The survivor barbarians exchanged one last round of uncertain glances before finally heading toward the Thunderfang Tribe, just as Bronn had suggested.
Once the last of them was out of sight, Bronn turned to Spark, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Sparky, how about you join us?" he asked, his voice full of eager anticipation.
"Join in?" Spark repeated flatly, as if he already knew what was coming.
"Yeah, come with us to explore the ruin," Bronn said, nodding enthusiastically. "I'll give you a share of whatever we find."
Spark waved his hand dismissively. "You can go alone on your grave-robbing adventure."
"You really don't like exploring ruins, huh?" Bronn's excitement dimmed into a wry smile. "How about you just tag along? You won't even have to lift a finger."
"No," Spark replied curtly. "If it turns out to be a greater ruin, you'll just drag me into helping you."
Bronn chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. Spark had seen right through his plan. "Come on, Sparky. You're the boss. Can't you help just this once?"
Spark sighed, already feeling tired from the conversation. He was about to decline again when Amelia spoke up.
"I want to go see this ruin."
Bronn's face lit up instantly.
"That would be a great help," he said, clearly grateful for her sudden interest.
He knew that anyone who could take down a giant that had terrorized nearby tribes had to be extraordinary.
He turned back to Spark with a sly grin. "Your mate is joining. Now you have to come, Sparky."
Spark was momentarily speechless. Bronn's logic was baffling, but Spark realized he had only himself to blame for the situation. After all, he was the one who had made up the story about them being mates.
Now he had to keep up the act until Amelia returned home, or Bronn might spread rumors that could ruin his reputation at the academy.
With a deep sigh, Spark finally relented. "Fine, but only this once."
"Another free ride, I guess," Spark muttered as he floated behind her, his voice carrying a mix of amusement and resignation.
Amelia didn't respond, her mind occupied with the unsettling appearance of a greater ruin in Grimhold.
She had barely escaped from a ruin deep within that cursed place, and now, just after emerging from one nightmare, another ruin had surfaced. And not just any ruin—a greater ruin.
The timing was too strange, even for someone like her, who had spent years studying the unpredictable nature of these ancient sites.
It defied logic for ruins to emerge so close together in time.
As these thoughts churned in her mind, they traveled quickly, covering great distances in mere moments.
Soon, they arrived at a large hill that loomed over the dense forest surrounding it.
Amelia's instincts kicked in as she sensed something was off.
She glanced upward and her eyes widened in shock.
At the peak of the hill, a massive cyclone twisted violently, its powerful winds roaring loud enough to be heard from miles away.
"Is this strange phenomenon linked to the greater ruin?" she whispered to herself, her voice tinged with both awe and curiosity.
Though she had never encountered a greater ruin before, the raw power radiating from the cyclone was unmistakable. This was no ordinary occurrence.
Amelia followed the group, gradually descending toward a small clearing at the base of the hill.
As they touched down, a loud, commanding voice broke through the stillness.
"Huh! Are you trying to pick a fight?" Bronn's booming voice echoed across the clearing, immediately catching Amelia's attention.
She turned to see Bronn's group locked in a heated argument with another band of barbarians.
These newcomers were dressed in dark clothing, and each one radiated a powerful energy that matched the intensity of Bronn's warriors.
"Why don't you start first?" one of the barbarians from the rival group sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.
The tension between the two groups intensified, their shouts and challenges reverberating through the clearing, driven by the raw, battle-hungry spirit that was common among barbarians in Grimhold. Confrontations like this were an everyday occurrence; these people thrived on the thrill of combat.