Dungeon (9): Awakening in the Abyss
"……."
He slowly opened his eyes in the darkness. His shaky vision gradually came into focus as the blurry shapes sharpened. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion, and his body ached all over. It felt like he'd been slammed into the ground with his entire frame.
"Ugh…."
A groan escaped his lips. He tried to look up at the ceiling, but all he saw above was endless blackness. An immeasurable height, infinite darkness. The absence of a ceiling sent a chill down his spine.
As he attempted to sit up, he scanned his surroundings. Shattered debris was scattered everywhere. The massive pillars unique to the temple had crumbled into dust, and broken statues along with twisted murals etched into the walls lay strewn about.
And—
"Ugh……."
A faint groan from nearby made him snap his gaze toward it. There lay Lucy senpai, collapsed on the floor. She wasn't moving a muscle, but the slow rise and fall of her chest suggested she was still breathing, thank goodness. Her face was pale, though, and faint groans leaked from her stiff lips. She seemed to be unconscious, yet to regain awareness.
"Senpai… ugh—"
He tried to move, but his legs gave out, sending him crashing back to the floor. In that instant, intense pain surged through every corner of his body. Every breath stabbed at his ribs. Maybe they were cracked… or worse.
…This kind of impact should've killed me.
But rather than dismay, relief and doubt took precedence. He'd fallen from a height where shattered bones or instant death wouldn't have been surprising, yet he was alive. It was more baffling than anything—this was survival beyond human limits.
He'd always wondered about it in the game too.
Even chalking it up to 'game logic,' and assuming the protagonist has Hero potential… how the hell does anyone walk away unscathed from this height?
Those thoughts had crossed his mind often.
"…Ugh."
But now wasn't the time to dwell on such questions. First things first: patch up this battered body.
"Heal."
He murmured the incantation softly, casting recovery magic on himself. A pale green magic circle bloomed from his fingertips, warm light enveloping his wounds. The deep pain ebbed gradually, though it didn't vanish completely. This seemed to be the best he could manage at his level. For life-threatening bruises or fractures, one or two Heals wouldn't cut it.
"This… is the max, huh."
His muttered words echoed hollowly. Still, it was better than before. Better than nothing, for sure. He'd handle the rest with the potions he'd brought.
For now, he could at least move.
"……."
He slowly pushed himself to his feet and looked at Lucy senpai again. She still lay unconscious on the floor. Her pale face, steadily rising and falling chest, and faint breaths were the only proofs of life.
The air here remained cool and heavy. Like a space steeped in an ancient curse. The bone-chilling atmosphere burrowed into his skin, leaving an eerie sensation.
Gazing at Lucy senpai, he slowly pieced together his memories.
'Isn't that Lady Lucy?'
'She looks just like senpai… no, it's more than that.'
The moment they'd first seen the massive statue in the dungeon, everyone had thought the same. A statue eerily identical to Lucy. Not just resembling—it was like it had been molded directly from her.
If he didn't know better, he'd call it coincidence. But he did know. This was no mere chance.
"……."
As mentioned before, Lucy's backstory: she was a Spirit. A being crafted in the image of a god. But she wasn't just any creation. The master of this dungeon, the fallen ancient god Luisil.
An ancient deity who fell from grace, rejected by the other gods, and ultimately sealed deep within this underground temple. She'd once been worshipped as a god, but the reason for her fall was lost to history.
One fact stood clear, though. The reason this place was called the Deep Temple Dungeon, the reason for the statue resembling Lucy—it all tied back to that past.
This was the temple Luisil once ruled, the last remnants left by her followers.
And most crucially: Lucy was actually a fragment created by Luisil. Not a mere puppet.
Originally, she was a soulless doll without free will. Crafted solely as a vessel for Luisil to inhabit upon breaking her seal and reviving.
But… that fragment developed a will of its own. And that became Lucy.
She should have remained an empty shell, but at some point, she became aware of her fate and rejected it. She learned her purpose and fled. She escaped the dungeon, built her strength, entered the academy. All to erase Luisil herself.
To defy the god who created her, to reject her destiny. Her origin—and the past she must end—that was her story.
"……."
He gazed at Lucy senpai's serene face. She still let out faint groans, eyes closed. Her face was deathly pale, beads of sweat dotting her forehead. Her long lashes trembled faintly—not a simple faint. Her fingertips quivered too, like convulsions. She seemed trapped in a painful nightmare.
He gently shook her.
"Senpai."
No response. Her face was like one locked in deep darkness. Leaving her like this felt like she'd sink even deeper.
It looked like Luisil's interference had begun again. This was one reason she sought to kill her creator. As long as Luisil's mind existed, Lucy could never be truly free. No—as long as that fallen god lived, she'd be a cursed puppet forever.
Luisil saw her as both creation and insolent betrayer. She was meant to be a loyal doll, yet she'd defied expectations and claimed her own will. Even if her body was free, with her soul linked to Luisil, she could be pulled back anytime.
And if Luisil willed it, she could yank Lucy's mind into a mental space anywhere, anytime. There, Lucy was powerless. Unable to resist, subjected to infinite torment as Luisil desired.
That explained her sudden comas. Collapsing on the airship, losing consciousness at the hostel—it was all Luisil's mental meddling.
He rummaged in his pocket and carefully pulled out a scroll. Luckily, being paper, it wasn't badly damaged. He smoothed the crumpled edge and examined it.
They might remember: he'd prepared this magic scroll before arriving at Bellgard Dungeon City. Normally used to enchant weapons against undead monsters, but he had another purpose.
Looking down at her groaning form, he quietly spoke.
"Wake up, senpai."
Still no movement. Her lips were pallid, breaths quickening. She was surely thrashing in that mental space now. And Luisil wouldn't let her go easily.
So he didn't hesitate. He unfurled the scroll.
Crackle.
Ancient runes etched in ornate patterns floated into the air.
He channeled mana into it. Instantly, the scroll blazed with radiant light, warping the space around it. A strange ripple shook the air like a tremor. Warm radiance flowed from his fingertips, purifying the atmosphere in a rush.
One thing left. Without pause, he approached Lucy and extended his hand.
Then acted.
"Luisil…."
Dark. And terrifying. She put on a strong front, but fear seeped into her skin, threatening to shatter her heart.
It had started again.
"Do you like my gift~?"
The familiar, yet ever-chilling voice. She giggled as she looked down at her. Her creator—and the one she must kill. The ancient being, Luisil.
She was mocking her.
"How… did you do it…."
Her voice trembled as she barely forced the words out. Her fingertips felt frozen, numb.
"Whoa, whoa, calm down. I just gave you a little scare, that's all."
Her tone dripped with playful mockery.
"When you wake up, I've got something very special prepared."
She gritted her teeth. What was she planning now….
"What the hell did you do!!"
Even her furious shout only drew a leisurely laugh. She glared with eyes full of rage, but her heart pounded wildly.
"See for yourself~"
A finger snap echoed.
That was all it took this time.
"Eek?!"
Suddenly, her heart lurched, her whole body jolting as if flung away.
"Senpai, you okay?"
A faint voice spread. Opening her eyes, she saw a familiar face. Arnold…. Had he fallen too?
Thud-!
A vibration shook the ground. Earthquake? Or was Luisil shaking the temple again?
Thud-!!
No. This was—
Thud!!!
The air changed. Heavier than before, an overwhelming presence. Darkness that seemed to swallow her whole. A chill seeped deep into her lungs.
Her blood felt like it was freezing.
And…
Thud-
Something was awakening in the darkness.