The dim, cool light in General Luis's office cast faint shadows across the room as Val placed the ruin stone on the table. Its quiet glow seemed almost incongruous amidst the formal, military setting, yet everyone's gaze was riveted to it, the weight of its presence grounding the room in a profound silence.
Dr. Lewis leaned forward, his fingers laced together, the usual warmth in his eyes replaced with keen focus. General Luis remained still, his posture hinting at both curiosity and caution as he absorbed Val's every word.
Val took a steadying breath, shifting slightly as the aches from the battle pulsed through his muscles. "The guardian wasn't what we expected, sir. It… was more than an illusion, more than any defense mechanism we've faced with the previous stones. It was alive—sentient, in a way."
He exchanged a quick glance with Dr. Lewis, who nodded, his expression one of dawning understanding.
"Alive, you say?" Dr. Lewis's voice held a note of disbelief. "This would mean… it's more than just protective magic. These stones are connected to something ancient, something rooted in purpose."
General Luis leaned forward, his gaze narrowed. "And you believe this guardian was bound by the same force? Did it… speak to you?"
Val's fingers tightened around the table's edge as he recalled the guardian's haunting voice, the weight of its words still fresh in his memory.
He nodded. "Yes, General. It… recognized me in a way I didn't anticipate. Almost as if it knew my connection to the Void and intended to test me directly. It called me the 'Bearer of the Void' and said that only I could wield the stone's power."
Dr. Lewis exchanged a look with General Luis, his face tense with revelation. "This confirms much of what the ancient texts suggested about the Void, General," he murmured. "That there's something selective in its reach—a force that only responds to certain individuals, or certain bloodlines. The stones seem to have an… affinity with Val."
General Luis gave a measured nod, absorbing the implications. "Which could mean these stones are more than just powerful relics. They're meant to be wielded, possibly even linked as a chain. We need to know what purpose they serve."
Before Val could respond, a shift in the air drew everyone's attention.
Val's head tilted slightly, his left eye fluttering shut as the dark energy of the Void stirred within him, intensifying until it seemed to fill the room.
Dr. Lewis and General Luis exchanged wary glances, but Val's voice didn't emerge. Instead, another voice spoke—a voice deeper and more resonant, carrying an ancient authority.
"Perhaps," Deleo began, his tone a mixture of weariness and amusement, "the young warriors would prefer to regain their strength before we continue. After all," he added, glancing at the team, whose shoulders slumped in a state of lingering nausea, "it's difficult to hold a conversation when one's insides are… less than stable."
Dr. Lewis nodded, bemused, as he signaled to Bo, Riggs, and Fon, who took the suggestion with visible relief.
Each of them offered a nod to Val and the two leaders before exiting, Fon barely masking a shudder as they shuffled from the room, mumbling about "next time, no teleportation."
As the door closed, a strange silence fell over the room, a charged atmosphere that seemed to resonate with the Void's energy.
When Val's head lifted again, his left eye gleamed with a shadowy brilliance, the familiar presence of Deleo partially taking over his expression. Half of Val's face was shadowed in darkness, the left side surrounded by dark shadowy veins, with Deleo's powerful aura radiating from him.
Dr. Lewis blinked, momentarily taken aback before he composed himself, while General Luis's gaze sharpened with recognition.
"Deleo," General Luis said, his tone cautious. "It's rare for you to make an appearance."
A faint smile curved the half of Val's mouth taken over by Deleo's presence.
"Indeed. But recent events have warranted a more… direct discussion."
His gaze shifted between the two, assessing them as if weighing their understanding.
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"There are truths about Val's connection to the Void that you must comprehend if we are to retrieve the remaining stone safely."
Dr. Lewis leaned forward, eyes bright with interest. "What insights do you have, Deleo? The guardian… it called Val the 'Bearer of the Void.' What does that imply?"
Deleo's gaze hardened, the glint of shadow in Val's left eye intensifying.
"To hold the Void, to wield it, is not merely a matter of strength, but one of purpose and consequence. Val's connection to the Void binds him to forces far older than this realm. These ruin stones are fragments of that power, each one acting as a seal, an amplifier, and a test. They probe his control, testing his will and resolve with every retrieval."
He paused, watching as the information settled over the two men before he continued, his tone a shade darker.
"The Void is not a passive energy. It consumes, adapts, and seeks to expand its influence. With every stone, Val is drawn deeper into its domain. The seals on his left eye are not just protective measures; they are barriers that prevent the Void from consuming him entirely."
General Luis folded his arms, a pensive frown creasing his brow. "So you're saying that each ruin stone intensifies Val's connection to the Void… and compromises his safety?"
Deleo inclined his head. "Precisely. Each stone strengthens the Void's presence, but it also requires Val's mastery over it to expand. It's a delicate balance—one that requires both caution and resolve."
Dr. Lewis's face grew pale as he absorbed Deleo's words. "And the magic seal on Val's left eye—these stones are somehow intertwined with it?"
"Yes." Deleo's voice was grim, edged with a solemnity that hung heavily in the air.
"The seal is a last defense, a tether that holds the Void's influence at bay. Aside from the Purple Fire, each stone amplifies Val's connection, the seal adapts, restraining the power so long as Val maintains control. But the guardian's words reveal a new threat: the Void seeks to weaken that seal with every test, exploiting any falter in his resolve."
General Luis's gaze shifted to Val, his face a mask of concern. "Then what happens if that seal is fully removed? Will the Void consume him?"
A flicker of something dark passed over Val's half-shadowed expression as Deleo answered.
"If the seal is fully removed without balance, the Void will take control. Val's consciousness would remain, but it would be… subordinate to the Void's will."
A tense silence filled the room as the weight of Deleo's words settled. Dr. Lewis swallowed, his voice steady despite his apprehension. "So, each ruin stone must be retrieved carefully, with unwavering control. And if Val falters… we risk losing him to the Void."
Deleo nodded, his gaze shifting back to General Luis.
"Exactly. That is why I chose to speak now. As we retrieve the remaining last stone, there must be measures in place. Val's resolve is formidable, but the Void's pull grows stronger with each victory. He will need more than strength—he will need a safeguard."
General Luis's expression grew resolute. "If that's the case, then we will ensure he has every support we can provide. The retrievals must continue, but we will implement measures to protect Val's consciousness."
Dr. Lewis nodded, his mind already racing with ideas. "I'll study the seal's properties further. If we can understand its nature, perhaps we can develop a countermeasure, something to reinforce Val's control."
Deleo's expression softened slightly, though his gaze remained stern.
"Your intentions are commendable. But know this: the Void does not tolerate interference lightly. These measures may work… or they may agitate it further."
A faint, almost imperceptible hesitation settled over Deleo's expression, a flicker of something like longing or resolve.
"There is, however, a safeguard," he murmured, his tone softer, layered with a hint of reassurance.
"They exist already—though have yet to awaken fully. Forces within Val, threads of strength waiting to stir when the moment is right. These forces, are… loyal. Bound by a connection that transcends even the Void."
Dr. Lewis's eyebrows shot up, his gaze keen with curiosity, but Deleo's words remained elusive, the hint left deliberately vague.
General Luis leaned forward, his face intense. "They? A safeguard… but is that 'they' something that can be relied on in time? Something strong enough to rival the Void?"
Deleo's half-smile returned, his voice carrying a quiet, unspoken promise.
"Yes. It may take time, but when they fully awakens, they will be a force to rival even the Void's pull. Until then, Val must continue as he has—strengthening his resolve, building his control. But rest assured, he will not be alone when the final test comes."
The words lingered in the air, carrying with them a quiet weight, an assurance that felt like a promise hidden just out of reach.
The certainty in Deleo's gaze gave both men pause, an unspoken understanding settling between them that whatever safeguard awaited, it was powerful enough to counter even the darkness of the Void.
Val's right eye gleamed with determination, his own will rising alongside Deleo's presence. "We'll manage it," he said, his voice a blend of his own and Deleo's, unwavering in its resolve. "The stones… the Void… whatever we face, I won't let it consume me."
Deleo's presence faded slightly, leaving Val in control once more, though a faint shadow still lingered in his left eye as he looked between General Luis and Dr. Lewis.
Dr. Lewis's gaze softened, a faint but resolute smile on his face. "You've already endured more than most, Val. We'll support you through this, whatever it takes."
General Luis nodded, a look of pride in his eyes. "We'll see this through together. And if there's a way to break this cycle and master the Void without sacrificing yourself, we'll find it."
Val exhaled, feeling the weight of their support strengthen his resolve. He glanced at the ruin stone, feeling its energy pulse faintly in his hand, a reminder of the road that lay ahead.
"Then let's get to work," he said, his voice steady. "Because this is only the beginning."