Sandro's group had finally gathered at the entrance of the ancient ruins, their eyes wide with excitement and nerves. They had spent hours making preparations, checking their equipment, and mapping out potential routes. Now, with everything in order, it was time to dive into the mysteries hidden inside.
Voltra, grinning widely, suddenly shouted, "Let's find the hidden treasure and then celebrate with some tomato juice!" He seemed incredibly pleased with himself, as if this were the most inspiring suggestion he could make.
The rest of the group looked at him with a mix of amusement and confusion. Spinell, unable to resist, gave Voltra a light smack on the back of his head. "Would you quit it with the nonsense already? Let's just get on with it."
Voltra winced, rubbing his head and mumbling, "Could've just said that without the smack." His face, however, betrayed a hint of a smile as if he knew he deserved it.
The others chuckled, and Sandro, their wise and composed leader, stepped forward, motioning for silence. "Enough jokes, everyone. We're heading into these ruins for a reason. Let's stay sharp and move out."
With that, they began their descent into the darkness. Lawless took the lead, his sharp eyes scanning the ground for any sign of traps. Wearing special gloves that allowed him to feel even the faintest pressure changes, he meticulously searched for hidden switches and pressure plates as they moved deeper into the structure.
Eventually, Lawless halted, raising his hand. "Interesting," he murmured, casting his flashlight on the path ahead. "It looks like the road splits into three paths. After one hour we will reach cross. Each of three paths leads to a separate door."
He glanced back at Sandro, who took a moment to think. "We'll save the middle path for last," Sandro said finally, a glint of curiosity in his eyes. "I've got a strong feeling that's where the real find is hidden."
Solutus, the team's swordsman, raised an eyebrow. "If you think it's the most valuable, why not go there first?"
Sandro flashed him a grin. "Because leaving the best for last makes the journey all the more interesting. Isn't that right?"
With no further questions, they followed Sandro down the path. The deeper they ventured, the darker it became, until the only sounds were their footsteps echoing against the stone walls. Ancient symbols lined the walls, casting eerie shadows under the team's flashlights, and every so often, the faint sound of scurrying cockroaches reminded them they were far from alone in these halls.
Finally, the path opened into a vast, dimly lit hallway lined with suits of black armor, each one decorated in gold, standing eerily still. The armor pieces held swords, spears, and shields, and each one seemed to stare silently at the intruders.
"Unbelievable craftsmanship," Voltra whispered, eyes wide as he swung his flashlight over one of the suits. "Just look at these curves, the details in the metalwork. Whoever crafted these was truly a master."
Unable to resist his curiosity, Voltra reached out and placed his hand on one of the suits of armor. The instant he did, the armor sprang to life, letting out a deafening roar. Voltra froze, his eyes wide with fear, unable even to scream as the animated suit raised its sword, preparing to strike.
Just before the blade could descend, Solutus leapt forward, his light saber slicing cleanly through the armor. The ancient metal melted away, and a thick, dark liquid oozed from within, splattering all over Solutus's once-pristine white suit.
"Damn it!" Solutus cursed, staring down in dismay at his ruined outfit. "This suit was perfect! How am I supposed to be seen like this?"
Lawless smirked, clearly entertained by Solutus's frustration. "Welcome to the club. Now you look just as messy as the rest of us."
Glaring, Solutus shot back, "Oh, you think this is funny? I'll make you pay for that, Lawless!" He lunged at him, but before he could reach him, Spinell stepped in, delivering a powerful, well-aimed punch to Solutus's face, sending him stumbling back.
Spinell was, a one of the most powerful martial art master in the world, and Solutus doesn't had a chance against him.
"Cut it out!" Spinell's voice was firm as he looked down at Solutus. "We're all in this together, and we need to be focused if we're going to make it out of here."
Reluctantly, Solutus let out a huff, but he extended his hand to Lawless. Lawless accepted the handshake with a smirk, and they muttered quick apologies before rejoining the group.
"Alright, now that we're back on track," Sandro said, clapping his hands to gather their attention. "Let's keep moving."
The group continued forward, and each time Voltra's curiosity got the better of him, more suits of armor sprang to life. Solutus and Spinell had to team up to dispatch them, with Lawless keeping an eye out for traps along the way.
At one point, Sandro paused, examining the strange black liquid that poured from one of the defeated suits. "Whatever's animating these things," he muttered, "it's unlike anything I've seen. Even at my age, there are still things in this world that remain mysterious."
The group pressed on until they found themselves at the three-way fork. Sandro gestured to the left path, and they followed it without hesitation. After about half an hour of walking, they came to an enormous door adorned with intricate runes.
As the team's rune expert, Sandro stepped forward, carefully deciphering the symbols until he finally unlocked the door. It creaked open, revealing a room filled with gold coins, precious gems, and ornate jewelry piled high.
Spinell's eyes lit up as he immediately dove into the treasure. "We're rich!" he exclaimed, tossing gold coins into the air with gleeful abandon. As he had gold mania he was unable to control himself.
After a few minutes, the others managed to pull him out, and they moved on. Another hour later, they encountered an identical door, this one also covered in runes. Sandro repeated the process, and the door opened to reveal an armory packed with ancient weapons and armor.
Voltra was practically beside himself with excitement as he inspected each weapon and piece of armor in awe. The craftsmanship was astounding, even by his own blacksmithing standards, and he lost himself in admiration, examining each piece. The good thing was that, in this room was no animationed armor so it was safe for Voltra there.
Once they'd managed to pull him out of the room, they continued down the last path. They arrived at an imposing door nearly ten meters high, with intricate golden runes covering its surface. The runes were unlike anything Sandro had seen before, and even his experience failed him.
Realizing they needed backup, Sandro pulled out his radio. "Moros, we've found something. It's big, possibly ancient magic. Follow the middle path. And… don't touch the armor."
A garbled response came through, confirming that Moros was on his way. Sandro lowered the radio and looked at the others. "Get ready. I have a feeling that, they will get in trouble on there way, we should rush to help them."
The group nodded in silent agreement, their faces set with resolve. The ruins had already thrown more than enough surprises their way, but they knew that what lay beyond the final door could be the most significant discovery of their lives—or their greatest challenge yet.