The first step into the ruins felt like crossing an invisible threshold. The air grew thick, pressing against Ethan’s skin like an unseen weight. The temperature dropped, the scent of old stone and damp air filling his lungs. His boots echoed against the carved steps, each one leading deeper into the underground. And with every step— The whispers grew stronger. “Ah… you have returned.” Ethan’s chest tightened. This voice—it wasn’t the Master. It was something else. Something buried beneath this place. His fingers unconsciously brushed over the mark on his chest. The sigil throbbed, pulsing in time with an unseen heartbeat. And Ethan had a horrible feeling. Whatever had been sealed away here? It was already waking up.

  The staircase spiraled downward, the air growing colder, heavier with each passing second. Leah’s mana orb floated ahead, casting an eerie glow over the ancient stone walls. The carvings were old—far older than the System. Symbols of cloaked figures, their arms raised toward a swirling abyss. Chains carved into the stone, wrapping around a figure that had no face.

  Kara let out a slow breath. “This place is cursed.” Gareth, his spear held tight, didn’t argue. Ethan, however, wasn’t looking at the walls. He was looking at the floor. Blood. Not fresh, but not ancient either. Dark stains painted the ground, leading deeper into the ruins. “…They made it this far,” he muttered. Leah swallowed hard. “Then where are they now?” No one had an answer. But they kept moving. And then— They found the first body. The Missing Adventurers The corpse was slumped against the wall, its armor torn open by deep, jagged wounds. A Guild insignia was barely visible beneath the blood. Leah’s breath caught. “That’s one of them.” Gareth knelt, checking for any signs of life. Nothing. The adventurer had been dead for at least a day. Kara scowled. “What did this?” Ethan didn’t need to guess. He already knew. The same thing that was waiting for them below. He turned toward the darkness, gripping his daggers. “…We’re not alone down here.”

  The tunnel finally opened into a massive chamber. And Ethan’s breath hitched. This was it. This was another prison. Just like the library. But unlike before— This one was already broken.

  The chains were shattered, lying in pieces on the ground. The stone carvings of the seal were cracked, barely holding their form and the air was alive with something… unnatural.

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  Ethan’s chest burned as his sigil pulsed. “Closer…” His grip on his daggers tightened. And that’s when he saw the second body. Unlike the first, this one was different. Its flesh was blackened, veins twisting like darkened roots. Its eyes were gone, leaving only hollow sockets filled with shadow. And worst of all— Its mouth was open. As if it had died screaming. Leah took a staggered step back. “…This one changed.” Ethan’s blood ran cold. Because if that was true— Then whatever was sealed here… Had already infected someone. And that meant— They weren’t just dealing with a broken prison. They were dealing with a spreading curse.

  The air shifted. A flicker of movement in the darkness. Ethan’s Perception spiked. Then— A deep, inhuman growl. From above. Ethan looked up— And his stomach dropped. A figure hung from the ceiling, its body twisted beyond recognition. Blackened veins crawled across too-long limbs, its fingers ending in razor-sharp claws. Its head snapped toward them, empty sockets glowing with a sickly, shifting light. And then— It dropped. Straight toward them.

  [Shadow Step – Activated.] Ethan blinked backward, narrowly dodging as the creature slammed into the ground. The stone shattered, dust exploding into the air. Gareth lunged, his spear flashing forward. The creature moved too fast. One unnatural twist— And it was suddenly behind him. Kara reacted instantly. [Blade Arc – Activated.] A crescent of mana sliced toward the creature— It dodged, barely, the attack carving deep into the stone. Leah raised her staff. [Barrier Ward – Activated.] A glowing shield surrounded Gareth just as the creature’s claws lashed out. The impact rattled the air, the force of the blow sending shockwaves through the chamber. Ethan moved. His daggers flashed, striking out— [Silent Blade – Activated.] The creature screeched as his attack cut through its side. Black, tar-like blood splattered onto the ground. But instead of falling back— It grinned. Its mouth stretched too wide, teeth shifting like jagged shards of bone. And then— It spoke. “You are marked.” Ethan’s breath caught. The creature’s twisted voice echoed in his skull. “He is waiting for you.” And for the first time— Ethan realized something horrifying. This wasn’t just a Shadow-Touched. This was something worse. Something that had been locked away for centuries. Something that knew him. And as it lunged again— Ethan knew that this time… It wasn’t just a fight for survival. It was a fight for the truth.