How do I bypass this error?

I have a USB installer and an external harddrive connected to a new MacBook. I’m trying to installer Monterey from the USB onto the external harddrive, but it says it needs to download something it can’t download right now. I was able to fix a similar problem using the terminal before. Is this the same? I hope going through recovery means I’m not blocked from installing an older os like how you can’t install it directly from the MacBook!