The Core Chamber, which moments before had been the setting for their absurd marriage pact, now served as a makeshift command center. Thalassa, standing before the empty space where the mission screen had floated, was vibrating with an energy that had nothing to do with her newly acquired demonic power. It was the pure, unadulterated excitement of a fanatic who, against all odds, had fallen into her favorite story. She was practically bouncing in place, an action so out of character for her former Captain persona that it was strangely adorable.
"Alright, team!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands with a loud sound that echoed in the organic cavern. Her red eyes shone with a leader's light and an almost feverish enthusiasm. "Our first mission! It's a classic tutorial mission, a textbook dungeon crawl! We can't fail! This is absolutely crucial for our early development as a… guild! To establish our synergy and to get those sweet, sweet Dungeon Points!"
Ari, who had been leaning languidly against one of the fleshy cave walls, watched her with an amused smile.
"I still don't have the faintest idea what a 'tutorial' or a 'guild' is, but if it makes you smile like that, I'm perfectly fine with cleaning goblin latrines," he paused, his expression turning serious for a moment. "Although, if we can avoid it, I'd rather not. The smell must be dreadful."
Vespera, for her part, was examining her own hands, flexing her fingers as if she couldn't quite believe they belonged to her. She could feel the power humming under her skin: a new, intoxicating, and slightly terrifying sensation.
"I feel… different," she said, her voice a murmur of awe. "Stronger. Much faster. The energy flows through me like a river." She looked at Thalassa with some apprehension. "Do we really have to fight so soon? We just… well, we just became this."
"Of course we have to fight!" Thalassa retorted, her tone that of a general rallying her troops. "You don't just get experience, Vespera! You have to earn it! And the rewards are too good to pass up!"
Ari cleared his throat, interrupting the speech.
"Speaking of fighting, there's one tiny, minuscule problem, my Queen," he said, holding up a finger. "My main method of support, my humble contribution to this elite team, doesn't… work here. Remember? The Light and this place had a slight disagreement the last time I tried. My holy magic was devoured by the darkness like an appetizer."
Thalassa looked at him, and the excited gamer's smile was replaced by an expression of pure authority. She placed a hand on her hip, striking a leader's pose that was both imposing and strangely natural on her.
"Nonsense. Absolute nonsense." She drew herself up, her presence filling the chamber. "I am the Master of this Dungeon. I am the owner of this domain. My rules are law here. The darkness obeys my will."
She closed her eyes, concentrating. The air around her crackled with power.
"System," she said, her voice resonating with an authority she seemed to have had her whole life, "as Master of this domain, I declare that the holy energy of my Consort, Ari, is an allied and welcome force. He is granted unconditional permission to use his abilities without interference or penalty from my territory. Create an exception."
A new system screen appeared before Ari with a soft, pleasant chime.
[Master's Order received. Processing...] [An exception has been created in the Domain Protocol Codex.] [Subject "Ari" has been added to the 'Whitelist' of Permitted Energies.] [All abilities of [Class: Human Priest] can now be used without environmental penalty.] [System Tip: A Master who supports her subjects is a wise Master!]
To test it, Ari raised a hand. He concentrated, searching for that familiar warmth. And it flowed. A golden, warm, and comforting light bloomed from his palm, free and potent. The light wasn't aggressive; it was calming, a promise of protection. Its golden glow created a beautiful and strange contrast with the dark dungeon walls, a small star of hope in a sea of shadows.
"Well," Ari said, closing his hand and extinguishing the light. "It seems being the boss's husband has its perks. Noted."
With the problem solved, they ventured into the first level of the dungeon. The organic corridors twisted like the intestines of a colossal beast. In the upper-right corner of each of their visions, a small, translucent minimap had appeared, showing their position as a blue dot and several flashing red dots up ahead.
"Okay, first enemies are approaching," Thalassa announced, her red eyes fixed on the map. "Vespera, get ready to use those chains of yours. Ari, stay in the back and support us if we need it."
"One moment," Vespera interrupted, pointing to the mental menu screen. "Shouldn't we use the Dungeon Points to create some of our own monsters to fight for us? We could summon a couple of those janitor Slimes! Or an army of rats! That's what the points are for, right? To do the dirty work?"
Thalassa stopped and turned to Vespera with a look of absolute horror, as if she had just suggested using an ancient manuscript for kindling.
"Absolutely not!" she exclaimed. "Spend our precious, limited starting DP on level-one monsters? That's a catastrophic waste of resources! It's fiscal insanity!"
Vespera blinked. "But…?"
"No!" Thalassa declared. "We're doing this the old-fashioned way, like in classic RPGs. We're going to get the experience and loot ourselves! Every enemy we defeat will make us stronger! Every point we save now will be crucial for the throne room upgrades later! We can't afford to be lazy!"
Ari leaned toward Vespera as Thalassa continued to mutter about "return on investment rates."
"I have no idea what she's talking about," Ari whispered, "but I think the transformation has made her a serious cheapskate. And a little… intense."
They reached the first intersection. Five skeletons, the reanimated remains of a lost templar expedition, cut off their path. Their bones were cracked and covered in dark moss, and their empty eye sockets glowed with a sickly green light.
"Poor devils," Vespera murmured.
"They're not devils, they're walking bags of experience," Thalassa corrected her, her sword already in hand. "Now, formation!"
One skeleton lunged toward Vespera.
"Vespera, on your left! Use the chains!" Thalassa commanded.
"Got it!" Vespera replied.
With a quick gesture, ethereal chains of purple energy shot out from the shadows at her feet and wrapped around the skeleton's legs, tripping it.
"Now, Thalassa!" Ari shouted.
Thalassa's sword, wreathed in dark energy, came down and disintegrated the skeleton into a cloud of dust.
[+5 Experience Points]
"Wow!" Vespera exclaimed. "That was… easy!"
"Don't let your guard down!" Thalassa warned. "More are coming!"
They continued on, their synergy improving with each encounter. Thalassa was the vanguard, a force of nature. Vespera was control, her chains immobilizing and creating openings. And Ari was support, casting blessings and healing scratches.
They reached the final chamber. In the center, a larger skeleton awaited them, a Captain, wearing the remnants of an officer's armor and wielding a sword that still gleamed with faint, residual holy power.
"Okay, this is the boss," Thalassa said. "He'll be tougher. Vespera, distract him. Ari, bless my weapon!"
"Light, sharpen your Queen's steel!" Ari exclaimed. A golden light enveloped Thalassa's sword.
The Skeleton Captain moved with the precision of a trained warrior, launching a series of rapid thrusts at Thalassa. She parried the blows, but with difficulty.
"He's too fast! Vespera, I need you to pin him down!"
"I'm trying, but he blocks my chains with his sword! His patterns are masterful!" Vespera cried out.
Ari watched from the back. He didn't see a monster; he saw a pattern, a rhythm. A memory of long, boring summer days surfaced in his mind.
"Wait!" he shouted suddenly. "I know that stance! It's the 'Silver Blade's Dance,' the style old instructor Borin used to teach! He always did that damn spin after the third thrust! I saw him practice it a thousand times in the church courtyard while I was trying to take a nap!"
Without hesitation, Thalassa and Vespera switched tactics. Thalassa focused on defense, parrying two more thrusts.
"Get ready!" Ari shouted.
Just as the skeleton completed the third thrust, in the brief instant before its counterattack, Vespera acted. She flung her chains at the skeleton's weapon arm, immobilizing it for a fraction of a second.
"Now, Thalassa! The chest!" Ari roared.
Thalassa seized the opening. Her blessed sword pierced the skeleton's sternum. The combined holy and demonic energy caused an explosion of light and shadow. The Skeleton Captain disintegrated.
A final screen appeared before them.
[Mission "Nest Clearing" Completed!] [Rewards Granted: +1000 DP.] ["Creation Catalog: Undead (Basic)" Unlocked.] [Guild Skill Unlocked: [Team Sense (Passive)] - Allows guild members to instinctively anticipate their comrades' actions and needs in combat.] [Level Up! All party members have reached Level 2!]
They stood victorious. Thalassa was breathing heavily, her red eyes shining with the ecstasy of battle. She turned to Ari with a radiant, genuine smile.
"Did you see that, Ari? We're the perfect party! Tank, control, and support! It's textbook!"
Ari looked at her, his own smile soft, full of a deep affection.
"I have no idea what the hell you're talking about, Thalassa," he paused, his gaze sweeping over her. "But yeah. You're incredible. And you look beautiful when you're excited."
The compliment, so simple and direct, seemed to hit her harder than any spell. The gamer's glow dimmed, replaced by a soft blush. They had passed their first test, not just as dungeon masters, but as a real team. As a real, strange family.