I'm Lara Croft?

Konstantin paused, standing motionless as he delved into his thoughts. After a moment, he finally spoke. "Alright. But you must promise that your organization will help cure my sister and keep her safe. Otherwise, you might as well blow my brains out—or be prepared to sleep with one eye open."

Lara smirked and began walking toward the Divine Source, her tone light and teasing. "Don't worry. I'll sleep like a baby."

Before she could take another step, Konstantin swung a fist toward her back. Lara spun on her heel, blocking his punch effortlessly. Her fingers tightened around his fist as she turned to face him "Testing me?"

"I have to gauge my new superior's abilities," Konstantin replied "I need to know if you're worth being my superior."

With lightning speed, he tried to sweep her legs out from under her, but Lara reacted instantly, jumping to avoid the move. She countered with a powerful kick to his chest, sending him flying backward into the wall. Konstantin hit it with a loud thud, coughing as the air was knocked out of him.

"You've got some serious strength and speed," he admitted, pushing himself up from the ground.

Lara crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Want more, little boy?"

Konstantin shook his head a bit embarrassed, from the test he knew Lara would beat his ass "No."

Lara turned back toward the Divine Source, enveloped in an old cloth on a pedestal at the center of the chamber. "Good. Then go secure the helicopter and make sure we can actually use it to get out of here. I've got work to do."

Konstantin lingered for a moment, his eyes flicking toward the shrouded artifact. After a brief pause, he nodded and walked away, heading outside to prepare the helicopter as instructed.

Lara chose Konstantin to be one of the leaders of T.O.M.B. for several reasons. Chief among them was the fact that she understood him and his motivations. Konstantin's desires were almost entirely centered around his sister, not on lofty ideals like saving the world or helping others. His selfish, singular focus made him ideal for Lara's needs—a morally grey character with a clear agenda, someone unafraid to get his hands dirty.

In addition to his motivations, Konstantin was undeniably competent. From what Lara had overheard from Trinity soldiers, many admired him and saw him as a role model. His strength and combat prowess were impressive, earning him a reputation as a relentless fighter. Lara could even compare him to a watered-down version of the Punisher.

From her own observations and memories of the game, Konstantin had proven his physical capabilities time and time again. He could overpower grown men with ease, wield heavy weaponry effectively, and had been known to brutally incapacitate enemies, even gouging out a man's eyes with his thumbs. His resilience, stamina, and durability were far above the average human. Even after suffering injuries that would have been fatal to most, Konstantin had the strength to keep going and the audacity to gloat about killing Lara's father.

This combination of competence, brutality, and personal drive made Konstantin the perfect candidate for managing the combat and operational side of T.O.M.B. while remaining grounded by his selfish goals. 

As Lara picked up the Divine Source, an overwhelming desire surged through her to rip away the cloth and look at it. The pull was almost hypnotic, like an invisible force urging her to give in. "This desire is really strong," she muttered, her grip tightening around the object.

Before she could act, Jacob rushed into the chamber, his face pale and urgent. "You need to destroy it now!" he said, his voice firm. "Hydra and Leviathan are almost annihilated, and the rest are retreating. Do it—before the deathless come here."

Lara hesitated for a fraction of a second, feeling the weight of the object in her hands. But with a decisive motion, she ignored the temptation, ripped away the cloth without looking, and threw the Divine Source to the ground with all her strength.

The artifact shattered, and an ear-splitting scream echoed through the chamber, otherworldly and terrifying, like the cries of the damned. Blue flames erupted, racing toward the sky, illuminating the chamber in an unearthly glow. The entire ground seemed to shake as the air itself seemed to split.

Jacob collapsed to the floor.

Lara's eyes widened as she suddenly felt a strange, warm energy engulf her. Around her, the air shimmered with blue light, swirling like a galaxy. Before she could say a word, the energy surged into her body, threading through her cells like liquid fire. It wasn't painful; it was euphoric, like she'd been submerged in a divine, impossibly perfect bath.

"Ahh!" Lara moaned, unable to suppress the sound as the energy coursed through her, leaving her breathless. Then, as quickly as it came, it vanished, leaving her standing in silence.

She looked down at her body, her breathing shallow. "What the hell just happened?" she muttered. She felt no stronger, no different. Her body looked the same and felt the same.

Her eyes darted to Jacob, who lay slumped on the ground, his breath weak and shallow. She rushed to his side, crouching down beside him.

Jacob's eyes fluttered open, his gaze hazy. "In all my years… I have met few as extraordinary as you…" He coughed, his voice raspy. "Who am I kidding? You're the most shameless person I've ever known…" His coughing worsened as he struggled to continue. "That was… cosmic energy… I was right… You are a descendant of an E…"

His voice trailed off as his body began to dissolve into smoke and ash.

"Wait, what?" Lara shouted, shaking him as the last of him vanished. "Who am I a descendant of, you old relic?!"

The last wisps of Jacob faded into the air, leaving Lara alone with the eerie silence of the chamber.

"Fuck you, man," she muttered, slumping onto the floor in exasperation. "You left me on a cliffhanger!"