The Ruins I [LEON]

Leon and the group were welcomed to the lizardmen’s village.

It was a surprise to everyone. However, not much for Leon because Leon was from another world. He had played multiple games, and read fantasy novels, comics, and all where monsters were the highlight of the series.

The most shocking was for the triplets and slightly for Noel too. Noel didn’t mind that much but it was world-changing for triplets as they found out an entirely new nature of monsters that they knew. They could’ve never imagined something like that. It was world-changing for them. They are in a puzzled thought.

The group was guided properly towards a well-made hut that stood out from others.

There was a large lizardman who stood out from the others.

Scarred lizardman, “Chief-” he fills out everything that happened to the chief.

Chief also didn’t question much in scarred lizardman’s actions. It probably shows the sign of trust among these reptile folks.

The group was guided to a wooden hut.

A large wooden tray filled with fresh fruits and raw fish, the lizardmen’s offering to guests.

The triplets hesitated.

The youngest triplet’s face twisted. “Are we supposed to eat this?”

Leon scratched the back of his head. “Probably. It’s their way of being hospitable.”

Even Noel, who was usually composed, looked slightly hesitant.

“I’ll pass on the fish,” she said, picking up a fruit instead.

The triplets quickly followed suit, silently grateful for an excuse.

Scarred lizardman, “You said you were seeking the ruins, is that true?”

Leon responds, “Yeah, it’s been days since we set out on a journey to seek out the ruins”

Small lizardmen children were peeking in through the hut’s entrance, their large, curious eyes gleaming in the dim light. Their small, clawed hands clung to the doorway as they whispered among themselves in hushed excitement.

Noel noticed them too.

A faint smile played on her lips as she slowly raised her hand, waving.

The children were startled. Their eyes widened in shock before they scattered, their tiny feet pattering against the ground as they vanished into the shadows.

The scarred lizardman cleared his throat,

“But why are you seeking the ruins”

Leon hesitated,

How was he supposed to explain it?

Saying, “Oh, we’re just exploring” felt… shallow.

But at the same time, revealing too much might not be wise.

Leon, “We are adventurers so we are trying to explore it, I guess”

“I see. Not a specific reason then let me fill you out about the information we have on those ruins” Leon little excited interprets it to the group.

Noel smiled, “See, I told you this could be an opportunity”

Scarred Lizardmen continues, “The ruin was always there since the times our tribe moved here. We also ventured through the unknown to unravel something that could benefit us from the ruins but as it was, it was only the ruins. There was nothing so we just left and ignored for a long time”

“But one day, we felt something uneasy I don’t know how to describe but we just felt something. So, we ventured to the ruin once again. The ruin was infested by other monsters. We sneak through them to venture further but are confronted by something”

“Something unimaginable, the energy within the ruin was too evil, we were ambushed by monsters that we have never seen before. It appears from the rocks, and amidst the fight, this is the scar I got.” He touches the scar.

“So, we flee the scene with our lives online. Then we decided that the ruin was cursed and evil. We had migrated here with very hardships so we thought that we had to migrate again. We were scared the monsters would reach our village too, and then you guys appeared”

Everyone was in awe as Leon was interpreting everything to the group.

“If you truly are to venture to the ruins then we shall also provide support”

Leon, “Hoh?”

“So we hope that you truly unveil the presence within the ruins”

Leon, “Okay”

The night fell and the group was assigned a specific cleaned wooden hut.

The red-eyed shadow came and killed Leon and he is back to reality.

After a normal day, he is back to the dream and there is some kind of hustle in the village.

As Leon just arrived, he doesn’t know what’s going on.

Then Noel greets him, “Leon, there’s trouble”

“Trouble?”

Scarred Lizardman appears and confronts Leon, “You, you are finally here. Where were you all night?”

Leon didn’t answer and asked Noel to fill up the situation.

Noel starts, “Last night, something happened, we heard an evil loud screech and something appeared out of nowhere.”

Scarred lizardmen in wary cuts off Noel, “Those monsters, they took our children”

Leon wary, “Huh?”

Noel continues, “Most probably, they were gargoyles”

Gargoyles are monsters made up of stone. They disguise themselves among the statues and ambush the enemy.

“But gargoyles aren’t the type of monster to attack out of nowhere without a reason, it was as if something was commanding them to do so. They went towards the ruins after capturing the children. We tried to help the lizardmen but we were too late in doing so and they already fled the scene”

The triplets add, “So, we are venturing to the ruins right now”

Lizardman adds, “We wanted to go right away after what happened and sought your help but you were not here, so let's not waste any time and let go”

Leon, “Okay”.

They geared up and rushed to the ruins with lizardmen. They didn’t face much trouble reaching there with the guidance of Lizardman.

The ruins were huge, it was really like a remnant of an ancient civilization.

Leon frowned, “This is more like a maze itself”

Noel is filled with excitement. The triplets are also filled with determination.

The ruins, huge stone structures. Eerie feeling. Large structures half buried, covered in moss

“Here’s the way to the entrance” Lizardman guides.

They encounter multiple monsters, giant venomous vipers, dire wolves, and many others.

Monsters were affected by something.

They were much more aggressive. It was also slightly affecting the lizardmen but their determination to find their children was working in their favor to not go berserk.

The vipers struck first, lunging with blinding speed, their fangs aiming for exposed throats.

Leon dodged sideways, his blade flashing as he severed a serpent’s head in one clean stroke. Blood splattered across the cracked stone.

Noel raised her hand.

A blast of frost erupted from her palm, freezing a charging direwolf mid-leap. It crashed into the ground, shattering.

The triplets moved as one, weaving between the chaos, cutting down foes with practiced precision.

The lizardmen fought savagely, their claws tearing through flesh, their tails used as weapons to crush skulls.

But it wasn’t just a battle.

It was a race.

Leon cut down another viper, his breathing heavy. They had to push through.

After slaying multiple monsters and rushing, they finally reach the entrance.