Nikos landed hard on a pile of soft, dry earth, the impact jarring but harmless. The air in the underground passage was close and smelled strongly of minerals and damp stone. The red box was his only light source, casting long, dancing shadows of ancient, uneven brickwork. The tunnel was narrow, forcing Nikos to keep one hand on the rough wall for guidance.
After what felt like an hour of walking, the passage widened into a small, circular chamber. In the center, resting on a pedestal carved from rough black obsidian, was the first fragment: a shimmering, irregularly shaped shard of deep ruby red. It pulsed with a soft, steady heat, a heartbeat of pure energy. It was beautiful and utterly captivating.
Nikos approached the fragment cautiously, pulling out Elara's journal. He quickly scanned the pages, finding a section marked "Retrieval." It warned that the fragments were protected by an energy field that would drain the life force of anyone who touched them without the proper key. He looked at the red box in his hand, realizing it was more than just a map—it was the essential conduit.
As he was about to place the box onto the pedestal, the sound of scraping metal echoed from the tunnel entrance behind him. The Shadow Collectors had found a way through! Nikos had seconds. With a desperate surge of adrenaline, he pressed the red box against the obsidian pedestal. A brilliant crimson light erupted, bathing the chamber in warmth. The energy field around the ruby fragment dissolved instantly. He snatched the fragment, tucking it securely inside the pocket of his red hoodie.
The first Shadow Collector stumbled into the room, their pale blue scanner light fixing on Nikos. "The fragment! Stop him, Red Boy!" Nikos didn't wait. He spun around and sprinted down a narrow, previously unseen tunnel on the opposite side of the chamber, the newly acquired ruby fragment radiating power and pulling him onward.
