**AN: i juste saw that you need to have 15000 words to be able to enter a classment and hahah i am at 14500 so bonus chapter.**
The majestic ruins of the City of the Ancients lay before Alaric and Caelum, their jagged, towering form silhouetted against the twilight horizon. The dying sun cast eerie shadows on the black iron structures, and the flickering light of the power crystals embedded in the walls gave the scene a spectral glow.
The two explorers advanced cautiously, their footsteps echoing in the oppressive silence of the abandoned city. Alaric held a torch powered by a power crystal, illuminating the ancient inscriptions etched into the walls.
"So, Caelum," Alaric said, consulting an ancient map, "it seems that this city holds secrets related to the forging of armor. The Ancients were renowned for their mastery of crystals." »
"Ah, so we're hunting technological ghosts," Caelum replied with a smirk, "I hope they don't leave ghost traps as well."
"Unfortunately, no," Alaric replied with a smile. "But there are some very real traps to avoid."
As they advanced into a wide corridor, hidden mechanisms activated under the weight of their steps. A series of rotating blades erupted from the walls with an ominous hiss. Caelum dodged deftly, throwing himself against a wall with a nimble movement.
"Now that's what I call an impromptu introduction," Caelum joked, his breath short.
Alaric, already at work disabling the trap, used a small device to deactivate the mechanisms. "You'd better stay on your guard. The city is full of surprises like that." »
Their movements were marked by alternating tension and relief as they navigated the city's traps. The walls were adorned with enigmatic symbols, relics of the past that seemed to whisper lost secrets. The traps ranged from simple arrow traps to energy fields designed to repel intruders.
As they explored, Alaric and Caelum found a room hidden behind a concealed wall. The entrance was locked by a series of complex mechanisms, requiring a specific sequence of energy crystal activation.
"This seems more complicated than a simple puzzle," Caelum murmured as he eyed the gears and crystals embedded in the door. "Do you have an intuition for these things, or a survival manual?"
"A combination of both," Alaric replied with a smile. "It's best to be prepared for these puzzles." »
With meticulous precision, Alaric solved the puzzle, and the door creaked open slowly. They entered a vast room adorned with ancient machinery and pulsing energy crystals. At the center of the room was a gigantic forge furnace, the air resonating with palpable energy.
"This is where it all happens," Alaric said, his eyes shining with excitement. "The Ancients used this forge to manipulate energy crystals and black iron. What we find here could change our understanding of power armor."
Caelum stared at the artifacts with a mixture of wonder and curiosity. "It seems we've found the Holy Grail of blacksmithing."
Alaric began examining the machinery and the inscriptions on the walls, deciphering the ancient texts. "We need to understand how they harnessed the energy of the crystals to create armor and weapons." This is the key to improving our technology and perhaps even creating weapons that can pierce enemy armor."
As they explored the room, footsteps sounded behind them, and shadows began to move in the dark corners. Alaric and Caelum froze, their senses on alert.
"We're not alone here," Caelum murmured, his eyes scanning the darkness.
Before they could react, a figure emerged from the darkness, a group of ruin guardians, armed and ready to defend the secrets of the city. Their faces were hidden behind black iron masks, and their weapons glowed with a menacing light.
"We must fight or find a way out quickly," Alaric said, preparing his equipment for battle.
Caelum, with an amused but determined smile, turned to the guardians. "Well, I was just hoping this visit would be uneventful. But it seems we have some unwanted guests."
The fight that followed was a chaotic dance of rapid movements and flashes of light. Alaric and Caelum fought with choreographed precision, using the ancient artifacts and techniques they had learned to repel the guardians.
With remarkable skill, they triumphed over the guardians and continued their exploration. But discovering the secret of the forge was now more crucial than ever. The city of the Ancients held mysteries that could determine the course of the coming war.
Night fell as they emerged from the ruins, their minds racing with the revelations they had gained and the challenges that lay ahead. They had found some of the hidden secrets of the City of the Ancients, but there was still much to discover before all was revealed.