The group trudged behind Ryan and Michalina through the ankle-deep filth of the Helios Sanctuary's underbelly. The stench was revolting. Even with his helmet filtering the air, Ryan gagged more than once.
A vicious-looking rat skittered out from the shadows, gnashing teeth and twitching with unnatural aggression, before Ryan casually blew it apart with a single shot from his pistol.
The narrow tunnels twisted like a maze, each turn deeper, darker. Finally, Ryan stopped in front of what looked like a blank concrete wall.
Just as he raised his hand to touch it, one of the survivors hesitantly spoke up.
"Your Holiness, no offence, but it's surreal. Everyone says God Avtis never had an Apostle before. It feels strange."
Ryan paused, then gave a tired nod.
"I understand your scepticism. None of us believed in magic either—until the world changed. Now, fairy tales are battlefield doctrine."
