"Wait, my class is locked in just like that?" Allen marveled, the thrill of securing a unique hidden class—the only one of its kind—sweeping away his surprise.
"Please confirm your in-game nickname." Despite the surreal introduction to Divine Realm, the system clung to standard character creation, now prompting for his username.
"Lich King?" Allen ventured.
"Nickname unavailable." He'd expected this—the game had launched a day prior, and iconic monikers wouldn't linger.
"ImABuffoon?"
"Nickname unavailable." Allen groaned inwardly. Even absurd usernames were casualties of the game's frenzy.
"Scourge?" A final midnight gamble.
"Nickname confirmed. Welcome to Divine Realm, Scourge."
After confirming details, he materialized in North America Server's Newbie Village 72. His character sheet glowed:
Player Profile
- Nickname: Scourge
- Class: Mage (Hidden: Scourge Lord – Lich King)
- Level: 1
- Attributes:
- Strength: 15 (+10 HP per point)
- Agility: 15
- Intelligence: 40 (+10 MP per point)
- Skills: Frost Strike (Cooldown: 5s | Cost: 40 MP)
- Deals 100 + Intelligence damage in an 800-yard cone.
- Applies Frost Nova debuff: 50% movement slow for 3s.
- Combat Stats:
- Attack: 30 (base) + 5 (staff) = 35
- HP: 200 (base) + 150 (strength) = 350
- MP: 200 (base) + 400 (intelligence) = 600
- Equipment: Apprentice's Staff (+5 Attack)
Allen's eyes widened. These stats eclipsed even the S-rank hidden class Shadow Assassin trending online. A vanilla mage started with 10 Attack, 5 Strength, and 10 Intelligence. This isn't broken—this is overpowered, he smirked. And instead of the generic Fireball, his starter spell was Frost Strike—a fittingly icy nod to his hidden class.
The village buzzed with cherry blossoms and chatter. Groups shouted "Healers needed for wolf pack!" or "Archers only, no deadweight mages!" No one spared the Level 1 "mage" a glance. For most, mages were liabilities: 200 MP, 75 per Fireball, and a crawlspace 1 MP/sec regen. But Allen's 600 MP and 40 MP-cost AoE made him a one-man army.
He raided the shop, blowing his 10 starting gold on two Greater Mana Potions (5g each). A bankrupting move, but necessary. While others formed parties, he headed for the Level 3 Bog Pigmen, their thick hides and slow speed perfect for his strategy.
"Kid, those pigmen hit hard. Stick to wolves," called Seraphina, a silver-haired archer with a quiver slung over her shoulder.
"Appreciate the warning, but I'll be fine," Allen replied, not breaking stride.
"Let the newbie feed the pigs, Sera," sneered Kael, a rogue with a dagger scar across his cheek. "Newbie Village PvP's locked, but he'll learn respect when he's face down in mud."
"Funny coming from someone who cries louder than a dying wolf," Allen shot back, mimicking a high-pitched whimper.
Kael's face reddened. Distracted, he failed to dodge the Level 2 Forest Wolf's lunge. CRITICAL STRIKE—the beast's claw tore through his 200 HP in one hit.
"NOOOOO!" Kael's scream echoed as he respawned, Level 4 plummeting to 3. "You'll regret that, Scourge," he hissed, eyeing the forest where Allen vanished.
Meanwhile, Allen faced his first Bog Pigman. He lured it from its pack with a staff strike, then unleashed Frost Strike. Ice crackled from his fingertips, slowing the creature to a stagger. As it trudged forward, Allen circled, his staff connecting with hollow thuds—crack! crack!—each hit landing safely out of the pigman's club range.
With a final strike, the pigman dissolved into light. +120 XP and 10 silver coins pinged into his inventory. No loot, but the flawless kite proved his dominance. While grouped players split XP and argued over drops, Allen's solo grind meant 100% rewards—and with 350 HP and 600 MP, he could chain pulls without downtime.
The forest echoed with the chill of Frost Strike, each cast carving a path through the mobs. Other players stared as the Level 1 "mage" decimated pigmen twice his level, no healer, no backup. Who is this guy? whispers trailed him.
Allen smiled beneath the helmet. Scourge? No—soon they'll call me Lich King. The server's top players had a 12-hour head start, but in Divine Realm, power wasn't about time played—it was about who wielded it best.
And Allen wielded frost like a god.