As Vas and Anya arrived at the dense forest surrounding the ruins, the towering trees seemed to swallow up the sky, their canopy casting shadows across the mossy ground. They took their time selecting a location to set up camp, one that was far enough from the ruins to avoid any immediate suspicion but close enough to stage their covert incursions. The air was thick with humidity, and the sounds of distant wildlife echoed around them as they worked in near silence.

Vas glanced around, ever watchful. "This place feels alive. Almost like it's waiting for something," he murmured as he unloaded gear from Anya's truck.

Anya nodded in agreement as she began assembling the portable tech station. "We can't take any chances. Kadmon might be watching every inch of this place. We have to be smart."

The camp setup was efficient. Vas and Anya moved like professionals, setting up their tent and arranging their equipment with precision. Madeline had equipped them well. Vas took out a holographic interface, displaying a map of Kadmon's known surveillance grid. A myriad of red dots showed the drones and cameras stationed around the ruins, almost making it look like a fortress of invisible eyes.

"They definitely don't want anyone poking around here," Vas said, his voice quiet but tense.

"No kidding," Anya replied, pulling out a sleek device Madeline had provided. It was small, but Vas knew it was one of the most advanced pieces of tech available, capable of bypassing nearly any standard scanner or detection device. "This'll get us past their proximity detectors and thermal scanners, but it won't help with the cameras. We need a blind spot."

Vas squatted beside the holographic map. His eyes scanned the grid. "Madeline said their camera tech is old in comparison to the surveillance drones. If we can find a gap, it's likely where they've been relying too much on the drones. If we take one down, we'll get spotted within minutes, so we'll need to move quickly."

Anya tapped a few controls, isolating camera feeds from Kadmon's network. "It looks tight, but… wait." She paused, zooming in on one part of the map. "Here. Between these two trees. See the distance? No overlap on the camera angles. We could slip right through."

Vas grinned slightly. "A blind spot."

"It's small," Anya continued, her fingers dancing over the controls. "But it's there. We'd have to move fast, and it'll only give us about thirty seconds to get past the perimeter."

Vas thought for a moment, calculating. "We take that route, hit the ruins before they notice anything's wrong. From there, we'll be inside the forest's cover. The drones don't sweep that area as frequently."

Anya closed the map. "I'll get the cloaking gear ready. We're going in tonight."

The tension grew as nightfall approached. The forest seemed even more oppressive under the cover of darkness, and the weight of Kadmon's unseen surveillance pressed heavily on their minds. Vas and Anya both knew one slip could ruin everything, but they had a plan—and they were about to execute it.

With methodical precision, Vas and Anya executed their plan and infiltrated the ruins of the ancient temple. The oppressive atmosphere of the temple was palpable, its weight pressing down on them as they ventured deeper into the gloom.

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"Okay, we should hurry," Anya said, her voice cutting through the stillness.

"No," Vas countered firmly. "Only exhaustion awaits us if we rush through this. We need to examine each floor thoroughly before we move on."

"What?" Anya's surprise was evident. "Why?"

"These ruins are the remnants of an ancient civilization, long lost to time," Vas explained, his voice tinged with a mix of excitement and frustration. "Aren't you curious about them? This place might hold secrets or clues that could help us understand what happened here and why Kadmon fled."

Anya shrugged, her disinterest clear. "Well… not really."

Vas felt a flicker of frustration. It was baffling to him that Anya didn't share his fascination with the temple, its ancient mysteries, and the potential knowledge it could offer. He pressed on, hoping to ignite a spark of curiosity in her.

"Consider this," Vas said, his tone more insistent. "Kadmon's retreat from this place suggests there's something significant here. If we can uncover any clues or anomalies, we might be able to avoid the same fate that befell them."

Anya paused, considering his words. "Alright, I see your point," she conceded. "Let's take a closer look."

"Anything that seems out of place, make sure to note it down," Vas instructed as they began their exploration.

As they moved through the temple, Vas found himself increasingly captivated by the surroundings. The ruins exuded an eerie beauty, with every shadow and crevice hinting at the mysteries of the past. For Vas, it was like stepping into a forgotten chapter of history.

Their search led them to a chamber on the first floor, dimly lit by the faint light filtering through cracks in the stone walls. The chamber was adorned with faded murals and intricate carvings. Vas's attention was drawn to a particular carving on the wall—an elaborate depiction of figures in worship.

The carving illustrated several figures, their postures and gestures reflecting a ritualistic reverence toward a set of statues. To Vas, these statues bore an unsettling resemblance to the Hekatonkheires, their arms arranged in an unusual configuration that seemed almost symbolic.

Vas scrutinized the carving closely, noting the details and the arrangement of the figures. He made sure to document everything meticulously, knowing that even the smallest clue might be crucial.

"This carving… it's intriguing," Vas remarked, his gaze lingering on the ancient artwork. "These figures are performing some kind of ritual or offering. We should pay close attention to the symbols and arrangements."

Anya nodded, her earlier skepticism now replaced by a reluctant curiosity. "Alright, let's keep an eye out for more of these details."

With renewed focus, they continued their exploration, each discovery adding to the growing sense of unease and fascination.

As Vas and Anya descended deeper into the ruins, the oppressive atmosphere grew thicker, pressing in on them like an invisible weight. The temperature dropped, and the shadows seemed to stretch longer, swallowing the faint light from their lanterns.

The second floor was a labyrinth of corridors and chambers, each more intricate and foreboding than the last. Vas moved with methodical precision, his eyes scanning the cryptic symbols etched into the stone walls. These ancient inscriptions hinted at forgotten knowledge, and Vas was consumed by an almost obsessive curiosity. The deeper they went, the more the ruins seemed to pulse with a dark, hidden energy.

Anya, meanwhile, struggled to conceal her growing impatience. The vast, eerie silence and the sense of being trapped underground were starting to wear on her nerves. Despite her reservations, she stuck close to Vas. He was right; understanding what had driven Kadmon away could be crucial, and there was no turning back now.

As they explored, Vas discovered a series of strange rooms filled with peculiar markings—circuits of some kind that seemed to lead from the second floor to the third. Each discovery only deepened the mystery, amplifying the tension. Anya's unease grew as the labyrinth seemed to shift and tighten around them.

Finally, they reached the third floor. The transition was jarring; the air grew colder, and a sense of malevolence seemed to seep from the walls. The corridor they entered was narrow, and the flickering light from their lanterns barely penetrated the darkness. Every creak of the ancient stone made Anya jump, and the whispers of the past seemed to echo louder with each step.

Their search led them to a small, claustrophobic room. The floor here had collapsed into a gaping chasm, revealing a dark abyss below. The remnants of a bloody skirmish still lingered in the air, adding a macabre touch to the scene. At the far end of the room stood a towering statue of one of the Hekatonkheires, its many arms twisted in grotesque positions.

Vas's gaze was drawn to the walls, where the same circuit-like markings from the second floor continued. The realization hit him with a chill—whatever had happened here was monumental, and the key to understanding it lay in these circuits.

Anya examined the room's crumbling walls, her nerves frayed. "We need to figure out how to open that door without risking the entire structure collapsing," she said, her voice tinged with anxiety.

Vas's focus was unwavering. "There has to be a way," he replied. "Let's see if we can find something that will help us."