Joel blinked, the weight of the conversation halting mid-swing as Jace’s words settled in. “What?”


    Jace grinned, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Oh yeah, we kinda forgot to mention that, didn’t we?” His tone was casual like he was talking about the weather instead of dropping a bombshell. “The dungeon’s on a different time scale. One week in there is like a single day out here.”


    Joel stared at him, his brain scrambling to process the implications. “Are you serious?”


    Ren leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. “It’s true. Nobody knows why it works like that—it’s just one of those system things. But it’s how we’ve been able to survive and build all this.” She gestured to the underground burrow around them. “We use the time difference to stock up on supplies, level up, and scout out more of the system’s quirks.”


    "Oh yeah, totally like some hyperbolic time chamber bullshit," he drawled, mimicking a flamboyant anime pose. "Just imagine it – going in at one power level and coming out… well, let''s just say the numbers would be significantly higher. And probably involve a lot of yelling." Joel takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, “And, maybe they end up with some yellow hair.”


    Gideon, clearly not following Joel''s train of thought, nodded slowly. “I understand it sounds… unusual. But it’s not without risks. The dungeon itself is extremely challenging. However, the time difference allows for concentrated training without a significant impact on the outside world. If rapid improvement is your goal, it’s the optimal approach.”


    Joel leaned forward, gripping the table’s edge as he tried to wrap his head around it. “So… you’re saying I could spend weeks in there, getting stronger, and only lose a couple of days out here? That’s insane.”


    Jace chuckled. “Yeah, well, welcome to the system. It’s got plenty of surprises. Some good, some…” His voice trailed off, his grin fading. “Less good. Let’s just say it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. There are things in this system that can… well, they can change you. Permanently.” He shivered slightly, despite the warm air.


    Joel’s mind raced. The idea of gaining time, of being able to train and level up without losing precious days searching for his family—it sounded almost too good to be true. But there was a catch. There had to be.


    “What’s the downside?” he asked, narrowing his eyes. He worked for The Company for too long to know when a deal sounded too good to be true.


    Ren snorted. “The downside is the dungeon doesn’t play nice. You’re constantly under threat in there—traps, monsters, environmental hazards. It’s like the system’s version of a boot camp from hell. The rewards are worth it, but you’ll earn every damn one of them.”


    Logan smirked, flipping his knife between his fingers. “And let’s not forget the psychological toll. Spending that much time in a place that’s designed to kill you? It messes with your head. You’ve gotta stay sharp, or you’ll lose more than just time in there.”


    Joel sat back, the conflicting emotions tangling in his chest. The idea of extra time was a lifeline, but the price... He looked at Gideon, searching for a straight answer. “You’ve done it? All of you?”


    Gideon nodded, followed by the others. “More than once. It’s not easy, Joel, but it’s worth it. Every level, every skill, every card we’ve earned—it’s all been because of that place. If you’re serious about finding your family, this is your best shot.”


    Joel ran a hand through his hair, letting out a shaky breath. “So, let me get this straight. Do you want me to go into some deathtrap dungeon where time moves faster, fight whatever nightmares the system throws at me, and hope I come out stronger? And that’s my best option?”


    Jace leaned forward, his grin returning. “That’s the gist of it. But hey, look on the bright side—you’ll be back in time for dinner.”This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Joel snorted despite himself, shaking his head. “You all make it sound so easy.”


    Ren’s voice hardens, adding some of its edge. “It’s not easy. None of this is. You need to toughen up or die, Joel. And if you want to survive long enough to help your family, this is how you do it.”


    Joel let the words settle, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. He didn’t like it—hell, he hated it. But if it meant giving himself even a sliver of a chance to save his family, then maybe—just maybe—it was worth the risk.


    “Alright,” he said finally, his voice firm. “Tell me what I need to do.”


    Gideon gave him a rare smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “We’ll get you ready. And when you go in, you won’t be alone.”


    Logan slapped the table, grinning. “That’s the spirit! Welcome to the grind, Joel. It’s gonna suck, but at least it’ll suck together.”


    Joel rolled his eyes but felt the faintest flicker of hope amidst the chaos. Time might not be on his side, but for the first time since the system started, it didn’t feel like his enemy.


    Ren’s chair scraped against the stone floor as she leaned forward, the tops of her breasts showing; they seemed to pull the eyes towards them. Her sharp eyes locked onto Joel. “That’s all fine and good,” she said, her voice cutting through the low murmur of the group. “But before we start planning your grand dungeon adventure, let’s address the elephant in the room. Why should we trust you?”


    Joel froze, caught off guard by the directness of her challenge. “What are you talking about?” he asked, his voice edging with frustration.


    Ren gestured around the table. “You show up out of nowhere, barely holding yourself together, and now you’re sitting here like we’re all on the same team. What exactly do you bring to the table, Joel? And why should we stick our necks out for you?”


    “Ren,” Gideon said in a warning tone, but she waved him off.


    “No, I want to hear it from him,” Ren continued, her gaze never leaving Joel’s. “You’re not the first stray to wander into this burrow, and you won’t be the last. How do we know you’re not just dead weight? Or worse—how do we know you’re not a liability?”


    Joel clenched his fists, feeling the heat rise in his chest. He’d been through hell since the system had appeared, lost friends, trapped away from his family, and now, after everything, this stranger was questioning his worth?


    “I’m not here to make your life easier,” Joel shot back, meeting her glare with one of his own. “I’ve got my own problems—my family, my home—and I don’t have time for your approval. But if you’re looking for what I bring to the table, how about this: I’m still standing. The system tore my life apart, threw monsters at me, and tried to break me, but I’m still here.”


    Ren raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “That’s a nice speech, but surviving isn’t the same as contributing. We don’t need another mouth to feed unless that mouth can pull its weight.”


    Joel stood, his chair scraping loudly behind him. “You think I’m just going to sit here and do nothing? I’m a mechanic—I’ve spent my life fixing things people thought were broken beyond repair. Engines, machines, systems—you name it, I’ve patched it up and kept it running. So if you’re worried I won’t pull my weight, think again.”


    The table fell silent, the tension crackling like static in the air. Ren leaned back, her arms crossed, and studied him for a long moment.


    “Fixing machines is one thing,” she said finally, her tone measured. “But fixing yourself? That’s another story. You’ve got a lot to prove, Joel. And if you can’t handle that dungeon—or if you screw us over while you’re at it—you’ll be out of here faster than you can blink. Got it?”


    Joel nodded, his jaw tight. “Got it.”


    Jace, who had been quietly watching the exchange, finally spoke up, his voice light but firm. “Alright, enough of the standoff. Ren’s got a point, Joel—trust is earned around here. But so is respect. If you’re serious about pulling your weight, the dungeon will be your proving ground.”


    Logan smirked, twirling his knife in one hand. “And if you make it through, maybe even Ren will admit she likes having you around.”


    Ren snorted. “Don’t hold your breath.”


    Joel sat back down, his pulse still hammering in his ears. He didn’t need their approval, he told himself—but somewhere deep down, he knew that wasn’t entirely true. If he was going to survive this, he couldn’t do it alone.


    “Fine,” Joel said, his voice steady. “I’ll prove it. Whatever it takes.”


    The tension at the table was still thick when the sound of frantic footsteps echoed down the tunnel. A rabbit, its ears flattened back and its breathing ragged, skidded into the room. Its eyes were wide, and it looked like it had run the length of the entire burrow to get there.


    “Boss!” the rabbit gasped, doubling over to catch its breath. “Lizard men… in the diner!”