CHAPTER 39: CHAPTER 39: REAL WORLD ATTRIBUTES, HEADING EVEN DEEPER

Stark’s body reformed in the real world the moment he left [Eternal Soul].

The sunlight bleeding through his window.

Outside, people were walking around like nothing had changed.

Some hurried to work, others sat at cafés, sipping coffee, laughing, living their "normal" lives.

Even after experiencing all of this and having to fight monsters to reach level 3.

To them, [Eternal Soul] was still just a game. Something they could ignore.

Stark snorted.

A mistake. One that would kill them sooner or later. But not his problem.

All he needed now was a few hours of rest.

Just enough to reset his body, calm his nerves, and then he’d dive right back into the game.

Still, before collapsing into bed, Stark opened his status window for the second time in the real world.

---

[ID: Oblivion]

[Class: Mage of Oblivion (Tier-1)]

[Talent: Infinite Evolution (SSS)]

[Level: 17 (7,200/100,000)]

[Lives: 876]

[Constitution: 90]

[Strength: 90]

[Agility: 117]

[Spirit: 133]

[Skills: None.]

---

"Phew."

There it was. His real-world sync.

The levels he gained inside [Eternal Soul] carried over. Meaning his attributes carried too.

He clenched his fist. The strength behind it felt real.

The density in his muscles, the sharpened reflexes, it was all there.

Of course, equipment didn’t transfer. Neither did the ability to use skills.

But still, stats alone made him far beyond any normal human.

He could crush steel with his bare hands if he wanted.

And right now, he was sure of one thing: no one else on Earth had power like his.

Most players hadn’t even cracked level 10 yet.

They had no idea. They didn’t know that once you reached the [Eternal Continent], the wall between reality and game shattered.

That power could bleed out. That you could carry it into the real world.

Only those that reached the [Eternal Continent] could give information.

"Can’t save everyone," Stark muttered. "Leave them to their own fate."

He stretched once, tossed himself onto the bed, and stared at the ceiling.

Compared to his past life, he was already stronger.

Back then, he had relied on Max and Seren for too much.

This time? He was carving his own path.

The corners of his mouth twitched upward. Satisfied.

Not even a full day had passed, and he had already rewritten his future.

And eventually, he feel asleep.

...

Five hours later, Stark’s eyes snapped open.

That was all he needed now.

The deeper you went into [Eternal Soul], the less you required sleep.

Your body changed. Your energy surged. Fatigue faded faster, replaced by vitality.

Food, too, became different.

Some NPC meals could keep you awake and sharp for days.

But now? Five hours was plenty. His body felt light, his thoughts clear.

No reason to stay here any longer.

Ding!

[Do you wish to enter "Eternal Soul"?]

[Yes] [No]

"Yes."

His body dematerialized. The real world dissolved.

And then—

Ding!

[You have returned to the "Eternal Continent".]

[You are full of energy.]

Stark grinned. "Good."

No hesitation. First thing he did: check the leaderboard.

---

[Level Leaderboard:]

[1. Oblivion: Level 17]

[2. Ghost: Level 17]

[3. EvilDemon: Level 17]

[4. Starfall: Level 16]

[5. PrinceLucas: Level 16]

[6. GodOfViolence: Level 16]

[7. DivineGoddess: Level 16]

[8. BraveCop: Level 15]

...

---

The names hadn’t changed. Same top ranks, same faces.

Stark still at the top. Even after all these hours.

But the pace would slow now. The experience curve steepened after level 15.

Players would realize just how sharp the climb was.

He eyed the second spot. Ghost.

Still there. Still keeping up.

And Grace, her leveling speed shocked him too.

Not on her own, of course. Ghost’s help carried her forward.

But Stark still couldn’t wrap his head around it.

Ghost, THE Ghost, one of the hundred strongest in his past life, choosing her of all people?

Still, he shoved the thought aside.

Right now, he had other priorities.

The [Outskirts] of the [Ruined City] stretched around him.

Crumbling walls, broken buildings, and an oppressive silence.

Every death here drained 20 lives. The monsters, too, were stronger.

But what caught Stark’s attention most was the density of zones.

More than outside.

The logic was simple: the deeper you went, the more danger, the more experience.

Players needed faster, riskier ways to grow. Zones delivered that.

And somewhere in this broken city... the [Church Sanctuary].

He had no plans to enter, not yet.

A level 25 zone was suicide after all, but at least he wanted to know where it was.

Still, he shook his head.

Leveling came first.

If he reached level 25 before the first event, then he’d be in position to claim the items he needed.

’Each event bring a new opportunity, and I already have a general idea of what I want,’ Stark grinned, ’Better get this over with.’

He stepped forward, deeper into the outskirts.

He encountered some level 17 monsters on the way.

They lunged at him. They died in seconds. His spells tore through them like paper.

But the experience bar barely moved.

No EP, either.

Frowning, Stark pulled open his panel.

[Current Evolution Points: 33.]

"...Oh?"

He blinked. Then the realization hit.

Almost all of his skills were already at legendary-rank. Only three remained at epic.

And the cost to evolve epic to legendary was ten EP each.

Which meant... he had enough to push every last skill into legendary.

His lips curved upward.

’Perfect!’

He was just about to do it, curiosity burning in his chest, eager to see what kind of evolutions would appear.

But...

Fwshhh!

Ruined Bite!

Stark’s instincts screamed, and he twisted aside.

A flash of teeth, a shadow lunging—

SNAP!

A massive jaw clamped down where his neck had been a heartbeat earlier.

He landed in a roll, staff in hand, eyes narrowing.

And when he analyzed the monster that attacked him... he noticed that it was a level 18 boss!

’Finally,’ Stark thought, ’Took long enough.’

He had only encountered level 16 and level 17 monsters until now, so seeing a new level was good.

---

[Ruined City Dog Leader (Level 18)]

[Rank: Rare (Boss)]

[HP: 75,000]

---

It loomed over him, nearly four meters tall.

Fur blackened, chunks missing like rotting flesh, eyes glowing faint red.

Its breath stank of decay. Around it, a pack circled, around half a dozen of smaller beasts, each snarling.

---

[Ruined City Dog (Level 18)]

[Rank: Uncommon]

[HP: 60,000]

---

"Perfect," Stark muttered.

The pack growled, forming a circle.

The leader stood at the center, fangs bared.

"Let me kill you all so I can evolve my skills."

His staff lit up as he pointed it at them, and mana surged.

Cataclysmic Fireball!

A blazing orb bloomed at the staff’s tip, swelling in size, pressure shaking the air.

He unleashed it.

Fwoooosh! BOOM!

-42,300!

The explosion ripped through the dogs.

The leader staggered, half its health bar gone in one shot.

The others fared worse, two-thirds of their HP erased instantly.

One spell. The battlefield changed in an instant.

Growls turned to furious howls.

Ding!

["Ruined City Dog Leader" has entered a "Berserk" state.]

"Oh?"

Being "berserk" didn’t actually count as a new phase for a boss or monster, but it greatly enhanced their attributes and killing intent.

And...

RUINED ROAR!

The leader threw its head back and howled.

The sound rattled the ruins, shook the ground.

And from the shadows, more dogs poured in.

The pack more than doubled.

Every single one received a buff, their movements sharper, their attacks deadlier.

Stark exhaled, a grin spreading across his face.

"Haha... guess I should’ve expected that."

Dozens of red eyes glared at him. Dozens of bodies prepared to leap.

And Stark simply lifted his staff again.

"Come on, then."