The wilderness stretched endlessly, cloaked in the eerie light of a fractured sky. Ravok moved swiftly, his crimson eyes locked on the faint glow in the distance—the next Void Fragment. Lara followed closely behind, her daggers drawn, her sharp gaze scanning the terrain for threats.
"Are we walking into another trap?" Lara asked, breaking the tense silence.
"Most likely," Ravok replied without slowing. "But it's a trap we need."
Lara rolled her eyes. "You have a funny way of looking at things."
"The Pantheon doesn't guard anything without reason," Ravok said calmly. "If they're protecting this fragment, it means it's more important than the others."
Lara sighed but didn't argue. She knew better than to question Ravok's instincts, even if his plans often sounded suicidal.
---
The Fragment's Aura
As they approached the fragment, the air grew heavier. The oppressive aura of divine energy mingled with the chaotic pulse of the Void, creating a suffocating atmosphere. The ground beneath their feet was cracked and scorched, glowing faintly with golden runes that pulsed in rhythm with the fragment.
"Feels like we're walking into a furnace," Lara muttered, wiping sweat from her brow. "How do you plan to get close to that thing?"
"Carefully," Ravok said. He stopped, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the area. "We're not alone."
Before Lara could respond, the ground erupted around them. Golden constructs emerged from the earth, their angular forms shimmering with divine energy. These Warden Constructs moved with mechanical precision, their glowing eyes fixed on Ravok and Lara.
"Well, that's just perfect," Lara said, raising her daggers. "What's the plan?"
"Survive," Ravok replied, his Void-infused dagger materializing in his hand. "And destroy."
---
Clash with the Constructs
The constructs attacked in unison, their golden weapons slicing through the air with deadly speed. Ravok and Lara split up, each drawing the attention of half the group.
Ravok met the first construct head-on, his dagger clashing against its glowing blade. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, but Ravok didn't falter. His Void energy coiled around him like a living shadow, disrupting the construct's movements.
"You're just another tool of the Pantheon," Ravok muttered, driving his dagger into the construct's core. The machine shuddered, its light dimming before collapsing into lifeless scraps.
Meanwhile, Lara danced between her opponents, her agility keeping her one step ahead of their strikes. She moved like a shadow, her daggers flashing as she targeted the weak points in the constructs' armor. "I hate fighting machines," she grumbled. "They don't even bleed."
One of the constructs lunged at her, but Lara spun out of its reach, her blade slicing through its joints. With a final strike, she severed its core, sending it crashing to the ground.
---
The Fragment's Guardian
As the last construct fell, the Void Fragment pulsed violently, its chaotic energy surging outward. From the heart of the fragment emerged a towering figure—a Fragment Guardian, its form an unstable fusion of light and shadow. Its massive frame radiated raw power, and its glowing eyes locked onto Ravok.
"This just keeps getting better," Lara muttered, her grip tightening on her daggers. "Please tell me you've got a plan for this one."
"Keep it busy," Ravok said, his focus on the fragment. "I'll take the core."
"Easy for you to say," Lara shot back, but she didn't hesitate. She darted toward the Guardian, drawing its attention with swift, precise strikes. The creature's massive arms swung toward her, each blow shaking the ground, but she managed to stay ahead of its attacks.
Ravok advanced toward the fragment, his movements deliberate. The chaotic energy lashed out at him, trying to repel his approach, but he pressed forward, his Void energy shielding him from the worst of the assault.
---
Shattering the Second Chain
As Ravok reached the fragment, the whispers of the Void grew louder in his mind, their voices sharp and commanding.
"Break it. Shatter the chain. Take its power."
He placed his hand on the fragment, the swirling energy coiling around his arm. The divine light within the fragment resisted, flaring violently as it clashed with the Void. Ravok gritted his teeth, channeling more of his energy into the connection. The fragment trembled, cracks spreading across its surface.
Behind him, the Guardian let out a piercing wail, its form flickering as the fragment's energy destabilized. Lara seized the moment, delivering a final, devastating strike that severed the creature's core. The Guardian collapsed, its light extinguished.
The fragment's core shattered with a burst of energy, and Ravok felt the second chain within his soul break. The surge of power was overwhelming, flooding his body with renewed strength and sharpening his connection to the Void.
---
Aftermath
The clearing fell silent, the oppressive energy dissipating as the fragment's remnants dissolved into the air. Ravok stood amidst the wreckage, his breathing steady but his mind racing with the implications of what had just occurred.
Lara approached him, her expression a mix of exhaustion and curiosity. "So, was it worth it?"
"Yes," Ravok replied, his voice cold and resolute. "But the Pantheon will know. They'll feel this."
"Let them," Lara said, smirking. "They should know what's coming."
Without another word, they turned and walked away from the clearing, leaving behind only the shattered remains of the constructs and the fading glow of the fragment. The road ahead was long, but Ravok's resolve was stronger than ever. Another chain had been broken, and with it, another step toward his ultimate goal.