Ravok stepped into the swirling vortex, the sensation of crossing through it like plunging into ice-cold water. Shadows and light twisted around him, the Hollow's whispers growing louder, fragmented words merging into something almost intelligible. For a fleeting moment, he felt weightless—untethered from the physical world.
Then it was over.
The moment his feet touched solid ground, the oppressive energy of the new chamber hit him like a wave. Lara appeared behind him, stumbling slightly before regaining her footing. Her sharp intake of breath echoed in the silence.
"What… is this place?" she asked, her voice hushed.
Ravok didn't answer immediately. His crimson eyes scanned their surroundings, taking in the strange, otherworldly landscape. They stood on a vast, floating platform made of black stone, its surface etched with glowing Void runes. Around them, the void stretched endlessly, a swirling expanse of shadows and faint, flickering stars. Above, a faintly glowing, fractured moon cast pale light across the scene.
"This isn't the Hollow," Ravok said finally, his voice low and thoughtful. "It's something… adjacent to it."
---
The Trials of the Void
As they took their first steps on the platform, the runes beneath their feet flared brighter. A pulse of energy surged through the air, and the whispers returned, louder and clearer than before.
"Welcome, traveler of the Void… to the Nexus of Transcendence."
"The what?" Lara muttered, gripping her daggers tightly. She glanced at Ravok. "Is this part of your grand plan?"
"Every step forward is part of the plan," Ravok replied calmly. "But this… this is unexpected."
The whispers continued, their tone both inviting and foreboding. "Prove your worth… ascend, or fall into oblivion."
Lara groaned. "Why is it always 'prove your worth'? Can't we get a break?"
Ravok smirked faintly. "The Void doesn't offer breaks. Only opportunities."
The platform beneath them began to shift, its smooth surface rippling like water. Circles of runes formed around them, and from the center of each circle, figures began to rise—shadows given form, humanoid but featureless, their movements unnervingly precise.
---
The Guardians of the Nexus
The figures stood silently for a moment, their heads tilting as though observing Ravok and Lara. Then, in unison, they attacked.
Lara reacted instantly, her daggers flashing as she intercepted the nearest guardian. Her strikes were precise, aiming for the joints of its limbs. The blade connected, and the guardian staggered—but instead of falling, its form rippled, absorbing the attack and reforming.
"They're adapting!" Lara shouted, retreating as the guardian countered with a swift, shadowy blade that materialized from its arm.
"Of course they are," Ravok muttered, dodging another guardian's strike. His dagger pulsed with Void energy as he countered, slashing at its chest. The blade disrupted its form momentarily, but like the others, it reassembled almost instantly.
"They're not just adapting," Ravok said sharply. "They're learning."
---
Strategic Adaptation
Ravok's mind raced as he analyzed their movements. Each guardian moved with a purpose, their attacks coordinated in ways that suggested more than simple instinct. The runes on the platform pulsed in rhythm with their actions, as though feeding them power.
"They're tied to the runes," Ravok said, his voice calm despite the chaos. "We can't fight them directly. We need to disrupt their source."
"Let me guess," Lara said, narrowly avoiding a blade that grazed her shoulder. "You want me to keep them busy while you figure it out?"
"You're catching on," Ravok replied with a faint smirk, already moving toward the nearest rune circle.
---
Disrupting the Nexus
Ravok approached the first circle, his dagger glowing as he channeled Void energy into its blade. The runes flared brighter as he struck, resisting his efforts. The energy pulsed against him, pushing back with a force that made his arm tremble.
"Persistent," Ravok muttered, tightening his grip. He focused, letting the Void energy within him surge. The dagger pulsed brighter, slicing through the runes with a burst of energy. The circle shattered, and one of the guardians dissolved into wisps of shadow.
"That worked!" Lara called, dodging a pair of guardians. "Do it again, quickly!"
Ravok moved to the next circle, but the remaining guardians reacted immediately, shifting their focus to him. Their attacks grew fiercer, their movements faster, as though the loss of one had heightened their urgency.
Lara intercepted them, her movements a blur as she fought to hold them back. Her strikes were deliberate, each one aimed to stagger rather than destroy. "I can't hold them forever, Ravok!"
"You won't have to," Ravok said, his voice steady as he severed another circle. Another guardian fell, its form dissolving like smoke.
---
The Nexus Collapses
With only one circle remaining, the platform itself began to tremble. The runes pulsed erratically, and the whispers grew louder, overlapping in a chaotic chorus.
"Ascend… transcend… or be consumed!"
Ravok approached the final circle, but before he could strike, the last guardian lunged at him. Its blade moved faster than the others, its form more stable, as though absorbing the strength of its fallen allies. Ravok parried the strike, his dagger clashing against the shadowy blade.
"Any time now!" Lara shouted, fending off the platform's tremors as much as the shifting ground.
Ravok locked eyes with the guardian, its featureless face tilting as though studying him. Then, with a swift, calculated strike, he drove his dagger into the center of the circle. The platform erupted with light, and the final guardian let out a piercing wail before dissolving.
---
The Ascension Gate
As the light faded, the platform stabilized. At its center, where the circles had once been, a massive gate began to form. Its surface shimmered like liquid glass, and beyond it, faint shapes and swirling colors hinted at another realm.
Ravok stood before the gate, his crimson eyes reflecting its glow. Lara approached cautiously, her daggers still in hand.
"Another door," Lara said, her tone dry. "Do we ever get to just… stop?"
Ravok smirked faintly. "Stopping is death."
The whispers returned, softer now but no less ominous. "Beyond lies the true path. Step forward… or be forgotten."
Without hesitation, Ravok stepped toward the gate. He glanced back at Lara, his expression calm but resolute. "Stay or follow. The choice is yours."
Lara sighed, shaking her head. "You really don't make this easy, do you?"
She followed him through the gate, and as the light swallowed them, the platform dissolved into the void, leaving nothing behind.