Ch 13 - THE GATE
After the coming out of the pyramid with lot of stone mysteries and on the monday:
Makio and Tako stepped into the cursed forest, the twisted trees casting long shadows around them. The forest seemed alive, pressing in with every step.
Without warning, spirits lunged from the mist. Tako reacted instantly, ducking low and delivering a sharp elbow to one spirit's chest, sending it staggering backward. Another swung at him; he blocked with his forearm and countered with a spinning back kick, knocking it into a nearby tree.
Makio moved like a whirlwind, jumping over a lashing branch, landing a precise palm strike to a spirit's jaw, then following with a low kick to its legs, toppling it. She rolled forward and delivered a rapid combination: punch, kick, elbow, each strike knocking back another apparition.
The spirits surged again, circling them. Tako feinted to the left, then landed a flying knee into one spirit's chest. Another swung at Makio—she ducked, grabbed its arm, and twisted sharply, throwing it into the undergrowth.
Branches snapped and roots tore at their feet, but both moved with agility, dodging, striking, and countering as if the forest itself tried to stop them. Every punch and kick pushed them forward, step by step, cutting a path through the relentless onslaught.
Finally, after the last spirit fell, silence descended on the forest. Breathing heavily, they pressed on and discovered a cave hidden among massive roots.
At its entrance stood a massive gate, covered in strange symbols they could not understand. Tako and Makio exchanged a glance, realizing the gate could not be opened—at least, not yet.
Cliffhanger: The forest loomed around them, whispering its secrets, leaving their next move uncertain.