The fog was thickening, and the air was heavy with a foreboding omen. The crew walked cautiously through the ruins, swords drawn, torches lighting the way.
"I don't like this silence," Nikos said, looking around. "It's as if the island is holding its breath."
"Silence is more dangerous than noise," Callias replied, watching the sky. "When you hear nothing… it means something is waiting for you."
"Whatever it may have," Darius said with a defiant smile. "I'm tired of waiting."
*
Suddenly, a sharp scream echoed from the sky. Eyes lifted, and gigantic birds, their wings black as clouds, swooped down from above.
"From the sky!" Romulus shouted. "Beware!"
"Raise your shields! Don't let them snatch you!" Linus said quickly.
A bird rushed towards Darius, who repelled it with his sword.
"At last, a flying foe!" Darius said, laughing. "Come on, let's go down one by one!"
"Don't be foolish!" Callias snapped. "If they surround us from above… we're done for!"
*
As they fought the birds, the ground opened again, and huge reptiles crawled out from among the rocks.
"From beneath us too!" Nikos shouted. "They're attacking from all sides!"
"It's an ambush… planned!" Romulus said, fending off an attack.
"Then we won't fight at random," Linus said, planting his feet. "Darius, with me against the reptiles. Callias, cover us against the birds. Nikos, light more fire!"
*
Darius charged towards a huge reptile, his sword flashing. Darius pressed hard. "Her skin is tougher than iron!" Linus countered, attacking from the side. "Then let's break her weak points. Aim for the joints!"
In the sky, Callias was hurling daggers at the birds.
"They don't fall easily… Their wings are fast!" panted Callias.
"Fire! Fire makes them retreat!" retorted Nikos, waving a torch.
*
A sailor fell to the ground after a bird snatched his arm.
"Catch him!" cried Romulus.
"Linus leaped up, plunging his sword into the bird's wing, and it fell to the ground.
"Get up!" said Linus, extending his hand to the sailor. "No time for weakness!"
"I thought I was finished…" panted the sailor.
"No one is finished as long as I live," replied Linus.
*
Darius said, fending off another crawler attack. "They won't stop! Who sends them?!"
"No one sends them… They're part of the same island!"
"No…" Linus said, narrowing his eyes.
"No… This is coordinated. Someone is directing them."
*
The birds began to hover again, and the crawlers crept slowly, as if waiting for a sign.
"Why did they stop?" Nikos gasped.
"As if they were waiting for something… or someone," Romulus replied, watching.
"Then there's more to come," Linus said, steadily slashing his sword.
*
A heavy silence fell, then a strange trumpet sounded from deep within the forest. The birds stopped in the sky, and the crawlers froze.
"What is this?!" Darius said, startled.
"What is this?!" "A sign," Callias whispered. "A sign from their masters." "So… we haven't seen the island's true face yet," Linus said, staring into the darkness.