The tremor beneath their feet grew stronger, each vibration sending loose rubble tumbling from the jagged walls of the corridor. The roar from behind them was deep and guttural, vibrating in the very air around them, as if the Hollow itself was responding to the summoning rune.
Ravok's grip on Lara's arm was firm but controlled as he pulled her forward. The shadows at their backs writhed and stretched unnaturally, pursuing them with an intelligence that felt far beyond the mindless beasts they'd encountered earlier.
"Whatever's coming," Lara said breathlessly as they ran, "it's bigger than anything we've seen."
"Then don't stop moving," Ravok replied coldly, his crimson eyes flicking toward the end of the corridor. A faint light glimmered there—an exit, or perhaps another trap.
---
The Chase
The shadows surged closer, the tendrils elongating into sharp, clawed shapes that lashed out against the walls. The sound of stone cracking under the weight of the pursuing force echoed through the narrow passage.
Ravok kept his pace steady, even as his mind raced to assess their situation. The rune's summoning had unleashed something far beyond the Hollow's usual threats—a being tied to the unstable energy of the ruins themselves.
"Keep your footing," Ravok called back to Lara as they reached a section of the corridor where the floor had partially collapsed. A jagged drop yawned to their left, the mist below swirling ominously.
Lara leaped nimbly over the gap, her movements fluid. "What about you?"
"I manage," Ravok said, darting past the broken section with calculated precision.
Behind them, the roar grew louder, and a massive clawed shape emerged from the mist. Its glowing red eyes burned with malice as it crawled along the walls and ceiling, moving far faster than its bulk suggested.
---
The First Defense
They burst out of the corridor into an open chamber—an ancient hall, its ceiling half-collapsed and its walls lined with faintly glowing runes. The chamber's size gave them room to maneuver, but the danger was clear: the creature behind them would not be stopped by the change in terrain.
"Lara," Ravok said sharply, his tone cutting through her labored breathing. "Buy me time."
She didn't hesitate, spinning to face the corridor they had just escaped. Her daggers gleamed as she braced herself, her posture coiled like a spring. "Don't take too long."
Ravok moved quickly, his eyes scanning the chamber. The glowing runes along the walls flickered faintly, their light suggesting a connection to the unstable energy of the Hollow. His mind pieced the fragments of Kael's memories together: the runes were anchors, channels for controlling the chaotic energy that surged through this place.
If I can redirect the energy, it might be enough to destabilize the creature.
The roar shook the chamber as the massive creature surged into view. Its body was an amalgamation of shadows and molten stone, its claws raking across the floor as it advanced toward Lara.
---
The Battle Begins
Lara moved like a whirlwind, her daggers flashing as she danced around the creature's strikes. Each movement was precise, her blades aiming for joints and weak points, though they barely left scratches on its molten hide.
"This thing is impossible to cut!" she shouted, dodging a swipe that sent shards of stone flying.
"You're not cutting it," Ravok replied, his voice calm despite the chaos. "You're delaying it."
"Comforting," she muttered, rolling under another attack and slashing at the creature's glowing eyes.
Meanwhile, Ravok worked quickly, his fingers tracing the glowing runes. He drew a spirit stone from his pouch, its energy pulsing faintly in his palm. Carefully, he placed it into a shallow groove beneath one of the runes, channeling its energy into the symbols.
The chamber shuddered, the runes glowing brighter as the ambient energy began to coalesce. Ravok's lips curled into a faint smile. It's working.
"Lara!" he called. "Draw it to the center of the room."
She didn't argue, darting backward and leading the creature toward the middle of the chamber. The beast roared, its claws raking deep gouges into the stone as it pursued her.
---
The Trap is Sprung
The moment the creature reached the center, Ravok activated the runes. The room erupted with light as the glowing symbols flared, their energy converging in a brilliant flash. The unstable force of the Hollow surged, slamming into the creature with a deafening crack.
The beast howled in rage, its molten body shuddering as cracks appeared along its surface. The energy tore through it, destabilizing the shadows that composed its form. With one final, earth-shaking roar, the creature collapsed, its body dissolving into ash and fragments of glowing stone.
The chamber fell silent, the light from the runes fading until only the faint hum of residual energy remained.
---
Aftermath
Lara leaned against a wall, breathing heavily. Her daggers hung loosely in her hands, their edges nicked from the battle. "You could've warned me about the light show," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Ravok smirked faintly, retrieving the spirit stone he'd used to power the runes. Its glow was dim, but it still held a faint trace of energy. "You seemed to handle it."
"Barely," she muttered, sheathing her daggers. "What was that thing?"
"A manifestation," Ravok said, his tone thoughtful. "Tied to the energy of the Hollow. It wasn't just a creature—it was part of this place."
Lara frowned. "And the runes? You seemed to know exactly what to do with them."
"Kael might've forgotten their purpose," Ravok replied, his voice calm, "but I haven't."
She gave him a sharp look but didn't press further. "We should move. Whatever that thing was, its death probably didn't go unnoticed."
Ravok nodded, his expression hardening. "Agreed. The Hollow's true challenges are only beginning."
---
A New Mystery
As they exited the chamber, the oppressive weight of the Hollow seemed to ease, if only slightly. The ruins ahead were quieter, their shadows less aggressive. But Ravok's instincts remained sharp. The rune, the summoning, the creature—none of it felt random.
High above, perched on a distant spire, the same cloaked figure watched them. Its glowing eyes narrowed as it observed Ravok and Lara's movements.
"The cursed one adapts quickly," the figure murmured. "But will he survive the next step? Or will the Hollow claim him as it has so many others?"
The figure's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Let's see how far you're willing to go, Ravok."