The Valley of the Hollow Grave didn't exist on any Marauder's Map, wizarding atlas, or Ministry record.
Because it was never meant to exist.
It was carved from time itself—an ancient scar between life and death, sealed by Death's own hand after the first Hallows were forged.
And now, Aarav stood before its entrance.
The entrance wasn't a gate. It was a memory.
A faded funeral, echoing in his mind.
He saw himself, dressed in funeral robes, placing something into an invisible casket. The moment he blinked, the vision vanished, replaced by a crack in the earth.
A whisper slid past his ears:
"Every power must be paid for... in parts of yourself."
Quest: The Final Shard
Main Quest: Fractured Time – Final Phase
Location: Valley of the Hollow Grave
Objective: Defeat the Hollow One
Claim: Time Shard 5 of 5
Warning: This quest permanently removes one magical skill
Reward: Access to the Trinity Hallows Ritual, Death's Boon (???), and Final System Evolution
As Aarav walked through the death-choked mist, he reached a circle of broken gravestones.
In the center stood a figure cloaked in gray, wearing no face—only a reflection.
It was him.
The Hollow One.
A doppelgänger created from the part of Aarav that had died in his original world: his regret, ambition, and rage, fused into a living curse.
> "You were reborn," it hissed, "but I stayed behind. I suffered what you ran from. Now I take your future as payment."
The Hollow One wielded twisted versions of Aarav's own skills:
Dark Spellweave
Mirror Step
Convergence Curse
Aarav fought back with speed and precision, but the Hollow One knew every move before he made it.
Until Aarav stopped casting spells.
And whispered:
> "I didn't come here to fight you... I came to forgive you."
The Hollow One faltered.
> "You... accept me?"
Aarav stepped forward.
> "You are the part of me that had to die, so the rest could live."
He placed his palm on the Hollow One's chest.
The reflection broke.
The curse shattered.
And in its place hovered a single black shard—etched with the numbers 00:00.
> System Update:
Time Shard 5 of 5 Acquired: The Moment of Stillness
Trait Acquired: Soul Anchor – Immune to time-based death, single resurrection stored
Major Evolution Unlocked: Trinity Hallows Integration Ritual
Warning: To complete the ritual, one magical skill must be sacrificed permanently
Aarav collapsed to one knee.
He had them all.
All five Time Shards.
But the ritual would demand a price.
Before he left the Hollow Grave, time paused.
And Death itself appeared—not cloaked, not skeletal. Just an old man with tired eyes.
> "You took my gifts and forged your own path," Death said.
> "But everything borrowed must one day be returned."
Aarav looked up. "Then take what you must. But I won't let this world fall."
Death nodded.
> "Then be ready, wielder of the Hallows… for the final storm begins now."