The Spectacular Rank F Hero

Chapter Forty-Six: Into the Depths

The deeper they ventured into the ruins, the heavier the air became. It wasn't just the suffocating darkness or the cold stone walls that seemed to close in on them—it was the sense of being watched. Rin couldn't shake the feeling that unseen eyes were following their every move.

"Anyone else feel like we're walking into a trap?" he asked, his voice low but tinged with sarcasm.

Mara glanced over her shoulder. "This entire places is a trap. Keep moving."

Voss grunted in agreement, his massive sword resting on his shoulder. "If we hesitate now, we'll only give them time to catch up. Besides, we've come too far to turn back."

Luthien led the way, his golden glow dim but steady, illuminating the ancient carvings on the walls. The runes etched into the stone flickered faintly, as if reacting to his presence.

"These ruins were once a temple," Luthien explained, his voice echoing softly in the narrow corridor. "A place of great power, dedicated to the balance of light and shadow. But when the Guardians fell, the temple was abandoned... and corrupted."

"Corrupted by what?" Mara asked, her tone wary.

Luthien paused, his molten eyes narrowing. "By those who sought to claim its power for themselves. Their greed tainted the sanctity of this place, twisting it into something unholy."

"Great," Rin muttered. "A haunted ruin filled with traps and cursed energy. Just what I wanted."

---

The First Challenge

The corridor opened up into a vast chamber, the walls lined with crumbling statues of ancient figures. At the center of the room stood a large, circular platform inscribed with intricate runes.

"This looks... ominous," Rin said, eyeing the platform warily.

Luthien stepped onto the platform without hesitation. "It's a trial," he said. "One of many that guard the deeper levels of the temple. If we succeed, we'll be granted passage. If we fail..."

"Let me guess," Rin said. "We die?"

"Precisely."

Before anyone could respond, the platform began to glow, the runes pulsing with golden light. A deep rumbling filled the chamber, and the statues lining the walls began to move, their stone limbs creaking as they came to life.

"Well, that's not fair," Rin said, drawing his dagger.

The statues stepped off their pedestals, their eyes glowing with a malevolent red light. Each one wielded a weapon—swords, spears, axes—all of them ancient but still deadly.

"Spread out!" Mara shouted, already moving.

Voss charged forward, his massive sword cleaving through the nearest statue. The stone figure shattered under the force of his blow, but two more immediately took its place.

"Endless reinforcements," Mara muttered, weaving through the battlefield. "Of course."

Rin darted between the statues, his movements quick and unpredictable. He struck at their joints, targeting weak points to disable them rather than destroy them outright.

"Any bright ideas, Luthien?" he called out, narrowly avoiding a spear thrust.

Luthien stood at the center of the platform, his hands raised. The runes on the platform flared brighter, and the energy in the room began to shift.

"The trial isn't about defeating them," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos. "It's about enduring."

---

A Test of Resolve

The statues grew more aggressive, their movements faster and more precise. Voss roared as he swung his sword, the sheer force of his strikes creating shockwaves that temporarily slowed their advance.

Mara moved like a shadow, her twin daggers flashing as she disarmed and disabled her opponents. Despite her skill, she was beginning to tire, her breaths coming in short gasps.

Rin, on the other hand, seemed to thrive in the chaos. His sarcastic comments never ceased, even as he narrowly avoided being crushed by a stone hammer.

"Is it just me, or are these guys getting smarter?" he asked, ducking under a sword swing.

"They adapt to our tactics," Luthien said, his golden glow intensifying. "The longer we fight, the more dangerous they become."

"Fantastic," Rin muttered.

The platform's runes pulsed faster, the golden light spreading across the chamber. The statues hesitated for a moment, their movements faltering.

"Now!" Luthien shouted.

The group rallied, their attacks more coordinated as they pushed the statues back. Mara struck at their legs, toppling them to the ground. Voss crushed them with powerful overhead swings, while Rin targeted their weapons, disarming them one by one.

As the last statue fell, the light from the runes surged, filling the chamber with a blinding brilliance. When it faded, the statues were gone, and the platform's glow had stabilized.

---

The Path Forward

A door on the far side of the chamber slid open, revealing another corridor. Luthien stepped off the platform, his golden glow dimming slightly.

"We've passed the first trial," he said, his tone neutral.

"First?" Rin echoed. "How many more are there?"

"Enough," Luthien replied cryptically.

"Great," Rin muttered. "Just great."

They moved forward, the corridor narrowing as they descended deeper into the ruins. The air grew colder, and the sense of unease returned, stronger than before.

"We're not alone down here," Mara said, her voice low.

"We never were," Luthien replied.

---

A Glimpse of the Enemy

The corridor opened into another chamber, smaller than the last but no less ominous. At the center of the room stood a tall figure cloaked in shadows, their features obscured.

"So," Rin said, his voice echoing in the silence. "You the welcoming committee?"

The figure didn't respond. Instead, they raised a hand, and the shadows around them coalesced into a massive, clawed beast.

"Guess not," Rin said, drawing his dagger.

The beast lunged, its claws tearing through the air. Voss stepped forward, his sword meeting the creature's attack with a deafening clash.

"Focus!" Luthien shouted. "This is no ordinary enemy."

"No kidding," Rin muttered, circling the beast.

Mara moved in, her daggers flashing as she struck at the creature's flanks. The beast roared, its shadowy form shifting and reforming as it attacked.

Luthien stepped forward, his golden glow intensifying. He raised his hands, and a beam of light shot toward the beast, momentarily halting its advance.

"It's vulnerable to light," he said. "Focus your attacks!"

Rin grinned. "Finally, some good news."

With renewed determination, the group pressed the attack, their strikes coordinated as they drove the beast back.

---

Victory in Darkness

The battle was fierce, but the group's combined efforts eventually overwhelmed the shadowy creature. With a final roar, the beast dissolved into nothingness, leaving only silence in its wake.

The cloaked figure remained, their form flickering like a dying flame. They raised a hand, pointing toward the group.

"This is only the beginning," they said, their voice echoing unnaturally. "You cannot escape the darkness."

Before anyone could respond, the figure vanished, leaving the chamber eerily quiet.

"Well, that was creepy," Rin said, breaking the silence.

Luthien's expression was grim. "We must move quickly. The next trial awaits."

With that, they pressed on, the shadows of the ruins growing ever darker around them.

End of Chapter 46