The Isekai Game

Run!

He turned around, facing her, "So, you're stronger... Just like your friend". 

She stumbled, "Mmm, I feel like I'm dying". 

He grabbed her left arm, channeling his aura inside of her to alleviate the pain, "I can only do so much to help you. This aura tears away at your soul, not your body. However, Ra can help you". 

"Who?" she asked as he released her arm. 

Vanessa was able to move her left arm again as well as breathe almost normally. There was still a hollow feeling that prickled her body. But it didn't stop her from catching up to R'bi who was already headed North. 

"We should get going. It's only a matter of time before the next monster comes for us". 

"But how? And where is this place"? 

"This place is the home of dreams... The Isekai Kingdom". 

But this place of dreams was dead. Withering away as a nightmare, drifting in a land of solace. Jogging North to avoid further battle was no better of a sight. 

Vanessa ran with her g*n held tight in her right hand, "So what happened here"?

"The curse overtook the land, destroying the dreams of many. People left, avoiding this once magical land like a plague. The angels continued neglecting their duties. Leaving only those who carry the curse to thrive". 

"But why?" she asked. 

R'bi remained sharp, knowing an enemy would soon come, "Why what? Why do the angels refuse to fight against the curse? Their intentions rest on laws made by man rather than the moral principles laid by our creator".

"And what about the curse"?

"Man and angels are inherently evil. The only one who is 'good' is the lord above. By nature, we will all commit evil. It is up to one another to keep ourselves in check". 

"Eh- I'm just Vanessa," she said, waving herself from such a heavy responsibility. 

"And I was an outcast who rose to the challenge to lead men across the ages. And though there were many failures such as in December, I always fight my battles".

He lifted his sword into the air, "Besides, isn't this the same girl who fought to bless the land with oversized hamsters"?

"Yes, bu-" A giant brown tail, loaded with spikes, swung across their path towards them. 

Vanessa utilized the mere seconds at hand to run a single step and flip over the tail. R'bi, however, slammed his sword downward, stopping the tail after being pushed back a few feet. 

Had fallen on her back, Vanessa laid there, firing at a giant spiked beast covered in dark aura. It was taking no damage, prompting her to charge a lightning bullet. 

The beast pulled its tail in, screaming as it spun towards the two. Amazed by how well it blended with the rumble, Vanessa fired her lightning bullet, stunning the beast for a moment. 

R'bi ran in, swinging at its head as Vanessa followed, charging her g*n. Unlike the dragon, this strange monster was able to endure his heavy swings. 

It clawed at R'bi, knocking him back before clawing him down. 

Vanessa fired a fully charged lightning bullet at its head. It bowed, hissing its skinny tongue out as R'bi swung again into its neck. 

He held his blade there, charging his body with the white aura as the odd turtle-like monster latched onto his body. 

Vanessa swapped her g*n for her sword, ramming it into the elbow of this oversized spiked thing. At the expense of her own body, lightning surged from Masamune into the creature. 

First, it twitched, tanking the paralysis. But when R'bi shook off its pierced arm, the beast realized it couldn't move it at all. 

It struggled to keep its other arm latched. However, the lightning grew stronger, ripping through its head. R'bi took the moment to slam his sword upward into the creature's throat, causing blood to shoot out of its mouth. 

"Vanessa! Pull back"!

"But it's not dead"!

He pulled back, "We don't have time! The longer you're out here is the sooner these monsters will come"!

Vanessa drew back, running away with R'bi as the large spike turtle thing began screaming, crawling its way towards them. Luckily, it was too slow to do any harm. 

R'bi ran, "We should make it to the entrance before another one shows up if we keep this pace". 

She panted, "Eh- this is a fast pace". 

"You'll be fine," he lectured, "Just remember, you do have a role to play in this world. However, it will require you to face your fears and to grow a strong heart". 

It was an odd thing to hear, but the same could be said about everything else in this theme. She was so deeply puzzled in thought that seeing the open metal 30-foot tall gates did not impress her. 

R'bi spoke up, "Pick up the pace or else we'll be attacked again"!

Vanessa sprinted up, nearly tripping on a rock. 

"Watch your step"!

His commands shook her to the core. It was expected from a general. What wasn't expected was a giant furry white bird with a tiger's face soaring at them with a ball of dark lightning charged in its mouth. 

"It's too fast!" yelled R'bi, "We need to hurry to the gate"!

Vanessa shot a few fire bullets just as the flying beast shot out a lightning blast. Its fur resisted the flames whereas the lightning drove towards the two. 

R'bi stopped to hit the lightning with his sword, "Vanessa, run! Sprint into the gate and find Ra near the shrine. He will heal you". 

"Bu-"

"Go!" he commanded, "Look for the dungeon! Once you go in, there's no coming back until"!

She hesitated for a second as the darkened lightning pressed into his sword. When he deflected it away, she found the courage to finish dashing through the steel doors and approach the castle ruins. 

In the rubble she found a pathway leading underground. without hesitation, she ran down to a door. It was wedged shut. She thought twice, drinking her last ether to restore some magic. There were so many questions and very few answers. Yet, there wasn't anything she could do. She had to stay strong and push through this fight. 

After taking a deep breath, Vanessa opened the steel doors that lead into the final dungeon.