The tense silence in the upper sanctuary of the temple held for several agonizing minutes. The Solarii below were still regrouping, their rage palpable but their ascent temporarily halted by the fiery deaths of their vanguard.
Lara was the first to move, her focus returning to the practicalities of survival. She rechecked Reyes, who had fallen into a more natural, though shallow, sleep.
"We have a small window," she said, her voice steady now, reflecting her acceptance of Leo's impossible knowledge. "We need to move further in. If this temple connects to the higher mountain, we can get above the storm's influence."
Leo nodded, his mind already calculating the next moves.
[New Attribute Points Available: 3]
He had a moment to finalize his build before the next major confrontation. The immediate threat was a mix of stealth and combat.
Current Stats:
* Strength: 9
* Dexterity: 8
* Stamina: 9
* Mind: 6
He decided to focus entirely on his unique advantage: Mind.
[Attribute Allocation Log]
* +3 Points to Mind. Rationale: Maximizing intelligence and perception. A higher Mind stat will not only amplify his Meta-Strategist trait, making his predictive knowledge near-perfect, but also improve resource efficiency and problem-solving for the ancient puzzles that lay ahead.
* New Mind: 9
The final allocation was complete. He felt a profound shift—it was like swapping a pair of blurred goggles for a high-definition tactical overlay. The complex, interwoven history and structure of the temple seemed to organize itself in his thoughts, highlighting structural weaknesses, hidden paths, and most importantly, the Puzzle Logic.
[Attribute Allocation Complete!]
[New Base Stats: Strength 9, Dexterity 8, Stamina 9, Mind 9]
[Tier 1 Cap Reached! All Base Stats at 9 or Higher!]
[Skill Points Available: 1]
The notification for the Tier 1 Cap flashed, giving Leo a burst of internal energy—a true sense of character completion. He was no longer a squishy support character; he was a highly efficient, well-rounded survivor.
He immediately spent his last Skill Point on the SURVIVOR tree.
[Skill Point Allocated to SURVIVOR Tree!]
* Resource Sense: (Highlights edible plants/clean water sources in a small radius.) Rationale: Essential for sustainable living. He can now reliably find food and clean water, freeing up Lara's time for exploration and guarding.
"The structure is stable for now," Leo announced, his voice carrying the confidence of his newfound mental clarity. "But the outer wall is weak. They'll try to breach it."
He walked over to a section of the wall near the altar—a place Lara had previously dismissed as solid stone—and tapped it lightly with the Pry Axe.
"Behind this section," he said, his eyes seeing the internal geometry, "there's a small crawlspace. It connects to the ritual chamber above. It's an escape route, and it's where we'll find the first major relic."
Lara looked at the wall, then back at Leo, her disbelief tempered by the fact that everything he had predicted so far had come true. She knelt down and ran her fingers along the stone.
"A concealed passage? How did you know that?"
"The builders always leave a back door," Leo evaded, his Mind (9) letting him construct the lie instantly. "The stone here is slightly porous—it's a different vein of rock used for the repair of the passage."
Lara trusted his eyes more than her own now. She nodded, picking up her climbing axe. "Reyes stays here. He's safe for a few hours. Let's open your back door."
Leo used the Pry Axe to chip away the crumbling mortar. He and Lara then worked together, using their combined Strength (9 and natural) to push the heavy stone aside, revealing a dark, claustrophobic opening.
They crawled through the tight passage, Leo leading the way with the Zippo lighter illuminating the suffocating space. After a minute of scraping through dust and debris, they emerged into a wider, circular chamber.
The air here was colder, carrying the unmistakable scent of ozone and ancient decay. The room was dominated by a colossal, cracked statue of a grimacing deity and a single, moss-covered altar.
Leo immediately noticed the strange, unsettling energy in the room. His Meta-Strategist trait was vibrating with significance.
System Alert!
[Major Location Found: Ritual Chamber]
[Objective: Acquire the First Artifact]
Reward: 500 EXP, Trait Upgrade: Meta-Strategist II
"This isn't just a temple, Lara," Leo whispered, his voice hushed. "It's a site of power. Look at the altar."
Lara, instantly drawn by the archaeology, moved toward the altar, her professional curiosity overriding her fear.
On the altar, resting in a shallow depression, was a small, ornate jade statue—a crude carving of a winged figure. It didn't look particularly valuable, but it radiated an intense, focused energy.
"It's stunning," Lara breathed, reaching out to touch it. "The carving style is consistent with early Yamatai periods, but the material… jade is rare here. This is a sacrificial offering, likely tied to the Sun Queen."
"Don't touch it yet," Leo warned, his Mind (9) highlighting the inherent trap logic around the object. "There's a mechanism. This isn't just an object; it's a key."
Leo scanned the room. The puzzle was a classic environmental test: weight distribution and timing. He spotted three smaller platforms surrounding the altar, meant for counterweights.
"The statue is part of a larger mechanism," Leo explained, pointing to the platforms. "The altar is a scale. If we lift the jade, we trigger a trap—a lockdown, or a poison gas release. We have to replace the weight instantly."
Lara looked around frantically. "We don't have three precise weights, Leo!"
Leo looked down at the items they had in their immediate possession: the Pry Axe, the Recurve Bow, and Lara's Climbing Axe.
"We use our weapons," Leo said, his plan clicking into place. "The jade statue weighs roughly the same as your climbing axe. We need to swap them. And we need to stabilize the other platforms with the Recurve Bow and the Pry Axe to prevent the entire thing from tipping wildly when we remove the main weight."
The plan was audacious, involving the temporary loss of all their best tools. But Leo's Mind (9) assured him it was the only way.
Lara looked from the jade statue to her axe, then to Leo. She didn't question the how; she questioned the risk. "We'll be defenseless."
"For a second," Leo affirmed. "You handle the swap. Your Dexterity is better for that precision. I'll prepare the counterweights."
They worked in tandem. Leo carefully placed the Recurve Bow and the heavy Pry Axe onto two of the outer platforms, stabilizing the scale.
Lara took position at the altar, her breath held tight. "On three," she whispered.
"Three."
Lara snatched the jade statue and simultaneously slammed her Climbing Axe into the depression.
CLANK!
The swap was perfect. The altar barely shuddered. The trap was neutralized.
[Objective: Acquire the First Artifact Complete!]
[Artifact Acquired: Jade Relic]
[Reward: 500 EXP Gained!]
[Host Level Up! Level 5 Reached!]
[New Attribute Points Available: 3]
[Trait Upgrade: Meta-Strategist II!]
Description: Now includes 'Threat Probability Analysis' (Puts a numerical risk factor on actions) and 'Advanced Schematic Decoding' (Unlocks Tier 2 crafting recipes).
Leo felt a powerful, almost intoxicating wave of knowledge crash over him. His Meta-Strategist trait was no longer just instinct; it was true precognition.
Lara held the jade statue, turning it over in her hands, a deep sense of accomplishment on her face. "It worked. Why would they leave this here?"
"It was bait, a key, and a warning," Leo replied, picking up his weapons and putting the Jade Relic into his utility belt. He needed to secure the artifact.
As if on cue, a sudden, heavy metallic CLANG sounded from the floor below, followed by the roar of Solarii voices.
"They found the crawlspace!" Lara shouted, fear spiking her voice.
Leo didn't panic. His upgraded Mind gave him the answer immediately.
"The altar!" Leo yelled, pointing to the heavy stone slab. "We push the altar against the crawlspace entrance! Now!"
They rushed to the heavy stone altar. Leo, utilizing his pure Strength (9), got his shoulder under the massive weight, and Lara added her own formidable strength. They shoved, the stone grinding against the floor. With one final effort, they managed to push the colossal altar directly over the hole.
The stone structure was now secure, sealing their escape, but trapping the Solarii in the space between the sanctuary and the ritual chamber.
"Now we find the high path," Leo declared, retrieving the Pry Axe. "The way out is up."
He looked to the ceiling, spotting a heavy wooden beam that supported the roof—a perfect Grapple Point that would lead them out of the temple and toward the cliff face.
He had three new Attribute Points and an immediate need for the Grapple Hook schematic. The progression was relentless, and the only way to survive was to constantly get stronger.
Chapter End.