Free Web NovelChapter 36: Great Sword Knight
The corpses of dozens upon dozens of Cavern Crawlers littered the tunnels behind Dan Moriarty, gradually dissolving into particles of light as the dungeon reclaimed them.
The silence that followed was broken only by notifications.
[Ding! Congratulations, you have reached Level 20 and gained more than 40 followers. Your streamer rank has moved from Iron II to Iron V.]
Dan’s footsteps paused.
"Iron V..."
He wasn’t particularly surprised. Within the Streaming Network, rank and level were closely related, though not identical.
Levels represented individual strength, while Streamer ranks represented overall achievements.
Normally, reaching Iron V required accumulating enough combat achievements alongside sufficient popularity and follower growth.
Dan had accomplished both.
His repeated victories, rapidly increasing audience, and his ever-growing reputation among viewers from different realms, had combined to push him through the remaining Iron stages.
Another notification appeared.
[Ding! Level Requirement Fulfilled!]
[Class Advancement Available.]
[Blade Warrior → Great Sword Knight.]
Golden light suddenly erupted around Dan. Unlike leveling up, this transformation wasn’t what led to an increase in attributes, it felt deeper.
His body grew lighter, his breathing steadier, and his grip upon the Thousand Heavens Rainfall Divine Sword became strangely more natural, as though the weapon itself had become an extension of his arm. The sword hummed softly as a translucent screen appeared.
[Class Advancement Successful!]
[Current Class: Great Sword Knight.]
[New Skill Acquired.]
[Sword Domain Lv.1]: A sword technique that releases invisible sword pressure across a designated area. Enemies within the domain suffer reduced movement speed while the user’s perception, precision, and sword control are enhanced. The effectiveness increases alongside skill level.
Dan quietly read the description, and his eyes brightened slightly.
"A domain-type skill..."
Unlike Celestial Sword Qi, which specialized in overwhelming offense, Sword Domain focused on battlefield control. It wasn’t flashy, but experienced swordsmen often valued control above raw destruction. A battle rarely belonged to whoever possessed the strongest strike — it belonged to whoever dictated the pace.
When two masters crossed swords, victory was often decided before the first blade moved. The one who controlled distance controlled timing, the one who controlled timing controlled opportunity, and the one who controlled opportunity controlled life and death. Sword Domain perfectly embodied that philosophy.
Dan slowly nodded.
"A useful addition."
His current arsenal had become considerably more complete — Basic Slash, Parry, Footwork, Celestial Sword Qi, Undying Will, and now Sword Domain. He could attack, defend, control movement, and strengthen himself. His foundation as a swordsman was gradually taking shape.
Even the livestream comments erupted.
[@StoneGiantKing: So quickly? You’ve already advanced into Great Sword Knight? Class advancements usually require considerable effort, yet you achieved yours before this stream even concluded. Your growth rate continues to exceed expectations.]
[@GoldenFeatherPrincess: Congratulations. Blade Warrior is merely the beginning of the Sword Path, while Great Sword Knight finally grants a proper foundation. Your new skill appears focused on battlefield control rather than pure destruction. An excellent complement to your existing techniques.]
[@NineTailEmpress: Most young swordsmen obsess over offensive techniques while neglecting control. Your class advancement has fortunately corrected that weakness. Continue polishing every aspect equally, and your future path will become much smoother.]
Dan smiled faintly. Every perspective held value, and even immortals often viewed combat differently from giants or ancient beasts. Sometimes wisdom appeared where one least expected.
He continued walking. The Emerald Cavern stretched endlessly before him, massive emerald crystals jutting from the ground like ancient trees while underground rivers carved quiet paths through polished stone. Yet the deeper he ventured, the fewer ordinary monsters appeared. Something had changed. Dan’s footsteps gradually slowed.
The air felt heavy. His expression became serious as his instincts, sharpened from awakening and through countless battles over the past days, quietly warned him.
He closed his eyes and slowed his breathing. Every surrounding sound became clearer. Drip... drip... Water echoed somewhere ahead as the underground current continued flowing peacefully. Yet beneath that tranquility, he sensed six overwhelming auras. His eyes slowly opened.
"...Six?"
Even Dan looked genuinely surprised, his gaze remaining fixed upon the darkness ahead.
"Six Bosses..." freewebnovel.cσ๓
That was impossible — or rather, it shouldn’t have been possible. Recommended Level Nine dungeons rarely contained more than a single Boss monster. Some possessed two, and three if one was extraordinarily fortunate or unfortunate. Six simply defied common sense.
The livestream immediately exploded.
[@StoneGiantKing: Six presences? Surely your perception is mistaken. Dungeons like this simply don’t contain that many Boss-class entities gathered together.]
[@GoldenFeatherPrincess: I agree. Either this dungeon possesses a hidden chamber... or something has drastically altered it. Neither possibility should be underestimated.] freēwēbnovel.com
[@NineTailEmpress: Interesting... extremely interesting. If six Bosses truly occupy the same location, then this Emerald Cavern may possess secrets unknown even to veteran streamers. Many dungeons evolve naturally over time, especially those that are least expected.]
Dan quietly considered their words. Hidden chamber, evolution — both were possible. He continued sensing carefully, and each aura was distinct, powerful, and steady.
None appeared weaker than Level Twelve, perhaps stronger, and considering the dungeon’s recommended level, that alone was remarkable. Most ordinary Streamers entering Emerald Cavern would never survive such an encounter, and even experienced Silver Rank Streamers would likely hesitate.
Fortunately, Dan wasn’t ordinary. He lowered his gaze toward the Divine Sword resting comfortably within his hand as lightning quietly danced across its blade.
"Mythical-ranked..." He murmured. "So long as I avoid carelessness .this battle remains manageable."
Sometimes equipment truly changed everything. An ordinary Level Twenty swordsman confronting six Bosses simultaneously bordered on suicide, but a Level Twenty swordsman wielding one of the rarest weapons ever created was another matter entirely.
A tiger without claws remained dangerous — but a tiger possessing both strength and sharp fangs became the undisputed king of the mountain. Likewise, a gifted Streamer armed with an overwhelming weapon could challenge opponents far beyond conventional limits.
Dan resumed walking, one step then another. Every movement remained calm as the pressure gradually intensified. His viewers watched quietly, and even the usually cheerful Drunken Sword Immortal remained silent for several moments. Eventually, a new comment appeared.
[@DrunkenSwordImmortal: Brat... this immortal has watched every one of your broadcasts from beginning to end. I originally stayed because your face amused this immortal. Then I stayed because your sword interested me. Now... I remain because I genuinely wish to see where your Sword Path leads.]
Dan’s footsteps paused. The comment continued.
[@DrunkenSwordImmortal: This immortal possesses many treasures. Pills. Manuals. Immortal wines. Yet none seem suitable for you. Since you’re a swordsman... then naturally this immortal should reward another swordsman properly.]
[@DrunkenSwordImmortal: I possess three Epic-grade Sword Arts. Each followed me for thousands of years before eventually becoming unnecessary after I comprehended my own Dao. They’ve gathered dust ever since. Rather than allowing them to rot within my storage... perhaps one ambitious little brat should inherit them instead.]
Silence. Complete silence. Even the usually talkative viewers stopped commenting. Epic-grade Sword Arts — not one, but three.
Dan’s expression remained composed, yet internally even he couldn’t completely suppress the excitement rising within him. The value of such treasures could scarcely be measured, and his grip upon the Thousand Heavens Rainfall Divine Sword unconsciously tightened.
