"How long has it been? How long will I have to wait? Was the prophecy another lie? Mother, why did you and father abandon me? Why must I live this hell for eternity? Why can't I die?"
On the one hundredth floor of the dungeon sits the final boss. If you can make your way down the hellish floors and defeat the final boss. You will earn rewards beyond imagination. What any adventurer strong enough to accomplish this feat wouldn't expect is that one of the prizes is an elf girl. Why she was imprisoned down here is a mystery, and if this elf girl was made aware she has long forgotten. At this point only two things fill her mind. The endless question of why, and the finality question of when. When will someone save me or when will I die?
The elf lays fully aware, but unable to move or even speak. She has been sealed in a chrono stone. Once sealed a person cannot speak, sleep, age, eat, drink, or die. They are forever frozen till someone releases them. Forever they are doomed to watch as centuries pass. Kingdoms rise and fall, advancements in magic are made, and societies and their values change. However, the one trapped will never change. They will remain, and eventually be forgotten.
This is reality, and for this elf this is her reality. She doesn't know how long she's been trapped, but she guesses only a couple centuries have passed. Since being sealed down here she has not once seen anyone enter this chamber. Even if someone had, they most definitely would be killed by the monster that inhabits this place.
She remembers her mother telling her that one day someone will come to save her, and that they will be the one she's destined to follow. When she asked her mother why she had to wait and how her mother could know this. Her mother answered that it was foretold in a great prophecy.
The elf being the obedient daughter her parents wanted her to be allowed herself to be sealed. She at first thought that maybe her parents were just punishing her for something and would return in a month or so to retrieve her, but months passed and her parents never returned. The longer she waited the deeper into madness and despair she fell. Soon the despair morphed into hate and revenge. She promised herself that whenever some came to save her, she'd make her first act of freedom killing her savior. She decided that she would decide her own future and finally live for her and what she wanted.
The hate carried her for many decades, maybe even centuries, but soon even that faded and all that was left was brokenness. She no longer cared about revenge, or freedom, or even living anymore. She just wanted it all to be over. All the pain, hate, and despair. She was just done fighting.
"Is this my fate? Destined to be alone forever?" the elf wondered apathetically
She had given up any hope of anyone making it down here. This dungeon was a grand expedition for her and her race when they came down to seal her. They had brought a small army and still their losses were numerous. The idea that one person or even a small adventuring party could do it was laughable at best.
"BOOM!!!!" a huge explosion tore through her thoughts and suddenly her full attention was on the front door. At least what used to be the front door. Now it was nothing more than a mountain of rubble.
"Who or what could have caused that?" the elf thought in pure confusion
As the dust settled a shadow began to become visible. When all of it had cleared what stood on the peak of this destruction was one lone man.
"Where the actual fuck did this damn circle teleport me to?" Zane said annoyed
As Zane surveyed the area, he was disappointed to see that not only was he not out of the dungeon, but instead at the deepest level. Zane didn't need any signs to tell him this. The almost blinding shine of the marble columns extended floor to ceiling like a marble forest. The marble flooring was so clean you could eat off it, and he figured whatever monster lurked in here probably had. The massiveness of the room, Zane could barely see end to end. He wondered if every boss room was this big, or if it was unique for the final boss.
Zane leaving his perch and heading deeper into the room noticed the stairs at the end of the room. Heading towards it he better perceived the sheer massiveness of the room. In the depths of the dungeon the ceilings were about thirty feet high. In here they stood a staggering fifty. The columns were so wide he'd need at least five to six people of average build to wrap around one of them. The closer he got to the stairs the bigger the doors at the top loomed.
"Did a damn giant live here? I mean shit if those doors are solid gold I'm screwed. There's no way I can open them." Zane said exasperated
The elf girl watched as the man approached. She wanted to scream and tell him to run, but no sound could leave her lips. She felt absolutely useless, and her despair only grew. She watched as Zane made his way to the stairs then faded from view due to the massiveness of the stairs, but she could hear each step of his bare feet slapping the clean marble.
When Zane got to the top he paused in disbelief. "Fuck me, no way!" Zane said, shocked by something.
The elf girl thought he was talking about her, but soon realized he was looking past her and at the doors that lay behind her. Zane walked past her and she wasn't sure why. He can't leave till he defeats the boss. So, what's the point of going to the doors?
What fascinated Zane so much was his own reflection. Up to this point he hadn't been able to see himself. What stared back at him was a young man roughly fifteen years of age. His height was the same six feet it always been. He looked to have put on some muscle, guessing he weighed about one seventy now. Up from the one forty of his past life. He looked all the bit of the athlete he used to be. Two major changes were hair and eyes. He'd always had longer hair then a lot of guys, but nothing he could tie off or put up. Now his black hair fell just past his shoulders, and had it gotten thicker he wondered. As for his eyes, that was a complete change. His once blue eyes that he took great pride in had become a crimson red like something a demon would have in an anime. Even his clothes had kind of changed. His black sleeveless was now a tight black V-neck, and his black workout shorts had become black sweats. This posed another question in his head. How hadn't noticed he was wearing different clothes, or had this been what he had on and he hadn't remembered? Also, if his clothes had been changed why didn't they give him a pair of shoes? The fact that they couldn't be bothered to give him even sandals made his blood boil again.
"I fucking hate these gods and goddesses. Well, you know what, all you divine losers can kiss my white ass." Zane said, flipping off the sky.
The elf girl couldn't see what was happening, but mentally jumped when he began ranting at the room like a mad man. She asked herself if this is the man who will save her, and if so, who will save her from him.
Zane noticed the giant stone when turning around preparing to leave. He walked around it examining it. When he got to the front, he about jumped out of his skin. Frozen in the stone was a beautiful elf girl. He couldn't make out too much, but he could tell it was a she and if the long pointy ears meant the same here as in his old world. Then she was an elf girl. Zane's inner weeb screamed in excitement. He'd always had a thing for elf girls.
It was at that moment a terrifying thought crossed his mind. "Oh shit, I never got the chance to clear my browser history."
Dread filled Zane for a moment, but calmed when he remembered that he was stuck here and so it didn't matter if they saw it or not.
Returning to the giant stone prison in the room. He needed to figure a way to get her out.
"Maybe I can melt it? Mmm, probably not, if it was that easy, she probably wouldn't be stuck. Could there be a password? Maybe there's a key somewhere around here? Crap what if it only appears after defeating the big boss mob." Zane rambled pacing back and forth
He did this for a while, and came up with exactly zero solutions. Mentally tired from thinking so much he leaned against the stone. The stone was both cold as ice and shocking almost like it was electrified.
"Are you worthy!?" A voice boomed in Zane's head
"Am I worthy? Worthy of what exactly?" Zane retorted
The voice boomed again "Are you worthy!? Are you prepared to fight the world!? Are you willing to stand against the Gods themselves!?"
"Fight the world? Stand against the Gods? What the fuck are you on about? Look, you can miss me with that. I'm out of here, sorry elf girl, but if saving you means going to war with the world. I'm out" with that Zane turned to leave, but his hand was frozen to the stone.
He pulled and pulled, but it wouldn't budge. Laughing he spat "So, this is one of those I'm asking to be polite, but in actuality you don't have a choice in the matter. Well, when you put it like that how can I refuse? Ugh, fine you win, I am worthy and all that crap. Now let me go."
"I have evaluated your essence and deemed you worthy! Demon child once human I bestow to you, my daughter! Please give her the life I could not!" the voice boomed before releasing Zane's hand and crumbling to dust leaving only a naked elf girl in its place.
She laid there her slender frame and fair skin reminding him of snow, and her long white hair brought back memories of a trip he and some friends took to Japan. They had gone to this garden type place and all around them were beautiful pink cherry blossoms. There was one though that hypnotized him. At the end of the garden almost defiantly stood a white cherry blossom tree. The lady working there said it's an anomaly. No matter what season or other factors it always blooms the same white petals. Never changing or yielding to its environment. She was only maybe five feet, and couldn't have been more than a hundred or so pounds. She looked so peaceful, and yet so fierce at the same time. Like a thunderstorm on a relaxing night.
It took a few moments for the girl to wake up, but when her eyes met Zane's electricity pulsated around them. Like a spark that had been missing in both their lives had suddenly been introduced. Zane was transfixed on the girl's purple eyes. He felt an instant connection, and the girl felt this spark as well. They stared longingly into each other's eyes for what felt like an eternity. The moment only ended when the elf realized she was naked.
"AHHH!!! Don't look at me, I'm not decent!!!" she shrieked
Quickly taking off and handing her his shirt Zane turned away red faced. "My bad here, sorry if it smells, but it should at least cover you up."
The elf took it and putting it on said "Thank you, and thank you for rescuing me. If it's not too much trouble, could I have your name?"
"It's Zane, Zane Newgate, and what's yours? You do have one, right?"
The girl sat there stoically for several seconds then staring deep into Zane's eyes. "I do, but I have long forgotten it. Besides, even if I did remember it, I wouldn't want it. It was given to me by those who easily abandoned me. I'd like you to give me a name."
Zane was taken aback by the request. She wanted him to give her a name. It's not like he was against it, but he had no idea what name to give a girl. Especially one as pretty as her. He looked at her hair and without thinking said "How about Sakura?"
The girl looked at him puzzled, but then smiled "I love it, Sakura it is."
Zane was a little embarrassed that he just named her after a tree, but screw it if she was happy then he was too.
"Hey, not to trigger any flags or anything, but isn't this the final boss room? So, where is the final boss? Don't tell me you're the final boss, because I don't think I can fight you." Zane asked confused
"BOOM!!!"
"You've triggered a flag" Zane thought immediately
The ground shook violently, as chunks of the marble floor became shrapnel that would have turned them both to swiss cheese had it not been for the platform they laid on. Still, even with that height the creature towered over them. As the dust cleared Zane and Sakura saw their challenger.
"IS THAT A FUCKING HYDRA?!?!" Zane screamed
Sakura touched Zane's arm, and whispered "Just leave me here, and run away. You can't beat it."
Zane looked at Sakura and then at the Hydra and then back at Sakura. "What type is it, and am I correct that if I sever one head it'll grow back?" Zane asked, staring unfazed by the monster.
Sakura couldn't believe it. Who the hell was this guy? He is staring down a Hydra and there isn't a flicker of fear. If anything, he looks more pissed off than anything. Is he really going to fight this guy Sakura thought. "Are you a damn fool? You can't beat this thing. That's an earth Hydra. Not only do their heads regrow, but their skin is nearly impossible to break through. Even for an elite warrior, and no offense, but you don't strike me as one." Sakura retorted
Zane in a moment that truly shook Sakura to her core. Stood up smiling and said "Earth Hydra huh? Well, if nothing else it won't be boring."
The Hydra towered over them at forty feet, and with five heads that Zane thought looked a lot like cobras. Each head could use earth magic and act independently of the others. Their fangs were equal to two Zane's stacked up in length. That's twelve feet long, and while Zane wasn't sure he hoped they didn't have some type of venom. Their scales were a rocky stone exoskeleton that made it unsurprising that few could penetrate it. Overall, it was an absolute unit, but Zane wasn't fazed. This was the final boss after all.
Zane jumping from the platform used his flames to propel himself at the Hydra and fired off a couple of fireballs to little damage, but it did temporarily obscure the Hydra's vision. He then proceeded to shoot the flames down, sending him above the creature. Zane released a massive crimson star fall. He made three orbs of fire and dropped them like the bombing raids he'd seen in war movies.
The problem was that in those movies they're not fighting monsters. Though a few came to mind and his outcome was very similar to those. Before he could react a giant tail ripped through the dust and smashed Zane. He went flying into the wall. Blood projectile out of his mouth and streamed down his face. He could tell that multiple ribs were broken, and thanks to the impact his vision was blurry and out of focus. For the first time in a while, he wasn't sure he could beat this thing. He expected fear to rush over him, and panic to fill his every thought. However, to his surprise he felt no such feelings. Instead, he felt more alive than he'd ever felt in his old life. Running on instincts alone he dove to the right and while in the portal room he chose poorly. In this instance he chose correctly. If he'd gone left or stayed there his short second life would have ended there. Two of the snakes' giant heads crashed into the wall, and this gave Zane just enough time to clear his head and vision.
Zane knew he needed to reevaluate his tactic. Look for an opening or weak spot. Zane propelled himself back on the platform where Sakura was still sitting dumbstruck by Zane's insane willingness to fight and protect her. Zane ran over to her shaking her back to reality.
"Hey princess, any ideas on how I can defeat this thing?" Zane asked, his face fully serious, but his eyes and tone looked and sounded more like a kid having fun.
Sakura sat there for a moment before saying "To my knowledge there is no way to defeat an Earth Hydra. They are known as the unbeatable calamity. They have no weak spots, and again their skin is nearly impregnable."
A smile grew on Zane's face "You said nearly impregnable, but that means there is a way."
Again, Sakura sat there stunned. She just told him it's basically impossible, and all he heard was that there is a chance. Sakura couldn't figure him out. It was like he felt no fear, but even she could tell he was already in bad shape. His breathing was heavy and ragged, he was still bleeding profusely, and his eyes cloudy. Basically, he can't breathe, he's bleeding out, and he can barely see. Yet, his aura was still just as resilient as when the fight started. He still believed that he could find a way to beat this thing. "How? How can you fight, aren't you afraid?"
Zane turned his head, but not quite facing her. His expression wore a confused look. "Huh? What do you mean not afraid? I'm absolutely terrified, but I don't want to die here. So, I'm going to fight."
Zane wasn't exactly being honest. He wasn't feeling any fear, but that was more of a mind over matter thing. He could feel the fear just underneath the surface, but he knew if he succumbs to fear he and her are dead.
Sakura felt a jolt of anger, but not at Zane, or the hydra, or even the family that abandoned her. She felt angry at herself. She couldn't believe that after finally regaining her freedom she was going to give it up. Here Zane was clearly pushing past his limits and fears. Here he was protecting her, and all she wanted to do was lay down and die.
"You damn idiot!" Sakura said, slapping herself hard.
Zane turned now fully facing her concern etched on his face. "Girl what in the cult 45 are you doing back there?"
Sakura, rising to her feet, said confidently "Don't worry about it, you just need to wake up. Now let's kill this asshole."
Zane's smirk returned and now side by side with Sakura they were ready to not just fight, but to win and survive.
"Hey dumb question, but what kind of magic do you have?" Zane asked
"It's called Black Lightning, or Demon lightning magic. Actually, if I'm not mistaken the magic you use is also demon magic." Sakura answered
Zane paused to process this revelation. "Demon Magic? I'll grant you it's a deeper red than most fires, but I don't know if I'd say it's demonic."
It was now Sakura's turn to process. "Wait, do you not know the type of magic you have? How the hell did you awaken it and not have the grand elder tell you? Actually, explain that part after we fight. To give you a quick explanation. Your magic is called crimson fire magic. The only people who can have that type are the demons. This is also true for my lighting magic. How I came to be cursed with it is something I never learned, but the point is amongst all the beings in this world demons have the strongest magic. The only reason you and I even have a sliver of a chance is because of the magic we use. Make sense? If not, the rest will have to be explained after. It's coming!"
The two scattered avoiding the whipping tail that destroyed the platform. Zane flew to the sky while Sakura, enhancing herself with lighting magic, shot down to the ground, and raced to the left of the Hydra.
Once at its side she cast "Lightning Sabers" six bolts of lighting darted at and crashed into the monster, but while it seemed to stun the Hydra couldn't pierce the scales. Unlike most snakes, dragons, or hard-shelled creatures that have a weak underbelly. The Earth Hydra has rock solid scales covering every area.
"Damnit, my power hasn't fully recovered. I can't break through." Sakura yelled
Zane tried next pushing off from the ceiling he coated his fist in fire and cast "Purgatory Fist" smashing the furthest right head. To both his and Sakura's shock it worked. The head exploded leaving a pulsating stump where a head used to be. Before the Hydra could react, he quickly cast "Fire Ball" and cauterized it.
The Hydra wailed in both fury and pain. Suddenly a pillar jolted forward crashing into and sending Zane flying. With what little strength he could muster he used his flames to slow himself down, but not enough to stop. He hit the ceiling with a sickening explosion. From the dust his lifeless body fell fifty feet. Sakura barely got there in time to catch him.
He was unconscious and barely breathing. Blood was now oozing out his mouth and based on the look of the impact she guessed he'd broken several more ribs amongst other bones. He was in no shape to keep fighting, but what was she supposed to do? He was the only one able to injure this behemoth.
"Crap, what do I do? Should I try to run?" Sakura looked at the entrance and to her dismay. The once gaping hole that Zane had entered through was now repaired with the doors closed and most certainly locked. "Ok, plan B… What the hell is plan B?" Panic washed over her as she realized no matter what she did the result was the same. They were going to die.
Sakura hugged Zane close to her hoping he'd wake up and tell her that it would be ok and then beat this monster. She could hear the Hydra having finished examining the damage Zane caused refocusing on the two combatants. Mostly though it was focusing on Zane. The one who had actually hurt it.
Sakura lifting Zane on her back enhanced herself with her lightning, and ran to get out of the monster's line of vision. This was going to be difficult since it had four remaining heads. Even as she got past one another was waiting there to attack. It took all she had to avoid the magic attacks, ramming, and biting of each head. The floor was shaking nonstop, debris from the pillars, and walls made keeping her footing almost impossible.
She finally was able to hide behind a pile of rubble near where the platform had stood, and laying Zane down she could hear his breathing getting weaker and weaker as he gasped for as much air as he could. She wondered if his lungs weren't filled with blood or some other fluid. She didn't know what to do though. She wasn't a doctor, or knew any healing magic.
She was about to try and at least lead the monster away from Zane, but just before she left he stopped breathing. "Crap don't you die on me." Sakura said, sending a jolt of electricity into his chest.
Zane began coughing violently and rolled to his side. He threw up way more blood than what be concerning. Sakura knew she had to move, and end this fast otherwise winning and losing wouldn't matter.
Sakura darted out from the hiding place charging the Hydra. The Hydra hissed as multiple boulders flew at her. She dodged most of them, but the last one caught her shoulder and she fell sliding several feet. As she tried to stand an earth pillar shot from the ground beneath her ramming into her stomach. She flew into the air and the landing spot was the center of Hydra's wide-open mouth.
As she fell to her death, she prayed that Zane would find some way to escape. She thought about her life, and how this was the best possible ending. She'd lived a life of uselessness and now she can finally be of some use to somebody. "I hope that my cursed existence found some meaning here at the end" she said, closing her eyes and accepting her fate.
"You know I never liked older mister fate. If you ask me, I think you should tell him to go fuck himself and forge your own path."
Sakura opened her eyes to see a bloody, but alive Zane using his flames to fly them past the hungry heads and to safety. The landing was rough with them crashing more than landing. It wasn't too hard to see that Zane was running on adrenaline, and even a little spite.
His body was covered in cuts and bruises. His face was coated in blood and while he tried to hide it, he was huffing and puffing. Still his eyes had that same defiant look they had when the fight started. He had maybe five ten minutes tops before he collapsed.
"You stay here, I'll only need a minute." Zane said, smirking. He turned around to face the monster. He took one more big breath. Exhaling it he took off like a shooting star.
"That's flame enhancement magic." Sakura said in awe "Did he learn how to do that by just watching me?" she asked aloud
Zane was flying around the room so fast that the heads kept colliding into each other trying to keep up. "I figured by the way you moved that the heads worked independently. That's the reason you don't move much. Each head controls the body. Normally one of you would have it move, but in the heat of battle it's hard to coordinate and strategize. Classic to many cooks in the kitchen. Too bad for you, I found your weakness." Zane said
Having disoriented the Hydra, he closed in on the furthest left head and again cast "Purgatory Fist" followed by "Fire Ball". This time though he used his enhancement to avoid the counter attack. He repeated this action two more times till only one head remained. Zane knew that this would be the trickiest to beat.
First, he was exhausted both physically and in terms of mana reserves. Second, the Hydra was in a position that placed him perfectly away from the walls and any still standing pillars. So, he wouldn't be able to bounce around and take him by speed blitzing him. Lastly, now that the Hydra was down to one head there wouldn't be any limits on its movement. Only one head to control one body.
The Hydra made the first move charging Zane. Zane quickly avoided the attack and tried to counter, but the monster used an earth wall. Zane didn't have the energy to waste so he instead created some distance.
"Maybe I'm being too optimistic, but I think it's slowing down. Yeah, it's definitely slowing down. Still can't capitalize on that though. Even if I avoid its attack it uses the earth wall to defend against a counter. What should I do? Damn this sucks I finally have him in check and I can't finish it." Zane spat while contemplating.
Huffing Zane had come to a decision. Now he just hoped he'd survive it. Charging the Hydra, he got in close and jumped in the air. The Hydra rushed Zane who looked like he'd been caught off guard. Opening its massive jaw it swallowed Zane in one gulp.
"ZANE NOOOOO!!!!!" Sakura screamed
Sakura sat there in disbelief. Tears began to trickle down her cheeks as all the fights she had just moments ago vanished in an instant. She sat there motionless, no thoughts running through her head. She had finally broken down. She had no magic, no physical strength, and most importantly no will to live.
The Hydra turned to its next victim and unlike its previous snack this one was waiting for it on a marble plater. It slithered its way towards Sakura. She didn't even look up to face it till it was right on top of her. When she did look up it was with dead eyes. Just as the Hydra reared back to attack Sakura felt one last defiant act rise up.
She lifted her hand and cast "Black Bolt" a black lightning bolt sprang from her hand and shattered harmlessly against its hard body. "Fuck you and your heads. Today me and Zane are the real winners. We proved that not only are you beatable, but if we'd been serious from the start we'd have won with no issue." Sakura knew that was all lies, but it gave her comfort. She felt like that's what Zaane would have said if he'd been here.
The monster unaffected by her spell or words lunged forward, and just as he was about to crush her it reeled back in pain and roared in unbearable pain. Sakura had no idea why, but watched as it slithered back into a wall. It writhed in agony, and Sakura wondered if her spell had done more damage than she first thought. The Hydra opening its mouth shot a stream of crimson fire for several minutes. When the fire ceased the Hydra fell lifelessly to the ground. Smoke billowed out of its gaped mouth.
Silence filled the room, and an uneasy peace rested over Sakura. She sat there stunned, unable to move or speak. She crawled her way to the corpse or the once great Hydra. She knew that flame, but it couldn't be possible. Nobody can survive being eaten, or at least she didn't think so.
She got to the body just as she heard someone say "Damn, I can't believe that worked." Not but seconds later Zane limped his way out of the Hydra's mouth.
Sakura tried to get up, but now with the danger past. She couldn't get her body to listen. Zane limped over to her his dwindling strength becoming more evident with every step. When he finally reached her he collapsed to the ground laughing. Sakura couldn't help but laugh as well.
"I can't believe we actually won. That was totally crazy, or I guess it's more accurate to say you were totally crazy." Sakura laughed.
Zane grinning ear to ear responded "If I'm not mistaken you were the one to tell the thing to f off."
Sakura's face turned red with embarrassment. "You heard that?"
"Every single word. You'd be surprised how good the acoustics are in the belly of a hydra." Zane joked
Sakura and Zane laid there for a bit trying to regain their strength. After several minutes Sakura was able to sit up. When she turned around Zane was asleep still smiling like a fool.
"How can he sleep after that; I mean we aren't out of the dungeon yet." Sakura said with a sigh. "Ugh, I guess it's up to me to get us out of here. Then again if I want to repay him for saving me not once but twice. This is the least I can do." she finished smirking.
Sakura laboring got to her feet, and stumbling over to Zane began to drag him to the giant golden doors. As if nothing happened the platform that once housed her prison was back as good as new. Sakura was happy she had a way to the exit, but looking at the almost one hundred steps she had to not only walk up herself. She also now had to drag Zane up too.
"After this he's going to owe me. He may have saved my life, but these stairs may kill me." Sakura groaned.
When she got to the top, she was pleasantly surprised with the giant doors being wide open. Not trying to be a bad guest entered dragging Zane as fast as possible. She had no idea who or what was waiting beyond these doors, but Zane needed medical treatment as fast as possible. So, whatever was there she would stop at nothing to save her savior.