Family system

Elena drew her blade, her voice steady as she addressed the group. "Same plan as always." As Elena's voice sounded, the women around her knew what they were supposed to do.

Valentina charged ahead, her blade igniting with a fierce burst of flames. The first monster—a massive creature with spiked limbs—swung its jagged arm toward her. She ducked, her blade slicing upward in an arc that cleaved through the creature's torso.

"Too slow," she taunted, pivoting as another monster lunged at her. With a roar, she unleashed a burst of fire mana, engulfing the creature in flames. It shrieked, its form dissolving into ash.

Another construct attempted to flank her, its claws dripping with corrosive energy. Valentina smirked, twisting her body and delivering a spinning slash that decapitated it in one clean motion. "Come on! Is this all you've got?"

Elena held the center, her blade glowing like liquid fire. A construct with multiple arms charged at her, each arm tipped with serrated claws. She sidestepped its initial strike, her blade carving through one of its limbs. Lava spilled from her weapon, searing through the creature's body.

The monster retaliated, swinging wildly, but Elena parried each attack precisely. Her blade slammed into the ground, sending a wave of molten energy toward a cluster of smaller constructs. The molten wave consumed them, their twisted forms melting into pools of dark mana.

Elena's voice rang clear over the chaos. "Keep the pressure on them! Don't let them regroup and rest!"

Isabella loosed arrow after arrow from the high ground, each glowing with moonlit mana. Her shots struck with pinpoint accuracy, targeting the glowing cores embedded in the monsters.

One monster—taller and more heavily armored—walked toward Valentina, its shield-like skin deflecting her flames. Isabella's eyes narrowed as she drew a special arrow, infusing it with wind mana. She released it with a whisper of power, and the arrow struck the construct's core with a deafening crack. The creature stumbled before collapsing in a heap.

"Watch your left, Valentina!" Isabella called, losing another arrow that pierced a creature trying to ambush her ally. "You're welcome," she added with a smirk.

Hana moved like a shadow around the battlefield, her daggers flashing as she targeted the monster's weak points. She darted between their attacks with effortless agility, her blades severing the mana tendrils that connected them to the portal's energy.

Another monster—a hulking, four-legged monstrosity—charged at her with unnerving speed. Hana leaped onto its back, her daggers stabbing into the glowing veins running along its spine. The creature reared back, but she held on, her strikes precise and relentless. She severed its core connection with a final thrust, and the creature collapsed.

"Another one down," Hana muttered, already moving toward her next target.

The monsters began to adapt, their movements more aggressive as they swarmed the group. A massive monster, its form bristling with jagged spikes, walked into the fray. It let out an ear-splitting roar, summoning smaller creatures to its side.

Elena and Valentina moved in sync, their blades striking in unison. Valentina's flames scorched its outer shell while Elena's molten strikes carved deep into its defenses. The creature retaliated with a powerful swing, forcing the two to dodge.

"Hana, now!" Elena shouted.

Hana appeared at the creature's flank, her daggers slashing through the tendrils connecting it to its core. The monster roared in fury as its movements became erratic. Isabella's arrow struck its exposed core, and with a final combined strike from Elena and Valentina, the creature collapsed in an explosion.

As the final wave of monsters emerged, their forms crackling with desperate energy, the group stood ready. Isabella's arrows rained down, picking off smaller creatures. Valentina and Elena pushed forward, their blades cutting through the remaining enemies like they were tofu. Hana darted among them, severing connections with their core and crippling them.

The last monster was a towering beast with wings of energy. It loomed over the battlefield, let out a deafening screech, and its form radiated with corrupted power—the same power the monsters had when they attacked and corrupted our planets.

Elena stepped forward, her blade flaring brighter. "Let's end this."

Valentina grinned, her flames roaring to life. "Together, then."

The four women unleashed their full power in one big attack. Isabella's arrows struck the creature's wings, grounding it. Hana's daggers severed the glowing veins along its limbs. Valentina and Elena charged in unison, their blades blazing as they struck the creature's core.

The monster let out one final, distorted roar before exploding in a burst of dark energy. The clearing fell silent as the monsters were reduced to ash.

"Now, that was the action that I wanted. It was the perfect way to close off our adventure in another universe. Now, let's go to our husband. I miss him." While the rest were still recovering from the fight, all Valentina could think about getting back into her husband's warm embrace.

Elena rolled her eyes at Valentina's comment but couldn't suppress a small smirk. "You're unbelievable. We just fought off an army of monsters, and your first thought is about cuddles."

Valentina shrugged with a wide grin. "What can I say? I have my priorities straight. We've done our job. Now it's time for some well-deserved love, and I think I have a suitable reward I can ask him for later."

Isabella chuckled softly as she secured her bow across her back. "At least she's consistent. Though I can't say, I'm not looking forward to being in his arms again."

Standing a little apart, Hana wiped her daggers clean before slipping them into their sheaths. "So, you guys do have the same husband. How do you guys get along so well? I always hear stories about these types of things not working out."

Valentina waved a hand dismissively. "That's because we knew each other before we met our husband, and before you think otherwise, our husband does have other wives. And we get along so well because we are in the same faction in the harem."

Hana blinked at that response. Dumbfounded to even find a response, she opened her mouth, but nothing came out, so she closed it again and moved on to the portal.

The rest followed suit quickly, walking towards the portal.

The portal loomed before them, its swirling energy shifting between hues of crimson and purple.

Elena stepped forward, her blade resting lightly on her shoulder. "Alright, let's move. Stick close and stay sharp. The sooner we're back, the better."

One by one, they approached the portal. The swirling energy seemed to ripple as they drew near, casting an ethereal glow across their faces. Elena glanced back at the group, ensuring everyone was ready. Valentina gave her an eager nod, Isabella adjusted her cloak, and Hana stepped closer with her usual composure.

"Here goes nothing," Elena said, stepping into the swirling energy.

The sensation was disorienting. It felt as though they were being stretched and compressed simultaneously, the portal's energy pulling them through a void of shifting light and shadow.

Time seemed to stretch and blur as they moved, but within moments—or perhaps hours—they emerged on the other side.

The familiar warmth of their world greeted them. The sun shone brightly in a clear blue sky, and the gentle rustling of trees filled the air. They stood in the same clearing where they had first crossed into the other universe, the remnants of the ancient portal now dormant behind them.

Valentina stretched her arms above her head, breathing in the fresh air with a contented sigh. "Home sweet home. Feels good to be back."

Isabella took a deep breath, her silver eyes scanning their surroundings. "It's strange, isn't it? Everything feels... lighter here."

The group began their journey through the clearing toward the bunker; the gentle sounds of birdsong and rustling contrasted with the chaos they had just left behind.

Valentina walked with a spring in her step and a satisfied grin. "You know, I've missed this place. No giant monsters, no corrupted landscapes... and our husband's waiting. What more could I ask for?"

Elena chuckled, shaking her head. "You're hopeless."

Isabella smiled softly, her gaze fixed on the bunker. "She's not wrong, though. It's good to be home."

Hana followed a few steps behind, her expression calm but her eyes sharp as she took in her surroundings. "So, this bunker—your home base, I take it?"

Valentina glanced over her shoulder with a mischievous smirk. "Sometimes, but now it is more like our love nest. You'll see."

Hana's brow furrowed slightly, unsure whether to take Valentina seriously, but she said nothing and continued walking.

As they approached the entrance to the bunker, they found some marks left from the massacre that Aphrodite did. Soon, they were at the bunker's entrance, and Elena walked towards the side of the entrance. She entered the access code, and with a soft hiss, the door slid open, revealing the dimly lit corridor inside.

The warmth of the bunker greeted them as they stepped through, the soft hum of its systems a comforting sound. The scent of freshly brewed tea wafted through the air, mingled with the faint aroma of something sweet baking.

"Smells like home," Isabella said as she sniffed the warm air.

Valentina's grin widened as they walked further into the main living area. "Oh, this is perfect."

In the center of the room, on a large, comfortable couch, Aphrodite and Jack were cuddled together. Jack's arm was draped around Aphrodite, who leaned into him, her pink hair falling over his shoulder. The goddess of love radiated beauty even in this casual moment.

Jack looked up as the group entered, his face lighting up with happiness. "You're back," he said, his voice warm. "I was starting to worry."

Aphrodite sat up slightly, her smile widening as she saw them. "Welcome back," she said, her voice melodic. "I hope you guys haven't been through a lot."

Valentina ignored the woman and wasted no time, flopping onto the couch beside Jack and throwing an arm around him. "Missed us?" she teased, her grin playful. "Because we missed you."

Jack chuckled, pulling Valentina into a hug. "Of course I did. Are you all okay?"

"We're fine," Elena said, her tone filled with love but with a hint of pride. "Mission accomplished."