---
The air grew heavier the deeper Yuki ventured, not with weight but with presence. The Hollow was no longer just a place; it was an entity. And now, it *watched* him—not with suspicion, but with interest.
Branches parted before his path. Leaves stirred without breeze. Small, flickering motes of spirit-light drifted around him like cautious birds. He followed their trail, carried forward by instinct more than intent, guided by the rhythm of the \[Mindforge Core] pulsing gently within him.
The forest opened into a circular clearing encased in crescent cliffs, half-swallowed by ivy and moss. In the center lay a massive stone structure—partly sunken, cracked with age, and crowned with carved runes that shimmered faintly when he approached. Unlike the altar from before, this was no passive echo. It *spoke*.
> **Ancient Monument Detected – Whispering Stone**
>
> Built by unknown forest denizens to store and channel fragmented soul-memories.
>
> Condition: 47% integrity.
>
> Compatible with Mindforge Core: Partial link possible.
Yuki stepped cautiously toward it. The runes responded, flaring brighter, then pulsing in time with his breath. As he placed a claw on the stone's base, a rush of images hit him—disconnected and hazy, like dreams remembered just after waking.
A dragon, long and lithe, of emerald fire and silver winds, danced above the treetops.
A voice—clear, sad—whispered: "We remember her… even if she has forgotten herself…"
A spiral of forest spirits in ritual. A sudden eruption of light. A falling star. A broken name.
Yuki staggered back, exhaling smoke as his chest heaved.
> **Memory Fragment Absorbed: Soul-Echo – Forest Guardian's Departure**
>
> A piece of memory tied to a powerful forest spirit.
>
> Emotion registered: Longing.
>
> Fragment stored in Mindforge Core.
So the Hollow had lost something—or someone.
And somehow, Yuki's presence was stirring those old embers.
As the vision faded, the runes on the Whispering Stone cooled to a gentle glow. Yet their shape had shifted, subtly. One rune in particular now pulsed in sync with his flame—a spiraling emblem that resembled both wind and fire fused in harmony.
> **Unique Skill Evolved: \[Flame Clad] → \[Soulflame Mantle]**
>
> Description: Your elemental flame gains partial soul-aspect. Attacks now apply minor soul-burn and ignore non-divine mental resistances. Flame-based skills cause emotional instability in spiritual entities.
A sense of awe crept into Yuki's bones.
The spirit-infused regions weren't just testing his power—they were reshaping it.
Shifting his gaze toward the rising cliffs, he noticed strange silhouettes etched in moss. Dragons, yes—but also other forms. Spirits. Trees. Beasts. One looked uncannily like *him*, but with eyes burning both gold and green. A future? A vision?
He didn't know yet.
But the Hollow clearly did.
And now, something ancient had *seen* him.
The moment passed, and the forest began to stir again—quieter now, reverent almost. Yuki turned and left the glade with steady steps, the soul-etched flame around his body shimmering softly.
This was no longer just his journey.
He had begun walking a path that once belonged to someone else.
And at the end of it, something—or *someone*—was waiting.
---