Inverted Pyramid (3)

The other part of the elevator, which had been launched to the right, began spinning like an out-of-control top, colliding violently with every wall it hit and descending at great speed. Adia tried to stand up, but every time she did, she fell again due to the violent impacts of the apparatus against the surrounding structures. At one point, she began murmuring words as her staff started to glow with a faint but steady light. In a firm voice, she instructed those present to gather around her. The others, stumbling and struggling against the erratic movement of the elevator, managed to come together around her. She looked toward what appeared to be a door and threw a glowing card in that direction. Instantly, everyone began to fade away while the remains of the elevator continued spiraling downward. They were teleported directly to the door where Adia had thrown the card.

"Are you all alright?" asked Adia, her voice filled with concern as she looked at the others.

The group nodded and thanked her for saving them at the last moment; otherwise, they would have been history and never be able to tell the tale again.

With Adia were Marie, Rino, Ezequiel, and Gat. All of them felt a heavy weight in their hearts over what had happened to Elena's father, whom they hadn't been able to save. Adia, in particular, blamed herself internally, thinking that perhaps she could have done more, but everything had happened too quickly.

"There will be time to grieve later," said Marie in an anguished tone. "For now, we need to find a way out. Do you think the others survived?"

Adia turned to her and replied calmly:

"They're with Eduard, so there's no need to worry. Instead, we should focus on finding them."

"Yes," added Rino, checking his equipment. "Apparently, the communicators aren't working."

Meanwhile, Ezequiel approached the door and began touching it curiously. Adia looked at him with some impatience and asked why he was touching the door instead of opening it. Before Ezequiel could respond, Marie interrupted:

"Let him work," she said with a calm smile. "I already know what he's going to do."

Marie knew that Ezequiel was about to use his special ability. Before approaching, he had already removed his glasses—a gesture that always preceded his most extraordinary actions.

"Ah! He's going to use his ability," exclaimed Gat, excited.

"Yes," responded Marie, looking at Adia with curiosity. "By the way, you haven't used your ability yet, have you, girl? Or was that what you used to send those papers to the cameras?"

Adia felt slightly uncomfortable under Marie's penetrating gaze and quickly responded:

"No, that's not my ability. It's just a trick I learned."

"Silence, everyone," interrupted Ezequiel urgently. "There's something behind these doors... something sinister. Let's proceed with caution."

It was one of those double doors, designed to open from both sides. Ezequiel slowly opened one side and stepped inside cautiously, making sure there was no immediate danger. Once he was certain it was safe, he signaled for the others to follow him. What they found inside was chilling: a hundred giant tubes containing creatures that looked like they had been pulled straight out of a nightmare. These tubes were connected to cables pumping strange-colored liquids. The area was shrouded in darkness, faintly illuminated by a blinking red light that created an oppressive atmosphere. They continued walking until they reached a wide white corridor, where they found a sign with an inverted pyramid indicating "You are here," showing they were on the fifth floor.

"Well," said Adia with determination, "we're close. Two more floors, and we'll be where Aiden is, just as Elena's father told us."

However, before they could move further down the corridor, they encountered another door identical to the first one they had crossed. Marie was about to approach and open it when Gat suddenly pushed her back toward the group. Irritated by the abrupt gesture, she glared at him angrily.

"Why did you do that?" she demanded, but before Gat could respond, a massive spiked gate fell from the ceiling, blocking their path. Marie, now frightened by what could have been a deadly trap, apologized and thanked him for saving her life.

From above, where the gate had fallen, monitors displaying the five intruders came into view. A Machiavellian voice boomed through the speakers:

"Intruders. This is as far as you go. This will be your tomb."

Suddenly, noises echoed from the far end of the corridor, coming from the dark place where the tubes filled with abominations stood. It was the sound of glass breaking, and behind the group, shadows began to emerge—slow-moving, viscous masses with humanoid shapes, black as tar, with empty voids where their eyes should have been.

Quickly, Ezequiel ordered Rino and Marie to step back while he tried to confront one of the creatures. He struck it with all his might, but it was useless. These things felt no pain, and his arm sank into the creature's chest as if it were quicksand. The more he struggled, the deeper he sank. Finally, Marie and Rino pulled on his other arm with all their strength, managing to free him just in time.

"Don't try to play the hero," Adia scolded him, though her tone carried a hint of concern.

Ezequiel lowered his head, embarrassed.

"I'm sorry."

"Old man, I think you're a bit rusty," Gat joked, but Rino shot him a stern look.

"You should respect your elders, especially your superior," Rino said firmly.

Gat just laughed and replied:

"Leave it to me. Adia, can you form a barrier to protect them?"

Adia looked at him with a mix of irritation and resignation.

"Hey, who do you think you are? I'm not your assistant."

"But can you or can't you?" Gat insisted.

"Yes," she finally responded.

"Good, I leave it in your hands, kid," Gat said as he stepped in front of the group and, with an elegant motion of his staff, created a bright blue wall.

"What is that boy going to do?" Marie murmured, intrigued.

Gat found himself surrounded by five or six creatures that had emerged from the broken tubes. All of them began lunging at him with ferocity. When they were close enough, Gat rapidly moved his hands up and down as if possessed by a spirit. He shouted "Red Lightning" and, with his fingers shaped like pistols, red lightning bolts shot out like bullets. He moved with agility, firing while spinning like a top, attacking each of the creatures. Once the blasts were absorbed, Gat made a motion as if pressing a button and shouted again, "Lightning Bomb." The monstrous gelatinous masses began exploding simultaneously, spilling liquid everywhere, even onto the wall Adia had created.

"Done. That takes care of everything. That's how you get the job done," said Gat, blowing at his pistol-shaped hand like a triumphant cowboy.

"Did you really have to do that whole dance just to use your ability?" Adia scolded him.

"What's wrong with it?" he replied with a mischievous smile. "It's part of the show. Without it, you take the fun out of the fight."

The voice from the speakers returned, this time filled with frustration:

"This isn't over yet."

From the floor where they stood, the black slime began to reform into a creature similar to the previous ones but much larger.

"Can you handle it again, boy?" Ezequiel shouted from the other side of the blue wall.

"Of course I can, old man. This rodeo isn't over yet," Gat responded confidently.

"Learn to respect your elders," Rino said, irritated, standing next to Ezequiel.

"Relax, kid. He's hyperactive and a bit crazy, but he has a good heart," Ezequiel replied with a smile.

Gat repeated the same ritual with his hands, firing shots and detonating lightning bombs. The monstrous creature exploded into a thousand pieces but immediately began to reconstruct itself, over and over again.

"Damn it," Gat muttered. "Oh well, this rodeo doesn't end until it ends."

The voice on the speakers laughed maliciously, knowing that as long as it retained control, the creature would continue regenerating indefinitely.