Asher made it exactly three hours.
Three hours of being responsible.
Three hours of not entering a dungeon.
Three hours of pretending he was a normal guy with normal limits.
The shift was over.
That was the problem.
The store lights, the exhaustion, Maya's smirk when she clocked out—none of it had faded yet. Asher lay on his bed staring at the ceiling, hands folded on his chest like he was preparing for a very irresponsible nap.
"…One run," he said quietly. "Just one."
His phone buzzed.
MAYA:
If you disappear after your shift tonight, I'm putting you on decaf.
Asher grimaced.
"That's cruel," he muttered.
He stared at the ceiling.
Thirty seconds passed.
Then he sighed.
"…Okay. One quick run."
The world twisted.
Stone formed beneath his feet.
Asher landed inside a dungeon chamber that immediately felt wrong.
Too quiet.
Too clean.
The cavern floor was smooth, almost polished, faint circular markings carved into the stone like something had been dragged around repeatedly.
"…This feels like a boss room," Asher whispered.
The system agreed.
[Personal Dungeon – Warning]
Enemy Classification: Elite (F)
Recommended Condition: Well-rested
Asher stared at the message.
"…That's new."
Another line appeared.
[Notice]
Current condition: Suboptimal.
Asher laughed nervously.
"That's rude."
The air shifted.
Something stepped into the light.
Taller than the Brute. Leaner. Wrapped in layered hide reinforced with bone-like plating. Its dull red eyes tracked Asher patiently.
It didn't rush.
It waited.
Asher swallowed.
"Okay," he said. "We're starting respectful."
The Elite moved.
Fast.
Asher activated Burst Step—
—and felt it lag.
Just slightly.
Enough.
The Elite's fist clipped his side.
Pain detonated.
Asher skidded across the floor, coughing.
[Damage Conversion – Active]
Strength surged.
But the recovery lagged.
Asher pushed himself up, breathing hard.
"…Why was that slow?"
A system message appeared.
[Warning]
Cognitive and physical fatigue detected.
Skill execution efficiency reduced.
Asher stared.
"…You're nerfing me?"
[Correction]
You are exhausted.
"That's worse!"
The Elite attacked again.
Asher dodged normally this time, barely slipping past a crushing blow that shattered stone where he'd been standing.
"Okay," Asher panted. "Not ideal."
He punched.
It landed.
The Elite barely flinched.
"…Oh no."
The counter came immediately.
Asher slammed into the floor hard enough to rattle his teeth.
[Damage Conversion – Active]
Strength surged again.
Recovery lagged again.
His limbs felt heavy—not weak, just slow.
"…I may have miscalculated," he muttered.
The Elite raised its arm.
Asher Burst Stepped—
—and this time, the delay was obvious.
He moved after the strike began.
The blow missed his head by inches and cratered the wall behind him.
Asher rolled to his feet, heart hammering.
"…Okay," he said. "Lesson learned."
A new system window appeared.
[Emergency Safeguard Activated]
Condition: Severe Fatigue
Effect: Forced Dungeon Termination
Asher blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
The Elite froze mid-step.
The dungeon trembled.
"HEY," Asher protested. "I was doing fine!"
[Clarification]
Continuing would result in system asset damage.
"…Am I the asset?"
The world twisted violently.
Stone vanished.
Asher was thrown back into his apartment, landing flat on his back on the bed he'd left minutes ago.
Silence.
Asher lay there, staring at the ceiling, chest heaving.
"…It kicked me out," he whispered.
A final message appeared.
[Restriction Applied]
Dungeon Access: Locked
Duration: 12 Hours
Reason: Mandatory Recovery
Asher groaned.
"You grounded me."
[Affirmation]
He rolled onto his side, burying his face in the pillow.
"…This is humiliating."
His phone buzzed again.
He cracked one eye open.
It had been over an hour.
MAYA:
You alive?
Asher sighed and typed back.
ASHER:
Unfortunately.
Three dots appeared.
MAYA:
Good. Don't do anything stupid. Sleep.
Asher stared at the message for a moment.
Then let his phone fall onto the bed.
"…Yeah," he muttered. "Probably a good idea."
For the first time since awakening—
Asher actually rested.
And somewhere deep inside him, Heaven's Heart pulsed quietly.
Waiting.