Escape The Dungeon

Shadow Ren’s eyes swept the room like a predator choosing its next meal. The grin on his face was calm, almost curious, as if he was deciding who to break next. He could feel the power running through this copied body and he wanted to test it more.

“We don’t stand a chance against that thing… Ren was the only one who could go toe to toe with it,” Rachel said, her voice tight with panic.

“We can’t fight it. If we stay here, we’re dead,” Marie added, already pulling out her dungeon map with shaky hands.

“Whatever this dungeon is, nothing like that’s ever happened before,” Alex said, staring at the shadow. “It copied Ren, and that’s bad news for all of us.”

“Someone said something about teleportation gates, right? We find one and get out, now,” Melissa said, her voice sharp, almost shaking.

“You think it’s going to let us just walk out?” Kazuma asked, eyes on the shadow, sword half drawn.

Marie’s fingers were moving fast on the map, scrolling, searching. Her breath was quick, almost a whisper. “We need an exit—something, anything that doesn’t require clearing the dungeon…”

Ignis stepped forward, flames already curling around his arms. “Forget the plan. We move now. Magnus, grab Ren. We’ll cover you.”

Magnus was already heading for Ren before the words were even out of Ignis’s mouth. He crouched, heaved Ren’s limp body onto his shoulder without a word, and turned toward the tunnel.

Ignis lit up the area, fire bursting around him as he kept the shadow’s attention. “Go! I’ll hold him for as long as I can!”

Sakura rushed to Ignis’s side. “I can help.” She raised her hand and thick petals and vines burst from the ground, twisting into a shield that covered the shadow Ren’s face, blocking his vision.

The rest didn’t hesitate. Melissa, Rachel, Alex, and Lisa sprinted for the tunnel, Magnus carrying Ren like dead weight. Marie was running but her eyes were locked on the map, calling out directions between breaths.

“There’s nothing marked here… we have to get back up. The only way out is the place we fell from,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

They found the stairs—a narrow, dark spiral—and Ignis came last, throwing flames down to light the path. Behind them, the shadow tore through Sakura’s shield like paper and started after them, fast, almost excited.

Whatever that thing was, it wasn’t just fighting—it was enjoying itself.

They climbed fast, boots pounding, breaths sharp. At the top, Marie’s eyes darted over the glowing map again. “Okay, okay… there’s a teleportation gate up ahead, one room over. End of this tunnel!”

The moment they hit the hallway, the sound of footsteps behind them got louder. Shadow Ren wasn’t tired, wasn’t slowing down. He was gaining.

They burst into the room. And there it was: a small teleportation gate, glowing bright at the center. It wasn’t big, but it was enough for them to get out.

“Will that thing follow us out?” Melissa asked, wide-eyed.

“No. Dungeon entities are bound here. They can’t leave their own floors,” Marie said quickly.

The relief lasted half a second. The shadow stepped into the room. His smile stretched wide. He stood in front of the gate like a wall, tilting his head.

“Leaving so soon?” His voice was calm but mocking. “Don’t go. Stay. You’re my only friends here. Forever.”

Kazuma’s face twisted with anger. “Friends? Look what you did to Ren!”

“He’s just a copy. You don’t need him. You’ve got me,” the shadow said, spreading his arms like it was an offer.

Kazuma gripped his sword tight. “Nice try. But we’ll take the real Ren over a freak like you any day.”

The smile faded. Just a little. Then the shadow blurred forward, almost playful. His fist sank into Kazuma’s gut before anyone could react. Kazuma’s breath exploded out of him, his knees buckled, and he dropped, teeth clenched in pain.

Shadow Ren’s voice echoed through the chamber, calm but dripping with something unnerving.
“Come on, guys. Just stay here with me. Everyone who’s ever come down here always left me behind. Or worse—they beat me. But this time…” His smile stretched wider, almost childlike. “This time I’m not going to just vanish.”

“Melissa, get to Ren—heal him now! He’s our only chance against this thing,” Rachel shouted, her tone sharp, urgent.

Melissa didn’t hesitate. “Magnus, put him down!” she called.
Magnus knelt quickly, lowering Ren onto the cold stone floor as Melissa’s hands glowed with healing magic. Her face was pale but focused, sweat dripping down her brow.

Shadow Ren tilted his head, watching them with open amusement. “It doesn’t matter. Wake him up, heal him, give him a sword—it won’t change a thing. I’m better than him. Stronger. Faster. The perfect version.”

But then Ren stirred. A groan escaped his lips, his fingers twitching. Melissa pressed harder, forcing more energy into the spell.

“Come on, Ren… just a little more,” she whispered.

His eyes opened slowly.

“Ren! Thank the gods,” Alex said, relief flooding his face. “There’s a teleportation gate in this room. We can get out. But we need you to hold that thing off—just for a moment!”

Ren pushed himself up, still shaky from the exhaustion that had knocked him out. But his body was untouched—unbroken, unscarred—as if nothing could ever harm it. He rolled his shoulders, strength already flowing back, his invincible frame refusing to stay down.

“I know what I have to do,” he said, his voice low but clear. He stepped forward, standing between Kazuma’s fallen form and the shadow.

“Go,” Ren said. “All of you. Take the gate and get out.”

Marie’s head snapped toward him. “Ren, once we leave, we can’t come back through this gate. It only works one way. If you stay behind, you’ll have to fight your way here alone."

“I understand,” he replied. “I promise I’ll come out. Somehow.”

Rachel’s grip on her sword tightened. Her face said everything—she hated the plan.

Shadow Ren chuckled, stepping closer. “None of you are leaving. Not unless I say so.”

Ignis and Magnus moved to block him, but the copy was faster, sliding toward the gate like a shadow. Ren was there first, slamming his hand into the copy’s arm and stopping him cold.

“You’re not going anywhere,” Ren said, his voice like steel. “I don’t need to beat you. I just need to keep you here.”

The shadow’s grin widened. “Then hold on.” He started throwing punches, each one hard enough to crack stone. Ren took them, teeth gritted, refusing to let go.

“Move!” Marie shouted. Melissa and Lisa pulled Kazuma to his feet, dragging him toward the gate. One by one they crossed, each glance back filled with fear.

Rachel stayed.

“Go, Rachel!” Ren yelled, muscles straining as he kept Shadow Ren locked in place. “I’ll follow, I swear!”

She shook her head. “No! You think I’m just going to leave you? Would you leave me?”

Ren’s eyes softened for a split second. “You’re too stubborn, you know that?”

“I know,” she said, already moving.

Her sword flashed as she closed the distance. In one swift motion she slashed at Shadow Ren’s head. Sparks flew, steel screeched against something unbreakable. The copy didn’t even flinch—just smiled at her boldness.

Ren used the moment. With a grunt, he twisted, swinging the copy away from the gate and slamming him into the wall.

They sprinted for the gate.

Shadow Ren hit the wall hard enough to rattle the stones, then snapped upright and came after them—fast, a streak of motion that made the air hiss.

“Go!” Ren barked, yanking Rachel forward.

He grabbed her wrist and hurled her toward the light. She twisted mid-flight, reached back, and caught his collar with both hands.

“You’re coming too.”

His eyes flashed—no time to argue. Shadow Ren’s fingers swept in, close enough to brush fabric. He missed by an inch.

“Nooooooooo!”

The scream ripped through the chamber as the gate swallowed them.

They burst out on the other side and crashed to the ground. Rachel hit first; Ren landed over her with a heavy thud, palms slamming down on the stone to keep from crushing her. Their faces were too close. Both froze, breath tangled, hearts still sprinting from the run.

The gate behind them flickered and died, sealing with a low hum. The dungeon’s distant roar cut off like a door slammed shut.

For a long heartbeat, nobody moved. Then the shouts hit them—Ignis, Melissa, Alex, Magnus, Marie, Lisa—everyone yelling at once as relief broke into cheers. Kazuma, half-doubled over but grinning, pointed weakly.

“Took you long enough.”

Ren pushed himself up and offered Rachel a hand. She took it, cheeks a little red, hair stuck to her forehead. He pulled her to her feet, steadying her as the crowd surged around them.

They’d made it out. Shadow Ren’s howl was gone with the gate—but the echo of it still crawled along their spines.

To be continued...