The echo of the Verdwalker's last words still lingered in Ren's ears as he retraced his steps from the pool. His steps were quieter now—calmer, more deliberate. Something inside him had changed. Not just in stats or numbers, but in how he felt the forest breathing around him. Every tree seemed to tilt ever so slightly toward his presence, like a chorus tuning its instruments.
He pulled up the newly unlocked panel.
[Echo Growth Grid – Active]
Node I: Verdant Thread – Branch II – Unlocked
Node II: ??? – Requires Root Echo Fragment (1/3)
Node III: Locked
Progress: 12% Synced with Blooming Trail
He studied the layout. It looked like a tree, branches fanning outward. Some were lit faintly, others dark. One section blinked—a new interaction.
Suggestion: Begin Subgrid Integration?
– Subgrid Name: "The Hollow Watch"
– Estimated Risk: Moderate
– Estimated Sync Gain: +5%
He hesitated. The phrase "Hollow Watch" didn't sound peaceful. Still, this was progress. He tapped [Accept].
The world darkened slightly—not in light, but in feeling. The leaves overhead stopped rustling, the chirping insects went silent. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
Ahead, a low archway of twisted roots appeared. Beyond it, the terrain dipped into a narrow canyon—walls coated in pale moss, almost white.
He stepped in.
The temperature dropped as he descended. Dew collected on his forearms. His boots crunched over dried bark scattered like bones. At the base of the canyon, a single wooden post stood, wrapped in worn vines. It looked almost like a scarecrow.
Ren's interface pulsed again.
Hollow Watch Detected
Dormant System Construct – Observational Relay
Purpose: Monitoring, Recording, Memory Imprinting
Status: Corrupted – 43% Integrity
Restoration Possible via Echo Infusion or Manual Input
Manual input?
He approached the post and placed a hand on it. A cold pulse shot through him. Images followed—fragmented and jagged.
Flashes of people fleeing.
A towering beast with no face—only a mass of limbs and roots, howling into the mist.
And in the distance, Kyra. She was kneeling, holding something close to her chest, eyes burning with defiance.
Ren pulled back, breath ragged. "That's... the past?"
Affirmative. You are seeing fragments recorded before Hollow Collapse #04.
Do you wish to restore memory chain?
He paused. If this was the past, then maybe this place had seen the rise and fall of many like him. Maybe that faceless horror had something to do with what Kyra was chasing.
He confirmed [Yes].
The post vibrated—and the ground shook. Roots pulled back along the canyon walls, revealing a stairwell carved from stone and bark, descending into shadow.
It didn't feel optional.
Ren drew his blade—not for show, but for security.
Each step downward felt like walking into a buried song. The air became thicker, infused with the scent of wet stone and old earth. His system lit up softly.
Environment Shift Detected: Vaulted Memory Core
Vital Stats Monitoring: Active
Mental Load Threshold: 71% – Within Acceptable Range
The room at the bottom resembled an amphitheater. Dozens of small pillars stood in rows, most broken, a few still glowing faintly.
In the center was a pedestal, and on it—a mask.
Not ordinary.
Not decorative.
It looked grown rather than crafted—woven from bark and bone, with faint glyphs pulsing along the sides. His system struggled to identify it.
Unregistered Relic – Prototype Memory Relay Mask
Functionality: Unknown (Possible Passive Synchronization Enhancer)
Risk Level: Medium-High
Ren didn't touch it yet. Instead, he circled the pedestal. Along the edge were carved symbols—some matching the Verdwalker's language, others unknown. One section stood out: human writing.
"The Hollow Watches not for protection, but for witness. If you see it—we are already late."
He reached for the mask.
The moment his fingers brushed its surface, his vision blanked.
Silence.
Then whispers.
Not loud—not sharp. Just endless.
A spiral of memory rushed at him, wrapping around his senses like cold vines.
—"He made it past the second vault."
—"The seed is choosing again."
—"What if this one listens?"
Ren gasped and pulled back. His feet hit the ground, knees shaking. The pedestal was empty. The mask was gone—but a new symbol now pulsed in his system log.
Artifact Integrated: Memory Relay – Partial Sync
You can now perceive latent echoes embedded in Hollow-Watch Relays.
Mental Threshold Pressure Increased – +8% required clarity
Perk Gained: [Echo Perception I]
He stumbled out of the amphitheater, back up the staircase. The canyon felt tighter. The path that brought him here was now sealed—roots closed like a mouth.
But he didn't panic.
Because standing at the edge of the canyon was someone new.
Not a creature.
Not a construct.
A person.
She had white hair braided into a crown, skin like sandstone, and eyes that pulsed softly in the shade.
"You found the first relay," she said, voice carrying like wind. "That means you've been chosen."
Ren tensed. "Who are you?"
"I'm part of what was forgotten," she said. "And maybe part of what can be remembered—if you survive."
Before he could speak again, she vanished into the trees.
And the Hollow Watch sang softly behind him.