Lena’s eyes snapped open to blinding pain.

She was lying on cold dirt just outside the dungeon entrance. Her whole body felt like it had been run over by a carriage. But the worst pain came from her right side. Where her arm used to be.

A raw, wet scream tore out of her throat as she tried to move.

"Fuck... fuck... it’s gone... my arm is gone!"

Rian was beside her, face covered in bruises and blood. He dragged himself closer, hands shaking as he pressed a torn piece of his own cloak against the bleeding stump.

"Stay still, Lena! You’re losing too much blood!" His voice was hoarse but urgent.

Lena’s vision blurred with tears and rage. She grabbed Rian’s collar with her remaining hand, pulling him close.

"Star... that green bastard took Star! I should have been faster. I should have protected him!" Her voice cracked. "He’s just a soft boy... he doesn’t deserve this shit!"

Rian looked away, jaw clenched so tight it looked painful. "We both failed him. I was too slow. One hit and I was out. Pathetic."

The two of them stayed there for several long minutes, breathing hard. A passing merchant caravan eventually found them and helped carry them back to Greenhaven. The entire ride, Lena kept muttering Star’s name like a prayer and a curse at the same time.

By the time they reached the Adventurer Guild, Lena was pale and barely conscious. Madame Vesper, the Guild Master, took one look at them and immediately shouted orders.

"Get them to the healing ward now! Someone fetch high priestess Elara!"

Lena woke up again on a clean bed hours later. Her right shoulder ended in a tightly bandaged stump. The pain was dulled by magic, but the emptiness felt worse.

Rian sat in the chair beside her bed, freshly bandaged himself. His dark hair was messy and his sharp eyes looked exhausted.

"You’re awake," he said quietly.

Lena stared at the ceiling. "How long was I out?"

"Almost a full day."

Silence stretched between them.

Lena’s voice came out small. "Do you think Star is okay? That monster... i saw the way he looked at Star like he wanted to devour him whole."

Rian leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "He’s alive. I’m sure of it. That Goblin King didn’t kill him on the spot. He took him for a reason."

Lena laughed bitterly. "Yeah. Because Star is beautiful. Too fucking beautiful. We only knew him for a couple hours and I already..." She stopped herself.

Rian looked at her. "You already what?"

Lena turned her head away. "Nothing."

Madame Vesper entered the room at that moment, her elegant purple robes flowing. She was a woman in her late forties with sharp eyes and a calm but commanding presence.

"Report," she said simply.

Lena and Rian told her everything. The beginner dungeon turning into a nightmare. The sudden appearance of the intelligent Goblin King. How easily he tore off Lena’s arm and knocked Rian out. How he kidnapped Star like a prize.

Vesper listened without interrupting. When they finished, she sighed.

"That Goblin King is called Gorzod. He’s not an ordinary monster. He evolved unusually fast and built a small but organized kingdom underground. He’s taken many consorts before, but never went this far for one."

Lena slammed her remaining fist on the bed. "Then we go back in there and get Star out!"

"You’re in no condition—" Vesper started.

"I don’t care!" Lena shouted. "He’s probably scared down there. Alone with that monster. I promised myself I would protect him. I failed once. I won’t fail again."

Rian spoke up, voice cold and steady. "I’m going too. Even if I have to go alone."

Vesper studied both of them for a long moment.

"Fine. But you will prepare properly. Rest today. Tomorrow you start gathering information. I’ll assign a small team to support you."

As soon as Vesper left, Lena looked at Rian.

"You don’t have to come," she said. "This is my mistake."

Rian gave a dry smile. "Like hell I’m letting you take all the credit when we save him."

The next morning, Lena stood in the temple courtyard, testing her new magical prosthetic stump. It was a crude metal attachment that could hold different weapon heads. It felt wrong. Heavy and Unnatural.

She swung a practice sword awkwardly and nearly fell.

"Damn it!"

Rian was training nearby, moving through sword forms with frightening intensity despite his bruises. He was faster than before..

After training, they sat together on a bench eating lunch. The silence was heavy until Lena suddenly spoke.

"You know... we had an awesome night once," she said, smirking despite everything.

Rian nearly choked on his bread. "Wait, we did?"

Lena laughed for the first time since losing her arm. "Not me and you, idiot. Me and Star. The night before the dungeon. He was so shy and sensitive... but he felt so good. The way he moaned my name..." She trailed off, smiling softly. "I’ve never felt that connected to someone so fast."

Rian looked down at his food, ears slightly red. "I see."

There was a pause.

"I like him," Rian admitted quietly. "Outside the clothing shop. He giggled when I called him ma’am by mistake. It was... cute. Really cute."

Lena raised an eyebrow. "So we’re both whipped for the same pretty boy after like three days. Pathetic, aren’t we?"

Rian chuckled. "Completely pathetic."

The jest helped lighten the mood for a moment, but the heaviness soon returned.

"I need him back," Lena said seriously. "Not just because he’s beautiful. When I was with him... I felt seen. Like I wasn’t just some loud, reckless musclehead. He listened to me. He made me want to be better."

Rian nodded slowly. "Same. I’ve always been a lone wolf. But Star... he makes me want to protect someone. He’s gentle in a world that isn’t. I don’t want to lose that."

Their eyes met. A silent understanding passed between them, along with the first real spark of rivalry.

"Then let’s bring him home," Lena said, gripping her prosthetic. "And may the best one win his heart after."

Rian smirked. "Deal."ll

Over the next three days, they threw themselves into preparation.

They interrogated captured low-level goblins from other dungeons. They bribed merchants who traded near the eastern tunnels. They studied old maps of the cave systems.

On the third night, in a private planning room, they sat with their small rescue team a quiet healer named Mia, a scout called Finn, and a tanky warrior named Brock. All B tanked Adventurers, the higher tiers were on crucial missions.

Lena slammed a crude map on the table.

"According to the merchants, there are hidden side entrances here and here. The main path is too well guarded."

Rian pointed at another spot. "We go through the old collapsed tunnel. It’s risky, but quieter. I’ll take point."

Lena frowned. "You’re still injured. I should take point."

"You only have one arm," Rian countered.

The table went quiet as the rivalry flared again.

Moa sighed. "You two argue like an old married couple fighting over who loves Star more."

Lena and Rian both flushed.

"We’re not—" they started at the same time, then glared at each other.

Finn laughed. "This is going to be interesting."

They spent hours going over every detail. Routes. Signals. What to do if they found Star willingly staying with the King. What to do if he was hurt. What to do if they had to fight Gorzod himself.

Late at night, after the others left, Lena and Rian remained.

Lena flexed her prosthetic stump. "I used to think strength was everything. Now I realize... I wasn’t strong enough to protect the one person who made me feel soft."

Rian stared at the map. "Its going to be okay"

Lena looked at him. "When we find him... let’s not fight over him like idiots, okay? At least not until he’s safe."

Rian gave a small smile. "Agreed. But I’m still going to try harder than you."

"Asshole," Lena laughed and punched his shoulder with her good arm.

Dawn broke as the small rescue team stood at the dungeon entrance.

Lena adjusted the axe head on her prosthetic. Her eyes burned with determination.

Rian checked his swords one last time.

"We’re bringing our Star home," Lena declared.

Rian nodded, voice steady. "No matter what it takes."

The group stepped into the darkness together.