Chapter 34: New Boss Plus, Temple Secret Area

[Death Revenant - Level 40 - NB+]

[HP: 30000]

You might have noticed the NB+ next to the level, and also the fact that the boss now had 30000 HP instead of 15000, well, there is a simple reason for that!

NB+ stands for New Boss Plus, meaning that someone who beats a boss and attempts to beat it again will be forced to fight a stronger version.

You might think this is a disadvantage as that's a system that pretty much discourages people from fighting the same boss again, but not at all.

In exchange for being stronger, the boss has now a higher chance to drop better loot, and gives more experience!

Plus, if you die to it once, it immediately resets back to its normal state, even if it's NB+9.

NB+1 wasn't that difficult, and along with his new [Awakener's Set], the Death Revenant had absolutely no chance of winning!

Lightning Strike! Grand Fireball! Crimson Shard! Boulder Smash!

Zap! Boom! Boom! Boom

-2258! -2908! -1250! -2400!

The boss, which was level 40 and supposed to be able to even take out an entire squad of players of the same level, had lost almost one fourth of its health at the first spells Alex threw.

"Human… die…" the revenant approached Alex, closing in the distance between them and swinging his massive hands.

But Alex didn't even bother to avoid, or summon his [Earth Shield].

BAM!

"Got… you…"

"Heh… that awakener's set is more powerful than I thought!"

-12!

The boss did 12 points of damage to Alex.

[Physical Resistance:] 470 + 1000 (Vitality * 1)

This meant his physical resistance was at 1470, enough to survive even a blow from this thing without a single scratch!

That armor was extremely powerful, and that is why Alex wanted it, and also why it was cursed, making it difficult for anyone who got it to actually wear it without dying.

The battle after that wasn't even challenging for Alex, as he quickly depleted the Revenant's life and killed it.

Alice tried to land in some arrow shots, but the enhanced boss was too much for her, though she currently was level 20 so it is understandable.

[You have slain 'Death Revenant', gained 836 experience points!]

"Extraction!"

[You have extracted "Vial of Undead Blood" (Legendary)]

That was the only other drop that had a chance to appear from killing the boss, so he obviously extracted it, a small vial with crimson red/dark liquid appearing in his hands.

'Ah…' but he had nowhere to place it since his backpack could only store items up to Epic, one rank below Legendary!

Ding!

[Potential Extraction is available!]

It had been 30 hours since he left the game, aka 15 hours in real life, meaning that he could use it again!

Without hesitation, Alex grabbed the [Advancement Backpack] and used the perk on it.

"Potential Extraction!"

The air seemed to vibrate as Alex focused his energy on the Advancement Backpack.

A warm, golden glow enveloped the item, and Alex could feel its potential being unlocked.

Ding!

[You have successfully enhanced "Advanced Backpack!"]

[New Legendary Item: Superior Backpack]

[Slots Increased to 100, can store items up to Legendary]

Alex's eyes lit up as he saw the notification.

He quickly stored the Vial of Undead Blood in the backpack, feeling a sense of relief wash over him.

"That was close," Alice said as she read the skill description, "worried we'd have to leave it behind."

Alex smirked, "Yeah, this vial could be useful in the future."

Alice's eyes sparkled with curiosity, "What does it do?"

Alex looked at Alice with a perplexed look, "Nothing much, we'll see later," he lied.

No need to inform her of the [Hatred Sect] yet.

The Hatred Sect, as in their names, were from the [Abyssal Humans] race, a race of pure evil that corrupts the lands wherever they go.

And as you might expect… they are under the orders of the [God of the Abyss] and some more powerful beings.

The [God of the Abyss] is a being hidden deep in the seventh layer of the [Abyss], a tier 8+ secret area.

Of course, Alex knew the location, and the [World Map] would surely help, but he wouldn't go until a long time.

The [God of the Abyss] was the weakest of the gods, and they had actually managed to kill him in his past life, though he was the only one that died, all others had overwhelming strength and power.

Even killing that God took hundreds of sacrifices, and they had been on the verge of losing to it, too.

"Alright," Alex after killing the boss and extracting the item he wanted immediately headed toward one of the corners of the chamber.

"Huh?" Alice was confused, "Aren't we going?"

"No, we still have one more thing to do," Alex smiled as he pressed the wall.

As Alex pressed the wall, a small section of the stone slid open, revealing a hidden entrance.

"What the hell?" Alice's eyes widened as she peered into the compartment. "What is that?"

"Secret!" Alex put his hand inside the compartment, just big enough to fit it, and reached out for a lever at the very end, pulling it down.

Rumble! Rumble!

[A secret zone has been discovered!]

As the rumbling subsided, the stone wall behind the Death Revenant's chamber began to slide open, revealing a narrow passageway.

Alice's eyes sparkled with excitement, "Wow, how did you know about this?"

Alex smiled, "Just a little trick I learned."

He led Alice through the passageway, which twisted and turned through the temple's ancient stonework.

The air was thick with dust, and cobwebs clung to the walls, suggesting that this path had been hidden for a very long time.

As they walked, the walls began to change, displaying intricate carvings of undead creatures and dark magic rituals.

The passageway finally opened into a giant chamber and from the entrance you could see a blood altar, in the middle a small display with a red liquid inside.

[Pour your blood into the altar, and the 'Undead King' may appear.]

[Warning, you shouldn't do that.]

[Letting the Undead King out of its slumber will make it go wild.]

In Alex's previous life, many people tried to kill that thing, but even though it was only level 50 currently, it was actually from the third category for bosses: Superior.

It was above [Elite] and even [Epic], making it an incredibly powerful foe for the beginning.

Actually, the people that had summoned it in Alex's past life had died from its hands, and so it escaped the temple, causing chaos.

It took ten full hours of people fighting to kill it once, and that's not considering the twist with the [Undead King].

This could potentially happen again if Alex overestimates his capabilities.

"Are you gonna… do it?" Alice asked, fearful.

"Yep," but Alex smiled, "Don't worry, I'll protect you with my life, little fox."

"…!" Alice blushed as she touched the [Fox Ears] she was still wearing, and then nodded.

Alex stepped toward the altar, his dagger in hand.

He paused briefly, looking at Alice. "Stay back."

With a swift motion, he cut his own finger and placed it in front of the altar.

And the moment the first drop touched the crimson liquid.

Rumble… Rumble…

The once dormant carvings on the walls flared to life, glowing an eerie red.

And a swirling black mist gathered in the center of the chamber, forming a towering figure.

Skeletal and cloaked in tattered robes, the Undead King emerged, its hollow eyes glowing with a fierce blue light

[The Undead King has awakened!]

"You dare to awaken me, human?"