The Spectacular Rank F Hero

Chapter Forty-Seven: The Second Trial

The corridor seemed endless, its twisting path growing narrower and more oppressive with each step. The air was damp and heavy, carrying the faint scent of decay. Rin lagged slightly behind, his dagger spinning lazily between his fingers.

"Am I the only one questioning the life choices that brought us here?" Rin muttered, his voice breaking the tense silence.

"No," Mara replied curtly, her eyes scanning the dark walls. "But you're the only one saying it out loud."

Voss chuckled. "Better to complain now than scream later."

"You're assuming I scream," Rin shot back.

Luthien ignored their banter, his focus entirely on the ancient carvings that lined the walls. The runes glowed faintly as they passed, as if reacting to his presence.

"This place feeds on our resolve," Luthien said suddenly, his voice soft but firm. "The deeper we go, the stronger its hold becomes."

"Perfect," Rin sighed. "A dungeon that judges our mental health. Just what we needed."

---

A New Obstacle

The corridor abruptly ended in a large, circular chamber. The walls were covered in massive stone reliefs depicting battles between light and shadow. At the center of the room stood a pedestal, atop which rested a golden orb that pulsed with a steady glow.

"Let me guess," Rin said, eyeing the orb suspiciously. "That thing is either cursed, trapped, or both."

"It's the core of this trial," Luthien explained, stepping forward. "The orb represents balance. To proceed, we must prove our ability to maintain it."

"Sounds easy enough," Mara said, though her tone betrayed her skepticism.

"It won't be," Luthien replied, his eyes narrowing.

The moment his hand touched the orb, the room shifted. The walls seemed to ripple like water, and the floor beneath their feet vanished, replaced by a vast expanse of blackness. Each of them found themselves standing alone on small, circular platforms suspended in the void.

"What the—" Rin began, but his words were cut off as a voice echoed in his mind.

---

The Voice of the Trial

"Balance is the key to survival. Prove your worth, or fall into the abyss."

Rin blinked, his platform swaying slightly beneath him. He glanced around but saw only darkness. "Great. A cryptic voice and no instructions. My favorite kind of challenge."

As if in response, the platform began to tilt, forcing Rin to shift his weight to stay upright. A second platform materialized nearby, connected by a narrow beam of light.

"Ah, I see," Rin muttered. "A balancing act. Literally."

He carefully stepped onto the beam, his arms outstretched for balance. The moment his foot touched the second platform, the first one disappeared.

"Figures," he said.

---

A Test of Focus

Mara, on her own platform, was facing a similar challenge. Her movements were quick and precise, her instincts honed from years of training. But the voice in her mind whispered doubts, each one cutting deeper than the last.

"You're not strong enough. You'll fail them. You'll always be second to someone else."

She gritted her teeth, forcing the thoughts aside as she advanced to the next platform. "Shut up," she muttered.

Voss, on the other hand, faced a different trial. His platforms were larger but shifted unpredictably, forcing him to rely on brute strength to keep his footing.

"You can't protect them. You're a shield with no purpose. Weak and disposable."

He roared, his frustration giving him the energy to leap to the next platform.

Luthien stood calmly on his own platform, his golden glow steady. The voice whispered to him as well, but he seemed unaffected, his focus unshakable.

---

Rin's Trial

Rin's journey was anything but smooth. The platforms he stepped onto wobbled violently, and the beams connecting them grew narrower with each step.

"Who designs these things?" Rin muttered, his sarcasm masking the rising tension in his chest.

The voice in his mind grew louder, taunting him with memories of past failures and the weight of unspoken fears.

"You're nothing without luck. A fraud pretending to be a hero."

"Yeah, yeah," Rin said, brushing the words aside. "Heard it all before."

But the voice didn't stop.

"They'll leave you behind. You'll never be good enough."

Rin faltered for a moment, his balance wavering. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to focus. "You know, for a magical trial, you're pretty predictable," he said.

---

The Turning Point

The platforms began to shift faster, the beams flickering like dying lights. Each step became more treacherous, the void below seemingly pulling at them.

Mara reached a particularly unstable platform, her footing slipping as the voice whispered her worst fears. She caught herself just in time, her breaths coming in sharp gasps.

Voss roared as he leapt to another platform, his sheer determination keeping him moving forward.

Luthien remained composed, his light guiding him through the darkness.

Rin, however, stopped in his tracks. The next beam ahead of him had disappeared, leaving only an empty gap.

"Seriously?" he said. "What now?"

The voice in his mind laughed, cold and mocking.

"You'll never make it. Just give up."

"Tempting," Rin said, rolling his eyes. "But I've got people counting on me."

He took a deep breath and leapt, his body twisting in midair as he reached for the next platform.

---

The Trial Ends

One by one, they reached the final platform, the golden orb reappearing in the center. As they touched down, the void around them dissolved, returning them to the chamber.

The orb pulsed brightly before shattering, its energy dispersing into the air.

"We passed," Luthien said simply, his golden glow flickering.

"Define 'passed,'" Rin said, brushing dust off his cloak.

Mara smirked. "Still standing, aren't you?"

Voss chuckled. "Barely."

The door on the far side of the chamber creaked open, revealing yet another corridor.

"Onward, then," Luthien said, his tone resolute.

"Yay," Rin said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "More walking."

They pressed on, the challenges behind them only a taste of the trials yet to come.

End of Chapter 47