Ancient Dragon?

"Come on, Silver, let's dive in together and explore the mysteries this cave holds."

Ryan gently patted the sleek, metallic fin of the silverback shark and offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, if you get hurt, I'll make sure you're taken care of," he promised.

The shadowy entrance beneath the cliff sparked a flash of recognition in Ryan's mind, 'hidden map.' In the world of gaming, such a term hinted at secret place harboring treasures of unimaginable value, though not without considerable risks.

Understanding Ryan's intent, the silverback shark spun around with a burst of excitement and led the way into the cave.

As they ventured deeper, Ryan was taken aback by the illuminated pathway. The walls, coated with a luminescent algae, bathed the cave in a soft, ethereal glow that transformed their surroundings into something out of a dream.

After navigating about fifty meters through the underwater passage, the shark hesitated. Ahead, flanking the path, stood two imposing statues about three meters tall. They bore the heads of eagles and clutched large halberds. Their eyes, embedded with crimson gemstones, glimmered ominously in the muted light, casting an air of vigilant guardianship over the cavern.

Ryan's gaze sharpened as he studied these brass-colored sentinels. The fierce aura emanating from them was palpable, a clear warning to all who dared to trespass.

He recalled the mysterious injuries that had previously afflicted the silverback shark, and his eyes narrowed at the statues' gemstone eyes. An uneasy feeling settled over him.

Carefully, Ryan dismounted from shark's back and stepped onto the rocky path beside them. He turned back, waving the silverback forward. "It's alright, follow me," he called out confidently, yet with a note of caution, "and remember, I've got you covered if anything goes wrong!"

The silverback shark gazed back at Ryan, its eyes conveying a mixture of trust and apprehension. It wasn't the straightforward connection one might find with a person, but rather the tentative trust often seen in the eyes of a devoted dog.

For a brief moment, there was silence, a heavy stillness as if the ocean itself held its breath. Then, with a resolve hardening in its gaze, the silverback shark dashed forward, its powerful tail propelling it into the dark depths at breakneck speed.

Ryan watched anxiously, his heart pounding in his chest. He had theories about how the guardian statues might attack, but they were mere speculations until witnessed firsthand. And yet, he was not willing to blindly gamble on untested hypotheses.

It made sense, in a way, to let the silverback shark act as the 'pathfinder.' After all, Ryan was prepared with treatments to swiftly heal any injuries it might sustain, without such assurances, he would never have considered this perilous approach.

Under Ryan's watchful eye, the shark swiftly closed the distance to just twenty meters from the statues. That was when the statues' eyes blazed with a fierce, crimson light, and without warning, they unleashed four searing beams of red energy towards the unsuspecting shark.

A sharp, sizzling noise filled the water as the beams struck, and the silverback shark, wracked by pain, made a frantic dash back to Ryan, its eyes wide with terror.

Despite the shark's quick reflexes, its fins bore the marks of the encounter, sizzled by the statues' beams. It whimpered softly, clearly distressed.

Without a moment's hesitation, Ryan reached out to soothe the wounded creature, his hands steady as he applied a generous coating of "Rich Pearl Powder" to the singed fins. Activated by the magic of the "Necklace of Fertility," the powder worked its wonders, healing the shark's injuries rapidly.

As he stowed the remaining powder, Ryan's attention returned to the statues. He noted with interest that the red light within their gemstone eyes had significantly faded after their assault.

"Could it be a limitation in their energy? Or perhaps they have a finite number of attacks before needing time to recharge?" Ryan mused aloud, his mind racing to untangle the mystery of these guardian statues and their eerie powers.

Ryan pondered his next move carefully. The method to test his theory was straightforward yet fraught with risk.

"Silver, let's try once more," he suggested, a hint of determination in his voice. "I believe their energy reserves are nearly depleted."

The silverback shark cast a look of disbelief toward Ryan. After a tense few seconds, the creature seemed to make up its mind and charged forward again.

Ryan watched closely, his eyes sharp.

This time, when the eagle-headed statues unleashed their attack, the red beams were visibly weaker, duller and slower than before. As a result, the beams only managed to graze the shark's skin.

There was no need for the "Plenty Pearl Powder" this time; a brief application of the " Necklace of Fertility" sufficed, and soon enough, scabs formed over the minor wounds.

Observing the statues, now with their gemstone eyes completely dimmed, Ryan allowed himself a small, triumphant smile. They had attacked three times in total, with the intensity of their assault waning each time. It seemed they had reached their operational limit.

"Let's go together this time, silver. It should be safe now," Ryan encouraged, climbing back onto the shark.

Despite the ordeal, the silverback's expression carried a hint of sullenness, which Ryan chose to ignore. Complain as it might internally, the loyal shark resumed its path forward without further ado.

Ryan maintained a grave expression. Although his hypothesis about the statues' limitations appeared correct, he remained cautious, ready to activate the defensive charm [Asylum] at a moment's notice.

As they approached the statues once more, within what would have been the strike range, the statues' eyes merely flickered with a weak red glow but launched no further attacks.

Relieved, Ryan exhaled deeply, his tension easing. Underneath him, the silverback shark seemed to share in the relief, its movements growing more relaxed and joyful as they moved past the now inert guardians into the unexplored depths beyond.

After navigating the waterway for several meters, the silverback shark halted its advance. The depth of the channel had become perilously shallow, threatening to strand it if it proceeded any further.

Ryan peered ahead, his eyes settling on the terrain that rose gradually before him. "Leave it to me from here," he said confidently. "If I find something that might interest you, I'll make sure to bring it back."

With a reassuring pat on the silverback shark's fin, Ryan dismounted and ventured on foot into the increasingly narrow passage.

The shark watched with a touch of reluctance, its gaze lingering on Ryan's retreating figure.

Armed with a long sword, Ryan pressed forward with caution. The dim light from the bioluminescent algae along the stone walls provided just enough illumination for him to see clearly, yet he encountered no further threats along his path.

Eventually, Ryan arrived at the entrance of a grotto. As he stepped inside, his eyes widened in sheer astonishment. The interior was furnished with stone artifacts, tables, chairs, shelves, beds, and even a stone pot positioned centrally as if left mid-use.

"Could someone have actually lived here?" Ryan wondered aloud, the discovery sending a thrill of excitement through him.

Drawn to a stone table, his attention focused on a single item: a thick, sheepskin-covered notebook. It was the only thing on the table, placed with such precision that it was clear the owner intended to return for it.

Filled with curiosity, Ryan opened the notebook. The text within was unrecognizable to him, much of it obscured with deliberate black markings. However, just then, the text seemed to shimmer and change before his eyes, becoming legible.

[June 9th: ...After enduring unimaginable hardships and sacrificing greatly, we finally reached this mysterious island, the last known refuge of the legendary "ancient dragon species"...]

Ryan traced the lines with his fingers, feeling a connection to the past and a deepening mystery unfolding with each word he read.