The sunlight filtered through the treetops, illuminating the mist that lingered over the damp ground. After the intense battle, Edmund knew they needed to better understand the island and its dangers before advancing further.
— Form into groups and stay alert. We don't know what else might be hiding here. — Edmund ordered, as he wiped his blade, now stained with dried blood.
Divided into small detachments, the men advanced cautiously through the dense jungle. The terrain was treacherous, filled with protruding roots and vegetation that made passage difficult. The distant calls of exotic birds blended with the murmurs of the wind and the faint echo of the sea.
Kieza walked beside Edmund, her blue eyes analyzing every detail around them.
— This place has something... peculiar. — she murmured. — Not just because of the creatures. There are signs of something older here.
Soon after, one of the groups called for reinforcements. When they arrived, they found ruins covered by time, stone structures emerging from the vegetation like forgotten ghosts. Unknown symbols adorned the moss-covered walls, and the silence that hung there seemed to carry centuries of hidden stories.
— This wasn't built by castaways or exiles. — Voss said, running his hand over a worn engraving. — This belongs to an ancient civilization.
The discovery renewed the group's spirits, but it also brought unease. Who or what had built this? And why was it abandoned?
As they explored deeper into the ruins, they noticed complex patterns in the inscriptions, symbols that suggested a unique language and perhaps a lost cult. A semi-intact mural depicted humanoid figures flanked by giant serpents and beasts that resembled the creatures they had faced. A darkened stone altar in the center of the structure indicated ancient rituals, reinforcing the sense that this place had once been the site of long-forgotten ceremonies.
— Whatever happened here, it didn't end well. — Edmund murmured.
Rummaging through the debris, they found fragments of ceramics, pieces of gold corroded by time, and weapons with strange designs, indicating a people advanced for their time. The layout of the city, partially buried by the forest, suggested an organized society, perhaps an empire that once ruled the island centuries ago.
The exploration continued, revealing crystal-clear streams, deep caves, and more footprints of the creatures they had encountered. Each new discovery made the archipelago even more enigmatic. But Edmund knew there was still much to uncover.
The island hid dangerous secrets, and they needed to be ready for whatever might emerge.