After ascending for a considerable distance, the traveler emerged from a hatch within what appeared to be a palace. The grand hall before him exuded an imposing air, culminating in a throne at its far end. The traveler deduced that this must have been the palace of an ancient ruler, now abandoned and shrouded in dust and cobwebs. He opted to explore the premises in hopes of discovering something of significance but found nothing.
Yet, what truly astonished him was the view of the core area itself, which he managed to glimpse through a window. It appeared desolate and devoid of any signs of life.
The core city, once a source of inspiration for both children and adults, now stood desolate and abandoned. Yet, this revelation only gave rise to a plethora of new questions. Who truly governed the city, and what purpose did the sentinels serve? Were they simply guarding the secret of the core area’s abandonment?
As the traveler exited the palace and ventured toward the central plaza, an unsettling sensation crept over him. It felt as though he were being watched or trailed by an unseen presence. He cast glances in all directions, yet there was no one in sight. The lingering unease of being observed persisted, but he opted to dismiss it and press on.
Every building he passed appeared vacant, their once-imposing facades now on the brink of collapse. From a distance, they retained an air of grandeur, but up close, they seemed to teeter on the edge, ready to crumble at any moment. The lone exception to this desolation was a structure resembling a grand temple, reminiscent of the ones ancient humans used to erect in worship of their gods. At its entrance, flickering flames in bowls illuminated the path leading to the temple’s grand doorway.
This time, the massive doors, adorned with intricate carvings; stood unguarded. As he approached, a sense of unease and apprehension washed over him, uncertain of what might await him on the other side. However, he knew there was no turning back now; he had come this far and had to continue. Summoning his courage, he pushed the doors open.
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Inside the temple, the traveler was met with a sense of hushed reverence, the atmosphere heavy with the weight of history. The air was cool and still, carrying with it a faint, ancient scent, as if the very walls exhaled the stories of ages past. Illuminated only by the soft, filtered light streaming in from high windows, the temple’s interior held an aura of serene solemnity.
The traveler’s eyes were drawn to the central hallway that stretched before him. It was a majestic corridor, flanked on both sides by a meticulous row of statues. Each statue was a masterwork of artistry, crafted with lifelike precision. These stone figures stood in stoic silence, their expressions frozen in time.
There were five statues on each side of the hallway, standing as sentinels to the secrets and mysteries of the temple. Each depicted a person of great significance, their features etched in fine detail, from the graceful contours of their faces to the intricate folds of their garments. These statues exuded an air of authority and wisdom, and upon each one, a plaque bore a name followed by the title “Ruler of the Twilight.” These individuals were the rumored mighty rulers, yet it appeared more like a monument to their memory, as if they were long gone.
Further along the corridor, at the very heart of the temple, stood a statue even more imposing than the others. It towered above them, its grandeur undeniable. However, the head of this statue had been vandalized, the features rendered unrecognizable. The plaque beneath it held a faded name, but the only legible part was the title: “The First Pioneer”.
Before the traveler could delve deeper into examining the statues, the door through which he had entered began to creak and slowly swing open. Instinctively, he darted toward one of the statues, seeking cover behind the stone figure in an attempt to remain unseen.
As the door continued to swing open, a pair of sentinels entered, carrying a half-conscious individual who appeared to be under the influence of some drug. “We have to venture into this cursed place once more, delivering the afflicted for decades, and they still haven’t finished their preparations,” one of the sentinels lamented.
The second sentinel sternly silenced his companion’s complaints with a reminder, “You’d best keep your grievances to yourself. You’ve witnessed what they are capable of.”
In response, the disgruntled sentinel merely scoffed and proceeded along the hallway, beyond the imposing statues.
With the arrival of these sentinels and their drugged charge, the traveler found himself both surprised and perturbed. He decided to shadow them, blending into the darkness of the hallway, eager to uncover more about the mysterious ongoings within the temple.