Rahim, Karim, and Farid ran through the hidden passage as fast as they could.
Behind them, the underground lake shook violently.
Loud crashing sounds echoed through the cave.
Dust and small rocks kept falling from the ceiling.
Karim looked back nervously while running.
"I think the whole place is collapsing!"
Farid replied quickly,
"No… something far worse is waking up."
Rahim held both the crystal and the silver key tightly.
Both objects were glowing together.
Their light guided the way through the dark tunnel.
The passage was narrow and cold.
The air felt heavy.
Karim breathed heavily.
"How much farther?"
Farid answered,
"We just need to reach the upper chamber."
Suddenly—
A terrifying roar echoed behind them.
The sound shook the walls.
Karim froze for a second.
"That definitely does not sound like the lake guardian."
Farid's face became serious.
"It isn't."
Rahim looked at him while running.
"What do you mean?"
Farid answered quietly,
"The lake guardian protects the ruins."
Karim swallowed nervously.
"Then what is chasing us?"
Farid looked back into the darkness.
"The Shadow Beast."
Those words made the atmosphere even colder.
Rahim asked,
"What is the Shadow Beast?"
Farid replied,
"An ancient creature sealed deep below the ruins long ago."
Karim said,
"And now it's awake?"
Farid nodded slowly.
"Yes."
The tunnel suddenly shook again.
A powerful force moved through the ground beneath them.
Then—
A huge black claw smashed through the tunnel wall behind them.
BOOM!
Karim shouted in fear.
"What was that?!"
Rahim quickly pulled him forward.
"Run!"
The claw disappeared back into the darkness.
But deep growling sounds continued echoing behind them.
The creature was following them.
After several minutes of running, they finally reached a larger chamber.
This room was filled with broken pillars and ancient statues.
Karim bent down, trying to catch his breath.
"I seriously hate underground places now."
Even Rahim looked tired.
Farid quickly moved toward one of the walls.
"We need to seal the passage."
Rahim asked,
"How?"
Farid pointed toward several glowing symbols carved into the wall.
"These ruins still obey the ancient guardians."
Rahim walked closer with the crystal.
The symbols immediately started glowing brighter.
Karim looked surprised.
"The crystal activates them!"
Farid nodded.
"Yes. Place the crystal near the center symbol."
Rahim carefully raised the crystal.
The wall suddenly lit up with blue energy.
Ancient symbols spread across the chamber floor.
The tunnel behind them slowly began closing with massive stone walls.
For a moment, everything became quiet.
Karim sighed with relief.
"I think we're safe."
Then—
BOOOOM!
The entire chamber shook violently.
A loud roar echoed behind the sealed tunnel.
Cracks appeared on the stone wall.
Karim's face turned pale.
"That thing is still trying to get through!"
Farid looked worried.
"The seal will not hold forever."
Rahim asked,
"Then what do we do?"
Farid looked at the silver key.
"We must find the Final Gate before the beast escapes."
Karim looked confused.
"But we only have one key."
Rahim raised the crystal slightly.
"And the crystal."
Farid nodded.
"Yes. But according to the legend, there are three ancient keys."
Karim sighed.
"So we still need two more?"
Farid replied,
"Yes. And if the Shadow Beast escapes before we find them…"
He stopped speaking.
Rahim asked quietly,
"What happens then?"
Farid looked directly at him.
"The world outside these ruins will be in danger."
The room became silent.
Karim slowly said,
"That's… really bad."
Suddenly, the silver key in Rahim's hand started glowing strongly.
The light formed a strange symbol in the air.
Rahim looked surprised.
"A map?"
Farid stepped closer.
"It's showing another location."
Karim asked,
"Another hidden place?"
Farid nodded slowly.
"Yes."
The glowing symbol changed into the shape of a large tower.
Lightning flashed around it.
Rahim whispered,
"A tower…"
Farid's face became serious.
"The Storm Tower."
Karim asked,
"What is that?"
Farid replied,
"One of the oldest hidden guardian sites."
Rahim looked at the glowing image carefully.
"Then the second key must be there."
Farid nodded.
"Yes. But reaching it will not be easy."
Suddenly—
Another loud crash came from behind the sealed tunnel.
More cracks spread across the wall.
Dark smoke slowly leaked through the cracks.
Karim stepped back immediately.
"I think we're running out of time."
Rahim looked determined.
"Then we leave now."
Farid agreed.
"The desert exit is above us."
The crystal glowed again and revealed another hidden staircase leading upward.
Rahim looked toward the stairs.
"The tower is waiting for us."
Karim forced a small smile.
"And probably more danger too."
Rahim laughed softly.
"Definitely."
The three of them quickly started climbing the staircase.
Behind them, the sealed chamber continued shaking.
And deep inside the darkness—
Two giant glowing red eyes slowly opened again.