The System's "Good Luck" message hung in the air. Aarav just stared at it, then at Sarah, who was already inspecting his dusty room like a tactical map.
"Ten days," Aarav grumbled. "Seriously? Ten days to get 'stronger'? My definition of stronger involves more sleep."
Sarah scoffed. "Your definition of 'stronger' is probably 'less effort'. Come on, Sharma. We have a dungeon to clear."
Just then, a startled voice called from downstairs. "Aarav! What was that noise? And who are you talking to?" His mother's head poked into the doorway, her eyes widening at the sight of Sarah in his room.
Aarav froze. "Uh, Mom! This is... Sarah! My... project partner!"
Sarah gave a polite, if slightly forced, smile. "Hi! Sorry about the noise. Technical difficulties."
Aarav's mother looked between them, her eyebrows raised. "Project? Right. Well, no loud noises, please. The neighbors..." Her voice trailed off as she closed the door, clearly bewildered.
Sarah turned back to Aarav, a smirk playing on her lips. " 'Project partner'? Smooth, Sharma. Real smooth."
Aarav flushed slightly. "Shut up. Let's just go." He quickly pulled on some worn jeans and a t-shirt, grabbing his old sports shoes.
"Good choice," Sarah said, eyeing his shoes. "You'll need something to run in."
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: EARTH CHAT]
A small mental message popped up. It was Maya.
[MAYA: Hey guys! You heading to your dungeon? Rohan and I found one near Mumbai!]
[AARAV: Yeah, heading out now. Good luck, Maya. Try not to blow yourselves up.]
[MAYA: You too! Don't let the bugs bite!]
[EARTH CHAT CLOSED]
"Maya and Rohan are already off," Aarav muttered.
"Good. Less distractions," Sarah replied, already at his window. "Five kilometers, you said? Let's go."
Aarav groaned. "Walk? You can't just... teleport us?"
Sarah rolled her eyes. "Not that kind of link. Yet. Besides, a little exercise won't kill you."
The walk was exactly as annoying as Aarav expected. The afternoon sun beat down. Sarah walked at a brisk pace, occasionally checking her internal map. Aarav dragged his feet, already dreaming of his bed.
"Why couldn't they put a dungeon, like, in my house?" he complained.
"Because the Multiverse Lord probably doesn't care about your comfort," Sarah deadpanned. "Look, we're almost there."
They reached the location. What had been a small, crumbling ancient ruin just outside the city now stood transformed. A massive, jagged archway, made of dark, rough stone, pulsed with a faint red light. It felt ancient, yet eerily new. This was The Sundered Ruins.
[DUNGEON: THE SUNDERED RUINS (RANK 1) - ENTER?]
"Well, here we go," Sarah said, a glint in her eyes. "Stick close, Sharma. And for once, try not to be completely useless."
"My specialty," Aarav mumbled, but he stepped forward.
They walked through the archway. The world twisted, then settled. They were in a damp, dimly lit corridor. The air was cold, stale. The walls were rough-hewn stone, patched with strange, glowing fungal growths.
[PANTHER LINK ACTIVE: SHARED HP/EP DISPLAY]
[AARAV SHARMA: HP 100/100, EP 50/50]
[SARAH ANDERSON: HP 100/100, EP 50/50]
A little ahead, faint groans echoed. Two shadowy figures shambled into view. They were humanoid, but their forms were twisted, made of swirling darkness and decaying matter.
[HOSTILE ENTITY: SHADOW BLIGHT (LEVEL 1)]
"Oh, look," Sarah said, raising her hand. "Target practice."
[ENERGY ENGINEER (RANK 1/10) ACTIVATES: LASER PULSE]
A thin beam of light shot from her palm, hitting the first Shadow Blight. The creature hissed, part of its shadowy form dissipating.
Aarav watched the effect. Simple attack. Direct damage. Energy cost...
[ADAPTATION: LASER PULSE (TEMPORARY MIMICRY) - ACTIVE]
[COST: 15 EP]
[DURATION: 8 SECONDS]
A faint hum vibrated around Aarav's hand. He fired his own [LASER PULSE]. It connected, further damaging the Blight.
The second Shadow Blight lunged at Sarah. She quickly put up her other hand.
[ENERGY ENGINEER (RANK 1/10) ACTIVATES: FORCE FIELD]
A shimmering, transparent barrier appeared, deflecting the attack. The Blight rebounded off the field, staggering.
"Nice!" Aarav thought. He didn't want to get hit. He focused on the feeling of a defensive energy barrier.
[ADAPTATION: FORCE FIELD (TEMPORARY MIMICRY) - ACTIVE]
[COST: 20 EP]
[DURATION: 5 SECONDS]
A faint shimmer of blue energy formed around Aarav. The first Blight, recovering, lunged at him. It bounced off his newly formed [FORCE FIELD], scattering its shadowy form.
"See?" Sarah said, firing another [LASER PULSE] to finish off her Blight. "Not so hard when you actually try."
Aarav grunted, letting his [FORCE FIELD] fade. "Still annoying," he muttered. But the thrill of deflecting an attack with a power he'd just copied... that was actually kind of cool.