Tyler looked around with keen eyes. The island stretched before him like a stone colossus, nothing but massive mountains piled upon each other. Sharp ridges and jagged cliffs rose into the clouds, forming a fortress of stone that seed almost impenetrable. There was no beach, no soft welcoming sands, only the raw dominance of the mountains. The only visible passage was at the eastern edge, where a yawning entrance stood like a gate to the underworld. Two giant gorilla skulls, bleached by ti, flanked the pathway. Their hollow sockets seed to watch intruders silently, as if guarding whatever mysteries lay within. The entrance itself sloped downward, a carved stone corridor that promised a journey into the depths of the island’s heart.
Zuzia’s curiosity burned bright. She spread her wings, her crimson feathers glinting faintly in the misty sunlight, and flew up a little to scout the surroundings. The cold wind rustled her wings as she peered at the sprawling cliffs. "Strange," she muttered. "It’s like the whole island was built to hide what’s beneath."
As they drew nearer to the entrance, a pair of figures erged from the shadowed passage.
The first was a woman wearing a conical hat that shaded her delicate features. Her outfit was simple yet elegant—an indigo-dyed hemp tunic wrapped tightly around her torso, paired with loose-fitting trousers. Despite the plainness of her clothing, there was a grace in the way she carried herself, her posture calm and asured.
Trailing behind her was a small boy with green, scaled skin, his eyes bright with mischief. Dressed in the sa indigo garnts, he looked like a miniature version of her.
"Imoogi! Imoogi!" the boy shouted in a singsong voice, waving his little arms.
"Imoogi?" Tyler tilted his head, smiling faintly. "Ah, a lesser dragon."
The words had barely left his mouth when Zuzia bristled. "Who are you calling lesser dragon?" She crouched, her eyes narrowing like a predator stalking prey. Before she could pounce on the child, Tyler caught her tail firmly, holding her back with practiced ease.
"Easy there," he said with a chuckle. "He’s just a kid. And she..." His eyes softened as he looked at the woman. "...is a Miri."
"No touching tails," Zuzia muttered, pouting.
The boy giggled at her expression. "Haha, sister is cute!"
The woman finally spoke, her voice gentle but firm. "Be polite to our visitors, Yong." She removed her conical hat, revealing her face. Her features carried the distinct traits of a dragonian—scales faintly gleaming on her cheeks, her eyes slitted like molten gems. "Welco to the Catacombs Island. I am Ying, and this is my younger brother, Yong. Deeper inside, you’ll find a town. It is the only settlent on this island. Beyond it lies the entrance to the catacombs."
She bowed politely before continuing on her way, the boy tugging at her hand. Yet as she walked past, Ying cast one last glance at Zuzia, the red-scaled dragonion of their group. A complicated look flickered across her eyes.
"He already has several mates," she murmured under her breath.
"What happened, sister?" Yong tilted his head curiously.
"You were this close to having a brother-in-law," she teased, dragging him along before he could question her further.
---
Tyler and the girls moved onward through the narrow path. The air grew cooler as they entered the tunnel. The walls were lined with enormous bones—giant leg bones embedded like ancient pillars. Their surfaces glowed faintly, casting a ghostly white light that illuminated the otherwise dark corridor.
The path eventually opened into a vast do-shaped cavern. High above, the stone ceiling had collapsed in parts, allowing shafts of sunlight to pour down like divine lanterns. Nestled within this cavern was a sprawling settlent.
Graveyard Township.
It stretched before them like a hidden city, with rows upon rows of squat buildings, none taller than three stories. Though the town was large enough to house a hundred thousand souls, it felt oddly hollow. The streets were quiet, and only sparse groups of inhabitants moved about, their footsteps echoing in the cavernous space.
The most striking feature was not the town itself but the walls encircling it. At a height of seventy-five feet, massive bones jutted out of the stone— femurs as thick as towers, ribs like colossal arches, and fragnts of spines that coiled into grotesque shapes. So bones were buried halfway into the walls, while others protruded fully, forming natural arcs that had been carved around the both side of the town.. The sight was both awe-inspiring and unnerving, a constant reminder that sothing imnse had perished here in the forgotten past.
"Oh, visitors!"
The voice was warm and booming. A tall figure approached them, easily standing over seven feet. His scales were a gleaming yellow, and his long tail ended in a scorpion-like pincer that clicked idly as he walked. His smile was wide and disarming, though his sheer size gave him an intimidating presence.
"I am Gong Yoo," he said with a polite bow. "Mayor of this township."
Tyler blinked, taken aback. "The mayor himself? Why would the mayor co in person to greet us?"
Gong Yoo’s smile deepened. "Because you are not ordinary travelers. My people inford of arrival of Immortal Practitioners with strong presences do not pass by unnoticed. It would be unworthy of to send anyone else."
Tyler imdiately thought back to the siblings they had encountered earlier. So that was it — Ying and Yong had already spread word of their presence.
---
"This settlent was never ant to be permanent," Gong Yoo explained as he guided Tyler and the others deeper into the town. His heavy steps echoed faintly against the stone-paved street. "Long ago, a band of adventurers ca here seeking treasure. They stumbled upon a strange substance buried within the catacombs—lty Ashes. At first, they carried it away to sell outside. But when they realized how valuable it was, more ca. The adventurers stayed, bringing families, rchants, and craftsn. Years passed, and what began as a camp grew into this township."
The group’s eyes wandered as they walked. Graveyard Town looked almost ordinary—stone houses, market stalls, the hum of day-to-day life. Yet, what unsettled them was how many of the inhabitants bore scales, tails, or horns. Dragonions dominated the streets, their powerful bodies contrasting with the simple lives they lived.
"These bone arches are... very artistic," Tyler remarked, his gaze following the enormous white arcs that crowned parts of the town.
Gong Yoo chuckled, his tail flicking behind him. "Artistic, perhaps, but not art. Those are the ribs of an Old Titan. This entire town rests within the skeleton of one of those colossal beings. The arches you see are rely fragnts of its ribcage."
Tyler’s lips tightened in thought. "Old Titans..."
"I assu you ca here for the catacombs," Gong Yoo added, his sharp eyes flicking between them.
"And perhaps," Myrtle said before Tyler could answer, "to see if there’s a way to acquire lty Ashes."
At that, Gong Yoo’s expression shifted. His cheerful tone cooled as he gave Myrtle a side glance, then fixed his gaze on Tyler. Tyler blinked, confused at the sudden scrutiny, but gave a small nod.
"lty Ashes are in great demand," Gong Yoo said firmly. "So great that no individual is allowed to keep even a pinch of it. All rights to harvest it were divided between major organizations long ago. Contracts were signed for one hundred years. Until those expire, lty Ashes belong to them alone."
Tyler rubbed his chin. "What if one wishes to purchase so? I own rchant ships. I could—"
Gong Yoo shook his head. His golden eyes softened, though his tone carried finality. "It’s no use, comrade. You must wait a century for the contracts to end. Only then will the auctions open, and you may place your bid like the others. Until then, patience."
With that, Gong Yoo guided them to an inn on the far side of town and took his leave.
"What a nice guy," Tyler said as they watched the mayor’s tall figure vanish into the crowd.
Myrtle folded her arms, her expression sharp. "Nice? That man only spoke kindly to you because he thought you were a Dragonion. He didn’t even bother answering directly. Racist, through and through."
Tyler chuckled nervously. "At least he brought us to a good inn."
"Since my uncle brought you here, we’ll give you a discount!" Yong’s cheerful voice piped up as he waved from the doorway.
"Oh, family business?" Myrtle smirked.
Before Yong could boast further, Ying grabbed him by the ear and shoved him inside. "Don’t mind him." She turned to Tyler with a polite smile.
Then she then write details in the register and then she handed him a set of keys. "Once again, Welco Mr. Tyler. Hope you enjoy the stay."
As she passed him the last key, her voice lowered to a whisper only he could hear. "There are other ways to obtain lty Ashes. Inside the catacombs, so sell it quietly in the black."
She winked before stepping back. Tyler gave a small bow of gratitude.
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