The guide pointed toward scorched markings along a distant wall.
"But when awakened factions cleared it... everything changed."
West noticed skeletal remains displayed behind protective glass panels in certain chambers.
They weren't human.
One could see elongated limbs and distorted rib structures.
"Those," the guide explained, "are believed to be one of the ancient species that governed the Eternal Ruins. They were powerful."
Darius swallowed.
"They look… wrong."
"They were wrong," the guide replied.
"Early awakened eras were chaotic."
West crouched briefly near a section of fractured stone.
He felt faint energy residue but barely anything noteworthy.
Unlike residential ruins, which often carried unstable aura pockets or dormant creatures, this place felt… empty.
It was truly cleared and cleaned thoroughly.
If something had once lived here... it didn't anymore.
---
