Leon's instincts screamed at him to move.
The colossal beast barreled toward him, its six glowing eyes locked onto him like a predator hunting prey. The ground trembled beneath its charge, each step shaking the battlefield like an earthquake.
Leon's hand darted to his sword, but the moment he gripped the hilt, he froze.
This isn't real.
This was a vision—an echo of the past, not a battle he could fight.
And yet, every fiber of his being told him otherwise.
The beast's presence was overwhelming. A true calamity.
And then—
It leaped.
A massive shadow engulfed him as its form blotted out the sky. Fangs like spears, claws like blades, a monstrous force descending upon him.
Leon braced for impact—
—and the world shattered.
---
Return to Reality
Leon's vision snapped back.
He was no longer in the battlefield.
The Scarred Wastes stretched before him once more, silent and empty.
His breath came in heavy gasps, his heartbeat hammering in his chest.
That beast… That was no ordinary monster.
Kaelen's voice broke through the silence. "Leon? What happened?"
Leon's eyes flickered to his group.
They hadn't seen it.
To them, it had only been a moment. But to him… it had been real.
He exhaled, regaining his composure. "I saw the past."
Rhun's expression turned grim. "And?"
Leon's gaze darkened.
"There was a war here… but it wasn't just between Beastmen and monsters." He hesitated. "Something much worse was involved."
The echoes of the massive beast still lingered in his mind.
Whatever it was, it hadn't been recorded in Devia's history.
That meant one thing:
The past was far more dangerous than anyone had realized.
---
The Weight of the Forgotten War
The group pressed forward, the ruins growing denser with every step. Ancient walls, half-buried in the ground, bore the scars of battle—claw marks, deep gashes from weapons, even what looked like melting stone as if some unnatural force had burned through them.
Jarek muttered, "I don't like this place."
"That makes two of us," Kaelen added.
Leon remained silent, his mind replaying the vision. The Betrayed Ones… the monstrous beast… what had truly happened here?
Then—
A system message flickered before him.
━━━
[Hidden Trial Progress: 5%]
You have glimpsed the truth buried in the Scarred Wastes. The past seeks recognition. Unravel more pieces to proceed.]
━━━
Leon's lips pressed into a thin line.
This was only the beginning.
---
A Door Long Sealed
By nightfall, they reached the ruins' center.
A massive stone gate stood before them, adorned with ancient carvings. Unlike the other structures, this one was untouched by time.
Leon stepped forward. He recognized this.
A sealed entrance.
In the game, sealed ruins required special conditions to enter. Some demanded items, others required rituals.
Leon ran his fingers along the carvings. If this was tied to the Betrayed Ones, then—
The moment he made contact, the markings lit up.
A deep rumble echoed from within the gate.
Then—
The whispers returned.
But this time, they weren't distant.
They were right behind them.
Leon turned sharply.
Figures stood at the edges of the ruins. Shadowy, hollow-eyed remnants of the past.
And this time…
They were not just watching.
They were approaching.
---