Chapter 33: The Final Struggle

The world cracked.

A blinding light tore through the air, splitting the shadows and shattering the fabric of the dark realm. The ground shook violently beneath their feet, as if the very earth itself was unraveling. The echo of Riven's voice still lingered in Selena's mind, a haunting reminder that everything she was fighting for was slipping away.

But she couldn't stop.

She couldn't afford to fail now.

The sword was still embedded in the heart of the shadow creature, but it had only been a temporary measure. The creature recoiled, screaming in agony, but it wasn't defeated. The darkness swirled around it, pulling it back together, as if the very fabric of the Hollow was repairing itself.

Kael, still struggling to his feet, shouted over the chaos. "Selena, do something!"

Selena's grip tightened on the hilt of her sword. "I'm trying!" Her voice was strained, her breath ragged as she watched the creature regenerate. But she could feel it—this place, the Hollow, it was tethered to Riven. Her sister was at its core, and if Selena couldn't break that bond, nothing would stop the Hollow from consuming them all.

The shadows around them thickened, and the air grew colder, oppressive. The creature's tendrils twisted and reached for Selena, but she danced out of their path, narrowly avoiding their strikes. Her eyes never left Riven's figure in the distance, still standing motionless, as if trapped in a trance.

"Riven!" Selena shouted. "Fight it! This isn't you! The Hollow isn't you!"

Riven's eyes flickered, but only for a moment. Her gaze was distant, cold. She didn't respond.

The darkness around them began to warp, creating a storm of black tendrils, claws, and faceless horrors that surged toward Selena and her companions.

Liora's voice cut through the chaos. "We can't hold them off forever! We need a plan!"

Selena's mind raced. There had to be a way to reach her sister, a way to sever the bond between Riven and the Hollow. But the answers eluded her. The deeper she thought about it, the more she realized the truth—she wasn't just fighting for Riven's life. She was fighting for their bond. For the very essence of who they had once been. And if she failed…

The thought of losing Riven completely hit Selena like a physical blow.

Her heart thudded painfully in her chest.

But then, through the chaos and noise, a voice broke through.

"Selena…"

It was weak, fragile.

It was Riven.

Selena's eyes darted toward her sister. This time, Riven's expression was different—there was something human in her eyes. A flicker of recognition.

"Riven!" Selena shouted, her voice raw with emotion. "Please, you have to listen to me!"

Riven's lips parted, and for a brief moment, Selena thought she saw a tear slide down her sister's face. "I… I can't stop it… I'm sorry."

The words were like daggers in Selena's chest.

But there was still hope.

Selena took a step forward, determined. "You're not lost yet, Riven! You're still here! I won't leave you to this!"

The shadow creature roared, its tendrils reaching for Selena again, but this time, she didn't flinch. She raised her sword, her voice steady as she spoke to her sister.

"I know you're in there. I believe in you, Riven. Don't let the Hollow control you."

For a moment, the creature hesitated, and Selena felt the weight of her words hanging in the air. The storm around them quieted, the tendrils faltering. Riven's eyes flickered again, and this time, there was a spark of recognition. A small flicker of something that felt real.

"I can't…" Riven whispered, her voice barely audible.

"You can," Selena replied fiercely, her heart full of emotion. "You're stronger than this! You always have been!"

Riven's gaze wavered, and the darkness surrounding them seemed to pause, as though holding its breath. The swirling tendrils retreated, and for a moment, everything was still.

Then, with a violent lurch, the creature lunged forward. Its claws raked toward Selena, but she was ready. With a roar, she plunged her sword into the heart of the creature again, this time with every ounce of strength she had left. The force of the blow sent shockwaves through the air, and for a brief moment, the darkness was pierced.

A blinding light erupted from the sword, casting away the shadows like a flame in the dark. The creature screamed in agony, its form beginning to unravel. The air thickened, and Selena felt her sister's presence—felt her pain, her fear—but she also felt something else.

Riven was still there.

Riven was still fighting.

Selena's sword surged with power, the energy of the Hollow itself pulsing through the blade. The creature fought to maintain its form, but it was weakening. The light from the sword grew brighter, filling the space, until the entire world seemed to tremble.

And then, in a final, shuddering gasp, the shadow creature crumbled to nothingness, vanishing into the air like smoke.

The light faded, and the oppressive weight lifted. The ground steadied beneath Selena's feet.

Silence descended.

For a moment, Selena couldn't move. She could only stare at the spot where the creature had been. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her heart hammering in her chest. She couldn't believe it was over.

But when she turned to look for Riven, she saw her.

Her sister was kneeling on the ground, her face pale, her eyes wide and unfocused. She looked as though she had been torn between two worlds.

Selena rushed to her side, kneeling beside her. "Riven, are you okay?"

Riven's eyes slowly focused on her. For a moment, there was only confusion, but then recognition flooded her features.

"Selena?" Her voice was hoarse, weak, but real.

"Yes," Selena whispered, tears brimming in her eyes. "It's me, sis. I'm here."

Riven blinked slowly, as if trying to process the reality of it all. "I… I thought you wouldn't come."

"I never would have left you," Selena replied, her voice filled with a tenderness she hadn't realized she still had for her sister. "I promised, remember?"

Riven let out a choked sob, her body trembling as she collapsed into Selena's arms. "I'm so sorry," she murmured, her voice breaking. "I didn't want to hurt you. I didn't want to lose you."

Selena hugged her tighter, the weight in her chest lifting with each passing second. "You didn't lose me, Riven. You never will."

They sat in silence, the tension slowly easing away. The Hollow was gone, the shadow creature defeated, and Riven was back. For the first time in what felt like forever, Selena allowed herself to believe that everything might be okay.

But there was still one thing left to do.

The Hollow was still out there, somewhere. Still spreading, still threatening.

And as much as Selena wanted to rest, to take this victory and savor it, she knew it wasn't over. Not yet.

She pulled away from Riven, her expression determined. "We have to stop it. For good."

Riven nodded, her face still pale but her eyes clearer than before. "I'm with you. We'll finish this together."

Selena gave her sister a small, relieved smile. "I know we will."

The fight was far from over, but for the first time in a long while, Selena felt a spark of hope. She wasn't alone anymore.

And with Riven by her side, she knew they could defeat whatever came next.