The Crown of the Hollow Glutton pulsed violently on Adam's brow as the first wave of souls struck him. A torrent of whispers, fragments of forgotten lives, and ancient sorrow flowed into the artifact like a river breaking through a dam.
Adam's body convulsed. His eyes blazed crimson-gold as the souls surged into him, each one adding to the Crown's growing hunger. The Void Manifest recoiled, its hollow form flickering with alarm as the darkness around them began to thin, devoured by the Crown's insatiable appetite.
"No... NO! This is not—!"
The Void Manifest's voice cracked, its madness returning in full force as it saw its prison being consumed. It lunged forward, shadows erupting from its form in a desperate attack.
But the Crown responded.
The aura around Adam flared, dark and hungry, forming a barrier that absorbed the Void Manifest's attack like water into parched earth. The shadows dissolved, feeding the Crown's growing power.
