SWNOVELXO Chapter 33: Chapter Thirty-Three: The Cultist’s Wrath
Chapter Thirty-Three: The Cultist's Wrath
The air buzzed with tension as the robed man's energy crackled around him, the faint scent of ozone mixing with the musty ruins. His dark robes fluttered unnaturally in the stagnant air, and his hood obscured all but a twisted smile.
"You've come far, little thieves," the cultist sneered. "But this is where your journey ends."
Rin tightened his grip on his sword, his usual sarcasm replaced with a rare moment of seriousness. "Great. Another lunatic with a god complex. I swear, they're everywhere these days."
"Be careful," Mara warned, her daggers at the ready. "He's not like the others. That energy… it feels off."
Commander Voss stepped forward, his massive sword gleaming under the flickering light of the ruins. "If you're with the Red Veil, then you already know we're not leaving without a fight. Surrender now, and I'll consider sparing you."
The cultist laughed, a low, guttural sound that sent chills down their spines. "You think you're a match for me? I'll enjoy tearing you apart."
---
Unleashing Chaos
Without warning, the cultist raised his hand, and a torrent of dark energy erupted from his palm, racing toward the group.
"Move!" Voss shouted, diving to the side.
Rin and Mara followed suit, the blast narrowly missing them and slamming into the wall behind them. The impact sent debris flying, and a thick cloud of dust filled the air.
Rin coughed and wiped his eyes. "Okay, so he's got the whole 'death laser' thing going for him. Good to know."
"Focus, Rin!" Mara snapped, circling around the cultist.
Voss charged forward, his sword glowing with a faint blue light. He swung at the cultist, but the man moved with inhuman speed, dodging the blade effortlessly.
"You'll have to do better than that," the cultist taunted, summoning a whip of dark energy and lashing it toward Voss.
The commander blocked with his sword, sparks flying as the two forces clashed.
"Rin, we need a plan!" Mara called out, her eyes darting between the cultist and the chaotic battle unfolding.
Rin rolled his shoulders, his mind racing. "Alright, keep him distracted. I'll figure something out."
---
A Desperate Strategy
As Voss and the cultist exchanged blows, Rin scanned the ruins for anything they could use to their advantage. His eyes landed on a crumbling column precariously balanced above the cultist.
"Perfect," he muttered.
"Mara, can you give me a boost?" Rin called out.
Mara hesitated for a moment, then nodded. She darted over to him, crouching and lacing her fingers together. "You better not screw this up."
"When have I ever?" Rin said with a grin.
"Do you really want me to answer that?"
With a heave, Mara launched Rin into the air. He twisted mid-flight, grabbing onto the column and pulling himself up. From his perch, he had a clear view of the cultist below, who was too focused on Voss to notice him.
"Hey, rock guy!" Rin shouted, drawing the cultist's attention.
The man looked up, his eyes narrowing. "You!"
"Yeah, me." Rin smirked and kicked at the weakened column. It groaned under the strain, then toppled forward, crashing toward the cultist.
---
The Cultist's Power
For a moment, it seemed like the plan had worked. The column slammed into the ground with a deafening crash, kicking up a massive cloud of dust and rubble.
But when the dust settled, the cultist stood unharmed, a shimmering barrier of dark energy surrounding him.
"You really thought that would work?" he sneered, his smile twisting into a snarl.
"Well, it was worth a shot," Rin muttered, dropping back to the ground.
The cultist raised both hands, and tendrils of dark energy shot out, snaking toward Rin. He dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack, but the tendrils changed direction, homing in on him.
"Rin!" Mara shouted, throwing one of her daggers. It struck one of the tendrils, disrupting its form and giving Rin enough time to scramble out of the way.
"Thanks!" Rin called out, his heart pounding.
---
A Team Effort
Voss seized the opportunity, charging at the cultist with his sword raised. He brought it down with all his might, shattering the dark barrier protecting the man.
The cultist stumbled, his eyes widening in shock. "Impossible!"
"Not so tough now, are you?" Voss growled, delivering a powerful kick to the cultist's chest. The man flew backward, slamming into the wall.
Mara didn't hesitate, closing the distance in an instant and slashing at the cultist with her daggers. Her blades found their mark, drawing dark, inky blood.
The cultist screamed, his energy flaring wildly. "You'll pay for that!"
---
The Final Blow
Rin saw his chance. As the cultist unleashed a chaotic wave of energy, he darted forward, weaving through the attacks with surprising agility.
"Voss, keep him off-balance!" Rin shouted.
The commander nodded, slamming his sword into the ground and creating a shockwave that disrupted the cultist's energy.
Rin closed the gap, his sword glowing faintly as he poured his remaining strength into it. "Time to end this!"
He thrust the blade forward, driving it into the cultist's chest. The man's eyes widened in shock and pain as the energy around him flickered and died.
"No… this isn't… possible…" he gasped, collapsing to the ground.
---
A Moment of Respite
The group stood in silence, catching their breath as the dust settled.
"Is he dead?" Mara asked, nudging the cultist's body with her foot.
"Let's hope so," Rin said, sheathing his sword.
Voss frowned, his gaze fixed on the dark blood pooling beneath the cultist. "We should move. If he's a servant of the Red Veil, there will be others."
"Great," Rin muttered. "More fun to look forward to."
Mara rolled her eyes. "You're impossible."
With the shard secured and the cultist defeated, the group made their way out of the ruins, their minds already bracing for whatever challenges lay ahead.
---
End of Chapter 33