The World's First Dungeon Vs Zane

The rising sun cast golden light across the front yard, dew still clinging to the native grasses and low brush that lined the edge of the bush. Birds warbled lazily, their morning songs barely heard over the clinking of metal and low conversation. The team had gathered outside after breakfast, the dead goblin now long gone — its body dissolved into smoke like the others — and Lily officially welcomed into the System.

Zane sat on an overturned milk crate, carefully checking the tear in his leather sleeve where the goblin blade had sliced deep into his bicep the night before. The wound was long gone now, Kai's healing touch more effective than a hospital trip — but the memory of the pain still lingered.

Bell stood in the doorway with her arms folded, watching him closely.

"You didn't mention you got cut," she said finally, voice flat.

Zane looked up, a guilty grin tugging at his mouth. "Didn't want to worry you."

"You came home with a hole in your armour," she said, stepping forward. "And I figured that didn't happen from tripping over your own ego."

Tarni let out a low chuckle from where he sat cross-legged beside Kai. "To be fair, he did trip. But it was after the slash."

Bell didn't laugh.

"You three went out there thinking padded bats and a stick net were enough?" she said sharply. "You caught three goblins — great. Then lost them, got ambushed, and nearly came home with fewer limbs."

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Zane stood, sighing. "We handled it. Kai healed me, we got one alive, and—"

"That's not the point," Bell snapped. "You got lucky. What if that bigger goblin had ordered the others better? What if Kai hadn't reached you in time?"

Zane opened his mouth to argue, but stopped. She was right.

Bell's expression softened slightly, but only just. "We're not just surviving anymore. We're a team. If Lily's in the System now, she needs to train. Kai needs to train. You and Tarni need to actually fight as a unit, not just swing and hope for the best."

Lily blinked. "Wait… Mum, are you saying we're starting… like, combat drills?"

"Damn right I am," Bell said, already walking toward the shed. "You think I'm going to let you all run around in the dark with goblins and worse out there without knowing how to dodge, strike, or cover each other?"

Tarni raised an eyebrow. "Didn't peg you for the drill sergeant type."

She smirked over her shoulder. "Didn't have to be. But I was netball captain six years running. You learn a few things about positioning and yelling at people who aren't where they're supposed to be."

Kai stood, stretching. "I mean… she's got a point. I didn't even know how to hold the bat right until last night."

"And I want to try this new skill of mine," Lily added. "It's called Rapid Appraisal. Might be able to spot weak points or patterns during a fight."

Bell pulled open the shed doors and started hauling out garden stakes, a wheelbarrow, and a weathered plastic tarp. "Perfect. We'll set up a training course. Dodging, striking, awareness drills. Zane, you're helping me design it."

Zane raised an eyebrow. "Yes, boss."

Bell shot him a grin. "Damn right."

Tarni groaned good-naturedly. "I've made a mistake staying here, haven't I?"

"Too late, mate," Zane said, clapping him on the back. "Welcome to Bootcamp Bell."

As the morning sun climbed higher, laughter mixed with the clatter of makeshift gear and the barked commands of a woman determined to make sure none of them got themselves killed. Training had begun, not just to survive, but to start taking control.