Steel struck in rhythm.
Not wild.
Not desperate.
Precise.
Corvyn's command had changed everything.
"Joints!" Halric roared.
A Ravaryn blade slipped between the plates at the Hollow Knight's knee.
Another struck at its elbow.
Small openings.
Small damage.
But it was enough.
The creature staggered.
For the first time—
It was losing ground.
Corvyn pressed forward.
Nightfeather moved like shadow and silence.
Each strike measured.
Each movement deliberate.
He did not rush.
He did not waste strength.
He waited for the moment.
The Hollow Knight lashed out again.
Its invisible force burst outward.
But weaker now.
Slower.
The men held their ground.
They had learned.
Adapted.
Survived.
Halric charged in once more.
His blade crashed into the creature's side.
This time—
The dent deepened.
Metal cracked.
A sharp, splitting sound echoed through the chamber.
"Now we're getting somewhere!" Halric shouted.
The Hollow Knight turned sharply toward him.
Too focused.
Too committed.
Corvyn saw it.
The opening.
He moved.
Fast.
Silent.
Nightfeather rose—
And drove forward.
Straight into the chest plate.
The black steel pierced the weakened armor.
Deep.
Decisive.
The pale glow inside the helm flared violently.
The chamber trembled.
A low, hollow sound filled the air.
Not a scream.
Not a voice.
Something… breaking.
Corvyn held the blade steady.
Pushing deeper.
Ending it.
The light flickered wildly.
Then—
It shattered.
Gone.
The armor froze.
For a single breath.
Then collapsed.
Empty.
Lifeless.
Metal crashing against stone.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Absolute.
No movement.
No sound.
Only the faint crackle of torches.
Corvyn pulled Nightfeather free.
The blade was dark once more.
Still.
As if nothing had happened.
Halric stood there, breathing hard.
"Well…"
He wiped sweat and blood from his face.
"That was unpleasant."
One of the men let out a shaky breath.
"Is it… over?"
Corvyn looked down at the fallen armor.
Pieces scattered across the stone floor.
No light.
No movement.
"Yes," he said quietly.
"For now."
He turned slowly, scanning the chamber.
The pillars.
The carvings.
The ancient structure hidden beneath the forest.
This place had not been built for nothing.
Halric followed his gaze.
"I don't suppose that was the only one."
Corvyn did not answer.
Because he already knew.
It wasn't.
The wind above howled faintly through the opening.
And far beneath the earth—
Something deeper stirred.