SWNOVELXO Chapter 35: Chapter Thirty-Five: Whispers in the Shadows
Chapter Thirty-Five: Whispers in the Shadows
The group pressed on through the dense forest, the shard's faint hum growing louder with each step. It was an unnerving sound, resonating in their bones like a second heartbeat. Rin, ever the skeptic, couldn't help but keep glancing at Voss's pouch, half-expecting the glowing shard to explode.
"Can't we just toss that thing in a river or bury it?" Rin asked, kicking a stray branch out of his path. "I mean, it's like a flashing beacon saying, 'Here we are, come attack us.'"
Voss gave him a sharp look. "We can't abandon it. This shard holds the key to stopping whatever the Red Veil is planning."
"And getting us killed in the process," Rin muttered under his breath.
"Focus," Mara snapped, her voice low but firm. "We're not out of danger yet."
---
An Uneasy Calm
The forest was unnervingly quiet, save for the crunch of their boots on the leaf-strewn ground. No birds, no insects, just an oppressive silence that set Rin's nerves on edge.
"I don't like this," he said, breaking the quiet.
"Join the club," Mara replied, scanning their surroundings. Her daggers were already in her hands, glinting faintly in the muted light.
Voss stopped abruptly, raising a hand to signal silence. He crouched low, his eyes narrowing as he studied the ground ahead.
"What is it?" Rin whispered, his voice barely audible.
"Tracks," Voss said, his tone grim. "Fresh ones. We're not alone."
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The Pursuit
The group moved more cautiously now, every step deliberate and measured. The tension was palpable, like a string pulled taut and ready to snap.
Rin couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The shadows seemed to move, flickering at the edges of his vision.
"Anyone else feel like we're being followed?" he asked, his voice tight.
"Because we are," Mara replied, her gaze never wavering from the path ahead.
Voss nodded. "They're closing in. Get ready."
Before Rin could ask what "get ready" meant, a piercing whistle cut through the air.
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The Attack
Figures emerged from the shadows, their crimson robes blending eerily with the forest's dappled light. These cultists were different—faster, deadlier. Their weapons hummed with a dark energy that made Rin's stomach churn.
"Why is it always cultists?" Rin groaned, drawing his sword.
"Because you have the shard, idiot," Mara shot back, already engaging the first attacker.
Voss charged forward with a roar, his massive blade cleaving through the air. The cultists were skilled, but Voss's brute strength and experience kept them at bay.
Rin found himself face-to-face with a lithe, masked figure wielding a pair of curved blades. The cultist moved like liquid, every strike fluid and precise.
"Oh, great," Rin muttered. "A showoff."
He dodged a swipe aimed at his neck, barely managing to counter with a clumsy strike of his own.
---
Mara's Fury
Mara was a whirlwind of steel, her daggers flashing in a deadly dance. She moved with a grace that seemed almost supernatural, every motion calculated and efficient.
One cultist lunged at her, only to find her blade buried in their throat before they could land a strike.
"You picked the wrong fight," she muttered, spinning to face the next opponent.
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Rin's Desperation
Meanwhile, Rin was faring less gracefully. His opponent was relentless, their movements a blur of speed and precision.
"Can we talk about this?" Rin asked, ducking under a particularly vicious strike. "No? Cool, cool."
He lashed out with his sword, managing to nick the cultist's arm. It wasn't much, but it was enough to make them hesitate.
Taking advantage of the opening, Rin surged forward, his blade finding its mark. The cultist crumpled, and Rin let out a shaky breath.
"Not bad for an F-rank," he muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow.
---
Voss's Stand
Voss was a fortress, his massive sword sweeping through the cultists like a scythe through wheat. Despite their numbers, they couldn't break through his defenses.
But even Voss wasn't invincible. A particularly bold cultist managed to slip past his guard, slashing at his side.
Voss grunted in pain but didn't falter. With a swift counterstrike, he dispatched the attacker and fell back to regroup with the others.
---
The Turning Point
Just as the trio began to gain the upper hand, a low, guttural chant filled the air. The remaining cultists retreated, forming a tight circle around a hooded figure who had just emerged from the shadows.
This figure was different. Taller, more imposing, and radiating an aura of dark power that made Rin's skin crawl.
"Who's your friend?" Rin asked, his voice tinged with unease.
"Not a friend," Voss replied, his grip tightening on his sword.
The hooded figure raised their hands, and the ground beneath them began to tremble. Dark tendrils of energy snaked through the air, converging around the figure.
"Okay, that's new," Rin said, taking a step back.
---
A Desperate Fight
The hooded figure attacked without warning, unleashing a wave of dark energy that sent the trio scrambling for cover.
Mara darted forward, her daggers aimed for the figure's heart. But before she could land a blow, the figure raised a hand, deflecting her strike with an invisible force.
"Persistent," the figure said, their voice cold and hollow.
Voss charged in next, his sword glowing faintly as he channeled his strength into a single, powerful strike. The blow connected, but the figure barely flinched.
"Is that all?" the figure mocked, sending Voss staggering back with a blast of energy.
Rin, watching from the sidelines, realized they were outmatched.
"Any bright ideas?" he called out, trying to keep the panic out of his voice.
"Just one," Mara said, her eyes narrowing. "We hit them together."
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The Power of Unity
The trio regrouped, each of them battered but determined. With a nod, they launched a coordinated attack.
Mara struck first, her daggers distracting the figure long enough for Voss to move in with a devastating blow.
Rin, seizing the moment, flanked the figure and delivered a swift strike to their exposed back.
The combined assault was enough to stagger the figure, their dark aura flickering.
"This isn't over," the figure hissed, retreating into the shadows.
---
A Moment of Respite
As the dust settled, the trio stood in silence, catching their breath.
"Who was that?" Rin asked, breaking the silence.
"Someone we don't want to meet again," Mara replied, wiping the blood from her daggers.
Voss said nothing, his gaze fixed on the path ahead.
"The shard's drawing stronger enemies," he finally said. "We need to move faster."
Rin groaned. "Faster? After that? You're kidding, right?"
But as the shard's hum grew louder, even Rin couldn't argue.
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End of Chapter 35