Retired S-rank father becomes a teacher

The apoclaypse came and a year in we were C-rank. The two of us, a power couple in a world full of D-ranks, were the hope for mankind. His space magic was unmatched and my water magic was perfect for fighting alongside him. The media called us ‘Adam and Eve’ the first man and woman after we cleared the first C-rank dungeon in California and restored the production of apples.

We laughed about that, thinking it was cheesy. But it stuck. To me it was perfect, a fairy tale, something only possible in books but we were living it, even if the world was a hellscape.

I was sitting in a helicopter, its rotor blades cutting the sky, heading to the Bering Strait, on our way to establish a route between the North American continent and the Russian one. Of course my Adam was there too, with his hand intertwined with mine.

Sometimes I would have nightmares: I’d wake up and Silas was back with Elizabeth, laughing like a happy couple, and I was on the streets with no food or shelter; but when I woke up and saw his sleeping face, the fears would disappear.

Naturally I knew the truth, of course. Sure Silas loved Elizabeth but Adam, he—he loved his Eve. He had to. I was his world, his light in this darkness and he was my strength.

My foot tapped on the metallic floor as we flew, close to the ground because the sky belonged to flying beasts. Silas squeezed my hand. He must’ve felt my nervousness.

“Eve, it’ll be fine. It’s only a D-ranked dungeon, no problem for us,” he reassured me with a confident grin.

I nodded. My voice stuck in my throat.

Berlin told us about this dungeon and how it was on an island between two continents, leaking mana and monsters into the water, disrupting the ecosystem while preventing ships from crossing. So naturally, he assigned the two of us to clear it out. The other hunters would clear the island and hunt some of the monster in the water but we had to deal with the dungeon.

Looking out of the window, the brown dirt turned into blue water as we reached the sea. It was calm today, a nice day for killing monsters.

The helicopter landed near the forest and the two of us stepped out, our hunter uniforms fluttering in the wind. The other hunters were already there, talking to each other.

Elizabeth.

Her name came to mind immediately. My hand tightened on Adam’s.

She stood out among them like the moon among the stars; her long silver hair fluttered in the breeze and her eyes met mine with a gentle smile. Why was she smiling? I was dating her former boyfriend and I knew she still loved him. Everyone could tell.

I felt small under her gaze.

She approached us with a confident gait, her uniform hugging her body perfectly like it belonged there.

“Silas, Evelyn. Good to see you,” she greeted us and offered him a handshake.

His fingers let go with a terrifying ease.

The sudden rush of cold air against my palm felt like a slap.

“Hey, Liz,” he greeted her back with a grin, so happy and relaxed, the way he used to be when it was just the two of them.

And me, the third wheel, stood there like an idiot. But it was okay because that was Silas and as soon as we were away from her, Adam would return.

Elizabeth looked at me, the smile turning softer as if she was actually happy to see me. “Evelyn, it has been a long time. How are you?” She asked.

I faked a smile, one that didn’t reach my eyes. She never called me Eve—it was always my full name, a barrier to keep us distant. It had to be on purpose.

“I’m good, you?” I said.

Her eyes went back to Silas as she replied, “Never better. Berlin explained the plan. I’ll be on standby outside the dungeon for any injuries or emergency backup.”

Good. I nodded, not trusting my voice right now to conceal my emotions.

Adam turned and I followed him as we headed towards the dungeon entrance, a gate of black metal, tall and imposing but it was our garden of Eden where we were meant to be.

“Ready to kill some monsters, Eve?” he asked as he kissed my lips gently.

“Always, Adam,” I giggled.

The darkness swallowed us as we entered the dungeon. Some dungeons were like mazes with walls and paths, others were more like plains of grass or sand but this dungeon was an island, so naturally it was open, with beaches and palm trees.

A sea breeze blew and the scent of salt filled our noses as we stepped out of the gate. I could hear the water crashing against the shore, the birds singing their song and the distant growl of beasts.

The first monsters jumped out of the tree line, three of them, looking like giant crabs with too many legs and eyes. They didn’t notice us at first but as soon as they did, we sprung into action.

I had his back, his openings. It didn’t matter how many enemies came our way as long as I covered him, we’d win. My hands moved in fluid motions, creating spheres of water that turned into sharp blades, slicing the legs of the crabs with precision, while his fingers twitched and the air warped, snapping the bodies in half.

It was like a dance, our waltz, our own special choreography that only we could understand and perform. A massive Sea Spider rose from the ocean, its legs clicking loudly. The dungeon boss. C-rank.

“Berlin’s intel was off,” he cursed.

Every breath I took came easily: after every trial, we'd come out stronger . So I put my hand on his back, holding it there to tell him that I was ready and he glanced at me with a smile.

“Adam,” I said my part.

He said his part, “Eve.”

Then we both said our special line, our motto.

“Until Eden falls.”

The world turned to chaos. Adrenaline flowed. I sprinted next to him, by his side, always by his side. He was cutting and slashing through the crab-like monsters and the giant spider came at us, it was fast, its eyes locking onto us. Hundreds of water orb flew at us, its attacks precise.

Adam didn’t even defend himself. Eve had him covered.

My water formed a barrier around him, blocking the attack and letting him focus on our real goal, the spider. As soon as we were close enough. I felt his magic, space itself, wrap around me and the next moment we were on its back. Barnacles covered the skin and the spider tried to shake us off.

But it was no use. We dug our mana blades into it, cutting through its shell and black liquid oozed out like tar. Then we felt it. The dungeon was screaming as its lifeblood, the core, was exposed. Our mission. It was just above us, shining like a purple diamond.

He teleported the two of us in the air and I caught it with both hands. The core usually was cold to the touch but as I stared in his violet eyes, his beautiful smile and his love, I could only feel warmth. One second later, he opened a rift back to the entrance.

It was done. We cleared the dungeon. Adam and Eve were forever united in the Garden of Eden.