The Isekai Game

A Familiar Face

She was more than prepared, running into the burning section of the forest. Dare a bomb or anything alike to attack and Vanessa would bypass the living hell out of those things because she wasn't playing. And neither were they.

Logan was right about avoiding fights. Just to run past these bombs was a fight. There were burn marks up and down her legs. They were reddened with many bumps. Vanessa didn't pay any mind. Her goal was solely to beat these things away and find what the giant hands pointed her towards.

However, not a single tree helped her. Rather was alone to dodge hoards of fireballs that were slamming at her. Once the sky was again covered in smoke, she realized there must've been a better way to go about this. Flames were catching up and her vision was going out. 

At some point, Vanessa found herself surround by a few fireballs. They had stopped attacking to simply watch her run. This was an odd position, given that they had the upper hand. It was as though they were forming a battle arena of some sort. She expected to see an ifrit come out. Instead, they laughed. 

More fireballs appeared, completing this ring of hell. Some began flashing a little. This time, it had to be over. Vanessa tried to think of ways to escape this. Instead, all she thought of were things she could've possibly done that were better. Like investigating the previous shrine. 

A burnt tree fell, followed by two others. All three fell in the same direction. Ignoring those flashing firebombs in her peripherals, Vanessa looked towards a wooden post that was a little bit thicker than the trees. 

Facing away from her was clearly a body staked to the post It was stitched together, hanging a foot off the ground. She couldn't see clearly, But there was something engraved on the post. 

Whoever this man was, it had to be who the hand pointed her towards earlier. Yet at the moment Vanessa rose her foot to run at the man staked to the post, a flashing bomb hurled at her. And another. And another. And a few more. 

Vanessa jumped over and away from the first bomb while putting away her shotgun. Masamune glowed a bright blue aura as she slashed ice shards at the oncoming firebombs. 

Her reactions were timed well to strike before the basketball-sized firebombs detonated. And though her magic was running low, Vanessa had roughly enough to make just a little bit further.

But the bombs weren't letting her anywhere near close. A couple of trees were falling towards the bombs. Unfortunately, they rarely hit anything. It was likely due to the flames and the man's weakened state. 

For a brief bit, Vanessa stopped firing ice shards and relied solely on her physical strength. Every bomb dashing towards her was barely evaded. It was hard dodging so many.

Every time they exploded, she would feel the rattling through her body. The thought of stopping never clicked in her head. Despite not gaining ground, she could only think of how to dodge the next bomb. But with Masamune fully charged, it was time. 

Vanessa swiped Masamune towards the dirt, releasing a row of ice that morphed into a wall. Another touch of the ground did the same just a few feet away. A small path rested between these two walls and the man was in the center. 

Heavily guarded on both sides, she sprinted down with bombs smashing into the outer walls. Tiny shards of ice were falling. Vanessa ran through, grabbing the stake that bound the man to the post, and continued running while pulling it out. 

She caught a glimpse of his face. The sight caused her to stumbled a bit. As she regained her speed, she realized this was probably a big mistake. That man was among the last people she had ever hoped to face alone. 

A thud was heard before bombs began flashing at the end of her ice-shielded path. As much as she wanted to just shoot a few icicles, she didn't have the magic power to do so. In fact, she was only able to fire her shotgun a few more times at best. 

It was the end for her. Enemies at the front. And a madman to her rear. Vanessa was at a loss of options. 

Without looking back, Vanessa enjoyed her loss of vision. There was something about this moment of relief where she gave it her all and still lost that took the burden away. She could feel herself laying down already. Tears of failure cleansed her charcoaled cheeks.

Some from sting while the rest was from knowing how far she was from her goal of making it to pro. There were the thoughts of the things people would say regarding how they knew she wasn't going to make it. Or how it wasn't a real career anyway. These thoughts weighed in harder than any metal. But who knows. Maybe she could probably still make it. 

A different month that is. Right now there was a tree levitating in the air at the furthest end of the hallway behind the oncoming bombs. She ran towards them without a plan. What plan was there? 

The tree shot in, piercing through some of the bombs and pulling them out. A few more trees did the same. 

All of the flashing firebombs were cleared out, leaving only a series of thuds trailing behind Vanessa. She spun around, slashing her sword at the man just as he stepped by her. 

He easily ducked under her swing, "Quick, we have to go"!

He didn't even bother to glare at her. Rather he was focused on running out. His demeanor was much different than before. Vanessa recognized those eyes from anywhere. That built body running into battle. But it was a little hard to believe that the game would bring back enemies from December as friends. Or was it, exactly what the letter said?

Catching her footing, Vanessa caught up to Gula, "I don't have any magic"!

The muscles in his body waved as though there was a monster inside fighting to burst out as his hands rose out, "Stay close"!

Thumps and thuds were heard outside of the ice walls. There were a few explosions. Even scarier to the mayhem taking place was Gula's claws apparently breaking and cracking in every stretch. 

He ran out before her, grabbing an oncoming firebomb with one hand and punching it with the other. No tie was wasted to send more trees running through the remaining firebombs. 

Vanessa looked out to ensure she stayed out of harm's way. The battle was no longer in her hands. Gula was able to simultaneously fight at closed range against his flame-made opponents as well as long-range with the trees. 

As depicted by his appearance, he was a monster smiling at the joy of battle. When a bomb blew his back up, he laughed at the measly attempt to take him out. His coat fell, showing off his sculpted body.

Every inch was well defined more than Vanessa could take. Not even the ripped flash that was sewn together took away from his appeal. If anything his long hair made up for it. 

Just when she looked away, a new creature made of flames with human armor and two scimitars race in. She parried its first strike and barely its second.