The first impact shook the mountain.
A deep rumble echoed through the Sanctuary as dust drifted from the ancient ceiling.
The siege had begun.
---
Dmitri's fingers raced across the crystal console.
"They've breached the outer rock layer."
---
Roman remained calm.
"Estimated time?"
---
"If they continue at this pace..."
Dmitri hesitated.
"...they'll reach the outer defenses within six hours."
---
Silence filled the Grand Hall.
Six hours.
That was all they had.
---
Roman turned toward everyone gathered around the war table.
"No one fights alone."
---
His gaze swept across the room.
"Mikhail."
---
Mikhail grinned.
"I'll hold the western approach."
---
"Yelena."
---
She adjusted the knife strapped to her belt.
"I'll cover the eastern galleries."
---
"Nikola."
---
"I'll eliminate anyone who slips through."
---
Roman finally looked at Viktor.
"You stay with Artyom."
---
Viktor answered without hesitation.
"I wasn't planning to leave."
---
Artyom looked at the ancient map.
The Guardian's Key in his hand began to glow.
Silver light spread across the stone table.
Hidden passages appeared one after another.
---
Caelum smiled faintly.
"The Sanctuary is revealing itself."
---
Among the newly revealed paths...
One corridor pulsed with a deep blue light.
Unlike the others, it led beneath the city.
Straight toward the prison.
---
Lucien's expression darkened.
"It shouldn't be opening."
---
Orion stepped closer.
"The prison is calling to its Guardian."
---
Artyom frowned.
"Or... something inside it is."
---
Far outside the mountain...
The Eclipse Order established its final assault positions.
The silver-masked commander watched as enormous siege drills carved deeper into the mountainside.
Behind him, ranks of soldiers stood perfectly still.
---
The woman in the white uniform approached.
"The northern excavation is progressing faster than expected."
---
"Good."
The commander folded his hands behind his back.
"And the internal contact?"
---
She handed him a sealed report.
"He is in position."
---
The commander read it once.
Then smiled.
---
"So the Sanctuary still has ghosts."
---
He crushed the report in his hand.
---
"When the signal comes..."
---
"...the traitor will open the inner gate."
---
Back inside the Sanctuary...
Nikola stopped walking.
He slowly turned toward one of the ancient corridors.
---
Something felt wrong.
---
He knelt beside the stone floor.
Fresh footprints.
---
Not theirs.
---
Not ancient.
---
Recent.
---
He touched the print with two fingers.
The snow melted on contact.
---
Nikola's calm expression hardened.
---
"We're not alone."
---
Somewhere deep within the Sanctuary...
A shadow slipped silently through an unlit hallway.
Its footsteps made no sound.
It already knew the city's layout.
It wasn't searching.
It was heading toward a specific destination.
The prison beneath the Sanctuary.