Emilia trudged through the muddy swamp, the weight of the dungeon's oppressive energy clinging to her every step. She lifted her simple dress, trying to avoid more muck, but it was futile. With a sigh, she cursed the system under her breath. This is ridiculous. I'm supposed to be a saintess, not a swamp monster.
Her long black hair, now sticky and disheveled, clung to her neck, and she groaned as she attempted to clean it off. She moved through the swampy forest, the eerie atmosphere growing thicker with each passing moment. As she emerged from the tree line, Emilia looked up and saw something that made her breath catch.
Three suns hung in the sky, burning fiercely, while two moons hovered on the opposite horizon. The sky itself was a strange mix of day and night, creating a surreal landscape that could only exist within the boundaries of a dimensional dungeon. This place... it's as chaotic as the world it reflects.
Her body moved with the grace the system imposed on her, but inside, Emilia felt nothing but frustration. The system dragged her into this mess, forcing her through the trials of gods and monsters. She could feel its presence like chains, guiding her steps even when she longed to run the other way.
She continued forward, sneaking behind a sharp edge of jagged mountains, hiding in the shadows as she surveyed the land below. What met her eyes wasn't monsters or demonic beasts—but humans, fighting savagely.
Nobles hunted down desperate slaves, their cruel laughter echoing through the battlefield as they chased after defenseless people. Women screamed, clutching their children, only to watch them be slaughtered like cattle. Emilia's chest tightened at the sight, anger bubbling up inside her. This wasn't some trial sent by the gods to test strength or virtue. This was human greed, cruelty, and violence laid bare.
Her eyes caught on one particular scene—a desperate woman, her face twisted in grief as she watched her child's lifeless body crumple to the ground. In that moment, something dark shifted within her. The woman, overcome by despair, offered her blood to the ground, her lips whispering ancient incantations.
Emilia's eyes widened as a portal began to open, a gate to the demonic realm. Black smoke curled from the tear in reality, and she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. The woman had sacrificed herself to call forth demons, creatures that would tear apart anyone and anything in their path.
The gods won't stop this, Emilia thought bitterly. She could feel them watching, observing this carnage with detached amusement. It was always the same—the gods watched over humanity, but only ever intervened when it was time to enforce their worship, their control.
She crouched lower behind the rocks, the scene below becoming clearer. The humans fought each other, blood painting the landscape, but the true horror came after. The gods unleashed their divine judgment once the demons appeared, tearing through soldiers and nobles alike. They didn't save the innocent. No, they destroyed both sides, forcing humanity back into submission, into worship.
As Emilia watched, a strange figure appeared before her—a girl in a flowing white dress, her form translucent like a mirage. The girl's eyes were filled with sorrow as she gazed at Emilia, the scene of carnage reflected in her own sad expression.
The system in Emilia's mind began glitching. Notifications blurred, flashing strange error messages as if it couldn't process the presence of this mysterious girl.
Then, the girl smiled, her gaze softening as she reached out, her hand brushing against Emilia's. The touch sent a jolt through her body, and for a moment, the system fell silent. No more commands, no more quests.
"Who is the real enemy?" the girl's voice whispered, soft but clear.
Emilia stared at her, unable to answer, her heart heavy with the weight of the question. Was it the demons, born from human despair? The nobles, who hunted and oppressed without remorse? The gods, who only cared for their power?
Or was it something deeper, something darker?
The girl smiled again, her figure fading slowly like mist in the wind, leaving Emilia with only the haunting question echoing in her mind.
Who is the real enemy?
Emilia's grip tightened on the edge of the rock as she glanced down at the chaos below.
*****
The scenery shifted around Emilia once again, the chaotic plains fading away, replaced by a dungeon that was all too familiar. The cold stone walls, the damp air, and the eerie glow of dim torches lining the hallway—this was the dungeon from the original route.
Her heart pounded as she recalled the importance of this place in the game's storyline. In the original route, this dungeon would eventually burst, releasing waves of dark mana that would decimate the nearby village. I
t was this very incident that prevented the Vilheim family from discovering the truth about Emilia's identity, sealing her fate and erasing her from their search.
But this is a game, she reminded herself. Protect the protagonist, prevent the destruction, survive… and then I can make my wish. The promise of a new life, free from the system's constraints, was all that kept her moving forward.
Maybe she could go back to her real life—not to face her horrible family, but to fulfill her promise to Michael and finally meet his daughter. She had vowed to be a proud aunt, after all.
She glanced at the system notification in front of her, already giving her a new quest:
[Quest: Prevent the Dungeon Burst]
Objective: Clear the dungeon and stop the flow of black mana. Failure will destroy the village.
With a sigh of resignation, Emilia gripped her staff, feeling its familiar weight in her hands. It was more than just a weapon—it was an extension of herself.
Her player instincts kicked in, and without hesitation, she channeled her power into the staff, which shifted into the shape of a sword, its blade gleaming in the low light.
Monsters roamed the dark corridors, their glowing red eyes locked onto her as they snarled and charged. But Emilia didn't falter. With years of game knowledge and combat experience, she moved gracefully, her sword slicing through the air with precision. Each swing was calculated, her movements fluid as she took down one beast after another.
She wasn't the same Emilia who once lay in that hospital bed, weak and abandoned. This was her world now—a world where her skill mattered, where she had power. She could feel the thrill of battle rushing through her veins, the familiar rhythm of combat guiding her every step.
As she dispatched another wave of monsters, she paused for a moment, catching her breath. The dungeon felt endless, but she knew it wasn't. She could sense the core of the dungeon somewhere deep inside, pulsating with dark energy.
This is the turning point, Emilia thought. I'm not here to follow the script. I'm here to change it.
With renewed determination, she pressed forward, cutting through the monsters that blocked her path. Every swing of her sword brought her closer to her goal, every victory was a step toward a future where she could finally be free.
But as the darkness thickened around her, the question from earlier lingered in her mind, like a shadow she couldn't shake: Who is the real enemy?
*****
Emilia finally reached the dungeon's heart, where the core pulsated with ominous energy, radiating waves of dark mana. The sight of it made her heart race. Her grip tightened on her staff, which had morphed into a sword, and she braced herself for the final challenge.
The system notification blinked in front of her:
[Final Boss: Lesser Drake]
[Objective: Defeat the Lesser Drake and close the dungeon core]
Without warning, the ground trembled beneath her, and from the shadows emerged the Lesser Drake, its massive form towering over her. Its dark scales shimmered in the dim light, and its fiery eyes locked onto her with a primal hunger.
Here we go, Emilia thought, her breath steadying.
She launched into battle, dodging the drake's sharp claws and fiery breath as the system whispered commands in her mind. Each time she attempted to curse the situation, the system would filter her words, forcing her to pray solemnly as she fought.
"May you find peace in another world," her voice echoed gracefully, though her inner self was screaming something much less polite.
The battle was fierce, but Emilia's experience as a player and the power of her blessings guided her every move. With every strike, she chipped away at the drake's defenses, her prayers ringing through the chamber as the system demanded.
With one final swing of her sword, the Lesser Drake collapsed, its body shattering into pieces. Emilia stumbled back, exhausted but victorious. The dark energy of the dungeon core began to swirl, and the system once again directed her, instructing her to kneel and pray to seal the core.
[Quest Complete: Dungeon Core Sealed]
But as Emilia chanted the closing prayer, something unexpected happened. The dungeon began to dissolve—not in the usual way. The walls, the core, and even the ground beneath her feet seemed to fade away.
And in their place, the souls of the monsters she had just slain began to emerge, taking on human shapes. Their forms were twisted and broken, their faces contorted with anguish and sorrow.
Emilia froze as she watched these souls—some of them appearing as children, others as warriors, and a few as elderly men and women—rise from the corpses of the monsters. They seemed almost human, their gazes empty and filled with despair.
This… this isn't how the game was supposed to be, she thought, her chest tightening in horror.
One by one, the souls began to dissipate, fading into the air like smoke. They left behind a hollow emptiness that lingered in the dungeon's core. This wasn't just a game anymore. These weren't just monsters following scripted patterns. They were souls—lost, broken, and in pain.
"What… what is this?" Emilia whispered, her voice trembling. The system remained silent.
As the last of the souls disappeared, Emilia stood alone in the empty, lifeless dungeon. The weight of what she had just witnessed pressed down on her, and for the first time, she realized that this world, this game, was far darker and more real than she had ever imagined.
She wasn't just playing a game. She was living in a world where the monsters were more than just obstacles, and the consequences of her actions were far more devastating than a simple game over.
"This… this isn't in the game," she muttered to herself, her hands shaking. "What have I gotten myself into?"
The system flashed another notification:
[New Objective: Question Reality]
But Emilia didn't need the system to tell her that something was wrong.