The horses raced through the darkness. Rain struck Luna's face as she leaned forward in the saddle, gripping the reins tightly. The road ahead was barely visible beneath the thick mist covering the forest. Kael rode several meters ahead. Darius and Marcus followed behind him while Elena and Ryan stayed close to Luna. They had left Ironstone less than fifteen minutes after receiving the news. The northern vanguard was already moving toward Black Hollow Pass. Two hundred and seventeen people. Luna couldn't get the number out of her head. "How much farther?" Marcus shouted. Kael looked toward the mountain silhouettes. "Twenty minutes." "That's not far enough!" "We'll make it." Luna glanced at the quest window floating in front of her. The Vanishing Expedition Time Remaining: 18 Minutes Her stomach tightened. The countdown had appeared after they left the city. She had not told the others. She didn't want them to panic. But something else bothered her. The route ahea

The monsters did not attack. They simply stood in the darkness and watched Luna. Their crimson eyes followed every movement she made. Kael remained in front of her, sword raised. Darius stood on his right. Elena and Marcus guarded the royal soldiers. Ryan stayed close to Luna. No one understood why the creatures had suddenly stopped. Then the stone floor beneath them began to glow. A circle of ancient symbols appeared. Luna stared at it. She knew those symbols. "Everyone move." Kael looked over his shoulder. "Why?" "Because the floor is changing." The symbols shifted. Stone moved beneath their feet. Walls opened. Passages appeared where there had been solid rock. The entire chamber rearranged itself. Darius stepped backward. "What kind of magic is this?" Luna shook her head. "It isn't magic." Ryan stared at the walls. "It's a puzzle." Luna nodded. "An ancient puzzle." Kael looked toward her. "You know how to solve it?" "I used to." The word made everyo

Dust filled the underground hall. Luna could barely breathe. She was trapped beneath Kael's arms, his body shielding hers from the falling stones. For several seconds, she heard nothing except the ringing in her ears and the heavy beat of her own heart. "Kael?" No answer. Her stomach dropped. "Kael!" A groan came from above her. "I'm here." Relief rushed through her. She pushed against the stone pressing against his back. "Are you hurt?" "Probably." "Probably?" "I'll complain about it later." Despite everything, Luna almost laughed. "You scared me." Kael looked down at her. "You were supposed to stay behind me." "You were supposed to stop protecting me from falling buildings." His mouth lifted slightly. "Neither of us followed instructions." Before she could respond, another tremor shook the ruins. Kael's expression changed. "We need to move." Luna nodded. Together, they pushed through the rubble. Darius and Marcus were already clearing a path. Elena helpe

The first crack appeared beneath Luna's feet. She heard it before she saw it. A sharp sound. Then another. Crack. Crack. Crack. The stone floor split in three directions. "Move!" Kael shouted. Everyone reacted at once. The royal soldiers rushed toward the exit while Marcus pulled Elena away from a collapsing pillar. Darius grabbed Ryan by the shoulder and dragged him clear as a section of ceiling crashed down. Luna stood frozen for half a second. The Eclipse Blade was still glowing in her hand. Her new class was still active. The system window remained in front of her. Storyline Integrity: 12% Then another warning appeared. Structural collapse detected. Estimated survival probability: 43%. Luna stared. "That isn't helpful." Kael grabbed her wrist. "Run." She moved. The chamber behind them collapsed. A deafening roar filled the ruins. Stone fell from the ceiling. Dust covered the passage. Luna ran beside Kael, her boots striking the ancient floor. "Which w

The figure on the ridge was gone. Luna stared at the place where it had stood, barely breathing. The rain had stopped, but cold mist still covered the mountains. Behind them, the forbidden ruins had completely disappeared beneath the earth. Only a wide field of broken stone remained. Kael noticed Luna's expression. "Did you see something?" "Someone." Darius immediately stood. "Where?" "On the ridge." Marcus looked toward the mountain. "I don't see anyone." "Neither do I now." Kael studied her face. "Are you sure?" Luna nodded. "Yes." Ryan walked closer. "Could it have been another player?" Luna looked at him. "That's what the system said." His expression darkened. "Then we need to leave." Elena frowned. "Why?" "Because if another player has entered this timeline, we don't know what they want." Darius nodded. "He's right." Kael looked toward the road. "We return to the expedition camp." Luna followed the group. But something felt wrong. The air was too q