The long march through the tunnel felt like an endless trial, each step echoing against the stone floor as if the very walls were mocking their persistence.

Stale air pressed against their lungs, and the faint drip of water somewhere in the darkness was the only sound breaking the monotony.

Ethan muttered curses under his breath every few steps, shaking his head and sighing dramatically.

"This road doesn't end," he grumbled, his voice louder than he intended. "Feels like we're walking to the center of the earth! I swear,Boss, you've dragged us into the longest hallway ever built."

Arthur remained silent, maintaining a steady pace with armored boots that echoed resolutely in contrast to Ethan's complaints.

His silence only fueled Ethan's annoyance, prompting him to continue talking to himself.

"Could've stayed back. Could've taken a nap. Nooo… had to follow the mysterious knight into this hole. Brilliant decision...top-tier life choices, Ethan."

The squad exchanged amused glances but kept quiet; they too felt the oppressive darkness gnawing at them.

Oddly enough, Ethan's muttering provided a strange comfort,it reminded them they weren't swallowed whole by this place just yet.

Then, at last..a faint light shimmered ahead! It was distant but real.

Eyes widened beneath visors and sweat-streaked brows as their steps quickened; sighs of relief came almost as one collective breath.

Even Ethan cut off mid-complaint, blinking hard at that glow.

"Finally," he said reverently. "About damn time!"

The promise of an exit lent them newfound strength; tension eased from their shoulders and was replaced by a surge of anticipation.

Their boots struck harder and faster now,the echoes rushing forward instead of pulling them down.

Minutes later, they emerged into blinding light that forced them to shield their eyes after so long in gloom.

Arthur and his soldiers pressed on without faltering while everyone stumbled about blinking furiously until they stepped out of the tunnel and into something unexpected.

Before them stretched a vast circular chamber with towering stone walls marked by cracks snaking upward like veins.

Thick cobwebs hung from ceiling corners swaying gently in stale air while dust lay heavily over broken fragments of statues scattered across the floor,remnants of something ancient and collapsed.

At its center stood an altar raised slightly on a dais of cracked stone.

Silence enveloped them,too silent for comfort!

The tunnel behind hummed with echoes while this room devoured sound itself; even Ethan felt its weight before speaking up again.

"Well," he said sweeping his gaze around with mock cheerfulness, "cozy place! Needs a bit of housekeeping."

Gunner's authoritative voice cut through: "Spread out! Secure the perimeter."

The squad moved with a purpose, their rifles sweeping over the remnants of broken statues and shadowy corners.

The crunch of boots on rubble echoed in the stillness, while fingers brushed against the cracked stone walls, searching for hidden secrets.

The air was thick with dust and the weight of ages past, yet nothing stirred.

Arthur stood at the edge of the altar platform, his gaze scanning the ancient structure before him.

Faintly glowing glyphs carved into the stone flickered in the light of their lamps, casting an eerie glow.

At the center of the altar lay a massive stone plate,cracked but resolute,adorned with symbols that spiraled inward in strange, unfinished patterns.

Scattered across its surface were small fragments of stone, pieces of a puzzle waiting to be solved.

"Professor," Arthur called out, lifting a hand in a subtle gesture.

Professor Adrian approached cautiously, his team trailing close behind him.

As he took in the sight of the altar, excitement replaced hours of fatigue etched on his face.

He rummaged through his satchel and unfurled a rolled parchment filled with notes and sketches that seemed to pulse with potential discovery.

His team mirrored his actions, each member producing their own references as they crowded around the altar like moths drawn to a flickering flame.

"This may be your clue," Arthur said flatly as he stepped aside.

The archaeologists leaned closer, words tumbling from their lips in rapid bursts of enthusiasm.

Marta Sorel crouched low to brush away dust from the glyphs with delicate fingers. Josef Brandt muttered translations under his breath while flipping through pages of a well-worn journal.

Dr. Ren's sharp voice intertwined with Professor Kaelen Rhys as they debated sequences among symbols that had once whispered secrets long forgotten.

Dr. Helena Moritz adjusted her glasses nervously; her eyes remained locked on those spiraling carvings.

"This… this is Azurian," Marta breathed reverently. "No doubt about it! An altar of transition...it was mentioned in that third codex fragment!"

"Not just mentioned," Josef corrected eagerly. "This is the structure itself! Look at these glyphs..they're nearly identical to those catalogued at Terasan ruins."

He pointed excitedly at one corner where a repeating sigil symbolized passage.

Their assistants,Lukas and Clara,scribbled furiously in notebooks while occasionally offering insights or comparisons to earlier notes; Clara leaned close to Professor Adrian for an animated discussion while Lukas frowned at shifting fragments, sketching incomplete patterns with remarkable speed.

At the back, a cameraman worked diligently to capture every moment,the soft clicking sound punctuating their fervor like an uninvited guest at a party.

Ethan strolled over casually and leaned against nearby equipment.

"You know that thing's gonna fry down here right?" Ethan smirked half-amusedly but also warned him seriously. "Magnetic fields eat electronics for breakfast! Better enjoy your footage while you can".

The cameraman gulped audibly, nodding with a hint of anxiety. "I'll turn it off soon… I just want to capture this moment first."

"Your funeral," Ethan muttered, shaking his head as he turned away. He stepped closer to Mireille, lowering his voice so only she could hear.

"They're passionate, I'll give them that. Look at Clara,she's practically glowing like she just struck gold!"

Mireille remained silent, her gaze locked on the archaeologists.

Arthur stood stoically, arms crossed over his armored chest.

His visor concealed any hint of emotion, but his imposing presence loomed over the group like a storm cloud.

Silent and watchful, he was an enigma; no one could decipher what thoughts churned beneath that helmet.

Minutes dragged on in tense silence, punctuated only by the frenzied chatter of the scholars.

They carefully shifted fragments of stone on the altar, aligning glyphs with growing excitement.

Each movement felt both intentional and frantic,as if they were racing against some unseen clock.

Ten minutes ticked by. The final piece clicked into place.

For a heartbeat, everything fell silent; they all froze in awe at the completed pattern before them.

Breaths quickened in anticipation as Clara's pencil slipped from her fingers and tumbled off the altar.

Arthur raised an eyebrow beneath his visor just as Ethan opened his mouth to deliver a quip...

Then came the roar of the chamber.

Stone groaned and cracked ominously overhead as dust rained down from above.

The floor trembled beneath their boots while ancient mechanisms stirred to life with a thunderous clatter that had been dormant for centuries.

On the far wall opposite the tunnel, stone split apart dramatically,a seam widening under the strain of turning gears.

Light seeped through the crack as it widened further, revealing a narrow passage beyond.

Everyone froze in wide-eyed shock. The archaeologists gripped their notes tightly, stunned into silence.

Finally breaking free from their trance, Ethan raised his hands theatrically.

"Well… that's one way to open a door!"

Arthur lifted his hand decisively,no words were necessary now.

The squad snapped into formation: Gunner and Mireille took point with rifles at the ready while Arthur moved alongside them like a silent shadow.

Ethan and the rearguard positioned themselves at the back with weapons drawn high.

The archaeologists,pale yet buzzing with excitement..were ushered into the center of their protective circle.

"Stay close! Do not fall behind," Gunner commanded firmly.

Together, they advanced toward that revealed passageway,the air wafting out was colder and damper than before, tinged with something metallic that sent shivers down their spines.

Nervous glances exchanged among archaeologists didn't deter them; they pressed on despite every echoing step amplifying their unease.

As the last of them stepped over the threshold, the ancient mechanism roared to life once more.

With a deafening boom, the stone wall slammed shut behind them, sealing off the chamber like a forgotten secret.

Darkness enveloped the space, pierced only by their flickering lamps and glowing visors.

For what felt like an eternity, silence hung in the air,thick and heavy.

Then Ethan broke it with a sigh, his voice low but resonating through the stillness. "...I really hate doors that close behind us."

Ahead lay a narrow passage that seemed to stretch into infinity, its depths shrouded in mystery.

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