The sky was gray when they started walking again. Not the soft kind of gray that promised rain and quiet moments, but the kind of gray that made everything feel still, too still. No birds. No wind. Just silence. And that silence followed them as they marched toward what the clues from Treasure 6 had revealed: the place where Treasure 7 was hidden.A fortress. Not just any fortress, but one that might as well have belonged in a nightmare.It sat in the center of a massive canyon, surrounded by black cliffs and strange glowing symbols carved into the walls of the rock. Each symbol shimmered faintly, like breathing embers trapped in stone. There was no visible path to the fortress, no road, no bridge. Just the cliffs, and that uneasy quiet, as if the place was alive and waiting.Benjamin stood on the edge, eyes narrowed. His fingers brushed the compass-shaped relic from Treasure 6. It pulsed gently, guiding them here, to this exact spot.“We’re close now,” he said softly.Amanda, ever

Emily stared at the screen in front of her, her hand frozen just inches from the red button. Her heart thudded loudly in her chest, each beat like a war drum. The room was dark except for the dim blue lights of the monitors and the silent hum of machines running complex calculations behind her. She had been in tight spots before. She had lied, fought, escaped, and even bled for this mission. But nothing compared to this."Emily, do you copy?" Malik’s voice crackled through her earpiece.“I’m here,” Emily replied, her voice barely above a whisper.“We’ve got movement at the south entrance,” He said quickly. “A strike team. They’re going for the power node. If they destroy it, Benjamin and his team will be trapped inside.”Emily swallowed hard. Her hand hovered above the controls. From her end, she could activate the emergency lockdown. That would keep the enemies out, but it would also seal off one of Benjamin’s key allies. Darius. Or…She could reroute the emergency energy to the s

The air was thick with tension. Benjamin Moore stood at the edge of a towering structure built into the side of a cliff. Before them was the path to Treasure 7. But this wasn’t just any hidden prize; this was the last true key. And the Architect had made sure it would not be easy to get.Benjamin turned to face Amanda, Timothy, and Darius. Their faces were grim, their bodies already weary from all they had been through. But their eyes, especially Benjamin’s eyes, burned with a steady fire."This is it," Benjamin said. "The Architect’s final line of defense."They had found the entrance hidden behind a waterfall, using a puzzle only Benjamin could solve because of a memory his father once whispered to him in a dream. Now, the team stood at the threshold of what the Architect called "The Trials of Worth."Amanda stepped forward. "Let’s go together. No one faces this alone."The door creaked open, revealing a long corridor with metal, stone, and symbols glowing faintly. The moment they s

The sky was dark, filled with thick, swirling clouds. The air felt heavy, like something big was about to happen. Benjamin Moore stood at the edge of the ancient stone platform, the seven treasures glowing around him. Each one hummed with energy, pulsing like a heartbeat. His team, Amanda, Timothy, and Darius, stood behind him, tense and quiet.In front of them was the final barrier. A massive stone gate that had no hinges, no handles, just smooth, ancient markings. Benjamin placed his hand on it.The moment his skin touched the stone, all seven treasures lifted into the air on their own. They spun around him, faster and faster, until a golden light shot from the center and struck the gate.With a loud rumble, the gate cracked down the middle and opened. Behind it stood a man. Tall, wearing a dark robe embroidered with ancient symbols. His eyes were glowing faintly. It was him, the Architect."So," the Architect said, his voice calm, "you made it."Benjamin didn’t move. He could feel

The morning sun filtered gently through the curtains of the hospital room. It was a soft kind of light, one that didn't hurt the eyes, just warm enough to bring a small smile. Benjamin sat quietly by the window, gazing outside at the blooming flowers and listening to the distant sounds of birds.They were finally home. Not just home as in a building or a place, but home in the way that meant safety. After everything they had gone through, dangerous traps, ancient riddles, and betrayal, they had made it back. And now, Benjamin held the last of the five treasures in his hands. It glowed faintly, as if it knew the journey was over.He turned his gaze toward the hospital bed. His mother lay there, peaceful but still. For years, her sickness had held her in a quiet prison. No medicine had worked. No doctors had been able to help. But the treasures, those ancient, powerful artifacts, had shown him something new. A way to save her.Timothy and Amanda stood at the doorway, silent, watching B