The fortress loomed in silence, but the weight of the Guardian's words hung heavy in the air. The Warden of Ashfall paced in the dim light, his mind a whirlwind of possibilities and dangers. The void's power was growing faster than he had anticipated. He had always known it was dangerous, but hearing that it was preparing for the "final collapse" made the urgency almost suffocating.
He had to act fast, but he couldn't do it alone. The Guardian's words echoed in his mind: **"You need to find the other Wardens."**
The Warden of Tides was the first he had found, but that was only the beginning. There were others out there, scattered and lost, some even corrupted by the void's dark influence. He would need to track them down, one by one, before it was too late.
He turned toward the sleeping Warden of Tides, who still hadn't stirred. His breath was steady, but the dark tendrils of corruption beneath his skin remained, pulsing faintly with void energy. It wasn't getting worse, but it wasn't getting better either.
**"We can't stay here,"** Ashfall muttered to himself. **"We'll be sitting targets if another rift opens."**
He moved to the edge of the fortress, where the crumbling stone walls overlooked a sea of swirling clouds and distant mountain peaks. The storm that had surrounded the fortress had calmed slightly, but the horizon was still fractured by sharp streaks of lightning. It wasn't safe to travel, but they had no choice.
With a deep breath, the Warden of Ashfall extended his senses outward, searching for any signs of life or void energy beyond the fortress. His magic hummed beneath his skin, the heat of his ember-infused armor syncing with his pulse as he reached into the ether, trying to pinpoint their next destination.
The void's presence was everywhere, its dark influence like a fog that clouded his vision. But beneath it, he could feel something—faint but steady. A presence, distant but not too far, and unmistakably Warden.
He closed his eyes and concentrated, narrowing in on the sensation. It felt familiar, though he couldn't place who it was. It was weak, barely perceptible under the thick blanket of void energy, but it was enough.
**"Got you,"** he whispered, a grim smile tugging at his lips.
He turned back toward the fortress. The Warden of Tides still lay on the altar, his chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. Moving him wouldn't be easy, especially in his weakened state, but staying here was not an option.
Ashfall approached the altar and placed a hand on Tides' shoulder. **"We need to move,"** he said softly. **"I've found someone. Another Warden. We can't stay here."**
The Warden of Tides groaned in response, his eyes flickering open. He looked up at Ashfall, disoriented but awake. **"What... happened?"** he muttered, his voice rough.
**"We were attacked by a voidspawn,"** Ashfall explained, helping him sit up. **"You were hit hard, but you'll recover. For now, we need to leave. I've located another Warden, and we're going to find them."**
Tides winced as he swung his legs over the side of the altar, his muscles stiff and sore. **"I can move,"** he said, though his voice betrayed his exhaustion. **"Where's this Warden you found?"**
Ashfall offered him a hand, pulling him to his feet. **"To the north. It's not far, but the storm will make it dangerous. We'll have to move quickly."**
Tides nodded, though his expression remained grim. **"I hope they're in better shape than I am."**
Together, the two Wardens gathered what little supplies they had and left the fortress behind. The storm roared around them, the winds howling like tortured souls as they made their way across the jagged mountain path. The sky was a swirling mass of dark clouds, illuminated by occasional bursts of lightning. The ground beneath their feet was unstable, crumbling at the edges of the narrow path as the storm slowly eroded the landscape.
Every step was a struggle, the void's influence pressing down on them like an unseen weight. But Ashfall kept his senses sharp, focusing on the faint pull of the Warden he had sensed earlier. They were getting closer.
**"How much further?"** Tides asked, his voice strained as he pushed against the winds.
Ashfall didn't answer right away. His focus was elsewhere, his mind tracking the void's energy. Something was wrong. The presence of the Warden was getting stronger, but so was the void energy surrounding them. It was as if the voidspawn were converging in the same direction, drawn to the same power source.
**"We're close,"** Ashfall said, though unease prickled at the back of his mind. **"But something's not right. The void... it's moving toward them too."**
Tides frowned. **"Do you think they're corrupted?"**
Ashfall's jaw clenched. **"I don't know. But we need to be ready for anything."**
The wind picked up, and the sky grew darker as they continued their trek northward. Ashfall's grip on his sword tightened, the warmth of the ember blade comforting against the cold, oppressive air. Every sense was on high alert, his mind racing with possibilities. If the void had already taken hold of the Warden, their task would become far more complicated.
After what felt like hours, they reached the edge of a wide, jagged chasm. The air was thick with void energy here, the swirling black fog obscuring their view of the other side. But Ashfall could feel the Warden's presence just beyond the chasm, faint but there.
Tides peered over the edge, his expression grim. **"How do we cross this?"**
Ashfall surveyed the gap, his mind working quickly. **"We jump."**
Tides blinked. **"You're joking, right?"**
Ashfall shook his head, already taking a few steps back to prepare for the leap. **"It's the only way. The void is closing in, and we don't have time to find another path. I'll go first."**
Before Tides could protest, Ashfall sprinted forward and launched himself into the air. For a heart-stopping moment, he was weightless, suspended above the swirling void below. His body surged with fire, his ember-infused armor glowing brightly as he sailed across the chasm. He landed with a roll, his feet hitting the ground just beyond the edge.
Tides cursed under his breath, but he knew there was no other option. Gritting his teeth, he followed Ashfall's lead, jumping with all the strength he could muster. He landed hard, nearly stumbling as his legs buckled beneath him, but Ashfall was there to steady him.
**"Nice jump,"** Ashfall said with a small smirk.
Tides shot him a glare, but the tension between them quickly dissipated as they turned their attention to the task at hand. The Warden's presence was stronger now, just beyond the thick wall of void fog ahead.
**"We're close,"** Ashfall said, his voice low. **"Stay on guard."**
The two Wardens pressed forward, their swords drawn as they cut through the dense fog. The void's energy pressed in on them, heavy and suffocating, but they pushed through with grim determination.
And then, they saw it—a figure lying motionless on the ground, surrounded by the swirling darkness.
Ashfall's heart skipped a beat. **"There!"** he shouted, rushing toward the figure.
But as they approached, the void energy around the figure suddenly surged, coalescing into a dark, towering shape. It rose from the ground like a living shadow, its form twisting and writhing as it took shape.
The Warden of Ashfall skidded to a halt, his eyes widening as he realized what they were facing.
It was a Warden—but not just any Warden. This one had been completely consumed by the void, their body twisted into a monstrous, nightmarish form. Black tendrils of void energy snaked around their limbs, their once-human features distorted into a grotesque mask of suffering and rage.
The corrupted Warden let out a guttural roar, the sound vibrating through the air like a death knell.
**"By the gods..."** Tides breathed, his face pale with shock.
Ashfall tightened his grip on his sword. **"It's too late for them,"** he said, his voice hard. **"We have to end this."**
The corrupted Warden lunged, void energy crackling around them as they charged toward Ashfall and Tides with terrifying speed.
Ashfall met the charge head-on, his sword blazing with fire as it clashed against the void's darkness. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, and for a moment, the two forces seemed evenly matched. But the void's power was relentless, and the corrupted Warden pressed forward, their strength bolstered by the malevolent energy that fueled them.
Tides joined the fray, his water magic swirling around him in a protective barrier as he struck at the corrupted Warden's side. But every strike only seemed to make the voidspawn stronger, its form shifting and reforming with each blow.
**"We can't keep this up!"** Tides shouted, ducking under a swipe from the corrupted Warden's claws.
What will become of this battle?