The Riftlands stretched out before them like a vast, broken canvas. Jagged rocks jutted into the sky, their edges glowing faintly with residual Void energy. The air felt thick, heavy with a power that seemed to hum just below the surface, threatening to pull them into its depths. Every step the team took felt as though they were intruding upon a realm that wanted them gone.
Eziel led the way, his daggers at the ready. Behind him, Boran carried his massive war axe over his shoulder, his eyes scanning the terrain for any signs of danger. Lysara brought up the rear, her staff glowing softly, casting protective wards as they moved. The temple loomed closer with every step, its twisted spires piercing the darkened sky.
"This place is worse than I imagined," Boran muttered, his voice low. "Feels like the ground itself is watching us."
"It's not just the ground," Lysara said, her voice tense. She gestured toward the horizon, where shadowy figures flickered in and out of existence. "Voidborn scouts. They know we're here."
Eziel's jaw tightened. "Then we keep moving. The longer we stay out here, the more vulnerable we are."
---
As they neared the temple, the group paused to survey their target. The structure pulsated with energy, its walls covered in shifting, glowing runes. Dozens of Voidborn moved within the perimeter—some humanoid in shape, others twisted into grotesque forms that defied logic.
"We'll need a plan," Lysara said, crouching behind a rocky outcrop. "There's no way we're getting in there without drawing attention."
Boran grinned, his grip tightening on his axe. "Who says we need to sneak in? A direct approach might be the distraction we need."
Eziel shook his head. "Too risky. If we alert them all at once, we'll be overwhelmed. We need a diversion."
Lysara nodded. "I can cast an illusion to draw their attention to the west side. That should give us a window to get inside."
"And once we're in?" Boran asked.
"We split up," Eziel said, his voice firm. "Lysara, you disable whatever's powering the Void energy in the temple. Boran, you take out as many Voidborn as you can and cover our escape. I'll find Eryndor and stop the ritual."
Boran frowned. "Splitting up in a place like this sounds like a good way to get killed."
"It's the only way," Eziel said. "We don't have time to second-guess."
---
The plan went into motion as Lysara conjured an illusion of a massive fireball crashing into the west side of the temple. The Voidborn reacted immediately, their shrill cries filling the air as they rushed toward the perceived threat. Eziel, Boran, and Lysara slipped through the shadows, making their way into the temple's entrance.
Inside, the air was colder, tinged with the unmistakable scent of ozone and decay. The walls seemed to pulse with life, the runes shifting and writhing as though aware of their presence. The team exchanged a glance before splitting up as planned.
Eziel moved swiftly through the corridors, his daggers gleaming faintly in the dim light. He encountered several Voidborn along the way, dispatching them with precision and speed. Each victory brought him closer to the central chamber, where he could hear the faint sound of chanting growing louder.
Boran, meanwhile, relished the fight. His axe cleaved through the Voidborn with brutal efficiency, his roars echoing through the temple. For every enemy he felled, more seemed to appear, but he held his ground, buying precious time for the others.
Lysara found her way to the temple's core, where a massive crystalline structure pulsed with Void energy. She set to work, her magic intertwining with the runes as she searched for a way to disrupt the flow of power. Sweat beaded on her brow as the crystal resisted her efforts, its energy lashing out like a living thing.
---
In the central chamber, Eziel finally found Eryndor. The former ally stood before a swirling vortex of energy, the Void crystal from earlier now embedded in an ornate pedestal. Voidborn priests chanted around them, their voices blending into an otherworldly harmony.
"Eryndor!" Eziel shouted, his voice cutting through the cacophony. "This ends now!"
Eryndor turned, their expression calm but resolute. "You're too late, Eziel. The Void isn't here to destroy—it's here to save us. To free us from the shackles of this broken world."
"By tearing open reality itself?" Eziel retorted, advancing with his daggers drawn. "You've lost your mind."
Eryndor raised their hand, and a wave of Void energy surged toward Eziel. He dodged, rolling to the side and hurling one of his daggers. The blade struck the pedestal, causing the vortex to flicker.
The Void priests hissed, their chanting faltering as the energy destabilized. Eryndor's calm demeanor cracked, replaced by fury. "You don't understand what you're doing! Without the Void's power, Arkasol will fall!"
"Better that than becoming slaves to it!" Eziel shouted, launching himself at Eryndor.
---
In the core, Lysara's efforts finally paid off. With a final surge of magic, she shattered the crystalline structure, sending shockwaves through the temple. The runes dimmed, and the Void energy began to dissipate.
Boran, sensing the shift, fought his way toward the entrance, carving a path through the remaining Voidborn. "Time to go!" he bellowed, his voice carrying through the chaos.
Eziel landed a decisive blow, disarming Eryndor and knocking them to the ground. The vortex collapsed, the Void priests vanishing in screams of agony. Eziel grabbed the now-dormant Void crystal, his chest heaving.
"We're done here," he said, his voice cold.
Eryndor glared up at him, their eyes filled with hatred and despair. "You've doomed us all."
Eziel didn't reply. He turned and ran, rejoining Lysara and Boran as the temple began to crumble. Together, they fled into the night, the echoes of the Void's power fading behind them.