The ruins were quiet, too quiet, as the three groups continued to search for a path deeper inside. Their footsteps echoed faintly across the stone floor, and the sound of their breathing seemed louder than it should have. Everyone spread out, running their hands along the cold stone walls, pressing on blocks, and searching for clues. Dust floated in the air, disturbed by every movement, making the whole place feel even older and heavier.
As the silence stretched on, Doran broke it in his usual careless tone. He scratched his head with one hand, while the other picked lazily at his nose. "Are you sure we're even in the right ruins?" he asked, sounding half-bored and half-annoyed.
Gepa turned his calm eyes toward him and shook his head gently. "Yes," he said, voice steady. "I'm one hundred percent sure. This is the ruin we are supposed to be exploring. There must be a way forward. We just haven't found it yet."
Doran grumbled but didn't push the matter further, his hammer resting across his shoulders as he leaned against the wall.
---
Two Days Earlier
Zora stood in his kitchen, preparing dinner for himself. The small house smelled faintly of herbs and roasted meat, the kind of simple meal he had grown used to cooking since living among humans. His expression was calm, but his sharp senses never dulled.
As he stirred the pot, he suddenly felt it, a familiar aura nearby. His body tensed, his hands tightening slightly on the ladle. Someone was here.
The next moment, a knife whistled through the air, flying straight toward him. Without even turning his head, Zora lifted his hand and caught the blade between two fingers, stopping it as if it were nothing. He placed it calmly on the table beside him and spoke in a low, firm voice.
"It's you."
A figure stepped from the shadows, cloaked in mystery. The voice that answered was cold but steady. "Yes. It's me. And I have something to talk to you about."
Zora didn't even look back at the figure, continuing to stir his food as though nothing had happened. "I'm sorry," he said flatly. "But I don't have anything to say."
The unknown figure stepped closer. "It is very important. Please, understand."
Zora's jaw tightened. "I am no longer the person you used to know. I am no longer a Dungeon Boss. You are free to do whatever you want without my interference."
"I know that very well," the figure said, voice rising with urgency. "And I know you are raising a human now. But just hear me out. Whether you ignore it or not, that's up to you."
For a long moment, Zora stood still. He knew this person well enough to understand that they wouldn't come unless it was something serious. He exhaled slowly, setting the ladle down.
"…Fine," he muttered.
The figure's tone sharpened. "It's about Zalthar."
The name struck like lightning. Zora's face changed, first worry, then something else, a look that said he had already been expecting it.
The figure continued. "Zalthar is the one searching for the Jewels. He has his commanders hunting for them. The Crimson Jewel is already in his possession. Now he's after another."
Zora's voice was low. "But why? After all this time?"
The figure scoffed. "Are you stupid, or just pretending not to see? You know what he's planning. You must know it's nothing good."
Zora's eyes narrowed. "What do you want from me?"
"You need to stop him."
Zora shook his head. "I already told you. I've left that path behind."
"So you're going to act like a coward when you're needed most?"
"There are strong people in the world," Zora replied. "They can handle it. It doesn't have to be me."
The figure's tone turned harsh. "The world includes your daughter. It includes all of us. Do you really not care? When did you forget who you are?"
Zora clenched his fist. "People fear my name. To the world, I am a Dungeon Boss. Worse, I am a demon. And I will not let my daughter get involved in this mess. I will protect her, and that's all."
"Do you really think she'll be happy," the figure pressed, "knowing that her father could save the world but chose to be a coward instead?"
Zora's face darkened. "She would be even less happy if she found out the truth, that her father is a demon. That her father… isn't even her father."
The figure's voice softened, but the words cut sharp. "Yes. She'll be so happy when the world is destroyed, won't she?" After a pause, they added, "The Obsidian Jewel. That's the one they're after now. And it just so happens to be near Ula Town. Where your daughter is."
Zora's eyes widened slightly, though he quickly masked the emotion.
"Now," the figure continued, "are you really going to sit idly by while your daughter walks straight into danger?"
Zora's lips trembled. He turned away, shoulders heavy. "…I've decided to trust her. She's strong. But I can't let her see my past. She loves me too much. If she learns what I am, she'll be broken. I can help with small threats, but for something like this… in this human form, I can't do much."
The figure shook their head. "Fine. Stay a coward then. I'll go myself."
As they turned to leave, Zora asked softly. "…Arachna. What would you have done in my place? No one knows the pain of losing a child better than you. I'm scared…"
The words hung heavy in the room.
---
Back in the Ruins
The explorers continued their search, frustration beginning to build. Every wall looked the same, every block felt the same.
Darius sighed loudly, his voice dragging with exhaustion. "I hope… it is not what I think it is."
Anya, walking beside him, raised a brow. "And what is it that you're thinking?"
Darius scratched his beard, still sounding lazy. "I've only ever heard of it in stories. Didn't think it'd be right here. There's a chance… this might be one of the Mystical Ruins."
Adrian's eyes widened, his voice breaking with shock. "What?! Really? No way, the mythical ruins?"
Alex frowned, but his tone was thoughtful. "That… would make sense. The strange puzzles, the dead ends. But if that's true, we cannot move forward until we know which one this is."
Lila tilted her head, confused. "Mythical ruins? What are those?"
Adrian quickly explained, his tone serious. "There are eleven in total. They look like normal ruins, but they're not. They're alive. They respond only when you call them by their true name. If you call them wrongly, they get angry… and you'll never set foot inside it."
Everyone fell silent at those words.
"So," Alex concluded, crossing his arms, "we've been wasting our time trying to force our way in. Instead, we need to learn its true name. That's the only way forward."
The group nodded, determination flickering in their eyes. Now their search changed, not for blocks, but for clues. Anything that could reveal which mythical ruin this truly was.
The ruins themselves seemed to hold their breath, waiting to see if the adventurers would succeed.