The air in the corridor was stifling, thick with a divine energy that felt like a thousand invisible hands pressing against their bodies. The golden runes on the walls weren't just glowing—they were alive. They shifted and pulsed in patterns that seemed to mimic the beating of a heart, sending waves of oppressive energy cascading through the narrow passage.
Lara reached out tentatively, her fingers hovering over the shimmering surface of a rune. "This isn't just a passageway… it's alive. It's watching us."
"It's not just watching," Ravok replied, his voice steady, his crimson eyes scanning the walls. "It's deciding how to kill us."
The whispers of the Void grew louder, fragmented but insistent.
"Deeper. Break it. Take what is theirs."
---
A Labyrinth of Light
The corridor abruptly split into three distinct paths. The left shimmered brightly before dimming into an unstable glow. The center emitted a deep, ominous hum that reverberated in their chests, while the right path twisted unnaturally, the walls shifting like molten gold.
Lara frowned. "Great. Three paths, three chances to die horribly. Your call, Sovereign."
Ravok stepped closer to the center path, his focus sharp. "The Pantheon is expecting hesitation. We take the obvious path—they'll be unprepared."
"Or," Lara countered, "they're expecting us to think like that and are setting a trap."
"Every path is a trap," Ravok said, smirking faintly. "It's how we spring it that matters."
Lara sighed, her daggers flashing as she adjusted her grip. "If we die, I'll haunt you."
---
The Corridor of Judgment
The center path seemed to narrow the further they walked, the golden light on the walls intensifying with each step. The oppressive energy grew heavier, slowing their movements as the hum rose to a deafening roar. The walls began to shift, twisting and contracting like a living organism.
"This place doesn't just feel alive," Lara muttered, beads of sweat forming on her brow. "It's breathing."
"It's more than alive," Ravok replied. "It's aware."
As if in response, the runes flared brightly, and spectral figures began to materialize from the walls. These phantoms of golden light were distorted and unnatural, their forms flickering erratically as they floated toward Ravok and Lara. Their faces shifted constantly, alternating between rage and despair.
"You tread where you do not belong," one of the phantoms intoned, its voice reverberating through the corridor. "Turn back, or face judgment."
Lara raised an eyebrow, her stance shifting defensively. "Judgment? I'll pass."
Ravok smirked, his dagger glowing faintly with Void energy. "Judgment is for the weak."
The phantoms lunged as one, their movements fluid yet chaotic. They didn't aim for the body but for the mind. Each strike sent waves of cold dread and disorientation, clawing at Ravok and Lara's thoughts.
---
A Trial of the Mind
One phantom's hand brushed Lara's shoulder, and a flood of distorted visions invaded her mind. She saw herself standing alone, surrounded by shadows of the Pantheon, their voices mocking her failures. She stumbled back, shaking her head violently to clear the illusion.
"These things… they're inside my head!" Lara shouted, slashing at the phantom, only for her blade to pass through harmlessly.
"They're tied to the corridor," Ravok said, his voice calm despite the chaos. "This is their weapon. Break the corridor, and they'll fall."
"How do you kill a hallway?" Lara snapped, ducking another attack.
Ravok's sharp eyes locked onto the runes lining the walls. "You kill its heart."
---
The Corridor's Heart
Ravok focused on the shifting runes, their pulsating patterns growing more erratic as the phantoms attacked. His gaze honed in on a cluster of runes ahead, glowing brighter than the others. Their sequence was deliberate, a rhythm that resonated with the energy of the phantoms.
"There," Ravok said, pointing. "That cluster anchors them."
Lara didn't hesitate, sprinting toward the runes. The phantoms converged on her, their forms flickering and distorting as they lashed out to stop her progress. Ravok unleashed a wave of Void energy, forcing the phantoms to recoil and giving Lara the opening she needed.
Her daggers struck the cluster of runes with precision, each blow sending ripples of energy through the corridor. The phantoms screamed, their forms destabilizing as the light from the runes dimmed.
"It's working!" Lara shouted, delivering a final strike that shattered the cluster.
---
The Corridor's Collapse
The moment the runes shattered, the corridor convulsed violently. The golden light dimmed, and the walls began to crack and crumble. The phantoms let out a final, anguished wail before dissolving into fragments of light that faded into the air.
Lara leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. "That was… horrible. Please tell me this isn't a recurring theme."
Ravok stepped forward, his expression cold but resolute. "It will be, until the Pantheon is no more."
The corridor stabilized, and at its far end, a doorway materialized. The faint golden glow that emanated from it was subdued, as though even the Pantheon's light had been weakened.
Lara eyed the doorway warily. "So, what's next? More glowing ghosts? Another trap? A god with a grudge?"
"Likely all of the above," Ravok replied, stepping toward the door. "But it doesn't matter."
The whispers of the Void surged, their voices filled with triumph and command.
"One path broken. More await. Take their light. Rise."
Ravok pushed the door open, disappearing into the glow without hesitation. Lara followed close behind, muttering under her breath.
"Next time, I'm picking the path."