37.The Secret of the Ancient Ruins

Leaving Kyle and Heos behind, Merslin and his companions ventured deeper into the wilderness until they finally arrived at the entrance of the ancient ruins. The ground was adorned with intricate patterns, and towering pillars bore mysterious engravings. Statues of warriors wielding swords, shields, and spears stood in silent formation, giving the ruins an eerie yet mystical atmosphere.

As they explored the ruins, Merslin sensed a faint energy in the air. Using a detection spell, he scanned the surroundings and quickly identified a sinister aura lurking nearby. Just then, his Aether Staff began to glow in response to something unseen.

Merslin: "The staff is reacting… Something important must be nearby."

A soft glow circled in the air before being absorbed into the staff. Then, without warning, a violent tremor shook the ground. The sudden quake made Merslin and his companions stumble.

Lisa: "What's happening?"

Serena: "Watch out! Something's coming!"

As the tremors subsided, the statues surrounding them slowly began to move. The once-lifeless stone warriors sprang to life, advancing toward the group with hostile intent.

Elena: "The statues are moving! Get ready for battle!"

Lisa: "Everyone, stay sharp! They're attacking!"

The party immediately assumed combat stances, fending off the animated statues. These ancient guardians possessed immense strength, but Merslin's group fought in perfect coordination.

Elena: "Binding Vines! Restrain them!"

Elena's magic wrapped thick vines around the statues, momentarily halting their movements. However, the sheer weight and force of the stone guardians caused the vines to snap apart within moments.

Elena: "The vines won't hold! We need a stronger approach!"

Lisa: "Everyone, prepare to strike! We can't let them overpower us!"

As the battle intensified, Merslin's Aether Staff continued to react, gradually absorbing the energy of the statues. When one of the statues lunged toward him, he instinctively tracked its energy source. That's when he noticed something—each statue had a glowing core embedded within its body.

Merslin: "Their cores! That's their power source! If we destroy them, we can stop them!"

Serena: "I'll try attacking it with my daggers!"

Serena swiftly dashed in, aiming for the core with her daggers, but they barely made a scratch.

Serena: "It's not working! We need a stronger weapon!"

Aria: "Lisa, let me enhance your strength! Are you ready?"

Lisa: "I'm always ready! Do it, Aria!"

Aria cast a strength-boosting spell on Lisa, who felt a surge of power flow through her body. With a mighty swing, Lisa struck the core of a statue, piercing it completely. One by one, the statues collapsed as their power sources were destroyed.

Lisa: "Aim for the cores! That's the key to stopping them!"

Although Lisa's sword played a crucial role in the battle, the intense combat took a toll on her weapon. Eventually, it cracked and shattered.

Lisa: "No… my sword… It's broken."

Her voice trembled with disappointment as she gazed at the fragments of her trusted weapon, one that had been with her through countless battles. A deep sorrow welled up inside her as she realized her companion had been lost.

Merslin: "Lisa, don't be discouraged. You fought incredibly well. We all know how strong you are."

Serena: "Yeah, Lisa! Thanks to you, we won this fight!"

Just as despair began to settle, fate had something else in store. A sword, once held by one of the statues, shed its stone casing and gleamed brilliantly as it fell to the ground. The blade looked as though it had been newly forged, radiating a golden light.

Merslin: "That sword… It might be a trap. Be careful."

Elena: "Let's inspect it thoroughly before touching it."

After carefully examining the weapon using various spells, they determined it was safe. A stone inscription near the statue read: "A reward for those who pass the trial."

Lisa: "This is… a sword meant for me!"

As Lisa grasped the weapon, she felt an overwhelming surge of energy flow through her. In that moment, her eyes caught sight of an engraving on the blade—a sun emblem, faintly reflecting the silhouette of a mysterious figure.

Merslin: "That symbol… Why does it feel so familiar?"

A strange sensation crept over him, as if a forgotten memory was surfacing.

Merslin (thoughts): This feeling… Have I seen it before? In my childhood? Or… was it from a game?

His heart pounded in his chest, a mix of excitement and unease taking hold of him.

Lisa, oblivious to Merslin's internal turmoil, tightened her grip on the weapon and smiled.

Lisa: "I feel stronger now. This sword… I'll wield it well."

Merslin: "Good. With this, we've all become stronger. Let's keep exploring the ruins."

Elena: "Agreed. There might be more hidden treasures here."

Serena: "Let's push forward together!"

With renewed determination, the group continued their exploration, growing stronger with each challenge.

Return to the Village

After completing their search, the party returned to the village. As they entered the inn, they were greeted by familiar faces—Kyle and Heos.

Heos: "You're back. Welcome."

Though Heos greeted them with a smile, there was still an undeniable chill behind his expression, something that set him apart from the warmth of the others.

Kyle: "Lisa, let me see that sword for a moment… Wait, this is…!"

Kyle's eyes widened in shock as he examined the weapon.

Kyle: "This sword… It's the legendary Sunblade. A weapon said to carry the power of the sun itself, capable of vanquishing even the most fearsome dark creatures. Lisa, this is perfect for you!"

Lisa: "Seriously? A legendary sword?! That's amazing!"

Kyle: "Yeah. According to legend, it was once wielded by a great warrior. If you train well, you might follow in their footsteps."

Lisa, emboldened by the revelation, felt a newfound sense of purpose.

Lisa: "Thank you, Kyle. I'll make sure to use this sword to complete our journey!"

Heos: "Lisa, trust in that blade. It will serve you well in the battles ahead."

Merslin: "We appreciate your wisdom, Heos. This sword's power will be invaluable to us."

Heos merely nodded, his ever-present cold smile lingering as he observed them.

As the night settled in, Merslin and his companions rested at the inn, preparing themselves for the trials yet to come. Their journey was far from over—but now, they carried with them the power of the Sunblade and the mysteries of the ancient ruins.