"The Secret of Ascension? This dungeon... if I recall correctly, SSR Club was the first to clear and unlock it."
In Infinite Dimensions, once a player completed a hidden quest, the corresponding dungeon could become available to others with reduced difficulty to encourage exploration.
Orson had vivid memories of The Secret of Ascension, a legendary-tier dungeon. If he hadn't completed the Missing Barrier Stone quest first, SSR Club would likely have claimed the first legendary dungeon clear instead.
"Did you give this questline to anyone else?" Orson questioned Veijander sharply.
The dwarf blacksmith hesitated, looking a bit guilty. "Kid, I've got a keen eye for talent. You'll definitely pull this off!"
As expected, Veijander's quest-giving "easter egg" wasn't a secret solely to Orson. SSR Club clearly knew about it too. Judging by Veijander's reaction, SSR must have submitted high-quality materials to unlock the questline.
Realizing this, Orson knew he had to act fast.
He was well aware that, at this stage, SSR Club—with its roster of professional players—possessed a combat efficiency leagues ahead of even the wealthiest guilds like Dragon's Kiss Guild. Their ability to conquer high-difficulty dungeons was unmatched.
Marking the quest location on his map, Orson sprinted toward the Frozen Valley.
Thirty minutes later, he arrived at a vast expanse of snowfields.
[Icefield Raiders: Level 27]
- Skills: Continuous Shot, Leaping Slash
The snowfields were crawling with elite monsters, far stronger than the creatures around Pondenorlin City.
No sooner had Orson stepped into the area than a group of Icefield Raiders charged at him.
Raising the Fox Clan Staff, Orson summoned a rainstorm overhead.
C-Class Water Magic: Tidal Rainblades
This magic spell dealt low continuous damage but had overwhelming coverage, striking every enemy within a 30-meter radius. Moreover, it synergized with the icy terrain, causing enemies to slip, slow down, or even fall over.
As the raiders stumbled and fell, Orson conjured The Flame Dragon, unleashing fiery devastation.
From over 100 meters away, Orson blended multiple elements seamlessly. His quadruple-magic attacks were unstoppable.
Wielding a full set of 20-level heroic-tier gear, Orson's magic attack had reached an impressive 800 points. Even his basic attacks dealt massive critical damage.
Orson couldn't help but imagine the potential of his power after completing his Class Awakening and equipping the legendary trio of gear. His damage output would soar to unimaginable heights.
Easily dispatching the elite monsters, Orson pressed onward.
Suddenly, sounds of combat echoed from the distance.
Orson stopped and looked ahead cautiously.
A massive Icefield Troll King—standing over ten meters tall—was being besieged by dozens of players near the valley's entrance.
[Icefield Troll King: Level 27]
- HP: 637,000/800,000
- Skills: Troll Dominance, Merciless Slam, Bone-Crushing Blow
The troll king's greenish-blue skin glistened under the icy light. Wielding a giant iron hammer, it smashed the ground with each swing, causing avalanches and snowstorms to erupt around it. The scene was both chaotic and awe-inspiring.
Despite the boss's overwhelming power, the players' coordination was impressive. The frontline tanks held firm, absorbing each attack with precision.
Orson quickly noticed something unusual: though there were thirty or so players present, only a handful were actively engaging the boss. The rest stood guard, their eyes scanning the surroundings vigilantly.
"They're keeping watch… are they worried about interference from other players or stray monsters?" Orson murmured.
The disciplined formations and high-level execution revealed the group's skill. These weren't newbies fumbling through a new MMORPG—these were pros.
"SSR is already here."
Orson's gaze turned icy as he recognized the dual-blade warrior leading the charge: Reaver.
Reaver wielded two shining longswords, leaping into the air and spinning like a cyclone. His blades slashed the troll king's chest repeatedly.
The glow of light-based enchantments on his swords added to the damage. Reaver's movements were fluid, dodging the troll king's retaliatory strikes with practiced ease.
As he landed, Reaver smirked. "I told you, this boss is too slow to be a challenge. I could solo it."
SSR's Bloodseeker: "Damn, that spin move was insane! I saw him solo a level 20 boss earlier without taking a hit."
SSR's Mourner: "With Reaver here, every legendary dungeon is a guaranteed clear."
Hearing his teammates' praises, Reaver responded coolly. "Stop relying on me. Train harder instead of always clinging to my coattails."
At that moment, a cold voice interrupted:
"If you're so strong, why haven't you soloed Orson yet?"
The smiles vanished from Reaver's face. His smirk twisted into a sneer. "Last time was a fluke. Next time I see that dog, he's finished."
The troll king, enraged by the attacks, roared mightily.
Skill Activated: Troll Dominance
The ground shook as over a hundred Troll Wolf Knights emerged from the surrounding snowfields.
Each elite wolf knight had 60,000 HP, putting immense pressure on the SSR players.
"Keep those adds away from my casting range!"
The voice of the white-robed priest who had taunted Reaver earlier rang out. She quickly issued commands:
"Second, third, and fourth squads—intercept the adds on the left flank! Riley, cover me as I assist Reaver and Alpha Squad!"
The teams executed the orders with precision, blocking the incoming elite mobs and preventing them from reaching the boss fight.
From his hidden position, Orson narrowed his eyes. "That voice... it's her."
The troll king shifted its attention to the frontline, swiping its massive hammer. A Sanctuary Knight—decked out in three pieces of 20-level heroic-tier gear—was launched into the air like a ragdoll.
Even with 7,000 HP, the knight was on the brink of death after just a few hits.
Suddenly, the white-robed priest stepped forward. A silver hexagram lit up beneath her feet.
Holy Light Magic: Protective Blessing!
Holy Light Magic: Eternal Lament!
- Physical Defense +300
The knight's health, once critically low, surged back up. Their physical resistance spiked, reducing the boss's next heavy blow to a mere 1,000 damage.
But the priest wasn't done. Another silver glow bathed the battlefield.
Holy Light Magic: Life Unyielding!
A healing aura spread across twenty players, granting:
- +200 HP regen per second
- Boosted physical and magical resistances
With the buffs stabilizing the battle, the players turned the tide against the troll king and its minions.
"Damn, Big Sis is unstoppable! She's the undisputed top healer in the region!"
"Top healer? She's the best in the entire server—no, the whole world!"
The SSR players were visibly inspired by the priest. Since the game's launch, her presence had made SSR's progress invincible, clearing every challenge with ease.
"That's the S-Class Holy Spirit Priest, all right."
Orson's expression darkened.
The white-robed priest had golden hair and delicate features, exuding a calm and ethereal aura. But Orson knew better—she was as ruthless as they came.
Among SSR's ranks, there was no one Orson feared more than Wedge, the first-ranked Holy Priest from Sword and Conquest.
As SSR's team captain, she held authority second only to the club's owner. To Orson, she was the true mastermind behind SSR's dominance.