[System Notification]
[Warning: Unseen Danger Approaching. Tread carefully or face severe consequences!]
[Difficulty Level: SSS+ - Extreme Risk Detected]
[Path Choice Altered Difficulty. Unprecedented challenges ahead.]
Elowen, Balthazar, Kael and Eamon__all walked further into the chamber, trying to ignore the ominous feeling that slowly built inside them. They knew it would come eventually. Suddenly, they stepped on something hidden beneath the dust-covered floor. A sharp click echoed through the silence, followed by the creaking of ancient gears stirring to life. The stone beneath their feet shifted, and the air grew heavy with the hum of long-dormant magic, awakened at last by their touch.
A low rumble reverberated through the chamber, and the walls trembled as though the entire structure had come to life. Dark carvings on the walls glowed faintly, as if reacting to the disturbance, while a low mechanical whirring began to fill the room.
With wide eyes, they took a step back, but the mechanism had already been set into motion. Something—a door, a hidden passage, or perhaps a trap—opened in the distance, revealing more of the long-forgotten secrets that had been sealed away for centuries. As the mechanism groaned to life, Elowen's heart raced. The air seemed to pulse with an ancient, unseen force, and the room's dim lighting revealed a vast chamber stretching before them, lined with dark stone and unsettling shadows. The floor beneath their feet felt strangely uneven, like it had shifted over the centuries. They instinctively stepped back, their eyes scanning the room for any sign of danger.
Suddenly, the familiar voice of the system crackled to life in front of their eyes:
[System Notification]
[Warning: A wrong step could activate the ancient guardians... Proceed with caution!]
A chill ran down Elowen's spine. The "guardians" were the last thing they wanted to face in that cursed place. The ancient texts she had studied spoke of them—constructs of stone and magic, built to protect the treasures within those ruins. But how could they avoid them? Was the warning referring to the guardians themselves—or the traps? They glanced down at the floor. It was covered in a thin layer of dust, but even that thin covering couldn't disguise the subtle irregularities in the stone. Here and there, faint symbols were etched into the surface—slightly raised, ancient runes that were almost imperceptible unless they knew what to look for. They were pressure plates, designed to trigger deadly traps if disturbed.
[System Notification]
[Warning: Pressure plates detected]
Elowen took a cautious step forward, testing the ground beneath her. Her boots scraped softly against the uneven surface, and she froze when she heard a faint click-barely audible, but unmistakable. Her heart skipped a beat. The air seemed to grow heavier.
"So that's how it was," she whispered to herself. "One wrong step..."
She crouched low, scanning the ground more carefully. The cracks in the stone were barely visible, and the markings-if she hadn't known what they meant-would've seemed like random scratches, but now, they were a warning. She was surprised to read a language she had never learned before. She stopped there and started reading it carefully to avoid any mistakes or damage.
⩲⩤⩧⩵⩣⩥⩷⩤: ⩞⩡⩷⩡⩧⩩⩠⩞⩛ ⩷⩡⩘⩧!!
Vigilanti: Ingressoribus cave!! [Warning: Trespassers Beware!!]
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⩴⩲ ⩛⩧⩤, ⩩⩡ ⩞⩡⩜⩞⩜!
Per Deos, Noli turbari! [By the Gods, Do Not Disturb!]
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**⩷⩤ ⩣⩧⩘⩤ ⩤⩩⩠ ⩣⩤ ⩷⩡⩦ ⩡⩷⩙⩘⩠⩛⩷, ⩵⩤ ⩲⩤ ⩥⩣ ⩚⩡⩟ ⩩⩩⩥⩘⩤ ⩩⩢ ⩡⩧⩣⩧ ⩣⩧⩡⩷⩧⩤ ⩣⩨ ⩣⩧⩩⩩⩢. ⩱⩣⩷⩥⩡⩧⩡ ⩧⩡⩷⩡⩠⩤, ⩲⩧⩣ ⩷⩛ ⩠⩧⩷ ⩣⩠⩡⩷ ⩡⩩⩧⩣⩧⩠ ⩱⩣⩷⩡⩤⩣.
Via praevisa plena est machinis antiquorum, ad protegendum quidquid ultra latet. Si procedere eligeris, scito hoc: omnis passus iram virium oblitteratarum excitare potest. [The path ahead is fraught with ancient mechanisms, designed to protect that which lies beyond. Should you choose to proceed, know this: every step may trigger the wrath of forgotten forces.]
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⩺⩡⩷⩧⩥⩢⩡⩜⩠⩨:
Consectaria sunt gravia: [The consequences are dire]:
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⩸⩧⩠⩡⩷ ⩡⩨⩚⩨, ⩡⩩ ⩞⩡⩜⩞⩜: ⩷⩥⩡ ⩶⩯⩡⩩ ⩡⩧⩡ ⩤⩠⩡ ⩧⩡⩷⩡⩠⩤ ⩡⩠⩩ ⩷⩥⩢⩠⩨⩡⩷⩢⩡⩩⩞⩞⩧⩡ ⩤⩠⩡ ⩧⩡⩷⩡⩠⩤ ⩡⩠⩩⩧⩡ ⩤⩠⩡ ⩧⩡⩷⩡⩠⩤ ⩡⩠⩠⩡ ⩧⩡⩷⩡⩠⩤ ⩡⩠⩩.
Machinas excita, et patientiam feres: Muri ipsi armati sunt. Tabulae pressurae, laminae absconditae, et sagittae letales in insidiis latent pro viatoribus inexperti. [Engage the Traps, and You Shall Suffer: The very walls themselves are armed. Pressure plates, hidden blades, and deadly darts await the unwary.]
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⩷⩡⩘⩧⩤ ⩣⩥⩷⩤⩠⩛⩡⩯, ⩵⩤ ⩧⩡⩡⩧ ⩥⩡ ⩣⩧⩡⩯⩤⩜ ⩧⩡⩤ ⩡⩷⩢ ⩩⩡⩠: ⩦⩡⩧⩡⩷⩠⩤ ⩷⩡⩘⩧⩤ ⩡⩡⩷ ⩡⩧⩡ ⩦⩡⩧⩡⩣⩧⩡⩜⩧⩠: ⩦⩡⩧⩡⩷⩠⩤⩧ ⩥⩡ ⩣⩧⩡⩯⩤⩜ ⩧⩡⩠: ⩦⩡⩧⩡⩷⩠.
Sacras Reliquias perturbare, et iudicaberis: Reliquiae quas audes tangere per millennia inviolatae quieverunt. Eorum contemptus, et iudicium divinum provocabis. [Disturb the Sacred Relics, and You Will Be Judged: The relics you dare to touch have lain undisturbed for millennia. Disrespect them, and you invite divine retribution.]
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⩩⩤⩧, ⩡⩬ ⩧⩡⩣ ⩣⩧⩡⩷ ⩥⩣⩡⩠⩧⩡ ⩵⩤⩡⩧⩡⩷ ⩷⩡⩘⩧⩤: ⩷⩧⩡⩣⩠ ⩧⩡⩷⩥⩠⩤⩡ ⩡⩡⩧⩡⩧⩢ ⩴⩡⩤⩧⩡⩛⩡⩧⩡⩢ ⩴⩡⩤⩧⩡⩛⩡⩢.
Fuge, et non effugies: Machinae antiquae celeres sunt et implacabiles. Ubi in motum sunt positae, nulla regressus est. [Flee, and You Will Not Escape: The mechanisms of old are swift and merciless. Once set into motion, there is no turning back.]
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⩷⩛⩞⩛ ⩧⩡⩟⩤⩛ ⩧⩡⩙⩛⩟⩧⩡⩙⩛...
Maledictio iam coepit... [The curse has already begun...]
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⩷⩡⩧ ⩵⩡⩣ ⩧⩡⩙⩛, ⩤⩛ ⩧⩡⩜⩠ ⩟⩤⩡⩷ ⩷⩡⩛⩤⩛⩞ ⩡⩣ ⩧⩡⩩⩡⩧⩡⩞ ⩧⩡⩧ ⩟⩛⩷⩧⩡⩛⩡⩯!
Stolen story; please report.
Revertere nunc, aut aeternam iram eorum qui olim hanc locum tutati sunt obicere! [Turn back now, or you shall face the eternal wrath of those who once protected this place!]
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⩷⩛⩞⩡⩥ ⩷⩡ ⩙⩡⩣ ⩞⩡⩧⩡...
Procede tuo periculo... [Proceed at your own peril...]
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Suddenly, a shift in the air caught their attention. A faint hum came from the walls. There were mechanisms at work there, ancient ones, set to trigger the moment they disturbed the wrong pressure plate. Elowen's eyes narrowed. They couldn't risk stepping any further without testing the ground first. They reached into their satchel, pulled out a long stick they had found earlier, and carefully lowered it to the floor, nudging it toward one of the marked sections. The moment the stick touched the plate, there was a sudden whoosh—and the unmistakable sound of a trap being set in motion.
[System Notification]
[Warning: Pressure plate activated. Spike trap triggered]
From the ceiling, sharp metal spikes shot down like a rain of death. They pierced Elowen's arm as if they were made of pure glass. A thin stream of blood ran down her side as another spike struck again, sending waves of agonizing agony throughout her body. She gasped and yanked the stick away just in time, the spikes missing her neck by inches. The mechanism above groaned and retreated, its deadly threat temporarily disabled. Her breath was shallow, and her pulse raced. She quickly scanned the surrounding area for another potential hazard, but there was no time to waste. There were other plates, and they were hidden well. She needed to be careful.
"One wrong move," she muttered under her breath.
But then, another sound filled the air—a low, muffled hiss. Elowen's eyes widened. There was something else, something far more insidious. She followed the sound to a nearby corner of the room, where the walls seemed darker, the shadows more oppressive. A fine mist began to rise from the cracks in the floor—thick, greenish, and faintly shimmering in the dim light. The smell was strong as well, thick, acidic, and choking. It reminded her of the stench of rotting meat. She quickly covered her nose with her hand and turned her attention upward. The ceiling itself seemed to be slowly collapsing, revealing dozens upon dozens of dark, gaping maws underneath. Her breath hitched. They appeared perfectly symmetrical—one at each end around the chamber. She knew what that meant—there were traps beneath the surface. And they were set to go off at any given moment. Elowen cursed under her breath. This wasn't how she had imagined spending her first days on Earth.
"Elowen!" Balthazar's voice rang out, panic and urgency lacing his words. "Get away from the walls! There's something wrong with the air!" His eyes darted nervously toward the mist creeping along the floor, his grip tightening on his weapon. "If that mist touches you—!"
"Elowen, move!" Kael shouted, his eyes wild with fear as he sprinted toward her. His boots slammed against the stone as he shoved aside a loose piece of debris, eyes never leaving the ceiling. "Don’t wait for the rest of it! The ceiling—it's going to drop again!"
"Gods," Eamon’s voice broke through next, his usual calm shattered by the gravity of the situation. His hand reached for his dagger, and his heart raced in his chest. "We have to get you out of here, now, before whatever else is waiting activates!"
Elowen turned toward them, her body trembling, blood still dripping from the deep punctures in her arm. The mist thickened. The ominous sound of something shifting in the ceiling made her stomach twist. She was running out of time.
"I’m trying," she gasped, her voice hoarse. "I just— I need to—"
"No!" Balthazar’s voice cracked, a mix of fury and helplessness as he reached the edge of the chamber. He swung his dagger to clear a path toward her, but the floor was already beginning to tremble beneath them. "You don’t have time! Get to the center of the room, quickly!"
The moment he said it, the mist began to swirl faster, and Elowen felt the air grow thicker and harder to breathe. Panic surged through her, but her focus remained sharp. She took one last glance toward the ceiling, eyes scanning the dangerous maze of traps. Then, with a burst of effort, she dashed toward the center of the room, the others close behind.
"Get down!" Kael cried as something clicked, a series of grinding metal sounds shaking the room. Another spike mechanism, activated by her movement. She dived, narrowly missing the deadly rain.
"Hold on Elowen I'm coming!" Eamon called out, his voice strained as he darted forward to shield her, but the chamber was shrinking, the walls closing in. The air was thick, and every breath felt as if it might be her last.
[System Notification]
[Warning: Poisonous gas detected. Immediate evacuation advised]
Her instincts screamed at her to move, but there was no clear way to retreat. The room was filled with traps and dangers she couldn't see, each one more deadly than the last. If she attempted to leave the chamber right then, they would most likely die on the spot-poisoned, crushed, or worse. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a brief moment, trying to think clearly. A surge of adrenaline pushed her into motion.
"Focus, Elowen, just focus" she whispered to herself, stepping carefully around the plates. She looked up at the ceiling. Large, jagged rocks hung precariously, seemingly suspended by magic or some ancient mechanism.
[System Notification]
[Warning: Falling rocks!! Hazardous area.]
Her mind raced as she plotted her next move. Every inch of the floor could be a potential death trap. But she had no choice. She needed to cross this chamber to reach the heart of the ruins. The treasure was close. Her eyes settled on a nearby wall, where the ancient symbols seemed to form a pattern. There! A faint, hidden switch was embedded in the stone near the base of the wall. If she could just reach it...
She leapt forward, landing lightly against the wall, and began moving toward the spot. As she crept closer, the pattern on the stone began to blur and twist before her eyes, like water-color splashes in a pool. In her haste to find the lever, she missed an important detail. Another trap.
[System Alert]
[Warning: Attempting to disable traps via switches... Press carefully]
Elowen moved toward the switch, being as light-footed as possible. Each step felt like a gamble, each breath a prayer. The faint symbols on the ground glimmered under her feet as she moved, and she held her breath as the floor groaned softly beneath her weight. One false step, and all hell would break loose-she might as well have stepped directly onto acid.
At last, she reached the wall, where she pressed her ear against the stone near the switch, listening intently for any sounds coming from behind. A moment passed, and the symbol on the floor continued to shimmer.
Her fingers brushed the switch, and-
The ground trembled....
Then... the noise started....
An ominous creaking echoed around the chamber. The stone shuddered and gave way, crumbling inward until only dust remained. There was no turning back. They jumped through the gap, their hands gripping tightly around the edge of the hole in the ceiling, barely holding themselves steady as they fell into the void below. Their entire world disappeared into darkness.
Below the broken rock ceiling, they felt their descent slowing; the tunnel was growing steadily narrower, becoming more and more claustrophobic as they plummeted downward. After a few moments, the tunnel abruptly opened up into an endless abyss. It stretched out before them, empty and cold. An endless expanse of darkness. No light shone anywhere; every direction seemed identical. Only the occasional faint outline of a distant peak broke the monotony. There was no sign of life anywhere.
A chill went down their spine. What should they do? They weren't equipped with any sort of light, except the faint glow of Moonveil butterfly. They would never make it far enough in this condition. And even if they managed to reach a safe distance away from here, they still didn't know how long the traps would last. Perhaps they would be waiting for them when they returned...
[System Notification]
[Congratulations! Traps deactivated. Proceed with caution]
Elowen exhaled slowly, wiping the sweat from her brow. She had survived. For now.
But she knew better than to let her guard down. There was more ahead-and more traps yet to face.