Chapter 102: Chapter 102: The Slippery Slope

The air inside the monastery was cold and damp, filled with the musty scent of age and decay. Ethan led the team through the narrow corridors, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. The faint light of their flashlights barely penetrated the thick darkness that surrounded them, casting long, flickering shadows that danced eerily on the walls.

Zoe followed closely behind, her eyes darting to the scanner in her hand, which displayed the faint energy signatures pulsing from deep within the monastery. "The energy readings are off the charts," she whispered. "The Architect is here, and they're not alone."

Ethan's grip tightened on his weapon as he nodded. "Stay sharp. We've got one shot at this."