The forest thinned as Hu Jun and Reyna pressed forward, revealing a vast expanse of ruins bathed in the pale glow of the fractured sky. Towering pillars, broken and weathered, jutted from the earth like skeletal remains of a forgotten civilization. The air was heavy, carrying the faint scent of ash and decay.
Reyna stopped at the edge of the ruins, her gaze sweeping over the desolation. "The Warden's Sanctuary is at the heart of this place," she said, her voice solemn. "But we're not the only ones who seek it."
Hu Jun's hand instinctively moved to the hilt of his blade, a weapon he had carried for years but seldom unsheathed. "Who else is here?"
Reyna's lips tightened. "Those who would see the world crumble for their own gain. The Sanctuary holds more than answers, Hu Jun. It holds power—and power attracts the desperate."
The faint echo of voices reached them, growing louder with each passing moment. Reyna motioned for Hu Jun to follow as she slipped into the shadows of a crumbling archway. They crouched low, their eyes fixed on a group of figures moving through the ruins.
There were three of them, each cloaked in dark armor that seemed to absorb the dim light around them. Their faces were obscured by masks, but their movements were purposeful, their weapons drawn.
"Ravens," Reyna whispered, her tone laced with disdain. "Mercenaries loyal to the highest bidder."
Hu Jun's grip on his blade tightened. "What do they want with the Sanctuary?"
Reyna's expression hardened. "The same thing everyone else wants. To control the power hidden within."
The mercenaries paused near the base of a massive statue, its features eroded by time but still imposing. One of them raised a hand, and the others spread out, their eyes scanning the area.
"They're searching for something," Hu Jun observed, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Or someone," Reyna replied. Her gaze shifted to Hu Jun, a shadow of worry crossing her face. "We can't let them find us. Not yet."
Hu Jun nodded, his heart pounding in his chest as they began to move again, keeping to the cover of the ruins. Every step was calculated, every breath controlled. But despite their efforts, the feeling of being watched gnawed at the edges of his mind.
They reached the remnants of a stone bridge that spanned a shallow chasm. Reyna motioned for Hu Jun to cross first. As he stepped onto the weathered stones, the sound of clashing metal erupted behind them.
He turned to see Reyna locked in combat with one of the mercenaries. Her movements were precise, her dagger flashing in the dim light as she parried a strike aimed at her chest. But the other two mercenaries were closing in fast.
"Reyna!" Hu Jun shouted, drawing his blade and rushing to her aid.
The nearest mercenary turned to face him, a wicked smile visible beneath the edges of their mask. "So, the cursed one reveals himself," the figure sneered, lunging forward.
Hu Jun raised his blade just in time to block the attack. Sparks flew as steel met steel, the force of the blow sending a jolt through his arms. He gritted his teeth and pushed back, his crimson eyes blazing with determination.
The mercenary pressed the attack, their strikes relentless and precise. But Hu Jun had spent years honing his skills, and he met each blow with equal ferocity. With a swift maneuver, he disarmed his opponent, sending their weapon clattering to the ground.
"Enough!" Reyna's voice rang out, sharp and commanding.
Hu Jun turned to see her standing over the other two mercenaries, her blade pressed against the throat of one while the other lay unconscious at her feet. The remaining mercenary hesitated, glancing between Hu Jun and Reyna before raising their hands in surrender.
"What are you doing here?" Reyna demanded, her dagger drawing a thin line of blood from her captive's neck.
The mercenary's voice was muffled by their mask, but the fear in their tone was unmistakable. "We're only following orders. The client wants the Sanctuary—wants what's inside."
"Who's your client?" Hu Jun pressed, his blade still at the ready.
The mercenary hesitated, their gaze shifting nervously. "We don't know. We've never seen their face. They only communicate through intermediaries."
Reyna's eyes narrowed. "And what do they want with Hu Jun?"
The mercenary's breath hitched. "They… they said he's the key. That without him, the Sanctuary can't be unlocked."
A heavy silence fell over the group as the words sank in. Hu Jun's grip on his blade tightened, his mind racing.
"Let them go," he said finally, his voice cold and steady.
Reyna hesitated but relented, stepping back and lowering her weapon. The mercenary scrambled to their feet, dragging their unconscious comrade with them before disappearing into the ruins.
"Why did you let them go?" Reyna asked, her tone sharp with frustration.
"Because they'll lead us to whoever's behind this," Hu Jun replied, sheathing his blade. "And because I need to know why I'm the key."
Reyna studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Then we'd better move fast. If they get to the Sanctuary first, it's over."
Together, they turned and continued their journey, the ruins looming around them like silent witnesses to the unfolding drama. Hu Jun couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into a trap, but he knew there was no turning back now. The answers he sought lay ahead, buried in the heart of the Warden's Sanctuary—and he was determined to find them, no matter the cost.