Chapter 1253: Altar and Hypnosis

As Arthur, Diana, and Rain ventured deeper into the ancient city of West Sourna, the air grew heavy with an unsettling stillness. The ruins, once grand and bustling with life, now lay eerily silent. Vegetation had overtaken the buildings, and the streets were empty. The only sound was the soft crunch of their footsteps on the gravel paths.

"This place feels abandoned," Rain remarked, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it's strange—these houses don't look like they were left willingly."

Arthur nodded, his heightened senses on high alert. "Something happened here, and we need to find out what." He paused, focusing his mana into a set of runes that shimmered faintly in the air. "I'll use my runes to trace any magical disturbances or residual energies. Let's start by examining the houses."