The Last Monarch

The Hidden Temple at Sumatran Rainforest – 2.13 AM. David pushed through the thick jungle, the scent of damp earth and ancient wood filling his lungs. The clues had led him here—to a forgotten temple buried beneath centuries of decay.

The stone entrance was choked with vines, its carvings eroded but still whispering secrets of the past. He traced his fingers over the faded symbols. Dragons. Phoenixes. Crowns of fire.

The doors groaned as he forced them open. Inside, a vast chamber stretched before him, moonlight spilling through cracks in the ceiling, illuminating murals that time had almost stolen.

His heart pounded as he deciphered the images.

The prophecy.

A dragon and a phoenix, their forms locked in an eternal struggle, the balance of power shifting between them. A war fought not for land, but for the soul of a continent.

Then—a name. Zhi Yi.