"HOLY SHIT, LOOK AT THOSE!"

Some players pointed at the [Calamity Gauntlets (Mythical)].

---

[Calamity Gauntlets (Mythical): Warrior-type accesory. +1,500 Strength, Attack Speed +31%. Requirement: Level 25]

[Calamity Strength (Passive): The user deals 2x damage while wearing the gauntlets.]

---

These were definitely one of the most valuable items Stark had put up for sale, but that also meant they were incredibly expensive.

Still...

"I'll take them."

The man standing in front of Stark was [BraveWarrior], or David as he was known in real life.

The same David Stark had saved back on the [Novice Continent].

It was good to see that he had survived this far.

"How much?" David asked, his eyes were fixed on the gauntlets, "They'll boost my power and help my team."

"500 Lives," Stark replied flatly. "I'm not doing any less."

"Deal."

The notification rang immediately as David sent the lives to him.

Without hesitation, he took the gauntlets in hand.

Stark was satisfied to see such a quick buyer for them.

But he still had plenty of other rare items on display: the [Pendulum Blades], [Church Assassin Dual Daggers], and even the [Calamity Helmet].

Each of them slowly found their way into someone else's hands.

One after another, players rushed forward with offers, eager to claim something that could boost their strength.

Stark's pile of lives kept stacking higher.

Surprisingly, no one tried to steal anything.

Everyone had already seen the panel he set up before opening his stall.

Oblivion wasn't a joke.

Anyone who tried to steal would be bound instantly and executed.

Even desperate players weren't foolish enough to risk it.

After all, being enemies with Oblivion would only bring disadvantages.

Eventually, Ghost herself appeared in front of him.

She stepped up calmly, scanning the items.

After a short moment, she picked up two pieces.

"I'll take the [Church Assassin Dual Daggers (Legendary)] and the [Church Assassin Cloak (Epic)]," she said with a small smile. "How much?"

These were clearly stronger than what she currently wore.

Stark could tell she wasn't hesitating in the slightest.

"I'll say 250 Lives for both."

Ding!

[You have received 250 lives from "Ghost"]

Ghost secured her equipment quickly, just like that.

Since Stark had already given Starfall the [Church Devout Staff], there was nothing she needed.

Ghost and Grace both waved at Stark before leaving [Shell City] to return to grinding.

Stark remained in the square for another fifteen minutes.

Even with the [First Calamity] ending only a few hours ago, players were desperate to buy loot, fighting for anything that could give them a small edge.

One by one, every last piece was sold.

Ding!

[You have gained 14,380 Lives!]

'Holy hell.'

[Lives: 31,082]

It was a jackpot.

With that much, he had enough ressources for the near future.

The only things he didn't sell were the [Miner Spider Pickaxe] and the [Spider Necklace].

Everything else, even the [Divine Sword] and [Divine Armor] he'd taken from the [Divine Dual Wielder] of the [Tower of Divinity] was gone.

His inventory was nearly empty again.

Which was perfect. It meant more room for new loot.

'Perfect.'

Once all the sales were done, he left a small message behind:

[Thank you for your purchases, I'll be back for more, maybe.]

And with that, he stood up, packed away his stall, and started to walk away from [Shell City].

The guards near the square gave him odd glances, though he ignored them.

It didn't matter.

He already knew he wouldn't be back here often.

The moment he passed through the [Land of Mist] and reached the next city, [Shell City] would become nothing more than a stop along the way.

Still, it was good to keep the option open.

Stark summoned the ghost wolf with the [Mount Bell (Ghost Wolf)].

The mount materialized beside him in its eerie, translucent form.

Players in the distance were busy fighting monsters, hacking away desperately to grind out their levels.

"Take this!"

Slash!

-20,830! -20,830!

David, [BraveWarrior], was among them.

Stark noticed the gauntlets immediately.

The [Calamity Gauntlets] had doubled David's damage output, letting him shred through nearby monsters with ease.

His team was also doing better thanks to him!

Stark moved past them, mounting the ghost wolf again.

A short distance away, he spotted Ghost and Grace fighting against a [General Ground Spider (Epic-Rank Boss)].

Grace was clearly taking the aggro, holding the spider's attention while Ghost circled behind.

Stark stopped his mount, watching quietly from a distance.

He didn't plan to intervene, but their teamwork caught his eye.

Grace raised her hand, casting [Immunity Shield].

A shimmering barrier wrapped around her body as the spider slammed its legs down.

At the same time, Ghost vanished completely.

Ghost Invisibility!

The spider's aggro shifted entirely to Grace.

It attacked again, but before it could land another strike—

Ghost Slash!

Ghost reappeared directly behind it, her daggers flashing with deadly precision.

Slash! Slash!

-771,000! -771,000!

The damage numbers exploded into view.

She was boosted by Grace's [Strength Buff], and with her class evolution, her power had grown drastically.

Stark noted the change, back attacks that used to have a 10x multiplier were now hitting at 15x.

She still didn't outdamage him, but it was clear why she held such a high place among players.

Stark ordered the ghost wolf to move again, leaving them to finish their fight.

He rode forward until the landscape shifted.

And there it was. The pit.

His surroundings were mostly empty, except for scattered players working together to clear monsters.

One stood out: [EvilDemon].

The man was laughing like a lunatic, firing beams wildly and killing monsters one after another.

"HAHA! DIE!"

"...?"

Stark raised an eyebrow, but didn't linger on him.

His attention turned back to the massive pit in front of him.

It stretched deep into the earth, crimson light glowing faintly from below.

For most players, the barrier at the edge blocked entry.

But Stark had already reached level 30.

Ding!

---

[You have reached the appropriate level: 30.]

[You are about to enter a dangerous level 30-40 zone: "Demonic Ruins"]

[Jump into the pit to enter, but do note you cannot leave unless you die.]

---

The [Demonic Ruins] would soon become the main grinding zone for all players.

For now, though, he had the chance to conquer it alone.

Five entire floors to clear.

More experience. More lives. More EP.

And Olikar's quest waiting inside.

"I won't be able to bring you down," Stark said, looking at the ghost wolf.

The mount tilted its head before vanishing as he unsummoned it.

He stepped closer to the edge, staring into the crimson glow below.

He took a deep breath. And he jumped.

Fwish!

Darkness swallowed him.

Most players would have hesitated to jump so quickly into a random pit.

But Stark didn't. His confidence was unshaken.

As he fell, system panels flickered into view.

Ding!

---

[You have entered the "Demonic Ruins"]

[You have arrived in the "First Floor"]

[Lives loss rate: 150]

---

The penalty was only slightly higher than the outside world.

But as he advanced deeper, the cost would climb.

By the fourth and fifth floors, most players wouldn't dare continue.

After a few seconds of falling, Stark landed on the ground of the [First Floor].

He looked ahead, his eyes locked forward.

He was ready. Ready to conquer this zone.

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