Chapter 14: The Hollow Ones Arrive
The sound of footsteps echoed through the Vault of Serith — heavy, methodical, armored.
"They're almost here," Sira whispered from the outer arch. "Six of them. No hesitation. Military discipline."
Kale tightened his grip on his twin blades. "They brought killers."
Eron stood at the heart of the crystalline chamber, hands resting on the empty pedestal. The missing core pulsed in his mind like an itch.
"They knew it would draw us," he said. "They just waited."
Eric's voice came through faintly.
> "Vault systems are partially active. Defense protocols remain locked.
Evasive tactics recommended."
> "Not happening," Eron muttered.
Nira stood at the edge of the room, staring at the wall. The engraved sigils seemed to glow under her gaze.
> "It's talking," she said. "Something in the stone… remembers me."
---
The Attack Begins
The Vault doors cracked open, and shadows spilled through.
Six figures. Black armor lined with ember veins. No banners, no names.
The Hollow Flame mercenaries.
Their leader, a tall man with a jagged scar across his scalp, stepped forward. He pointed at Eron with a curved glaive.
"You don't belong here, boy."
Eron didn't move. "Neither do you."
The glaive crackled with red energy. "Then let's fix that."
Combat broke out fast.
Kale met the lead striker blade to blade, matching him in speed but struggling with raw power.
Sira loosed an arrow that splintered into three midair — taking down one attacker before he reached Nira.
Eron charged the glaive wielder, sparks flying as their weapons clashed.
Nira fell to her knees, clutching her head. The vault was screaming in her mind.
> "They're not mercenaries," she gasped. "They're echoes. Tools."
Eric's voice flared.
> "Confirmed: Partial cybernetic override. Not mercenaries — engineered husks."
---
The Awakening
As Eron drove his blade into the ground to block a shockwave, the pedestal behind him began to glow.
Lines of red, gold, and silver light spread outward. The entire room pulsed once — alive.
Nira stood slowly. Her silver eyes now completely glowing.
"They made this place to hold something back," she whispered. "And I was part of it."
A blast of light erupted from the central pedestal, throwing the remaining enemies backward.
Eron caught the emblem midair as it was pulled to the center — fusing with the stone.
> [Vault Core Reactivated]
[Keybearer Sync Detected – Access Level: Caeloran Primary]
[Partial Control Restored]
Eric's voice sharpened.
> "Defensive systems unlocked. Activating flame ward."
The room ignited with spectral fire — not hot, but consuming.
The Hollow Flame husks screamed as the vault rejected them.
They burned without smoke.
And then… silence.
---
Aftermath
Eron stood alone at the center. The pedestal had lowered, revealing a second crest — a twisted version of the Caeloran flame, overlaid with chains.
He took it.
> [Item Acquired: Fragmented Key – Unknown Dynasty]
Kale limped to his side. "We won."
"No," Eron said. "We survived. There's a difference."
Nira still hadn't spoken.
Her eyes were slowly dimming. But her skin glowed faintly, as if marked by something old.
Sira stepped closer. "What is she?"
Eron answered without looking away.
"Part of the reason they're afraid of us."