Kazaf: The upside down

As Kazaf and his newfound allies moved deeper into the ancient tomb, the air grew heavier, thick with centuries of dust and the lingering presence of something unseen. The flickering torchlight cast eerie shadows on the stone walls, revealing faded carvings of warriors and creatures locked in eternal battle.

Kazaf's sharp eyes scanned their surroundings. The tunnel was narrow, leading them downward in a spiral path. The deeper they went, the stronger the feeling of being watched became.

Samir, who held the map, glanced at the markings. "We should be getting close to the first chamber. That's where the real treasures are supposed to be."

Rahim, ever impatient, grinned. "Let's hope it's not just a pile of dust."

As they rounded a corner, they stepped into a vast underground chamber. Tall pillars lined the walls, supporting a ceiling so high it vanished into darkness. At the far end of the chamber sat an enormous stone door covered in strange runes.

But what caught their attention first were the skeletal remains scattered across the floor.

Kazaf frowned, stepping closer. The bones were old, but not ancient—some still had shreds of clothing clinging to them. "Looks like we're not the first ones to come down here."

Harun knelt beside one of the skeletons, inspecting the wounds. "They didn't die naturally. Something killed them."

Yasir's grip tightened on his sword. "Then we need to be ready."

As if in response, the chamber trembled. A deep, rumbling sound echoed through the space, and the skeletons on the ground began to shift.

Then, with an unnatural jerk, they started to rise.

---

The Guardians Awaken

The skeletal warriors, clad in rusted armor and armed with broken weapons, stood upright. Their hollow eye sockets burned with a faint, eerie light. A deep, growling sound filled the chamber, as if the tomb itself had awakened.

Kazaf immediately took a fighting stance. "I guess we found out what killed the others."

Rahim cursed under his breath. "I hate the undead."

Without warning, the skeletal warriors lunged.

Kazaf reacted instinctively, dodging the swipe of a rusted blade before countering with a powerful strike to the skeleton's ribs. The brittle bones shattered on impact, but the creature didn't fall—it simply reformed and attacked again.

Yasir cut through one of them with his sword, but it barely slowed the undead warrior down. "Destroying their bodies won't work. We need to break whatever's keeping them alive."

Harun's eyes darted to the glowing runes on the stone door. "It's the enchantment on the door. It's keeping them active!"

Kazaf didn't hesitate. "Then we destroy it."

He leaped forward, dodging another strike as he sprinted toward the massive stone door. The runes pulsed with energy, a barrier preventing them from proceeding further.

Samir, still holding the map, called out, "There's an inscription! 'The blood of the worthy shall open the path.'"

Kazaf clenched his jaw. "Blood? As in a sacrifice?"

Harun shook his head. "No. It's testing if we're strong enough to enter."

Without a second thought, Kazaf sliced his palm with his dagger, letting a few drops of blood fall onto the glowing runes.

The moment his blood touched the stone, the entire chamber shook. A loud crack echoed through the tomb, and the runes flickered—then shattered like glass.

Instantly, the skeletal warriors collapsed into piles of bones.

The stone door groaned as it began to slide open. A rush of cold air escaped from the darkness beyond.

Yasir let out a relieved breath. "Well… that worked."

Kazaf smirked, wiping the blood from his hand. "Let's see what was worth all that trouble."

---

Deeper into the Tomb

Beyond the door, they found a narrow passage leading further down. The deeper they went, the more they could sense something powerful lying ahead.

Finally, they entered a second chamber—this one smaller but far more ornate. Golden statues lined the walls, their eyes made of precious gems. At the center of the room was a pedestal, and on it sat a single, ancient box covered in strange symbols.

Samir's eyes sparkled. "Jackpot."

Kazaf, however, felt uneasy. Nothing in the Down world was given freely.

As Harun stepped forward, he hesitated. "Wait… something isn't right."

But it was too late.

The moment Samir reached for the box, the chamber trembled violently. The golden statues' eyes glowed, and a deep, growling sound echoed through the air.

Then, the shadows in the room moved.

Kazaf's heart pounded. "We're not alone."

Something ancient had awakened.

And it was not pleased.

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