Adam and the rest of the team stepped into the ancient library, their footsteps echoing softly against the stone floor. The room was vast, lined with towering shelves filled with books, scrolls, and tablets covered in an unfamiliar script. Dust hung thick in the air, disturbed only by their presence.
Adam's eyes gleamed with excitement. A place like this was a treasure trove of knowledge, a forgotten archive of history and secrets. He moved deeper into the library, scanning the spines of the books, tracing his fingers over the ancient lettering.
Meanwhile, the other researchers quickly got to work. Some took photographs, while others carefully recorded the details of each book they could access. The team leader, Garrett, instructed them to catalog everything before touching any manuscripts, ensuring nothing valuable was lost in haste. The process took nearly half a day, as they meticulously documented the collection.
Adam, engrossed in reading, barely noticed the time pass. He had picked up a book that described the history of the civilization that once thrived beyond the Gate. Though most of it was difficult to decipher, his Insight ability helped him translate fragments. It spoke of a prosperous age, a city ruled by scholars and warriors alike, bound together by an understanding of mana that far exceeded modern comprehension.
As they prepared to leave, Adam realized he had finished reading one of the books and instinctively slipped it into his bag. The knowledge within was too valuable to leave behind.
Just as he turned to leave, his gaze was drawn to a particular book resting on a pedestal. Unlike the others, this one emitted an almost imperceptible glow, as if pulsing with an ancient, mysterious energy. The aura around it sent a chill down his spine, yet an irresistible curiosity took hold of him.
He hesitated for only a moment before reaching out and taking the book. The moment he touched it, a faint hum resonated through the air, but no immediate danger presented itself. He quickly stored it in his bag, deciding he would study it later in private.
With the library documented and secured, the team moved forward, ready to explore deeper into the ruins.
---
As they progressed through the ruins, Adam noticed Garrett and Lucian engaged in a hushed conversation. Garrett's face was marked with concern, his brows furrowed deeply. Lucian, however, remained calm, an unreadable expression on his face.
Ever since arriving at the ruins, Adam had maintained his distance from Lucian. The man carried an air of danger, an unsettling presence that Adam couldn't quite explain. His instincts warned him to be cautious, and so far, he had followed that advice.
Their journey led them to the end of a long hallway, where a massive set of double doors loomed before them. The doors were adorned with intricate carvings, depicting battles, rituals, and celestial beings. Faint traces of mana still lingered in the engravings, a sign that this place had once been infused with power.
Near the base of the door, an inscription ran along the stone. Adam stepped closer, activating Insight to translate the text. However, unlike before, the words were fragmented and unclear. The message felt like a warning, but without the full translation, he couldn't be certain.
"This text… it's not fully decipherable," Adam said, glancing at Garrett. "But it seems to be some kind of cautionary message."
Garrett exchanged a look with the rest of the team. "We take precautions regardless," he said firmly. "We proceed carefully."
After a brief rest, everyone gathered their gear and prepared to push forward. The doors, though ancient, were still heavy and resistant, requiring multiple people to move them. With a collective effort, they heaved the doors open, revealing what lay beyond.
---
The room on the other side was massive—larger than anything they had encountered so far. It stretched out like the interior of a grand stadium, with towering ceilings and walls lined with enormous statues.
Each statue depicted a different figure, adorned in armor and robes, weapons in hand. They were positioned in a way that suggested they were once protectors of something significant. Despite their age, the statues were incredibly detailed, so lifelike that for a brief moment, Adam had the eerie sensation that they were being watched.
At the center of the chamber stood a massive altar, made of the same ancient stone as the rest of the ruins but radiating an energy unlike anything else they had encountered.
"This place…" one of the researchers whispered. "It feels… different."
The team cautiously advanced toward the altar, their movements slow and deliberate. Every step echoed ominously, amplifying the heavy silence in the room. Adam couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. His instincts screamed at him to be wary.
Then, as they crossed the halfway mark, a deep rumble resonated through the chamber.
Adam froze, his eyes darting toward the statues.
A moment later, stone cracked and groaned as the first statue moved.
Then another.
And another.
One by one, the ancient guardians awakened, their stone eyes glowing with an eerie light.