Chrysalis

Titus took another deep, slow breath, feeling the mana thunder through his body, tearing away at him from the inside. The conflict was never-ending. Much like the wave that ravaged his world, the raw arcane energy that permeated the Dungeon poured into him and sought to rend his flesh.

How long had it been since he’d sustained himself this deep? Before his children had been born. He’d been a much younger man then, in body and mind. In those days, he’d relished the struggle to master himself, to harness the power that pulsed in the veins of his post-baptism body. Now, he simply endured, patiently waiting as his condition slowly adapted to this new normal.

“You look miserable,” Minerva observed from somewhere nearby.

The commander kept his eyes closed.

“This is my normal face,” he said.

“I know.”

He felt a sharp poke on his forehead, but didn’t react, controlling his breathing instead. He’d learned a long time ago that the best way to annoy his fire-breathing monster of a wife was to simply not react. Sure enough, after he maintained his routine for another minute, he received a quick ‘paff’ to the top of his head.

“How can you sit there all day?” Minerva grumped. “If you don’t move soon you’re going to grow moss.”

“Unlike some, who were relaxing deep in the Dungeon, I’ve spent the bulk of the last twenty years on the surface, darling wife, and I need time to adapt to these conditions. I feel like a highly qualified officer in the Legion would have known that before she dragged me down here in the first place.”

“What cheek,” she harrumphed, giving him another soft thwap on the head which he barely felt.

would. At least the famed berserker had learned some

see you in action again. You must be getting bored being cooped up in this adaptation chamber all day every day. Are you sorry I

his eyes finally and saw she was looking genuinely apologetic. He was taken aback

you gone soft?” he

romantic getaway I’d

possible that Minerva did consider the two of them returning to the Dungeon’s depths to fight against the most deadly monsters a Legionary could face as a romantic getaway. It was how they’d spent the early

a twist.

together, it still moved him to

“Really? Finally!”

onto his arm and began to try and

waiting for? Time to suit up! Let’s go, let’s

prevent his wife from dragging

minute, Minerva. Wait,

she demanded, turning back to

need to speak to the armoury. After that, I need to acclimate to the suit. There’s a laundry list of things I need to do before I can sortie

fault you can’t handle it,” she