CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 33: ALLEY OF SHADOWS, ALLEY REAPER

[Do you wish to consume 7 Evolution Points to evolve "Magic Barrier"?]

"Yes."

Ding!

[You have evolved "Magic Barrier" (Elite) to "Strong Magic Barrier" (Epic)]

[Current Evolution Points: 4.]

’Another name change, heh.’

It was only the second time his sole defensive skill had changed names, so Stark expected something good.

---

[Strong Magic Barrier (Epic): Summon a barrier around the user that can endure attacks, it has 5,000 → 10,000 HP. 35 → 30 (15)-seconds cooldown.]

---

The description now actually showed the HP of the barrier, which was useful.

He could see before, but only in the form of a small panel.

Now that he knew it would be easier to track.

Stark knew the general damage range of monsters at each stage.

A barrier with that much HP was basically a second lifeline.

It would let him stand his ground even against things he couldn’t dodge.

"Good enough."

He didn’t hesitate further.

With his preparations done, he stepped toward the new zone.

The silver mist swirled as he passed through, the atmosphere shifting immediately.

Ding!

---

[You have entered the "Alley of Shadows"]

[Lives loss rate: 100]

[Description: A very small alleyway shrouded in darkness, filled with a few monsters and a boss, be wary of your surroundings.]

---

Stark emerged on the other side of the mist. The system wasn’t exaggerating.

The alley was suffocatingly dark, as if shadows themselves dripped from the walls.

Yet for how narrow and small it seemed, the space inside stretched unnaturally long.

Almost like a warped corridor.

He scanned quickly.

Compared to other zones, this was small.

Nothing like the [Abandoned Temple of Fate] or [Undead Soul Land].

No doubt its purpose was simple: grind spot, quick EXP, low reward, short run.

For Stark, it was perfect. Level 15 was just ahead, and this zone was the shortcut.

He moved forward without hesitation.

But the moment his boots scraped against the cobbled ground—

Fwish!

A sharp claw tore out from the side.

Stark shifted his weight and slid back, narrowly dodging.

In the darkness, shapes formed.

---

[Shadow Spirit (Level 15)]

[Rank: Rare]

[HP: 40,000]

---

There were five of them.

Pitch-black bodies hovered just above the ground, like tattered shades drifting through air.

Their hollow white eyes locked onto him.

’I guess these are the monsters...’ Stark smirked. ’Good. Exactly what I need.’

No reason to waste time. His staff slammed forward.

Sovereign Vines! Corrosive Crystals!

The cobbles beneath the spirits cracked open as thick vines erupted upward, snapping around each target.

The ground quaked as the attack landed.

-25,650!-25,650!-25,650!

Numbers bled into the air. The spirits recoiled, hissing silently.

But Stark wasn’t done.

He swung his staff again, five green shards materializing around him.

The new version of the skill required steadier aim.

But to him, it wasn’t an issue.

He flicked his wrist, each shard slicing forward and embedding into a spirit.

-7,000! -2,100! -2,100!

The poison effect spread, numbers ticking faster and faster across their bodies.

The toxic build-up shredded through their HP, eating away their last fragments.

One after another, the five spirits collapsed into drifting black smoke.

Stark lowered his staff, stepping forward without a pause.

Ding!

---

[You have killed x5 "Shadow Spirit (Level 15)"]

[You have gained 15,000 experience points!]

[You have gained 47 Lives!]

---

Hand of Avarice!

Ding!

[You have gained 29 Lives!]

Stark’s life count ticked upward.

[Lives: 1260]

With that amount, he could actually extract his levels, and thus attributes, to the real world.

He needed much more to be able to send his skills and equipments.

He was already half-prepared for the [First Calamity] though!

Other than [Lives], the Shadow Spirits left nothing. No drops.

"Figures." He shrugged and kept moving.

The alley stretched on.

The walls pressed tighter the further he went, shadows flickering unnaturally against his steps.

A few more monsters appeared as he pushed deeper.

[Alley Wolf (Level 15)]

[Shadow Crook (Level 15)]

Each one tried ambushing him from the dark. Each one fell just as fast.

His EXP bar crawled higher, his [Lives] steadily stacking.

Minutes later, the faint end of the alley came into view.

A faint red glow lingered in the mist.

And waiting for him was the boss.

---

[Alley Reaper (Level 16)]

[Rank: Elite]

[HP: 90,000]

---

It floated slightly above the ground, a cloaked figure with only shadows beneath its hood.

A jagged scythe rested in its hands, gleaming in the dim alley.

Stark sized it up.

Compared to the [Undead Soul Mage], it was technically weaker, it only had one phase and less HP.

The reason for that was because of the rank.

But Stark didn’t care. EXP was EXP.

His staff shot up.

Sovereign Vines! Annihilating Fireball! Corrosive Crystals! Lightning Strike!

All his spells launched in unison.

-25,650!-14,910!-7,000! -2,100! -2,100!-10,650!

The reaper’s HP chunked down by two-thirds instantly.

Smoke burst from its cloak, yet it didn’t falter.

It lunged forward, scythe raised.

Strong Magic Barrier!

A shimmering dome wrapped around Stark.

But the reaper’s body flickered, and a faint chant echoed.

Soul Buff!

Its scythe blurred.

Fwish! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

Six strikes in less than a second.

Crack!

The barrier shattered like glass, fragments of mana bursting apart.

The seventh swing came straight for Stark’s throat.

He ducked low, boots scraping as the blade swept over his head.

The scythe carved into the wall, sparks flashing.

’One hit from that and I’m dead.’

But Stark didn’t freeze.

No matter how strong he was, this was still a level 16 elite-rank boss, something no other player could actually defeat.

Especially in this narrow alley, where its scythe had a big range.

But that didn’t matter.

He raised his staff, ready to cast, but...

Fwish! SLASH!

The reaper cut again, forcing him back.

’So that’s your game?’ Stark’s lips curled. ’Fine.’

Another swing. This time Stark braced his staff and met the attack head on.

Clang!

The impact rattled his arms, throwing him back a few meters.

-380!

He slid to a stop, chest heaving.

The was the first instance of damage he had taken since his transmigration.

Stark gritted his teeth and raised his staff again.

Annihilation Fireball! Corrosive Crystal!1

BOOM!

The fireball detonated against the reaper’s chest, flames flaring bright in the alley.

A green shard followed, embedding and poisoning the cloak.

-14,910! -7,000!

The reaper convulsed, shadows leaking.

Its form distorted, then shattered apart into mist.

The scythe clattered to the ground.

Ding!

---

[You have killed "Alley Reaper (Level 16 Elite-Rank Boss)"]

[You have gained 48,000 experience points.]

[Congratulations, you have leveled up to Level 15!]

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

[You have gained 8 Evolution Points!]

[You have gained 38 Lives!]

---

"Perfect."

Stark raised his hand and immediately used [Hand of Avarice].

Ding!

[You have gained 4 Evolution Points!]

[You have gained 37 Lives!]

Satisfied, he crouched and picked up the fallen scythe.

The weapon was heavy, humming faintly with the remnants of shadow energy.

Stark’s eyes narrowed as he inspected it.

I wanna note that it says "corrosive crystal" instead of "crystals" because each crystal can only be aimed at one enemy.