Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

These Deathbugs that appeared out of nowhere initially flew around chaotically in the passage. Gradually, they began to swarm together, buzzing loudly as they swept toward Andrew and his team like a dark cloud.

"Run! Run for your lives!" Andrew's voice rang out urgently. "One bite from these Deathbugs could be fatal. Once they burrow into your body, not even God can save you you'll become a zombie!"

His grave warning echoed in everyone's ears as they fled.

Bursting out of the passage, they found themselves in a massive underground

cavern.

Several team members had dropped their torches during the panic, leaving only Tiana and Andrew with flickering flames to illuminate a small area around them.noveldrama

Running at breakneck speed, Andrew could not afford to examine what lay ahead in detail. Still, he managed to glance around while sprinting, taking in their surroundings.

This underground world, sealed away for countless years, stretched at least 100 feet high above them. The space around them was enormous-easily the size of two football fields combined. No one could have imagined that such a vast hollow existed beneath the earth.

Andrew quickly spotted some artificial carving marks, though they were sparse, and realized this cavern was mostly natural.

If humans had carved out this entire space, then the dynasty that built it must have had alien technology. Only extraterrestrial beings could possess such incredible engineering capabilities and resources.

The floor was paved with neatly arranged stone bricks, and after running about 50 yards, they reached a towering archway.

"The tomb chamber! It's the main tomb chamber!" Tiana exclaimed excitedly.

Andrew nodded silently, confirming his suspicions. The passage had led them directly to the burial site's main chamber, which meant the treasure they sought lay just beyond.

However, they were now faced with a massive problem. The entrance to the tomb chamber was sealed tight with bronze doors that stood 50 feet high, flanked by two enormous bronze lions standing guard.

The swarm of Deathbugs, countless in number, scattered randomly throughout the vast cavern after entering. This chaos gave Andrew's team precious time to search for a way into the tomb chamber.

Logan stepped forward and rammed his shoulder against the bronze doors with all his might. The result was predictably futile—the doors did not budge an inch, and he nearly tore the skin off his shoulder.

"Damn it! They won't budge. Everyone looked around for some kind of mechanism or switch," he said, frustration evident in his voice.

Without needing further instruction, the others were already in motion, examining the bronze lions and surrounding sculptures. They felt around every surface, searching for

anything that might move or

activate. However, they found

nothing-not a single movable part

anywhere.

Meanwhile, Deathbugs had begun buzzing around the tomb chamber entrance. Their twisted miniature human faces stared down at Andrew's group, sending

chills down everyone's spine.

Chantelle trembled as she whispered, "Why do these horrible bugs have human faces?"

Andrew replied coldly, "Because they feed on human corpses, especially human brains-that's what

Deathbugs crave most. Legend says that when someone dies and gets eaten by Deathbugs, their soul, consciousness, and flesh all become part of the creatures."

Chantelle could not believe it and gasped, "How can such disgusting insects exist in this world?"

Andrew ignored her question and began feeling along the seams where the bronze doors met. He tried pushing against both massive doors with all his strength, but they remained completely immovable.

These bronze doors weighed at least several tons each. Opening them would require finding the proper mechanism, not brute force.

"Oh no! Those nasty bugs are flying toward us!" Lenny shouted in alarm.

A Deathbug suddenly landed on Andrew's shoulder. Its twisted little human face

turned toward him, emitting a menacing buzzing sound that made his skin crawl.

At such close range, Andrew noticed

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that although the creature had a human face, its eyes were tightly shut. He wondered if years of living in this dark underground environment had caused their eyes to be atrophied and completely useless.