Sunlight filtered through the tall ginkgo trees, casting soft light on the stone paths around campus.
A warm breeze rustled the green lawns, and the buzz of cicadas filled the air, making the summer heat feel endless.
Lucas, wearing a slightly loose hoodie, strolled along casually, his eyes fixed on his phone screen.
"Wind Dash… Fire Blast…" he muttered, his fingers moving quickly as he navigated through the virtual dungeon.
Lost in his own world, everything around him seemed irrelevant.
Suddenly, a voice broke through his concentration.
"Lucas!" a sharp voice called from behind.
Instinctively, Lucas looked up to see a girl standing a short distance away, holding some papers.
Her brows were furrowed, but her determined eyes were impossible to miss.
"Emily?" Lucas squinted, recognizing the familiar face.
Emily was ranked 13th in their grade, known for her strength and magical talent.
She was staring at Lucas, a hint of expectation in her expression.
"What's up?" Lucas asked, his tone carrying a bit of annoyance.
After all, he was in the middle of an intense dungeon battle, and interruptions usually didn't end well for the person doing the interrupting.
Emily took a deep breath, clearly prepared for Lucas's reaction.
"I'm forming a team for the Summer Dungeon Hunt, and I want you to join."
Lucas blinked, his brows knitting slightly.
A dungeon hunt?
Real-world dungeon challenges didn't really interest him.
He preferred the safety of virtual dungeons, where there were no real-world dangers, and he could level up his skills without the risks.
"You sure?" he asked, his tone playful, as he sized Emily up.
"You're ranked 13th, a top player.
Why ask someone like me—a, uh, gaming addict with no interest in real-world dungeons?"
Emily raised an eyebrow, a trace of exasperation on her face.
"I know your deal, Lucas.
Even though you don't usually get involved, your skills… are not to be underestimated.
I've seen what you can do."
Lucas narrowed his eyes, his fingers still gliding across his phone screen as if he wasn't fully paying attention.
"You know I'm just a gamer.
I don't really care about real dungeons."
Emily had clearly anticipated this response.
She took a few steps forward, holding up the papers in her hand.
"My team isn't your typical setup," she said, gesturing behind her.
Two guys, who looked slightly out of place, walked up.
"This is Jeff and Jack," Emily introduced, her voice carrying a hint of self-awareness.
"They… uh, may not be high-ranking, but they have unique resources."
Lucas glanced at Jeff and Jack, chuckling softly.
Jeff was wearing an expensive shirt, accessorized with a luxury watch—definitely a rich kid.
Jack, on the other hand, had a quiet, tough-guy vibe, but Lucas could tell from his movements that he didn't have much combat experience.
"Resources?" Lucas raised an eyebrow, now slightly intrigued.
Jeff quickly spoke up, his voice carrying a note of pride.
"I can pay for top-tier gear.
Our skills might not be the best, but good equipment can make up for that."
Jack nodded in agreement, adding, "I've got some beginner-level armor that'll boost defense and improve survival rates."
Lucas shrugged, a playful smile on his face.
"So, Emily, you're planning to make up for your team's lack of skills with gear and armor?"
Emily nodded slightly, her voice still firm.
"That's part of the plan.
But Lucas, I need your strength.
Your skills may dominate in the virtual world, but we need that same strategy in real life."
Lucas glanced down at his phone, swiping across the screen.
He gave a small, nonchalant smile.
"Sounds interesting, but there's one problem."
"What problem?" Emily asked, a flicker of confusion in her eyes.
"If I join, I still need time to play my game," Lucas said lazily, though his eyes held a hint of seriousness.
"I'm not going to waste time getting to know everyone.
If I'm not careful, I might accidentally hurt you guys."
The mood shifted slightly.
Jeff and Jack exchanged awkward glances, unsure how to respond to Lucas's mix of sarcasm and self-assurance.
Emily took a deep breath, trying to stay composed.
"You can keep playing your game, but I need you to step up when it matters.
This dungeon hunt won't be easy, and we need reliable damage."
Lucas shrugged again, not looking too concerned.
"Alright, I'm curious to see what this hunt has in store."
A small, relaxed smile played on his lips, his confidence unshaken.
Even though the team wasn't fully on the same page, everyone started preparing for the hunt.
Jeff used his family's resources to purchase gear, and Jack brought in several sets of defensive armor.
Though expensive, the armor promised to boost the team's survival odds.
They also discussed how to obtain the precious skill books from the dungeon—rare items that could significantly increase a player's power.
However, Lucas didn't seem too invested in these preparations.
He remained absorbed in his game, grinding away in the virtual world to keep leveling up his skills.
He believed that with just one more powerful skill, he could easily tackle the dungeon solo, without needing to rely on teammates.
"No matter how much they prepare, it's all about skill in the end," Lucas muttered as he tapped away at his phone.
For him, the real focus was using his in-game advantages to crack the real-world dungeon.
Time flew by, and the day of the Summer Dungeon Hunt drew closer.
Jeff and Jack kept upgrading their gear and armor, while Emily worked on refining their strategy.
But Lucas never showed much interest.
During strategy discussions, he would nod absentmindedly, as if the whole thing didn't concern him.
As the hunt approached, Lucas remained locked into his game, looking for that perfect breakthrough in the virtual dungeon.
He believed that with enough practice, he could bridge the gap between virtual and real worlds.
With his unique skill extraction ability, Lucas was confident he'd easily dominate the challenge, whether the team needed him or not.