The Spectacular Rank F Hero

Chapter Thirty-Six: A Trail of Secrets

The forest opened into a narrow valley, where jagged rocks jutted from the ground like the teeth of a great beast. The oppressive silence persisted, broken only by the faint hum of the shard in Voss's pouch. The air felt thicker, heavy with an unseen presence that made every breath a chore.

Rin dragged his feet behind the others, his body aching from the last skirmish. "We've been walking for hours. Can we please take a break? My legs aren't built for marathons."

Mara shot him a withering look over her shoulder. "We'll rest when it's safe."

"Which means never," Rin muttered under his breath.

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The Shard's Signal

Voss came to an abrupt halt, holding up a hand to signal the others. "It's stronger here," he said, his voice a low rumble.

Rin squinted at the surrounding terrain. "What is? The shard's hum? Or my imminent doom?"

Ignoring him, Voss knelt and pulled the shard from his pouch. It pulsed faintly, casting an eerie crimson glow across the rocks.

"It's pointing us somewhere," Voss said, holding it aloft. The glow intensified, illuminating a narrow path carved into the valley wall.

Mara frowned, her eyes narrowing. "That path doesn't look natural."

Rin groaned. "Great. Creepy glowing artifact leads us into a suspiciously ominous path. What could possibly go wrong?"

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The Hidden Passage

The trail twisted and turned, leading them deeper into the valley. The walls loomed higher on either side, casting long shadows that danced in the shard's light. The hum grew louder with each step, a low, rhythmic pulse that seemed to sync with their heartbeats.

"This place gives me the creeps," Rin muttered, gripping his sword tightly. "Feels like we're walking into a trap."

Mara glanced at him. "Stay alert. If it's a trap, we'll need you alive to spring it."

"Such comforting words," Rin said with a mock bow. "Truly inspiring."

---

The First Marking

They came upon a stone archway carved into the valley wall, its surface etched with intricate runes that glowed faintly in response to the shard's light.

Voss traced the runes with his fingers. "This is ancient. Older than anything I've ever seen."

Mara crossed her arms. "Doesn't matter how old it is. What matters is whether it's dangerous."

"It's always dangerous," Rin said, peering into the dark tunnel beyond the arch. "Let's just assume there are deadly traps, monsters, and maybe some overly dramatic cultists waiting for us."

"You're not wrong," Voss admitted, stepping cautiously through the arch.

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The Guardian Awakes

The moment they crossed the threshold, the air changed. A deep, resonant thrum filled the tunnel, followed by the grinding of stone. A colossal figure emerged from the darkness—a golem, its body a mosaic of stone and metal, its eyes glowing with the same crimson light as the shard.

"Well, there's your overly dramatic monster," Rin quipped, drawing his sword.

The golem stepped forward, each movement shaking the ground. It raised an arm, the appendage morphing into a massive blade.

"We can't outrun it," Voss said, hefting his greatsword. "We fight."

"Fantastic," Rin muttered. "Just what I needed—a workout."

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The Battle Begins

The golem charged, swinging its bladed arm in a wide arc. Voss met the attack head-on, his sword clashing against the blade with a deafening clang. Sparks flew as the two titans of strength struggled against each other.

Mara darted around the golem, aiming for its exposed joints. Her daggers struck true, but the creature barely flinched, its stone body too dense to damage easily.

Rin, meanwhile, circled cautiously, looking for an opening. "Any weaknesses I should know about?" he called out.

"Hit it harder," Voss grunted, shoving the golem back.

"Great advice," Rin said, rolling his eyes. "Why didn't I think of that?"

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Rin's Gamble

The golem turned its attention to Rin, its glowing eyes locking onto him. "Oh, come on," Rin said, backing away. "Why me? I'm the least threatening one here!"

The golem swung its blade arm, and Rin barely dodged, stumbling over a loose rock. He landed awkwardly but managed to scramble back to his feet.

"That's it," he muttered, gripping his sword tightly. "Time to stop being a coward."

With a yell, Rin charged, aiming for the glowing core embedded in the golem's chest. His sword struck the core, sending cracks spiderwebbing across its surface. The golem let out a deafening roar, staggering backward.

"Did I just do that?" Rin asked, blinking in disbelief.

"Don't celebrate yet," Mara snapped, leaping onto the golem's back. "Finish it!"

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A Combined Effort

Voss seized the opportunity, delivering a devastating blow to the golem's leg. The creature toppled, its massive body crashing to the ground. Mara struck at the core with her daggers, widening the cracks.

"Rin, now!" Voss shouted.

Rin hesitated for a moment before lunging forward, driving his sword into the core with all his strength. The shard's glow intensified, and the golem let out one final, ear-splitting roar before disintegrating into a pile of rubble.

Rin collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily. "Next time, can we just find a nice, peaceful tavern to visit instead?"

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A Revelation

As the dust settled, the shard began to hum again, its light pointing further down the tunnel.

"It's leading us deeper," Voss said, his expression grim.

Rin groaned. "Of course it is. Because why stop at one life-threatening encounter when we can have more?"

Mara ignored him, stepping over the rubble to examine the runes carved into the tunnel walls. "These markings… they're a map."

"A map to what?" Rin asked, dragging himself to his feet.

"To whatever the cult is protecting," Mara replied. "And if they're willing to unleash guardians like that, it must be something big."

"Big and probably deadly," Rin said, sighing. "Why do I feel like I'm not getting paid enough for this?"

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The Path Forward

Despite their exhaustion, the trio pressed on, the shard's light guiding their way. The tunnel grew narrower, the walls closing in around them. The air was colder now, carrying a faint metallic scent that made Rin's nose wrinkle.

"What are we even hoping to find down here?" he asked, breaking the silence.

"Answers," Voss replied. "And maybe a way to stop the Red Veil before it's too late."

Rin sighed. "You say that like it's going to be easy."

"It never is," Mara said, her voice soft but resolute. "But we keep going anyway."

And so they did, their steps echoing through the dark, each of them bracing for what lay ahead.

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End of Chapter 36