The Spectacular Rank F Hero

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Beneath the Crimson Veil

The tunnel walls shifted as the group advanced, the once-rough stone giving way to smoother, meticulously carved surfaces. Strange symbols glowed faintly under the shard's crimson light, their alien shapes both mesmerizing and unnerving. Each step seemed to draw them deeper into a place where time and reality bent.

Rin lagged slightly behind, dragging his feet and occasionally glancing over his shoulder. "You know, in all the horror stories I've read, this is the part where the group gets horribly split up."

Mara sighed without looking back. "Then stay close, and you'll live to tell the tale."

Voss glanced over his shoulder. "Focus. Whatever's ahead, it won't be small."

"That's my concern," Rin muttered. "Why is it always bigger monsters? Why not, like, an intimidating squirrel for once?"

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A Door of Secrets

The path narrowed until it abruptly ended at an enormous, circular door etched with glowing patterns. The door was unlike anything they'd seen, pulsating faintly as though alive. The shard's hum grew louder, resonating with the symbols on the door, which began to glow brighter.

"Well, this is ominous," Rin remarked, stepping closer to the door. "Do we knock, or does it eat us first?"

Voss ignored him, holding up the shard. As it neared the door, the pulsating light synchronized with the shard's glow. A deep rumble echoed through the tunnel, and the door began to shift, the symbols rearranging themselves like a puzzle.

"What is this place?" Mara asked, her tone unusually hushed.

"Some kind of seal," Voss replied. "Whatever's behind here isn't meant to be found."

"Great," Rin said, taking a step back. "So naturally, we're opening it."

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The Forgotten Chamber

As the door slid open, a wave of stale, cold air rushed out, carrying the scent of decay. The room beyond was vast, illuminated by the faint glow of crystal formations growing from the walls and ceiling. At the center of the chamber stood a towering pedestal, atop which rested a strange artifact—a sphere of swirling crimson energy encased in a lattice of black metal.

"Tell me that's not the thing we're here for," Rin said, eyeing the artifact warily. "Because it looks cursed."

Mara stepped forward, scanning the room with her daggers drawn. "It's too quiet."

"That's what worries me," Voss muttered, his hand resting on the hilt of his greatsword.

The shard in Voss's hand vibrated violently, as though drawn to the sphere. He held it tighter, his jaw tightening. "This is it. The cult's source of power."

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The Echoes of the Past

As the trio approached the pedestal, the air grew heavier, and the temperature dropped. Whispered voices filled the chamber, faint and indistinct at first, but growing louder with every step. They weren't speaking any language Rin recognized, yet the words scratched at the edges of his mind.

"Anyone else hearing that?" Rin asked, gripping his sword tighter.

"Yes," Mara said curtly. "Ignore it."

"Easy for you to say," Rin muttered. "Your brain's not trying to explode."

When they reached the pedestal, Voss hesitated, staring up at the artifact. The shard in his hand glowed brighter, as though eager to connect with its counterpart.

"What's the plan?" Mara asked, her voice tense.

Voss didn't answer immediately. His eyes were locked on the swirling energy within the sphere. "If we can take this, the Red Veil loses their advantage."

Rin snorted. "And we gain the honor of carrying around an obviously cursed object. Sounds like a win-win."

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The First Guardian Appears

Before anyone could respond, the whispers stopped abruptly, replaced by a low, guttural growl. The ground trembled, and from the shadows of the chamber, a massive figure emerged. It was a creature of pure darkness, its form shifting and writhing as though made of living shadow. Two piercing red eyes glowed from within the void of its face.

"And there's the catch," Rin said, stepping back. "Why is it always giant monsters?"

The creature lunged forward with terrifying speed, its claws raking the ground where the trio had just stood. Voss drew his greatsword and charged, meeting the creature head-on.

"Keep it busy!" Mara shouted, darting around the creature with her daggers at the ready.

Rin groaned. "Why do I always get the suicide missions?" Nevertheless, he moved to flank the creature, looking for an opening.

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A Fierce Battle

Voss swung his greatsword with all his strength, the blade biting into the creature's shadowy form. It howled in rage, lashing out with claws that struck like lightning. Voss blocked the attack but was sent skidding backward, his boots digging into the ground.

Mara was a blur of motion, her daggers flashing as she struck at the creature's joints and weak points. Each hit caused the shadows to ripple, but the creature seemed unbothered, its focus locked on Voss.

"Any bright ideas?" Rin called out, dodging a swipe from the creature's tail. "Because I'm fresh out!"

"The core!" Voss shouted, pointing to a glowing red spot in the creature's chest. "Aim for the core!"

"Of course it has a core," Rin muttered. "Why can't anything just die normally?"

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Rin's Reckless Move

While Voss and Mara kept the creature distracted, Rin took a deep breath and charged toward the core. The creature noticed him too late; by the time it turned, Rin was already leaping into the air. His sword struck true, plunging into the glowing core.

The creature let out an ear-piercing scream, its body convulsing as cracks spread across its form. Rin held on for dear life as the creature thrashed wildly.

"Hurry up and finish it!" he shouted.

Voss didn't hesitate. With a mighty swing of his greatsword, he severed the creature's head, and Mara delivered a final blow to its core. The shadowy form disintegrated, leaving behind only a faint mist.

Rin collapsed to the ground, panting. "I hate this job."

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The Artifact's Warning

With the guardian defeated, Voss approached the pedestal and reached for the artifact. The moment his hand touched the sphere, a wave of energy exploded outward, knocking everyone to the ground.

The whispers returned, louder and more coherent now. A voice echoed through the chamber, deep and filled with malice.

"You who dare to claim this power… beware. It comes at a price."

The artifact pulsed, and the shard in Voss's hand shattered, its fragments dissolving into the air. The crimson energy within the sphere seemed to grow stronger, its glow filling the room.

Rin groaned as he pushed himself up. "What did I say about cursed objects? Always a bad idea."

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A New Path Forward

Voss stared at the artifact, his expression grim. "This isn't over. The Red Veil knows we're here now. We have to move."

"Move where?" Mara asked, wiping blood from a cut on her forehead. "They'll come after us the moment we leave this place."

"Then we don't give them the chance," Voss said, gripping his sword. "We take the fight to them."

Rin laughed bitterly. "Brilliant. Let's charge into the enemy's stronghold while carrying their doomsday device. Nothing could possibly go wrong."

Despite his sarcasm, Rin followed as they left the chamber, the artifact's ominous glow lighting their way.

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End of Chapter 37