MMORPG: REBORN MARK ADVENTURE IN ONLINE GAME

Mark sat in his in-game room, scrolling through Mortal Online's forums, absentmindedly tapping his fingers on the desk. Most of the posts were the usual mix of trade offers, PvP complaints, and players flexing their rare loot. But one thread stood out, rapidly gaining traction:

"Serpent Dungeon Level 3: Impossible?! No One Has Cleared First Clear!"

He clicked on it, raising an eyebrow as he read through the flood of frustrated comments.

> "We tried everything. The poison stacks too fast, and the mobs don't just hit hard—they're relentless. Anyone found a way past the second chamber?"

> "Cute Mist's team wiped. A first-rate guild leader with a full party couldn't clear it. If they can't do it, what chance do the rest of us have?"

> "It's not just the mobs—the entire dungeon is against us. The poison mist lingers, and the deeper you go, the worse it gets. Antidotes barely help."

> "The final boss has a second phase. Someone posted a clip. It starts off bad, but then it gets worse. Who designed this nightmare?"

Mark smirked. So even the best players are struggling? He kept scrolling, intrigued by the theories players were throwing around.

> "What if there's a puzzle? No way the devs expect us to brute-force through this mess."

> "I heard an NPC in Viles Town talking about a special alchemy recipe tied to Serpent Dungeon. Maybe that's the key?"

> "Someone tested fire magic on the mist—didn't work. But water magic did something weird. Maybe that's a clue?"

Mark's smirk widened. This wasn't just a tough dungeon—it was a puzzle. And more importantly, it had stopped the strongest guilds in their tracks.

He glanced at the in-game clock. Damn, I've been on for a while. He stretched, then navigated to the logout menu. A 10-second countdown appeared on the screen.

He leaned back, watching as the world blurred.

3… 2… 1…

The screen faded to black, then flashed back to the login menu.

Mark pulled off his headset, rubbing his eyes. "Yeah… this is gonna be fun to watch."

With that, he pushed himself up and headed for the kitchen. He needed a snack.

Mark stepped into the kitchen, expecting a normal conversation, but instead, he found Ana and Liz deep in an animated discussion—about Mist Low.

"I'm just saying," Ana said, waving her spoon for emphasis, "it's completely unfair. How can someone that chaotic also be that cute?"

Liz, casually sipping her coffee, smirked. "It's the combination. The smug grin, the way he moves, the confidence. It's dangerous."

Mark raised an eyebrow. "Wait… are you two seriously talking about Mist Low?"

Ana turned to him, eyes sparkling. "Obviously. I mean, did you see him in battle? The illusions, the speed, the way he just—poof!—disappears like a ghost? And on top of that, he looks like some kind of roguish villain straight out of a fantasy novel."

Liz nodded. "It's honestly unfair."

Mark shook his head, pulling out a chair. "You realize he's also a menace, right? He fights like he's playing with his food. That's what you should be talking about."

Ana grinned. "Oh, we noticed that too. But come on, you have to admit—it's kinda cool."

Liz hummed. "And the voice."

Ana nodded dramatically. "The voice! It's like silk dipped in mischief."

Mark sighed. "This is ridiculous."

Then he noticed Daniel.

The archer sat at the table, arms crossed, staring blankly at his drink like he was rethinking his entire existence.

Mark nudged him. "You good?"

Daniel blinked slowly. "I'm fine."

Ana snorted. "You do not look fine."

Liz smirked. "Let me guess—you're mad because he's actually helpful?"

Daniel groaned, rubbing his temples. "No."

Ana grinned. "So you do think he's cute?"

"That's not what I said."

Liz leaned forward, clearly enjoying his misery. "Sounds like denial."

As the laughter in the kitchen died down, Mark's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen. Incoming Call: College Admin Office.

His relaxed posture straightened. "Huh. That's weird."

Ana, still grinning from teasing Daniel, tilted her head. "Who is it?"

"College," Mark said, already swiping to answer. He put the phone to his ear. "Hello?"

A formal voice greeted him. "Hello, is this Mark?"

"Yeah, speaking."

There was a brief pause before the voice continued. "This is the college administration office. We need to discuss an important matter regarding your academic records. Are you available to come in today?"

Mark frowned. "Is there a problem?"

"I can't disclose details over the phone, but it's important that you visit as soon as possible."

Mark exchanged a glance with the others. Ana and Liz had stopped their chatter, sensing the shift in mood. Even Daniel looked mildly curious.

"…Alright," Mark said. "I'll be there in an hour."

"Thank you," the voice replied before the call disconnected.

Mark pocketed his phone, letting out a small breath. "Well. That's new."

Ana leaned forward. "What was that about?"

"No idea," Mark admitted. "Something about my academic records."

Liz raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound good."

Daniel, finally shaking off his earlier gloom, gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Maybe they're just giving you an award for Vibing Too Hard."

Mark snorted. "Yeah, right." He stood up, stretching. "Guess I better go find out what's up."

Ana nodded. "Want us to come with?"

"Nah, I got this," Mark said. He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. "I'll let you guys know if I suddenly get expelled or something."

Liz smirked. "If that happens, at least you'll have more time to game."

Mark chuckled as he walked out. "Silver linings, I guess."