Harold slowly took the gemstone from his hand.
The moment he brought it near the symbol on the palace door, the stone began to shine.
A strong light came from it.
Everyone stepped back.
The symbol on the door changed.
It became a large eye.
Ken stared at it.
"This is not just a key."
"What do you mean?" Lorentz asked.
Ken pointed at the door.
"It is watching us."
Before anyone could respond, the giant eye opened.
A powerful wind came from the palace and pushed everyone backwards.
Harold dropped the gemstone.
It rolled across the ground and stopped near Rudra Senan.
Rudra Senan picked it up.
The eye on the door suddenly focused on him.
Then the same mysterious voice returned.
"Guardian of Amaravati."
Rudra Senan remained silent.
"You have protected the city for many years. But today, you must answer for what you have hidden."
Ken looked at him.
"What is it talking about?"
Rudra Senan did not answer.
The palace door opened.
Inside was a large hall filled with statues.
Each statue looked like a warrior.
At the end of the hall stood a throne.
On the throne was a person covered in a dark cloak.
Everyone raised their weapons.
The cloaked person slowly stood.
"Put your weapons down," the person said.
"No one comes this far by accident."
Harold stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
The person removed the hood.
Everyone was shocked.
Ken could not believe his eyes.
It was a face he had seen before.
"But… you're dead."
The person smiled.
"That is what everyone was made to believe."
Lorentz stepped back.
"This cannot be real."
Rudra Senan suddenly moved forward.
"Enough."
His voice echoed through the hall.
The mysterious person looked at him.
"You still remember me."
Rudra Senan's expression changed.
"I never forgot."
Harold looked between them.
"You two know each other?"
The person on the throne laughed.
"Not only do we know each other. He is the reason I was trapped here."
Everyone turned towards Rudra Senan.
Ken looked at him with confusion.
"Is that true?"
Rudra Senan lowered his weapon.
"There are things you do not understand."
"Then tell us!" Harold shouted.
Rudra Senan remained silent for a few seconds.
Finally, he spoke.
"Many years ago, before Amaravati became the city you know today, this place was ruled by another king."
The mysterious person continued.
"And I was that king's commander."
Rudra Senan looked towards him.
"You were not only his commander."
The person smiled.
"I was his son."
Silence filled the hall.
Ken slowly understood.
"The eleventh and twelfth traps…"
"They were never meant to stop you," the mysterious person said.
"They were meant to bring you here."
Suddenly, the gemstone in Rudra Senan's hand began to glow again.
The entire palace shook.
A crack appeared across the floor.
Something moved beneath them.
Everyone stepped back.
A deep roar came from underground.
The mysterious person looked towards the floor.
"The final guardian has awakened."
Rudra Senan raised his weapon.
"Everyone, get ready."
The ground broke apart.
From the darkness beneath the palace, two enormous eyes appeared.
And then a gigantic creature slowly began to rise.
The final challenge had begun.