Chapter 1 – The pyramid's secret
The desert sun scorched the sand as Tako Hajime led his research team toward the massive, mysterious pyramid. Its jagged stones stretched high, shadows twisting across their surfaces.
"Stay close," Tako warned his team, his voice steady but tense. "We don't know what's inside."
A low wind whispered as they approached the yawning entrance, the darkness swallowing the edges of their flashlights.
Inside, silence was broken only by footsteps echoing across the stone floor. Suddenly, Tako froze. "Wait… did you hear that?"
Arrows shot from hidden slots. Two researchers fell, screaming. Tako shouted, "Everyone down!" He rolled aside, narrowly avoiding another volley.
"Keep moving!" he ordered. "Don't stop, no matter what!"
One by one, members of the team were struck by traps—spikes shooting from the floor, walls closing in, swinging blades. Screams echoed off the walls, filling Tako's head with panic. He pressed onward, driven by determination and fear.
Deeper in, a strange glow drew him to a pedestal in a shadowy chamber. A black stone pulsed like a heartbeat. His hand trembled, but instinct failed him—he reached out.
Cliffhanger: The moment his fingers touched the stone, the world would change forever.