The three of them gathered around the coffee table in the living room, plates balanced on laps since the actual dining table was too formal for a lazy morning like this. Sarah dug into her omelet with enthusiasm, fork scraping the plate as she savored the fluffy eggs mixed with veggies. "This is actually good, Andrey. Who knew you could cook something that doesn't come from a meal-prep box?"
Lisa, still half-asleep with her hair in a messy bun and eyes barely open, poked at her food sluggishly before taking a bite. She perked up slightly, mumbling through a mouthful, "Mmm... yeah, not bad."
Andrey sat cross-legged on the floor, eating methodically while glancing at the holographic system screen only he could see fully. He cleared his throat after a few bites. "So, about that new quest line... It involves collecting 12 contaminated ancient artifacts and gathering the 7 soul fragments of something called Demon Laplace."
Sarah paused mid-chew, fork hovering. "Demon Laplace? I've never heard of it."
Lisa, still rubbing her eyes and trying to shake off the sleepiness at the makeshift breakfast setup, yawned and leaned forward. "In gates, there are usually demons that kill heroes, but that's rare. Is it something like that?"
Andrey finished chewing his bite, setting his fork down precisely. "It's a different kind of demon because Laplace is like a primordial demon."
Sarah's eyes widened, nearly choking on her toast. "What the heck is that scary name? It's like the difference between premium food and non-premium."
Lisa snorted, finally more awake as she sipped her coffee. "What the heck kind of analogy is that?"
Andrey allowed a small smirk before getting serious again. "That's why we need to gather EXP and level up—because our enemies are going to get more dangerous."
Sarah waved her fork emphatically. "Eh, we're still weak, you know. Shouldn't we get easier quests first?"
Lisa shrugged, popping another bite into her mouth. "Yeah, but there's no harm in it either. We can level up quickly, right?"
Sarah shook her head vigorously, setting her plate down with a clatter. "That's too dangerous. Our safety comes first, you know—better if a quest pops up, we just run away and play it safe."
Lisa leaned back, crossing her arms with a determined glint in her eyes despite the remnants of sleep. "Well, opportunities like that might not come twice, especially since we don't even know the difficulty level yet."
Andrey nodded, wiping his mouth with a napkin and stacking the empty plates neatly. "You both have valid points. That's why we need to level up first—so we're prepared when the quest arrives, and we don't have to run away and miss the opportunity."
Sarah slumped deeper into the couch, her pout deepening as she hugged a throw pillow. "So we have to hurry up and head out, huh? Ahh, I don't wanna—I want to rest!"
Lisa shot her a teasing grin, finishing the last of her coffee. "You've rested enough yesterday. Don't be such a kid."
Andrey stood, carrying the plates to the kitchen sink with efficient strides. "Relax, Sarah. With our coordination, we can level up quickly."
Sarah uncrossed her arms, sighing dramatically but meeting his eyes with a hint of reluctant optimism. "I hope you're right..."
The group fell into a comfortable rhythm after that. Andrey rinsed the dishes while Sarah and Lisa cleared the coffee table, the casual banter shifting to practical plans. "First, check the Association board for low-risk quests," Andrey suggested, drying his hands. "Goblin patrols or minor rift watches—nothing too intense. We grind EXP safely."
Lisa perked up, tying her hair back into her signature twintails. "I'm game. My Starlight Burst could use some practice anyway."
Sarah stretched, finally standing up. "Fine, but if I see anything bigger than an ogre, I'm vetoing. And no deactivating transformations in weird places—last thing we need is another barrier surprise."
System: Noted~ But remember, rewards build affection! ❤️
Andrey ignored the chime in his head, grabbing his tactical belt from the coat rack. "Gear up. We leave in ten."
They geared up quickly—Sarah reluctantly swapping her comfy hoodie for tactical pants and a reinforced jacket from Andrey's spare hero kit, and Andrey double-checking his collapsible baton and mana potions. The apartment door clicked shut behind them, and they stepped into the elevator, the city's hum growing louder as they descended.
"Association HQ first," Andrey said, pulling up the quest board on his phone via the hero app. "There's a D-rank goblin infestation in the old industrial park—low threat, high EXP yield. Perfect for grinding."
Sarah adjusted her earpiece, still looking a bit grumpy. "As long as it's not a full portal breach. I need my beauty sleep, you know."
Lisa bounced on her toes, wand already clipped to her belt. "Come on, Sarah! Think of the levels. We'll be blasting stars and hearts before lunch."
The transport van from the Association dropped them at the edge of the industrial park—a sprawling maze of rusted warehouses and overgrown lots, cordoned off with caution tape. Drones hummed overhead, marking active rifts. A handful of other low-rank heroes were already on-site, coordinating with a field officer.
"Team of three? Provisional D-ranks?" the officer asked, scanning their badges. "Stick to the outer zones—goblins and minor imps only. Report any escalations."
Andrey nodded curtly. "Understood. We'll clear Sector B."
They moved in formation: Andrey leading with his baton ready, Sarah in the middle for ranged support, Lisa at the rear for shields. The first pack of goblins ambushed them from behind a stack of crates—six snarling greenskins with crude knives.
"Contact!" Andrey called, spinning his baton into a defensive whirl.
Sarah activated her transformation in a flash of pink—frilly dress and all—raising her wand. "Heartstorm Volley!"
Pink lasers shredded three goblins instantly, while Lisa followed up with a green glow. "Mint Barrier!"
A shimmering dome blocked the remaining attackers' throws, giving Andrey the opening to charge. With Dual Wield unlocked from his last level-up, he extended the baton into two short staffs, striking with precise, flowing combos. Two goblins down, the last one vaporized by Lisa's Starlight Burst.
System: Victory! +150 EXP each. Sarah → Level 6! New passive: Mana Regen Boost. Lisa → Level 4! Skill upgrade: Starlight Burst now chains to nearby foes. Host Andrey → Level 5! +20 Mana Points. Option unlocked: Tactical Scan (analyze enemy weaknesses).
Sarah deactivated her mode with a sigh, the dress fading back to normal clothes. "Okay, that was easy. One more pack and I'm calling it for coffee."
They pushed deeper, clearing two more waves—imps this time, faster but fragile. Lisa's barriers held strong, Sarah's volleys cleared crowds, and Andrey's scans highlighted weak points for quick takedowns. By midday, they'd racked up enough EXP for another collective level bump.
System: Team progress: +300 EXP! All reach Level 6/5/5. Bonus: +10 Affection Points (team synergy rising~ ❤️)
Panting but exhilarated, they regrouped at the extraction point. Sarah wiped sweat from her brow. "See? Not so bad."
Lisa grinned, high-fiving her. "Told you we'd level fast. What's next, boss?"
Andrey pulled out his phone mid-stride, thumbing open the hero app to refresh the quest board.
Suddenly, a sharp explosion echoed from their left, rattling the rusted warehouse walls and sending a plume of dust and debris into the air. The ground trembled slightly under their feet.
Sarah froze, her hand instinctively reaching for her wand. "What was that...? An attack...?"
Andrey pocketed his phone in a flash, baton extending as he scanned the area. "That can't be a goblin or imp attack because they don't have magic skills. Maybe another hero or an anomaly."
Lisa's twintails whipped as she spun toward the sound, green mana already flickering at her fingertips. "Anomaly? This is D-level, though."
Before anyone could respond, the air shimmered unnaturally in front of them—a mini-rift cracking open like a jagged scar. Out slithered a hulking monster, its scaly hide glistening under the midday sun. It stood on two powerful legs, claws like sickles, with a long tail whipping behind it and jagged fins along its back. Its eyes glowed with feral intelligence, fangs bared in a hiss.
Lisa's eyes widened. "Lizardman...? That's a C-level monster."
But before she could finish her sentence, the lizardman lunged with blinding speed, its claw slashing toward the group in a wide arc charged with crackling energy.
Andrey, still hyper-focused from his app check, reacted instantly. He stepped forward, dual-wielding his extended staffs in a defensive cross-block. The claw collided with the weapons in a shower of sparks, the impact sending vibrations up his arms but holding firm. "Not on my watch," he grunted, shoving back with Weapon Mastery-enhanced strength to create distance.
The lizardman skidded back a few feet, roaring in frustration as Sarah and Lisa snapped into action behind him.
System: Anomaly detected! Emergency quest: Defeat the Intruder Lizardman (C-rank variant). Reward: +500 EXP, Rare Mana Crystal. Bonus objective: No casualties.
Sarah raised her wand, pink glow enveloping her as she transformed. "Heartstorm Volley—incoming!"
Lisa threw up a barrier. "Mint Barrier—hold the line!"
The fight was on, the D-rank grind suddenly upgraded to something far more intense. Andrey spun his staffs, analyzing the beast's movements with Tactical Scan. "Flank it—weak spot on the underbelly!"