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MidReal Story
The Fortune Seeker
Scenario:重生之我有首富签到系统
Create my version of this story
Kaito Hashimoto
He is a college student majoring in psychology. He is sarcastic, skeptical, and pragmatic. Kaito discovers a mysterious app that allows him to register as a "fortuneseeker" after trying various dating apps with little success. Despite initial reservations, he becomes intrigued by the app's potential. As he navigates this new system, Kaito begins to embrace the unexpected attention and opportunities that come his way, while maintaining a critical mindset.
Akira Shinoda
He is Kaito's childhood friend and fellow college student. He is charismatic, confident, and laidback. Known for his good looks and athletic prowess, Akira often leverages his charm to attract attention. While he initially supports Kaito's decision to join the fortuneseeker app, he remains skeptical and teasingly critical. Despite his teasing nature, their friendship remains strong as they share experiences and mutual admiration for each other's resilience in facing challenges.
Ryota Shinoda
He is Akira's older brother and Kaito's acquaintance. He is protective, authoritative, and pragmatic. As the eldest sibling, Ryota takes on a parental role among his family and often offers guidance to Kaito. He is initially skeptical of the fortuneseeker app but helps facilitate Kaito's introduction to the system. His relationship with Kaito is built on mutual respect and a shared history within their social circle marked by camaraderie and shared experiences.
I stared at my phone for a long time, not knowing what to do.
I had tried many dating apps before, but they all ended up the same way: nothing.
Either I didn't have the courage to swipe right on a girl, or she swiped left on me.
I was beginning to lose hope, thinking that maybe I would never find a girlfriend.
But then I saw this unusual app, and curiosity got the better of me.
The app was called "Fortune Seeker Signup System."
I had no idea what it was about, but I decided to give it a try.
After all, what did I have to lose?
"Hey Akira, can you help me with something?"
I asked my friend as I scrolled through the app.
"What is it?"
Akira looked up from his phone and asked.
"There's this app... I want to know if it's real or not."
I showed him the app on my phone, and he looked at it for a few seconds before he burst out laughing.
"You're kidding me right? That's just a scam. Don't waste your time on that," he said.
"But what if it's real? What if I can really find a fortune by signing up?"
I asked.
"Then go ahead," he said, shrugging his shoulders.
"But if you get scammed, don't come crying to me."
I sighed and decided to take the plunge.
After filling out the registration form and submitting my profile picture, I clicked on the signup button.
I watched intently as the app processed my registration, the loading circle spinning round and round.
Akira looked over my shoulder, his earlier skepticism replaced by curiosity.
"Come on, hurry up," he said.
"I don't have all day."
Suddenly, my phone screen dimmed and then brightened again with an unnatural blue glow.
The Fortune Seeker logo dissolved into tiny pixelated fragments, rearranging themselves into text.
"Welcome to your journey of wealth discovery," it read, each letter materializing one by one with a soft chime.
Akira's jaw dropped open in amazement.
"What the hell is this?"
I tapped on the screen, but nothing happened.
The message remained fixed there, pulsing with an ethereal light.
My hands started trembling as I realized that this was definitely not a normal dating app.
The blue glow from the screen cast eerie shadows across the walls of my dorm room, making it feel like we were in a science fiction movie.
Akira leaned closer, his earlier mockery replaced by tense silence.
My finger hovered over the "Next" button, but I hesitated.
What if this was some kind of malware?
Or worse, what if it was a phishing scam designed to steal my identity?
The app's interface seemed to sense my hesitation.
The text rippled and flowed like liquid metal, morphing into a new message.
"Please proceed with caution," it read.
"Your fortune awaits."
I looked at Akira, who was watching with wide eyes.
"Should we do this?"
I asked him.
He nodded slowly, as if he was still trying to process what was happening.
"Yes," he whispered.
"But if something bad happens, I'm blaming you."
I took a deep breath and pressed the "Next" button.
The screen flickered, and a new message appeared: "Choose wisely, for your decision will shape your destiny."
Akira glanced at me nervously, "This is starting to sound like one of those creepy choose-your-own-adventure books."
The screen shifted again, revealing three paths to choose from.
Each option was represented by a pulsing icon: a golden key, a silver compass, and a bronze mirror.
My finger hovered over the screen, hesitating between the choices.
Akira leaned in closer, his breath catching in his throat as the icons began to rotate slowly.
The room felt smaller, more confined, as if the app was sucking us into its digital realm.
The blue light intensified, casting an otherworldly glow on our faces.
I looked at Akira, who seemed frozen in place.
"Which one should I choose?"
I asked him.
He didn't respond, his eyes fixed on the screen.
I took a deep breath and tapped on the golden key.
It pulsed brighter, emitting a warm glow that seemed to reverberate through my entire body.
The other two icons faded into the background, their light dimming as if they were being pulled away by an invisible force.
The golden key remained centered on the screen, radiating an aura of triumph and possibility. The app's interface froze for a moment, as if it was processing my choice.
Then, without warning, it erupted into a cascade of digital symbols that danced across the screen like fireflies on a summer night.
Akira grabbed my shoulder, his grip tight with excitement.
"What's happening?" he whispered.
I shook my head, equally bewildered.
The symbols coalesced into words: "Fortune Seeker Level 1 - Initiated."
A progress bar appeared below the text, slowly filling up with each passing second.
The phone vibrated in my hand with an intensity I had never felt before.
The progress bar reached 100% with a soft chime, and the screen erupted into a kaleidoscope of colors.
Akira leaned back, his earlier nervousness replaced by a wide grin.
"Whoa," he breathed.
"This is insane."
The colorful animation gradually faded, revealing a notification box in the center of the screen.
"Congratulations! You have unlocked your first set of rewards."
A list of items appeared below the message: 500 premium coins, 3 golden tickets, and something called a "fortune boost."
I had no idea what any of these meant, but Akira's eyes widened with excitement as he pointed at the coin total.
"Hey, you can exchange those for real money," he said.
"Or use them to buy stuff on the app."
I tapped on the rewards to learn more.
Each item opened up a detailed description: The premium coins were essentially in-app currency that could be exchanged for real money or used to purchase exclusive content.
The golden tickets granted access to special events and activities within the app.
And the fortune boost... well, that was still a mystery.
The app didn't provide much information about it, only that it would enhance my overall experience as a Fortune Seeker. I scrolled through the descriptions, trying to make sense of it all.
Another notification popped up: "Your first mission as a Fortune Seeker has been assigned."
Akira grabbed my phone before I could read it, but I snatched it back quickly.
"No way," I said firmly.
"This is my account. You can't see my missions."
"Let me see what it says," Akira insisted, his curiosity getting the better of him.
I held the phone out of his reach, my heart racing.
"Fine, but if it's something dangerous, we're stopping immediately," I warned, glancing at the screen.
I studied the glowing map on my phone screen, trying to make sense of the blinking marker.
It was located a few blocks away from campus, near the old shopping district.
Akira leaned in closer, pointing at the marker.
"Hey, it looks like it's moving," he said, his voice filled with curiosity.
I tilted the phone slightly, watching as the marker shifted its position.
It wasn't moving randomly; it seemed to be adjusting its bearing, like a compass finding its way.
I zoomed in on the map, and a set of instructions appeared: "Visit the marked location within 24 hours to activate your fortune boost."
A timer materialized in the corner of the screen, counting down from 23:58:45.
"We should go now," Akira suggested, his voice filled with excitement.
I hesitated, remembering the app's warning about choosing wisely.
"I don't know," I said, glancing at the map again.
The address was unfamiliar to me.
"Let's check the exact location first."
Akira nodded in agreement, and I opened up a new map app on my phone to cross-check the address. The location was indeed near campus, but in a part of town that I rarely visited.
It was a small alleyway between two buildings, almost invisible unless you knew where to look.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Akira asked impatiently.
"Let's go!"
I grabbed my jacket and keys before heading out of my dorm room.
Akira followed closely behind me, his enthusiasm evident in his quick steps.
As we walked towards the location, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something strange was going on.
The app's instructions had been cryptic, and I still didn't understand what this "fortune boost" was all about.
We reached the alleyway and found a small door tucked away in the shadows.
I hesitated for a moment, then reached for the handle, feeling the weight of the unknown pressing down on me.
I pushed open the heavy metal door, revealing a dimly lit room that smelled of old books and dust.
The space was cramped, filled with rows of shelves stacked with ancient artifacts and mysterious objects.
A small counter stood in the corner, with a sign that read "Antique Shop" in faded letters.
Akira tensed up beside me, his eyes scanning the room with suspicion.
"What kind of place is this?" he whispered.
I shrugged, equally unsure.
"Maybe it's some kind of puzzle," I said, glancing at my phone screen for any clues.
The app still showed the location marker, but there were no additional instructions.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from behind one of the shelves.
It was an elderly man with wire-rimmed glasses perched on the end of his nose.
He wore a pair of worn gloves and carried a long leather tube in his hands.
"Welcome," he said in a soft voice, approaching us slowly.
"Are you here for the treasure map?"
Akira's eyes widened in surprise, while I felt a surge of excitement mixed with fear.
How did this man know what we were looking for?
My phone vibrated again, displaying a new notification: "Mission Target Found."
I looked up to see the man standing right in front of us, his eyes twinkling with curiosity.
"Yes," I said hesitantly, trying to gauge his intentions.
"I'm here to claim the treasure map." The man nodded, his expression unreadable.
He carefully unrolled the leather tube onto a wooden table near the counter.
As he smoothed out the parchment, I noticed that it was covered in intricate drawings and symbols that seemed to shimmer in the dim light.
"This is an authentic treasure map from the Edo period," he explained in a low voice, tracing his gloved fingers over the parchment.
"It has been passed down through generations of my family and is now yours to claim."
Akira leaned in closer to examine the map more closely, his eyes scanning every detail.
I watched as he pointed out several symbols and markings that seemed to indicate specific locations around the city.
"It looks like this map leads to an underground tunnel system," Akira said excitedly, glancing at me with anticipation.
"Do you think it's real?"
I hesitated for a moment before answering him.
"I don't know," I admitted truthfully, "but I think we should investigate further."
The old man smiled knowingly as he handed me the parchment.
After receiving the map, I spread it out across my dorm room desk while Akira peered over my shoulder.
The aged parchment crackled as I traced the faded lines with my finger.
The map depicted a network of tunnels and passageways that crisscrossed beneath the city.
I noticed that some of the lines matched up with modern streets, while others seemed to disappear into thin air.
My phone buzzed on the desk, drawing my attention away from the map.
A new notification flashed on the screen: "Map Authentication Complete - Tunnel Access Point Located."
I tapped on the notification to learn more.
The app displayed a satellite image of the city with a red marker indicating a specific intersection near the campus library.
"That must be where we need to go," Akira said, pointing at the marker.
"But what about supplies? We don't know how long we'll be down there."
I nodded in agreement, realizing that we needed to prepare ourselves for whatever lay ahead.
"Let's gather some essentials," I suggested, glancing around my room for anything useful.
Akira rummaged through his backpack and pulled out a few flashlights, some water bottles, and a length of rope from his climbing gear. "This should help us navigate through the tunnels," he said confidently, stuffing the supplies into his backpack.
I grabbed a small first aid kit from my desk drawer and added it to our collection.
As I packed up my own backpack, I couldn't shake off the feeling that this was all too dangerous.
But something about the app's steady pulse of blue light drew me in like a magnet.
After studying the map for hours, I noticed a faint line that seemed to connect to the campus library's basement.
The next day, I found myself in the library's basement, surrounded by dusty shelves and flickering fluorescent lights.
I had come here to gather some research materials for a paper, but my mind kept wandering back to the treasure map.
As I reached for a book on the top shelf, my elbow accidentally bumped against an old wooden panel.
The sound it made was hollow, like hitting a drum.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I tapped different sections of the wall with my knuckles.
Some areas sounded solid, while others produced that same hollow echo.
I realized that there must be a hidden compartment somewhere.
Using my student ID card, I carefully pried loose one of the panels.
A narrow gap appeared, revealing a dark cavity within the wall.
I hesitated for a moment before reaching inside with my fingers.
They brushed against something cold and metallic, which I managed to pull out with some effort. It was a small cloth bag tied with twine, heavy with what felt like coins inside.
Next to it lay a tarnished brass object that resembled a miniature key.
My heart raced as I quickly stuffed the cloth bag into my jacket pocket, trying to appear casual.
The librarian, an elderly woman with silver-rimmed glasses, stepped closer to my corner of the basement.
She didn't seem alarmed or suspicious, but rather interested in my discovery.
I noticed a familiar blue glow emanating from a pendant around her neck, similar to the interface on my phone screen.
"Did you find something interesting?" she asked softly, her eyes fixed on the brass key in my hand.
I hesitated for a moment before answering.
"I'm not sure what this is," I admitted truthfully, holding up the key.
The librarian smiled knowingly as she reached into her cardigan pocket and pulled out what looked like an older version of my fortune seeker device.
She tapped on its screen, and suddenly my phone vibrated in my pocket.
A new notification flashed on the screen: "Mentor Found."
"Looks like you've stumbled onto something bigger than you realized," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Akira appeared at the top of the basement stairs, his eyes widening as he saw the key in my hand.
"Who is she?" he asked, glancing between us with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
The librarian led us to a private office hidden behind a bookshelf.
The room was cluttered with dusty volumes and antique artifacts, giving off an air of forgotten knowledge.
She introduced herself as Ming, a retired fortune seeker who had spent her life uncovering hidden treasures.
Ming pulled out a worn leather journal from her desk drawer and began flipping through its yellowed pages.
Each page was filled with strange symbols and diagrams that seemed to match the markings on my treasure map.
As she turned the pages, the blue glow from her device intensified, illuminating the intricate patterns.
Finally, she stopped at a page that depicted a network of tunnels and passageways, eerily similar to the map I had received.
"This is it," she said, her voice filled with excitement.
"The path to the treasure."
Akira leaned closer to examine the diagram more closely.
I noticed how the tunnels seemed to form a specific pattern, like a code waiting to be deciphered. Ming's fingers traced the lines on the page, explaining how they connected to old city records and hidden passages beneath the streets.
As she reached a particular intersection on the diagram, her finger suddenly stopped moving.
She looked up at me with an intense gaze, as if searching for something in my eyes.
"Follow me," she said abruptly, rising from her chair and walking towards the wall of her office.
Akira and I exchanged confused glances before following her.
She brushed away cobwebs from a section of the wall, revealing a faded symbol etched into the surface.
"This symbol marks the entrance to the original tunnel network," Ming explained, her voice steady with purpose.
Akira squinted at the symbol, then turned to me. "So, you're saying this whole time, the key was right here under our noses?"
Ming nodded, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "And now it's up to you two to unlock its secrets."
I stand before the hidden door in Ming's office, the brass key clutched tightly in my trembling fingers.
Akira peers over my shoulder, his eyes fixed intently on the ancient lock.
Ming watches from her desk, a silent observer to this moment of discovery.
The key slides into the lock with a satisfying click, its worn surface catching slightly against the aged mechanism.
I hesitate for a moment, remembering all the strange events that led me here—the cryptic messages, the mysterious map, and the enigmatic fortune seeker device that brought us together.
My phone pulses in my pocket with that familiar blue glow, urging me forward.
Taking a deep breath, I turn the key.
The mechanism releases with a soft click that echoes in the quiet room.
The wall shifts inward, revealing a dark passageway beyond.
A rush of stale air hits my face as the door creaks open.
Akira steps forward, peering into the darkness. "Do you think this leads to the treasure or something else entirely?"
Ming chuckles softly, her eyes twinkling with a mix of mischief and wisdom. "The real treasure isn't always what you expect; sometimes it's the journey itself."
I glance at Akira, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. "Ready to find out what's been hidden all these years?"
I grip my flashlight tightly, its beam cutting through the musty darkness of the tunnel entrance.
The stone walls feel cold and damp against my palm as I steady myself.
Behind me, Akira fumbles with his own light while Ming stands in her doorway, her silhouette framed by the warm glow of her office.
The tunnel stretches ahead like a throat, ancient brick walls lined with patches of green moss.
My fortune seeker app pulses with an intense blue light, casting eerie shadows on the walls.
A distant drip of water echoes through the passage.
I take one last look at Akira's nervous face, then step forward into the darkness.
The door closes behind us with a finality that leaves no room for turning back.
I shine my flashlight along the tunnel walls, searching for any signs or markings that match the symbols on the map.
The beam catches something metallic embedded in the brick—a small, intricately engraved brass plate.
Akira leans closer, his breath hot against my neck as we examine the plate.
Decades of grime cover the engravings, making it difficult to decipher their meaning.
I gently brush away some of the dirt, revealing a series of interlocking symbols that seem to match the ones from Ming's journal.
"Look at this," I whisper, pointing to a small marking in the center of the plate.
Akira squints at it. "Is that a button?"
I nod, my heart pounding with anticipation.
I press my finger against the marking, and it yields under my touch with a soft click.
The brick wall shudders slightly, and a previously invisible seam appears in front of us.
A narrow panel slides aside with barely a sound, revealing a tight spiral staircase that vanishes downward into darkness.
Akira grabs my arm, his voice filled with concern. "Maybe we should head back. This feels too dangerous."
I look back at him, resolve hardening in my chest. "We've come too far to turn back now."
I grip the cold metal railing of the spiral staircase, moving down one careful step at a time.
The air grows colder with each descent, and I can see my breath misting in the beam of my flashlight.
Akira follows close behind, his own light casting eerie shadows on the walls.
As we descend deeper into the earth, I notice something peculiar etched into the curved walls of the staircase.
Intricate carvings line the stone—a mix of lines, circles, and arrows that seem to form a pattern.
I pause for a moment, tracing the carvings with my finger.
They're worn smooth by time and touch, but I can still feel the slight grooves left behind by whoever crafted them.
Akira leans over my shoulder, his breath warm against my ear.
"What are you looking at?"
I point to the carvings. "These symbols. They look familiar."
He squints at them. "Are they from Ming's journal?"
I nod.
"They match some of the pages we found. But there's something different here."
As we continue down the staircase, I notice that the carvings become more detailed and organized.
They start connecting into what looks like pathways and chambers.
It's as if someone has mapped out an entire underground world within these walls.
We reach another level of the staircase, and I stop to examine a particularly clear section of carvings.
The pattern is unmistakable now—a winding path leading to what appears to be a large underground room. Akira points his light at a specific marking on the wall—a symbol that resembles a doorway.
"Look at this," he whispers urgently.
I turn my flashlight beam towards it, and instantly recognize it as part of the map from Ming's journal.
"This must be where we need to go," I say, a surge of excitement coursing through me.
We follow the carvings further down, and they lead us to a final door hidden in the stone wall.
Akira hesitates, his hand hovering over the door's handle. "Are you sure about this? What if it's a trap?"
I nod, feeling the weight of our journey pressing on my shoulders. "It's a risk we have to take; the answers we seek are just beyond this door."
Ming's voice crackles through the walkie-talkie clipped to Akira's belt, filled with urgency. "Whatever you find in there, remember—it's not just about the treasure, it's about what it means for all of us."
I push open the heavy door, its hinges creaking in protest.
The room beyond is circular, lit by a series of strange blue crystals embedded in the walls.
The glow they emit matches the exact shade of my fortune seeker app, which pulses in my hand.
As my eyes adjust to the light, I notice rows of stone shelves lining the chamber, filled with ancient scrolls and artifacts.
Akira whispers beside me, "These must be from the Ming dynasty."
But before he can say more, we both catch a flicker of movement in the shadows.
A figure steps out from behind a pillar, their face obscured by a hood.
My heart races as they approach us, their steps echoing off the crystal-lined walls.
They stop at the edge of the light, their hand reaching out towards us.
In a voice that reverberates through the chamber, they speak words I can't understand.
The figure lowers their hood, revealing eyes that gleam with a knowing intensity.
I watch the hooded figure glide across the chamber toward a towering bookshelf lined with ancient texts.
They reach out a pale hand, pressing specific spots on the ornate frame of the shelf.
A mechanical click echoes through the room, and Akira grabs my sleeve.
The bookshelf begins to swing inward, revealing a narrow corridor beyond.
The walls of the corridor are lit by more of the blue crystals, casting an ethereal glow over everything.
The hooded figure turns back to us, their eyes still gleaming with that unsettling intensity.
They beckon with a pale hand for us to follow them into the passage.
My instincts scream at me to be cautious, but before I can react, my fortune seeker app vibrates intensely in my pocket.
I pull it out, and the screen flashes with a message: "Path of Enlightenment Found."
Akira whispers urgently in my ear, "What does that mean?"
I glance at the app, then back at the hooded figure. "I think it means we're on the right track."
Akira's eyes narrow with suspicion. "But can we trust them to lead us there safely?"
The figure turns slightly, their voice calm yet commanding. "Trust is earned, not given—but you must decide quickly."
I follow the hooded figure through the narrow passage, my shoulders brushing against damp stone walls.
Akira trails behind, his breathing growing more rapid with each step.
The air is heavy with the scent of aged earth and forgotten history.
As we walk, I notice the figure occasionally pauses to touch specific stones in the walls.
Each time they do, a soft blue glow pulses from the points of contact.
The corridor begins to slope downward, and I can feel the temperature dropping with every step.
My fortune seeker app continues to vibrate in my pocket, its screen displaying a series of rapidly changing symbols.
I have no idea what they mean, but they seem to be guiding us deeper into the earth.
Finally, we reach another sealed door—a massive slab of ancient metal adorned with intricate carvings.
The hooded figure turns to face us, their eyes gleaming with an otherworldly intensity. They raise both hands toward the metal surface, and a low humming sound fills the corridor.
I watch in stunned silence as the metal ripples like water, the carvings beginning to move as if they're alive.
They etch themselves deeper into the surface, emitting a soft blue glow that illuminates the entire corridor.
Akira grabs my sleeve, pointing at specific carvings that are shifting and morphing into ancient symbols and pathways.
The hooded figure steps forward, their fingers tracing along certain lines on the door.
As they do, those lines pulse brighter, forming an intricate map that now spans the entire surface of the door.
I can see paths and tunnels branching off in all directions, some leading deeper into the earth while others seem to loop back up toward the surface.
Akira's grip on my sleeve tightens. "Look," he whispers urgently.
"Those symbols—they match some of the ones we saw in those ancient texts."
I follow his gaze, realizing he's right.
The symbols are shifting and rearranging themselves, forming patterns I recognize from our research.
But there's something else too—familiar landmarks from above ground that are somehow being etched into this map.
The hooded figure continues tracing lines with their finger, and more symbols appear.
Suddenly, my fortune seeker app chimes loudly in my pocket, and I pull it out to see a message flashing on the screen: "Map Synchronization in Progress."
I watch the hooded figure press their palm flat against the glowing door, and the blue light pulses rhythmically in response.
They turn to face us, and for the first time, I see a hint of a gentle smile beneath the hood of their cloak.
Without speaking, they gesture toward a section of the wall that slides open silently, revealing a well-lit passage beyond.
Akira releases his death grip on my sleeve, his eyes wide with a mix of relief and awe.
The hooded figure leads us through the newly opened passage, occasionally reaching out to touch panels that cause more sections of the wall to slide open.
We climb steadily upward, navigating through what appears to be some sort of ancient emergency exit system.
My phone continues displaying navigation markers that match our guide's movements perfectly.
Akira glances at me, his voice barely above a whisper. "Do you think they built all this just to hide something?"
The hooded figure pauses, turning slightly as if considering the question. "Not to hide," they reply softly, "but to protect what must never be forgotten."
The hooded figure leads us into a circular chamber with walls lined by polished metal surfaces that reflect the soft glow of blue crystal lights embedded in the ceiling.
The room is small, with a single chair positioned at its center.
As we step inside, a soft whirring sound catches my attention.
A small, sleek drone emerges from a panel in the wall, its body made of a reflective metallic material that mirrors the light around it.
The drone hovers at eye level, its lens focusing on us with an unnerving intensity.
Akira instinctively takes a step back, his hand reaching for my arm.
Suddenly, the drone emits a bright flash of light, and a life-sized holographic projection appears before us.
The image is so vivid that it seems to pulse with life.
It's an elderly man dressed in traditional scholar robes, his long white hair tied back in a neat braid.
His eyes are wise and ancient, filled with a deep understanding that transcends time. The hologram speaks in clear Japanese, its voice resonating through the chamber.
"Welcome, travelers. I am Master Chen, an ancient keeper of knowledge."
The hooded figure bows deeply to the hologram, their movements graceful and reverent.
My fortune seeker app flashes another message: "Ancient Guardian Connected."
The drone circles slowly around us as it continues to project the hologram of Master Chen.
No matter where it moves, the image remains perfectly clear and undistorted.
Master Chen begins to speak again, his words dripping with wisdom and authority.
"This tunnel system was never meant to be hidden. It was built to preserve knowledge and protect those who seek truth. The symbols you've uncovered are but a fraction of what lies within these passages."
"Prepare yourselves, for the journey to uncover the truth has only just begun."
I watch intently as Master Chen's hologram begins to manipulate streams of light that appear to be coming from the drone.
The light morphs into a three-dimensional map that floats in the center of the chamber.
Ancient characters and symbols dance along the pathways, intermingling with what appears to be modern coordinates.
The map reveals a network far more extensive than we could have ever imagined.
Our hooded guide points to a specific path on the map, marked by glowing symbols.
"This route leads to a vault containing ancient scrolls and artifacts. Be cautious, for some paths are treacherous."
The drone moves through the hologram, highlighting safe routes and marking dangerous sections in red.
Akira steps closer, studying the map intently.
"Look, some of these paths match Ming's journal entries," he whispers to me.
As if responding to Akira's words, the hologram zooms in on a specific chamber ahead.
My fortune seeker app vibrates again, displaying "Treasury Route Unlocked."
The hologram zooms in further, revealing a heavy stone door with intricate carvings.
I grip the wall for balance as the chamber floor trembles beneath us.
The drone's light flickers erratically, casting unstable shadows across Master Chen's fading hologram.
Loose stones clatter down from the ceiling while Akira stumbles backward.
Our hooded guide quickly accesses a hidden panel, revealing emergency exit routes.
The fracture in the ground spreads like lightning, creating a widening gap between us and the carved stone door.
I pull out my phone, its blue glow steady despite the chaos.
The fortune seeker app displays an urgent warning: "Structural Integrity Compromised - Immediate Evacuation Required."
Akira's voice trembles as he clutches my arm. "We can't leave now, not when we're so close."
The hooded figure's voice cuts through the chaos with calm authority. "Your safety is paramount; the knowledge will remain."
Master Chen's hologram flickers, his eyes meeting ours with a solemn gaze. "Return when the time is right; the vault will await your courage."
I grip Akira's sleeve as we sprint through the crumbling tunnel, following our guide's frantic gestures.
The drone zips ahead, its light marking our escape route while chunks of ceiling crash behind us.
My fortune seeker app flashes urgent red warnings about structural collapse.
We reach a metal ladder just as a massive stone slab crashes where we stood seconds ago.
The hooded figure pushes us forward, insisting we climb first.
I grab the cold metal rungs and start ascending, hearing Master Chen's hologram fade into static below.
Through the falling debris, I catch a glimpse of a figure in white standing in a side passage.
Her hand extends toward us, and her voice rings clear in Japanese, "I know a faster way out!"
The drone's light sweeps across her face, revealing youthful features with ancient eyes.
Akira hesitates, but our guide nods in recognition.
Another section of ceiling crashes down, sealing our original escape route.
With no choice, I grab her outstretched hand, and she pulls us through a narrow opening I hadn't noticed before.
This passage feels different - smoother walls, fresher air.
I follow her through the winding passage, her white clothes glowing in the soft blue light from recessed panels.
She walks with a practiced ease, as if she's traversed this route countless times.
"This section of the tunnels is maintained by modern technology," she explains, her voice calm and steady.
"I ensure its integrity, just as Master Chen entrusted me."
Akira glances at me, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"Who are you? How do you know Master Chen?"
The woman stops and turns to face us.
Her eyes hold the same depth I saw in Master Chen's hologram, a mix of wisdom and secrets.
She pulls out a pendant from beneath her clothes - a silver dragon identical to Ming's.
Our hooded guide nods in recognition, as if they share a silent understanding.
The woman presses a hidden panel, and a section of the wall slides open, revealing a control room filled with sleek technology.
She steps inside and begins tapping on a screen.
The room hums with power as additional safety protocols activate.