Ding!

[You have killed "Demonic Wyvern (Level 39 Legendary-Rank Special Boss)"]

[You have gained 550,000 experience points!]

[Congratulations, you have leveled up to level 36!]

[You have gained 22 Evolution Points!]

[You have gained 1,000 Lives!]

Hand of Avarice!

The spectral hand erupted from Stark's staff, twisting and stretching with dark greed. It clawed into the wyvern's fallen body, pulling out whatever remained.

Ding!

[You have gained 21 Evolution Points!]

[You have gained 1,000 Lives!]

But the hand didn't stop there. Something else glowed in its grip. When Stark looked closer, his eyes widened.

An item shimmered in the air, burning red. Not just any red—the unmistakable glow of a mythical-ranked treasure.

'No way…' Stark blinked. 'Not only did the skill give me extra EP and lives… it triggered twice. And on a rank evolution item?'

He almost laughed. It was beyond luck.

All three chances stacked in his favor.

The rare effect of [Hand of Avarice] fully triggered.

This was a jackpot.

He wasn't going to complain. Not in the slightest.

Stark quickly crouched beside the wyvern's corpse and checked all the loot.

The hand had extracted one mythical item, but two more pieces had dropped naturally.

A dagger glimmered with sharp crimson light, and a robe of hardened scales flickered with faint demonic energy.

---

[Demonic Wyvern Claw Dagger (Legendary): Assassin-type weapon. +1,210 Strength, +390 Agility. Requirement: Level 39]

[Demonic Fire (Active Skill): Enhance your daggers with demonic flames, dealing x3 damage for a short duration.]

---

[Demonic Wyvern Scales Robe (Legendary): Mage/Priest-type equipment. +1,500 Spirit, +700 Constitution. Requirement: Level 39]

---

"Damn…"

The words slipped out before Stark could stop them.

Both items were strong, stronger than most players could ever hope to hold at this stage.

The dagger was perfect for an assassin. It would boost raw damage insanely.

He could probably sell it to Ghost when she hit level 39. It was exactly her type.

But the robe… the robe was for him.

If he equipped it, his magic and defense would both skyrocket.

His spells would grow deadlier, his barrier tougher. He could crush enemies even faster.

Unfortunately, Stark was only level 36.

Three more levels stood between him and that robe.

It was the downside of fighting bosses above his own level.

The loot was unmatched, but he couldn't equip it right away.

'That just means I need to grind faster,' he thought. His grin returned.

And then, his gaze shifted to the final drop.

The mythical item.

When he inspected it, his eyes went wider than ever.

---

[Demonic Wyvern Egg (Mythical Egg): This egg contains a "Demonic Wyvern." Hatch it to gain use of it.]

[Note: The hatching method is not yet available.]

---

"Incredible…"

The word echoed in the chamber.

This wasn't just loot. This was game-changing. A mount.

And not just any mount—a flying one.

Anyone who saw this would instantly recognize how rare and powerful it was.

Mount eggs were absurdly rare already. Mythical ones were practically unheard of.

The [Ghost Wolf] was still faster on land. Its [Sprint] gave it an edge there.

But in the air? A wyvern would be unmatched.

The only problem was the hatching method.

Stark had no idea how to hatch it. Not yet.

'I'll need to ask a summoner,' he thought.

He remembered powerful summoners from his past life.

They specialized in pets, companions, mounts.

They could read things other players couldn't.

Some of them had dozens of mythical beasts fighting by their side.

One in particular, [Celestial], was infamous for it.

If anyone knew how to hatch this egg, it would be someone like that.

But for now, Stark stored the egg safely into his inventory. He would deal with it later.

For now, he turned his eyes ahead.

Fwish… BOOM!

The massive gate the wyvern had been guarding flared.

Crimson aura burst outward, spilling into the chamber like blood in the air.

The doors slammed open.

A veil of pure darkness lingered beyond.

Stark narrowed his eyes. He knew what this meant.

The final floor. The deepest part of the [Demonic Ruins].

'Here it is,' he thought, gripping his staff. 'No reason to waste time.'

He expected to hit at least level 37 here. Maybe 38 if he was lucky.

After that, he could choose. Keep grinding inside, or move on.

The [Land of Mist] was calling him. He knew it.

He was strong enough now to handle it.

And once he could equip that robe, nothing would hold him back.

Without hesitation, Stark stepped into the veil of darkness.

The world shifted.

Ding!

[You have reached the bottom of the "Demonic Ruins," a feat achieved by only a few.]

"Hm."

A new panel. Something he had never seen before.

Because in his past life… he never made it this far.

And then another panel appeared.

Ding!

---

[You have entered the Fifth Floor of the Demonic Ruins: "The Leader's Arena."]

[Lives loss rate: 1000]

---

Stark's eyes flickered as he read it carefully.

Any piece of information in [Eternal Soul] could be useful. Even the smallest detail.

Once he looked around he found himself in a small chamber.

A barred gate blocked the path forward.

"…?"

Before he could move, a voice echoed through the chamber.

"Humans have come to us!" It was rough, deep, cruel.

A sadistic tone laced every word, "It is time to show them they are outmatched!"

A chorus followed. Hundreds of voices cheered, roaring from beyond the gate.

Stark's grip tightened on his staff.

His eyes narrowed to slits.

'The bottom of the Demonic Ruins,' he thought. 'Nobody ever cleared it. Not even Ghost.'

He knew he was strong. But strength wasn't an excuse to be careless.

Confidence was necessary. Overconfidence was death.

The same voice growled again.

"Let me face them."

Snap!

A sharp sound. A finger snap.

The barred gate before Stark rattled and swung open. The path forward revealed itself.

"…"

Stark stepped inside.

A corridor stretched before him, its walls covered in demonic symbols, glowing faintly in the dark.

The air was heavier now. Pressing down on him with each step.

He advanced without hesitation.

At the end of the corridor… it opened up.

'I see,' Stark thought. 'That's why it's called the Leader's Arena.'

Before him stretched a massive coliseum.

Rows upon rows of demons filled the stands above, their twisted bodies leaning forward as they looked down on the arena floor.

Hundreds of glowing eyes locked onto him.

And in the center… was the one he came for.

The boss. The final obstacle. The strongest monster in all the [Demonic Ruins].

The one that stopped every player.

The one that had never fallen as he was simply too powerful to be killed.

Ding!

[You have arrived at the location of Olikar's Special Quest.]

[Quick Message: You actually made it this far? Then deal with him, human.]

"Hm."

It was a message from Olikar. Left behind to trigger only when the quest taker reached this point.

Clearly, he hadn't expected anyone to ever get here.

But Stark wasn't planning to back away.

Not now. Not when he had come this far.

Not when the arena was roaring with demons, waiting for him to face their leader.

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