Chapter 14: Shadows Beneath the Stone

The ruins stretched before them, bathed in the dim glow of the rising moon. Ancient stone structures, half-buried in time, loomed over the group like forgotten sentinels. Vines snaked through the cracks, and the air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decay. Somewhere in the distance, an eerie howl echoed, sending a ripple of unease through the warriors at Leav's back.

Leav stood at the forefront, his sharp eyes scanning the terrain. This was no ordinary ruin—it pulsed with a quiet, unnatural energy. His instincts told him that secrets lay buried here, secrets that could either strengthen or destroy him.

Frot crouched beside him, eyes gleaming with intrigue. "Smells like death."

Yorl grunted, resting his axe on his shoulder. "Smells like a challenge."

Weal, always the cautious one, shivered. "This place… it's wrong. I can feel it. Something is watching us."

Leav didn't dismiss the feeling. He could sense it too—a presence lingering just beyond their perception. But he wasn't about to turn back.

"We move carefully," Leav said, his voice low but firm. "We don't know what we're walking into."

With that, the group pressed forward, deeper into the ruins.

The deeper they went, the more the ruins revealed themselves. Crumbling walls bore strange markings—goblin script, but older, more intricate. The ground was uneven, littered with bones too large to belong to goblins.

Trek, walking just behind Leav, ran a hand over one of the stone carvings. "These symbols… they speak of an ancient goblin tribe. One that vanished long before our time." His voice carried a rare note of excitement.

"Vanished how?" Leav asked.

Trek hesitated. "There are stories. Of a tribe that sought power in the dark places of the world. They became… something else."

A chill ran down Leav's spine, but he didn't let it show. He had no patience for myths, but he also knew that legends often held grains of truth.

"Keep moving," he ordered. "We're here to learn, not get lost in old stories."

The path led them to what looked like a massive stone door, half-buried under rubble. At its center was a strange indentation, circular in shape. It looked almost like it was waiting for something to be placed within it.

Trek studied it closely. "A keyhole," he murmured. "But not for any ordinary key."

Weal, who had been scanning the area nervously, suddenly tensed. "We're not alone."

Leav didn't ask how he knew. He trusted Weal's instincts. He turned, signaling for silence.

Then he heard it.

A low, scraping sound. A whisper of movement.

Shadows slithered between the ruins, too fast to be mere tricks of the light.

Something was here. And it was watching them.

Without warning, the ground beneath them trembled. Cracks spread like veins across the stone, and the air grew thick with an oppressive energy.

Then, from the darkness, they emerged.

Goblins—no, not goblins. Twisted mockeries of what they once were. Their bodies were covered in hardened stone-like armor, their eyes burning with an eerie blue glow. They moved with unnatural fluidity, their limbs bending in ways that shouldn't have been possible.

One stepped forward, its gaze locking onto Leav.

A guttural voice echoed from its throat, though its mouth barely moved. "You… do not belong here."

Leav didn't flinch. He tightened his grip on his weapon. "Neither do you."

The creature tilted its head, as if studying him. Then, without warning, it lunged.

Leav barely had time to react. He dodged, the creature's stone claws slicing through the air where he had stood moments before.

Yorl roared, swinging his axe in a wild arc. It connected—but instead of cutting through, the blade barely left a scratch on the creature's armor.

"What the—?" Yorl barely had time to react before the creature struck back, sending him sprawling.

Tear moved with precision, his spear aiming for the creature's joints. This time, the attack had some effect. The creature recoiled, but it didn't fall.

Leav's mind raced. Blades were barely effective. Strength alone wouldn't win this fight.

They needed a different approach.

"Weal, the joints! Aim for the gaps!" Leav shouted.

Weal, already moving, tossed a vial of his signature poison. The liquid splattered against the creature's exposed neck, sizzling on contact. The monster screeched, stumbling backward.

It worked.

Leav seized the opening, darting forward with practiced speed. His blade found the weak point, driving deep. The creature let out a final, gurgling hiss before collapsing.

One down.

But more were coming.

As Leav prepared for the next attack, a sudden heat surged through his body. His vision blurred for a moment, his muscles tensing. A familiar sensation.

[Adaptive Mutation Activating…]

The pain was sharp, but brief. His senses sharpened, his movements felt faster—smoother.

[New Passive Skill Unlocked: Shadow Reflexes](Enhanced reaction speed in low-light environments. Increased evasion against unnatural entities.)

Leav exhaled, testing his balance. His body felt lighter, his reactions more precise. He could feel the shift. He had changed again.

And he wasn't the only one.

Trek, standing at the edge of the battlefield, suddenly gasped. A faint green glow surrounded him. His eyes widened. "I… I can feel them."

Leav turned to him. "Feel what?"

Trek's voice was almost reverent. "The voices of the past. The spirits of this place."

Leav didn't fully understand, but he knew one thing—Trek had awakened something.

They were evolving.

And they weren't done yet.

The creatures were relentless, but now they had an advantage. With Weal's poisons, Tear's precision, and Leav's enhanced reflexes, they fought smarter.

One by one, the stone-armored guardians fell.

Then, as suddenly as they had appeared, the ruins fell silent.

The oppressive energy faded, and the strange blue glow in the creatures' eyes flickered out. Their bodies crumbled into dust.

Leav turned back to the massive stone door. The battle had shifted something—revealed something.

The circular indentation now glowed faintly. A new symbol had appeared in its center.

Trek stepped forward, his voice hushed. "The key… it's not an object."

Leav frowned. "Then what is it?"

Trek met his gaze. "Blood."

Leav didn't hesitate. He drew his dagger, pressing the blade against his palm. A single drop of blood fell into the indentation.

The stone rumbled. The door groaned.

Then, with a final, deafening crack, it began to open.

Beyond it lay darkness. A staircase leading down into the unknown.

Leav turned to his companions.

"No turning back now."

Then he stepped forward, into the depths.