The Peak of Dawn

As night fell, the continent of Avalon was enveloped in tranquility. Renault's family estate was silent, with only the occasional sound of insects breaking the silence. However, beneath this tranquil surface, an unknown undercurrent is quietly surging.

Renault sat alone in front of the window of his study, playing with an ancient badge in his hand. It was a token left to him by his great-grandfather Victor, and whenever he touched it, Renault could feel a warm power flowing through his heart. There was a hint of solemnity in his eyes, as if he was thinking about something important.

"Renault, have you really decided?" A deep voice rang out behind him. Renault was slightly stunned, then turned around and saw Alex standing in the doorway with a hint of worry on his face.

"I have to." Renault replied in a low voice, in a firm tone. He raised his head and looked out the window at the night sky, "The dark forces are rising, and we don't have time. "

Alex was silent for a moment, then finally nodded, "Okay, I'll go with you." "

Renaud smiled slightly, his heart full of gratitude. He knew that Alex was not an easy person to give up, and once his decision was made, it would never be easily changed.

"When are we leaving?" Alex asked.

"Tonight." Renault replied, a flash of determination in his eyes, "There is an unusual dark aura at the edge of the Dark Forest, and we must find out the truth as soon as possible." "

As the night darkened, Renault and Alex quietly left the family estate. They made their way through patches of wood, in the direction of the dark forest. The night wind howled, as if adding a bit of mystery to their actions.

"Do you know where we're going?" Alex asked in a low voice.

Renaud nodded: "Great-grandfather told me that there is an ancient ruin at the edge of the Dark Forest. It could be the source of the dark Ones. "

"Ruins?" Alex frowned slightly, "That place sounds dangerous. "

"It's dangerous." Renault replied in a low voice, "But there may also be the key to awakening the 'Power of Dawn' there." "

Alex was silent for a moment, and finally nodded: "Okay, let's go together." "

After a night of running, the sky has been slightly white. Renault and Alex finally make it to the edge of the Dark Forest. A thick fog enveloped the forest, making it impossible to see inside.

"This is the entrance to the ruins?" Alex asked in a low voice, a hint of wariness in his eyes.

Renault nodded, pulling an ancient badge from his bosom. The badge is engraved with intricate runes that emit a faint glow. He placed the badge on a seemingly ordinary stone slab that slowly moved away, revealing a passage down the stone steps.

"This is the entrance." Renault whispered, with a hint of solemnity in his eyes.

Alex nodded, pulled out the long sword at his waist, and looked around warily, "Let's go in." "

At the end of the passage is a dimly lit hall surrounded by ancient stone pillars carved with mysterious runes. Renault and Alex cautiously walked into the hall, warily observing their surroundings.

"There doesn't seem to be anyone here." Alex whispered, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"Don't be careless." Renault reminded in a low voice, "There may be danger here." "

Just then, a slight sound of footsteps came from the other end of the hall. Renault and Alex immediately became alert, drew their swords in their hands, and watched vigilantly in the direction from which the voice came.

"Who's there?" Renault asked aloud, his voice echoing through the hall.

The footsteps stopped, and a figure slowly walked out of the darkness. His face was obscured by a cloak, revealing only a pair of deep eyes that shimmered with a mysterious light.

"Who are you?" Renault asked vigilantly, his palm gripping the hilt of his sword tightly.

"Don't be nervous, I'm not an enemy." The man slowly took off his cloak, revealing an old but wise face. There was a hint of gentleness in his eyes, "I'm here to help you." "

"Help?" Renault was slightly stunned, then frowned, "How did you know we were here?" "

"I'm Victor Aven." The man smiled slightly, with a hint of relief in his eyes, "Renault's great-grandfather." "

"Great-grandfather?" Alex was slightly stunned, then looked at Renault, "Isn't he already ..."

"I didn't really leave." Victor smiled and interrupted him, "I'm just hiding in the shadows, guarding the family's secrets. "

Renault was shocked, he never thought his great-grandfather would be here. He asked in a low voice, "Why are you here?" "

Victor smiled and pointed to a stone tablet in the center of the hall: "This stone tablet is the key to the depths of the ruins. Only those who have an ancient coat of arms can open it. "

Renaud nodded, his heart full of doubts: "What is in the depths of the ruins?" "

"There is the key to awakening the 'power of dawn'." Victor whispered, with a hint of solemnity in his eyes, "The source of the dark forces is also there. "

"Dark Forces?" Renault frowned slightly, "What the hell are they?" "

Victor was silent for a moment, and finally sighed: "They are a forgotten evil force, derived from ancient legends. They are trying to break the seal and return to this world. "

Renault was shocked, and he realized that things were far more complicated than he had imagined. He asked in a low voice, "What are we going to do?" "

Victor smiled slightly and pointed to the stele: "Only by going into the depths of the ruins can you find the answer." "

Renault took a deep breath and nodded, "Okay, let's go in." "

Alex also nodded, drawing his sword in his hand: "I will protect you." "

Victor smiled and nodded, "Go ahead, kid." Remember, no matter what the odds are, don't give up. "

Renaud nodded and placed the badge on the stele. The stele glowed brightly and slowly moved away, revealing a downward passage.

"Let's go." Renault whispered, stepping into the passage first.

Alex followed, looking around warily. The passage was dark, broken only by the occasional sound of dripping water.

"Is it really safe here?" Alex asked in a low voice, with a hint of concern in his eyes.

"I don't know." Renault replied in a low voice, "But we don't have a choice." "

At the end of the passage is an even darker hall, surrounded by ancient sarcophagi filled with mysterious runes. Renault and Alex walked into the hall warily and looked around.

"There doesn't seem to be anyone here." Alex whispered, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"Don't be careless." Renault reminded in a low voice, "There may be danger here." "

Just then, a slight sound of footsteps came from the other end of the hall. Renault and Alex immediately became alert, drew their swords in their hands, and watched vigilantly in the direction from which the voice came.

"Who's there?" Renault asked aloud, his voice echoing through the hall.

The footsteps stopped, and a figure slowly walked out of the darkness. His face was obscured by a cloak, revealing only a pair of deep eyes that shimmered with a mysterious light.

"Who are you?" Renault asked vigilantly, his palm gripping the hilt of his sword tightly.

"Don't be nervous, I'm not an enemy." The man slowly took off his cloak, revealing an old but wise face. There was a hint of gentleness in his eyes, "I'm here to help you." "

"Help?" Renault was slightly stunned, then frowned, "How did you know we were here?" "

"I'm Victor Aven." The man smiled slightly, with a hint of relief in his eyes, "Renault's great-grandfather." "

"Great-grandfather?" Alex was slightly stunned, then looked at Renault, "Isn't he already ..."

"I didn't really leave." Victor smiled and interrupted him, "I'm just hiding in the shadows, guarding the family's secrets. "

Renault was shocked, he never thought his great-grandfather would be here. He asked in a low voice, "Why are you here?" "

Victor smiled and pointed to a stone tablet in the center of the hall: "This stone tablet is the key to the depths of the ruins. Only those who have an ancient coat of arms can open it. "

Renaud nodded, his heart full of doubts: "What is in the depths of the ruins?" "

"There is the key to awakening the 'power of dawn'." Victor whispered, with a hint of solemnity in his eyes, "The source of the dark forces is also there. "

"Dark Forces?" Renault frowned slightly, "What the hell are they?" "

Victor was silent for a moment, and finally sighed: "They are a forgotten evil force, derived from ancient legends. They are trying to break the seal and return to this world. "

Renault was shocked, and he realized that things were far more complicated than he had imagined. He asked in a low voice, "What are we going to do?" "

Victor smiled slightly and pointed to the stele: "Only by going into the depths of the ruins can you find the answer." "

Renault took a deep breath and nodded, "Okay, let's go in." "

Alex also nodded, drawing his sword in his hand: "I will protect you." "

Victor smiled and nodded, "Go ahead, kid." Remember, no matter what the odds are, don't give up. "

Renaud nodded and placed the badge on the stele. The stele glowed brightly and slowly moved away, revealing a downward passage.

"Let's go." Renault whispered, stepping into the passage first.

Alex followed, looking around warily. The passage was dark, broken only by the occasional sound of dripping water.

"Is it really safe here?" Alex asked in a low voice, with a hint of concern in his eyes.

"I don't know." Renault replied in a low voice, "But we don't have a choice." "

At the end of the passage is an even darker hall, surrounded by ancient sarcophagi filled with mysterious runes. Renault and Alex walked into the hall warily and looked around.

"There doesn't seem to be anyone here." Alex whispered, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"Don't be careless." Renault reminded in a low voice, "There may be danger here." "

Just then, a slight sound of footsteps came from the other end of the hall.

There is an air of antiquity and mystery in the hall, as if each stone brick carries the secrets of countless years. Renault and Alex looked around vigilantly, weapons clenched in their hands, ready to respond to possible dangers.

"There doesn't seem to be anyone here." Alex whispered, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"Don't be careless." Renault reminded in a low voice, "There may be danger here." "

Just then, a slight sound of footsteps came from the other end of the hall. Renault and Alex immediately became alert, drew their swords in their hands, and watched vigilantly in the direction from which the voice came.

"Who's there?" Renault asked aloud, his voice echoing through the hall.

The footsteps stopped, and a figure slowly walked out of the darkness. His face was obscured by a cloak, revealing only a pair of deep eyes that shimmered with a mysterious light.

"Don't be nervous, I'm not an enemy." The man slowly took off his cloak, revealing an old but wise face. There was a hint of gentleness in his eyes, "I'm here to help you." "

"Help?" Renault was slightly stunned, then frowned, "How did you know we were here?" "

"I'm Victor Aven." The man smiled slightly, with a hint of relief in his eyes, "Renault's great-grandfather." "

"Great-grandfather?" Alex was slightly stunned, then looked at Renault, "Isn't he already ..."

"I didn't really leave." Victor smiled and interrupted him, "I'm just hiding in the shadows, guarding the family's secrets. "

Renault was shocked, he never thought his great-grandfather would be here. He asked in a low voice, "Why are you here?" "

Victor smiled and pointed to a stone tablet in the center of the hall: "This stone tablet is the key to the depths of the ruins. Only those who have an ancient coat of arms can open it. "

Renaud nodded, his heart full of doubts: "What is in the depths of the ruins?" "

"There is the key to awakening the 'power of dawn'." Victor whispered, with a hint of solemnity in his eyes, "The source of the dark forces is also there. "

"Dark Forces?" Renault frowned slightly, "What the hell are they?" "

Victor was silent for a moment, and finally sighed: "They are a forgotten evil force, derived from ancient legends. They are trying to break the seal and return to this world. "

Renault was shocked, and he realized that things were far more complicated than he had imagined. He asked in a low voice, "What are we going to do?" "

Victor smiled slightly and pointed to the stele: "Only by going into the depths of the ruins can you find the answer." "

Renault took a deep breath and nodded, "Okay, let's go in." "

Alex also nodded, drawing his sword in his hand: "I will protect you." "

Victor smiled and nodded, "Go ahead, kid." Remember, no matter what the odds are, don't give up. "

Renaud nodded and placed the badge on the stele. The stele glowed brightly and slowly moved away, revealing a downward passage.

"Let's go." Renault whispered, stepping into the passage first.

Alex followed, looking around warily. The passage was dark, broken only by the occasional sound of dripping water.

"Is it really safe here?" Alex asked in a low voice, with a hint of concern in his eyes.

"I don't know." Renault replied in a low voice, "But we don't have a choice." "

At the end of the passage is an even darker hall, surrounded by ancient sarcophagi filled with mysterious runes. Renault and Alex walked into the hall warily and looked around.

"There doesn't seem to be anyone here." Alex whispered, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"Don't be careless." Renault reminded in a low voice, "There may be danger here." "

Just then, a slight sound of footsteps came from the other end of the hall. Renault and Alex immediately became alert, drew their swords in their hands, and watched vigilantly in the direction from which the voice came.

"Who's there?" Renault asked aloud, his voice echoing through the hall.

The footsteps were getting closer, and a figure slowly walked out of the darkness. His figure was tall and burly, clad in heavy armor, holding a huge battle axe, and his eyes showed a hint of majesty.

"Who are you? Why break into here? His voice was low and powerful, as if with an unmistakable majesty.

Renaud clenched the sword in his hand and said in a deep voice, "We are Reynolds Evan and Alex Hawke, from the Evan family. We are here to find the key to awakening the Power of Dawn. "

The guardian was slightly stunned, and then his eyes fell on the badge in Renault's hand: "The badge of the Evan family... You were sent by Lord Victor? "

Renaud nodded: "Yes, my great-grandfather asked us to come here to find answers." "

The Guardian was silent for a moment, and finally nodded slowly: "Lord Victor is the wise man of my race, and I can trust his words. Come with me, and I'll take you to meet someone. "

"See whom?" Alex frowned slightly, looking at the Guardian warily.

"Someone who can help you." The Guardian turned and walked towards the other end of the hall, where there was a half-hidden stone door.

Renault and Alex looked at each other, nodded, and followed the Guardian. Behind the stone door is a narrow passageway, and at the end of the passage is a small secret room. In the chamber is a stone table with an ancient book on it.

"What is this?" Renault stepped forward and picked up the book.

"This is the Book of Shadows." The Guardian whispered, "This book chronicles the origins and weaknesses of the dark Ones. "

"The weakness of the dark Ones?" A twinkle flashed in Renault's eyes, "Can you tell me more?" "

The Guardian nodded, "The dark forces originate from an ancient seal. Thousands of years ago, the god of light fought with the god of darkness, and the god of darkness was sealed in the deepest part of this ruin. However, now there are attempts to break the seal and unleash the power of the dark gods. "

"Anyone?" Renault frowned slightly, "Who is it?" "

The Guardian shook his head, "I don't know. But I could feel that the aura of darkness was getting stronger. If the seal is broken, the entire continent of Avalon will be plunged into darkness. "

Renault was shocked, and he realized the seriousness of the matter. He looked up and looked at the Guardian with a determined gaze, "How do we stop them?" "

The Guardian smiled and pointed to the Shadow Tome, "There's the answer in this book. Only by finding the core of the seal can the rise of the dark forces be completely stopped. "

Renault nodded, carefully putting away the Shadow Book, "Thank you for your help." "

The Guardian smiled, "No thanks. I am the guardian, and it is my duty to protect this ruin. As long as you can stop the dark Ones, I am willing to do anything to help. "

Alex stepped forward and patted the Guardian on the shoulder, "We won't let you down. "

The Guardian nodded, turned and walked towards the passageway, "I'll be waiting for you at the entrance." If you need help, feel free to call me. "

Renault and Alex watched the Guardian leave, then turned back to the center of the chamber. Renault opened the Book of Shadows and flipped through it. The words are ancient and obscure, but Renault can feel the power in them.

"There's the core of the seal." Renault whispered, with a hint of excitement in his eyes, "We've finally found a clue." "

Alex nodded, "Next, what are we going to do?" "

Renault raised his head and looked at him with a determined gaze, "We have to go to the core of the seal and stop the rise of the dark forces." For the sake of Avalon, we can't back down. "

Alex smiled and nodded, "Let's go, brother." Whatever lies ahead, we have to face it together. "

Renault nodded, carefully put away the Shadow Codex, and then turned and walked towards the passage. Alex followed, and the two of them walked into the dark depths of the unknown, their hearts full of determination and hope.