After slaying four creatures, John didn't stay put.
He began to use his positioning to manage and extend the distance between himself and the remaining few skeleton guards.
It's true that a magus's damage output is among the highest of all classes, but likewise, their vulnerability is also near the top.
Even with John's current HP over two thousand, he couldn't withstand many hits from the monsters.
Therefore, he had to carefully control the distance, creating an environment conducive to his attacks.
However, with the enhancement from his max-level Zephyr Shield, John had a much easier time than other magus classes, coupled with his rich combat experience, he appeared to be strolling leisurely.
John moved among the group of monsters like a fluttering butterfly, constantly weaving and pulling, while skill after skill flew out at intervals, each one maximizing damage among the monsters.
Seraphina, watching from a safe distance, felt as if she was witnessing a masterful performance by a stage prodigy, her heart filled with admiration.
While magi have high damage, they also have many drawbacks.
Two of these are how to manage positioning and the timing of skill deployment.
In many instances within a dungeon, a magus may only get the chance to cast one or two skills before monsters close in, and a single misstep could be fatal.
At such times, the importance of positioning and skill timing becomes paramount, potentially lifesaving.
However, the majority of magi struggle with positioning and timing, thus relying on teammates to fend off monsters, unable to solo grind.
John was clearly an exception; not only was his damage output high, but his positioning and skill timing were also spot-on, allowing him to remain composed even amidst a throng of monsters.
Such individuals are formidable; many of the top awakeners in the Federal might not possess this kind of attribute.
Because they rely not on their talent, but purely on personal capability.
This means, even if John were given a very ordinary talent or class, he could elevate it to a level beyond the reach of ordinary people through his own abilities.
Seraphina watched intently from the side, committing John's movements and techniques to memory.
She then began to try and replicate them in her mind, to see if she could achieve his level of proficiency.
However, to Seraphina's dismay, she found she couldn't.
In terms of real combat experience, she felt the gap between her and John was even greater than in talent; she couldn't even catch his shadow.
Yet, Seraphina wasn't discouraged. Even if she couldn't reach John's level, she felt she could at least learn from his experience to enhance her own abilities.
Outside Necrochurch, the twelve monsters didn't last long against John, all turning into experience points.
John picked up the two iron-tier items dropped on the ground and, finding them to be quite ordinary, tossed them directly into his storage ring to sell for money after leaving the dungeon.
Seraphina approached him at this point.
The monsters here had been cleared, and no new ones would appear for a while.
Plus, this being the BOSS's territory, ordinary monsters wouldn't dare come near, making it quite safe.
Seeing John picking up materials everywhere, she asked curiously, "Are you in need of money?"
In Seraphina's eyes, someone as capable as John shouldn't be in much need of money.
John, bending down to pick up the last dropped material from a monster, joked,
"Of course I am. If Miss Winters is willing to gift me a few million federal coins, I'd be eternally grateful."
As an All-Class Magus capable of learning all magus skills, John needed to purchase a large number of magus skill scrolls, naturally requiring a substantial amount of federal coins.
This was the reason for his fervent money-making endeavors.
Hearing John's words, Seraphina blinked her beautiful eyes and said,
"If you're in dire need of money, we could collaborate. You could help me level up, and I'd pay you one million federal coins a day, plus all equipment and items we find would be yours."
John was taken aback for a moment, then laughed.
This girl wasn't foolish after all, knowing to pave her way with money.
A million a day was but a drop in the ocean for Seraphina, yet it could not only rapidly increase her level but also earn her his friendship, seeming like a profitable deal in every aspect.
John was somewhat tempted, but ultimately, he declined.
Although he needed money, what he needed more was to level up.
Having Seraphina with him would not only slow down his leveling speed but also risk exposing more of his secrets.
Besides, with his capabilities, he was already making money fast enough and didn't lack that million.
Without blinking, Seraphina immediately offered, "Five million a day!"
"Deal!" John agreed without hesitation.
It wasn't about the money; he simply enjoyed leveling up with girls.
Seraphina's eyebrows slightly bent, and it might have been an illusion, but John thought he saw a fleeting smile on her exquisite face, breathtakingly beautiful for that instant.
But as soon as she noticed John looking at her, the smile on Seraphina's face vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
She lifted her chin slightly, reverting to her usual cool and proud demeanor, as if the previous moment had been merely John's imagination.
John's mouth twitched, truly a tsundere woman.
[You have received a party invitation, do you accept?]
[Accept/Decline]
John chose to accept, and immediately noticed a green font appearing above Seraphina's head.
"Teammate"
And above his own head appeared two characters.
However, unlike Seraphina's, his read "Leader".
This marked the successful formation of their party.
Following this, experience gained from slaying monsters would be automatically divided between them, while equipment distribution was at the discretion of the party leader. Both parties could leave the team at any time.
After forming the party, John wasted no time and led Seraphina into Necrochurch.
Passing through the church's pointed archway, the view before John opened up dramatically.
They were greeted by the spacious main hall of the church, where rows of long benches were lined up, each spot occupied by a figure in a black robe.
Upon closer inspection, it became clear that beneath the robes were praying skeletons.
On either side of the main hall stood twelve monstrous statues, each several meters tall, perched on pillars with their wings folded, resembling bats, their appearances menacing and grotesque.
At the far end of the main hall stood an even larger statue.
It depicted a figure in a robe, its features indiscernible.
Behind it was a vivid and grand mural, in which a blood moon hung in the sky, and a winged monster, holding a staff embedded with a red crystal, was depicted.
Red light cascaded from the heavens.
Countless humans had been turned into skeletons, ghouls, and various monsters, resembling a hell on earth!
John's eyes reflected his contemplation.
This seemed to be the origin of Phantom Ruins, and the winged creature was likely the primary culprit.
The church was probably built by its worshippers, though it was unclear whether this being was the Ghost Wizard...
"Clack clack clack clack—!"
While John was deep in thought, the sound of clattering bones snapped him back to reality.
He looked towards the source of the noise.
Unbeknownst to him, the robed skeletons at the very back, previously bowed in prayer, had risen.
Their hollow eye sockets ignited with blue flames, uniformly turning their gaze towards John and Seraphina.
[Name: Bone Worshiper (Common)]
[Level: lv10]
[HP: 4300]
[Spirit: 127]
[Stamina: 38]
[Defense: 59]
[Speed: 35]
[Skills: Nether Flame, Bone Spike…]
These skeletons differed from the skeleton guards outside; they appeared to be magi, with low HP but in great numbers.
A group of over twenty had risen simultaneously, presenting a rather eerie sight.
John remained unfazed, even taking the time to light a cigarette, laughing, "Is this like a warm-up, sending a few minor monsters our way first?"
Seraphina, not as composed as John, was already gripping her crystal staff tightly.
She watched the bone worshipers casting spells and cautiously warned,
"Be careful, dealing with so many skeleton magi might be tricky. If needed, I can lend you one of my life-saving items first."
John shook his head without a word, simply raising his staff.
"Pyrokinesis!"
The next moment, a fire serpent as thick as a water bucket appeared out of nowhere.
With a roaring flame like a rocket, it shot straight towards the black-robed skeletons in the midst of casting!