The next morning, Kazuki woke with renewed resolve. He had survived another night in this strange world, and now it was time to push forward. The ruins the village elder had spoken of were his next destination, and if what she said was true, there would be far more dangerous creatures lurking in the forest than the wolves he had faced. But that only excited him.
He packed his supplies—a few provisions the villagers had offered, a small pouch of healing herbs, and his new longsword. The weight of the blade on his hip was comforting. It was a simple weapon, but it was his, and it marked the beginning of his journey into a new world.
As Kazuki prepared to set out, the elder approached him again, her expression calm but serious.
**"You leave for the ruins today, then,"** she said, though it was more of a statement than a question. **"I would advise caution. The forest grows darker the closer you get to the ruins, and strange things happen there."**
Kazuki nodded. **"I'll be careful. But I need to know more about what's waiting for me. What kind of dark magic is sealed in those ruins?"**
The elder's eyes clouded with uncertainty. **"We don't know for sure. The ruins were built long before our village existed, back in the age when the gods still walked the earth. It's said that a powerful sorcerer attempted to unlock the secrets of forbidden magic, but his ambitions brought ruin. The gods sealed the sorcerer's power within the ruins, and ever since, strange creatures have been drawn to that place."**
Kazuki frowned. **"Creatures like the Dire Wolves?"**
The elder shook her head. **"Worse than wolves. The wolves were merely scouts—sentinels guarding the outskirts of the forest. The deeper you go, the more twisted the creatures become. Some say they're no longer animals, but abominations created by the sorcerer's dark magic."**
Kazuki's grip tightened on the hilt of his sword. The thought of facing creatures born of dark magic was unsettling, but it also meant there was likely something valuable hidden in the ruins—something that could help him grow stronger.
**"I'll keep my guard up,"** Kazuki said. **"Thank you for the warning."**
The elder nodded, her gaze softening slightly. **"May the gods watch over you, traveller. You've done much for our village already, and we will always be grateful. But I fear that you are stepping into a place where even the gods may not tread."**
Kazuki offered a reassuring smile. **"I've got a few tricks of my own. I'll be fine."**
With that, he turned and approached the forest, leaving the village behind.
---
The journey to the ruins was eerily quiet. The forest, which had been teeming with life during his previous visit, seemed almost abandoned now. The trees were twisted and gnarled, their branches casting long, dark shadows that danced with the wind. The air felt thick, heavy with an unnatural energy that made Kazuki's skin prickle.
He kept his hand on the hilt of his sword, his senses on high alert. Every rustle of leaves, every distant animal call, made him pause and scan his surroundings. The deeper he ventured into the forest, the more oppressive the atmosphere became.
Eventually, the forest floor gave way to a narrow path that wound through the trees. It was faint, almost as if it hadn't been used in years, but Kazuki could feel that it led somewhere important. He followed the path, his steps cautious and measured.
After what felt like hours of walking, Kazuki finally emerged into a clearing. The sight that greeted him was both awe-inspiring and unsettling.
Before him stood the ruins.
The structure was ancient, its stone walls crumbling and overgrown with vines. Massive pillars, worn down by time, jutted from the earth like the bones of some long-dead giant. The air around the ruins shimmered with faint, dark energy, and Kazuki could feel the weight of something powerful and malevolent lurking within.
But there was no turning back now.
**"Genesis System,"** Kazuki muttered under his breath. **"Give me a scan of the area."**
The familiar chime echoed in his mind.
> **Scanning…**
The system hummed for a moment before displaying a detailed map of the ruins, highlighting several areas of interest.
---
**Points of Interest:**
1. **Entrance Hall** - A massive chamber that serves as the entry point to the ruins. Potentially guarded by ancient sentinels.
2. **Chamber of the Sealed** - Deep within the ruins lies a chamber where dark magic was sealed. High levels of magical energy detected.
3. **Corridor of Shadows** - A long hallway filled with traps and lurking creatures. High caution is advised.
---
Kazuki examined the map, noting the various routes and possible dangers. The Genesis System had proven its worth yet again, giving him a tactical advantage before even setting foot inside. But there was still much he didn't know.
**"Alright,"** he said, tightening his grip on his sword. **"Let's see what's inside."**
---
The entrance to the ruins was guarded by a pair of massive stone doors, covered in intricate carvings that depicted scenes of battle and destruction. Kazuki could sense the dark energy radiating from the doors, but he pushed them open without hesitation.
The air inside was stale and cold, and the sound of his footsteps echoed off the stone walls as he entered the massive entrance hall. The room was dimly lit by flickering torches that lined the walls, casting long shadows across the floor.
Kazuki advanced cautiously, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of movement. The Genesis System had warned him about potential sentinels, and he wasn't about to let his guard down.
Sure enough, as he reached the centre of the hall, he heard a low, grinding sound. Kazuki tensed, his hand moving to his sword.
From the shadows at the far end of the room, two massive figures emerged. They were made of stone, their bodies towering over Kazuki as they lumbered forward. Their eyes glowed with an unnatural red light, and the air around them crackled with dark energy.
**"Stone sentinels,"** Kazuki muttered. **"Of course."**
The creatures moved slowly, but their size and power were undeniable. Kazuki knew that a confrontation would be risky, especially in such a confined space.
He activated **Wind Step**, his body becoming lighter as he dashed to the side, avoiding the first sentinel's slow but powerful strike. The ground trembled beneath its fist as it smashed into the stone floor, missing Kazuki by inches.
**"Shockwave Slash!"**
Kazuki swung his sword in a wide arc, sending a wave of energy toward the second sentinel. The wave struck the creature's chest, cracking the stone but not enough to stop it.
The sentinels were slow, but their durability was an issue. Kazuki needed to find a way to bring them down before they could corner him.
As he darted between the two sentinels, an idea formed in his mind. He couldn't rely on brute force alone, but what if he used their power against them?
He waited for the next strike, positioning himself in front of the first sentinel. When its massive fist came down, Kazuki jumped to the side at the last moment.
The sentinel's fist slammed into the ground, sending cracks through the stone floor. Kazuki grinned as he saw the second sentinel move in, its fist already raised for an attack.
**"Perfect,"** he muttered.
He activated **Wind Step** again, darting behind the first sentinel just as the second one swung its fist. The blow landed squarely on the first sentinel's back, sending a shower of stone fragments flying into the air.
The first sentinel staggered, its body cracking under the force of the blow. Kazuki didn't waste any time. He charged forward, channelling his mana into his sword.
**"Mana Infusion!"**
His blade glowed with blue energy as he struck the weakened sentinel, the impact shattering its body into pieces. The creature let out a low, rumbling groan before collapsing into a pile of rubble.
One down.
Kazuki turned to face the remaining sentinel, which had already begun its slow advance toward him. He activated **Flame Strike**, sending a ball of fire toward the creature's legs. The fire exploded on impact, causing the sentinel to stumble.
Seizing the opportunity, Kazuki dashed forward, his sword glowing with mana once more. He leapt into the air, bringing his blade down on the sentinel's head with all his strength.
The impact was devastating. The sentinel's head shattered, and its body crumbled beneath it, collapsing into a heap of stone and dust.
Kazuki landed lightly on his feet, breathing heavily but victorious.
> **Enemies defeated. Gained 800 EXP. Level up!**
---
**Level:** 5
---
Kazuki smiled to himself as the familiar chime echoed in his mind. He was getting stronger, but this was only the beginning. The true challenge lay deeper within the ruins, and he could feel the dark magic growing stronger with each step.
He sheathed his sword and moved toward the corridor that led deeper into the ruins. His heart raced with anticipation.
Whatever awaited him in the Chamber of the Sealed, Kazuki was ready.