The silence was absolute, an all-consuming void that seemed to devour every thought, every flicker of light. The darkness pressed in, tangible and suffocating, and Val could feel himself spiraling downward, deeper into the unknown. The only thing grounding him was the slow, ominous thump of his own heartbeat, echoing in his ears like a war drum.

And then, from within the darkness, two piercing, crimson eyes appeared.

The eyes of the Void, staring at him with a malevolent, endless hunger. They glowed with an unnatural light, casting eerie shadows that twisted and writhed in the surrounding blackness. They seemed to grow larger, filling his vision, staring into him with a gaze that saw past flesh and bone, delving into his very soul.

"Valens..."

The Void's voice was a whisper, low and venomous, curling around his mind like a serpent. It was smooth, persuasive, dripping with false kindness.

"You've come so far, haven't you? But there's only one choice left to make. Only one true answer."

Val clenched his fists, his body trembling under the weight of the Void's presence. "You think… you can force me into anything?"

The Void let out a dark, hollow laugh that echoed through the emptiness, a sound that chilled Val to his bones.

"Force? Oh no, Val… This is a gift, an opportunity. You know what I want… what I've always wanted."

The darkness shifted, and Val's brothers, Ember and Exeo, appeared beside him, their souls surrounded by swirling tendrils of Purple Fire. The flames coiled protectively around them, casting an otherworldly glow that made their forms appear both real and ethereal. Their faces were calm, their eyes closed, as if they were in a deep, peaceful slumber.

Val's breath hitched. "No… leave them out of this."

The Void's gaze sharpened, those terrible red eyes narrowing with a twisted glee.

"But they are exactly what this is about. You have a choice to make, Val. Your brothers… or the power you crave. One can exist, but not both."

The words hit him like a blow, and Val felt himself stagger, the weight of the decision crushing him. He looked at his brothers, their faces serene, untouched by the darkness that surrounded them. The Purple Fire flickered, as if sensing his turmoil, and the flames tightened around Ember and Exeo as if protecting them from the Void's reach.

"Think of the power, Val," the Void whispered, its voice a dark, honeyed promise.

"You're already an ARM user. Imagine what you could become if you embraced me fully. Imagine the worlds you could conquer, the strength you would wield. No one would stand in your way."

A tendril of darkness slithered toward Ember and Exeo, pulsing with an ominous energy. Val's heart raced as he stepped forward, his body moving on instinct, placing himself between his brothers and the Void.

"Get away from them!" he spat, his voice raw, fierce.

The Void's laughter was cold, mocking.

"Oh, Val… you still cling to this hope, this weakness. Your brothers are nothing more than shadows now, relics of a past that you refuse to let go. All they do is hold you back from your true potential."

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Val's fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms as he fought to keep his resolve steady. The Void was relentless, its words needling into his mind, trying to dig up his doubts, his fears. The promise of power was intoxicating, a temptation that he could feel thrumming in his veins, an alluring darkness that whispered to the deepest parts of his soul.

But as he looked at Ember and Exeo, the memory of their laughter, their strength, their unwavering loyalty surged within him. They had been more than just his brothers—they had been his family, his purpose, his reason for fighting. To abandon them now, to let the Void consume them… it was unthinkable.

"They hold you back," the Void hissed, its voice growing colder, sharper.

"You could become unstoppable. All you have to do is let them go. Make the choice, Val. Surrender them to me, and you'll finally be free."

Val shook his head, his voice barely a whisper. "No… I can't. I won't."

The Void's eyes narrowed, and it surged forward, the darkness pressing in on Val, suffocating him, drowning him in its cold, endless depths. He felt a tendril of darkness wrap around him, squeezing, crushing.

His breath hitched as pain shot through his body, his mind beginning to fray under the relentless pressure.

"They are nothing, Val. Just memories, shadows of a past that no longer exists. Release them, and let me fill the void within you."

Val gritted his teeth, his body trembling as he fought against the darkness, his mind reeling. The pain was unbearable, searing through him like fire, and he could feel his strength beginning to falter. Every instinct screamed at him to surrender, to let go, to end the suffering.

But then, a voice, soft and steady, echoed through his mind—a voice he recognized, warm and familiar. "Val… it's okay."

He gasped, his heart skipping a beat. Ember's voice. He could feel it, strong and real, filling the emptiness with a warmth that pushed back against the darkness.

"We're here, Val," another voice said, calm and reassuring. Exeo's voice, steady and unwavering. "We're not going anywhere."

The Purple Fire around them flared, brighter than ever, casting a brilliant light that burned through the darkness, pushing back the Void's tendrils. Val felt a surge of strength, a fierce, unbreakable resolve that filled him to his core.

He looked up, meeting the Void's gaze, his voice steady, defiant. "You will never have them. My brothers… they are a part of me. And I will never give them up."

The Void recoiled, the darkness twisting, writhing in fury. The two red eyes blazed with a malevolent light, but Val held his ground, his spirit unyielding.

And then, with a final, furious scream, the Void shattered, the darkness splintering into a thousand fragments, dissolving into nothingness.

The silence returned, but this time, it was a peaceful, comforting silence, a quiet that filled him with a sense of calm and completion.

Val found himself back in the vast, white expanse, his brothers standing before him, their eyes open, warm, and alive. Ember and Exeo smiled at him, their expressions filled with pride and gratitude.

"You did it, Val," Ember said, his voice filled with quiet awe.

Exeo nodded, his gaze steady. "You fought for us. And for that, we're here."

Val's chest swelled with emotion, and he took a step forward, reaching out toward them. But as he did, the white expanse began to fade, the world around him shifting, drawing him back to reality.

He opened his eyes, blinking against the harsh light of the chamber, his body aching, his mind exhausted but victorious. The weight of the Void was gone, replaced by a quiet strength that filled him, a calm certainty that he had won—not just for himself, but for his brothers.

A voice echoed in his mind, soft and approving. "Well done, Val," Deleo murmured. "You have passed the final test. The Void is yours to command."

Val managed a faint, weary smile. "Thank you, Deleo… for everything."

The chamber doors opened, and Bo, Riggs, Fon, and Dr. Lewis rushed in, their faces filled with relief and concern as they took in his exhausted form sprawled on the floor. Dr. Lewis knelt beside him, quickly scanning him for injuries, while the others hovered nearby, their eyes filled with admiration.

But then, a sudden, insistent beep sounded from Dr. Lewis's tablet, drawing his attention. His eyes widened as he read the alert, his face paling.

"What… what is it?" Val asked, his voice hoarse.

Dr. Lewis looked up, his expression stunned, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Val… it's your brothers. Ember and Exeo… their bodies… they're exhibiting signs of waking from stasis."

Val's breath caught, his heart pounding as he stared at Dr. Lewis, the words barely sinking in. Ember and Exeo… waking up?

The exhaustion faded, replaced by a fierce, desperate hope. He struggled to sit up, his gaze locked on Dr. Lewis, a single, unspoken question burning in his eyes.

And as the realization settled over him, a new determination filled him, the promise of a new beginning flickering to life within him.