When I opened my eyes, the sun was already high in the sky. My body felt heavy. It wasn't just exhaustion; it was the weight of the bodies pressing down on me from both sides. On my left, Chen's tail was wrapped around my neck, and on my right, Mei was using my arm as a pillow, sleeping with a bit of drool escaping her lips.
"Hey, wake up. The sun's out."
As I mumbled, Chen's ears flickered, and she opened her eyes. She scratched her messy hair and rubbed her face against my chest.
"Li-An... just a bit more... yesterday was too intense."
"Who told you to jump me like a maniac? I thought my back was going to snap."
I complained and pushed her away, but then Mei hugged my thigh tightly. These girls don't know how to control their strength, even when they're asleep. Eventually, I practically rolled off the bed to escape. Kicking aside the remnants of yesterday scattered on the floor—torn shirts and crumpled gear—I headed toward the kitchen.
Mornings in Xinghai are loud. Outside the window, hunter vehicles are honking, and drones monitoring dimensional rifts fly through the sky. I grabbed something to drink from the fridge.
"A low-level gate is opening today. We have to go."
At my words, Chen bolted upright in bed. Her nearly naked body shimmered smoothly in the morning light. She stretched, letting out a yawn characteristic of a wolf.
"Hunting? Good. My body's itching for it. Playing with Li-An yesterday was great, but I need to see some blood to level up."
Mei rubbed her eyes and got up too. She picked up one of my t-shirts from the floor and threw it on. It was way too big for her, looking like a dress, but she didn't seem to care.
"Li-An, if we make money this time, you're buying me something delicious, right? You promised last time."
"I know. Just focus on coming back alive first."
We packed our gear haphazardly. Our "equipment" was just an old sword, their claws, and a few consumables. As I tried to open the door, Chen blocked my path. She buried her nose in the crook of my neck and took a deep breath.
"What now?"
"My scent has faded. I need to mark you again."
She gave my neck a sharp, tiny bite. I felt a sting of pain as her mana seeped into my body. It's a mark. A crude way to make sure we don't get separated in the dungeon, and a way for her to declare that I belong to her.
We took the subway to "Sector 4." People avoided us. More accurately, they avoided the two women—no, the two beasts—beside me. Their eyes had already shifted into those of predators searching for prey.
The gate entrance was crowded. It was a low-rank gate, but it was filled with drifters looking to make a quick buck. I handed my registration card to the manager.
"Team Li-An, entering."
The moment we passed through the blue veil of the gate, the air changed. Dry and chilly. I gripped the hilt of my sword.
"Alright, girls. It's playtime. Just don't go too far."
Before I could even finish my sentence, Chen and Mei lunged forward. Chen was already running on all fours, while Mei scaled the wall toward the ceiling. From a distance, I could already hear the screams of a goblin pack.
I followed slowly behind. This is my life. Splattering blood in the dungeons by day, and breaking a sweat on the bed by night. Life in Xinghai is never easy, but at least it's never boring.
Up ahead, Chen shouted as she ripped through a goblin's throat.
"Li-An! Over here! There's a ton of them!"
Her tail was wagging excitedly. I exhaled and drew my blade. This is where it really begins.