The first thing Val felt was the dull, throbbing ache radiating through every muscle in his body. His head pounded, each pulse reverberating painfully against his skull.

With a low, guttural groan, he struggled to push himself up from the cold, unyielding stone floor, his arm shaking under the effort.

The ruin stone's faint glow pulsed in his grip, casting a dim light that illuminated the cuts and bruises etched across his hands. His entire body was heavy with the aftershocks of the battle, every step a sharp reminder of the guardian's relentless attacks.

He managed to pull himself to his feet, each movement sending a fresh wave of pain tearing through his muscles. His breath came in ragged gasps, every inhale sharp and shallow as he limped toward the Vault's entrance, his legs nearly buckling with each unsteady step.

"Ngh…" he groaned under his breath, clutching his side where a fresh bruise had begun to swell, sending jolts of agony through his ribs.

Through his exhaustion, he became dimly aware of frantic voices filtering in from the Mind Link.

Val, respond! Where are you? Dr. Lewis's voice was edged with alarm, an urgency that brought Val back to the present.

He managed a groan, reaching up to press his fingers against the side of his temple as he summoned the energy to speak.

I'm… here, he managed, his voice a rasp, barely above a whisper.

Relief flooded Dr. Lewis's voice. Thank the stars. We were beginning to think something had gone horribly wrong. That vault was shaking—had the whole team worried.

Val forced himself to sit up, his gaze settling on the ruin stone in his hand. Its light flickered softly, almost as if it were breathing in sync with him, a strange but comforting presence amidst the cold silence of the chamber.

The guardian, he murmured, more to himself, but the words slipped through the Mind Link, and Dr. Lewis picked up on them immediately.

What happened? Dr. Lewis pressed. Did you engage the guardian? Was it… something we need to prepare for?

Val drew a slow breath, remembering the clash—the endless shadows, the powerful tendrils, the relentless energy that had battered him to his core.

Yes. I faced it. An ancient protector, bound to the ruin stone. It was unlike anything I've ever encountered. He paused, the weight of the encounter settling heavily. But it's gone now. The stone is… ours.

There was a stunned silence on the other end, followed by a low exhale. Unbelievable, Dr. Lewis murmured, awe softening his voice. You really did it. And the guardian—is it truly vanquished?

Val's grip tightened around the stone, feeling its energy pulse against his palm.

It's… quiet now. But I don't think that was the last of them.

He let out a shaky breath, his voice grim. These stones—they come with more than just power. There's a purpose behind each one, something far beyond a human's understanding.

A new voice entered the link, the familiar tone of General Luis, commanding yet cautious.

Val, if you're able to walk, get out of there. We need to debrief on what you've found and discuss the implications of this stone. If Black Lotus finds out what you're carrying, they'll stop at nothing.

As Val struggled to his feet, he felt a surge of urgency rise within him. He opened his mind link, reaching out to his team.

Bo, Riggs, Fon—any signs of Black Lotus in the vicinity? They knew about the Vault; if they're here, they might've tracked my position.

Bo's response came swiftly, laced with a tension that told Val all he needed to know.

We've already had to fend off a couple of scouts in the corridor. Nothing heavy yet, but if they're sending advance forces, we're expecting more.

Riggs cut in, his tone a touch grim. They're sniffing around, Val. Whatever's in that Vault… they're not backing down from it.

Fon's voice followed, attempting lightness despite the circumstances. We've kept 'em at bay so far, but if Black Lotus tries pushing past us, you'll hear us from across the mountain. Just get yourself out of there.

Val grit his teeth, glancing one last time at the ruin stone in his hand, feeling the weight of both its power and the threat it represented.

Stay sharp. We're regrouping and pulling out—if they engage, hold them off as long as you can without compromising yourselves. This stone can't fall into their hands.

Understood, Bo replied firmly, his tone carrying an unspoken promise of defense.

Val took a steadying breath, readying himself to exit the Vault's depths.

Each step out was a struggle, his body screaming with fatigue and pain as he pressed forward, each sound reverberating around him as he edged closer to the hallway where he could feel the tension mounting.

The journey back down the darkened corridor was slower than he anticipated.

Each step sent jolts of pain through his legs, his vision swimming as he fought to stay upright. The weight of the ruin stone in his hand was a comfort and a burden, its presence both grounding and haunting as he thought about the next steps.

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"You did well, Val," Deleo's voice murmured, gentle but laced with a solemn respect. "The ruin stone's power is yours now. But be wary. Each one brings you closer to a truth you may not be ready to face."

Val managed a weary smile, his voice dry as he muttered under his breath. "Not exactly reassuring, Deleo. But thanks."

"It's only the beginning, Val," Deleo replied, a faint chuckle tinged with a seriousness that brought Val back to the weight of his task. "The stones connect, and through them, the Void itself may reveal things that even I cannot foresee."

As he reached the end of the corridor, the faint glow of daylight through the chamber's arched entrance filled his vision.

For a moment, he paused, letting the light wash over him, a reminder of the world outside the shadows of the Vault. With a steadying breath, he took his first step out, his boots crunching against the debris from the battle.

Outside, he was met by the concerned faces of Bo, Riggs, and Fon, who looked as though they'd been anxiously waiting by the entrance. Fon's eyes widened as he took in Val's battered form, a gasp escaping his lips.

"Holy hell, Val, did you face a whole army in there?" Riggs exclaimed, his gaze darting over the bloodstains and bruises, the torn fabric of Val's uniform.

Val managed a weak grin, clapping a hand on Riggs's shoulder as he stepped past him. "Not exactly an army… but it might as well have been."

Bo's expression softened with concern, though he tried to mask it with a casual tone. "Looks like you took quite a beating. You sure you're alright?"

"Define 'alright,'" Val replied, his voice light despite the weariness weighing him down. "Let's just say the stone didn't come without a fight."

Riggs let out a low whistle, crossing his arms with a smirk. "Guess we didn't miss out on all the fun, then."

Dr. Lewis's voice crackled over the Mind Link again, a note of relief evident in his tone.

Good to have you back, Val. We're standing by at HQ, ready to debrief as soon as you return. General Luis and I are eager to hear your report—and analyze this stone.

Val nodded, gesturing for his team to gather close. "Then let's not keep them waiting. Heads up, motion sickness team."

With a surge of energy drawn from the resolve in his chest, Val summoned the Void, the familiar pull of its darkness enveloping him and his team. The sensation of teleportation rushed over him, a brief, bone-deep chill that sent his senses spinning before they landed, solidly, within the walls of HQ.

As they reappeared, the bustling hall stilled. Soldiers and officials turned in their direction, eyes widening as they took in the state of Team Unknown's leader, bruised, battered, and clutching the ruin stone in his hand.

Val barely had a moment to catch his breath before he heard a soft groan beside him.

Fon took one last, shaky breath and tried to straighten up, but the moment he took a step forward, his knees buckled slightly. He leaned back against Bo, who didn't look any better, his usually steady posture reduced to a slumped shuffle. Riggs, hunched over and clutching his stomach, let out a dramatic sigh.

Fon doubled over, clutching his stomach. "Ohhh, Umbra, you really need to give us a…ugh… more serious warning…"

A wave of murmurs spread through the hall as people noticed the unusual scene, and some chuckles rose among the ranks as soldiers exchanged amused glances, nudging each other.

"Good heavens, Team Unknown's back," one officer muttered to a colleague, eyebrows raised. "But are they… are they all about to throw up?"

"Looks like the elite squad has a thing for travel sickness," another whispered, fighting back a grin.

Val shot his team a glance, his expression caught between exasperation and faint amusement. "You three look like you just got dragged through the space and back."

Bo took a deep, shuddering breath, steadying himself as he staggered upright. "You enjoy seeing us like this, don't you?"

Val snorted, though his own legs wobbled a bit as he glanced at their comically hunched forms. "I don't enjoy it. But maybe if you built up a little teleportation tolerance…"

Fon groaned louder, leaning heavily on Bo for support. "Maybe next time, we take a… a carriage or something. Preferably one with no spinning, please."

Bo winced, waving off a well-meaning medic who had come over with a concerned look. "It's just… one of those days," he muttered, glancing around at the amused crowd with a hint of embarrassment.

Riggs finally straightened, though his face was still pale. He pointed a weak finger at Val. "You could give us a five-second warning, you know? Not all of us can jump around with zero consequences, Umbra."

Val stifled a chuckle, shrugging as he held up the ruin stone. "Hey, this was a high-priority return. Besides, consider it training."

Fon rolled his eyes, fighting another wave of nausea. "Right, training for… my stomach. That's exactly what I need."

One of the soldiers nearby snickered, whispering to his companion, "Guess even Team Unknown has their limits. Who knew it was teleportation?"

Bo, overhearing, shot a half-hearted glare their way but kept his head down, muttering under his breath. "We're never gonna live this down, are we?"

"Just… move," Riggs muttered, dragging his feet as they began the slow walk back toward HQ.

As Fon swayed again, Val reached over and steadied him with a pat on the shoulder. "Alright, motion sickness survivors, pull it together. General Luis is waiting for us in the debriefing room, and I'd rather not have to explain why my elite squad is known for emptying their stomachs in the hallways."

Bo straightened, flashing Val a half-hearted smirk. "We'll manage, sir. Just… lead the way, and maybe no sudden movements."

With Fon taking one last steadying breath and Riggs muttering something about "finding his center," the team followed Val, drawing a few more chuckles and murmurs from the crowd as they headed down the hall, a reputation for "elite" teleportation grumblings quickly spreading in their wake.

They finally reached the hallway towards the general's office, where a few more staff members threw curious glances their way, smirking as the team made their slow, limping way down the hall toward General Luis's office.

Val tried to straighten up as they neared the door, but a quick look at his team had him stifling a laugh. Each one of them was still hunched, clutching their sides, and looking anywhere but at the amused stares of their colleagues.

"Alright, motion-sick heroes," Val said, attempting a motivational tone as he pushed open the door to General Luis's office. "Brace yourselves. We can't go in looking like we lost a bar fight."

Fon mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like a curse under his breath but forced himself to stand straight. "Just… get me to a chair."

The team staggered inside, each one clutching some part of themselves as they settled into the chairs in front of General Luis. Bo managed a stiff nod, pulling his cloak tighter as he fought to appear composed.

General Luis looked up, eyebrow raised as he took in their state.

"Long journey, I take it?" His voice was laced with dry amusement, though he did his best to maintain a neutral expression.

Fon let out a groan, slumping into his chair. "That's… one way to put it, sir."

Riggs rubbed the back of his neck, attempting a weak chuckle. "Think I left my stomach back in the vault."

Dr. Lewis, standing beside General Luis, hid a smile behind his hand, though his eyes gleamed with amusement. "Perhaps next time, we'll have some ginger tablets on hand. Or an anti-nausea patch?"

Fon's mask shifted as he gave Dr. Lewis a pitifully grateful look. "That would be… amazing, Doc."

Val finally took his seat, laying the ruin stone carefully on the table before him. "We did retrieve what we went for, sir. But it wasn't without… complications."

General Luis's expression shifted to one of grim interest as he looked down at the ruin stone, its eerie glow casting faint shadows across the room.

As Val took his seat, the stone resting on the table before him, General Luis broke the silence. "Welcome back, Val. I trust you have quite a story to tell."