Asher learned another important lesson the next evening.
The system did not care about his schedule.
He was halfway through closing duties—sweeping near the back while mentally promising himself he'd definitely sleep early—when the pressure hit.
Not pain.
Not danger.
An itch.
The kind that said, Hey. You could be getting stronger right now.
A translucent blue screen slid into view at the edge of his vision.
[Personal Dungeon – Availability Detected]
Asher froze mid-sweep.
"…No."
He glanced up at the wall clock.
9:58 PM.
Two minutes before closing.
"Absolutely not," he whispered. "I'm not doing this right now."
The screen stayed.
Asher stared at it.
It stared back.
"…I hate how patient you are."
The pressure nudged again, like someone poking his ribs.
Hey.
Dungeon.
Monsters.
Loot.
"I'm at work," Asher muttered. "I'm being responsible."
The system did not respond.
Which somehow made it worse.
"Don't you dare guilt-trip me," he hissed.
A voice cut in behind him.
"You good back there?"
Asher jumped so hard the broom nearly became a weapon.
Maya stood near the counter, scrolling on her phone, eyebrow already halfway to judgment.
"Yep!" Asher said immediately. "Totally fine. Love closing. Big fan."
She squinted. "You look like you're arguing with your conscience."
"…Long day."
She snorted. "Same."
The clock ticked.
9:59 PM.
Asher could feel the dungeon now.
Not physically—but like a tug in his chest, promising progress if he just stepped through. He hated how tempting it was.
His phone buzzed.
He glanced down.
No notification.
"…I swear I felt that," he muttered.
"What?" Maya asked.
"Nothing," Asher said quickly. "Phantom vibration."
"Sure."
The clock flipped.
10:00 PM.
The lights dimmed slightly as the store entered closing mode.
Maya stretched. "Alright. That's it."
Relief flooded him.
Asher swallowed.
If he waited, the dungeon window might disappear.
If he went immediately… well.
He finished sweeping, returned the broom, and forced himself to move normally.
Clock out first, he told himself. Be human.
The screen pulsed.
Patient.
Waiting.
Asher clocked out.
The moment his thumb left the scanner, the pressure surged.
"…Of course," he muttered.
Maya grabbed her jacket. "You coming?"
"Yeah," Asher said. "Just—uh—forgot something."
She eyed him. "You say that a lot."
"Bad memory," he said weakly.
She shrugged. "See you tomorrow."
"Yeah. Night."
He waited until the door shut behind her.
Then the alley blurred.
The world twisted.
And Asher was falling again.
Stone rushed up to meet him as the dungeon formed around his feet, tighter and darker than the last one.
Asher landed hard, breathing fast.
"…Okay," he said, hands on his knees. "That was immediate."
The cavern pressed in around him, walls close enough to feel claustrophobic.
Something growled.
Asher straightened, fists tightening.
"…But I'm already here."
The growl came again—closer this time.
Asher cracked his neck and grinned.
"Alright," he said. "Let's make this worth it."
The shadows moved.
And the dungeon answered.