A Hidden Class?

  Lucian couldn't help but feel surprised. It seemed this young woman from House Sterling was remarkably gifted to have awakened a Hidden Class.

  However, he’d only find out just how powerful the class was once they entered the Secret Realm.

  After Chloe finished her introduction, the others followed suit, sharing their levels and classes.

  The party’s average level was quite high, mostly hovering around Level 20.

  Gareth was particularly impressive—a Level 28 Swordsman only two levels away from his Second Class Advancement.

  Their composition was well-balanced, too: a Swordsman, two Mages, an Assassin, an Archer, and a Knight. Combined with Chloe, a Hidden Class capable of both healing and dealing damage, it was a rock-solid leveling party.

  Once they finished, Lucian considered his options. He revealed his level but chose to keep his specific class hidden.

  "I'm Level 14," he said. "As for my class... for now, just consider me a Swordsman."

  Since he carried a greatsword, claiming to be a Swordsman seemed reasonable enough.

  Still, the way he hid his true class and used the phrase "for now" made his words rather intriguing.

  Chloe was sharp. She immediately caught on and asked, "Wait... are you a Hidden Class too?"

  Lucian didn't deny it. He gave a small nod but offered no further explanation about his specific role.

  The moment he revealed he possessed a Hidden Class, the rest of the party looked at him in a completely different light.

  Hidden Classes were a rare commodity; barely one in a thousand people ever awakened one.

  They were generally far more powerful than Normal classes, and anyone who had one was instantly scouted by top academies and major factions.

  Gareth’s perception of Lucian shifted instantly. He scrutinized the young man, his voice laced with shock. "You're actually a Hidden Class? You can't be that old. Someone your age with a Hidden Class should be getting recruited by every academy out there. Why would you be a material—wait, you’re not a material hunter!"

  Realization dawned on him.

  Lucian chuckled and shrugged. "I never said I was a material hunter, did I?"

  "I'm a student who just went through Class Awakening. I'm out here to grind for The Awakening Trials and figured I'd collect some materials on the side for a bit of extra cash."

  "You... you're a fresh Class Awakening student?!" The group was stunned once again.

  Chloe, in particular, stared at him in pure disbelief.

  She had come to The Stony Barrens for the exact same reason, but she had a whole contingent of House Sterling retainers to power-level her.

  Even with all that help, she had only reached Level 13.

  Yet here was Lucian, who had awakened at the same time as her, but he’d fought his way deep into The Stony Barrens solo. To top it off, his level was higher than hers!

  Was his kill rate actually faster than her being power-leveled by a full team?

  A sudden wave of frustration washed over her.

  Gareth was every bit as shocked as Chloe.

  He was a seasoned veteran and could tell that Lucian wasn't lying.

  After all, anyone trying to solo in a place crawling with Level 18 monsters would be dead by now if they weren't a powerful Hidden Class.

  Given how young he was and his status as a Hidden Class, it was impossible that no academy would want him.

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  This made Lucian’s claim of being a student out here to level up extremely credible.

  Gareth’s guard lowered significantly, and his demeanor grew warmer.

  He grinned and clapped Lucian on the shoulder. "Haha, you've got a point. It’s just that you look so roughed up we just assumed you were a material hunter."

  "It's a relief you aren't one. Those material hunters are a desperate lot who'll do anything for a buck. We try to avoid them whenever possible."

  He paused, his tone turning serious. "Since you’re a student like Chloe, we’ll look after you. Your combat experience and raw strength are likely lower than ours for now."

  "Here’s the plan: Jared and I will hold the front line. You and Celia will form the second line of defense to protect our backline."

  "Of course, if you want to focus on Damage Output, you’re welcome to join us on the front line. Just be careful—it’s dangerous up there, and Chloe's Healing Output isn’t quite on par with a dedicated Cleric."

  Lucian had no objections. "Sounds good to me," he said with a nod.

  "Good." Gareth nodded. "Let's get moving, then."

  As he spoke, Gareth shot a subtle look toward Celia.

  Celia caught the signal and gave a barely perceptible nod.

  Even though Lucian’s story about being a student was highly believable, Gareth remained cautious for Chloe’s safety.

  If Lucian made a single suspicious move, Celia would be on him in an instant.

  Led by Gareth, the group stepped into the teleportation array. A flash of light later, they were transported into a new space.

  As a first-timer in a Secret Realm, Lucian couldn't help but size up his surroundings with curiosity. This pocket dimension wasn't particularly large. A shimmering purple-red barrier hemmed in the edges, marking a boundary that seemed impossible to cross. The total area spanned roughly ten miles.

  Sunlight didn't exist here. Instead, a thick, violet mist blanketed the land, stifling visibility to a mere hundred meters. Beyond that range, only the blurred, ghostly outlines of buildings pierced through the gloom.

  The group stood at the very edge of the realm. Further ahead, the vague shapes of a village began to emerge—a cluster of low-slung houses. Shrouded in darkness and fog, the structures appeared dilapidated and broken. Not a single spark of light flickered from within, casting a chilling, eerie atmosphere over the entire scene.

  Upon entry, a new tab flashed onto everyone’s quest panels, displaying the completion requirements for the realm.

  Hidden Realm — Village of Despair (Hard Difficulty)

  Minimum Players: 8

  Recommended Level: 20

  Clear Condition: Slay all zombies in the Village of Despair.

  Current Progress: 0/1200

  Description: Three hundred years ago, a plague of unknown origin swept through this once normal village. People died in droves, and their corpses were piled high by the lakeshore.

  However, three days later, the unthinkable happened. The bodies vanished overnight. That evening, the survivors watched in horror as familiar, terrifying figures smashed through their doors...

  Gore, death, fear, and despair consumed the village.

  "A Level 20 Secret Realm on Hard Difficulty..." Gareth’s brow furrowed.

  Secret Realms were categorized into Easy, Normal, Hard, Fear, and Nightmare. Higher difficulties meant greater danger, but also far richer rewards. A Level 20 Hard Difficulty realm was significantly more dangerous than Gareth had anticipated.

  He had originally assumed that a Hidden Realm appearing in The Stony Barrens would be around Level 15. With their party's average level being 20, it should have been a straightforward run. But a Level 20 Hard realm? Even a full team of ten Level 20 Class Awakening experts would find it a grueling challenge.

  Gareth himself was a Level 28 Swordsman, so his own survival was guaranteed. However, the team included Lucian and Chloe—two newcomers at Level 13 and 14. Their combat power was severely lacking. Facing a realm of this caliber, they were at a serious risk of total annihilation.

  Gareth looked toward Chloe, his face tight with hesitation.

  Chloe saw the worry etched into his features. She bit her lower lip, weighing the options for a moment before making a firm decision. "It’s fine. We’ve already come this far; there’s no reason to turn back now."

  "It's just a Level 20 Hard realm. We won't necessarily fail. Don't forget, I'm a Holy Light Mage. I have a natural elemental advantage against dark-attribute monsters. Looking at this place, everything here is likely dark-aligned. My combat effectiveness will easily match a Level 20 Mage."

  Gareth considered her point. She was right. He nodded, his expression turning solemn. "Very well. If that's the case, we proceed as planned."

  "Everyone, stay sharp! This realm is tougher than I expected. No distractions. Protect Chloe and the boy."

  Gareth and his crew weren't bad people. If Lucian really had been just another student out grinding to prepare for The Awakening Trials, they were doing exactly what seniors should: looking out for the junior. Their attitude significantly improved Lucian’s opinion of the group.

  The party quickly fell into formation based on their classes and began pushing toward the Village of Despair.

  After advancing about two hundred meters, a dry, rustling sound echoed from ahead. Something was moving fast, rushing toward them through the undergrowth.

  Gareth leveled his greatsword, his voice booming. "Watch out! They're coming!"

  The moment he spoke, shadows flickered in the distance. Accompanied by blood-curdling screeches, humanoid figures tore through the darkness and violet mist, charging the group.

  The first wave consisted of about twenty creatures. Their skin was a sickly, mottled purple-black, riddled with rotting, open wounds that wafted a putrid stench of decay. Lucian immediately cast an Appraisal skill, bringing the monsters' information into clear view.

  Corrupted Zombie (Elite Tier, Aggressive)

  Level: 15

  Strength: 45

  Agility: 47

  Spirit: 20

  Endurance: 31

  Skills:

  Corpse Toxin: Claws and teeth carry a toxin that causes continuous damage. Victims slain by this toxin will rise as Corrupted Zombies.

  Grappling Bite: Pins the target down to deliver a devastating bite.

  These were Level 15 Elite Mobs. Their stats were several tiers higher than the Blood-crazed Grey Foxes Lucian had encountered earlier. However, for Gareth and the others, monsters of this level weren't yet a serious threat.