Archaeologists in a Magic Cultivation World

The latest part of the dig site was just one of many exciting encounters today. The first level that worked on the opening found a few bodies that still had clothing on them. The fact that it was preserved so well was much to debate before even unearthing the rest of the remains.

"Dr.William!" A man called out down below. The harness keeping him close enough to the lift despite his over-extending. "You have to make sure to come to see this before you go home today!"

"Sure, just make sure you take a lot of pictures!" Dr.William waved at the enthused student. He continued his descent into the ruins. "Gloves on to!"

His last words went unheard. The students had a real hard time remembering to do so. Always commenting that the gloves prevented a real "feel" of what was found. the oils on the body were not that a big deal to them.

But this was a semi-funded University Dig. A few procedures needed to be done still. Only 15% of what was found so far was going on display after all. Everything else was going into private collections and secret viewings.

"What the heck is this thing on this one's chest?" The students gathered around, looking at what looked to be a metal harness in most places. "It's embedded in the skin to."

A few more moved their lifts over to see. Looking over the sides, causing the baskets to bounce a little. It was a good thing the ground was leveled where they were set up at.

"Well, lookee here." One of the security guards called out. "I think this is that missing convict from last month."

"Well, that would be around the time we had that washout, and security was real lax." Mordecai, the department head from the University, said. He stroked his mustache, giving it a little twist at the end. He was a terrible poker player, William found out one night. "Well, at least we have the right people with us down here."

"Just in case a few other convicts are here I take it?" William observed the distraught look on the convict's face and the fact his body was leaning towards the exit. Not going further in. 'These marking on his side defintely looks like an animal.'

"We will go in first to check in case any others are here hiding out." The security guard gestured for four others to go with him. Leaving the Archeology team there.

"Welp, I am going back topside." William took a cursory glance at the body then moved back. "This is how horror movies happen. Not risking it."

"Don't be such a coward." Isabella, the daughter of one of the people paying for the dig said. Her voice always reeked of ridicule. Well, that or passion when she was on her back having fun. "You will waste energy going back up."

"Fine by me, at least I am in shape." William waved her off behind him. "If some crazy monster comes running out, do slow it down with your bodies for me."

The radio only picking up static and a strange hum of sorts.

The other team looked at each other for a bit before following behind to go back up. Slightly spoked eyes darted around the sides wildly. Each of them noticing something peculiar caused by an overactive imagination.

"Dr.William..." Pete, a Botanist, called out. ".. we had more lanterns hung up yesterday. I am quite sure of it."

William didn't answer as he sped up. His hand reaching into his side to grip one of the concealed handguns he carried. Safety off as he prepared for the worst outcome.

"Hey, didn't you.." Pete shut up when he received an elbow in the side from another member of the dig site. "That hurt, you know." He said in a whisper.

"What do we have here?" A convict said, coming out from the side. A few lanterns lit up behind him. "Perfect way to get out of this country is what it is."

A total of 6 people came out into the path.

"Shame." William opened fire, running directly forward. "Not ending up in this place like that guy back there!" Paranoia and quick action generally worked in his favor.

The first gunshot scaring the others enough to cause a panic. The next ones hitting at least four of the targets. A shoulder check to the one blocking the way allowed him to get pass.

"Holyshit!" Pete cried, running out next. Only turning back to see Isabella get grabbed but getting free after she poked her grabber in the eyes. The convict fell and was then trampled on by the others. "Oh shit!"

Topside, they were at least happy the rest of the security team reacted to the gunfire. William said nothing but pointed behind to the others. He moved and switched out his ammo quickly. Reloading completely could wait till later for the used magazine.

"Ha..ha.. ha.." Claire, a local ran over to him exhausted. A bit of blood on her boots. "I can't believe that just happened!"

"We got lucky." William had his breath under control, looking around for anything weird. So far, nothing looked amiss. "If Pete would have shut up, we might have made it to the entrance with an issue."

"How the hell was I suppose to know they were there?!" Pete was embarrassed, but that didn't save him from the hard stares of the others. "You could have said something!"

"And alert whoever was in the place.. that makes sense." William frowned at the boy. The privileged fuck always pissed him off. "If you would have read the bloody security guides given in the beginning, you would have know to shut up about something that strange."

"Like anyone reads those!"

Everyone raised their hands but himself. Isabella didn't read all of it, but she read enough of it regarding hostage situations or in the event of a robbery. She was already on the phone calling her dad to send more security.

Gunfire went off down below. Either more convicts down than they thought or whatever animal took out that one guy was found. It went on for a few more minutes before finally stopping.

"Well.. this is going to go really bad or really good." William moved away from the entrance with most following behind. "Really wish the jeep was not busted from overheating."

"That's odds that the security team is not coming out?" Claire asked. A few hopefuls sighed. While William said 50/50 chance maybe they would come out eventually. "Hey.. why aren't the lifts on?"

Up above, the machines didn't move. The baskets only slightly moving due to the desert breeze. The different harnesses dangling a bit without bodies in them.

"The signal on my phone keeps cutting out. How about everyone else?" Isabella asked. They all had the same issue. "So we need to try the Satellite phones then."

"Really turning into a horror movie here," William grumbled. He moved over, grabbing an extra box of food bars. A few extra bottles of water were put in his bag as well. The few looks annoyed him a bit. "Look, I am doing all this because I am scared. If I have to take off running into the desert, I want to stand a chance at least."

"When you put it that way." The others did the same. Not enough to bog themselves down but enough to survive.

"The radio is busted. Like melted almost." Isabella stated after coming back. Seeing everyone's sad faces, she had worse still. "The sat phone is fried. The others are most likely on the Supply Team and the Security Team."

"Well... a whole bunch of nope to what you are thinking." William stood up, took one look at the entrance, and walked away. Heading directly towards the first town by foot. "A day's trek by foot, I can do that easily."

He grabbed one of the security forces' rifles and ammo just in case.

"Wait! What about the security team that went down? What about the students who worked up top?!" Pete called out.

"I am just being practical here. Nothing is stopping you from checking on that." William kept moving. "We haven't heard any more gunfire, haven't heard any talking, and in case you haven't noticed... some of the equipment has been fried. I am not a brilliant man but I am a smart one at least. This, this screams get the fuck out of dodge really quickly."

"I am with him on this." Claire stated, already following behind. "No way is this caused by anything normal." Most of the dig team following with.

"Isabella, what do you think?" Pete asked worriedly. "We need to at least check on them."

"Maybe a good vantage point from up top." Isabella looked around then made her decision. "Guess crawling on top of the boon into the basket is the only way."

Those who stayed started crawling on top of the other lifts making their way up. A few due to fear of being on the ground and wanting to hide a little. As they climbed, William and company made tracks pretty fast.

"What do you think really happened?" Only a shrug was given. "I am Mosconi by the way."

"I know who you are; you have a good singing voice. Just wish you wouldn't do it at night time." William commented. "All I know is that I did not want to be there anymore."

Most of them agreed. The ground started to rumble as a weird wave came up from behind them.

"What the hell.." William couldn't move as he floated. The others having the same issue. ".my.. throat..is.." He could no longer speak as his body started seizing up. A tingling down his spine growing hotter.

The sand below them gave way as they floated back down. Turning into a large sinkhole that swallowed them up into an endless abyss it seemed. Up above another wave of light passed over. Then another as it built in frequency.