TUNNEL

With unwavering willpower and steel of heart, the dark prince Min swooshed across the Seven Stones in a discreet manner. His speed and cultivation unrivaled, he could unlock the not-so-mysterious puzzle after years of others' failed efforts.

Despite his seemingly arrogant nature, Prince Min was quite cautious. One had to be prudent enough to survive the treacherous thorns of royalty. His heart racing wildly, he stared at the center of the Seven Stones; his most powerful and destructive chip lay beneath it.

Rumble... rumble...

Without prior warning, a tunnel appeared. There seemed to be a strong repulsive power emanating from it. His consciousness surrounding the whole of the Seven Stones chamber, he wasted no time in entering the tunnel.

The dark cold tunnel was quite damning. It went on and on, testing both the will and the strength of the unwelcome visitor. If not for his strong physique and stronger hatred, he would have long succumbed to the sweet allure of madness and death.

His eyes cold and heart now steadier than ever, he walked on as he observed the drawings on the tunnel walls. Although 'drawings' might not be the most accurate word for those scribbles and scratches, he thought even as he felt his IQ dropping staring at the scarcely comprehensible art.

He could more or less guess the message it was meant to deliver. Seven animals seven stones seven days eighth bloom red moon black sun and then it was all too gory to make sense of.

Taking in all of it, he shoved it to the back of his mind. His task now was to bond with Azia the hummingbird. Though it would be greatly weakened after its slumber, it was said to be quick-witted enough to handle even the notorious Python.

Anticipation filled him as he continued to walk into the now debris-free underground chamber. More of a cave than a chamber, with seven more tunnel openings. One of which would lead to his destination. He randomly chose one to continue on.

The new tunnel showed no observable difference. He smirked. "That's all? Your Majesty Azia, you quite disappoint me."

He had no fear of getting lost in seemingly identical tunnels. At any rate, he could simply backtrack back to his starting point. That was one plus of having immense consciousness covering even a mile ahead of him. Thus the long path became more and more long and winding with each fork, though he knew it was but the tip of the iceberg.

He amused himself with thinking of ways to tame the damn bird into his pet. For it was common knowledge that weakened beasts returned to their embryo state. Which made it way easier to force the bond - so what if it was majestic or legendary, now it would be at most an egg. If it resisted too much he could just boil, roast, or fry it till it surrendered.

Quietly mocking the once majestic beast as a dumb bird, he swiftly moved onward.

After what seemed like years of patience, Prince Min came across puddles of water filled with spiritual energy. His eyes narrowed as he continued to come across more and more puddles. He looked up and saw more mold than rock. The water level kept rising. His mind was overwhelmed as he waddled through... Underground cave, ok, but underground water? And with the level rising that fast. Just what was waiting for him??!

Mind you, though this world had been a place of dragons and tigers long ago, the unnatural or the places of untouched natural beauty such as the one Min was entering had long become tales of the past. With the disappearance of the 7 legendary guardians, the spiritual energy of the world was on a decline so sharp that nature had long since collapsed on itself.

On second thoughts, "It's the legendary Seven Stones. If miracles ought to exist then it should be here..." Min reassured himself. Just as he had calmed himself he came to a dead end. Or more like the end of underground and the beginning of underwater...

He could see nothing but darkness even with his consciousness. The spiritual energy within the water seemed to be disrupting his senses while trying to restrain his power. It was going to change from a blind walk to a blind swim now?

"Hmph, let's see what you got," scoffed Min arrogantly as he decisively decided to continue with his madman behavior. Even if too much ego got talent killed, legends were the madmen who had embraced madness.

To rise above all, one had to risk more than all.

Things were getting more interesting.