In the Depths of the Abyss
Deep in the Abyss, I let out a long sigh and slowly unrolled the scroll clutched in my hand. A faint, holy glow enveloped her, gently drawing her sunken consciousness back from the profound depths.
“Ugh…”
A faint breath escaped her lips. Her eyelashes trembled ever so slightly, heralding her awakening.
“Mm…”
At last, she quietly opened her eyes. Her hazy gaze wandered before finally settling on me.
“Arnold…?”
She murmured weakly, like someone just roused from a nightmare. Confusion and exhaustion clouded her eyes, but a faint glimmer of relief shone through as well.
I watched her silently. The reason I’d gone to such lengths was simple: the scroll’s holy power would keep her safe from Luisil’s grasp for the time being. But it hadn’t been easy.
“Senior, you okay?”
I extended my hand naturally. She hesitated for a moment before grasping it gingerly. A subtle tremor passed from her fingertips. She wasn’t fully recovered yet.
I helped her to her feet slowly.
“I’m fine… Arnold, you’re… Ack?!”
But in that instant, she staggered. She barely steadied herself before suddenly losing her balance and tumbling toward me.
“Careful.”
I caught her on reflex. Her slender frame pressed into my arms. Her body heat radiated through the close contact, freezing the air for a split second.
“Wha…?”
Lucy’s eyes widened at the sudden intimacy. But before I could properly support her, her face flushed crimson.
“Eek?!”
As if the dizziness from moments ago had been a lie, she yanked herself away like lightning.
“S-Sorry!!”
She flailed her hands in apology, tugging desperately at her hat’s brim to hide her face—but her reddened ears betrayed her.
Her awkward glances darting everywhere, unsure where to look, left quite the impression. I watched her for a moment before speaking softly.
“It’s fine. You still seem unsteady—rest a bit more.”
Lucy bit her lip and nodded, still frantically trying to conceal her flushed cheeks.
“I’m okay… More importantly, where are we—”
Thud—
She tried to change the subject and lighten the mood. But just as her lips parted, a massive vibration shook the space around us.
Thud—
This one hit even harder. It wasn’t mere noise. Something was approaching—something immense, carrying tremendous weight and presence.
I steadied my mind and scanned our surroundings. This wasn’t just footsteps. It was like the earth itself groaning. Low, heavy pulses emanated from deep underground.
“……”
It’s here.
From the darkness ahead, a colossal shadow slowly emerged.
“So you were here…”
A figure of otherworldly size, clad head to toe in pitch-black armor. Far too massive to pass for human. Green flames flickered through the gaps in its plate, and within its helm, otherworldly fires danced like living eyes in the void.
Its mere presence warped the space, exuding crushing pressure. As it fully revealed itself, Lucy froze solid.
“…Ballan?!”
Her voice trembled as she named it, her eyes drowned in terror.
I glanced at her sidelong. This wasn’t mere surprise. It was utter despair—the instinctive realization of inevitable defeat.
Ballan. The mid-boss of this dungeon. A towering giant in black iron armor, one of Luisil’s most loyal creations, unmatched in raw might. As her own creation, Lucy knew him all too well. Even in the game, countless players had fallen helplessly before him.
Thud—
Another earth-shaking step cracked the floor, sending massive stone chunks crumbling down amid rising dust. Ballan loomed over us, its dark blue flames flickering. Like a beast scanning for life.
“Your master demands you.”
Its voice carried a pressure that twisted the air itself. Even a simple line evoked dread and hopelessness—fitting for such a being.
Lucy instinctively backpedaled, her face drained of color.
“Arnold, let’s retreat—just the two of us!”
She shouted urgently, rummaging through her bag.
“I’ll explain later, but that thing’s too dangerous!”
Her hands moved frantically. She must have the emergency warp scroll I’d given her earlier. Using it would get us out.
But…
“Ack, it’s gone! Did I drop it when I fell?!”
Panic etched her face. Her anxious fingers probed the bag, but nothing turned up. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, underscoring her distress.
As expected—no plot twists here. Only one choice left.
Ballan took another step, even heavier this time. The air compressed under its armor’s weight, enough to choke anyone else.
“Brace yourself, Lucy.”
“No choice now…!”
Lucy gritted her teeth and gripped her staff tightly. Sweat slicked her palms, but she focused desperately, aiming at the monster before her.
“Fire Hurricane!”
Fierce flames erupted in a whirlwind.
“Electric Lancer!”
Lightning poured from her staff’s tip, tracing blue streaks.
She unleashed spell after spell in desperation. But—
Fizzle—crackle…
The flames died before her eyes, the lightning fading to nothing. Lucy stared in horror.
Ballan’s armor wasn’t ordinary. It weakened incoming magic, ultimately nullifying it—a special gimmick. Combined with its overwhelming power, it forced close-quarters combat. One reason it’d broken so many players’ spirits in the game.
“…Hmph, pathetic.”
Ballan didn’t even flinch, as if mocking the nullified magic. It casually raised a massive arm, then lowered it with arrogant leisure.
“Ngh… It’s not working.”
Lucy bit her lip hard. Fear gripped her; her face darkened with fading hope. The impossibility of facing that bulk crushed her from within.
But.
“Senior.”
I stepped forward, shattering the silence.
“Arnold…?”
She stared at me, incredulous. The instinctive reaction to reckless folly.
But she’d overlooked one thing.
Who I am.
I gave her a faint smile and murmured softly.
“Don’t worry.”
Those few words eased her frozen expression, if only a little.
Then I advanced slowly but steadily, looking up at Ballan.
“…Human male. Nothing special.”
Ballan’s voice rumbled deeply. Black aura rippled around it, creeping toward me like something alive and sinister. It blinked its madness-tinged flames from the shadows, clearly underestimating me.
“You dare challenge me?”
Its mocking tone vibrated the air.
But.
Shing—
I drew my sword and declared firmly.
“Yeah. Let’s see how you like getting thoroughly thrashed by the likes of me today.”