Predator

In the sarcophagus, three mysterious objects exuded a sense of modern technology.

"What do you make of this? Surely it wasn't left here by our ancestors. Judging from the material, it appears more advanced," observed Stafford.

The group exchanged dismayed looks, offering various guesses. Some even speculated it could be of extraterrestrial origin. Varion couldn't resist a sarcastic remark, "You're quite the genius, aren't you?"

These weren't relics of the Predators; unmistakably, they were a plasma pistol and two plasma shoulder cannons. The caliber and power of the shoulder cannons differed slightly, with the pistol being distinctly non-human in design.

"Mr. Peter, what's our next move with these?" Peter glanced at Woods, realizing the situation might overwhelm her if they lingered.

"Let's take them and leave. Our mission here is complete."

Examining these artifacts outside the sarcophagus would reveal their true nature. As they retrieved the weapons, Sidian suddenly shouted, "Wait... don't move...!"

Unfortunately, the last pistol had already been taken out, and no one paid heed to his warning.

"What's the matter?" Miller inquired.

"This is a trap," Sidian's expression darkened.

Before anyone could fully comprehend the situation, the shelves housing the weapons closed, and the passageway sealed shut, trapping them inside.

"Damn it, why didn't you warn us sooner?" Stafford scolded.

"I did, but no one listened," Sidian lamented.

In truth, despite the shocking discoveries, Sidian was beginning to regret their hastiness. Conducting archaeological research with these amateurs could lead to reckless interactions with unknown objects.

"Sir, there's no way to open this door; it weighs about two tons," reported a team member.

Peter's expression soured as he turned to Sidian, asking, "What now, Mr. Sidian?"

"Don't worry. If I'm correct, the Mayan calendar is metric. This place may change every ten minutes, allowing us to escape."

The mood lightened slightly among the group. They were willing to wait as long as they could eventually leave. This expedition had been rushed, and they hadn't brought explosives or grenades to attempt a forceful exit.

Minutes crawled by, each ten-minute interval feeling like an eternity.

"Wait, did you hear that?"

"I think I heard something too. It sounded like it came from above."

"Above? Isn't that the surface?"

"Try contacting Green Head. Any response?"

Zizzi... The walkie-talkie emitted nothing but the hum of electric current. Dread settled over the group; something must have gone wrong above.

Sidian's eyes gleamed as if he'd had an epiphany. "Remember the name of the chamber above?"

"The sacrificial room?"

"Yes, the sacrificial room. It's where offerings are made. The murals and texts here always struck me as peculiar. Think back to how we discovered this place. The heat signature, it's like bait to lure us in."

Stafford furrowed his brow. "Go on."

"From the perspective of this sculpture and text, it recounts a ritual practiced since ancient times. Initially, I thought it was merely a tradition. Now it seems it's more than that; it's a ritual. Damn it... Everyone, we've become the prey."

"What does that mean?" Sidian exclaimed, his voice tinged with urgency. "By opening the sarcophagus, we triggered a ceremony, making us the prey. It means we're all going to die here, understand?"

"Wait, are you suggesting that what's depicted on the mural could come to life?" Woods pointed at the mural.

"Yes, exactly. The imagery on this mural could very well manifest. We're the humans, and the other species depicted are likely to appear as well," Sidian explained.

Miller adjusted his glasses. "This creature resembles an arthropod, but it stands like a human."

Panic crept into Peter's thoughts as he observed the discussions. Varion remained unfazed. Peter had always wondered why Varion would dive into such dangerous situations. Did he know something?

"Mr. Varion, it's time. Do you have anything to share with us?" Peter's tone hinted at Varion's potential knowledge.

All eyes turned to Varion, the silent implication weighing heavy. What was Varion hiding?

Varion casually slipped his hand into his pocket. "Didn't you thoroughly research this place before coming?"

"Are you implying you know something?" Peter pressed.

Varion didn't deny it, only nodding. "Yes, the mural has been warning you since we entered, but unfortunately, you overlooked it."

"So, the murals are real?" Woods's eyes widened in realization.

"Indeed, otherwise, why craft them so meticulously? This is a place of ceremony, filled with death and devoid of hope," Varion explained.

"Look here, humanoid figures battling a monster with a knife, and this time, the protagonists are the Predator and the Alien," Peter pointed out.

"You mentioned the Predator?" Varion's eyes gleamed.

"It's not the first appearance of the Predator in this world. Those with certain knowledge are aware of it. Legend has it, a Predator was discovered in a jungle during World War II," Varion revealed.

Miller was already perplexed by the cryptic exchange. "What else?"

"After extracting from the sarcophagus, the pyramid was activated. The sound from above indicated the start of a sacrifice. Something parasitic is implanted in the bodies, eventually bursting out. That explains the wounds you saw," Varion explained further.

Stafford cursed under his breath. "Damn." The team armed themselves, setting up their last line of defense. Woods remained silent, finding reassurance in the presence of protection, regardless of the claims' authenticity.

"Why didn't you warn us about the danger in the sacrificial room?" Woods's anger flashed in her eyes.

"Without them above, the hunt is incomplete. Do you want the Predators to hunt us? Compared to the aliens, you're just an afterthought, weak prey. It doesn't matter if you're here or not," Varion replied calmly.

Sidian turned to Varion, questioning his motives. "If you know so much, why are you still here? Aren't you at risk too?"

"No, you misunderstand. You might die, but I won't. I'm here out of curiosity, to see if it's possible to contain some of these alien races. My background in medicine makes this an intriguing endeavor," Varion clarified.

"Oh, and let me share one more thing with you—the three items you retrieved are weapons!"

....

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