Days passed inside the Chamber of Equilibrium, though time flowed strangely here. Ayato and Kaito trained relentlessly under Renka's watchful eye.
Ayato's control over the Seal improved with each session. He could now summon small orbs of void energy and threads of light, manipulating them like extensions of his own body. Kaito, meanwhile, honed his skills as an Anchor, learning to regulate Ayato's emotional state during moments of instability.
But despite their progress, Renka's expression grew more serious with each passing day.
---
Renka's Concern
"You're improving faster than expected," Renka admitted one evening, as they sat around a glowing crystal fire. "But it may not be enough."
Ayato glanced up. "What do you mean?"
She paused, choosing her words carefully. "There are other Voidborn who weren't as lucky as you. Some fell to the Seal's influence completely — others were taken… twisted by the Sovereigns."
Kaito narrowed his eyes. "Taken?"
"They are known as the Hollowed. Voidborn who surrendered to the whispers and now serve the Sovereigns as enforcers." Renka's voice dropped. "One of them is close."
Ayato tensed. "Close? How close?"
Before Renka could answer, the silver lights in the chamber dimmed suddenly. A cold wind swept through the sanctuary. The air thickened with an unnatural pressure.
From the shadows, a figure stepped forward.
---
The Hollowed Appears
He wore a black cloak that seemed to bleed into the air itself. His face was hidden behind a sleek, smooth mask made of obsidian. Only two narrow eye slits glowed faintly with a crimson light.
"You've grown stronger, Voidborn," the masked figure spoke, voice layered with distortion. "I've come to test your resolve."
Renka stood protectively in front of Ayato and Kaito, drawing her blade of light. "You shouldn't be able to enter this sanctuary."
The Hollowed chuckled. "The Sovereign's reach grows… even here."
Ayato's Seal burned on his hand, reacting to the Hollowed's presence. His knees weakened under the suffocating aura.
"Who are you?" Ayato demanded, forcing himself to stand.
The Hollowed tilted his head. "A glimpse of your future, should you fail. I was once like you — chosen by the Seal. I embraced its true nature. You resist, but eventually… you'll break."
The air around them crackled with unstable void energy.
---
The Duel
Without warning, the Hollowed lunged forward, his blade — a jagged construct of void crystal — clashing against Renka's. Sparks of light and darkness danced through the chamber.
"Ayato, stay back!" Renka shouted.
But Ayato couldn't stand idle. His instincts screamed at him to fight. This was no longer a training simulation. This was real.
He summoned his first fragment — the crystalline shard from his earlier training — and channeled both void and light into a spear of balanced energy.
Kaito called out, "Control it, Ayato! Don't lose yourself!"
Ayato stepped forward, thrusting the spear toward the Hollowed. The attack struck the void blade, sending a shockwave across the chamber.
The Hollowed laughed. "You have potential… but not enough."
He retaliated, sending a wave of pure void energy toward Ayato. The Seal flared wildly, threatening to spiral out of control.
---
Anchor Bond
Kaito acted instantly, placing his hand on Ayato's shoulder. "Focus on me, Ayato! We're in this together!"
The bond between Voidborn and Anchor surged, stabilizing the energy flow. The chaotic void streams around Ayato compressed into a sharp beam of condensed power, slicing through the Hollowed's attack.
The Hollowed stumbled back briefly, before vanishing into the shadows with a whisper:
"Impressive... But next time, you won't be so lucky."
---
Aftermath
The chamber returned to calm, but the weight of the encounter lingered.
Renka sheathed her blade. "That was only one of many. The Sovereigns have sent their messengers. The true war is coming."
Ayato clenched his fist, feeling the Seal's pulse steady. "Then we need to be ready."
---
End of Chapter 8