Darkness swallowed Nyra as she stepped deeper into the Hollow King's prison. The air felt thick, heavy with centuries of trapped sorrow. Ghostly wolves drifted through the void around her, their hollow eyes flickering between hope and despair.
At the center, the throne of bone-like shadow pulsed slowly, as though breathing.
Nyra steadied herself, silver light spreading across her skin like armor forged from moonlight.
"I'm ready," she said firmly.
A low, ancient laugh rippled through the void.
No one is ready to face the truth of their blood…
The darkness surged forward, swallowing the prison chamber. Nyra gasped as the ground vanished beneath her feet, replaced by shifting memories.
She stood suddenly within Shadowfang territory… but it was burning.
Flames devoured the forest. Wolves howled in agony as shadows tore through the pack. The sky above glowed crimson beneath a fractured Blood Moon.
Kael lay on the ground before her, blood staining his fur.
Nyra's breath shattered. "No…"
She rushed toward him, dropping to her knees. His golden eyes flickered weakly as he reached toward her face.
"You chose power over protection," he whispered hoarsely. "You became what our ancestors feared."
Nyra shook her head violently. "This isn't real."
The ground cracked open as shadow consumed Kael's body, dragging him into darkness. His claws scraped against the earth, reaching for her until he vanished completely.
Nyra screamed, silver energy erupting wildly from her body.
The illusion shattered.
She now stood in a vast ritual chamber carved from obsidian stone. Ancient wolves circled her, their eyes glowing with corrupted silver light. Their fur was marked with twisted runes — ancestors who had created the Hollow King.
"You carry our blood," one said coldly.
"You carry our arrogance," another whispered.
Nyra's chest tightened as guilt pressed against her ribs.
"We sought immortality to protect our pack," a third voice said. "But power does not serve loyalty. It consumes it."
The wolves began circling her faster, their voices merging into a thunderous chant.
"You will repeat our failure."
"You will lose yourself to power."
"You will destroy Shadowfang."
Nyra dropped to one knee as their words pierced her mind like blades. Doubt surged within her — fear that her growing power would one day turn her into the very monster she fought.
The Hollow King's voice rose from the darkness.
Join me… and you will never fail them…
Shadow crept along the ground, reaching toward her feet like grasping fingers.
Nyra trembled… then closed her eyes.
Kael's voice echoed in her memory.
You don't carry this alone.
She inhaled slowly, pressing her palm against the glowing Blood Moon relic beneath her ribs.
"I am not my ancestors' mistakes," she whispered.
Silver light burst outward, forcing the circling spirits backward.
"I carry their lessons," she continued, rising to her feet. "Their failures teach me what power must never become."
The corrupted ancestral spirits froze, their forms flickering uncertainly.
Nyra stepped forward, her aura blazing brighter than ever before.
"Power without loyalty is corruption," she said firmly. "Power without sacrifice is emptiness. And power without love… is nothing."
The ritual chamber cracked as silver light spread across the floor, dissolving the twisted runes carved by the ancient wolves.
The spirits' corrupted forms began to fracture. Beneath the darkness, Nyra glimpsed glimpses of their original, sorrowful selves.
The Hollow King roared, the entire void shaking with fury.
You reject your inheritance…
"I reject your corruption," Nyra replied.
The darkness recoiled, retreating toward the distant throne. The illusion collapsed, returning her to the prison void — but now the trapped spirits glowed faintly with silver light, as if awakening from centuries of torment.
Nyra staggered slightly, exhaustion creeping into her limbs. But she remained standing.
From the throne, the Hollow King's shape shifted, growing slightly clearer — still incomplete, but angrier… more aware.
You have passed the first trial, Blood Moon heir…
The void trembled as chains of shadow tightened around the throne.
But trials of memory are easy…
The throne pulsed violently, releasing a wave of cold dread.
The next trial will test your strength… and your willingness to sacrifice what you love most.
Nyra steadied her breathing, lifting her chin.
"Then I will face it."
Behind her, the awakened spirits watched silently… some now glowing faintly with gratitude… others trembling with fragile hope.
And far above the prison chamber, beyond barriers of ancient magic, Kael remained at the sealed entrance, pacing like a caged storm — unaware that Nyra's trials were only just beginning.