The team advanced into the deep passages, where the ice walls seemed to thicken, the air grew colder, and shadows clung to every corner. Every step was calculated, every movement fraught with danger.
> Neros: Hold on tight… Any mistake now could be very costly.
> Ranor (in a low, excited voice): I sense we're close to the heart of the island… Everything here suggests that!
> Lantos: That's right… The symbols on the walls weren't just warnings, but instructions for safely crossing the passage.
Suddenly, the ground shook beneath their feet, and the sound of the ice cracking grew louder, as if the passage itself was beginning to collapse.
> Silver: Partial avalanche! Pull back to the sides!
Everyone trembled, but Neros didn't allow any of the team to be disoriented:
> Neros: Retreat together, don't separate! Petrus, check the rear line! Ranor, focus on the next step!
Ice blocks began to fall from above, blocking the path ahead. The team moved in perfect coordination: Silver clearing the way, Nerus leading, Lantos deciphering the codes, Ranor helping us cross the collapsing rocks, and Petros ensuring everyone's safety.
> Ranor (shouting): This is a real adventure! I never thought the passage would be this intense!
> Silver: Focus, there's no room for fun now... Our lives are at stake.
After minutes of tension and intense concentration, the team reached a larger chamber, carved into the ice, containing the remains of an ancient civilization. The ice columns were decorated, and the carvings on the walls suggested a long and mysterious history, and perhaps the presence of the Black Crown hiding deep within the island.
> Nerus (in a firm voice): This is the true beginning... Every step brings us closer to the heart of the island and to the Black Crown.
Lantos: True, but remember, every discovery here carries a warning... Any wrong move could be disastrous.
Petrus: Every step, every test, makes us stronger... We will not retreat.
Ranor (smiling despite his fatigue): I feel like we've already grown stronger... Everything here teaches us patience and courage.
The team stood for a moment, observing the pillars and inscriptions, preparing to advance toward the deeper interior passages, where the island's true secrets awaited them. The tests ahead would be even more dangerous and challenging.