Stark returned to [Shell City] after finally hitting level 30.

The wolf beneath him slowed its stride as the familiar walls came into view.

Stark reached forward, patting its head once before dismissing it into mist.

Traveling the last stretch on foot felt more grounded anyway.

But something was wrong. Noise.

A commotion spread across the gate area, louder than the usual player chatter.

Dozens of figures clustered together, voices raised, tension thick in the air.

Stark frowned and moved closer.

"…?"

The crowd had formed a half-circle.

At its center, [Shell City Guards] stood in formation, weapons raised, cornering two figures against the stone wall.

Stark's eyes narrowed.

"Huh."

The players trapped between the guards' spears were [Ghost] and [Starfall].

"Yeah, get them!" someone shouted.

"They killed our boss right here in your city, are you gonna let that slide?" another yelled.

"Hell yeah!"

The voices blended together, a mix of outrage and bloodlust.

Ghost stood with her hood up, expression calm but sharp.

Grace was beside her, tense, clutching her staff tightly.

Around them, half a dozen guards pressed in.

Each one was level 30. Each one carried 300,000 HP.

Even for Ghost, that was a wall she couldn't smash through right now.

She might be able to assassinate them with a surprise strike, but not when surrounded.

And going invisible would would leave Grace helpless.

The reason for all this wasn't hard to guess.

Ghost had spotted [SoulsGod]. And, true to form, she killed him instantly.

Ghost never forgave a slight.

If you wronged her, she paid you back, immediately.

In this case, Oblivion had killed SoulsGod before, but doing it herself gave her some measure of satisfaction.

But killing players in broad daylight, inside city limits? Of course the NPC guards reacted.

Now her reputation in [Shell City] had plummeted.

'Typical,' Stark thought, the corner of his mouth twitching, 'She always caused trouble on her own in my past life too.'

Still, Ghost and Starfall weren't strangers. They were his allies.

Sitting back and watching didn't sit right with him.

In his last life, whenever Max or Seren were in danger, he stepped in.

That was what it meant to be companions. That hadn't changed.

And so… Stark moved forward.

"Oh shit, it's Oblivion!" someone gasped.

"Maybe he's here to sell items!"

"Bad timing, though. Guess we'll have to wait until this mess clears up."

The crowd parted instinctively, giving him a straight path through.

Stark walked calmly, staff in hand, expression unreadable.

Neither Grace nor Ghost could see or know he was here though.

"Don't worry," Grace said quickly to Ghost, eyes flicking to her panels. "I-I can activate my passive now. I hit level 25!"

"What?" Ghost asked flatly.

Grace turned her screen toward her.

[Passive #1: You can focus on your power to boost your luck and those of your companions for 5 minutes.]

"If I activate it, maybe something will happen!" Grace said, hopeful.

Ghost just stared at her.

Sure, she could see the value of boosted luck in battle: landing critical hits, finding weaknesses, maybe improving loot drops.

But here? Trapped in the city with guards ready to execute them?

What did luck have to do with survival? Grace didn't hesitate.

Luck Boost!

Her staff glowed faintly, releasing a green shimmer that wrapped around both her and Ghost.

"Now we wait," she said with a grin.

The guards didn't wait.

They tightened formation, weapons drawn.

[Eternal Soul] had no prison system.

Punishment here was execution, plain and simple.

"I…" Ghost muttered under her breath. "This isn't how it works. I don't think this is gonna help us get—"

One guard stepped in, spear raised, aiming directly at Grace's back.

The strike would kill her instantly. The level gap was too wide.

But before the attack could land—

Bind of Silk!

Dozens of white threads erupted from Stark's staff, weaving through the air.

They coiled around the guards with perfect precision, wrapping their arms, legs, and weapons before tightening like iron chains.

The entire squad froze mid-step, eyes widening in shock.

Even at level 30, they couldn't move.

And worse—

-102,120! -102,120! -102,120!

Damage numbers floated above their heads as the silk cut into them.

The crowd went silent.

Stark stepped into the center of the square, standing beside Ghost and Grace.

His staff lowered slightly, but his gaze stayed firm.

"Either you let them go," Stark said, voice calm, "or… you know."

He didn't like throwing his weight around unless necessary.

But when it was? He never hesitated.

The guards trembled as the silk loosened and slipped away, releasing them.

"That human's level 30…" one muttered.

"How is he suppressing us so easily…?" another whispered.

They knew the truth: if they fought, they'd die. Simple as that.

Stark could slaughter them, even farm them for lives with [Curse Flower]. But he didn't bother.

"There's no point."

A new voice rang out, deep and commanding.

The guards immediately stepped aside.

A figure approached, clad in black armor thicker and heavier than the others.

His presence alone pressed down on the square.

---

[Shell City General Guard (Level 35)]

[Rank: Epic (Boss NPC)]

[HP: 2,000,000]

---

Even NPCs could be bosses, and this one clearly was.

At level 35, with two million HP, even Stark's eyes narrowed slightly.

His grip on the staff tightened, ready if needed.

The general stopped before him.

"That human is too strong," he said, his voice gravelly. Then he turned to the guards. "Stand down."

They immediately obeyed, retreating.

But as he turned away, the general glanced back at Stark.

"Don't forget, human. You're not above consequence. At some point, you'll regret this."

"Whatever." Stark's tone was flat.

He had no plans to linger in [Shell City].

Once he cleared the [Land of Mist], the next cities would matter more anyway.

The tension bled out of the square as the soldiers withdrew.

"See?" Grace said brightly. "My [Luck Boost] worked!"

Ghost blinked at her, deadpan. "…Right."

She couldn't believe it, but technically, Grace wasn't wrong.

Stark turned his gaze on them both.

"Be careful next time. You'll be fine in [Shell City], but don't cause trouble in the next towns."

Outside city limits, killing was fair game. Inside was a different story.

SoulsGod had respawned somewhere in [Shell City], but he wouldn't dare come back. Not with Ghost prowling.

The only reason he'd killed her before was by stunning her. That trick wouldn't save him now.

"At least I got lives from him and his idiots," Ghost said with a devilish grin. "Around 1,500."

"Damn," Stark muttered.

The area's [Lives Loss Rate] was set at 100. That meant 100 lives lost per death.

Multiply that by 15 players, and her gain made sense.

With that settled, Stark finally pulled out three bulging backpacks and dropped the items inside them on the ground.

He opened the [Stall] function, setting up his display.

[Powerful level 25 and above gear, useful and cheap!]

"Holy shit!"

"I heard people say Oblivion sells gear, but seeing it's different!"

"I'm buying, I've got lives to spare!"

The majority of his loot was level 25 gear, perfect for the average players crowding [Shell City].

Hundreds gathered almost instantly, eyes glittering.

Stark smirked faintly. Business would be good.

And to make sure no one got ideas, he opened a second panel.

[If you try to steal, I'll just bind and kill you. Don't try.]

Several players gulped audibly.

The reminder of those silk threads cutting through guards like paper was fresh in their minds.

No one wanted to test him.

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