The cameras zoomed in as Captain Ryker Zhao stood behind the podium. Billions of people across the world watched his every move. The press conference hall was dead silent. Not even a breath. Only the faint hum of the broadcast equipment filled the air.
Ryker took a deep breath. His hands trembled as he gripped the edges of the podium, his knuckles white.
He looked directly into the cameras. His voice was steady, but his eyes revealed exhaustion, trauma, and something far worse: the weight of unspeakable memories.
And then, finally, he spoke.
"It was shortly after midnight when we reached the Tower," he began, his voice calm but heavy.
"There were over a hundred of us. Soldiers, scientists, technicians, and a few government officials. The mission was simple: enter, explore, collect data, and return."
He paused, inhaling deeply.
"The Tower stood before us, massive, silent, and terrifying. But unlike any normal structure, its entrance was… strange. It didn't have a door. Instead, we were met with what I can only describe as a shimmering surface, like a living mirror. The surface rippled gently, as if made of liquid glass or holographic waves. You couldn't see inside. Just your reflection, bending and warping as you moved closer."
He stopped again, closing his eyes briefly as the memory returned.
"When the order was given, we stepped through. One by one, we walked into that mirror-like surface. As soon as we crossed, we weren't in the world anymore. The sensation was… disorienting. My entire body felt like it was folding in on itself. And then… blackness."
His voice lowered, as if speaking directly to himself.
"We emerged in complete darkness."
He swallowed before continuing.
"For several seconds, we couldn't see anything. It felt like floating in a void. No sound. No wind. Nothing. But as we began moving forward, soft lights started to appear along the walls — faint glowing orbs that illuminated as we advanced."
He gestured with his hand, trying to recreate the image for those watching.
"The further we walked, the more lights appeared ahead. It was like the Tower itself was guiding us, revealing only what it wanted us to see. The air was dense, heavy, like something pressing down on your chest. Every breath felt like inhaling thick fog. We all felt it — an invisible pressure, a growing tension none of us could explain."
The camera panned slightly as the entire room remained transfixed.
"The corridor we walked through… it resembled an ancient medieval hallway. The walls were built from massive brown stone bricks, perfectly cut, almost unnaturally precise, as though carved by machines. Not a single flaw. The symmetry was… disturbing. Too perfect."
He took another breath, his voice tightening.
"The corridor was narrow, only wide enough for about three soldiers to walk side-by-side. We were forced into a tight formation as we advanced, with limited room for maneuvering. The narrowness only added to our unease. If anything happened, we'd have nowhere to run."
Ryker's hands gripped the podium even tighter.
"For nearly three hours, we walked, deeper and deeper, not knowing where we were heading. The lights guided us, and we followed."
Then his eyes darkened.
"And then… we saw it."
The tension in the room thickened.
"At first, it looked like the end of the corridor. Beyond a certain point, there was no more light — only blackness. But when we approached within twenty meters, new lights suddenly illuminated, revealing… something."
He paused, collecting himself.
"Standing before us was a massive creature. A beast unlike anything we had ever encountered. Its appearance resembled that of an ancient Minotaur: humanoid, but enormous. Well over two meters tall, covered in thick dark skin, muscular, with wide shoulders and a towering frame."
His voice became colder as he described it.
"It stood upright on two legs, gripping an enormous sword. The blade was planted into the stone floor, and its head rested against the sword's pommel as if it were sleeping. Its breathing was slow, steady, but powerful. Every exhale vibrated through the corridor like distant thunder."
He exhaled sharply, his voice breaking for a moment.
"The presence it gave off… it was suffocating. We all felt it immediately. Fear. Dread. Like staring into something ancient, something not meant to exist."
Ryker's voice grew softer, almost shaking now.
"The corridor left us no choice. We couldn't go around. We couldn't retreat without breaking formation. We debated our options. The scientists argued against provoking it. The commanders knew hesitation might kill us all if it woke on its own."
He wiped his brow, sweat forming under the bright lights.
"Eventually, we agreed to test its reaction at range."
The entire world held its breath as Ryker continued.
"One of our soldiers aimed a taser. He fired. The electricity hit the creature's massive body — but there was no response. The Minotaur didn't even flinch. It remained motionless, still breathing deeply, its head resting on the sword. The current had no effect whatsoever."
He paused.
"The corridor left no tactical options. We couldn't outflank it. We couldn't surround it. It was like walking directly into a wall of death."
His voice dropped slightly.
"The commanding officer then ordered us to prepare for full engagement. We organized firing lines: soldiers lying prone, soldiers kneeling, soldiers standing. A formation designed to maximize concentrated firepower down the narrow corridor."
Ryker swallowed again, his mouth dry.
"And then the order was given."
The tension now was suffocating. Ryker's words were slow, deliberate.
"The first shots rang out. Dozens of bullets hit the creature simultaneously. We were hoping to overwhelm it quickly, perhaps even kill it before it could respond."
He closed his eyes tightly.
"But…"
He looked directly into the camera.
"The moment the first bullet struck, it finally moved."
Gasps echoed quietly through the press conference room.
"The Minotaur slowly lifted its head. Its eyes opened for the first time. They glowed — deep crimson, like pools of blood. Not normal eyes. Not human. Not animal. Something worse. As it fully raised its head, the suffocating pressure increased tenfold. Many of us felt immediate nausea. Some froze."
He breathed heavily.
"Even as we continued firing, the Minotaur stood still for several seconds, letting the bullets strike its body harmlessly. Then, as if breaking free from some invisible chain, it suddenly lunged forward."
He paused again.
"The beast charged."
Ryker's voice was shaking now.
"It moved faster than anything that size should be able to move. Every step shook the ground beneath us. We continued firing desperately, but it closed the distance in seconds."
He clutched the podium harder.
"With a single swing of its massive sword, it sliced through entire rows of soldiers. Bodies were thrown against the walls like dolls. In less than a minute, it had killed dozens."
His voice cracked.
"The first lines were wiped out instantly. The soldiers behind tried to hold the line, but nothing worked. Bullets, explosives, nothing slowed it down."
He paused, unable to speak for a moment.
"My commander… my general… he saw the massacre begin and turned to me. He shoved me backward and shouted at me to run."
Ryker stared ahead, haunted.
"I didn't hesitate. I ran. As I sprinted back through the corridor, the sounds of battle echoed behind me. Screams. Gunfire. The sound of steel crashing against stone and flesh."
He shook his head.
"The Minotaur pursued us. Its sword dragged along the walls as it ran, slicing stone like butter. Sparks erupted with every swing. Debris fell around me. I felt shards strike my body as I stumbled forward."
His hands trembled again.
"Some of the soldiers behind me continued shooting, sacrificing themselves to slow it down. Many were already wounded, but they kept fighting anyway. I saw them fall one by one."
He clenched his jaw, struggling to continue.
"I was hit several times by falling debris, but I kept running. I could feel the ground tremble with every step the creature took behind me."
He exhaled, his voice weaker now.
"Then… it caught me."
The room froze completely.
"I stumbled. My legs gave out. I fell forward, rolling onto my back. The Minotaur stood directly above me, towering like a god of death."
He stared down at the podium.
"It raised its sword high above its head. I saw the blade shimmer under the faint light. And at that moment… everything went black."
The audience collectively held its breath.
"I don't know what happened next. When I woke up, the Minotaur was gone. The corridor was silent. The lights were still dim, but I was alone. Somehow… I was still alive."
He took one final breath.
"I ran as fast as I could toward the entrance. And… I escaped."
He stopped speaking.
The cameras remained fixed on him as the world sat paralyzed, absorbing every word.
For several long seconds, there was nothing but silence.
Ryker Zhao's voice lowered to barely a whisper.
"The Tower isn't just a structure. It's a trap."
Then the feed abruptly cut.