Six days had passed.
Lately, I'd been grinding alone. No high-risk dungeons. No parties. Just solo farming in low-level areas that other players didn't want.
As I was halfway through roasting a lizard on a stick when the sky suddenly lit up like a comet smashing into a billboard—A massive system alert, flashing in gold and red:
[ALERT]: [Over 464 Players Have Been Eliminated Attempting to Clear the First Dungeon in Arkanos City – Shallow Chambers.]
[Status]: [Uncleared]
Almost five hundred players. Gone. Just like that.
Now, I'd just finished looting an unguarded village of low-level ogres, located four kilometers away from Arkanos City. They were using human bones for furniture. I found a chest in the chief's hut buried under a bunch of rotten hides and ash-covered scrolls. Inside was a silver dagger, some leather bracers, reinforced boots, a light tunic, and two Ethers. All of it was low-tier, but a solid upgrade from the junk I'd been wearing.
The next early morning, I started walking toward Arkanos City. That's where most players were gathering and where hundreds had already died.
The trail was quiet. No monsters, no signs of players. Birds were chirping, the wind was steady, and somewhere nearby, a Feral Wolf howled.
"I hope I don't get jumped by some monsters early in the morning..." I thought.
Suddenly, a sharp yell broke through the quiet.
"FIREBALLLL!!!—Oh, come on!!"
Then a loud thud, followed by a series of high-pitched squeals.
I turned towards it. "What the hell was that?"
I crouched low and edged toward the noise. Peeking through a gap in the bushes, I saw a tall, skinny Australian man in a blue robe. He stood in a small clearing, gripping a wooden staff like it was his last hope. Five goblins circled him, their green eyes glinting, teeth bared, claws scratching the dirt as they closed in. The man's shoulders tensed, and he muttered something under his breath, readying himself for the attack.
I tightened my grip on my dagger.
He raised his staff again. "C'mon, you useless stick!"
I sighed. "Time to be the hero no one asked for," I said, slipping out of the bushes.
One goblin suddenly jumped at me, swinging its wooden club just in time for me to shove my dagger into its face. It screeched, staggering back. I spun, ducked a wild swing, and sank my blade into another goblin's back. Two down.
The man blinked, eyes wide. "Wait, who are you—?"
"No time for questions!" I said, sidestepping another goblin's attack. "You got anything left in that fancy stick of yours?"
He grinned suddenly, his fear turning to excitement. "Actually… one more shot."
He lifted his staff and shouted a ridiculously dramatic spell name. "SUPER DUPER OMEGA FIREBALL!!!"
"Is... this... guy serious?" I muttered, eye twitching. "Who even shouts their skills..."
A fireball shot out, exploding in the middle of the remaining goblins and sending burning green chunks flying everywhere.
When the smoke cleared, we both stood there, panting, the clearing eerily silent except for the faint hiss of smoldering grass.
A system window popped into visibility in front of me:
[+1 Level gained]
[1x Ether]
"I leveled up?" I thought, blinking. "That was fast…"
The man straightened up, breathing hard but grinning—then extended out his right hand. "Lars Dracule. Mage class. Probably the worst one right now."
I shook it. "Lu Ryo. No Class. That's... literally my class."
He squinted. "Wait. No Class? Like—like actually?"
I nodded once.
He blinked—then burst out laughing. "Dude! You might be the unluckiest guy on earth!"
I raised my right eyebrow. "I should've just let the goblins kill you earlier," I said. "Oh! and looted your body!"
We laughed. That kind of laugh you let out only after barely escaping an accident or death.
"So," I said, brushing dirt off my pants. "Where are you headed?"
"Arkanos City," he said, pulling out a mana potion that was in a yellow potion bottle. He popped the cork with his teeth and took a long drink.
I grinned. "Same destination. And yeah, soloing right now sounds like a good way to die."
He gave me a knowing look. "Ya thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Form a party, get some levels, die less stupidly?" I said.
He smirked, lowering his staff. "Exactly."
I extended a hand. "You die first, I loot your body."
He shook it firmly. "Same goes for you."
We both grinned.
Just like that, a duo was formed.