Silence descended on the group as they stepped inside the chamber.

Dust particles drifted through thin beams of light that leaked down from cracks somewhere high above, creating pale streaks across the carved stone floor.

Everyone just stood there, frozen in their steps.

Their heads tilted upwards, jaww opened wide with shock as if they are about to drop to the ground.

Even Arthur, who never showed much of anything, his face face flashed with a hint of shock and wonder.

This huge chamber was simply something else.

Murals...huge murals covered every surface like brilliant rivers stopped mid-flow, their colors still vivid after all these years.

These murals have depictions of armored soldiers marching in formation, massive ships cutting through rough seas, crowds bowing before towering statues, councils of robed figures radiating power, kings on golden thrones gripping scepters that seemed to glow with painted light.

Each wall held a different chapter of some vast civilization's story.

Professor Adrian finally snapped out of it first.

His usual composure cracked as his eyes lit up.

"Magnificent..." Ethan whispered, his voice barely audible but somehow carrying through the whole chamber. "Absolutely magnificent! Almost makes those death traps feel worth it."

Mireille gave him a look that was half annoyed, half amused.

Even Holt relaxed against his rifle, something like respect on his face.

The commanders,Marek, Rask, Vos, Lyra, Stone, and Gunner stood quietly too, their usual hard expressions softening.

Beauty had a way of getting through even the toughest armor.

For a moment, nobody thought about the tomb's vicious traps.

The spiked chains and swinging blades felt like distant nightmares compared to this window into the past.

Professor Adrian found his voice again. "These murals show early Azurian Empire events! Look here,the unification wars! Those banners? This stuff predates everything we thought was lost in the Second Collapse!"

His hand trembled with excitement as he pointed at detail after detail.

Kaelen Rhys's eyes lit up as he moved closer to a mural showing great ships battling massive waves.

"And this... it has to be the Voyages of Dominion! We thought that was just legend stories pieced together from scraps but here it is! Look at those sails with their forgotten symbols!"

Josef Brandt was scribbling madly in his notebook while Marta Sorel ran her fingers along painted altars like they were holy artifacts.

Arthur's steady voice cut through their excitement. "Enough looking around for now," he said, gentle but firm. "These murals are too important to leave out in the open."

The archaeologists blinked at him like they were waking up from a trance.

Arthur's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the vast chamber, awe and caution mixing in his gaze.

"I see no traps here," he announced, scanning the unbroken ground plates and seamless walls. "It's safe."

Relief swept over the squad. Gunner nodded sharply, raising his hand for attention. "You heard the boss! Start extraction, but carefully. Treat them like glass."

The soldiers sprang into action, unfastening their packs and pulling out reinforced cylindrical containers.

Plastic casings designed to preserve fragile scrolls, artifacts, or delicate fragments. Each piece would be cushioned and vacuum sealed for transport.

The archaeologists weren't thrilled.

"Careful!" Professor Adrian cried out, rushing forward as Vos and Rask approached a stunning mural.

His hands flapped wildly as if shooing away reckless children. "Careful! These are ten thousand-year-old relics! Do you even understand what you're handling?"

"Relax, Professor," Rask muttered, crouching low to examine a section with keen interest. "We're trained for precision."

"Precision? With rifles and grenades?" Josef Brandt snapped back, panic edging his voice.

Marta Sorel squeezed between them, her hands trembling as she reverently touched a mural corner.

"Look at the preservation. Still vivid! Thousands of years sealed in this tomb without losing a flake of pigment. What technology kept them intact? What methods did they use?"

Her voice cracked with emotion. "This goes beyond anything modern methods could achieve."

Arthur stepped closer, radiating calm authority amid the chaos. "Handle them gently. Record what you need and pack them securely. We're not leaving these treasures to rot in shadows."

Professor Adrian looked up at him, gratitude mixing with desperation. "You don't understand, Mr. Osborn. These murals aren't just art. They're testimony of the Azurian people: their rise, triumphs, tragedies... Taking them means holding their soul in our hands."

Arthur's expression remained cool but steady. "Then we'll guard their soul with our lives. Now get to work!"

The soldiers began methodically extracting pieces.

Thin blades pried gently at seams while steady hands slid each slab into cases that sealed tight.

"Gentle! Gentle!" Adrian barked again, his face flushed with stress.

"Do you shout at surgeons like this too?" Holt muttered under his breath, earning a chuckle from Ethan.

Ethan smirked as he leaned against a pillar with arms crossed. "Watching scholars yell at soldiers is my new favorite show! Forget those murals. I'd pay just to watch this performance."

Stone grunted as he steadied one of the heavy cases. "You'd actually pay? What are you going to use, those five coins you hoard like they're ancient treasure?"

"Hey, don't mock a man's savings," Ethan shot back, crossing his arms defiantly. "This economy doesn't reward bravery."

"Or stupidity," Lyra chimed in dryly, raising an eyebrow.

Even Gunner couldn't help but chuckle softly as he oversaw the operation.

Across the room, Professor Adrian knelt before a particularly large mural, his fingertips hovering just above the vibrant colors.

Like he was afraid to disturb its beauty. His eyes softened with reverence as he spoke, "Look at this preservation! Thousands of years have passed, yet the pigments glow as if they were painted yesterday.

Their methods surpass even our most advanced preservation technologies. The Azurian Empire... what were they? What knowledge did they truly possess?"

The other archaeologists echoed his awe, scribbling notes and engaging in animated debates.

Each mural was a revelation, a puzzle piece from a long-forgotten empire.

Ethan rolled his eyes and whispered to Holt, "They're in love... with walls! Can you imagine dying for a wall?"

Holt nudged him playfully. "At least they die with purpose. You'd probably trip over your own boots before anything else."

Laughter rippled through the squad, lightening the oppressive atmosphere of the tomb for just a moment.

Meanwhile, Arthur leaned against a pillar with his arms crossed and sharp eyes scanning both the murals and his team.

He lingered on the archaeologists, their excitement spilling into heated discussions about depictions of kings and technologies.

His mind worked silently,these murals weren't mere relics, they were intelligence!

Clues to understanding the empire's rise, their strange technologies, and especially their rulers like Vaerion VII.

He watched Adrian and Kaelen nearly collide in their eagerness to debate whether one painted figure held a celestial chart or some sort of weaponized artifact.

Their voices blended together in an enthusiastic symphony of discovery.

Arthur's expression remained impassive, but within his gaze flickered a quiet calculation. Knowledge is power, and these walls were drenched in it.

Hours slipped by as they meticulously packed each mural for preservation.

Sweat dripped from soldiers' brows while they handled the fragile slabs with painstaking care, guided by urgent corrections from scholars who seemed lost in their fervor.

The chamber buzzed with overlapping sounds.

Stone scraping against stone, sealing containers hissing shut, Adrian's sharp exclamations mingling with commanders' chuckles and endless mutters from archaeologists deep in thought.

By the time they paused for breath, dozens of murals had been carefully removed and secured.

The once,vibrant walls now bore gaps like wounds. Silent witnesses to history being unearthed.

Professor Adrian stood panting, his clothes damp with sweat, but the fire in his eyes was unmistakable.

He turned to Arthur, excitement crackling in the air. "Do you realize what we've uncovered? This chamber alone rewrites centuries of speculation! We hold proof, living proof, of an empire's might, its culture, and its mysteries. This is a treasure greater than gold!"

Arthur simply inclined his head, taking it all in.

Ethan, ever the skeptic, couldn't resist chiming in. "So we're rich in walls now? Fantastic! I'll trade a mural for a decent bed when we get out of here."

Stone snorted at Ethan's remark. "You wouldn't know a treasure if it slapped you in the face."

"Depends on how soft that treasure is," Ethan shot back with a grin.

Laughter rippled through the group despite their exhaustion.

Arthur raised his hand to silence them, his voice steady and firm. "Enough. Rest while you can. We move soon."

They settled into the chamber, surrounded by half-bare walls and sealed containers filled with painted history. Stories waited to be told in every corner.

The archaeologists huddled together, buzzing with theories and discoveries like kids on Christmas morning.

The commanders leaned against ancient pillars, sipping their flasks and trading low banter as if they were at a pub rather than an archaeological site.

The soldiers rested their gear nearby but kept their eyes sharp.

Arthur remained apart, his gaze fixed on the untouched murals that seemed to whisper secrets.

His mind was already charting their next move. What lay beyond this moment?

The chamber breathed around them. Silent murals watched like witnesses through centuries past, guardians of forgotten tales waiting for someone to unlock their secrets.

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