After a bloody night on the Black Sands, the crew sat catching their breath. The fire still burned, but their eyes were weary, their hearts heavy.
"Their leader has fallen," Darius said, wiping the blood from his sword. "But I don't feel we've won."
"Because the island isn't defeated in one battle," Callias replied, staring into the darkness.
"It's as if it's testing us," Romulus said, bandaging a wound on his arm. "Each time, harder than the last."
"Then we must prove we're worthy of survival," Linus said sternly.
With the first light of dawn, Linus led his men inland. The monsters' footprints were clear, trailing deep into the island.
"It's as if they're protecting something," Nikos said, watching the land. "They don't attack in vain."
"Then let's see what they're protecting," Linus replied.
After hours of walking, a narrow valley opened before them, its walls made of high black rock. At its end, a massive stone gate appeared, half-ruined and covered in moss.
Darius asked in surprise:
"A gate? In this place?"
"Not natural… These are made by human hands," replied Callias, touching the inscriptions.
"But who?" asked Romulus. "There is no known civilization here."
"Perhaps a civilization the sea wanted to conceal," said Linus, pondering.
They pushed the crumbling gate open, and it slowly opened, revealing a wide courtyard. There were broken columns, half-buried walls, and stone houses hidden under trees.
"A city… A whole city," said Nikos, his voice trembling.
"A ghost town, you mean," replied Darius, laughing in surprise.
Callias said, "No... this is an obliterated city. The sea didn't erase it, time did."
Linus said, "But why isn't it mentioned on any map?"
They entered the ruins, examining the inscriptions on the walls.
Romulus pointed to a faded drawing, "Look... ships. Three large ships."
Linus replied, "Three flags... like on the scroll."
Callias said, "So this city was part of that ancient conflict."
Darius laughed, "Ancient conflict or not... The point is to see if there's gold."
Linus retorted sharply, "We're not here to plunder, Darius. We're here to understand."
As they wandered around, they heard the sound of a stone rolling.
Nicos raised his head, "Did you hear?"
Romulus replied, raising his sword, "We're not alone."
"Get ready," Linus said, steadying his feet. "The city hasn't been left unguarded."
Out of the shadows, figures slowly moved. They weren't monsters like the ones they had encountered, but rather humanoid, slender, their eyes shining in the darkness.
"What are these?!" Darius said, raising his sword.
"They're not monsters… but they're not ordinary humans either," Callias replied, taking a step back.
"Whatever they are… they're part of the island's secret," Linus said, staring at them.