Chapter 23: The Hollow King’s Gambit

The path beyond the ruins became treacherous, the terrain scarred by the Hollow King’s influence. Every step felt heavier, and the air seemed to crackle with latent power. Ithan tightened his grip on the crystal fragment, its faint pulse providing an odd sense of reassurance.

Lyra led the way in silence, her movements purposeful but cautious. Ithan could sense her tension, though she hid it well. The memory of the voice that had spoken to him in the chamber lingered, gnawing at his resolve.

“What does he want?” Ithan asked suddenly, breaking the quiet.

Lyra hesitated. “Power, domination… immortality. The Hollow King’s goals are all-consuming. He seeks to use the Sigil and its counterpart to rewrite reality itself.”

“And what happens if he succeeds?”

She glanced back, her expression dark. “Everything we know—our world, our existence—will cease to matter. He’ll create a reality that bends only to his will.”

The gravity of her words hit Ithan like a blow. The stakes were higher than he’d imagined, and the weight of his role felt almost unbearable.

As they climbed a jagged ridge, they came upon a strange sight: a massive stone monolith, covered in the same glowing runes they’d seen earlier. But this time, the runes formed a pattern—a map.

Lyra’s eyes widened. “This shows the Hollow King’s stronghold.”

Before they could study it further, the ground beneath them trembled. A fissure split the earth, and dark figures began to emerge—soldiers of shadow, their forms twisted and malevolent.

Ithan and Lyra fought side by side, their movements a seamless dance of power and precision. But for every shadow they struck down, two more took its place.

In the chaos, a chilling laugh echoed around them. Ithan froze as a figure stepped forward, cloaked in black with eyes that burned like embers.

“The bearer of the Sigil,” the figure said, his voice smooth and mocking. “And the betrayer. How quaint.”

“Erza,” Lyra whispered, her voice laced with anger and fear.

The revelation struck Ithan like lightning. Erza wasn’t an ally—she was the Hollow King’s right hand.

“You’re fighting a losing battle,” Erza continued, her gaze fixed on Ithan. “The Hollow King’s vision will come to pass. You should embrace it rather than resist.”

Ithan gritted his teeth, the Sigil’s power flaring in response to his anger. “You’re wrong. I’ll stop him—and you.”

Erza smirked. “We’ll see.” With a wave of her hand, the shadows surged, forcing Ithan and Lyra to retreat.

As they escaped the onslaught, Ithan’s mind raced. The betrayal stung, but it also fueled his determination. He would face the Hollow King, no matter the cost.

And Erza? He would uncover her motives and stop her, too.