The air was still, heavy with silence. No wind stirred the dead leaves scattered on the ground, no distant cry disturbed the night. Around them, the ruins seemed frozen in time, bathed in a pale, invisible moonlight. The stone walls, cracked and worn by centuries of neglect, rose like forgotten sentinels around the three naked and vulnerable figures.
Jun took a deep breath, feeling the cold sting his bare skin. All their belongings — weapons, tools, even simple clothes — had vanished the moment they entered the Vestige, swallowed by the mysterious energy governing this place. That happened often, he knew, but this sudden vulnerability never got any easier to bear.
His eyes scanned the ruins, searching for any sign of movement, any invisible threat. Ivy clung to the stones in thick, dark green vines. Without hesitation, Jun began tearing off strands and weaving the rough leaves into makeshift clothes. The texture scratched his skin, but it was better than nothing.
Lina and Maya did the same, their movements silent but determined. Lina, tall and alert, surveyed the surroundings with almost military precision. Her cold blue eyes gleamed with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. Maya, quieter, stayed close to Jun, attentive to every sound.
Jun felt his fingers loosen as he moved his muscles. His body, shaped by years of survival on the surface, was a powerful tool — lean, tough, used to endurance and speed. Alone, he had faced biting cold, constant hunger, and the ever-present threat of predators. But here, in this unnatural silence, even his skills might not be enough.
A low growl broke the calm.
A massive silhouette emerged from the depths of the ruins, moving with feline grace and menace. The beast was huge — a Category Two monster — covered in thick armored plates, its red eyes glowing in the darkness.
Instinct took over. Without a word, Jun grabbed Lina's arm and pulled her behind a collapsed wall, then did the same with Maya. His hand firmly covered their mouths to stifle any sound. The creature sniffed the air, tilting its head as it searched for the source of the noise.
Jun held his breath, feeling the beast's hot breath just inches away. Seconds stretched like hours. Then, as quickly as it had appeared, the creature turned and disappeared into the shadows.
Jun exhaled slowly, removing his hand from Lina's mouth. "We're not safe here," he whispered, low but firm. "We need a plan — fast."
Lina nodded, brushing leaves from her hair. "First, we need to understand what we're dealing with. I can analyze the ruins' layout, spot traps or safe paths."
Maya also nodded, scanning the shadows around them. "I'll stay alert for any movement. If danger comes, I'll warn you."
Jun dove into his own resources, thinking about what he could bring to the group. "I've survived outside for years," he said quietly. "I know how to fight, hide, move fast. I read danger and know how to stay alive."
He hesitated, then met their eyes. "But… teamwork isn't really my thing. I've always managed on my own. I don't trust easily."
The words hung heavy.
"But here? We have no choice. Alone, we die. Together, we have a chance."
There was no hope in his voice — just the brutal truth he couldn't deny.
Lina exchanged a glance with Maya. Neither spoke, but their nods were clear. They accepted this fragile alliance, aware it was their best hope.
Jun took a deep breath and swept his gaze over the ruins. The silence felt more oppressive than before, as if the stones themselves were watching, waiting.
"This place," Jun said, "is a trap. The Vestige hides its secrets, and it will test us at every step. We'll have to watch each other's backs."
Lina stepped forward, eyes fixed on the horizon. "Okay. I'll lead the exploration."
Maya positioned herself at her side, ready to alert them to any danger.
Jun cracked his knuckles, feeling the usual surge of adrenaline. "I'll light the way and cover our rear. No one gets caught off guard."
Together, they formed a circle, an alliance born not of trust, but necessity.
Jun felt a strange spark ignite within him. Not friendship — not yet — but maybe… hope. Hope that this strange team might survive the horrors to come.
Around them, the ruins whispered, the silence deepening as shadows lengthened. The night hid dangers they couldn't imagine.
And somewhere, deep in the darkness, other monsters waited.
The silence of the Vestige wasn't just the absence of sound.
It was an active void—heavy, suffocating—like every noise was swallowed before it could be born.
Jun moved slowly through the ruins.
His breathing, though calm, made no echo. His bare feet brushed the cold stone, and even the rustling of the vines wrapped around his waist—his only improvised clothing—seemed muted. Everything here devoured sound.
As if the world had forgotten what it meant to exist.
The artificial moon hung overhead, bathing the ruins in a sickly light.
A pale glow that sharpened the jagged outlines of broken buildings, eroded statues, and ancient arches draped in black moss.
Jun took a deep breath.
He was alone on this mission—not by choice, but by necessity.
From the moment they arrived, the group had agreed: he would scout ahead, mapping the zone while Lina and Maya remained hidden in a tree, safe from potential threats.
They had objected, a little. But he'd insisted.
He was used to the surface.
To surviving in the unknown.
To navigating hostile terrain.
This was his domain.
He didn't need companions… at least, that's what he told himself.
Teaming up? Not his thing.
Trusting people? Too risky.
Depending on others? Too unstable.
Sharing an objective? Too uncertain.
He had always relied on himself. In a world like this, it felt like the only real option.
And yet…
Inside this Vestige, he had no choice.
He would have to cooperate—if only to survive.
He pushed those thoughts aside. There was no time for doubts.
His task was to scout.
To understand the layout, mark dangerous or useful areas, analyze how the terrain behaved.
He crouched near the base of a crumbling wall.
The floor was covered in worn symbols, almost erased. An ancient language.
Spirals intertwined, connected by sharp lines that seemed to pulse faintly as he approached.
A detection system? A guiding pattern?
He memorized the layout carefully. No tools. No paper. No pen. Just his mind.
Shape, position, direction—every detail mattered.
He moved on.
The ruins formed a labyrinth. Narrow passages led to circular plazas, often dominated by shattered statues, dry fountains, or toppled obelisks. Some areas had collapsed, others were strangely intact—frozen in time.
But all of them shared the same unnatural stillness.
No leaves rustled.
No animals.
No breeze.
No buzzing insects.
This world wasn't just dead. It was waiting.
Jun straightened suddenly.
A flicker. Movement.
Barely at the edge of his vision.
He pressed against the wall, muscles tense, breath held.
He scanned the darkness.
Nothing.
But his instincts screamed:
Something was watching him.
He slid silently toward a half-collapsed opening. Peeking through, he spotted a vast courtyard lined with broken pillars.
And there, on the far end, half-hidden in shadow…
A massive figure, hunched and motionless.
Category 2? Probably.
Jun didn't move.
He watched.
The creature looked like a fusion of twisted limbs and bone-like armor. Its gray skin was covered in crystalline growths, as if it had emerged from the stone itself.
A single enormous eye rotated slowly in Jun's direction.
But the thing didn't move.
Asleep—or waiting.
Jun retreated slowly.
He noted the location, the exits, the hiding spots.
He added the scene to the mental map he was building piece by piece. Not perfect, but enough to make a difference.
He pressed on.
A stairway—damaged but usable.
He climbed cautiously and emerged onto a raised walkway overlooking a wide avenue. From up here, he could see part of the labyrinth he'd already crossed.
Geometric lines stretched between structures—too clean. Too symmetrical.
This wasn't natural.
A pattern. A structure.
These ruins weren't just remnants. They were a mechanism.
He turned away. There'd be time to figure it out later.
For now, he had to get back to the others.
He navigated by memory, using distinct landmarks: a broken crescent arch, a blackened tree with twisted roots, a column with a fossilized corpse hanging from it.
Soon, he arrived beneath the tree where Lina and Maya were hiding.
He whistled softly—three short notes.
A rustle.
Lina dropped down first, silent and alert.
"Did you find anything?" she asked.
Jun nodded.
"The terrain's stable, but too orderly to be natural. Some areas react to our presence. I also spotted a creature—huge, but inactive. We need to avoid the main avenue."
Maya climbed down quietly behind her. "Do you think these things are watching us?"
Jun answered without hesitation.
"It's not a matter of belief. Everything here is designed to observe."
He pointed to the higher walkways.
"I think those bridges and arches were used for surveillance. Maybe even control."
Lina crossed her arms.
"So we're probably already being watched."
Jun nodded.
"They haven't attacked yet. Maybe they're studying us."
Maya murmured, almost to herself,
"Like we're pieces on a chessboard…"
Jun turned to them.
"We need to establish a protocol. This Vestige isn't just a trap. It's a test. We can't keep improvising."
Lina raised an eyebrow.
"You want to organize roles?"
Jun answered firmly.
"Yes. Who does what, when, and how. No vague duties. No hesitation. Or we won't last."
Maya nodded in agreement.
"Then let's start now."
Jun took a breath, then pointed to each of them in turn.
"Maya, you've got a sharp memory and a logical mind. You analyze what we find. Every detail—symbols, patterns, anything strange. Collect and interpret."
She gave a quick nod.
"You, Lina—you've got good instincts. You're on watch. You guard our surroundings while we move or rest. If anything shifts, you're the first to react."
She didn't object.
In fact, she seemed to like the clarity.
"And me," Jun continued, "I'll map the area, scout ahead, find exits, threats, safe zones. If we need to run or fight, I lead the way."
Silence.
The balance had been set.
Not a real team yet—but the start of one. A framework.
Jun, despite himself, felt a strange tension leave his shoulders.
He had never liked relying on others.
But here, in this place… he didn't have the luxury to walk alone.
He turned toward the ruins once more.
A long road lay ahead.
And the Vestige was still watching.
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