The ground trembled beneath Kaiza's feet as a low rumble echoed around him. He stumbled slightly, his hand instinctively clutching the briefcase tighter. The earth seemed to split open before him, revealing a hidden passage that descended into darkness. At the entrance, a heavy door creaked open, revealing a narrow staircase carved from ancient stone, leading deep into an underground cave.
Driven by curiosity and desperation to escape M. Boss, Kaiza didn't hesitate. He limped toward the stairs, his body protesting with every step, and began his descent.
As he ventured down, the air grew cooler, and an eerie silence enveloped him. Suddenly, torches lining the walls flared to life one by one, their flames illuminating the jagged stone walls of the cave. The flickering light cast long, dancing shadows, and Kaiza froze, his heart racing. He turned toward the nearest torch, his mind reeling with questions.
"Where did this come from?" he whispered, his voice trembling.
The cave smelled of damp earth and something ancient, a scent that carried the weight of forgotten history. The setting reminded him of the caves he had seen in movies and documentaries—places steeped in mystery, holding secrets lost to time.
Despite his fear, Kaiza pushed forward. He had no choice. The thought of M. Boss pursuing him fueled his decision, even though he was unaware that his enemy had been incapacitated by the powerful, unseen barrier that had shielded him moments before.
The torches continued to light the way as Kaiza moved deeper into the cave. He quickened his pace, his footsteps echoing faintly against the stone walls. The further he went, the more he noticed the cave's peculiar details—the markings on the walls, the intricate carvings of symbols he couldn't understand, and the faint hum that seemed to resonate through the air.
The cave's atmosphere grew heavier, almost suffocating, as he reached its darker depths. Kaiza felt a strange mix of fear and intrigue as if the cave itself was alive, watching him, waiting for him to uncover its secrets.
Kaiza froze as he reached the end of the cave. The air felt colder here, heavier. In front of him stood a wall, but it was unlike the rough stone that surrounded the rest of the cave. This wall was smooth and polished, glowing faintly in the dim light of the remaining torches.
He stepped closer, squinting to make out the faint, almost invisible writing etched into the wall. The inscription read:
[To open the door, solve the puzzle.]
Kaiza's heart sank. His entire body ached, his mind was foggy from exhaustion, and now he had to solve a puzzle? His instincts screamed at him to keep moving, but this wall was the only way forward.
He looked around nervously, half-expecting M. Boss to appear from the shadows. The torches behind him extinguished as he moved further in, leaving him with the unsettling sensation of being pursued. Yet, deep down, he knew it was just his fear playing tricks on him. M. Boss was incapacitated, but the fear of being followed was too deeply ingrained for Kaiza to shake off.
Turning back to the wall, Kaiza let his fingers trace the carved letters. Beneath the inscription, he noticed a series of symbols—geometric shapes, lines, and markings that seemed to form a sequence.
His eyes darted over the puzzle, his mind racing. It wasn't overly complex, but in his weakened state, it felt insurmountable. Each second felt like an eternity as he tried to focus.
"What kind of test is this?" he muttered, frustration creeping into his voice.
He looked at the symbols again, recalling bits of logic and problem-solving skills his father had once taught him. Despite his exhaustion, Kaiza knew he couldn't give up. Whatever lay beyond this door might be his only hope.
Taking a deep breath, he steadied his trembling hands and began to work on solving the puzzle.
Kaiza's breathing quickened as he glanced back into the engulfing darkness. Every extinguished torch behind him now felt like a gateway to the unknown, and the faint echoes sent shivers down his spine.
"He's coming," Kaiza whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the sound of his own heartbeat. Fear gripped him, but he couldn't afford to let it paralyze him. If M. Boss was truly close, he had to act fast.
Turning back to the wall, Kaiza ran his hands over the smooth surface, hoping to find something—anything—that could give him a clue. The carvings and markings on the wall didn't form coherent words, only abstract shapes and patterns.
"What kind of puzzle is this?" he muttered, frustration and panic creeping into his voice. The echoes behind him grew louder, and he felt his legs trembling.
Suddenly, as his fingers brushed against one of the markings, the wall pulsed faintly with a soft purple light, the same hue as the earlier glow. Startled, Kaiza pulled his hand back, but the light slowly began to spread, illuminating the markings in a sequence.
The symbols started to shift and rearrange themselves, forming what looked like an interactive grid. Kaiza realized with a sinking feeling that this was the puzzle he was meant to solve.
The echoes behind him grew even louder. His mind screamed at him to run, but there was nowhere to go.
"Focus, Kaiza. Focus," he whispered, trying to calm himself.
His fingers hovered over the glowing grid. The puzzle seemed to require him to match certain symbols or create a sequence. It wasn't clear what the end goal was, but he knew he didn't have much time.
Kaiza began moving the glowing symbols, his mind racing against the imagined footsteps behind him. Each second felt like an eternity, and every wrong move sent the grid resetting, the light dimming for a moment before starting anew.
"Come on, come on," Kaiza hissed, sweat dripping down his face.
The echoes suddenly stopped, plunging the cave into an eerie silence. Kaiza froze, his hand hovering over the grid.
"Is he here?" Kaiza's mind screamed as his eyes darted toward the darkness.
But there was no time to find out. His fingers moved faster, desperate to solve the puzzle before whatever—or whoever—was lurking in the shadows reached him.
Kaiza pressed the pointy stone with trembling fingers, his heart pounding in his chest. The moment he did, the quiet that followed felt suffocating, and the absence of any immediate reaction made his mind spiral into panic. His thoughts raced, wondering if he'd made a mistake, if he had triggered some kind of trap.
"Please... please work," Kaiza muttered under his breath, his eyes darting around the cave, half-expecting something to leap out at him from the shadows.
A few seconds passed, then a soft rumble echoed from deep within the wall. Kaiza froze, his breath caught in his throat as the stone he had pressed began to sink deeper into the wall, revealing a hidden compartment beneath it. Slowly, the wall started to shift, cracks running through the surface as part of it slid away, opening up into a narrow passage.
"It worked..." Kaiza breathed in disbelief, a wave of relief washing over him. His heart still raced, but now there was a glimmer of hope. The door was opening, and it was his chance to escape whatever was following him.
But before he could take a step forward, a faint sound came from the depths of the cave. It was a low, growling sound, like something—or someone—was stirring.
"He's here..." Kaiza whispered, fear creeping back into his voice.
He didn't have much time. The passageway before him seemed to be his only option for safety. With one last, hesitant glance back toward the darkness, Kaiza squeezed through the opening, hoping the door would somehow seal behind him.
As he moved into the passage, the door behind him shut with a heavy thud, echoing through the cave. Kaiza didn't look back. He pushed forward, his pulse still racing, hoping that whatever had chased him would be left behind.
The passage was narrow, but Kaiza's pace quickened as he moved deeper into the unknown. It felt like an eternity before he came to another door, this one larger and seemingly more solid than the first. He didn't dare to touch anything yet, afraid of triggering something that might bring more danger.
But this time, as he examined the door, he noticed something unusual—an inscription across the top, barely visible in the dim light of the cave. It read:
[Only the worthy may pass.]
Kaiza's heart skipped a beat. What did this mean? What kind of test awaited him now?
Kaiza's breath hitched as he read the inscription:
[Hard press.]
The words felt ominous, like a warning hidden in a riddle. He glanced back at the stone-like button, now more aware of the weight behind his actions. He had no choice but to follow the instructions, even if it meant risking whatever danger lay ahead.
His fingers trembled as he reached out again, but this time, he pressed down on the button with all his strength. He wasn't gentle. He pushed harder, determined to follow the command exactly, hoping it was the right decision.
The moment his hand made contact with the button, a deep rumble echoed through the walls. The floor beneath him trembled slightly, and for a second, Kaiza thought he had triggered some kind of trap. His heart raced as the silence that had previously filled the cave deepened, leaving him on edge.
Then, a hissing sound pierced the air, followed by a loud clunk. The door in front of Kaiza groaned, its heavy frame slowly shifting. It seemed to be unlocking, the mechanism inside working in response to the forceful press.
Kaiza's grip tightened, fear still gnawing at him, but curiosity and desperation pushed him forward. He could hear the door creaking open, the metal hinges protesting as they moved. Every second felt like a lifetime.
Finally, the door gave way, revealing a dimly lit chamber beyond. The air was thick, carrying an ancient scent, and the atmosphere felt strange, almost alive with an unseen presence.
But before Kaiza could step through, he heard a voice—a whisper, faint but distinct.
[Only the worthy may pass.]
Kaiza froze. The voice was not his own thoughts. It sounded like a warning, or perhaps a judgment.
Was he worthy? Would the door close behind him? Would this be a one-way trip into the unknown?
With no other choice, Kaiza stepped forward into the darkness beyond, the door creaking shut behind him with a heavy finality.
As the door shut behind him, the small space lit up instantly. To Kaiza's surprise, the door in front of him was nothing like the ancient, historical one he had encountered earlier—or the one he had expected to see. Instead, it was sleek and modern. How could such a door exist underground?
Kaiza approached cautiously, his curiosity tinged with unease. As he drew closer, the door began to glow with a faint blue light. A screen flickered to life on the upper portion of the door, aligning perfectly with his face. His mouth fell open in astonishment, and his eyes widened.
This was unlike anything he had ever seen, even in the open world. Perhaps it existed in places he had never visited, but certainly not in his city—and definitely not in an underground cave. It defied all logic.
Before Kaiza could make sense of it, writing appeared on the screen, displaying instructions to unlock the door and proceed further. It seemed to be the puzzle the first door had hinted at.
The screen read:
[Three footsteps, three spots. Hand placed on print.]
"What does that even mean?" Kaiza muttered, his mind racing.
As if in response, more text appeared beneath the first message:
[Time limit: One minute]
[Trials: 2]
[Solve puzzles to escape DEATH.]
A sharp beep sounded, and the countdown began.