Global Necromantic Specialist

[Kill level 10 goblin patrols, experience +300]

[Kill level 11 goblin soldiers, experience +350]

[Obtain Goblin Bones]

. . .

Notifications flooded in like a rapid stream, and Marsh's experience points rose quickly.

The 44 bronze-level skeleton warriors were mowing through the goblins in the forest with impressive efficiency.

Thanks to the improvements in his skills, Marsh was now experiencing the rush of instant kills once again.

The bronze-level skeleton warriors made quick work of level 10 and level 11 goblin monsters with a single blow each.

The efficiency had increased dramatically. Since reaching level 10, Marsh had noticed that the experience required for each level-up had tripled. It was becoming increasingly difficult to advance.

Given the current pace, Marsh figured he would need to defeat around 5,000 goblin monsters to reach the next level. Though his skeleton warriors could dispatch enemies with ease, it still felt like a long road ahead.

By nightfall, Marsh had accumulated 30% of the experience required for level 11.

Building a bonfire in the forest, Marsh settled down to eat the food he'd brought from home. He had no plans of returning just yet; time was precious, and he couldn't afford to waste any of it on the journey back.

"At the rate I'm leveling up now, I should reach level 13 by tomorrow. But reaching level 15 the day after tomorrow seems uncertain," he thought.

"After level 15, the experience requirements will increase even more. I'll probably need a full day just to get back to my current pace."

"But how did my sister manage to level up so quickly?"

Marsh couldn't help but think about his sister, a legendary sword dancer. Though she was a top-tier professional, Marsh couldn't believe her leveling speed could surpass his own.

"I must have missed something," he muttered to himself.

His mind raced back to memories of their time in school, where he recalled an event involving his sister and her group. Marsh's thoughts began to piece together the scenario.

Suddenly, a lightbulb went off.

"A copy of the West Sea Mine! That's it!"

"Could it be that my sister teamed up with Ren to run the dungeon?"

"Of course, it had to be a nightmare-level dungeon."

"Nightmare-level dungeons are filled with elite monsters that are significantly stronger, and they must yield enormous amounts of experience."

Marsh realized his guess was likely correct. It was the only way to explain his sister's rapid growth in level. He clenched his fists with determination.

"I'll check it out tomorrow," he decided.

As the night deepened, Marsh continued to level up his skeleton warriors. The surrounding area, within a 500-meter radius, was cleared of monsters, and they continued to hunt with ease.

The forest at night, however, was not entirely silent. Occasionally, Marsh could hear the distant howls of wolves. The wind rustling through the leaves added an eerie vibe to the surroundings.

The temperature here was lower than other parts of the forest. With the skeleton warriors standing guard, the night wind turned into a cold, ominous breeze.

In the dead of night, one of the skeleton warriors suddenly issued a warning. Marsh immediately snapped out of his meditative state.

Someone was approaching.

"Is it a professional here to level up?" Marsh wondered aloud, trying to gauge the situation. "Not many people venture into the forest at night, so maybe they're lost."

Marsh didn't move, but his instincts told him to stay vigilant. The firelight served as the only guide in the darkness, casting eerie shadows around the clearing.

Before long, a figure appeared from the shadows.

"It's her," Marsh muttered as he recognized the figure—the person he had seen fleeing earlier in the afternoon.

The woman, clad in black, stepped into the light and approached.

"Do you have anything to eat?" she asked, her voice soft and calm.

Her big eyes gleamed in the glow of the fire.

Marsh reached into his bag and pulled out a sweet potato. It was the only food he had—some sweet potatoes and a bit of water. He handed it to her without a word.

The woman didn't seem bothered by the simplicity of the food. She took off her mask and started eating, as if she were genuinely hungry.

When she removed her mask, Marsh saw her face clearly for the first time. She looked about 18 or 19, with delicate features that gave her a youthful, almost innocent appearance.

Marsh didn't use the detection skill, knowing it would be impolite and could potentially provoke hostility.

"Thank you…" the woman coughed violently, choking slightly on the sweet potato.

Marsh quickly handed her a bottle of water. She took a few sips before regaining her composure.

"Thanks," she said more clearly this time.

Marsh merely nodded, acknowledging her gratitude. The woman continued eating, savoring each bite slowly, her movements graceful and deliberate. Despite the quiet, there was an unspoken tension in the air as Marsh sat across from her.

From time to time, she looked at him with a curious glint in her eyes, as if she were pondering something.

When she finished eating, she finally spoke up again.

"What's your name?" she asked, her voice carrying a soft yet playful tone.

Marsh didn't respond immediately. She seemed to sense his reluctance and pressed on.

"Don't you like talking?" she teased. "How about this? Let's both use detection skills on each other."

After a moment of thought, Marsh agreed with a nod.

Both of them extended their fingers slightly, and their respective detection skills activated simultaneously.

Marsh froze. The technique didn't work. No information came through.

The woman smiled mischievously, as if pleased with her trick.

"Hee hee, nothing there," she said smugly.

"Your name is Marsh, level 10, and your occupation is... Necromancer?" She raised an eyebrow. "I've never heard of that occupation. How strange."

Marsh noticed her eyes lingered on the skeleton warriors standing beside him.

"I saw one of those skeletons with you this afternoon. Is that your summon? Undead summons are quite rare," she continued, her curiosity evident.

The woman seemed to have no shortage of words.

"Why aren't you talking?" she said, her gaze searching his face. "Don't tell me you're mute. You don't seem like it."

Marsh raised an eyebrow, meeting her gaze with a quiet intensity.

"Why?" he asked, his tone calm but pointed.

She blinked, surprised by his blunt question.

"Why, you ask?" She smiled again, this time more knowingly. "The reason you couldn't detect anything is because of this."

She reached into her bag and pulled out a small item, holding it up for him to see.

"This is called a shielding badge. As long as you wear it, anyone whose level is lower than yours will be unable to use detection skills on you."

She casually tucked the shielding badge back into her bag.

"Go ahead and try now. Use your detection technique on me."

Marsh nodded and quickly cast his detection skill.

This time, it worked.

[Ning Yiyi, level 19, Shadow Assassin.]

A gust of wind stirred around them, and Ning Yiyi's smile faded instantly. Marsh, too, shifted his gaze away, his attention sharpening as he felt the change in the atmosphere.

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