Can't boot into gray macOS Boot Selector - MBP (Retina, Mid 2012) --> Monterey

Can't boot into gray macOS Boot Selector - MBP (Retina, Mid 2012) --> Monterey

I have a MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012) Intel HD, 16GB ram, 500GB SSD, intel core i7 running Catalina 10.15.7. and am using OCLP version 2.0.2. I saved the installer file for Monterey onto my WD My Passport external drive (1TB size). It went through the copying process like a gem, and tells me in the end that all was installed successfully, I also installed OpenCore to the SSD (I did a full time machine backup and am aware all is going to be erased).

Upon reboot I immediately press the option key, and see the screenshots pasted below, eventually I land in the language interface as pictured on the pre-ultimate screenshot. I also noticed it says everywhere that when pressing option, the screen I see should be gray, but mine is black throughout, not sure if that matters. Anyway I break things off when I see the language interface because that is clearly wrong. I have tried this 20 times (yes, I counted), and forced a friend to do it too (after all, how hard can it be to press an option key right?). And we keep seeing the same, please help :(

https://preview.redd.it/t27pfm8930yd1.jpg?width=1665&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=868532964dce1579b2a7651b9e93b46cdee628e5

submitted by /u/coccinelle13
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