The Man Who Returned From the Grave

The temple in front of them resembled a structure that had withstood the test of time. Its massive entrance gate appeared to have been closed for ages, and a thousand years of ivy covered its moss-eaten stone walls like a robe. They were ready to cross the barrier for the first time when a well-known voice, tired and tinged with sarcasm, emerged from the darkness behind them.

"Will you enter without me?"

They all three froze. The apparition who emerged from the shadows of the trees as they turned slowly took their breath away. He was standing despite his garments being torn and soot-stained and his face being scarred with new scars. He was still alive. Like a ghost, Suge had left the center of that complete destruction.

"Wow!" Polina's scream was an unfiltered, honest, and explosive sound of joy. She stumbled into his arms as she raced, pressing her face against his chest. Suge appeared to pause for a tense minute before putting his arms around her and keeping her close.

The hard lines of exhaustion vanished from Katrina's face as a rare, sincere grin appeared. She responded, "You did it," with an indisputable sense of relief in her voice. "I'm not sure how, but you accomplished the seemingly impossible."

However, Nicolas was unable to partake in the joyous reunion. His head rang with a harsh, frigid discord. The scene unfolding in front of him was fiercely opposed by his reasoning. "A whole fortress fell on top of you," he continued slowly, his voice tinged with skepticism that he was unable to hide. "How did you escape that with only minor injuries?"

Suge's gaze shifted away from Polina's tear-streaked face and towards Nicolas. A dazzling, unnerving confidence that verged on arrogance had replaced the customary weary in them. He smirked as he remarked, "Journalist, power isn't about avoiding the fall." It's about having the strength to get back up after each setback. Something you still don't understand.

Polina withdrew, her face beaming with joy. "I anticipated your arrival! I was aware!

"Let's assist our friends for the time being, shall we?" Suge remarked, skillfully avoiding Nicolas' inquiry and gently interrupting her. He stepped forward abruptly, walking deliberately in the direction of the temple. His sudden change in attitude was startling, but Polina and Katrina were so engrossed in their happiness that they ignored it and enthusiastically followed. Now that a deep mistrust had been sown in his gut, Nicolas was forced to follow them.

Almost soon, they came across the temple's first test: a huge gap crossed by a locked bridge, its mechanism broken and rusted into position.

Katrina used her keen observational skills to evaluate the scenario. She looked at Suge and remarked, "System failure." "The bridge is totally secured. However, your strength need to be sufficient to push the corroded gears.

Suge nodded without saying anything. He approached the enormous gear system on the bridge and touched the icy metal. With an excruciating groan of protesting steel, the thousand-ton bridge started to shift as a discernible thrum of Kuvarsoya energy shot from his body. Suge's brow began to perspire as the mechanism strained, but at last the bridge smashed into position against the far side, locking with a resounding clang. The squad moved easily across the recently opened path.

In front of them was a portion of the temple with a futuristic, metallic design that was unlike anything they had ever seen. A solitary panel stood in the middle, blazing with the imprint of a hand, while the walls were made of a seamless, smooth alloy. Following a mutual look, Katrina touched the panel with her hand. A wall slid sideways with a quiet hum, exposing the passageway beyond. But they were frozen in place by the sight that met their eyes. They were the target of an almost infinite number of weapon barrels that bristled on the corridor's walls and ceiling.

"What are these things, exactly? "They appear to be extraterrestrial weaponry," Nicolas inquired, his suspicions resurfacing.

A mechanical voice came from the panel as the guns started to whine and charge up in a high-pitched tone: "Identity verification initiated… Error. Deterioration of the system was found. Making the switch to manual protocol There was a pause, and then the barrels began to slowly withdraw. "The verification was successful. Greetings.

Katrina clarified, "They need to have a rigorous protocol to keep NPCs and other non-system entities out." However, we must still exercise caution. Any damage to this mechanism could lead to an antagonistic reaction.

Polina frowned slightly as she looked about. "Even so, that was nearly too simple."

Katrina responded, "It simply shows that the system is breaking down on its own." "This 'game' becomes less of a game and more of a reality with its own broken rules as it loses its ability to self-regulate."

They proceeded until they were at last in the center of the temple. This circular hall stood in sharp contrast to the surrounding ruins. A solitary enormous crystal hung unsupported in the air above an old leather-bound book that was set on a pedestal in the precise center of the room.

With a wave of his hand, Suge pointed to it. "The book."

As they stood side by side, looking at the destination of their arduous and protracted voyage, the four of them felt a wave of relief. "At last," Katrina muttered. "The conclusion of everything."

Polina grinned and glanced up at Suge, saying, "No." "A fresh start."

Katrina stepped up to get the book, relishing the silent moment of triumph.

And Nicolas felt a chill of icy fear go through his body at that very moment. Unlike the warnings of peril he had previously experienced, this was the personal murmur of ill will directly next to him. When he looked at Suge, he briefly noticed that the man's eyes had lost their gleaming assurance in favor of an unfathomable, dark, and ravenous emptiness. He heard the sound of flesh tearing and felt the metallic tang of blood in his mind.

He started to shout, "Katrina, don't…!" but his voice caught in his throat.

However, it was too late. Katrina had just touched the cold, leathery surface of the book with her fingers. It pulsed a small ripple of energy outward.

At the same time, they heard Polina gasp softly in surprise. Then there was a ripping sound, sickeningly moist, in the dead, ringing silence. Polina had just developed a big, bloody hole in the middle of her chest. She looked down and her eyes opened in complete disbelief. They all witnessed it at that moment: Suge's arm was buried shoulder-deep in the woman's heart, which he professed to adore.

As Suge gently removed his arm from Polina's motionless body, a bizarre, icy, and victorious expression spread across his face, Nicolas and Katrina watched in shock at the mind-numbing betrayal.