The system announcement echoed like a thunderclap through the entire Land of Divine Punishment, its words rippling across the vast world and leaving players everywhere stunned.
"Permanent Sword Insignia? Wait… what the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"No way, I've never heard of it!"
"It's been two hundred years since the Land of Divine Punishment descended, and you're telling me there's still some kind of hidden 'Sword Insignia' mechanic in a dungeon?!"
World chat immediately erupted into a frenzy.
"Can some pro please explain this? I'm totally lost here! What even is a Sword Insignia?"
"—From a very sincere level 666 newbie asking for wisdom."
"Level 888 rookie here, also confused."
"Cut it out, you two monsters! If you're both calling yourselves newbies, then what the hell does that make me at level 66, a toddler?"
"Screw this, someone ping the Three Human Emperors already!"
Even ancient human powerhouses—the elusive War God-tier veterans who rarely spoke—were silent in contemplation. A Permanent Sword Insignia? In a dungeon? No one had ever seen such a thing before. Could this be a special privilege tied to Demon-Slayer's unbelievable four-second dungeon clear?
Beneath a twisted, gnarled tree near Wolf King Valley, a warrior with a chipped greatsword resting on his shoulder arched a brow, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Sword Insignia, huh? Says we can observe it?"
Beside him, a slim woman with a voice soft as the wind whispered, "Let's go check it out."
He blinked at her, then chuckled incredulously. "Aline, seriously? This is a starter dungeon. You really think that at our level, watching some rookie's Sword Insignia is going to give us anything worthwhile?"
"Just a quick look," she replied, tone light, her figure almost weightless as she drifted toward the entrance.
"We've got barely two minutes!" the warrior groaned, hurrying to follow.
"Two is more than enough," Aline said calmly, not even looking back.
The moment they arrived, whispers surged through the crowd gathered outside the dungeon gates.
"Holy hell… even the Divine Tactics Legion has shown up?"
"Check those badges—wait, they're from the Godstrike Battalion!"
"No way, the Godstrike Battalion? The legendary spearhead unit that's carved out victory after victory in real wars?"
"Yeah, rumor has it one of the Human Emperors himself rose from their ranks. Anyone who makes it in has at least S-grade talent!"
"Damn… those are real big shots."
As the murmurs spread, players instinctively parted, leaving a clear path for the two elites. Every eye was filled with awe—and a hint of fear. These weren't just gamers. These were living weapons, warriors forged in real battlefields where mistakes meant death.
"Wait a sec… that woman's only level 999? Isn't the entry requirement for Godstrike Battalion 1000?" someone muttered.
"Shut up if you value your life," came a sharp reply.
Aline hesitated for only a fraction of a second before moving on, face calm and unreadable. Without a word, the pair strode up to the NPC, and in a flash of white light, they vanished into the dungeon.
The rules of the Land of Divine Punishment were clear: high-level players could enter low-tier dungeons freely, but they'd get no rewards for it. That was why power-leveling carried no meaning here.
Inside the dark, damp gorge, the warrior glanced sideways at Aline. Years had passed since he last set foot in a beginner dungeon, but nostalgia didn't touch him. Instead, concern weighed heavy on his voice.
"You're really going through with this alone?"
"You already know the answer," Aline murmured, cutting him off.
"There's really no other way to break through?" he pressed, helplessness etched in his tone.
Her gentle eyes clouded with sorrow, her voice a soft sigh. "If there was another way, I wouldn't have been stuck for fifteen long years."
Level 999. Her curse. Her prison.
Two decades ago, she had blazed across the human race like a comet, her hidden class and unmatched talent propelling her to level 999 in only five years. Back then, everyone believed she was destined to rival even the War Gods.
But the year she tried to ascend, she failed. Her hidden class demanded an impossible threshold of Strength attributes for the breakthrough, far beyond what the game's normal progression could offer. To gather more, she needed access to higher-level maps—but the system locked them behind the very breakthrough she couldn't achieve. A perfect, merciless loop.
For fifteen years, she had thrown everything she had at the barrier, even grinding every high-level dungeon she could, searching for an exploit. Every attempt ended in despair.
Now, only one brutal option remained: to venture into the depths of the Nine Netherlands, retrieve a Demon Core Heart, and have a grandmaster alchemist craft a potion strong enough to push her attributes past the limit.
The warrior clenched his fists. "That road is nine deaths and no life. No one's ever come back alive. Are you really sure about this? Aline… with your current power, you could crush anyone under level 1300. You don't need to risk everything!"
Her slender shoulders trembled, but then she lifted her chin and smiled faintly, eyes bright with unshakable resolve.
"I don't want to keep existing like this," she said softly. "So don't try to stop me."
The warrior swallowed hard, finally nodding. "Then I'll respect your choice."
Aline's smile deepened, warm yet tinged with melancholy. "At least I got to see Demon-Slayer, the future Human Emperor, before leaving. No regrets left for me."
"The Sword Insignia's just ahead. Let's go."
"We've got one minute," the warrior warned.
"I know."
And then—BOOM!
Dark mist exploded around her petite frame, swallowing her whole. In the blink of an eye, the sweet-faced girl was gone, replaced by a nightmarish wraith with a long, writhing tail of shadows trailing behind her. Eerie, bone-chilling laughter echoed as deathly aura spilled forth like a tide.
She streaked into the valley depths, a blur of darkness. Wolves and elite silver beasts dropped dead instantly as she passed, their lives snuffed out without a chance to resist.
Barely ten seconds later, the dying wail of the Wolf King boss shook the gorge.
The warrior let out a long, envious breath. "Night Phantom… damn, that class is overpowered."
Moments later, they stood before the stone wall deep within the valley, the Permanent Sword Insignia etched in faint glowing lines. The words carved into the rock read:
"Seeking the Demon God's home address. Urgently."
The two stared in stunned silence.
"…You've gotta be kidding me. This is the legendary Sword Insignia?" the warrior muttered, barely holding back laughter. "All the hype, all the mystery, and it's just this? If I knew where that bastard lived, I'd have sold the info ages ago!"
A system prompt flickered in front of their eyes:
[Enter Observation Mode? Yes / No]
The warrior grumbled but chose Yes.
[Observing…]
[Your deep contemplation has sparked an epiphany. You've comprehended the secrets of a new class path.]
[Congratulations, you've gained a Class Advancement Opportunity!]
His eyes went wide, breath catching in his throat as a thrill shot through his entire body. "Holy crap—I actually got a class advancement chance?!"
Joy erupted in his chest like wildfire. "Aline! Aline, I can finally advance—"
He stopped cold.
Aline stood beside him, eyes shut, a powerful aura swirling around her like a storm. It grew hotter, brighter, more intense with every heartbeat until—
WHOOSH!
A blinding golden light burst from her body, flooding the entire valley in divine brilliance.
Half a minute later, she opened her eyes, shimmering with tears and joy. Her lips trembled as she whispered, "I… I've broken through."