The Spectacular Rank F Hero

Chapter Thirty-Four: Echoes of the Red Veil

The trio emerged from the ruins battered and exhausted, but victorious. A pale dawn light illuminated the surrounding valley, casting long shadows over the craggy rocks and sparse vegetation. The cultist's defeat had bought them a moment of peace, but the oppressive weight of the mission still loomed heavily on their shoulders.

Rin stretched his arms over his head, wincing as a sharp pain shot through his side. "I don't know about you two, but I could go for a long nap and a plate of something greasy."

"You can sleep when we're out of enemy territory," Mara replied, scanning the horizon with wary eyes. Her twin daggers were still in her hands, glinting faintly in the morning light.

Commander Voss stood a few paces ahead, silent and motionless. His hulking frame cast a long shadow as he surveyed the path they had taken to get here. Finally, he turned to the others, his face grim.

"We can't stay here," Voss said. "The Red Veil doesn't leave their dead behind for long. If they find his body, they'll send reinforcements."

"Great," Rin muttered, kicking a loose rock. "More crazed cultists. Just what I wanted."

Mara shot him a sharp look. "Do you ever take anything seriously?"

Rin shrugged. "Sure, when it's life or death. Oh, wait, that's every day with you two."

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A New Threat

The three began their descent from the ruins, keeping a steady but cautious pace. The air was thick with tension, and even Rin's usual sarcasm seemed to falter under the weight of the moment.

"What was that guy's deal, anyway?" Rin asked, breaking the silence. "I mean, I've seen some weird powers, but the way he moved… it wasn't natural."

"That wasn't just power," Voss said. "It was corruption. The Red Veil is known for dabbling in forbidden techniques. Whatever that man was using, it came at a price."

"Lovely," Rin said. "So we're dealing with a cult of power-hungry lunatics who don't mind losing a few marbles for a boost. Fantastic."

Mara ignored his comment, her focus elsewhere. "We need to figure out their goal. They wouldn't send someone like him unless they were protecting something important."

Rin smirked. "You mean like the shiny shard currently burning a hole in Voss's pocket?"

Voss glared at him but said nothing.

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The Shard's Resonance

As they continued walking, an odd hum began to fill the air. It was faint at first, barely noticeable over the crunch of gravel beneath their boots. But soon, it grew louder, a steady vibration that seemed to pulse in time with their steps.

"Is it just me, or is the ground humming?" Rin asked, stopping in his tracks.

Mara frowned. "I hear it too."

Voss reached into his pouch and pulled out the shard. It glowed faintly, the light pulsing in sync with the vibration.

"What the hell is it doing?" Rin asked, stepping closer.

"The shard is reacting to something," Voss said. "Or someone."

Before anyone could respond, the ground beneath them trembled.

"Earthquake?" Rin suggested, his voice tinged with unease.

Mara's eyes narrowed. "No. Something's coming."

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The Ambush

Without warning, the ground erupted around them. Figures clad in crimson robes emerged from the earth, their faces obscured by ornate masks. Each one wielded a weapon pulsing with dark energy.

"Ambush!" Voss roared, raising his sword.

The cultists wasted no time, launching themselves at the group with feral intensity.

Mara was the first to react, darting forward and slashing at the nearest attacker. Her daggers moved like extensions of her body, cutting through the air with precision.

Rin drew his sword reluctantly. "I swear, these guys just don't know when to quit."

He parried a blow from one cultist, the force of the strike rattling his bones. "Alright, buddy, let's dance."

Voss took on three cultists at once, his massive sword cleaving through the air in wide arcs. Despite their numbers, they struggled to penetrate his defenses.

"Keep close!" Voss shouted. "We can't let them separate us!"

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Rin's Recklessness

As the battle raged on, Rin found himself facing a particularly agile cultist. The robed figure moved like a shadow, dodging his attacks with ease.

"Stand still, will you?" Rin growled, frustration mounting.

The cultist responded by slashing at Rin's side, drawing a shallow cut. Rin hissed in pain but refused to back down.

"Alright, enough of this."

Summoning all his courage—and a fair bit of desperation—Rin lunged forward. His sword struck true, piercing through the cultist's defenses and sending them crumpling to the ground.

"Ha! Gotcha!" Rin said, panting.

But his victory was short-lived. Two more cultists closed in on him, their weapons raised.

"Uh, guys? A little help here?" Rin called out, backpedaling.

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Mara's Precision

Mara was a blur of motion, her daggers flashing in the dim light. She dispatched one cultist after another, her movements graceful yet deadly.

When she saw Rin in trouble, she didn't hesitate. With a flick of her wrist, she sent one of her daggers flying.

The blade struck one of Rin's attackers square in the chest, sending them toppling backward.

"Try not to die, idiot," Mara called out, retrieving her dagger.

Rin grinned despite himself. "Thanks, Mom."

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The Tide Turns

With Mara's precision, Voss's brute strength, and Rin's reckless improvisation, the group began to gain the upper hand.

The cultists fell one by one, their dark energy dissipating into the air.

When the last of them hit the ground, the trio stood in silence, catching their breath.

"Is it over?" Rin asked, looking around warily.

"For now," Voss said, wiping his blade. "But this was no random attack. They knew we were coming."

Mara picked up one of the fallen cultists' masks, examining it closely. "They're after the shard. We need to move before more show up."

Rin sighed. "Great. More running. Just what I needed."

Voss ignored him, turning to lead the way. "Stay sharp. This isn't over."

As they disappeared into the trees, the faint hum of the shard continued to resonate, a reminder that their journey was far from finished.

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End of Chapter 34