The staircase spiraled downward far deeper than the first chamber.
Dust covered everything.
Some steps had partially collapsed from age.
When they finally reached the bottom, the tunnel opened into a massive underground hall.
This chamber was different.
Older.
Much older.
Stone statues lined the walls.
Serpents coiled around pillars carved from black marble.
In the center of the chamber stood a circular stone platform.
Covered in carvings.
Noah brushed dust away.
His eyes widened.
"These are… containment runes."
Lake frowned.
"For what?"
Oliver pointed to a massive mural carved into the wall.
It showed a huge doorway beneath a mansion.
And something enormous behind it.
Something is clawing against the barrier.
At the bottom of the mural were ancient words.
Julian read them aloud.
"When the Gate opens…"
"…the Devourer wakes."
The chamber went silent.