The journey back to HQ was silent. Val's team kept close, their postures tense, eyes watchful. Despite the victory, Val's exhaustion was evident—the ruin stone's test had left him drained and haunted by lingering doubts. They had secured the stone, yes, but the true depth of what lay ahead weighed heavily on his mind.

When they finally materialized in the HQ corridor, Val staggered, catching himself on the wall. The corridors seemed brighter than usual, disorienting after the dark, ancient atmosphere of the vault. Bo stepped forward, concern flickering in his eyes, but Val waved him off with a tired nod. The pain in his left eye was more pronounced than ever—a constant, gnawing ache that he struggled to ignore.

"Val," Dr. Lewis's voice crackled over the comms, sensing the unusual strain in Val's stance. "Are you alright?"

Val steadied himself, forcing his tone to remain even. "I'm… managing. The stone is secured, but there's more to this."

Dr. Lewis's face softened as he observed Val closely, his gaze filled with understanding. "The ruin stone's magic must have been intense. Get some rest, Umbra. This retrieval has clearly taken its toll."

Val nodded, though he knew there was no rest waiting for him. He barely heard Dr. Lewis's voice as his thoughts spiraled back to the events within the vault—the strange tests, the agonizing choices, the relentless, suffocating feeling that he had barely scratched the surface of the ruin stone's true power.

Back in his quarters, Val dropped onto his bed, closing his eyes, but his mind wouldn't settle.

The ruin stone had unlocked something—*stirred* something within him that was far from finished. He could feel it, a low hum in the back of his mind, unsettling and ceaseless. Just as he began to sink into a fitful sleep, Deleo's presence washed over him, calm but solemn.

"Val," Deleo's voice was soft, yet it held a weight Val had only sensed in the most dire of moments. "You must understand, the test isn't over."

The words jolted Val from the edge of sleep, his eyes slowly open. "I know."

Deleo continued, his tone measured but unyielding. "You faced the ruin stone's challenge, yes. But this stone was only a conduit for something far greater."

A chill ran down Val's spine. He had been ready to face physical dangers, even intense magical trials—but the ruin stone's power had felt entirely different. It was as though it had tested not just his abilities, but the essence of his character, demanding proof of his resolve.

Stolen novel; please report.

"So, what now?" Val whispered, the question laced with a weariness that went beyond physical exhaustion.

"Now, you rest and prepare," Deleo's voice softened, his presence wrapping around Val like a protective barrier. "The fifth seal remains, and when the time comes, you will be tested again. Only this time…"

Val felt the words linger, each one heavy with ominous promise. "Only this time… what?"

"This time, the seal's magic will force you to confront your choices, Val. It will pull you to your limits, and then it will push you even further. It is not a test of power but of everything you hold dear."

The implication made Val's chest tighten, his hand going instinctively to his left eye. The ache had grown stronger, pulsating in rhythm with his heartbeat—a reminder that the journey was far from over.

"The stone's power is linked to the Void," Deleo explained, his tone filled with an almost paternal concern. "Its very existence binds it to you, a reminder of the sacrifices this power demands. And when the time comes to unlock the fifth seal…"

Val felt a pang of fear he hadn't allowed himself to feel before. "The fifth seal—what will it do?"

Deleo hesitated, as though weighing the weight of his answer. "It will bring the Void closer than ever before. It will test your deepest convictions, forcing you to decide what you are willing to sacrifice, what you are willing to fight for."

Val swallowed, the ache in his left eye intensifying as if reacting to Deleo's words. He tried to steady himself, to find a grounding in the chaotic emotions swirling within him. "Why are you telling me this, Deleo? If this seal is as dangerous as you say, then why warn me?"

Deleo's presence shifted, a faint sadness coloring his voice. "Because I have seen this test consume those who were unprepared. I have seen them lose themselves, their souls torn apart by the weight of their choices. I do not want the same fate for you, Val."

Val's heart twisted, a surge of determination breaking through his exhaustion. He had survived countless trials, faced threats that would break most warriors—but this was different. This was a test not of his strength, but of his very spirit. He took a deep breath, nodding to himself, as if steeling his resolve against the looming darkness.

"Then let it come," he said quietly, his voice filled with a grim certainty. "I'll face whatever the Void throws at me."

Deleo's silence spoke volumes, a weighty pause that lingered before he finally spoke. "Rest, Val. Gather your strength. The final trial will come sooner than you think."

As Deleo's presence receded, Val felt the quiet emptiness of his room settle around him. He lay back, his mind racing with the implications of the test that lay ahead. He thought of Ember and Exeo, their faces flashing before him—a reminder of everything he fought for, everything he was willing to risk.

'If the Void thought it could break him,' he thought bitterly, 'it was about to learn otherwise.'

Yet as he drifted into a restless sleep, the ache in his left eye persisted, a constant reminder of the power waiting to be unleashed.