A dark underground chamber beneath an ancient temple, its air thick with the scent of damp stone and centuries-old incense. Flickering torches barely illuminate the towering carvings on the walls—serpentine dragons entwined with human figures, their eyes seeming to follow intruders in the dim light.
David moves carefully through the chamber, guided by the whispers of something beyond this world. His heart pounds as he traces his fingers along the carvings, feeling a strange warmth emanating from them. Behind him, a group of local guardians stands watch, their expressions wary. They, too, feel it—the presence of something old, something waiting.
Guardian Leader whispering. "This place was sealed for a reason, David. It should remain that way."
David is quiet but firm. "If the Nine Dragons are after something hidden here, then we need to know what it is before they do."
Second Guardian shaking his head. "The last man who sought this power never returned."