Adrian took a deep breath, his gaze shifting between the hallway ahead and the sounds of the bustling marketplace behind him.

As soon as his foot crossed the invisible line, the energy of the temple shifted. The chaotic noise of the marketplace behind him faded into an eerie silence, and the air grew noticeably cooler.

The change was subtle but unmistakable—a sign that he was entering a different realm.

He glanced back one last time at Lilith and Medea. Medea gave him a subtle nod, her eyes cold but filled with trust. Lilith, ever the playful one, flashed him a teasing smile. "Good luck, darling," she mouthed, her eyes sparkling with confidence.

Adrian turned back, steeling himself as he ventured deeper into the temple.

The further he walked, the darker it became. The narrow hallway seemed to stretch on endlessly, the oppressive silence only broken by the soft echo of his footsteps.

The walls were lined with gold, but it wasn't the gleaming treasure that caught Adrian's attention—it was the sense of foreboding that hung in the air, as though the temple itself was alive, watching him.

Finally, he arrived at a large, imposing door. It was unlike anything he'd seen before. The door was made of thick, ancient wood, reinforced with gold, and designed with intricate carvings of serpents winding their way up the frame.

In front of the door were five large wheels, each positioned at a different point along the surface, like the kind used on ships to open and close bulkhead doors—but clearly intended to operate the door.

Adrian frowned, eyeing the wheels with suspicion. This had all the markings of a trap, but there was no turning back now. He studied the wheels carefully, noticing that each one had faint markings around it—patterns of symbols he didn't recognize.

He hesitated, unsure of which wheel to turn first. The wrong choice could trigger a trap.

Taking a deep breath, he placed his hand on the first wheel and gave it a tentative spin. The wheel turned smoothly, but nothing happened. He exhaled, relieved, and moved to the second wheel.

This time, the wheel resisted slightly before clicking into place.

Again, nothing happened.

Just as he began to reach for the third wheel, a deafening smash echoed behind him. Adrian turned around just in time to see two massive stone walls at the end of the hallway slam shut with with such force that he knew anything caught between them would have been crushed instantly.

Dust and debris filled the air, and Adrian's heart pounded in his chest.

"No one could survive that," he muttered under his breath, his pulse quickening as he realized just how deadly this place was.

He turned his attention back to the wheels, his pulse quickening. The wrong move could easily be his last, but there was no room for hesitation. Steeling his nerves, he reached for the third wheel, giving it a careful turn.

This time, the sound was different. A low rumble echoed from above, and Adrian felt the ground beneath his feet vibrate. His eyes widened as he realized the walls on either side of him were starting to close in.

"Great," he muttered, feeling the panic begin to rise in his chest.

The walls inched closer, the grinding sound of stone against stone growing louder. He had to think fast. Scanning the wheels, Adrian tried to determine the right sequence. Trial and error wasn't exactly an option anymore, not with the walls about to crush him.

He quickly turned the fourth wheel. Nothing happened.

Desperation clawed at him as he frantically reached for the fifth, hoping it would stop the walls from closing in, but it only made things worse. The walls sped up, closing in faster, leaving him with just enough room to breathe.

"Come on, come on..." he muttered through clenched teeth, his gaze scanning the first to fifth wheel. "Damn it!" he cursed, his hands shaking as he fumbled with the fifth wheel again.

Nothing happened.

The walls were nearly upon him, leaving only a few centimeters of space. Adrian's heart raced as he grabbed the centre wheel, the third one, giving it a desperate turn. For a split second, nothing happened. His breath caught in his throat.

Then, with a loud click, the walls stopped moving.

The heavy grinding sound ceased, and the door in front of him groaned open. Adrian didn't wait to see what else the temple had in store. He bolted through the door, barely glancing at the chamber beyond.

He stumbled into the room, his breath coming in ragged gasps, adrenaline still coursing through his veins. The room was dark at first, save for the faint glow of a few torches lining the walls.

Adrian remained on his knees for a moment, his chest heaving as he tried to steady his racing heart. He had barely survived that trap by the skin of his teeth.

For a moment, the darkness around him was disorienting, but then, one by one, lights flickered on, illuminating the vast chamber.

And what a chamber it was.

Gold. Everywhere.

Piles upon piles of gold coins, jewels, and treasure chests filled the room, stretching as far as the eye could see. Ornate artifacts, gilded statues, ancient relics—name it. The room was filled with wealth beyond imagination.

Adrian rose to his feet, his gaze sweeping across the treasure hoard. The air in the room was thick with the scent of polished metal and ancient coinage. His breath caught in his throat as he took in the sight of the room. It was like stepping into a vault of unimaginable riches.

But as awe-inspiring as the sight was, something felt off.

The treasure, though tempting, had a dangerous allure to it—almost as if it was a trap in and of itself.

Adrian approached cautiously, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of movement. As he moved further in, the temperature continued to drop, and a cold breeze brushed against his skin, raising the hairs on the back of his neck.

And then, there was a voice.

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