A Battle in The Void

The Dungeon Warden walked slowly toward Gwen. The ground shook with every step he took. His power was suffocating, making it a struggle for her to breathe. Her legs bucked with weight of his pressure.

“I thought you’d be more joyous.” The Dungeon Warden commented. “You seemed excited to fight. Now you’re stuck in place looking afraid.”

Gwen gulped, gazing slightly upwards to the reds hidden behind the helm. No response came to mind to refute the words he spoke. The lack of light made it feel like the room was crushing her.

The Dungeon Warden shook his head. “A pity, die knowing that you made it to the last floor of my prison.” He hefted his sword and stared at Gwen through the slits of his helmet. “I’m disappointed that we didn’t fight, Gwen Vanderick.”

The sword came crashing downward.

Gwen’s body moved before her mind caught up. She threw herself to the side, and the blade crashed into the floor beside her.

Boom!

“Ah, so there is some fight left in you!” The Dungeon Warden shouted! “Then come, show me the tenacity that pushed Damien to his limits!”

Gwen swallowed hard. For the first time since entering the dungeon, she didn’t want to fight. Who knew that the slime floor led to a secret entrance in the dungeon.

Makes the mind wonder who came up with the idea.

The Dungeon Warden stepped forward and appeared in front of Gwen. His sword poised for a horizontal slash at her waist. Gwen jumped back, but the armored monster followed through. Turning his body, he struck her jaw with his elbow, causing her head to jerk to the side.

The Dungeon Warden followed up by jamming the hilt of his sword under her chin.

Crack!

The force sent Gwen’s body flying upwards. The Armored Warrior jumped up, above her. With both hands, he swung the blade, smacking Gwen with the hilt back toward the floor.

Boom!

The dark stone cracked, sending pieces into the air

Landing on the ground gently, the Dungeon Warden walked over to the hole, peering down at Gwen. “Huh, I’m actually shocked you survived that. You’re…”

Gwen tried to stay conscious. Yet the pain from the attacks was overwhelming. Her eyes closed before he finished speaking. This was the end of the road; she survived for as long as she could, but now it’s over.

Who knew the anime glossed over such a passage? Or was it because she just forgot parts… Either way, she had lost. She lay floating in an endless void of darkness, hoping to find some light. Nothing came. The seconds dragged into minutes, and she began to lose her sense of self.

What would happen if I just died here? Will I finally go home? She didn’t know the answer.

“Come on, boss, you’re going to let this armored monster beat you so easily!” Kira's voice whispered in her mind.

“You got this, Gwen!” Chris cheered, overlapping the beastkins.

Claire snorted. “We both know you have more power left, so why are you giving up now!”

Gwen’s lips turned downward. “I-I’m sorry this monster is—”

“Bullshit!”

“We both know you can do more!”

“So get your ass up and keep fighting, boss!”

The voices of her three companions roared in her head.

Gwen lay there, believing ‌her words. A light shone in the void, opening up to her. “You’re right!” she said, sitting up. “As if I’m going to just give up now before I actually enjoy a hard battle!”

“Come now, child, let me offer you a swift—” the Dungeon Warden started.

Without warning, Gwen launched herself off the ground, fist extended. The Dungeon Warden leaned back out of the strike. As she flew past the monster’s helmet, the silver-haired mage lashed out with her leg. The armored foe got his hand up to stop the strike.

Wham!

He grabbed her leg tightly; he rotated and threw her into the distance. Gwen righted herself in the air, sliding to a stop.

“Your tenacity is… commendable,” the Dungeon Warden said, marching forward. “You should’ve taken my offer for a swift death.”

Gwen hopped from foot to foot. “Death can have me when it fucking earns me!” she roared, a golden light surrounding her body.

“Then your death will be earned today!”

“I’m going to turn your armor into a new weapon after I kick your ass.”

The Dungeon Warden gave no reply as he charged forward. Dark energy leaked from his body, matching the surrounding void. He gripped his sword tightly and disappeared.

Already leaping aside, the sword missed Gwen. She twisted her hip, using the momentum to bring her leg around. The armored monster didn’t have time to move before the strike hit his head.

Yellow aura met black as they battled for dominance before forcing the Dungeon Warden back. The monster used its sword to stop its momentum. Summoning a stone spear, the silver-haired mage chased after him.

Gwen jabbed her weapon toward the slit in its helm. The Dungeon Warden hurried to raise its sword, but she pivoted. Rotating the weapon, she brought the back end across the helm, snapping his head down.

She spun the spear back around, a yellow light around it. The monster got its barbs out enough to block the strike. Stone pieces flew everywhere as the metal weapon held it back.

Gwen jumped back to break the clash, but the Dungeon Warden followed. The heavy sword arced through the air as he brought it down. She ducked under the strike aimed for her head.

With her lower center of gravity, she pushed off her back leg. Lunging forward, Gwen jabbed the spear towards the monster’s chest. Her golden glow acted like a beacon and eating away at the darkness.

“Screw you!” she roared, her voice echoing in the void.

The strike landed, cracking the armor—golden lines spread across the surface.

Whoosh!

The armored monster launched into a wall; his back left a dent before dropping to the ground. His sword landed at her feet.

Gwen’s golden aura dropped as she fell to her one knee. Sweat dripped down her face as she struggled to breathe. “Note to self: using pure light magic is draining,” she muttered, trying to hold herself together.

On the bright side, unlike dark magic being poisonous. Light magic aura healed her injuries. It also gave a buff similar to the one she used on Claire and Chris. Obviously, there is more, but those are the only things she picked up in the short time.

I guess different elements give different advantages when using them.

Krashhh

Breaking glass interrupted her thinking. She lifted her head to see the world around begin to crack. Pieces fell to the ground before it fully shattered, raining down pieces of darkness. Light from the torches instantly returned as the endless void disappeared.

“Boss!” Kira shouted.

Gwen staggered to her feet. The spear long turned back into regular rocks. I wanted to use that to walk with.

Times like this made her miss her staff.

Suddenly, a blur collided with her chest. “What the hell happened to you? That monster looked at you suddenly; both of you disappeared.”

“He did something that moved us to a dimension that was just like an endless darkness.”

“An endless darkness… huh, maybe it wanted an advantage against you?” Claire said, with unhappiness in her tone.

“I don’t know!” Gwen replied, setting Kira down on the ground.

Chris glanced around before pointing at something in the distance. “Hey, the armor is back!”

Looking to where he was pointing, to her shock, the Dungeon Warden, she thought was supposed to be lying on the ground, was actually back in the center. Sword in hand, not moving an inch.

“What the hell…. D-did that fight even happen?” She wondered, looking down at her hands.