Chapter 8: Ashes And Pride

Raen sat alone, hidden among jagged rocks in the dimly lit cavern. The air was cold, the faint hum of the temple's glowing veins the only sound. His body ached, his ribs hurting with every breath, but the pain in his chest was worse.

Lira was gone.

Her lifeless eyes haunted him, her last moments replaying in his mind. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. Why did it have to be her? Why couldn't I save her?

Raen's mind drifted to the boy he had fought earlier. The one with the calm grey eyes and the smirk that made Raen's blood boil.

Who is he? Raen wondered.

The boy had been so calm, so in control. He moved like he owned the temple, like he knew every stone and every corner.

And his power—it was terrifying. He could make the ground move, make stone pillars rise and fall like it was nothing.

Raen clenched his fists. He's strong. Too strong. But he's not unbeatable.

The boy had toyed with him, like Raen was nothing. Like he wasn't even worth the effort. That stung more than the injuries.

He's smart, too, Raen thought. The boy didn't just rely on his power. He used the temple, the environment, everything to his advantage. Raen had tried to outthink him, but it wasn't enough.

I need to get stronger. Smarter. I can't let someone like him beat me again.

A sharp ding broke the silence. Blue words appeared in front of Raen, glowing faintly in the dark:

> [System Notice: B+ Relic detected underground.]

> First acquisition grants a big boost to your energy and may unlock a new ability.

Raen's eyes widened. B+ Relics were powerful, even if they weren't the strongest. Getting one could change everything. It could make him stronger, give him a chance to survive this place.

But it wasn't going to be easy. The temple was full of dangers, and he was already hurt and tired.

His body screamed at him to stop, to find a way out.

Yet, the voice of Lira echoed in his mind: "Sometimes, you don't get to choose. You just act."

Raen clenched his fists. He couldn't afford to hesitate. Not now.

He stood up, his legs shaky but holding. The relic was close. He could feel it.

This is my chance. I can't let it slip away.

---

Raen moved cautiously through the winding corridors of the temple, his eyes scanning the faintly glowing amber veins that pulsed in the walls.

The System's announcement about the B+ Relic still echoed in his mind. A chance to get stronger. A chance to survive.

But the temple wasn't going to make it easy.

Just as he rounded a corner, a deafening BOOM! shook the ground.

Raen barely had time to react as the ceiling above him cracked, dust and debris raining down.

He dove to the side, his body slamming into the rough stone wall as a massive boulder crashed where he had been standing moments before.

Coughing, Raen pushed himself up, his eyes narrowing as four figures descended from the hole in the ceiling.

At the front was Eryn, his calm demeanor and piercing eyes making him stand out even in the chaos. Behind him were three others, their movements sharp and precise, like a well-oiled machine.

Eryn's team didn't even glance at Raen. They moved with purpose, splitting up and heading deeper into the temple, their focus laser-sharp on the relic's location.

Raen's fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms. They didn't even look at me. Like I'm nothing. Like I'm not even worth their time.

Anger flared in his chest, hot and sharp. He wasn't just going to let them take the relic. Not after everything he'd been through. Not after losing Lira.

They think I'm no threat? Fine. I'll show them.

Raen moved quickly, his footsteps echoing softly in the narrow corridor. He kept his distance, staying hidden in the shadows as he followed Eryn's team.

The temple's layout was a maze, but the amber veins in the walls pulsed brighter the closer he got to the relic.

His mind raced. Eryn's strong. His team's strong. I can't take them head-on. I need to be smart.

But his pride burned. The way they had ignored him, like he was nothing more than a bug to be crushed—it stung more than he cared to admit.

I'm not weak. I'm not useless. I'll prove it.

Raen's pursuit led him into a narrow tunnel, the walls lined with faintly glowing amber veins. The air was thick with tension, every step echoing in the silence.

Suddenly, a voice cut through the stillness.

"Following them won't help you. You'll just die tired."

Raen spun around, his eyes locking onto a girl standing a few feet away.

She was around his age, with disheveled hair and oversized glasses that slid down her nose. Her calm smile was unnerving, her gaze analytical, like she was solving a puzzle rather than preparing for a fight.

She wore a utility belt filled with gadgets, her hands resting casually on her hips.

"Call me Arla," she said, her tone matter-of-fact. "I'm here for the relic too. But you? You're in my way."

Raen's eyes narrowed. Another opponent. Great.

Before he could react, Arla's hands moved, and a small, palm-sized robot dropped to the ground.

It unfolded rapidly, growing into a metallic spider-like construct, its sharp limbs glinting in the dim light.

Raen's heart pounded. This just got a lot harder.

The spider bot lunged at Raen, its sharp limbs slicing through the air. He dodged to the side, his movements quick but clumsy. The bot's leg grazed his arm, drawing blood.

"You're slow," Arla said, her voice calm. "Predictable."

Raen gritted his teeth, his anger flaring. I'm not weak. I'll show her.

He grabbed a loose stone from the ground, hurling it at the bot.

The stone shattered against its metallic body, but the bot didn't slow. It lunged again, forcing Raen to roll to the side.

Arla watched from a distance, her hands moving as she deployed another bot. This one was smaller, faster, its movements erratic.

Raen's mind raced. I can't keep dodging forever. I need to take them out.

He feinted left, then dashed right, grabbing a jagged piece of debris from the ground.

As the first bot lunged, he swung the debris with all his strength, smashing it into the bot's body. The bot staggered, its limbs twitching, but it didn't go down.

"Not bad," Arla said, her tone almost bored. "But not good enough."

She snapped her fingers, and the second bot lunged at Raen from behind.

He barely had time to react, diving to the side as the bot's sharp limbs sliced through the air where he had been standing.

Raen's chest heaved, his body aching from the fight. I can't keep this up.

Arla's voice cut through his thoughts. "You're not ready for this. Just give up."

Raen's anger flared. "I'm not giving up!"

He charged at Arla, his fists clenched. But before he could reach her, she raised a hand, and the ground beneath him shifted.

A stone pillar erupted from the floor, slamming into Raen's chest and sending him flying.

He crashed into the wall, the air knocked out of his lungs. Pain shot through his body, but he forced himself to stand.

"You're stubborn," Arla said, her voice calm. "But stubbornness won't save you."

She snapped her fingers again, and the two bots lunged at Raen from opposite sides.

He dodged one, but the other caught him, its sharp limbs slicing into his side.

Raen cried out, his vision blurring from the pain. He stumbled back, his body trembling.

"You're predictable," Arla said, her voice cold. "And predictable people die."

She raised her hand, and the ground beneath Raen cracked. He barely had time to react as the floor gave way, sending him plummeting into the darkness below.

Raen fell, tumbling through layers of stone before crashing onto cold ground.

Pain shot through his body, but he forced himself to roll over, his breathing ragged.

The chamber he had landed in was dark, the only light coming from faintly glowing amber veins in the walls.

The air was thick with the scent of decay, and the ground was littered with bones—some fresh, others ancient.

Raen's heart pounded as he pushed himself to his feet. What the hell is this place?

His eyes scanned the room, his mind racing. The bones were everywhere, some gnawed, others broken. The air felt heavy, oppressive, like the chamber itself was alive.

And then he saw it.

In the shadows, something moved. Something big.

Raen's breath caught in his throat. This… isn't just another part of the trial.

Raen stumbled through the dark chamber, his body aching and his mind racing. The air was thick with the scent of decay, and the faint glow of the amber veins in the walls cast eerie shadows across the room.

The bones scattered across the floor crunched under his boots, each step sending a shiver down his spine.

What is this place? he thought, his heart pounding. And what's waiting for me in the shadows?

Just as he was about to take another step, a voice echoed through the chamber—deep, resonant, and filled with an otherworldly power.

"Raen Solmere."

Raen froze, his breath catching in his throat. The voice wasn't coming from any one direction; it seemed to surround him, filling the air like a thunderous whisper.

"You've come far, child. Farther than most."

Raen's eyes darted around the chamber, searching for the source of the voice. "Who's there?" he demanded, his voice trembling despite his attempt to sound brave.

The shadows shifted, and a figure emerged from the darkness.

It was tall, its form shimmering like liquid light, its features indistinct yet impossibly regal. Its presence was overwhelming, filling the chamber with an aura of power that made Raen's knees weak.

"I am the one who gave you your ability," the figure said, its voice calm but commanding. "The one who granted you Shard Pulse."

Raen's eyes widened. Shard Pulse. The ability he had unlocked in desperation, the one that had saved him from the boy with the grey eyes.

"You... you gave me that?" Raen asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

The figure nodded, its form shimmering like a mirage. "I did. And I have watched you since. You have potential, Raen. More than you realize."

Raen's mind raced. Questions flooded his thoughts, but one rose above the rest. "Why? Why am I here? Why was I forced into this trial?"

The figure's gaze seemed to pierce through him, as if it could see every thought, every memory. "You were chosen, Raen. Chosen by the Black Sun Syndicate to be a pawn in their game. They forced you into this trial to feed their deity, the Black Sun. You are nothing more than food to them."

Raen's chest tightened. Food? The word echoed in his mind, filling him with a mix of anger and despair. He had always known the Syndicate was cruel, but this... this was something else entirely.

"Why me?" Raen asked, his voice shaking. "Why did they choose me?"

The figure's form shimmered, its expression unreadable. "Because you are special, Raen. Your connection to Sol is... unique. The Syndicate saw that, and they sought to exploit it. But they underestimated you. And they underestimated me."

Raen's fists clenched. "Who are you?"

The figure's form solidified slightly, its features becoming more distinct. It was a man, or something resembling one, with a crown of shimmering light atop his head and eyes that glowed like twin stars.

"I am the Hollow King," the figure said, its voice resonating with power. "Son of Dravonn, the Hollow Mountain, and Valthen, the Shattered Light. I am a demi-god, Raen. And I have chosen you."

Raen's breath caught in his throat. A demi-god. The Hollow King. The name meant nothing to him, but the weight behind it was undeniable.

"Why?" Raen asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why did you choose me?"

The Hollow King's gaze softened, though his presence remained overwhelming. "Because you have the potential to change everything, Raen. The Syndicate, the Veins, the world itself. But you must be strong. You must survive this trial."

Raen's mind raced. Survive. Change everything. The words echoed in his mind, filling him with a mix of hope and fear.

"But how?" Raen asked, his voice trembling. "How do I survive this? How do I stop the Syndicate?"

The Hollow King's form began to fade, his voice growing softer. "You already have the tools, Raen. Shard Pulse is only the beginning. Trust in your strength. Trust in your will. And when the time comes, I will guide you."

Raen reached out, as if he could stop the god from disappearing. "Wait! Don't leave me here!"

But the Hollow King was gone, his presence fading like a dream upon waking.

The chamber was silent once more, the only sound the faint hum of the amber veins in the walls.

Raen stood there, his body trembling, his mind racing. The Hollow King. The Syndicate. The trial. It was all too much, but he couldn't afford to break down. Not now.

He clenched his fists, his Sol flickering faintly in his chest. I'll survive. I'll make it out of here. And I'll make them pay.