The oppressive silence of the Ashen Hollow lingered as Ravok and Lara pressed forward. The chamber and the shadow beast were behind them, but the faint whispers of the Hollow's energy seemed louder now, crawling into the edges of their minds.
Each step felt heavier, as though the air itself resisted their movement. Ravok's crimson eyes flicked across the terrain, catching faint glimmers of movement in the mist. He sensed something—not immediate danger, but a presence, watching, waiting.
---
The Path Ahead
They reached a broken staircase carved into the ruins. It spiraled downward, disappearing into darkness. The edges of the steps were jagged and uneven, and faint runes lined the walls, their glow too faint to illuminate much.
"This place doesn't end," Lara muttered, peering into the abyss below. "It just keeps pulling us deeper."
"That's the point," Ravok replied, his voice calm. "The Hollow isn't just testing our strength. It's testing our resolve."
"Sounds poetic," Lara said, glancing at him. "But if we don't find something worthwhile soon, we'll run out of energy—or worse, luck."
Ravok didn't respond immediately. His gaze lingered on the faint runes, their glow flickering like dying embers. They whispered to him, fragments of memories and knowledge piecing themselves together in his mind.
"There's something down there," Ravok said finally. "Something the Hollow doesn't want us to find."
Lara sighed, her grip tightening on her daggers. "Of course there is."
---
The Descent
The stairs creaked under their weight as they descended. The air grew colder, and the faint hum of energy became more pronounced. Ravok's steps were deliberate, each movement calculated as he analyzed their surroundings.
Halfway down, the glow of the runes intensified. Ravok paused, placing a hand on the wall. The energy pulsing beneath the surface was erratic, like a trapped heartbeat.
"These runes are a seal," he said, his voice low. "They're holding something back."
Lara frowned, her daggers gleaming faintly in the dim light. "And we're walking straight toward it?"
"Yes," Ravok said simply. "Because whatever's behind them is worth more than everything else we've found so far."
"You're insane," Lara muttered, but she didn't stop following.
---
The Sealed Chamber
The staircase ended in a vast underground chamber. The walls were lined with glowing runes, their light forming a complex web of interlocking symbols. At the center of the room stood a pedestal, and atop it rested a black sphere, its surface rippling like liquid obsidian.
The air was heavy with power, and Ravok felt it immediately—a presence unlike anything else in the Hollow. It wasn't just energy; it was sentience. The sphere seemed to watch them, though it had no eyes.
"What is that?" Lara asked, her voice hushed.
"An artifact," Ravok replied, stepping closer. "But not just any artifact. This is… Voidbound."
Lara tensed. "Voidbound? As in tied to the Void?"
Ravok nodded, his crimson eyes narrowing. "It's a fragment of the Void's essence. Rare. Dangerous. And powerful."
---
The Test of Will
As Ravok reached the pedestal, the runes along the walls flared brightly. The air crackled with energy, and a voice echoed through the chamber—deep, resonant, and laced with ancient power.
"Who dares disturb the sanctity of the Void's fragment?"
Lara stiffened, her daggers raised, but Ravok remained calm. He stepped forward, his gaze locked on the sphere.
"I am Ravok," he said, his voice steady. "And I am here to claim what is mine."
The voice laughed, a low, bone-chilling sound that echoed through the chamber. "Yours? The Void does not give freely. If you seek its power, you must prove yourself worthy."
The light of the runes intensified, and the ground beneath them began to shift. Shadows emerged from the edges of the room, coalescing into humanoid shapes with glowing crimson eyes.
Lara cursed under her breath. "More shadows?"
"No," Ravok said, his tone grim. "These are constructs of the Void. They're stronger. Smarter."
"Fantastic," Lara muttered, bracing herself. "Any plans?"
"Yes," Ravok replied, stepping forward. "Don't die."
---
Battle Against the Void Constructs
The constructs moved with precision, their movements faster and more coordinated than the shadow creatures they'd fought earlier. Their forms were solid, their strikes heavy, and their crimson eyes burned with a feral intelligence.
Ravok dodged the first strike, his dagger slashing through the construct's arm. Unlike the shadow creatures, this one didn't dissolve; it simply reformed, its movements relentless.
"They regenerate," Lara called, her daggers flashing as she fought off another construct. "This isn't working!"
"They're bound to the artifact," Ravok said, his mind racing. "The sphere is their anchor. We need to disrupt it."
"Easier said than done," Lara shot back, narrowly avoiding a strike aimed at her chest.
Ravok's crimson eyes locked onto the pedestal. The sphere pulsed with power, its surface rippling as though alive. If I can sever its connection to the constructs…
Dodging another attack, Ravok darted toward the pedestal. One of the constructs moved to intercept him, but Lara lunged, her daggers sinking into its chest and forcing it back.
"Go!" she shouted.
---
Claiming the Sphere
Ravok reached the pedestal, his hand hovering over the sphere. The energy radiating from it was overwhelming, like a storm contained within a single object. The voice echoed again, louder this time.
"Do you have the will to command the Void? Or will it consume you?"
Ravok smirked faintly. "I don't bend to the Void. It bends to me."
With that, he placed his hand on the sphere. The moment his skin touched its surface, the world around him dissolved.
---
The Void's Trial
Ravok stood in darkness—an endless expanse of black, broken only by faint flickers of light in the distance. The presence of the Void was overwhelming here, pressing against his mind like an unrelenting tide.
"You seek power," the voice said, surrounding him. "But are you willing to pay the price?"
"I've already paid," Ravok replied, his voice steady. "And I will take what is owed."
The presence recoiled, as though surprised by his defiance. "You speak with conviction. But words are not enough. Prove your worth."
Shadows emerged from the darkness, coalescing into figures that took on familiar forms. Ravok recognized them immediately: the faces of those who had betrayed him in his previous life. Veynor. Khoris. The disciples who had mocked him, drained him, and left him to die.
Their voices rang out, cruel and mocking. "Weak. Insignificant. You were never meant to rise."
Ravok's crimson eyes burned with fury. "I've heard those words before. And I'll make you choke on them."
The figures attacked, and Ravok moved to meet them, his dagger flashing in the darkness. Each strike was precise, fueled by the rage and determination that had carried him through death and rebirth.
---
The Sphere's Submission
When the last shadow fell, the darkness receded. Ravok stood alone, his breath steady despite the battle's intensity.
The voice returned, quieter now. "You are… different. Perhaps you are worthy after all."
The sphere's energy flowed into him, its power sinking into his core like molten fire. Ravok gritted his teeth, absorbing the force of the Void. When the light faded, he opened his eyes, his crimson gaze sharper than ever.
---
Back in the Chamber
The constructs dissolved as Ravok released the sphere. Lara stared at him, her expression a mix of awe and wariness.
"What… was that?" she asked.
"An awakening," Ravok replied, his voice calm but filled with an edge of power. "Let's move. The Hollow won't wait."
As they left the chamber, Ravok felt the sphere's energy thrumming within him. He had claimed the Void's power, but he knew the cost was only beginning to reveal itself.