The Sanctuary trembled.
Ancient crystal lamps flickered.
A deep, metallic groan echoed beneath the city.
The sound wasn't coming from the walls.
It came from below.
---
Dmitri's fingers raced across the crystal console.
His expression darkened.
"The prison seal has been breached."
---
Roman stepped forward.
"How many levels?"
---
Dmitri swallowed.
"Seven."
A pause.
"Six are already open."
---
Silence fell.
---
Lucien's face lost all color.
"No..."
---
Caelum closed the ancient book.
His voice was calm, but heavy.
"If the seventh seal breaks..."
He looked toward the darkness beneath the Sanctuary.
"...there will be no prison left."
---
Viktor turned to Artyom.
"You stay here."
---
Artyom immediately shook his head.
"No."
---
"It's too dangerous."
---
"So is standing still."
Artyom's voice was firm.
"This is my family's Sanctuary."
He met Viktor's eyes.
"If someone is trying to destroy it... I won't hide."
---
For a long moment, Viktor said nothing.
Then he sighed.
"Then you don't leave my side."
---
Artyom gave a small nod.
"Agreed."
---
Miles below the Library...
Nikola stood alone in a narrow corridor.
The cloaked intruder had disappeared.
Only fresh footprints remained in the dust.
---
He crouched beside an ancient mechanism.
The crystal lock had been shattered from the inside.
Not outside.
---
Nikola's expression hardened.
"So there was already someone here."
---
His communicator crackled.
"Dmitri."
---
"I'm listening."
---
"The intruder isn't working alone."
Nikola looked into the darkness ahead.
"They had help."
---
Before Dmitri could respond...
The lights in the corridor went out.
---
Complete darkness.
---
A whisper drifted through the hall.
"So the Volkov shadow has found me."
---
Nikola slowly drew another knife.
"I already have."
---
Across the Sanctuary...
Red warning crystals lit every corridor.
Ancient bells began to ring.
Not as alarms.
As a summons.
---
The sleeping Guardians lining the halls slowly opened their eyes.
Stone cracked.
Dust fell away.
One after another...
They stepped down from their pedestals.
---
Yelena stared in disbelief.
"The statues..."
---
"They're alive."
---
Caelum nodded.
"They were never statues."
---
"They were the Sanctuary's protectors."
---
Hundreds of Guardians awakened.
Each carried a different weapon.
Each silently marched toward the prison beneath the city.
---
Outside the mountain...
The Eclipse Order commander lowered his telescope.
He watched the Sanctuary glow from within.
---
A soldier approached him.
"Our agent has succeeded."
---
The commander nodded once.
"The seventh seal?"
---
"Almost."
---
A faint smile appeared beneath the silver mask.
---
"Then history will repeat itself."
---
Deep beneath the Sanctuary...
A massive circular gate stood alone.
Six glowing chains had already shattered.
Only one remained.
---
The cloaked intruder reached out.
Their gloved hand rested on the final chain.
---
A voice echoed from the darkness beyond the gate.
Low.
Ancient.
Patient.
---
"You've kept me waiting..."
---
The intruder smiled beneath the hood.
---
"Not much longer."
---
With a single pull...
Cracks spread across the final chain.
---