Leon's grip on his sword tightened as the shadowy figures stepped closer.
They moved silently, their hollow eyes locked onto him. There was no malice, no aggression—just an eerie presence, as if they were waiting for something.
Kaelen tensed. "Are they ghosts?"
Rhun murmured, "No. They're something worse."
Leon didn't move. He had seen remnants like this before. In Devia, ancient beings sometimes left echoes—fragments of their existence tied to a location.
But these were different.
They were not fragments of the past.
They were the past itself.
Then—one of the figures spoke.
"You are not meant to be here."
---
The Guardians of the Scarred Wastes
The voice was ancient, layered with a weight that sent shivers down Leon's spine.
Jarek's hand hovered over his axe. "Leon, do we fight or run?"
Leon didn't answer immediately. His mind was racing.
These remnants—they weren't hostile yet. That meant there was another way forward.
Leon took a step closer. "Who are you?"
The figures tilted their heads in unison, as if his words were foreign.
Then—one stepped forward.
A taller figure, its form slightly more defined than the others. It raised a hand, palm facing outward.
And then, a system notification appeared before Leon.
━━━
[Trial of the Forgotten War: The First Question]
"What do you seek?"
━━━
Leon exhaled slowly. This is a test.
He met the figure's gaze. "I seek the truth of this land."
Silence.
Then—the figure nodded.
The other remnants lowered their heads slightly.
And then, the gate behind Leon began to shift.
---
The Opening of the Sealed Gate
The ancient stone groaned as it slowly parted, revealing a dark corridor beyond.
A gust of cold air rushed out, carrying with it the scent of dust, decay… and something else.
Something old.
Jarek let out a breath. "Well, that's not ominous at all."
Kaelen muttered, "I swear, if this is another death trap…"
Leon didn't hesitate. He stepped inside.
The others followed.
Behind them, the shadowy figures remained at the threshold, watching in silence.
Then—the gate closed.
Sealing them inside.
---
Into the Depths
The corridor stretched deep into the earth, lit only by the faint glow of ancient blue runes embedded in the walls.
Rhun studied them. "This script… it's even older than the Beastman Empire."
Leon wasn't surprised. This ruin was untouched in his past life.
Which meant—no one had ever uncovered its secrets.
That meant new opportunities.
And new dangers.
Jarek muttered, "I hate to ask, but… does anyone else feel like we're being watched?"
Kaelen's jaw tightened. "I was trying not to think about it."
Leon remained silent. He felt it too.
Something was down here.
Watching.
Waiting.
---
The Chamber of Echoes
The passage opened into a vast chamber.
Ancient stone pillars rose to the ceiling, cracked and worn with time. At the center, a massive black monolith stood, its surface covered in glowing inscriptions.
And before it—
A corpse.
Rhun tensed. "That's… old."
The body was mummified, its armor rusted, its bones partially visible.
But what struck Leon the most was its position.
The figure was kneeling before the monolith, as if in worship.
Or in desperation.
Then—
A system notification flickered into existence.
━━━
[Trial of the Forgotten War: The Second Question]
"What was lost?"
━━━
Leon frowned.
This trial… was asking him to piece together the past.
He approached the monolith, running his fingers along the inscriptions.
And the moment he made contact—
The world shifted again.
---
The Truth Buried in Time
Leon stood in a city of stone and steel, surrounded by towering figures draped in ceremonial robes.
Beastmen, Elves, Humans—all gathered under a single banner.
A voice rang out.
"The war is lost."
Leon turned. A massive beastman warlord stood at the city's center, his fur streaked with silver, his armor stained with blood.
"We were betrayed."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
A younger warrior stepped forward. "The Holy Empire will not save us?"
The warlord's expression darkened.
"The Empire is the one who abandoned us."
Leon's heart froze.
This… was a forgotten chapter of history.
The warlord clenched his fist. "If we are to fall, then let our names be carved into the world itself."
A deep, resonating chant filled the air.
The people were preparing for their final stand.
And then—
The sky split open.
A colossal shadow descended, its six glowing eyes piercing the heavens.
Leon's blood ran cold. The beast from before.
The city erupted into chaos.
Warriors roared, weapons clashed, magic surged—but it was not enough.
The shadow consumed everything.
And then—
Darkness.
---
Return to Reality
Leon gasped, stumbling back from the monolith.
The vision faded, the chamber returning to its eerie stillness.
His companions looked at him, concern evident in their eyes.
Kaelen frowned. "Leon?"
Leon exhaled slowly. He understood now.
This was not just any ruin.
This was the tomb of a civilization erased from history.
And the Betrayed Ones?
They were the ones Devia had forgotten.
Leon clenched his fists. If the Empire was involved in their downfall, what else had been hidden?
More importantly—
What had happened to the beast that had destroyed them?
Because if it had survived…
It was still out there.
---