A large crowd had gathered near the newly discovered ruin, its swirling portal casting an eerie glow over the slum streets of Changning, a bustling district in the heart of China. Reporters and media teams swarmed the site, their cameras flashing as they broadcasted the news live.
"It's been two years since a ruin has been detected in China," one reporter said excitedly. "And this time, it's right in the middle of a populated area! Neither the government nor the guilds had any prior knowledge of its existence!"
The crowd buzzed with confusion, their eyes shifting between the ruin and the armed guild members who secured the perimeter.
In a low, narrating voice, the media anchor continued: "China, like the rest of the world, is home to many powerful guilds. But only a few rival the power of the government itself. Six guilds reign supreme here—among them, the Black Demon Guild, known for its ruthless tactics and immense wealth, and the International Guild, which is government-controlled."
Suddenly, the crowd parted as a man strode forward, his presence commanding immediate attention. Kim Yun, a high-ranking member of the International Guild, stepped toward the portal, his dense aura silencing the reporters.
Reporters flocked toward him, microphones extended. "Mr. Kim Yun," one shouted, "how did this ruin go undetected for so long? Why was it only discovered yesterday?"
Kim Yun glanced briefly at the cameras before speaking, his voice calm but authoritative. "This is a rare case. Our satellite systems should have detected this ruin years ago, but for reasons we don't yet understand, it only appeared on our radar yesterday. Our experts are already investigating."
Before the reporters could fire off more questions, Kim Yun ignored them and focused on the task at hand, issuing orders to his team.
Just as the media frenzy seemed to settle, the atmosphere shifted once more. A new figure approached, drawing gasps from the crowd. Zhang Tao, the sixth strongest in the Black Demon Guild, walked toward Kim Yun with a relaxed smile.
"Mr. Kim Yun," Zhang Tao said playfully, "are you planning to keep all the treasures for yourself? You know we don't like sharing."
Kim Yun smirked, replying in the same lighthearted tone. "If someone's late to the party, it's not my fault."
The tension between the two guilds was palpable, but for now, it remained beneath the surface. The crowd whispered among themselves, knowing that these lighthearted exchanges masked a fierce rivalry. After all, the Black Demon Guild was only six years old but had already become the strongest guild in China, surpassing even the government's International Guild in many aspects..
Inside the ruin, Wang Lei took a cautious step forward. His eyes scanned the temple's dimly lit interior, the ancient stone walls glowing faintly under the soft, otherworldly light. But the silence was unnerving.
Suddenly, a deep, echoing voice reverberated through the chamber:
"Outsider detected."
Wang Lei's body tensed, his instincts screaming danger. He cursed under his breath.
"Damn, I think I've fallen into another trap," he muttered, his eyes narrowing as he prepared for whatever was coming next.
The ground beneath his feet began to tremble violently. The stone floor cracked, splitting as the vibrations grew stronger. In an instant, the cracks widened, and from the dark crevices emerged dozens of knights—fifty, maybe sixty—all clad in heavy, ancient armor. Their swords gleamed in the faint light, and their blank, expressionless faces gave Wang Lei an uneasy feeling.
His mind raced. These knights didn't seem overwhelmingly powerful, but their sheer numbers were alarming. "That's a lot of them… This is bad," he said through gritted teeth. He didn't have time to strategize further as one of the knights lunged at him, its sword slicing through the air with terrifying speed.
Wang Lei barely dodged, the sword grazing his side. His eyes flared with determination as he gripped his Black Iron Dagger, ready for battle.