"What do you think?"
Thoren stared at the desolate ancient city in the distance, his expression silent and unreadable.
Beside him, Arin’s usual composure had faded, replaced by a heavy solemn gaze.
From afar, the city looked less like a ruin and more like a battlefield frozen in ti.
The once-massive city walls were shattered and tore open in countless places. Stone blocks collapsed like broken teeth.
The ancient gate no longer stood, only splintered remnants remained, twisted and crushed as if struck by overwhelming force.
Old carriages lay scattered before the entrance. So had lost their wheels, others were cleaved cleanly in half, their wooden fras soaked dark with age-old bloodstains.
Thousands of human skeletons littered the ground, piled chaotically. The earth beneath them had turned deep dark red.
The air was oppressive.
Heavy.
Suffocating.
"Let’s go." Arin said in a low voice, breaking the silence.
Thoren nodded and walked beside him.
"Have you seen anything like this in the abyss?" He asked, looking at him.
Arin shook his head. "I’ve seen many ruins and battlefields in the abyss but I’ve never seen anything like this."
Thoren was slightly surprised. He expected him to have seen such a scene in the abyss but he was wrong.
"The Uncharted territory is massive, there are things beyond our human imagination. This is only one of them." He added.
Thoren nodded but did not respond. His gaze locked on the destruction before them.
As they got closer to the ancient city, the more they felt the suffocating pressure.
’Why do I feel like I’m being watched.’ He thought, his nerves tensed.
Crack!
A sudden crack echoed beneath his teeth. Instantly, everyone halted their track and held their breath.
Their gaze locked on Thoren.
He lowered his head to see what lies beneath his boot. It was a crushed human skull.
For a mont, everyone released their breath which they did not know they were holding.
Without speaking, they continued toward the city. As they got closer, Thoren felt all the hair on his body stood on end.
The feeling of being watched had gotten stronger. He looked at Arin from the corner of his eyes and noticed his grim expression.
Behind him, others also wore a dark expression. Their hands rested on the hilt of their weapon ready to unsheathe at any mont.
Still, everyone managed to control their raising heart.
When they arrived at the thousands of human skeletons piled up like a small mountain.
Many couldn’t help but shudder.
Their eyes lingered at the skeletons for a few seconds before they walked past it.
When their feet touched dark red soil, they felt as if they were stepping on thick fresh blood.
The thick pungent of blood assaulted their nose.
’How is this possible?!’ Thoren scread in his heart.
Not only him, Arin was also confused. The earth should have dried and hard.
Yet, it was wet with traces of freshness.
No one dares speak.
No one dared breathed loudly.
They walked past the broken carriages, collapsed stone blocks and into the splintered city gate.
When they entered the ancient city, the air felt different.
More importantly.
It was fresh and too pure for such a city.
Everything was contradictory.
Compared to the bizarre freshness of the air. The cityscape left them dumfounded.
The city was eerily quiet but everything was intact. There was no sign of battle or war.
The massive cobblestone was clean as if it had just been swept. All the buildings were also in good order.
For a mont, no one took a step.
No one moved an inch.
It was as if they were frozen in ti.
"S-strange...too strange." Arin muttered with a shaky voice.
He had explored many desolate cities inside the Uncharted Territory but none like this.
With his strength, a Level 15 Swordman that didn’t stop him from shuddering.
His finger fidgeted slightly.
’Should we retreat?’ He contemplated.
The feeling he was getting from the city was unlike anything he ever felt.
It reeks of danger beyond anything he ever feels. The abyss was dangerous, yes but this was another level of danger.
"Guildmaster, what do you think?" Thoren said a low voice but everyone around him could hear him.
"Terrifying..." Arin responded without trying to hide his thoughts.
"I agreed but that makes want to explore it." Thoren said, his flashed with determination.
Unlike anyone, he did not have the liberty to take the easy route. He needed to clear the first floor in ten days or less to have the chance to return to the surface.
Taking an easier route won’t cut it. To Level up as quickly as possible, he needed to face many dangerous situations and overco them.
Apart from that, the threat from the Fedration and the Slave Trade Guild would not allow him to take the easy route.
The Uncharted Territory gave him what he urgently needed and he was not ready to give it up because he was scared.
"Guildmaster, you can think about it carefully. As for , I will go ahead." He said and stride into the eerily quiet street.
Looking at his back, Arin’s conflicted expression changed slowly.
His face filled with determination. He turned and looked at his guild mber.
"If you’re scared, this is your chance to leave." His eyes moved from one person to another. "Don’t waste your ti trying to be brave. This city is unlike any city we’ve ever explored. Anyone that wants to leave can leave. We will et at our usual eting spot."
Listening to their guildmaster, no one spoke. Their eyes were blazing with determination.
Since they arrived in the abyss, they have all ntally prepared for death.
Besides if they leave, is there any safe area in the abyss?
Everywhere was full of danger.
But if they work together, they might have a chance of survival. Also, with their guildmaster strength, he could protect them.
"Guildmaster, we will follow you." One of them said, his voice filled with determination.
"Very well." Arin nodded and walked into the city. His guild mber followed a step behind.
*****
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