The tunnel stretched ahead for several minutes, winding deeper into the earth. The sound of the ants gradually faded behind him, replaced by a deep, humming silence. The air grew warmer, and a faint golden glow began to appear ahead. Max felt a surge of curiosity and quickened his pace.
A few moments later, he stepped out of the narrow tunnel into an open chamber. It was vast, far larger than any passage he had seen before. The ceiling stretched upward, glowing faintly with clusters of luminescent crystals. The walls were lined with veins of gold-like mineral that shimmered with soft light.
But what caught Max's attention wasn't the beauty of the place—it was the radiant object resting in the center of the chamber.
