Ding!

[You have killed x12 "Demonic Goblins (Level 31)"]

[You have killed "Demonic Goblin Warlord (Level 33 Legendary-Rank Boss)"]

[You have gained 183,000 experience points!]

[Congratulations, you have leveled up to Level 32!]

[You have gained 5 points in all of your attributes, and 5 free points to distribute.]

[You have gained 18 Evolution Points!]

[You have gained 287 Lives!]

---

Hand of Avarice!

Ding!

[You have gained 17 Evolution Points!]

[You have gained 348 Lives!]

The system messages echoed one after another.

Stark calmly collected the drops from the ground.

The crimson glow of the warlord's remains fading as they dissolved into nothing.

He leaned down and picked up the [Goblin Warlord Axe (Legendary)], sliding it into his inventory.

A heavy weapon, but it wasn't what he was after.

The real reward was lying right next to it: the [Third Floor Key].

---

[Third Floor Key: Allows the user to open the gate leading to the third floor of the "Demonic Ruins" and access it.]

---

This key was different compared to the others Stark had obtained in the past.

Both the [City Underground Maze Key] and the [Church Sanctuary Key] had one major limitation: they could only be used once.

If someone wanted to re-enter those zones, they had to earn another key.

But this [Third Floor Key] was permanent.

It could be used an infinite number of times, meaning that once you had it, you never needed to defeat a boss again just to pass through.

Of course, there was one catch: it couldn't be traded or sold.

It was bound directly to the person who acquired it.

There was no workaround. Only the holder could use it.

Sliding the key into his inventory, Stark turned back toward the path created when his own [Blazing Meteor] had been countered by the goblin warlord.

At the time, the spell's deflection had smashed straight into the wall, blasting it apart and revealing a passage.

He hadn't expected it to be useful. But now… it just might save him time.

'Might as well check. It could lead me to the exit quicker.'

Stark strode down the newly opened corridor, staff in hand.

The air here was heavier, thicker, and yet strangely quiet.

The usual groans and screeches of monsters were absent, though he still advanced carefully.

His senses remained sharp, alert for sudden ambushes.

But the deeper he walked, the more obvious it became.

The passage was unusually calm.

Only a handful of monsters appeared along the way, far fewer than what he had fought through before.

It almost felt intentional, like this was a hidden shortcut.

Ten minutes later, Stark reached his destination.

Before him stood another massive gate.

It looked nearly identical to the one at the end of the first floor, towering high with intricate carvings etched into its surface.

The difference was obvious: this one had a visible lock.

Without hesitation, Stark pulled out the [Third Floor Key].

Click!

The lock opened the moment the key touched it.

Ding!

[Player "Oblivion" is alone.]

The system clarified the situation.

The gate only recognized the player who held the key.

It would not open for others unless the holder was in a party and deliberately allowed teammates to pass through.

That meant solo players had full control, but teams had to coordinate carefully.

If someone killed the boss but didn't get the key, they would be stuck behind unless the keyholder helped.

Another prompt appeared.

Ding!

[You are allowed to access the "Third Floor."]

The massive doors creaked, slowly opening to reveal nothing but a swirling veil of darkness beyond.

Stark stopped in front of it.

Instead of stepping through immediately, he pulled open his status screen.

[Current Evolution Points: 143.]

'Good. Should be enough.'

Now was the perfect time to invest them as he was about to enter the [Third Floor].

He quickly selected one of his skills.

[Do you wish to consume 100 Evolution Points to evolve "Bind of Silk"?]

Several of his skills were eligible for evolution.

He could have chosen [Vines of Fate], [Storm of Lightning], or [Crystals of Death].

Each was powerful in its own way.

But Stark already knew which one he wanted to focus on.

He didn't expect it, but the restraint was much more useful than expected.

A skill that could lock down enemies was more valuable than raw destructive power.

Even if the damage was overwhelming, there were always enemies that could counter or resist.

But if they were bound, completely unable to move, then it didn't matter how strong they were.

They couldn't fight back.

"Yes."

Ding!

[You have evolved "Bind of Silk" (Mythical) to "Bind of Silk" (Ancient).]

[Current Evolution Points: 43.]

The skill window updated.

The name hadn't changed, but Stark didn't care about that.

What mattered were the details.

---

[Bind of Silk (Ancient): Summon several powerful threads to bind enemies at once, the threads are now sharp enough to cut, and deal 500% → 1000% of Spirit to anyone bound by them. 40 → 30 (15)-seconds cooldown.]

---

"Damn!"

The change was incredible.

The binding itself was stronger, the damage doubled, and even the cooldown had been reduced.

No monster around his current level would be able to break free anymore.

Not even the [Demonic Goblin Warlord] he had just fought could have escaped this version of the skill.

Of course, the next evolution to [Ascendant Rank] would cost 250 Evolution Points.

A steep price. But for now, this was enough.

Satisfied, Stark stepped forward and passed through the veil of darkness.

Ding!

The world shifted. His body was pulled into the next area.

The third floor of the [Demonic Ruins].

Instantly, the whispers that had been slightly faint before now grew louder.

They echoed endlessly in his ears, low and menacing, almost like voices trying to crawl directly into his mind.

'Never did find out where those came from in my past life,' Stark thought, frowning, 'But I know for sure… they must come from the [Fifth Floor].'

For now, he pushed the noise aside. His focus sharpened.

Ding!

---

[You have entered the Third Floor of the Demonic Ruins: "Demonic Presences."]

[Lives loss rate: 500]

---

The name was fitting.

Up until now, the only "demonic" enemies were a handful of monsters.

Enough to justify the title of the ruins, but nothing overwhelming.

Now, however, things changed.

From this floor onward, the reason for the name would become clear: this place belonged to demons.

"Hey, I heard something?"

"Seriously? Who could even reach this place? The first two floors block almost everyone."

"Just come. Let's check it out."

Stark froze. Voices.

Not whispers, actual voices.

He tightened his grip on his staff and turned his eyes toward the corridor ahead.

In [Eternal Soul], humans were not the only race.

There were hundreds of others.

Some were neutral. Some were hostile. A few were friendly.

It could also depend entirely on the individuals too.

But Stark knew one thing for certain.

Whoever these voices belonged to, they weren't good.

He stood quietly in the chamber where he had spawned in.

A moment later, three figures emerged from the corridor.

"Huh."

"Hahaha! It's a human!"

"Wait… seriously?"

Three demons walked out into the open.

Crimson-skinned, horned, and armored. Their eyes glowed faintly red, their grins twisted.

---

[Low-Level Demon Soldier (Level 35)]

[Rank: Uncommon]

[HP: 500,000]

---

From here onward, this was the true danger of the [Demonic Ruins].

Demons had overtaken the floors, and the third was just the beginning.

The [Fourth Floor] was called the [Demon's Nest] for a reason.

As for the [Fifth], Stark didn't know the exact details.

But he was certain their leader was waiting there.

"I guess that means the last civilization is here," one of the soldiers sneered, "Good. We can get rid of them."

"Let's go. I was getting bored anyway."

"We'll tear him apart!"

All three raised their weapons and stepped forward in unison.

Demons were rarely considered a "friendly" race.

In fact, among all the races across the [Eternal Soul], the number of those who treated humans as equals could be counted on one hand.

Olikar had been one of the rare exceptions, though even he couldn't really be considered "good" since Stark had no information.

But he had been betrayed and killed.

Stark didn't reply to their provocation, he didn't waste the words.

And so, he simply raised his staff, casting his spell.

Bind of Silk!

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