When the wind died down, the wall of rocks that had been blocking our path had disappeared. None of us understood what had happened, but in front of us was already a massive metallic tunnel, illuminated so brightly that it seemed as if the sun itself was present inside.
Irina activated her magical vision, searching through the entire area for approximately a minute before speaking:
—It seems safe. It is approximately one hundred meters deep. At the end, I can see some kind of door, but I cannot see what is inside.
—The only way to know is to go there ourselves —said Eleonor in her characteristic tone.
And so, we all began moving forward.
The echo of our footsteps resonated through the enormous metallic tunnel as the group advanced slowly.
The bright light descended from the ceiling, reacting to our presence and becoming slightly more intense with every movement, as if our arrival had activated some kind of system.
I could not take my eyes away from the walls. The symbols engraved into the metal looked nothing like anything I had ever seen in the mansions of the Guardian families.
—This makes no sense —Kenji muttered as he ran his fingers across one of the inscriptions.
Elena looked at him and asked:
—What is it?
Kenji stared at the metallic surface for several seconds before answering. With a voice filled with complete surprise, he said:
—The composition of this alloy does not exist.
—What do you mean by it does not exist? —Elena asked.
Kenji raised his gaze.
—I just tried to analyze these walls, and my scanner says the material is unknown. It does not exist on our periodic table.
Irina walked several steps behind them, her magical vision fully active. Her eyes scanned every corner of the place.
—There is energy everywhere. Not only in the walls. It is also present in the floor and in the air.
—What kind of energy? —Eleonor asked.
Irina slowly shook her head.
—I do not know. It is different from anything I have ever seen or felt before. It is as if this entire place has a life of its own. It feels like the mountain itself is breathing energy.
Without realizing it, we reached the end of the tunnel.
In front of us stood an enormous door. And what we saw on it left all of us speechless: the figure of a mythical and legendary creature. A seven-headed hydra, imposing and majestic, covered the entire surface of the door.
None of us could speak for several seconds. The way the figure had been carved into the door was both impressive and magnificent.
—How are we going to open it? —Sophie asked.
At that moment, the mark on my back began to glow, just like the mark on Eleonor's arm. We looked at each other without saying a word, placed our palms at the center, and an enormous wave of magical energy was released.
A metallic screech echoed through the area, and suddenly, the massive door began to open.
Inside was an enormous chamber that seemed to have no end. Metallic columns rose all the way to the ceiling.
On both sides were rows of metallic structures, and inside them were hundreds of glass cylinders. Some were destroyed, while others remained intact. Inside several of them, silhouettes could be seen.
I continued looking throughout the entire place. The mark reacted with even greater intensity.
It was not pain.
It was as if it understood the meaning of this place.
As if it had been waiting for us to find it.
Eleonor approached one of the cylinders. She placed her hand against the glass, and after several seconds, a faint light traveled through the container.
Inside floated a humanoid figure.
Grayish skin, elongated limbs, four tentacles extending from its back, and a body that appeared almost human.
Its eyes remained closed.
—What the hell are all of these things? —Sophie asked.
Kenji did not answer. Elena and Irina covered their mouths in shock.
—These are Claimoor —Eleonor replied.
Suddenly, I noticed a console panel. When I touched it, the surface illuminated. A holographic screen materialized in the air, and several files began appearing.
The first thing displayed was a phrase written in a language I did not recognize.
Kenji approached and asked me to let him examine the console. I told him to continue; after all, he was an expert in this type of work.
—This is extremely interesting —he said with genuine surprise—. This language is not one that has been recorded anywhere in human history. In fact, it does not even belong to the five families. I am certain this is the original language of the Supreme Beings.
—Can you understand it? —Elena asked.
—I cannot, but I can see a basic command that will allow me to connect my scanner. It should be able to update itself and translate the entire system into our language.
After waiting approximately ten minutes, everything seemed ready, and we began investigating all of the documents.
Research Records.
He paused.
His expression changed.
Kenji activated his magical translator and began reading.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
RECORD 0148
CLAIMOOR PROJECT
Status: Phase III of experimentation.
Objective: Develop the inhabitants of this plane so they can withstand extreme concentrations of magical energy through genetic modifications.
The subjects continue rejecting the integration of magical energy cores.
The majority die within the first hours of the procedure.
The survivors display severe physical alterations, progressive mental instability, and irreversible changes in their magical structure.
The Council of Seven demands that the project be accelerated regardless of the number of individuals sacrificed.
The war will reach this plane, and they must be prepared.
Sophie took a step back and said with the same anger that all of us shared in that moment:
—So they were creating them...
Kenji nodded.
—Yes.
His gaze moved across the cylinders surrounding us.
He continued to the next record.
Kenji displayed the following document.
RECORD 0237
The specimens from Series C demonstrate greater stability than previous generations.
Energy adaptation has improved considerably.
However, behavioral problems remain.
The subjects display advanced intelligence, but they do not develop independent will.
Some researchers have begun questioning the purpose of the project.
Eleonor looked at the empty cylinders and said in her usual tone:
—So, to them, the Claimoor were nothing more than failed experiments.
Kenji continued displaying more information from the database.
He moved through several pages until he found a different record.
His expression changed.
RECORD 0628
The project has achieved its objective.
The first stable generation has been completed.
The individuals demonstrate superior magical control, increased life expectancy, and unprecedented energy adaptation.
The Council has approved their classification as a new species.
Assigned name:
KARTNOD.
The silence was immediate.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody was able to.
The documents continued appearing on the holographic screen.
Five thousand years of history had just changed before their eyes.