Night fell slowly in the Hollow.
Above the vine-laced canopy, silver moonlight spilled in thin rivulets, catching on dew-tipped leaves and shimmering off the tranquil pool. The camp around Ren had grown. More than just travelers now—those who called themselves the Green Wake were planting tents, laying enchanted wards, and sketching symbols from ancient knowledge Ren couldn't yet decipher.
But he felt it.
The Hollow was responding.
With each seed he carried, with each memory that surfaced from the Echo Module, the domain whispered louder. And it was listening to him now, too.
Ren sat near the heart of the clearing, system panel open. The interface pulsed with a calm rhythm.
Seed Registry[1] Verdant Seed: Integrated (72%)[2] Ashen Seed: Contained – Monitoring[3] ??? (Slot Empty)
Slot Available – Unique Seed Required
System Notes:Host-Affinity increasing steadily. Sub-systems adapting.Suggested Action: Anchor a Domain Core to stabilize localized influence.
"What's a Domain Core?" Ren whispered aloud.
The panel shifted, projecting a faint image—an orb, pulsing with the same color as the Hollow's natural aura.
Domain Core: A focal point of influence. Allows system-bound entities to exert environmental effects.
Effects: Terrain enhancement, Affinity surge for allies, Detection resistance.
Status: Blueprint unlocked via Echo Memory (Warden of Embers)
Materials Required:— Verdant Crystals (3)— Hollowroot Bark (1)— Seed-Charged Element (1)
Kael approached, catching the glow of the projection.
"You building a fortress?" he asked.
Ren nodded. "A core. Not physical walls. Something deeper. Tied to the Hollow."
Kael tossed him a pouch. "Then you're in luck. Found these while scouting."
Ren opened it to find small, gleaming fragments—Verdant Crystals.
Kael grinned. "They hummed when I got close. Figured your system would want 'em."
System Update:Material Registered – Verdant Crystal (x3)Component Requirement: Met
One step closer.
But still missing the other two materials.
Ren frowned, "We'll need to find Hollowroot Bark and something that's been infused with seed energy."
Kael scratched his chin. "Might have a lead on the bark. There's a tree, out near the edge. Doesn't bend with the wind. Doesn't make a sound when cut. Locals call it 'The Sleeping Pillar.' It's not sleeping."
Before they could discuss further, a ripple ran through the soil beneath them. Moss tensed beside Ren, ears perking. The Hollow pulsed.
A cry rose near the camp's edge.
They sprinted.
There, near a crude watchpost, a Green Wake scout knelt beside a fallen figure. The man's eyes were wide, but lifeless. No wound. No blood. Just... empty.
A whisper danced on the air.
Low. Ancient. Cold.
System AlertHostile Seed Signature Detected
Type: Withered Echo
Class: Degraded Soul Remnant
Origin: Inverted BloomThreat Level: Moderate–Unstable
The trees darkened.
Branches twisted inward, forming crude silhouettes—humanoid shapes with bark for skin and hollow sockets for eyes.
Ren's breath caught.
One stepped forward, tendrils unraveling from its arm like black roots.
"Keeper... of Hollow... You bring rebirth... We bring silence."
Kael unsheathed his blade. "We've got company."
Ren stood firm, system panel glowing brighter.
Combat Interface Initiated— Active Buff: Verdant Surge— Aura: Domain Pulse (Local Influence +5%)— Command Available: Bind Seed Energy to Surrounding Terrain? [Yes/No]
He thought: Yes.
The ground beneath his feet responded. Vines erupted from the earth, lashing toward the Withered Echo. One of the bark-skinned wretches screamed as a green spike drove through its chest, evaporating into dust.
The others howled, surging forward.
Kael met them head-on. Sword glowing, slashing with practiced fury.
Ren focused.
The interface highlighted their weaknesses—points of instability in their twisted forms. Where corrupted seed signatures lingered, the Hollow's energy could purge them.
He extended his hand.
Green tendrils shot forward, piercing another wraith.
It staggered, then crumbled.
Withered Echo PurifiedResidual Energy Absorbed+2% Seed Integration+1% Domain Resonance
Soon, the glade was quiet again.
But the damage had been done. The camp was shaken. One scout was dead. And the system registered something Ren hadn't seen before.
New Threat Classification RegisteredCorrupted Seed-Bearers
Symptom: Memory Hollowing
Potential Origin: External ManipulationSuggested Objective: Identify Source of Corruption (0/1)
He turned to Kael. "Something else is using seeds. Twisting them. Draining people."
Kael spat. "Yeah, and it knows your name."
Ren looked toward the deep trees.
The Hollow had given him power.
Now it was time to defend it.