The surroundings were still shrouded in darkness; the white lights that once illuminated the area had all gone out when the thudding sounds emerged. Only the faint purple moonlight filtered through the thin cloud layer, casting a thin veil of purple over the hilltop.
The thudding sounds continued, yet they did not increase in frequency. Mr. Rui and the others stood motionless, as if frozen by an Immobilization Spell, their gaze fixed on the key lying on the ground before the stone sculpture. The patterns atop the sculpture were completely soaked with Mr. Rui's blood, turning an intense shade of red. Curiously, in the darkness, the vivid red patterns stood out starkly. As each thud resonated, the red patterns pulsated as if they were veins.
