sword, its attack power was about 70 lower, and as a shortsword, its reach was awkward. But Plunder's Wail—stealing bodies outright—had uses beyond mere item grabs.
Normal blades cause bleeding damage unless healed.
That was why he'd cut his own hand for the sword's ascetic trait boost.
But this sword severs perfectly clean, like the limb never existed. No bleed.
Seem trivial? The difference was huge.
In war, restraining high-rankers alive is tough, even with bindings.
Cutting off limbs to immobilize them led to constant HP drain from bleeding.
That means guards to watch and healers to mend—simultaneously.
Dimension World's recovery split into medicine (slows HP loss on big wounds, imperfect) and magic (full heal, but mends tissue completely).
With this sword, no bleed—secure prisoners without escape risk.
Ridiculous, but his first thought seeing Grom's blade was wartime tactics.
Mutsa won't sit idle hearing I took this. Shame about losing White Swamp perks, but...
Time to move.
"What's the plan now? Think Yukhap's really dropping pursuit, like your bro said?"
Nam-gung Yun, loot collected, asked as the ashes faded.
"Grom's probably losing his mind, but he won't chase rashly. The other Six Generals, aiming to crush him, will focus on building their own forces without Mutsa's orders."
"No issues then!"
Nam-gung Yun sighed in relief, his worry evident.
"Problem's Mutsa himself. Stalker type—he might hunt us solo, obsessively."
"Huh? No way the clan master moves alone, ditching his men."
Kim Do-hyun smirked, picturing Mutsa across the strait.
"You don't get Yukhap's structure. It's not a single clan like the Eight Greats. Mutsa belongs nowhere."
"What? Meaning?"
"Told you before—the Six Generals follow him, each with their own forces. Yukhap's just their alliance name. Mutsa sits above, unbound."
"So he's a solo player leading Yukhap?"
"Exactly."
Nam-gung Yun let out a disbelieving laugh.
"What if rebellion? Clans exist partly for master authority."
"He doesn't need it."
"...Huh?"
Nam-gung Yun tilted his head, confused. Kim Do-hyun patted his shoulder.
"No point digging. Ask your sister if curious."
He split the loot evenly, handing Nam-gung Yun his share.
"Anyway, time to split. Think on my request. If she's in, no set meet spot."
"Got it."
Nam-gung Yun nodded, pocketing items.
"I'm skipping Land of Savages—heading straight to Deus Union."
"White Swamp quest? Returning could class you into Spellwarper."
"Sorry, bro... Need more time. Plus, sister's there."
"Hmm."
Kim Do-hyun nodded. If he'd ditched the quest on the spot, he'd be disappointed.
Dimension World was VR reality—another world. Trust in play mattered, but blind faith? No idiots wanted.
He'd noticed Nam-gung Yun's gaze shift after witnessing his prowess.
Time to twist why he'd picked Explorer.
If you just want Hidden Eater level, Spellwarper's fine. To surpass her—reach what she can't.
Combat, he figured.
"Crunch numbers. Hunt White Swamp more if you want, but avoid Mutsa. First discoverer perks are yours anyway."
Nam-gung Yun nodded.
"And this."
"...?"
"One favor. In Deus Union, find Cain and Ajet. Give them this—I'll tip them off."
He pulled a keyring from inventory.
"Just this?"
"Yeah. No explanations needed. I'll handle rest."
"Understood."
Trade of 'Hwanrok Altar Keys' with Nam-gung Yun completed.
Black Eye queried as Nam-gung Yun took the keys.
Not impossible he'd swallow them. But if so, my judgment of his character was off—blame my eyes.
[Bold or reckless? Preaching distrust, yet handing over hard-won relic keys casually.]
Black Eye, knowing this world's past, seemed aware of the altar keys' purpose.
"Uh... where to find you, bro?"
Thwack—
He tossed the bracelet from Grom's severed arm.
"I'll find you."
Days later, communities erupted again.
Not just a hidden ranker's debut—the untouchable Yukhap assassins, annihilated.
In the central wilds, beyond casual player reach, the news spread like wildfire.
Dozens of threads popped up.
The fog shrouding White Swamp had drawn players mistaking it for a disaster. Investigating, they overheard Yukhap remnants—spilling the tale.
Yukhap's fall was gossip fodder.
But not just defeat—Dimension World 2's Eight Great Clans had seemed unbreakable.
Mid-tier clans, overshadowed, latched onto the comet-like rise. Hidden ranker + Yukhap's smash sparked hopes: downfall of the mighty.
They overlooked: one strongman's fall heralds another's rise.
Mid-tiers couldn't leash what even Eight Greats couldn't.
"Hoo...".
World buzzed, but Kim Do-hyun eyed the bizarre forest ahead.
Sandorim Forest.
Tssshhh...!!
Steam hissed from somewhere.
Finally...
Staring at the "forest"—a colossal ruin bristling with steel beams—he thought.
The world quest's true beginning.