In the wide tunnel, lit by glowing stones fixed into the walls, a group of barbarians charged ahead, their eyes shining with greed and excitement.
Their muscles bulged as they ran, the light from the stones reflecting off their rough skin like ripples on water.
"Boss, should we grab some of these stones? Everyone else is already taking them," asked one of the younger barbarians, his eyes glued to the glowing gems, their brightness making his gaze even wider.
"Fool!" snapped the leader at the front, his voice sharp and impatient. "These are just scraps! This is an intermediate ruin for sure. If we go deeper, we'll find real treasure—stuff you can't even imagine. Don't waste time on this junk!"
Behind them, they could hear the other groups in the ruins, pulling glowing gems from the walls and ceilings, their greedy laughter echoing through the tunnel.
But this group was different. They weren't here for small rewards. They were after something bigger, hidden deeper inside.
"But won't it get dangerous if we go too far?" the young barbarian mumbled, glancing over his shoulder as if the tunnel itself might reach out and trap them.
The leader didn't bother answering, just kept moving forward, their footsteps bouncing off the stone walls.
Soon, they noticed a brighter light ahead, cutting through the gloom.
"Boss, look! There's something up there!" one of the barbarians shouted, pointing eagerly toward the glowing source.
Their excitement grew as they reached the tunnel's end and stepped into a massive chamber.
The room was alive with light, huge gemstones towering over them, pulsing with colors that bounced off the floor.
It looked like a forgotten treasure trove, untouched by anyone.
The barbarians wasted no time, quickly filling their storage bracelets with glowing stones, scrambling over each other to take as much as they could.
"Boss, come here! You need to see this!" suddenly, the young barbarian called, his voice trembling with both excitement and fear.
The leader strode over, his eyes narrowing as he saw what the young barbarian was pointing at—a giant gem at the far end of the chamber.
He leaned in close, peering into the gem's clear center.
With each stone he pulled, the tunnel grew darker, the light slowly fading as his hands worked quickly.
"Your friend is pretty greedy," remarked Amelia, her white hair softly glowing in the dim light. Her voice was playful, but there was a hint of curiosity there, as if she wasn't sure whether to be amused or concerned.
"Friend? I don't know that guy," Spark replied, waving his hand dismissively as if in denial.
The lizard-like man, Bronn, paused for a moment, his large fingers wrapped around another gem.
He had overheard Spark's words and let out a huff.
Then, with a quick and smooth movement, he leaped down from the wall and landed in front of them.
"Look, boss!" Bronn said, his voice brimming with excitement. He held out his collection of glowing stones, holding them in his rough hands.
The light from the gems shimmered on his skin. "I've got a ton of these. We're gonna be rich!"
Spark raised an eyebrow, turning his head slightly toward Bronn, a glint of amusement flashing in his sharp gaze. "Aren't you tired of this already? Look around. The whole tunnel's dimming because of you."
He wasn't wrong. The tunnel behind them, which had once been bright and alive with light, was now almost pitch black.
Only a few faint glows remained from the few stones still left untouched in the walls.
The path was a long stretch of darkness, all because Bronn had snatched nearly every glowing gem in sight. If Spark hadn't stopped him, the tunnel would have been completely swallowed by shadow.
Bronn laughed loudly, his voice bouncing off the tunnel walls. "Free treasure, boss! How can I be tired when I'm hauling in this much wealth? It's like this ruin is begging us to take it!"
Spark's eyes narrowed, though his voice remained calm.
"I shouldn't have come," he said, shaking his head. "You told me this was a greater ruin, but it's just an intermediate one."
Bronn scratched his head, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Well, boss, weren't you the one who was interested in tagging along inside?"
Spark shrugged, the faintest hint of a grin playing on his lips. "Well, I suppose I was. This is certainly an interesting catacomb."