The morning air was thick with moisture as Kara’s team packed up their camp, the towering trees casting long shadows across the forest floor. The strange, luminescent plants that had seemed alive in the dark had dimmed with the dawn, their eerie glow now just a faint shimmer. Kara eyed the treeline, her instincts sharp, sensing something still lurking in the distance.

“Let’s keep moving,” she ordered. “We’ve got no idea what’s ahead, but I don’t like staying in one place too long.”

As they pushed further into the forest, Zera paused, narrowing her eyes as she pointed toward a faint flicker in the distance. “Does anyone else see that?”

Ryan stopped, following her gaze. “Lights. But they’re not natural.”

Beyond the trees, faint, bluish lights shimmered in the shadows, Glimmering softly. They moved in a structured formation, like a trail leading deeper into the woods. Kara frowned, tightening her grip on her pistol. “Could be a trap.”

“Or something left behind,” Zera added, her curiosity piqued. “The Soomites were known for their advanced energy sources.”

The team pressed forward cautiously, the bluish lights growing brighter with each step. As they neared the source, it became clear the lights weren't flames at all, but rather strange, bioluminescent fungi growing along the trunks of massive trees, pulsing with a steady rhythm. They illuminated the path ahead with an otherworldly glow.

“These must have been cultivated here,” Zera whispered, examining one of the glowing fungi. “Possibly centuries old, still thriving.”

Ryan crouched beside her, studying the light. “They’re leading us somewhere.”

As they followed the glowing fungi deeper into the forest, they stumbled upon an overgrown, ancient structure. The same pale blue light now flickered from within the ruins, though its source wasn’t natural—it was some form of old Soomite technology. The symbols etched into the stone walls gave off a faint, residual glow, even after all these years.

Zera’s eyes widened as she stepped toward the entrance, the ancient carvings guiding their way. “This... this was once a Soomite outpost.”

 

Kara stood back, surveying the area. “Looks abandoned. But why would those lights lead us here?”

As Zera continued her investigation, she found an entrance partially buried beneath the roots of a massive tree. With some effort, Ryan and Torik managed to clear the way, revealing a narrow passage that led down into darkness.

“We should check it out,” Zera urged, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

Kara hesitated, her instincts warning her of unseen dangers. “We don’t know what’s down there. Could be another trap, or worse.”

“We came this far,” Ryan said, peering into the dark passage. “If there’s something down there connected to the bridge or the Soomites, we need to know.”

With a sigh, Kara nodded, signaling the team to proceed. They descended cautiously, their flashlights cutting through the darkness. Inside, the ruin was larger than they had expected. The walls were lined with intricate carvings, each depicting scenes of an ancient civilization—Soomites, thriving amidst towering structures, not unlike what they had imagined the lost city would look like.

“This… this is incredible,” Zera muttered, awe in her voice. “These carvings—this place must have been some kind of outpost. Or a waystation.”

Or a warning,” Ryan added darkly, noticing some of the carvings showed chaotic scenes—destruction, fleeing figures, and strange, looming shapes.

Suddenly, a soft hum echoed through the chamber, and the walls began to glow with a pale blue light. The team tensed, weapons ready.

“What did you touch?” Kara snapped, her voice sharp.

“Nothing!” Zera said quickly. “This… this must be an automated system. It’s reacting to our presence.”

The lights along the walls led deeper into the ruin, illuminating another passage at the far end of the chamber. The team exchanged glances, unsure of whether to proceed or retreat.

Kara made the call. “We follow it. But stay sharp.”

They ventured further into the ruin, the soft blue light guiding their way. At the end of the passage, they emerged into a large, open room, and in the center stood a massive stone pedestal, adorned with more glowing symbols. Zera approached it cautiously, her eyes scanning the markings. “These… these are similar to the ones we saw at the start of the bridge. It’s like they were leaving clues all along.”

Torik, ever pragmatic, circled the pedestal. “But what’s the purpose?”

Before Zera could respond, the pedestal began to hum softly, and a section of the wall slid open, revealing a hidden compartment. Inside, a small device hovered in midair, pulsing with the same strange energy they had seen in the portals.

“What is that?” Ryan asked, eyes narrowing.

Zera approached it cautiously. “I think… it’s a key. Or a part of the Soomite technology we’ve been seeing. Whatever it is, it’s important.”

Kara nodded. “Grab it. We’ll need it.”

As Zera carefully retrieved the device, the hum in the ruin grew louder. Dust shook loose from the ceiling, and the ground trembled beneath their feet.

“We’re not alone,” Torik warned, his rifle at the ready.

Without warning, a section of the wall burst open, and strange mechanical creatures emerged, their limbs clicking and whirring with unsettling speed. Unlike the larger robots they had encountered before, these creatures resembled crawling machines with many legs, scurrying across the ground with an eerie, insect-like precision.

“Move!” Kara ordered, firing off shots as the team sprinted back toward the entrance.

The creatures gave chase, but the team managed to outmaneuver them, using the narrow corridors to their advantage. As they emerged from the ruin, the mechanical creatures stopped at the threshold, as if unable to leave the ancient structure.

Breathing heavily, Kara turned to Zera. “Whatever that thing is, it better be worth it.”

Zera, still clutching the device, nodded. “It will be. I’m sure of it.”

As they regrouped, Ryan glanced toward the horizon. “We’re close to something big. I can feel it.”

Kara eyed the distant landscape. “Whatever it is, it’s not going to be easy. Let’s keep moving.”

 

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