The air in the new realm was stifling, a heavy, cloying heat that clung to Riven’s skin. The ground beneath his boots was jagged and uneven, a patchwork of blackened rock and crimson fissures that pulsed faintly with light. The sky above was a swirling vortex of ash and smoke, pierced only by occasional flashes of sickly green lightning. Every breath tasted metallic, as though the air itself had been tainted by the Veil’s corruption.
Lyra floated ahead, her glow flickering faintly. “The shard’s energy is stronger here,” she said, her voice quiet but tense. “It’s pulling us deeper into the realm.”
Riven adjusted the strap of his pack, the weight of the corrupted shard pressing against him like a leaden burden. “How far?” he asked, his voice low.
Lyra hesitated, her gaze scanning the horizon. “Hard to say. The energy is... erratic. It’s not stable like the others we’ve found. Something is different about this shard.”
Riven’s grip tightened on the hilt of his sword. “Different how?”
Lyra didn’t answer immediately. Her form flickered as she moved closer to one of the fissures, her glow reflecting off its jagged edges. “It feels... alive,” she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. “Like it’s reacting to us.”
AS THEY VENTURED DEEPER INTO THE REALM, THE LANDSCAPE GREW MORE TREACHEROUS. THE FISSURES WIDENED, THEIR CRIMSON LIGHT CASTING EERIE SHADOWS ACROSS THE JAGGED TERRAIN. STRANGE, DISTORTED SHAPES MOVED IN THE DISTANCE—FIGURES THAT SEEMED TO FLICKER IN AND OUT OF EXISTENCE, LIKE FRAGMENTS OF BROKEN MEMORIES.
Riven kept his hand on his sword, his eyes scanning the horizon for signs of danger. The Void Corruption in his veins pulsed faintly, the whispers at the edge of his mind growing louder with each step.
You’re wasting time. You can’t save this place. Let us in.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Riven said, glancing at Lyra. “Something you’re not telling me?”
Lyra hesitated, her glow dimming slightly. “This realm isn’t just corrupted—it’s collapsing. The Veil’s influence is consuming it faster than I expected. If we don’t find the shard soon, we’ll be caught in the collapse.”
“Great,” Riven muttered, his tone edged with frustration. “Anything else I should know?”
Lyra turned to him, her expression serious. “If the shard is alive—if it’s tied to the Veil the way I think it is—it might fight back.”
Riven frowned, his grip on his sword tightening. “The shards are just fragments. They’re not supposed to fight back.”
“They’re not supposed to corrupt after we collect them, either,” Lyra said pointedly. “But here we are.”
The ground beneath them trembled suddenly, a low, rumbling vibration that sent loose stones tumbling into the fissures. Riven froze, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his sword. “What was that?”
Before Lyra could answer, a shadowy figure emerged from the haze ahead. It was humanoid but distorted, its limbs too long and its movements unnaturally fluid. Its body flickered like a dying flame, shifting between solidity and smoke.
Lyra’s glow brightened as she moved closer to Riven. “An echo,” she said grimly. “But it’s different from the ones we’ve faced before. It’s tied to the shard’s energy.”
The echo let out a low, guttural sound, its hollow eyes locking onto Riven. Without warning, it lunged forward, its limbs stretching unnaturally as it closed the distance in an instant.
Riven reacted on instinct, his sword flashing as he brought it up to block. The impact sent a jolt through his arms, the force far greater than he’d expected. The echo’s shadowy form writhed around the blade, its distorted face twisting into something resembling a grin.
“This thing’s stronger than the others,” Riven said through gritted teeth, shoving the echo back. “What’s it tied to?”
Lyra darted around the echo, her spectral energy flaring as she sent a burst of light into its chest. The echo recoiled, its form flickering violently. “It’s drawing power from the shard,” she said urgently. “The longer it stays connected, the stronger it gets.”
“Then we cut the connection,” Riven growled.
The echo lashed out again, its shadowy limbs elongating as it attacked. Riven dodged to the side, his boots skidding on the uneven ground. He countered with a swift strike, his blade slicing through the echo’s form. It howled, the sound reverberating unnaturally, but the wound closed almost instantly, its shadowy mass knitting itself back together.
Lyra’s voice rang out, sharp and urgent. “You can’t kill it like this! It’s not just feeding off the shard—it’s using the corruption in you to stay alive.”
Riven’s jaw tightened. “So what do we do?”
Lyra hesitated, her glow flickering. “We weaken it. I can disrupt its connection to the shard, but you’ll have to keep it distracted long enough for me to do it.”
Riven nodded, adjusting his grip on his sword. “Do it. I’ll handle the rest.”
Lyra darted toward the fissure, her spectral energy flaring as she began to channel. The light from her form grew brighter, casting long shadows across the jagged terrain. The echo let out another guttural howl, its attention snapping to Lyra.
“Not a chance,” Riven muttered, stepping between the echo and his companion. He swung his sword in a wide arc, forcing the creature back. “You’re dealing with me.”
The echo lunged, its movements erratic and unpredictable. Riven dodged and countered, his blade slicing through its form with each strike. But no matter how many times he landed a blow, the creature reformed, its shadowy mass shifting and twisting.
The Void Corruption in his veins flared, its whispers growing louder. You’re not strong enough. Let us in. Let us finish this.
Riven clenched his jaw, shoving the voices down as he delivered another powerful strike. “Not yet,” he muttered under his breath. “Not ever.”
Lyra’s energy surged, her glow flaring brightly as the fissure beneath her pulsed with light. The echo froze mid-attack, its form flickering violently as the connection between it and the shard weakened.
“Now, Riven!” Lyra shouted. “Finish it!”
Riven didn’t hesitate. He lunged forward, his sword glowing faintly with the shard’s energy as he drove it into the echo’s chest. The creature let out a final, ear-splitting howl before collapsing into a cloud of black smoke, the remnants of its form dissolving into the air.
The silence that followed was deafening. Riven lowered his sword, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. Lyra floated toward him, her glow dim but steady.
“That was too close,” she said quietly. “The shard’s energy is stronger than we thought. If it can create echoes like that, it means the Veil’s influence here is deeper than we’ve seen before.”
Riven nodded, his grip on his sword tightening. “Then we keep moving,” he said. “Before the next one shows up.”
The path forward was jagged and unstable, the cracks in the ground widening with every step. Crimson light spilled from the fissures, casting eerie shadows across the desolate terrain. The air was heavy with tension, each breath carrying the faint, acrid scent of decay. Riven’s grip tightened on his sword as he moved cautiously, his boots crunching against the brittle stone.
Lyra floated beside him, her glow flickering faintly. “The shard’s energy is getting stronger,” she said, her voice tinged with unease. “We’re close, but it feels... wrong. Like it doesn’t want us here.”
Riven glanced at her, his expression grim. “Doesn’t matter what it wants,” he said. “We’re finishing this.”
But even as he spoke, he could feel the weight of the shard in his pack pressing harder against him, as though it were alive and resisting him. The Void Corruption in his veins pulsed faintly in response, its whispers scratching at the edges of his mind.
You feel it too, don’t you? This is where you belong.
Riven shook his head, forcing the voices down. “Stay out of my head,” he muttered under his breath.
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As they pressed on, the terrain shifted. The ground became smoother, almost polished, with veins of crimson light running through it like a web of pulsing veins. The oppressive heat of the realm grew more intense, beads of sweat forming on Riven’s brow despite the chill of the Void Corruption coursing through him.
Lyra stopped suddenly, her glow dimming as she stared ahead. “There,” she said, pointing to a structure in the distance.
It rose from the ground like a jagged monolith, its surface black and reflective, veins of red light running through it like cracks. At its center was the shard, suspended in mid-air, its glow flickering erratically. The energy radiating from it was palpable, a pulse that resonated in Riven’s chest like a second heartbeat.
“That’s it,” Lyra said, her voice low. “But it’s... different. The shards we’ve recovered before were dormant. This one is still connected to the Veil.”
Riven frowned, his gaze fixed on the shard. “Connected how?”
Lyra hesitated, her glow flickering. “It’s not just a fragment of the Veil’s power—it’s... alive. A piece of the Veil’s consciousness. That’s why the echoes were so strong. They weren’t just protecting it; they were an extension of it.”
“Great,” Riven muttered, his tone edged with sarcasm. “So we’re not just fighting the Veil. We’re fighting its mind.”
As they approached the shard, the ground beneath them trembled. Riven froze, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his sword. The polished surface of the monolith began to ripple, the veins of crimson light glowing brighter. From the shadows, a massive figure began to emerge.
It was humanoid but grotesque, its body composed of the same black, reflective material as the monolith. Its limbs were elongated and jagged, its face featureless save for a pair of glowing red eyes that burned with malice. In its hands was a massive blade, its surface cracked and pulsing with the shard’s energy.
“A Guardian,” Lyra said, her voice tense. “The shard’s last line of defense. It’s fully connected to the Veil, Riven. This won’t be like the others.”
The Guardian let out a low, rumbling growl, its voice reverberating through the air like a thunderclap. It raised its blade, pointing it directly at Riven.
“Great,” Riven said, drawing his sword. “Another oversized lump of nightmares to deal with. Let’s get this over with.”
The Guardian moved with terrifying speed, its massive blade slicing through the air with a force that shook the ground. Riven barely managed to dodge the first strike, the impact sending shards of stone flying in every direction. He countered with a quick strike of his own, his sword glancing off the Guardian’s armor with a sharp clang.
“Its armor is too strong,” Lyra said, darting around the battlefield. “You’ll need to find a weak point!”
The Guardian swung its blade again, forcing Riven to roll to the side. He came up quickly, his eyes scanning the creature for any sign of vulnerability. The veins of red light running through its body pulsed erratically, the energy within them surging with each movement.
“The veins,” Riven said, his voice sharp. “They’re feeding it energy. If we can disrupt them—”
The Guardian roared, cutting him off as it lunged forward, its blade crashing down with enough force to crack the ground. Riven leaped back, narrowly avoiding the strike as the Void Corruption in his veins flared.
The Guardian’s relentless assault left little room for error. Its movements were precise and calculated, each strike faster and harder than the last. Riven could feel his stamina waning, the weight of the Void pressing against him with every step.
You’re too weak. You’ll never win like this. Let us in.
The voices were louder now, their whispers almost deafening. Riven clenched his jaw, his grip tightening on his sword. “I don’t need you,” he muttered, his voice strained. “I can handle this.”
But the Guardian wasn’t giving him a choice. It lunged again, its blade sweeping toward him in a wide arc. Riven dodged, but the edge of the blade caught his shoulder, the impact sending him sprawling to the ground.
Lyra darted to his side, her glow flaring brightly. “Riven, listen to me! You can’t win this alone. You have to use the shard’s energy!”
Riven pushed himself to his feet, his breathing ragged. “The shard’s energy is corrupted, Lyra. If I use it—”
“It’s a risk,” Lyra interrupted, her voice firm. “But it’s better than dying here. The Void can’t take you if you don’t let it.”
Riven hesitated, his eyes flicking to the shard. Its glow was erratic, almost frantic, as though it were aware of the battle unfolding around it. He could feel its energy pulsing in his veins, a dark, tempting power that promised strength beyond anything he’d ever known.
The Guardian roared again, raising its blade for a final strike. Riven gritted his teeth, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword.
“Fine,” he said, his voice low. “But if this goes sideways, it’s on you.”
He reached out, his hand brushing against the shard. The moment he touched it, a surge of energy shot through him, the raw power of the Veil coursing through his veins. The Void Corruption flared violently, its whispers screaming in his mind.
Yes. Let us in. Feel what we can do.
Riven let out a guttural cry, his sword glowing faintly with the shard’s energy as he charged at the Guardian. The air around him crackled with power, each strike of his blade sending shockwaves through the battlefield.
The Guardian staggered, its armor cracking as Riven’s attacks found their mark. The veins of red light running through its body began to dim, the energy within them faltering.
“You’re doing it!” Lyra shouted, her voice filled with urgency. “Keep going!”
Riven surged forward, his blade glowing with the shard’s unstable energy. Each strike cut deeper into the Guardian, cracks spreading across its armor like splintering glass. The creature staggered, its movements growing slower and less coordinated as the veins of red light pulsing through its body dimmed further.
But with each swing of his sword, Riven could feel the Void Corruption surging in his veins, its whispers growing louder and more insistent.
This is what you’re meant to be. This power—it’s yours. Take it. Embrace it.
“Shut up,” Riven growled through gritted teeth, forcing himself to focus on the fight. The Guardian let out another guttural roar, its massive blade cutting through the air in a desperate attempt to repel him. Riven ducked beneath the swing, driving his sword into the creature’s chest with all his strength.
The impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, cracks spiderwebbing across the ground as the Guardian froze. Its glowing eyes dimmed, the red veins running through its body fading to black. With a final, ear-splitting howl, the creature collapsed, its massive frame crumbling into shards of obsidian that dissolved into ash.
Riven stumbled back, his chest heaving as he tried to steady his breathing. The shard’s energy still pulsed in his veins, wild and uncontrollable, like a storm barely contained. Lyra floated to his side, her glow flickering.
“You did it,” she said softly, though her voice was tinged with concern. “But...”
Riven cut her off. “I know.” He held up his arm, the black veins of Void Corruption now spreading past his shoulder and creeping toward his chest. His hand trembled as he clenched it into a fist, trying to ignore the faint glow of energy radiating from his skin.
The shard floated in the air, its light flickering erratically. The energy surrounding it felt heavier now, more oppressive, as though it were resisting him. Riven approached cautiously, his sword still drawn, and reached out a hand.
The moment his fingers brushed against the shard, a surge of visions overwhelmed him.
He saw a realm collapsing into chaos, its people consumed by the Veil’s corruption. He saw the shards—fragments of a shattered whole—binding themselves to the Veil’s will. And then he saw something else: a massive, looming presence within the Veil, its form shrouded in darkness but radiating a power so immense it was suffocating.
The visions ended abruptly, leaving Riven gasping for air. His head pounded, and the whispers of the Void were louder than ever.
The shards are pieces of the Veil’s soul. You’re not destroying it. You’re setting it free.
Riven staggered back, clutching his head as the weight of the revelation settled over him. “Lyra,” he said, his voice hoarse. “The shards... they’re not just fragments of the Veil’s power. They’re connected to something bigger. Something alive.”
Lyra’s glow dimmed, her expression troubled. “The Veil itself,” she said quietly. “If what you’re saying is true, then every shard we collect is drawing us closer to it. And if the Veil is alive...”
“Then destroying it might not be possible,” Riven finished, his tone heavy.
The shard floated in front of him, its energy unstable. Riven hesitated, his hand hovering over it. He could feel its pull, the raw power it offered, but he could also feel the cost. The Void Corruption in his veins pulsed in response, as though urging him to take it.
Lyra floated closer, her glow brightening. “Riven, you don’t have to touch it. We can find another way to stabilize it. The more you use the Void’s power, the closer you get to losing yourself.”
Riven clenched his jaw, his gaze fixed on the shard. “If I don’t take it, this realm collapses. If we lose this shard, everything we’ve done so far is for nothing.”
Lyra hesitated, her expression pained. “And if you take it, what happens to you?”
Riven didn’t answer. He reached out and grabbed the shard, its energy surging through him in a violent wave. Pain lanced through his body as the Void Corruption flared, the black veins spreading further across his chest and into his neck. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he felt as though he were falling into an endless abyss.
But then the energy stabilized. The shard’s glow dimmed, its wild pulses subsiding as it became dormant in his hand. Riven collapsed to one knee, his breathing ragged.
Lyra darted to his side, her spectral form flickering. “Riven! Are you—”
“I’m fine,” Riven said sharply, though his voice was strained. He pushed himself to his feet, slipping the shard into his pack. “Let’s go. Before this place falls apart.”
The realm trembled as they made their way back toward the anchor point. The ground cracked and splintered, the crimson light of the fissures growing brighter. Riven moved quickly, ignoring the throbbing pain in his arm and the whispers still clawing at the edges of his mind.
Lyra hovered beside him, her expression clouded with worry. “Riven, what you saw back there—the visions—what did they show you?”
Riven hesitated, his gaze fixed ahead. “It’s not just the shards,” he said finally. “It’s the Veil itself. The shards aren’t just pieces of its power—they’re pieces of its mind. Every time we take one, we’re weakening it but also waking it up.”
Lyra’s glow dimmed further. “If the Veil is alive... then what happens when we’ve collected all the shards?”
Riven didn’t answer. He didn’t want to. The question's weight pressed down on him, heavier than the shard in his pack or the corruption spreading through his veins.
In the distance, the anchor point shimmered faintly, a beacon of stability in a collapsing world. Riven pushed forward, his steps resolute despite the growing uncertainty in his mind.
Whatever the answer was, he would face it. And if the Veil wanted him to fall, it would have to drag him down kicking and screaming.