The darkness before dawn seemed to be brewing a tempest. The bonfire in the Wolf Clan's camp was on the verge of going out, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of burnt wood. From time to time, a few low wolf howls echoed, adding a sense of solemnity and danger to the tranquility. Lucas stood outside the elders' tent, his hands clenched into fists, his gaze fixed on the distant mountains. The clouds there resembled a distorted face, so eerie that it sent chills down one's spine.
Catherine's intelligence and the elders' speculations had made the situation clearer yet more desperate. The Blood Clan's plan was to use the power of the "Black Moon Ruins" to resurrect an ancient dark being, and this plan required the blood of the Wolf Clan as a crucial guide for the sacrifice. This not only threatened the survival of the Wolf Clan but also would shatter the existing balance, dragging the entire continent into endless chaos and darkness.
"Lucas, what shall we do next?" Darlene's voice came from behind, slightly hoarse. Apparently, she was also exhausted from the overnight discussions.
Lucas turned around and looked at her. His eyes were full of determination. "The elders have agreed. We need to unite the forces of other ethnic groups, but more importantly, I must rush to the 'Black Moon Ruins' as soon as possible to confirm the Blood Clan's actions. If they get the upper hand, the consequences will be disastrous."
Darlene nodded slightly, but a trace of worry showed on her face. "But you know the danger of that place. The Blood Clan has long laid traps. If we break in rashly, I'm afraid..." "Precisely because it's dangerous, we have to act in advance," Lucas interrupted her. His voice was low but firm. "Now is not the time to hesitate. Time waits for no one."
### The Storm Breaks
Just as the two were talking, a distant whistle suddenly sounded. It was a signal from the Wolf Clan, indicating that an uninvited guest was approaching. Lucas and Darlene's expressions immediately turned serious, and they quickly rushed towards the direction of the whistle.
At the edge of the camp, a group of Wolf Clan warriors were on full alert, their eyes fixed on the shadows of the forest. Accompanied by the faint moonlight, a blurred figure slowly emerged from the darkness, walking slowly and steadily. It was a tall and burly human male, his face covered by a tattered mask, with only a pair of cold eyes showing.
"Who are you?" The leading Wolf Clan warrior shouted sternly.
The man stopped, looked up at them, and said in a low voice, "I bring important news, about the Blood Clan's plan."
Lucas and Darlene exchanged a look and then stepped forward. Lucas asked in a deep voice, "News? The Blood Clan's plan? And how do you know all this?"
The man slowly took off his mask, revealing a face covered with scars. There was a deep pain in his eyes, and his voice was hoarse. "My name is Victor. I was once a member of the Blood Clan. But now, I have betrayed them."
"Betrayed?" Lucas frowned, obviously full of vigilance towards this self - proclaimed traitor.
"I know you don't trust me, but that doesn't matter. The information I bring is enough to prove my sincerity." As Victor spoke, he took out a scroll of parchment from his bosom. On it was a complex map drawn in ancient characters. "This is the detailed layout of the 'Black Moon Ruins'
and the Blood Clan's defense arrangements there. If you want to stop them, this map is your only hope."
### Hidden Mysteries
Lucas took the map and examined it carefully. He found that the markings on it were indeed extremely detailed and consistent with the information described by Catherine. But his intuition told him that this suddenly - appeared "traitor" was not simple.
"Why help us?" Lucas asked coldly. "You were once a member of the Blood Clan, and now you betray them. What's your purpose behind this?"
Victor lowered his head, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes. "Because the Blood Clan's plan is too crazy. The being they want to resurrect will destroy everything, including themselves. I don't want to be an accomplice anymore."
"You think we'll easily believe your words?" Darlene sneered. "Traitors are usually unreliable."
"You can doubt me, but you can't doubt the facts." Victor raised his head and looked directly at Lucas. "If you don't believe me, then go and verify the authenticity of this map yourself. But I have to remind you that time is running out."
Lucas pondered for a moment and put away the map. "Whether what you said is true or false, we will go to the 'Black Moon Ruins'. But if I find out you have any ulterior motives, don't expect to leave alive." Victor shrugged, his tone tinged with self - mockery. "As you wish. My life is already worthless."
### Plans and Suspicions
When Victor was taken into the camp and put under surveillance, Lucas and Darlene got together again to discuss countermeasures.
"Do you trust him?" Darlene asked, her brows knitted tightly.
"Not completely, but his map has some reference value," Lucas said in a low voice. "Whether he's lying or not, we must go to the 'Black Moon Ruins'. This concerns the fate of the Wolf Clan and even the entire continent."
"But he appeared too suddenly," Darlene shook her head. "And how could he have such a detailed map? How could a traitor know so many secrets?"
Lucas nodded. "Precisely for this reason, we must be on guard against him at all times. When we arrive at the ruins, we'll decide whether to fully trust him or not."
"Okay, then when shall we set out?"
"Tonight," Lucas said without the slightest hesitation. "The Blood Clan has already started to act. We must get there before them."
### Setting Off on the Journey
When night fell again, Lucas, Darlene, and several elite Wolf Clan warriors quietly left the camp and headed towards the "Black Moon Ruins". Victor was taken in the middle of the team, and his every move was closely monitored.
Along the way, the atmosphere in the mountains and forests became increasingly strange, as if countless pairs of eyes were watching them in secret. Lucas could feel the strange energy in the
air, the aura of the Blood Clan, cold and dangerous.
"We're almost there," Victor suddenly said. He pointed to a mountain peak shrouded in black mist in the distance. "That is the 'Black Moon Ruins'."
Everyone looked in the direction he pointed, and immediately felt an invisible oppressive force. That mountain peak was like a dormant beast, quietly waiting for its prey to approach. And the black mist that shrouded the mountain was like a symbol of some evil force, making one shudder.
"Everyone, be on high alert," Lucas ordered in a low voice, gripping his weapon tightly. "We're entering the enemy's territory. Don't be careless."
As the team gradually approached the ruins, the sense of danger became even stronger. Lucas vaguely felt that this mission would not be easy, and the real crisis might have just begun...