Dragon Assault Sword Style Lv1
Dragon Assault Sword Style Lv1
Iron Kingdom's royal Hendrick family secret technique. Named for how its sword forms resemble a ferocious dragon rampaging. A powerful sword style capable of shattering mountains, with growing power per level and bonus boosts to strength and stamina.
"Jackpot……."
I stared blankly at the skill alert window, at a loss for words.
To learn a sword style without even changing classes…… And a Legendary skill this easily?!
A laugh bubbled up, and I struggled to keep my lips from twitching.
"Hoo…… Hah……."
I took deep breaths to calm my pounding heart.
Maybe it's possible precisely because I haven't changed classes yet. A sword style is literally just a way to wield the sword. If anything, it's close to a basic skill.
There was no reason to hesitate.
Dragon Assault Sword Style is undeniably powerful. Just seeing it's marked Legendary confirms its might. On the continent, the only ones who blocked a strike from it were the killer Max and gladiator Max Roen, at best.
I thought of those two fondly.
Among swordsmen, they were the ones who shook the continent with their fame—true madmen soaked in blood. Especially Max, who wielded a massive greatsword; his ultimate one-strike kill, the Slaughter Sword, was powerful enough to sever a dragon's neck. And Max Roen's Thunderbolt with his dual blades boasted speeds the naked eye couldn't follow.
They had reached the pinnacle of the sword. And even they couldn't overcome Dragon Assault Sword Style, so there was no need to explain the Hendrick family's technique.
It must be one of the top-tier skills in the game too.
Plus, since I'd used it before, it'd be far easier and more intuitive than learning a new one.
If…… if I can really pull skills from my memories like this, does that mean I can steal his abilities for real?
My eyes gleamed as I recalled him again.
Shudder……
At the same time, the horrific memory of his overwhelming strength made my shoulders tremble involuntarily.
The one man who'd dealt the ultimate Dragon Assault Sword Style—me at my peak—a single defeat, even after beating continent's strongest swordsmen Max and Max Roen.
That was when it happened.
The golden alert window blinked temptingly, but as I moved to hit [Accept], my finger froze.
"……."
The thrill of discovering a Legendary skill faded in an instant, replaced by icy chill.
But……
I watched the radiant golden window vanish and let out an unconscious sigh.
No matter how powerful Dragon Assault Sword Style is, I still couldn't beat him with it. Even at its peak, in over ten dream battles, I never won once.
I had to remember that. This was my last chance to defeat the one called Calamity.
Will learning this sword style again let me beat him? Or will it just repeat the same ending?
I needed to be cautious. I couldn't succumb to momentary temptation and follow the path of defeat again.
At that moment, my finger moved.
"Player trends report done? Day two of open beta—most should have their directions by now. Report on the top players migrating from Dimension World 1."
On day two of a normal game, it'd just be crowds in low-level hunting grounds, nothing special.
But in Dimension World, the start was crucial.
Levels could come from hunting or quests eventually, but classes and skills weren't just level-gated.
Hidden classes and hidden skills. Even same class, the stat gap between normal and hidden was massive.
Obviously, at level 10 for first job change, decent players went all-out for hidden classes or skills early.
Average users will just level up, but in Dimension World, job change phases are key. And anyone who played the previous version knows it.
But finding and completing hidden quests from level 1 was nearly impossible without a major clan.
"Most standout is the Eight Great Clans, as expected. America's Los Clan has already maxed favor with the Kartinin family—famed sword house of the Iron Kingdom—to Revered."
"In two days? How?"
The team leader who asked was the one shocked by his subordinate's answer.
"Kartinin built fame through great deeds but is poor and upright, right?"
"Yeah."
"So donating to Iron Kingdom's Kartinin training hall instructors gives minor contribution points. Rerto Karen's leading his clan to funnel donations there."
Han Se-hyun, head of management, let out a disbelieving chuckle.
"Favor from donations is like 0.001 per gold coin, isn't it? They hit Revered like that? Early game, gold's not easy to farm."
"Probably bought with cash."
"……How much are they pouring in?"
"It's Los Clan."
That said it all. Among the Eight Great Clans dominating Dimension World, Los was unrivaled.
Founded by Rerto Karen, CEO of America's top security firm Ros Security, most members were company employees—united beyond cohesion, near-absolute obedience.
"At this rate, they might snag Kartinin's secret quest."
Han Se-hyun nodded.
"Fits Rerto Karen. He was a swordsman class before. Kartinin's hidden class swordsman-related, right?"
"Yes. Iconic Iron Kingdom family. Clear the secret quest chain, and you get Divine Knight, Legendary job leading Kartinin knights."
"Perfect for Rerto Karen's dungeon raids. Clan plus NPC knights—epic scenes galore."
"Yeah, we hoped for it. Los Clan's raid videos alone rack up views. A dungeon-specialized job? Chaos."
"UAE Clan's no slouch in manpower."
A team member monitoring spun his screen toward Han Se-hyun. Odd stats popped, but two names caught his eye.
"Navara Hume and Holston Aman? Don't tell me……."
"Yep. Abu Dhabi's Emir Clan and Dubai's Jumeirah Clan merged."
"Team formed to take down Los Clan this time."
Not in the Eight Greats—eternal runners-up—but top-tier players undisputed.
"Middle East capital's legendary. Merged, their companies alone are insane. Estimated funds top the Eight Greats."
"Really?"
"And they're gunning for full war with Los—same start zone, Iron Kingdom."
"To make waves, topple the king."
"Stock's soaring thanks to it."
Han Se-hyun's eyes sparked with interest.
"Progress?"
"Standout: high favor with royal knight captain Hamalga family. Los went popular-with-masses Kartinin; UAE's targeting the throne directly."
"One folk hero swordsmen house, other king's inner circle…… Fun rivalry."
"Yes. Hamalga has Legendary hidden class Guard Knight. Plus Heroic skills as Balga Hamal's disciple. Unlike Kartinin, plenty Heroic hiddens too."
"Hmm……."
"No hidden quest yet, but sub-quests boost favor easier than Los. Noble house, so donations work too."
"Dumped billions in dollars already. Exchange rates are wild."
"……Insane."
He'd expected it, but the reports left him speechless.
"Markets in frenzy. Not Dimension World influencing the world—world's absorbed into it."
Han Se-hyun nodded. In the ops room packed with hundreds of monitors, it felt like overlooking the world.
Success again.
Days ago, shutting down hot Dimension World 1 for a reboot seemed impossible.
Even when the boss decided, I thought disaster……
But it exploded in popularity. Memory perks minimized backlash; users jumped from 1.5 billion to 1.6 in two days.
"So those three lead for hidden classes?"
"A few more sniffing around, but mostly Eight Greats. Will summarize other clans."
"Got it. Kinda boring though……."
"Pardon?"
Reports were stellar, but Han Se-hyun hid his disappointment.
"Hidden quests aren't easy, but clans are just buying through. Means only majors get them now."
"Info edge and early access…… UAE alone's plenty hype, no?"
"Eh, predictable. Need a star player shining solo for real fun."
One name flashed in his mind: the user dominating arenas despite Eight Greats' offers.
"Kim Do-hyun? What's he up to?"
Swordsman senses turned mage class into hidden-class gold sans clan.
Something's there. He won't play vanilla.
Han Se-hyun urgently searched Kim Do-hyun's logs.
"Huh……?"
"What is this?"
He stared at the screen in disbelief.
"……Nothing?"
Kim Do-hyun's info: zilch special. Only oddity—Northern Plateau start.
"Others scramble for hiddens day one, he's just farming levels?"
"Yes. If anything, early PK history from player friction. Arena player vibe…… But tribal free-duel zone, no Murderer mark."
"Hmm……."
Han Se-hyun smacked his lips in regret.
With billions online, PK was routine—no news.
"Even Kim Do-hyun can't compete this time."
Clans backed by corps and sponsors vs. solo? David vs. Goliath—impossible.
"Focus Eight Greats for now. Gather all the hype. Need it for next game news segment."
"Yes, sir!"
Han Se-hyun nodded, closed Kim Do-hyun's tab, and turned from the monitor.
……Screwed up.
Skill registration canceled.
Canceled skill erased from records.
Empty slot available for new skills later. Special conditions may allow recall.
Did I do the right thing?
As the alert vanished, anxiety hit hard.
Was kicking away luck like a vine-wrapped gift dumb, when another Legendary might never come?
No.
I shook my head to dispel the doubt.
Dragon Assault Sword Style can't beat him anyway. And I know it best. Learning it locks out magic skills. Can't waste mana perk.
Choice for higher peaks. No regrets now.
Plus, learning Iron Kingdom swordplay in Northern Plateau? Looks buggy to GMs.
Decision made, no more dwelling.
Skill slots limited. Must curate strongest known skills carefully. Dragon Assault's just second-best sword skill I know.
First step. Just one level up.
Competitors growing now; he coiling somewhere too.
Time to level, not brood.
I looked up. Sky reddening toward dusk—night still far.
"Huh?"
Snowfall hunting ground, bustling moments ago, now just me.
"Where'd everyone go?"
Probably fled my fight.
Thud…… Thud…… Thud…….
I smirked at oblivious monsters scampering about.
Day one crowds for one mob; now my private field.
Shing—
I slowly drew my sword.