By the shores of Grey Goose Lake, before an unmarked grave mound—
The Ancient Tombs of the Forebears got their name from the countless ancient barrows scattered across the land.Many believe that the First King, who led the forebears across the Arm of Dorne from Essos to Westeros, was buried somewhere within the great mounds that lie here.
But such a saying doesn't quite make sense.The wars between the Forebears and the Children of the Forest lasted for over a thousand years. They were halted only by the natural barrier of the Neck and the calamity of the White Walkers.Throughout the Age of Dawn, the Forebears were never able to set foot on the lands of the North.Only after the Pact between the Forebears and the Children of the Forest—at the dawn of the Age of Heroes—were they finally allowed entry into those northern domains.
And yet, both the Ancient Tombs of the Forebears and the First King are said in legend and record to date back over ten thousand years.That contradiction alone cloaks this land in mystery.
The rocky ruins by Grey Goose Lake seemed to form an entrance to one of those barrows.From afar, the structure looked like the slumbering body of a giant.On the surrounding stones were carved countless ancient runes and Primordial glyphs.
Seeing these, Marko finally understood why people regarded this place as a tomb—these were symbols of death, sealing, and curses.
As for why they appeared here, even Marko wasn't sure.Most of the glyphs had long lost their vitality; even the more active Primordial runes were faint and lifeless.Marko suspected these symbols were added later by descendants of the Forebears themselves.
He guessed that these ruins must have been remnants of some mysterious civilization.When the Forebears from the South discovered them during the Age of Heroes, they probably didn't understand the meaning of the runes.Curiosity led them to open what should have remained sealed, unleashing forces they could not comprehend.
Over time, stories spread—until eventually, the place was known as the Tombs of the Forebears.What truly lies beneath these ruins, no one knows.And none have dared to touch it.
For generations, the locals told Marko that those who tried to explore the tombs vanished or died without exception.When their bodies were found, their flesh had turned as hard as stone.
Many outsiders believe these are simply burial grounds of ancient kings,but only the locals know the horror and strangeness beneath the hills.Aside from the Dustin Family's fortress at Barrowton, few dared to extend their power into the depths of the Tombs.
Some even say the Dustin stronghold itself stands atop a massive barrow—the very resting place of the First King of the Forebears.
To prevent accidents, Marko brought a force of one hundred Maintainers and one hundred crossbowmen,along with his four wives. That should have been enough to ensure nothing went wrong.
After clearing away the boulders blocking the entrance, the soldiers opened a narrow passage.Once a scout descended with a lantern to explore, Marko turned to examine the surrounding walls, their carvings, and the traces of excavation.
The passage was just wide enough for two to walk side by side.Before even stepping inside, a wave of cold seeped out from within.
After about thirty minutes, the scout returned.In his hands was a rock-like object carved with strange patterns.He reported encountering three branching paths, and noted that air still flowed below—likely a vast underground labyrinth.
At the last junction, he was attacked by a rock serpent, a monstrous creature of stone.He'd barely survived by smashing a stone pillar to wound it—and the fragment he brought back came from the serpent's body.
But before he could finish his account, the soldier suddenly screamed in agony.He clutched his wound, tearing at his clothes, scratching at his own skin—and in moments, his entire body stiffened like stone.
Marko immediately used Purification Magic, dispelling the leaking miasma of mana from his body.
Once the soldier recovered, Marko stared at the fragment in his hand, deep in thought.He had been using Mana Control to probe the surroundings since entering.It didn't seem that the soldier was afflicted by poison or traps—it was the serpent's doing.
Beside him, Yueying took the stone and examined it closely before speaking:
"Markor, the energy within this is exactly the kind I mentioned before.Feel it for yourself—it's similar to the power of the Evil Gods, but… different."
Marko took it back and channeled his Mana Control into the stone.Indeed, he sensed a faint energy—similar to that of the Evil Gods, yet lacking the coldness and deathly stillness.It was merely… corrosive.
When he injected a wisp of mana into it, the fragment began to writhe.It absorbed and transformed his mana instantly.
After observing its structure and properties, the stone disintegrated into dust in his hand.Marko's mastery over mana had grown immensely—he had even reconstructed and innovated many Valyrian spells from ancient times.Though weaker than System Magic, they were much more flexible.
Recently, he'd been studying Valyrian Shaping Magic—the craft said to allow sorcerers to mold stone into any form they desired.He hoped to reach that level someday.
The specially-made glass candles flickered with strange light in the passage.Marko had tried many times to alter their glow through magic, but the results were limited.In the end, he left them as they were.
Passing through the tunnels, they entered a vast underground chamber—a half-spherical cavern glittering faintly with points of light like stars above.
Then came a stench—iron and blood, mingled with a hint of burnt flesh.It made the soldiers uneasy.
Yueying leaned close and whispered:
"Markor… so many restless wraiths are wailing.Death is drawing near.We should tread carefully."
A hiss echoed—"Ssshhhk–kkrrkk–"A grinding of stone against stone.
From the darkness ahead came a rush of movement—a swarm of rock serpents, like the snake-men of ancient myths.
They were towering, over three meters tall, with ruby-like eyes,short, muscular arms, and bodies covered in stone scales etched with glowing runes.
Under the glass-candle light, those runes flared golden.Marko barked orders—the Maintainers raised their shields, locking them tight to form an unbroken wall of iron.
Then—"Kill!"The battle erupted.
The serpents crashed against the shield wall,their roars mingling with the soldiers' shouts,crossbow bolts streaking toward their glowing eyes.
The beasts didn't flinch from blades or arrows.It took enormous effort to bring down even one.
Marko tried many spells—Destruction magic failed to harm them, likely too low in level.Summoning spells refused to activate.Even Light Magic proved useless—Holy Word and Divine Retribution left them untouched.Only Dark Magic had some effect.If not for Marko constantly casting Healing Light to restore his troops, his formation would have collapsed.
Even Meif and Dani, strong as they were, were forced to retreat repeatedly.The serpents' stony bodies ignored pain—even decapitated, they kept attacking for several moments.
These things were far worse than the creatures Marko had faced in Hardhome—nightmares of strength and speed that no mortal flesh could match.
At the critical moment, the Destruction enchantments woven into Yueying's Phoenix Cloak finally took effect.A barrage of Fireballs and Walls of Flame tore through the serpents,and little by little, they were reduced to rubble.
After the final serpent fell, Marko dissected its corpse.He found its body composed of a peculiar kind of rock—ordinary in structure, but infused on the surface with that same mysterious energy.
Deep within the body, with Meif and Dani's help, he discovered the source—a purple, diamond-shaped crystal,glimmering faintly like a cluster of stars.
Curious, Marko injected a trace of mana.The crystal shuddered violently, devouring his energy.Then, the serpent fragments beneath his feet began to tremble.
The crystal slipped from his grasp, sinking into the serpent's remains—and before their eyes, the shattered creature began to stir.Pale violet light rippled through its body.
Nearby stones melted into liquid shadows,flowing into the serpent's form as if repairing it.But before the body could fully reform, the crystal's glow faded.
Marko nodded thoughtfully.He ordered the soldiers to collect every serpent corpse and taught them how to extract the crystals.
Out of more than forty serpents, they gathered around thirty usable crystals—some shattered in the process.Those that remained charged with energy were incredibly hard;once drained, they crumbled like glass.
After inspection, Marko pocketed the crystals and handed the rest to Yueying for study.He also noticed something peculiar—the serpents seemed to patrol only this chamber,moving like machines following a preset command.
Worse, their bites contained a strange toxin that slowly petrified the body—perhaps the very origin of the so-called Curse of the First King.
When all was done, Marko led his forces deeper.The next chamber was even larger—thankfully empty of serpents.
They searched for about half an hour before finding something at last—a statue, unlike any they'd seen.It resembled a gorilla, carved in uncanny detail.Embedded in its arm was a meter-long purple diamond crystal, though now dim.
Marko touched it lightly and sensed a faint spark of power.Injecting mana, the crystal flared to life—a massive purple cluster, swirling slowly, radiating faint energy.
Then, a strand of that power shot into the statue's eyes.
A sudden red light blazed—and the statue roared.A shockwave of sound burst forth,forcing Marko and his wives to stagger back.
He raised his staff, ready to strike—but the statue abruptly went still.
At that very moment—more than a hundred kilometers away, deep within another ruin,a pair of red eyes snapped open in the darkness.
And then—the ground shook.Across the entire region of the Ancient Tombs,tunnels and earthen halls collapsed,burying those who had been digging within the barrows.