The dawn light faded as Val and his team materialized at the base of the Eris Mountains. Jagged peaks rose like silent sentinels, casting long, eerie shadows over the dense forest that shrouded the mountain's foot. A chill seeped into the air, thick and unnatural, as if the mountain itself bore witness to countless secrets, waiting for any who dared seek them.

The team held their positions, masks secured, eyes fixed. They felt the weight of Val's silence, the anticipation woven into every muscle as they awaited his command.

Val glanced over them, his voice steady. You know the mission—hold the perimeter, engage only if necessary. This Vault might attract unwanted attention.

Bo nodded, voice calm but carrying a hint of concern. And you? What's waiting in there, Umbra?

Val's gaze flicked towards the distant crest, his face unreadable. Whatever it is, I'll handle it. Just make sure nothing interrupts.

With that, Val moved alone, his figure disappearing into the mist that swirled between ancient trees. He took each step with caution, feeling the unnatural chill press against his skin as he ascended, each breath steeped in foreboding.

His heart hammered, his senses fully alert, every instinct flaring as he reached the entrance to a cave etched into the mountainside. Shadows swallowed the entryway, an unyielding darkness that exuded a sinister energy, stronger than any he had felt near the previous stones.

He steadied himself and stepped inside.

As he descended into the depths, his breaths echoed, growing louder as the dark narrowed around him. The weight of the stone became tangible, an almost physical pressure, pressing against him like invisible chains, tightening with every step. The air grew heavy, suffocating, as though something ancient and hungry lay dormant, waiting for him.

And there it was—the final ruin stone. It lay upon a raised platform at the cave's end, encased in a dark, pulsating energy that throbbed with raw power. The stone glowed faintly, its light flickering as if alive, beckoning him closer with each pulse.

But as Val approached, the ground began to tremble, faint at first, then intensifying, each shudder seeming to reach into his bones, gripping him in a powerful, unyielding hold.

He reached out his hand, feeling the pull of the Void as he made contact with the stone.

Immediately, an intense, all-consuming cold wrapped around him. The world shifted, the darkness expanding, seeping into his mind, his soul. His vision blurred, the cave's walls stretching and bending as he felt himself pulled into another realm entirely—a boundless white expanse, desolate, and empty.

The Void's testing ground.

Val felt a shudder crawl up his spine as he took in his surroundings. There was no warmth, no direction, no sound except for the faint, unearthly hum of the Void echoing in his ears. Then, through the silence, he heard it—low, insidious whispers, slipping through his mind like venom.

"You are already an ARM user, Val. Why seek more power?"

The voice was soft, but it dug into him, clawing at his resolve. Images flooded his mind—the previous ruin stones, the sacrifices, each choice that had drawn him further into the Void's grasp. He clenched his fists, feeling the sting of his nails against his skin.

"I'm not here for power," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I'm here for them."

The Void laughed, the sound a hollow, mocking echo. "Them? Ah, yes…" In an instant, figures appeared, ghostly and translucent, materializing before him.

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Ember and Exeo, his brothers. They stood, eyes closed, their forms bound by thick, violent tendrils of Purple Fire. The sight of them jolted Val, a mixture of fear and anger surging within him.

"No…" His voice was hoarse, trembling as he took a step forward. "Leave them out of this."

But the Void tightened its hold, the fire's tendrils wrapping tighter around his brothers, their breaths coming in strained gasps, pain etched onto their faces. Ember's hand twitched, and Val's heart clenched, feeling the agony reflected in his own body. His chest tightened, breaths shallow as he reached out instinctively, desperate to tear them free.

"You wish to control the Void", the voice sneered, cold and unwavering. "But at what cost? Power comes with sacrifice, Val. You cannot claim dominion without choosing."

The whispers turned insidious, winding through his mind with promises of strength, control, the power to tear apart enemies and reshape reality itself.

"Choose, Val", the voice commanded, each word punctuated by a pulse of pain through his chest. "You want your brothers back? I can grant that wish. But only if you give them up now—let their souls be consumed. Allow their essence to fuel your strength."

"No…" Val's voice was strained, breath shallow. A faint tremor shook him, doubt clawing its way through his resolve.

The whispers were relentless, digging into every corner of his mind, flooding him with visions of power, control—all of it within reach.

With each passing moment, the pressure mounted, bearing down on him, twisting around his soul. He could feel it—an immense, crushing weight, draining his will, his strength. He gritted his teeth, clutching his head as the pain swelled, the Void's demands searing into his mind.

"You are weak without me", the Void hissed. "You are nothing but a vessel. Choose, Val—submit to my power and save yourself the suffering."

His knees buckled, a strangled gasp escaping him as he fell, barely able to hold himself upright. Exhaustion clawed at his body, a bone-deep weariness that seemed to seep into every fiber of his being. The whispers grew louder, pressing against his mind, insistent, relentless.

"Release them. Allow their souls to join the Void, to fuel your strength."

Val's eyes flickered, vision blurring as his will began to waver. The voices gnawed at his mind, tearing through his memories, his convictions, until he could barely remember why he was here.

"This is all you were meant for", the Void whispered, soft, chilling. "You are nothing but a vessel for power. Choose, Val—release them, or they will be lost forever."

His breaths came in ragged gasps, each one feeling like it tore something from within him. His mind was fraying, unraveling with every passing second, his grip on himself slipping as the Void's grip tightened, suffocating him with its promises, its demands.

"No… they're not… for you…" he choked out, voice barely a whisper. But even as he spoke, his will faltered, a flicker of doubt seeping into his resolve.

And then, like a distant, faint echo, he heard it.

"Val…"

The voice was soft, a whisper that seemed to cut through the overwhelming noise of the Void. He recognized it—Ember's voice, faint but clear, a lifeline amid the chaos.

"Val… don't give in…"

The words resonated through him, stirring something deep within, a fragment of himself that the Void hadn't touched. Memories flashed through his mind—their training together, their laughter, their quiet moments of brotherhood.

"You are stronger than this", a voice, firm and steady, broke through the fog. Deleo's voice. "Do not let the Void take what you hold dear."

With a burst of strength, Val pushed back, a fierce determination reigniting within him. He forced himself to stand, every fiber of his being screaming in resistance, his body trembling as he glared into the vast emptiness of the Void.

"You… won't… have them," he spat, each word filled with defiance, his gaze fierce.

The Void recoiled, its laughter fading into an enraged snarl as it felt his renewed strength. The tendrils around Ember and Exeo loosened, flickering as Val's will tore through the darkness.

"You cannot defy me forever, Val. I am the Void. I will consume everything."

But Val's voice was steady, his determination unyielding. "Then come for me. But you will never take them."

With a final surge, he reached out, his hand brushing the surface of the ruin stone. The stone pulsed violently, its light blinding as he channeled every ounce of his will, his love for his brothers, his defiance against the Void's demands.

A powerful shockwave erupted from the stone, shaking the very foundations of the cavern as the energy rippled outward. Val staggered, barely able to hold himself upright as he felt the Void's grip weaken, its dark presence receding, its enraged whispers fading into silence.

The cavern stilled, the stone's light dimming as the shadows around him began to retreat. Val fell to his knees, exhausted, his breaths coming in shallow, ragged gasps. The ache in his chest was unbearable, his mind numb from the relentless assault of the Void's demands.

But he had won.