As everyone was preparing to fight the incoming skeleton mobs, one guy stepped forward confidently.

"Don't worry, let me take care of it," he said as he began to chant, hands clasped together. It looked more like a prayer than a mage's incantation.

It was Marcus from the Golden Light Guild.

Everyone recognized him easily—this year's prodigy from their city. Marcus Blake, S-rank Holy Knight Awakener.

He finished his chant and spread his arms wide.

A bright circle of golden light appeared beneath his feet, and several glowing rings shot out around him.

BOOM—BOOM—BOOM!

Every skeleton hit by the rings exploded into ash instantly.

The group stared, impressed.

Marcus rested his sword on his shoulder and smiled proudly.

"Alright! I'm Marcus, Holy Knight class, from the Golden Light Guild," he announced loudly. "Who wants to join my team?"

He looked around like he expected everyone to raise their hands.

A few people whispered among themselves.

Some stepped forward hopefully.

Lily leaned closer to Mike.

"He's strong… but he feels kinda full of himself," she whispered.

Mike nodded slightly. "Yeah. And if we join him, he'll make us do all the work while he takes the credit."

Lily sighed. "True."

Marcus continued speaking to the crowd.

"I'll pick only the capable ones! If you join me, your safety is guaranteed. If you walk alone, good luck. These skeletons might tear you apart."

He smirked, confident.

He started selecting people—mostly those who looked flashy or had expensive-looking gear.

He didn't even glance at Mike and Lily.

Lily shrugged. "So… we go alone?"

Mike smiled. "Of course. We'll get more monsters that way."

The two quietly stepped away from the crowd as Marcus formed his team of about twenty people.

There were Five men team and other three young guys team like Mike and Lily who didn't join Marcus's Team.

They all went on their own.

"Alright, team! Follow me!" Marcus shouted before walking ahead like he owned the dungeon.

Mike watched them leave.

"Let's go," he said.

Lily nodded, gripping her staff as they walked deeper into the skeleton plains together.

Mike and Lily headed south, where several small graveyards lay scattered across the plains. Skeleton Mages drifted between the crooked tombstones, their blue flames flickering eerily.

"I think it's time you wore your real gear," Lily said.

Mike pointed at his black shirt and pants.

"This is my gear."

In an instant, the illusion shimmered away, revealing the Black Mithril Knight Set—black and purple streaked armor, complete with its imposing helmet.

Lily's eyes widened.

"That's a Transformation Set! Those are so rare! Even my father—he's a Rank 2 Healer—doesn't have one. How did you get one? "

"I got it from a… special location in the Origin World," he said casually.

Lily puffed her cheeks in envy.

"So lucky. It's like you spawned at a great starting area. Meanwhile, I appeared near Lizardmen and died instantly."

Mike blinked. "How many times have you died?"

"Two, actually." She held up two fingers. "First time was right after I spawned—the Lizardmen found me, and well… spears." She shuddered at the memory. "Second time, I wandered into a jungle and a huge snake bit me in half."

Mike chuckled. "Your start's still better than mine. I spawned at an virus infected area. It inflated me like a balloon and then POP!"

She sighed. "At least your current run is good."

Mike nodded. "What's your third run now?"

"You won't believe it," Lily said with a proud smile. "I'm on the Alvaros Continent."

Mike froze. "Alvaros? Are you sure?"

"Yes. Why?"

"I'm there too," he said.

Lily stared at him. "…No way."

"Right? What are the chances?" Mike laughed. "The Origin World is basically infinite. Over three million recorded continents… and we end up on the same one."

She smiled, still amazed. "Guess we're just weirdly lucky."

"So, where are you on the Alvaros Continent?" he asked, wondering if they could play together in Original World as well.

"I'm in the Kingdom of the Golden Sun. It's on the western part of the continent," she said, then asked, "What about you?"

"I haven't figured out where I am yet, but I'm heading to a big city called Valor City. Once I get there, I can find out which part of Alvaros I'm in," he said as he nodded.

"Tell me after you find out. Maybe we can meet up together," she said. Then she noticed him pulling out his Black Mithril Knight Sword as they reached the graveyard. "Anyway, let's get ready for the fight."

Mike said nothing more as a skeleton mage spotted them and hurled a burning blue fireball at them.

Lily chanted quickly, forming a Water Armor around him, while Mike rushed toward the mage—one clean strike was all he needed to end it.

The skeleton mage crumbled into dust, its blue flame fading like a dying candle.

Lily lowered her staff and exhaled.

"That was fast."

Mike brushed ash off his gauntlet.

"Skeletons are weak. Their mages just look scary."

The wind blew across the graveyard, moving between the crooked tombstones.

Faint blue lights floated around—restless souls drifting in the air.

Lily stepped closer to Mike.

"More are coming," she said quietly.

Several skeleton warriors stepped out from behind the graves. Their bones rattled, and their swords scraped against each other. Their eye sockets glowed with a cold blue light.

Mike raised his sword.

Lily lifted her staff.

They moved forward together.

Bones and broken equipment crunched under their boots as they walked.

Mike held his sword tighter.

Lily took a deep breath.

Then they rushed in.

Mike cut down the first skeleton easily, his blade slicing through its bones.

Lily fired water bolts that hit the skeletons in the head, breaking their skulls one by one.

Bones scattered across the ground.

Water splashed.

The blue flames in the skeletons' eyes went out.

In just a few minutes, the whole graveyard was quiet again.

Lily wiped her forehead.

"We work well together."

Mike smiled under his helmet.

"Yeah. Let's go clear the next graveyard."

They continued walking side by side through the field of bones, heading toward the next group of tombstones.

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