The air was thick with the scent of moss and damp earth as Min Joon and Astra moved deeper into the Darkwood. The oppressive silence hung heavily around them, broken only by the distant calls of strange creatures. Astra moved with purpose, her eyes scanning every corner of the shadowy landscape as if anticipating danger from every direction. Min Joon, though accustomed to the eerie atmosphere by now, couldn't shake the unease that crept up his spine.
They had been traveling for hours, following Rowan's cryptic instructions. The river they had crossed earlier was now behind them, and the forest was growing denser still. As they crept through the underbrush, Min Joon found himself thinking about the mysterious gathering Rowan had mentioned. The idea of finding allies, people who might be able to help him understand the Eye of Mortanis and possibly sever its connection, was tempting. But there was something unsettling about Rowan himself, his sly grin, his hidden motives.
"We should be getting close," Astra muttered, breaking his thoughts.
Min Joon glanced around, the trees now so tightly packed that only slivers of light managed to break through the canopy. "Close to what?" he asked, his voice low.
"To the ruins," Astra replied. "The old city. If Rowan wasn't lying, it's supposed to be a gathering place for those who defy the Order. Though, I still don't trust him." She glanced at Min Joon, her expression hard. "Stay alert."
They pressed on, the path narrowing, the forest becoming more twisted. After what felt like hours of walking, the trees finally opened up to reveal the ruins. A massive stone archway stood at the entrance, weathered and cracked from centuries of neglect. It loomed in the distance, casting an ominous shadow over the desolate landscape. Min Joon could feel something stir in the air—an unnatural stillness, like the ruins themselves were holding their breath.
The stone structures that once formed the heart of this place now lay in ruins. Collapsed buildings, broken pillars, and half-fallen walls littered the ground. The very air seemed thick with forgotten history, the remnants of lives long past. And yet, the ruins exuded a sense of something far older—something powerful, buried deep within the stones.
Min Joon's gaze shifted to Astra. "Are you sure about this?"
Astra didn't look back at him but instead focused on the crumbled path ahead. "It's the only lead we have. If Rowan was telling the truth, we need to see this place with our own eyes."
They moved through the crumbling remnants of the city, stepping carefully around fallen stones and cracked tiles. As they made their way deeper, the hairs on the back of Min Joon's neck began to prickle. Something wasn't right. The silence here was different—unnerving. The shadows seemed to shift on their own, flickering in the corners of his vision.
Suddenly, a low hum reverberated through the ground, the sound so faint at first that it could have been mistaken for a trick of the wind. But it grew louder, vibrating through Min Joon's bones.
Astra stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes narrowing. "Do you hear that?"
Min Joon's heart skipped a beat. The hum was growing stronger, now a deep, resonating pulse that seemed to come from all around them. He looked to Astra, confusion and fear mixing in his chest. "What is it?"
Astra didn't answer immediately, her hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of her sword. "Not sure… but it's not natural. Stay close."
The sound grew louder still, a steady thrum, as if something was awakening beneath the very ground they stood on. Min Joon's hand instinctively went to his daggers, his mind racing through possibilities. Was this a trap? A trap set by Rowan? Or something far worse, hidden beneath the ruins?
Then, without warning, a powerful force surged upward from the ground. The earth cracked open beneath their feet, sending them both stumbling backward.
Astra shouted, her sword flashing as she caught herself. "Move!" she barked.
Before Min Joon could react, a massive figure erupted from the chasm in the earth. It was a creature unlike anything he had ever seen—a towering, grotesque being of stone and shadow, its eyes burning with an eerie blue light. The creature's enormous arms reached toward them, its jagged form seemingly held together by ancient runes carved into its rocky surface.
Min Joon felt his heart race. "What the hell is that?"
Astra gritted her teeth, rushing forward to meet the creature head-on. "A guardian," she hissed. "It must be tied to the ruins."
The creature's massive foot slammed into the ground, sending shockwaves through the air. Min Joon barely dodged in time, the earth quaking beneath him as the beast loomed over them.
"I can't fight this thing alone!" Astra shouted, spinning to face Min Joon. "Get ready!"
His body instinctively moved, adrenaline flooding his veins, but he wasn't sure what he could do against such an enormous opponent. The creature roared, its voice like grinding stone, and it swung its massive fists down toward them.
Astra was already in motion, her sword flashing as she cut through the air with lightning speed, aiming for the creature's exposed joints. But the stone beast was unyielding, each strike against it barely making a dent. Min Joon's heart pounded in his chest as he watched, completely outmatched by the sheer size and power of the monster.
Then, just as the creature's fist came crashing toward Astra, something strange happened. The Eye of Mortanis—the bond that connected Min Joon to the dark magic—began to pulse. He felt it again, that same strange, heavy presence within him, as if the Eye was reacting to the danger.
Without thinking, Min Joon stepped forward. His body moved on its own, the strange energy within him surging. The Eye flared brightly, casting an eerie light across the battlefield.
The creature's massive hand came crashing down, but Min Joon didn't hesitate. He extended his arm, his fingers tingling with the dark magic coursing through him. The moment his hand made contact with the air, the world seemed to slow.
Blue energy crackled around him, responding to the Eye's power. The air hummed with unnatural force as tendrils of energy shot toward the stone giant. To Min Joon's shock, the energy began to warp around the creature, the stone cracking and warping under the intense pressure. The creature howled in pain, its body starting to crumble as the magic took hold.
Astra stared at him, wide-eyed, her breath caught in her throat. "What… what are you doing?"
Min Joon didn't answer, his focus entirely on the creature. The energy swirled around him, and with a single motion, he thrust his hands forward. The magic ripped through the creature's body, shattering it into fragments of stone and dust.
The giant collapsed with a thunderous crash, its form disintegrating into nothingness. Min Joon stood there, breathless, as the last echoes of the battle faded into silence.
For a long moment, Astra simply stared at him, her sword still drawn. Finally, she spoke, her voice thick with disbelief. "What… just happened?"
Min Joon's hands trembled as he lowered them, the energy from the Eye slowly fading. He felt a strange mix of exhaustion and exhilaration, but more than anything, a deep, unsettling realization settled in the pit of his stomach.
The Eye had given him power, but it had also consumed him—just like it consumed everything it touched.
"I… I don't know," he muttered, looking down at his hands. "But we need to keep moving. This place… it's not safe."
Astra nodded slowly, but her gaze never left him, a hint of suspicion lingering in her eyes. There was no going back now. Min Joon had just tapped into a power that could either save or destroy him.