The air around Ravok felt heavier, charged with the lingering echoes of the Void's energy. Each step he took seemed to pulse with the artifact's power now coursing through him. It wasn't overwhelming, but it was there—a constant thrum at the edge of his senses, waiting to be tapped.
Beside him, Lara's gaze flicked to him more often than usual. Though she said nothing, Ravok could feel the shift in her demeanor. She had seen what he had done in the sealed chamber, and while she hadn't voiced her thoughts, her wariness was clear.
"What's the plan now?" Lara asked finally, breaking the silence. Her voice was casual, but her grip on her daggers hadn't loosened since they left the chamber.
"We move forward," Ravok said, his tone even. "The Hollow hasn't finished testing us."
"Right," Lara muttered, casting a glance at the mist-shrouded ruins ahead. "Because that wasn't enough."
---
The Void's Influence
As they pressed on, Ravok began to notice the subtle changes within himself. The Void's power didn't flow like ordinary energy—it was colder, sharper, and it carried a weight that seemed to press against his mind. But beneath its alien nature was something familiar—a potential he had once glimpsed but never wielded in his previous life.
He clenched his fist, feeling the faint pulse of the energy respond. It wasn't just power. It was a tool, a weapon waiting to be mastered.
"Whatever you did back there," Lara said, breaking into his thoughts, "it wasn't normal."
Ravok glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "Nothing about this place is normal."
"You're deflecting," Lara said, her tone sharper. "That sphere… it changed you. I saw it."
"It gave me what I needed," Ravok replied simply. "Nothing more."
Lara's eyes narrowed, but she didn't press further. "Just don't let whatever it gave you get us killed."
---
The Hollow's Next Move
The ruins ahead grew darker, the mist thickening until it was almost impenetrable. Ravok slowed, his senses sharpening as he scanned the surroundings. The faint whispers that had accompanied them earlier grew louder, forming fragmented words that seemed to swirl around them.
"This feels wrong," Lara said, her voice low. "Like the Hollow's… alive."
"It is," Ravok replied, his tone calm. "And it's watching us."
As they moved deeper into the mist, the terrain began to shift. The ground beneath them cracked and shifted, forming uneven patterns that forced them to move cautiously. Shadows flitted at the edges of their vision—too quick to track but too distinct to dismiss.
"Stay close," Ravok said, his voice firm. "Whatever's out there, it's waiting for us to separate."
Lara nodded, her daggers gleaming faintly in the dim light. "I hate this place."
---
The Devourer's Snare
They reached an open clearing, its center dominated by a massive pit that seemed to descend endlessly into darkness. The ground around it was littered with broken weapons and shattered armor, signs of past battles.
"This looks promising," Lara said dryly, though her tone betrayed her unease.
Ravok crouched near the edge of the pit, his crimson eyes narrowing as he examined the faint markings etched into the surrounding stone. They were ancient, their meaning obscured, but their purpose was clear: this place was a trap.
"It's feeding," Ravok said, standing. "The pit draws energy from those who die here."
Lara's expression darkened. "And let me guess—we're next on the menu?"
"Not if we're careful," Ravok replied. "But the Hollow doesn't want careful. It wants desperate."
The ground beneath them shuddered, and a low growl echoed from the pit. From the darkness emerged a massive, serpentine creature, its body covered in jagged, obsidian scales. Its eyes glowed with a hungry light, and its fanged maw opened wide, revealing rows of jagged teeth.
The Devourer.
---
The Battle with the Devourer
The creature lunged without warning, its massive body slamming into the ground as Ravok and Lara leaped aside. The force of its attack sent cracks spiderwebbing across the stone, and the pit pulsed with energy, feeding off the chaos.
"Any brilliant ideas?" Lara shouted, rolling to avoid the creature's tail as it lashed out.
"Keep it moving," Ravok replied, his mind racing. "The pit's energy is binding it. If we can break the connection—"
"Break the connection?" Lara interrupted, her voice incredulous. "How do you plan to do that?"
Ravok didn't answer immediately. His gaze locked onto the creature's glowing eyes and the faint threads of energy that seemed to anchor it to the pit. The Void's power within him pulsed, as if sensing his intent.
It's a construct, Ravok realized. Like the others, but stronger. Bound to this place.
"Draw it toward the edge," Ravok called, his voice sharp. "I'll handle the rest."
Lara hesitated but nodded, darting toward the creature and slashing at its side. The attack barely scratched its scales, but it turned its attention to her, its massive body coiling as it prepared to strike.
---
Unleashing the Void
Ravok moved quickly, positioning himself near the pit's edge. He reached inward, pulling on the Void's energy. It surged through him, cold and sharp, and his dagger glowed faintly with its power.
The Devourer lunged toward Lara, its massive jaws snapping shut inches from her as she darted away. It turned, its eyes locking onto Ravok as he raised the glowing dagger.
"Come," Ravok said, his voice low but commanding.
The creature roared, surging toward him. At the last moment, Ravok plunged the dagger into the ground, channeling the Void's energy into the pit. The connection between the Devourer and the pit fractured, and the creature howled in rage as its body began to destabilize.
"Now!" Ravok shouted.
Lara moved like a shadow, her daggers flashing as she struck at the creature's exposed underbelly. The Devourer writhed, its body shuddering violently before collapsing into a heap of molten scales and ash.
The pit pulsed once more, then fell silent.
---
The Aftermath
The clearing was eerily quiet as the mist began to recede. Ravok retrieved his dagger, its glow fading as he sheathed it. Lara approached, her expression a mix of exhaustion and grudging respect.
"I don't know what you did," she said, "but it worked."
"It wasn't just me," Ravok replied, his tone calm. "The Hollow overreached. It tried to break us, and it failed."
Lara shook her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "You're impossible."
Ravok didn't respond. His gaze lingered on the pit, where the faintest trace of energy still pulsed. The Hollow wasn't finished with them. Not yet.
---
The Cloaked Figure's Observations
From a distance, the cloaked figure watched as Ravok and Lara disappeared into the ruins once more. Its glowing eyes narrowed, and a low chuckle escaped its lips.
"He's stronger than I anticipated," the figure murmured. "But strength alone won't save him."
The figure turned, its dark robes blending into the shadows. "The true trial is yet to come."