The Isekai Game

The Fifth Shrine

Vanessa's entire body rose and smacked down repetitively. Twitching in various positions, only to toss herself elsewhere. She dug her nails into her face while shaking her head. Those pretty red eyes she equipped were back to their natural green color. A bulge rose through her neck to vomit mere balls of gas.

She tried to crawl to her sword but the room felt as though it was spinning quicker the longer she stared. After a minute of spinning and tossing, she dropped on her sword. The shadows were visibly clear, staring back at her as hooded men. This time, they were sincere and encouraging. Though their voice was still the same. 

"Get up Vanessa". 

"You got this". 

"Get in there". 

Something in that voice gave her the strength to grab her sword. The strength to stand and limp down the halls. The strength to withstand the bubble knocking her intestines. The strength to resist the urge to vomit blood across the halls. 

"Vanessa, do you want this power"?

"No," she thought. A closer look at the walls and she realized the hooded figures each took the form of Logan. It was his voice, echoing with theirs in the back, hitting her subconscious. 

"There is another". 

"Keep going". 

"We only have one life".

"Let's live it". 

"Do you want to make it to the pro leagues"? 

There was another open room. Surely there was a fight. One that she didn't think she could win. Instead, she stumbled in. Lanterns lit up on their own as before. 

There was a shrine... and a deep laugh, "Looks like you found it". 

She fought against her stiff neck to see a ghost sticking out of it. It smiled back, glaring with its hollow eyes. 

An angel watched as Vanessa struggled against the ghost, never able to inflict anything on it. 

"Help!" she begged the angel. 

"The problems of this land are not of my concern," said the angel, "I refuse to waste time on such childish games". 

"Look at that," said the ghost, "The ones you trust most are the same ones who will leave you to rot". 

Her muscles spazzed, dragging her down to the ground like a beggar as the ghost inside taunted, "The only way to obtain your desires is to wield the power and write history for yourself". 

She found herself crawling towards the shrine as the ghost continued, "These 'Angels' are weak in mind. They drag down their victims and watch them scurry. You're better off with a weak companion who will fight till the end. This is why your friend is killing the angels as we speak". 

"This had to be it," she thought, "She was finally going to die". 

The angel was clearly angry, shouting back at the ghost who only laughed in return. But her eyes were heavy. Her body was weak, unable to struggle anymore. The light from the shrine entered her body just as she collapsed to darkness. 

"It's okay, you can rest for now," said the ghost before laughing out for everybody in the halls to hear. 

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Vanessa woke up to a puddle of blood and a decapitated angel. It had been a while judging by its protruding copper smell. Her body felt optimal, allowing her to stretch with ease. Even her arm felt normal. 

Rising slowly to her knees, the ghost spoke from her neck again, "How did that feel"?

She jumped, still on her knees, staring back at the ghost, "What do you want"? 

"And here I was helping you".

"Who are you?" she asked. 

The ghost smiled, "My name is 'Ra'. I'm the sin of wrath".  

Vanessa relaxed her shoulders, "So you're the last one who was supposed to help me".

"Close... You're friend already came and killed the angel". 

She stared over at the angel's lifeless body. Typical, there were rips and tears throughout its rib cage. 

"You know what this means?" asked the ghost. 

"She glared back into his hollow eyes. 

"The light you have taken is now in full effect... Just as the darkness within". 

"What?" asked Vanessa. 

Ra explained, "Each shrine you visited, gave a light. That light was useless due to its power being held back by the angels. Likewise, in leading each of us to the shrine, you were able to unlock the inner curse within you". 

"What the hell?" thought Vanessa, listening to her new ghost companion. 

"However... The choice is yours," the ghost's laugh dropped for a more serious tone, "I can bend your powers to that of the curse... a warlock. You will live your days playing this game, bounded to tremendous power at the price of carrying out tasks that would pull the community further towards the curse". 

She shook her head slightly. 

"Or, I can bend you to the power of the stolen light. The same one obtained from killing these angels. You will be entrusted above others to carry out the will of the land. In return, you will be able to connect to the stars above for unearthly power". 

"Do I have a choice?" she asked. 

"Not unless you choose to quit over a simple decision. Both will bring you closer to achieving your dreams. Your future challenges will remain the same". 

Trembling in her lips was a dead giveaway for how scared she was for this decision, "Oki. I'll do it". 

There was a silence for a bit that Ra broke, "Which would be"?

"Ah, right. My decision is... to take the light". 

"Then it's settled. Your body is now fully healed and for the remainder of this theme, I will lend you the powers of each sin. It will be up to you to further enhance the astrologian job class after this month". 

"Oki," she nodded as Ra pulled himself out of her body.  

She stood, stretching her legs, back, and chest from her slumber. A power was felt. An aura like Mina's. Ra hovered over the shrine. There was clearly no letter at this one. Regardless, this power was just what she needed to beat that curse. As for Logan, while she still wanted to surprise him, she wanted to confront him on the theme. 

Looking down the next hallway, Vanessa called, "Light". 

The lanterns lit down the hall at her command. She stepped in confident, ready to face her next threat.