The shadow hunters stepped out from the darkness.
Their glowing red eyes stared directly at Arian.
"The map… belongs… to Malvyr…"
Draven instantly drew his swords.
"Looks like we're not leaving quietly."
The creatures attacked.
Draven moved like lightning, his blades cutting through the shadows.
Lyra raised her hands and released powerful bursts of blue magic.
Arkon slammed his staff against the floor.
A golden barrier surrounded them.
But the hunters kept coming.
One of them leaped toward Arian.
"Take the crystal!" Lyra shouted.
Arian grabbed the glowing crystal from the pedestal.
The moment he touched it, the crystal transformed into a piece of parchment.
It merged with the map inside his bag.
The map suddenly expanded.
New golden paths appeared across the surface.
"We got it!" Arian shouted.
But the hunters were still attacking.
Draven pushed one back with a powerful strike.
"We need to leave now!"
Arkon raised his staff again.
"Everyone stand close!"
Bright light exploded from the staff.
The entire throne room filled with blinding energy.
When the light faded…
The hunters were gone.
The group stood outside the ruins once again.
Arian looked at the map.
Two pieces had now joined together.
New locations had appeared.
Lyra studied the symbols carefully.
"This next place…"
She looked up.
"Is Mount Draknor."
Draven frowned.
"The Dragon Mountain."
Arkon sighed.
"That means our next challenge will be far more dangerous."
Arian looked toward the distant mountains on the horizon.
Dragons, ancient magic, and Malvyr's growing army waited ahead.
But one thing was certain.
The adventure had only just begun.