As Solomon swung his sword towards the skeleton warrior, Elina realized it was too late to intervene. She could only watch as his blade carved a perfect arc.

With a distinct crack, the skeleton warrior struck by Solomon collapsed, its body split cleanly in two.

Solomon visibly paused, surprised by how fragile this skeleton was; it lacked even basic defense, allowing his sword to cleave through it so easily.

What was going on here?

Not only Solomon was astonished; even Elina wore a look of utter bewilderment.

As a Special Grade Instructor at the "Hikikomori Magic and Martial Arts Academy," her experience was vast. In her free time, she had devoured countless documents, including treatises on necromancy.

Conventionally, skeleton warriors were never this easy to dispatch. They were universally recognized as the most troublesome enemies. This was because unless you pulverized them completely, they would never truly die, resurrecting endlessly until you were exhausted to death!

But look at this skeleton, bisected by Solomon—it struggled even to lift itself, let alone fight.

While Elina stood frozen in thought, Solomon entertained no such reservations.

Once he committed to a swing, he wouldn't hesitate; whatever the strangeness, he would destroy it first!

And so, Solomon moved like a fierce butcher entering enemy lines unopposed. Everywhere he passed, a skeleton warrior was cleaved in half.

In the blink of an eye, dozens of skeleton warriors lay felled.

Solomon seemed unsatisfied, scanning the surroundings for any stragglers.

Although the skeletons were cut in two, they could still move. Their lower halves were twisting on the ground, attempting to pull themselves upright.

"Teacher Elina, what is happening? Why are these skeleton warriors so weak?" Cherie asked, her eyes wide with confusion.

Elina didn't know the reason either, so she could only reply, "This teacher isn't entirely sure either. Perhaps the one who summoned them is just a child, still inexperienced with summoning magic!"

That seemed to be the only possible explanation. And indeed, she had guessed correctly: the summoner was a child, and he was certainly inexperienced!

"Teacher Elina, is it the local environment here?" Solomon interjected.

"Why do you say that?" Elina looked at him, puzzled.

"Teacher, look around. Everything here is weak—the magical beasts are weak, the skeleton warriors are weak. If it’s not the local environment, then what is it?" Solomon presented his case with an air of certainty.

Elina was momentarily speechless. What kind of logic is that! she thought. Solomon was good in every way, and his strength was undeniable, but he was too arrogant and seemed utterly one-track minded!

"If that's your theory, then Teacher Elina, since she was born here, must also be weak, right?" Thomas suddenly chimed in. "Why don't you two spar and see who is weaker!"

That shut Solomon up. Though he considered himself a genius, he knew he was still far behind Teacher Elina!

Few people earned his respect, and Elina was among them!

Solomon held great reverence for Elina; if she hadn't led the expedition, he might not have come at all!

Elina truly was a genius beyond compare! Her power was prodigious at such a young age, and maintaining her status as a Special Grade Instructor at the "Hikikomori Magic and Martial Arts Academy" for so many consecutive years was no ordinary feat!

Hearing Thomas's words, Solomon instantly realized his previous comment lacked proper consideration.

Elina offered a slight smile and said nothing.

Solomon and Thomas bickered constantly on their journeys; she had grown accustomed to it, though thankfully, it only amounted to verbal sparring, never escalating to blows!

"Teacher Elina, what are those things they are holding in their hands?" Cherie asked, pointing to the herbs clutched in the skeletal hands.

Her observation drew everyone's attention. Indeed, each skeleton warrior grasped various items tightly, holding on as if refusing to let go.

Solomon stepped forward, stomped until one skeleton warrior's wrist shattered, then picked up the herb from the ground, examined it briefly, and handed it over to Elina.

Elina took the herb from Solomon and scrutinized it closely.

She recognized the plant; it was called "Kool Grass," completely useless, and abundant throughout this magical beast forest.

"Teacher Elina, are these herbs their food?" Cherie asked with profound innocence.

"Cherie, I'm not trying to be mean, but you are sometimes incredibly naive!" Thomas adopted a supremely smug expression. "Use your brain cells! Have you ever seen a skeleton eat anything? And you call yourself a student of the 'Hikikomori Magic and Martial Arts Academy'! If outsiders heard that..."

"How do you know skeletons don't eat? You aren't a skeleton," Cherie retorted, refusing to back down.

"If I were a skeleton, I'd eat you first!" Thomas tried to look terrifying.

"Then I'll purify you!" Cherie showed no fear.

Cherie was a Light Elementalist, possessing an inherent ability to cleanse skeletons, the undead, and similar entities.

Every reasonably informed person knew that Light magic inherently countered Dark magic, just as Water magic countered Fire magic.

However, Cherie failed to consider that these skeleton warriors had been summoned by Zhong Shenxiu using dark sorcery. Refined by his modifications, they had long since lost their inherent weakness to Light magic.

"Right, Cherie, hurry up and purify these skeleton warriors, or they'll start moving again," Solomon urged her.

Cherie shot Thomas a look that clearly conveyed: If you dare say one more word, I’ll purify you next!

Thomas sighed in resignation. Arguing with women was always exhausting! Even a small rebuttal wasn't permitted!

"Great God of Light, illuminate all before me with your divine power!—Lumos!" Cherie cast a minor illumination spell.

The spell's power level was unimportant; its effectiveness was what mattered!

Although Cherie’s spell was purely non-offensive illumination, because Light magic was the bane of Dark magic, even a minor casting was something these skeleton warriors could not easily withstand.

Cherie's illumination flooded the area, making everything within a ten-meter radius crystal clear.

The skeletons on the ground, bathed in the light, seemed subdued, quieting down considerably!

But just as Cherie was secretly pleased, believing she had neutralized the skeletons, a bizarre phenomenon occurred!