The World's First Dungeon Vs Zane

Zane had just sat down in one of the stiff plastic chairs outside Bell's room, elbows on knees, when the door opened behind him. Kai stepped out quietly, his expression unreadable as the door clicked shut.

Zane stood, wiping his palms on his jeans.

"She's happy to see you," he said softly.

Kai gave a small nod. "Yeah… it's been too long."

They stood there in silence for a moment—just the distant hum of the hospital corridor filling the space between them. Then Kai looked at his father properly.

"She looks worse than I expected," he said, his voice low and tight.

Zane swallowed. "She's been fighting hard. But the doctors…" He trailed off, eyes flicking toward the floor. "They don't have much hope left."

Kai leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "You believe them?"

Zane met his son's gaze. "I did. For a long time. But now… I'm not so sure."

Kai frowned. "What do you mean?"

Zane hesitated, then stepped closer. "Kai… some things have changed. Weird things. And I know how this is going to sound, but I need you to hear me out."

Kai tilted his head slightly. "Alright."

"There's something… called the System. And I think I've been pulled into it. Tarni too."

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Kai blinked, not sure if he'd heard right. "System?"

"Yeah. Like a game system. Quests. Skills. Stats. And goblins—we fought them. Killed them. And I nearly bled out, Kai. But I healed. In a day. My body, my strength… everything's different now."

Kai stared at him, trying to find the joke. The punchline. But Zane's eyes were dead serious.

"OK Dad, slow down, start at the beginning"

As they stood there in the waiting room, Zane retold the full story, with nods and an occasional comment from Tarni backing him up and giving more details.

"You're telling me… you've got magic powers now?"

"Not exactly magic. It's more like a survival game layered over our world. And I don't fully understand it yet. But it's real. I can prove it."

Kai ran a hand through his short hair. "Mate… Dad, this sounds like you've lost it."

"I thought the same at first," Zane admitted. "I thought I was cracking under the pressure. But I'm not. Tarni's in it too. We've both seen things that don't make sense unless this System is real."

Kai frowned deeply, eyes narrowing. "And what does this have to do with Mum?"

Zane's jaw tightened. "Because I have something—an item. A healing potion. It works. It could help her. Maybe even cure her. But she has to be part of the System to use it."

Kai stared at him, stunned into silence.

Zane continued, desperation creeping into his voice. "If I can figure out how to get her in, I can give her the potion. But I need your help. I need you to trust me. Even if it sounds insane."

Kai exhaled slowly, still processing. "This is… a lot. You're talking about potions and levels and goblins like it's an everyday thing."

"I know," Zane said. "But I swear on everything, Kai—this is real. And I think you and Lily might be able to get pulled in too. If we can figure out how."

Kai stared at his father for a long beat. Then finally, quietly, he said:

"Alright. Show me."

Zane blinked. "What?"

"You said you could prove it. So do it. Show me the System."

Zane gave a slow, relieved nod. "Okay. We'll need to go back to the house. Tarni and I have a plan."

Kai looked toward the door to Bell's room, then back at his father.

"Whatever this is… if it has even the slightest chance of helping Mum, I'm in."