The Isekai Game

The Dead

Vanessa ran, drinking an ether to refuel all the magic she spent healing herself. It was right there. The last giant tree. Its roots alone reached higher than houses. She was practically invisible to the wildlife which didn't really matter since she was leaving the giant forest now. 

The next forest ahead was definitely different. The trees were thin and practically dying. Not burnt nor anything like that. Just dead and falling over. Grass kicked up behind her feet as she galloped across the land. 

Something about the grass flying in the air caught her attention. She glanced back, realizing how the grass was dead. But why? how could there still be grass here if it's dead? A further moment of patience allowed her to feel how hollow the ground underneath her was. 

"What is this?" she wondered, slowing down.

It was clear that there was something underneath the grass. She remained alert while kicking the grass away. There it was, after less than a minute of destroying the grass, a stone pavement. Before walking off, puzzled by this discovery, she pushed over a tree and watched it fall. 

There was far more to this place than what met the eye. And if she wasn't careful enough, she could be the next victim to its tricks. 

One may laugh, but those tricks didn't last long. Before she knew it, there were no trees. Nor grass or any other kinds of vegetation. Just a night sky with a reddened moon shining it down on destroyed stone walls and buildings. Weeds stuck up from the cracks of the pavement which covered every bit of the ground. 

May this be a savaged land. Yet this was clearly the work of the homosapiens that ruled it. Nevertheless, Vanessa had a job to do. And it was to save this land from the curse. And if possible, learn what exactly Angelica is warning her against.

There was nothing in sight and not many places to hide. Vanessa sauntered, saving her energy for any opponent willing to face her. There was a fork in the path with a sign at the center of the intersection. 

Instructions were simple. Only by relieving the shrines of the curse would the North Gate open. Likewise, only by defeating the angels of each shrine would the South Gate open. Beyond that sign was a ditch that stretched further than any lake. At its center was a destroyed castle. 

It was burnt to the core. Two bridges led into it. One from the North, the other from the South. It's true. That boy with the grey hair was definitely a wild one that she bucked heads with on a regular basis. But he never actually got in the way. 

Not a single ash blowing through her hair from the burnt castle changed her mind. When Logan ran off with Mina in December, it was to help them. When he bickered with Jeff, it was for the team. When he was absent during the assassination last month, he was getting everybody new weapons. 

He defeated El Chales in November to get them a leg up. He also was always available for training and advice unlike most others in the community. Whenever Vanessa compares him to others, he is surprisingly very hardworking in his own weird way and super helpful to those around him. Nothing seemed truly evil to the point where he would cause a problem.

In fact, there were times Vanessa managed to correct his little meta gaming habits. And though he had a long way to go before he was a normal player who simply enjoyed the game, he definitely had a more positive spirit towards others. 

Maybe Angelica was referring to someone else. It could be Jaivva whose main interest appeared to be making money. Or Dani who didn't seem interested in anything to do with the game. Or Hakim who... Whatever. Maybe Andres was becoming a bit of a problem with his drama affecting the team. Where were all of these warnings and signs before Faith ever joined the team? Jeff was the leader who was always looking out for his and his sister's future. No way he would be jeopardizing that. 

Regardless, there was no point in stressing this now. The mission was at hand. She shook her head, unable to see any other decision than to go North. After all, how does killing the spirits help any? 

With her head held high and a hand on her shotgun, she firmly stepped to the North, ready to defeat any monster. But before she could walk ten feet toward the North end of the fallen city, the ground began trembling.