Chapter 2:

Lyner stepped out of a small sandstone shelter and ran a hand through his hair. "What exactly should we be looking for?"

All they've found so far was sand and sandstone homes. Other than places of obvious shelter, there wasn't any other sign of human habitation. It was completely empty. It was also surprisingly bigger than they had expected. Which made the eeriness of an empty village all the more unsettling.

"Maybe another set of doors?" Raze returned, though he wore a frown on his lips.

Lyner uttered a sigh as he tugged at the collar of his clothing. It was stifling. Not unlike that of an actual desert. And because they were still situated inside of a building, there was no breeze.

"Or something as suspicious as that."

Zelos' words prompted Lyner to look over to the man, only to find him staring to the west. He followed his gaze and blinked. It was another building, made of the same materials of the area. But it wasn't just some hut. Elevated several feet with stone, cyclical pillars, and a steep staircase.

It was...a temple. Definitely a temple.

A suspicious one indeed.

With nothing else of note, they cautiously made their way toward the temple and quickly descended the stairs. It led to a chamber. An open, spacious chamber. A singular back wall, with pillars supporting a peaked ceiling. Within the centre was a cauldron of sorts. Unlike the torches that illuminated the area, it was unlit. It had been at one point, with the chard wood chips and black soot covering the area around the cauldron. Yet there were plenty of fuel that hadn't been burnt.

"What do you suppose they worshipped here?" Lyner mused aloud.

"Eh, probably some ancient god, if it's a replica of my world's ancient Egypt," York replied.

That didn't narrow it down, but alright. He supposed it didn't matter. There wasn't anyone around to conduct said worship, after all. He was just curious.

The floor beneath Lyner's right foot suddenly gave way and he stumbled. He instinctively tried to lean backwards, in the opposite direction of where gravity wanted him to go. A pair of hands abruptly grabbing him from behind helped him and he staggered away from the pitfall. The hands also helped him to stay upright and he was able to watch as an ancient trap door made of sandstone dropped open, revealing yet another seemingly bottomless pit.

He looked behind him to note that it was Raze that managed to snare him and help him avoid falling into yet another pit. "Th-thanks."

Raze released his hold on him and surprisingly didn't utter a word. He just nodded his head at him and frowned.

Lyner sent him a nervous and apologetic smile before he sighed. Man, another pit trap? That was the second time! Worse still, York and Lazarus had both walked over it previously. Why did it trigger for him? Were the traps so old that their trigger mechanisms grew slower and less sensitive over time?

"I don't think this place likes you very much, Lyner," Lazarus was the one to joke.

"What did I do?" Lyner muttered in response.

"Are you all right?" Ayatane asked him, a frown tugging at his lips.

"Yeah. Just annoyed." Also a little puzzled. He hoped he wasn't suddenly becoming clumsy.

"Think you can run the gantlet to the back of this place?" Lazarus asked, grinning. "I get the feeling that there might be something to help us in our little situation."

Well, he wasn't about to stay in one spot and hope for the best. Had it been anyone else, he would insist such a thing. But it was just him, and he had never been one to stand still. Besides, he was also curious as to what was presented on that wall.

He still kept his gaze toward the ground as they walked deeper into the temple. Ayatane kept a close eye on him as well, which he was grateful for. The last thing he wanted, the last thing Ayatane wanted, was for him to be separated from their companions in such a weird place.

Although, Lyner wasn't exactly worried about himself. If someone had to be separated, he would want it to be him. He was cautious for Ayatane's sake. As he knew, without a doubt, that Ayatane would attempt to follow. Because he would do the same for him. No prompting needed.

Thankfully, the short walk to the decorated wall was an uneventful one and they soon stood before it, gazing upon it in silence.

There were three pictures, again telling a story of sorts.

On the first was a figure similar to the ones figured on the stone pillar they had previously inspected. A single figure before a cauldron, probably the very one that was the centrepiece of the temple. The second was similar to the first, the only difference being a golden lightning bolt from a white cloud seemed to ignite the fire within the cauldron. And lastly, a pyramid rising from the ground?

Could that be right? If they...?

A quiet, gravelly sound abruptly pulled him out of his observations. He instinctively jumped back, skittish and tense. He stared down at the gaping hole in the ground, just in front of him. Where he was about to step. Outwardly, he breathed a sigh of relief. Inwardly, he was frustrated that he was nearly the victim of yet another pit trap!

Before he could lament at the absurdity of the situation, he watched as the stone block that had once covered the hole slowly slid back into place. With an audible click.

That was...odd.

"Dude, how many more traps are you going to set off?"

Lyner bristled at York's snark. "I'm not doing it on purpose!" He truly wasn't. They had it out for him.

...It really felt that way. One, twice could be coincidental. But three times? With the trap folding close after it failed to catch him?

"Moving on," Lazarus began. "If we're to follow the instructions of these pictures, we gotta set fire to the cauldron with the use of lightning and a massive pyramid will erupt from the ground."

"That sounds like a crock of shit," Zelos so helpfully added.

"It does, but what choice do we have?"

"Before we do anything, does anyone else feel like we're being watched?" Raze asked, clear out of the blue.

However, now that Raze raised the subject, Lyner did feel that slight, prickly sensation on the back of his neck. That subtle hair-raising sensation he felt whenever someone or something was staring at him. Staring hard.

"I do as well," Ayatane answered, frowning deeply once more. "I can't quite pinpoint it."

"I don't feel anything," York revealed, which Lazarus and Zelos quickly following the sentiment.

Huh, maybe Ayatane and Raze felt that way out of protectiveness as they were the two that caught Lyner before he was pulled into a trap. And Lyner himself was just paranoid. Who wouldn't be?

"Anyway, should we try what the mosaic reveals?" Lyner asked. "I could start the cauldron."

Ayatane immediately frowned. "I'm reluctant, but I also cannot see any other way forward."

Yeah, that was unfortunately true.

With no other choice, Lyner moved (cautiously) toward the cauldron and gathered up some of the wood chips. He broke some of the pieces into smaller parts placed them upon the heavy-duty steel plate, arranging them so they would light easily, and stay lit.

"This is going to end disastrously; I just know it."

"Quit complaining, it's not like we have any other options."

"But a whole ass pyramid? Really?"

"Why not? Not the strangest thing to have happened."

"Can't really argue with that..."

Lyner tried to tune out the rest of the complaints (mostly from York) and bickering and concentrated on summoning just enough of his lightning abilities to spark a firepit into life. He knew that his lightning skills had the heat that was greater than that of the sun, so he obviously didn't want to shock anyone else.

After a moment, he created a small spark of energy and aimed it toward the cauldron. It struck the smaller fragments. And instantly igniting them. The fire soon grew, engulfing the small pieces and setting upon the larger. Only a few seconds later, the fire grew to a respectable size, giving off a comforting heat.

With the cauldron lit...what next?

Lyner jumped back in surprise when he heard a telling click. He watched, along with everyone else, as the tile that the cauldron sat upon sunk slowly into the floor. And four triangular shaped steel plating, with engravings in the form of a pyramid, slid to cover the cauldron.

Just as the four pieces locked into place, an incredibly loud booming sound caused their surroundings to rattle. Followed promptly by the trembling of the ground beneath their feet. Making it difficult to stay standing.

Oh crap! Were the tremors before of the rising pyramid like dictated on the painting? Or had they actually fell for another kind of trap?

"I told you!"

"York, shut it and run!"

Lyner felt a hand grab him tightly by the elbow and he immediately knew it was Ayatane. He also knew that his hold on him wasn't because Ayatane feared that he would panic and forget to run out of the temple, rather to ensure that he didn't fall into a pit along the way!

Despite the unpredictable rolling and shaking of the ground, they all barrelled out of the temple and out into the fields of endless sands.

And they watched, in complete shock and awe, as a pyramid shaped structure rose up from the sands. Waves of sand rolled off the structure, causing a dusty haze to stir. It was almost like a controlled eruption. And it kept pushing upwards, revealing a wider and wider base.

Until, finally, the structure stopped moving. And a set of doors, similar to the very ones they passed through to enter this field, was seen at the very base.

Huh...there really was an entire pyramid lying in wait under the sand. This temple or dungeon certainly was a strange one!

Though, as impressive and possibly ludicrous the pyramid was, Lyner had to admit that he was more grateful that he didn't fall into any possible traps on his way out of the temple with the others. With how his luck had been lately, it was a surprise. A welcomed one, but a surprise nonetheless. Ayatane's grip on his elbow helped with that, too.

"Ah, now what? We going in?" York asked.

Good question.

Before Lyner could respond, something exploded from the pile of sand next to him, momentarily blinding his senses. Where something tight, large, and rough then wrapped around his waist. The air left his lungs in a gasp of surprise when that thing tightened and then...hefted him up off the ground.

He instinctively placed his hands atop of the thing wound around his waist and tried to pulled himself out of it. Gritting his teeth, he peered through one eye at the thing that held him aloft. It was some kind of humanoid, wrapped entirety in dirty white bandages. Slits in the head of the creature represented mouth and eyes. And in the otherwise empty voids of its eyes was a singular red dot. Piercing and menacing.

It was some kind of mummy creature, but extraordinary large. He couldn't estimate the height, but it was big enough to grab him around his waist and carry him off.

Ugh, what the hell? What was this thing?

"Lyner!"

A flash of light from the corner of his eye caused Lyner to wince. But he soon perked up when he realised that his blade, likely having been thrown by Ayatane (as he was the one who had shouted his name in surprise), was embedded into the wrist of the monster. Within reached. He didn't know when he dropped it, likely having fallen out of its pouch when he was grabbed. None of that mattered.

He immediately reached forward and grabbed his sword, and attempted to used it to leverage apart the fingers of the mummy's hand. He set his focus on freeing himself, paying minor notice of the echoes of his battling teammates. With them busy attempting to fell the strange monster, it allowed him time to hack away at his restraints.

As he struggled, he noted that there was absolutely nothing to be found beneath the bandages. No bones. There was no structure to maintain the appearance and strength of the monster.

Finally, he was able to slice through the thick wadding of the bandages that indicated the monster's wrist and he promptly found himself falling. For real this time.

"Oof!" He landed in a pile of sand, which thankfully cushioned his fall. Still momentarily took his breath away for a moment.

He ignored it, however, and immediately reached for his weapon. The battle was still in progress, and now that he was free, he'd...

As Lyner grabbed his blade with both hands, a thin bandage whipped forward and wrapped tightly around both of his wrists, shocking him into dropping his weapon once more. He immediately dug his heels into the sand in a desperate tug-o-war with the mummy trying to reel him in. But the sand offered absolutely no resistance.

He turned his attention back to the mummy monster and noted that the strip of fabric had unfurled from the empty stump of its arm. Another strip of dirty cloth suddenly shot out from said destroyed appendage and furled around his arms and chest, pinning his arms against his sides. And then another promptly wrapped around his right ankle, incapacitating him further.

They were...determined.

Why was it only focusing in on him? It was not just ignoring the others, but it appeared completely oblivious to their presences. Its full intent was on him.

Ayatane suddenly appeared in front of him and immediately and effortlessly slashed at the bandages restraining him. The releasing of his bindings promptly Lyner to fall backwards and into the sand once more. He quickly scrambled back to his feet and snatched up his weapon.

Not again. He wasn't going to be restrained again!

As soon as took on his offensive stance, another furl of dirty cloth shot toward him. It was pure instinct that caused him to raise his blade defensively and take a step to the side. It shot past him, burying into the sand behind him. He took that moment to slash away at the bandage, unwilling to let it sneak up behind him.

Ugh, so determined!

"Lyner!" Ayatane called out to him.

"I'm fine!" Just a little winded, but fine.

"Good. Stay back for now."

"B-but..." Hgn, sitting on the sidelines was not something he could do. Not when he was capable of fighting! There had to be something he could do. "Just use me as a distraction or something and kill it!"

Ayatane no doubt had several protests in mind, but before he could verbalise any of them, Lyner darted to the right. And effortlessly caught the monster's attention.

Being a distraction was really all he could offer in this battle. The bandages, the mummy's other hand, were intent on capturing him once again. It paid absolutely no attention to his attacking companions. All he could do was dodge and fend off the attempts.

Lyner had full trust in his companions. He knew that they were battling to their full capacities. He knew that they would be able to get through the battle. But it was still taking too long. He couldn't dodge for much longer. It was surprisingly more draining of energy than he had anticipated.

Running headlong into battle was a lot easier!

As he slashed at yet another flailing binding, he noted that the bandages that covered the chest and torso of the mummy was starting to loosen as well. Offering a hint of red orb of light within the chest cavity. It was the same colour of the pinpricks that was the being's eyes.

Could that...?

"Aim for its chest!" Lyner called out as he dodged another flailing grab.

Thankfully, York and Lazarus responded immediately. They appeared before the mummy and teamed up for a combo gun attack. Their combined attack effortlessly broke through the bindings of the being's chest, leaving a gaping hole that was singed around the edges.

The mummy froze suddenly, becoming completely rigid as a strange, pitch-black smoke seeped out from its open chest cavity and dissipated into the sky. After the smoke faded away, the being crumbled to the ground, falling into a boneless heap of white bandages.

It was...over?

Lyner breathed a sigh and dropped down to sit on a mound of sand to catch his breath. His companions chose to do the same, taking a moment to gather themselves after a rather impromptu battle.

"Even the monsters have it out for you here," Zelos was the one to comment, clearly irritated.

Everything in this damn place had it out for him, it seemed. He didn't know why; he hadn't done a thing!

"I think we should be more worried about where that thing was planning on taking Lyner," Ayatane said, doing little to hide both his concern and suspicion.

"It was definitely taking him toward the pyramid," Raze replied, his expression coolly similar to that of Ayatane's.

Was it? Lyner was too busy trying to get out of its grasp to wonder why or where it was taking him. If true, however, "Why? We were going to head inside anyway. It seemed pointless."

"A display of force?" York offered.

"That thing could have just been some guardian or something, and targeted Lyner because he lit the cauldron." Rather unexpectedly, Zelos was the one to offered up that theory.

Hmm, that made sense. Probably just some ancient security system. That did lead to the question of what was inside the pyramid and why this security system felt the need to drag him inside?

Well, there was only one way to find out.