Chapter Thirty-Two: The Guardian of Erythia

Chapter Thirty-Two: The Guardian of Erythia

The chamber's tremors grew stronger as the hulking stone guardian took its first thundering step forward. Dust and debris rained down from the cracked ceiling, the echoes of its guttural roar reverberating through the ruins.

Rin wiped the sweat forming on his brow and raised his sword. "A giant rock monster. Just what I needed to brighten my day."

"You mean the day that already included a band of murderous cultists?" Mara quipped, rolling her shoulders as she readied her daggers.

"Focus," Commander Voss barked, his steely gaze fixed on the advancing creature. "It's guarding the shard. If we don't destroy it, we're not leaving with that key."

Rin sighed. "Fine. But if I get crushed by this thing, I'm haunting both of you."

---

A Battle of Grit

The guardian roared again, and its massive fist came crashing down. The group scattered in opposite directions, narrowly avoiding the devastating blow. The impact sent shockwaves through the ground, knocking Rin off balance.

"Why does everything here hit like it's trying to punch through the planet?" Rin muttered, scrambling to his feet.

"Quit complaining and do something!" Mara shouted, darting around the creature to slice at its legs. Her blades barely left a scratch against its rocky surface.

"It's like cutting steel!" she yelled, leaping back as the guardian swiped at her.

"Then we hit it harder," Voss said, charging forward. His sword glowed faintly as he poured his energy into it, slashing at the guardian's torso. Sparks flew, and a thin crack appeared on its chest.

The guardian staggered slightly but quickly recovered, swinging both arms in a wide arc. The group dove out of the way just in time, the force of the swing creating a gust of wind that sent dust swirling.

Rin coughed and waved the dust away. "You know, I was really hoping we could just talk this thing into letting us have the shard."

"Do you ever take anything seriously?" Voss growled, his frustration evident.

"Not really," Rin admitted. "But since you're so insistent…"

---

Rin's Improvisation

Rin narrowed his eyes, studying the guardian's movements. It was powerful but slow, and its attacks were predictable. He darted to the side, narrowly avoiding another crushing blow.

"Keep it busy!" he called out.

"What do you think we're doing?" Mara shot back, flipping over the guardian's arm and landing gracefully.

Rin didn't respond. Instead, he focused on the cracks Voss had created. They were faint but noticeable—weak points he could exploit.

"Voss, keep hitting its chest!" Rin shouted.

"Why?"

"Because I have a plan, and you don't!"

Voss gritted his teeth but complied, delivering another glowing slash to the guardian's torso. The cracks spread slightly, and the creature let out an enraged roar.

Meanwhile, Rin circled around to the guardian's back, searching for anything that looked like a vulnerability. His eyes landed on a faint glow at the base of its neck—a core of energy pulsating beneath the rocky surface.

"Found it," he muttered.

---

The Turning Point

"Mara, can you distract it for a few seconds?" Rin called out.

"Distract it? Are you kidding me?" she replied, dodging another swing.

"Just do it!"

Mara groaned but darted in front of the guardian, throwing a dagger at its face. The blade glanced off harmlessly, but it got the creature's attention. It turned toward her, leaving its back exposed.

"Now or never," Rin muttered. He sprinted forward, leaping onto the guardian's leg and climbing quickly.

"What the hell is he doing?" Voss said, his eyes widening as he watched Rin scale the massive creature.

"Being insane, apparently," Mara replied.

Rin reached the base of the guardian's neck, where the glowing core was now pulsing brighter. "Alright, big guy, let's see how tough you are without this."

With a grunt, he drove his sword into the core. The blade struck true, and the guardian let out a deafening roar. Energy surged from the core, sending Rin flying backward and crashing to the ground.

The guardian staggered, its movements becoming erratic. The cracks on its chest spread rapidly, glowing with an intense light.

"Get back!" Voss shouted, grabbing Rin by the arm and pulling him to his feet.

The group retreated as the guardian collapsed, its massive form shattering into pieces. A final burst of energy erupted from its remains, leaving the chamber silent once more.

---

The Second Key

As the dust settled, Rin groaned and sat up, rubbing his head. "Well, that was fun."

"You're lucky you're still alive," Voss said, glaring at him.

"Yeah, yeah, you're welcome," Rin replied with a smirk.

Mara approached the pedestal, her eyes fixed on the shard. It pulsed faintly, its dark surface glinting in the dim light. She reached out cautiously, half-expecting another trap, but nothing happened.

"Second key acquired," she said, holding it up.

"Great," Rin said, getting to his feet. "Now let's get out of here before something else tries to kill us."

---

A New Threat

As they exited the chamber, the air felt heavier, and the whispers grew louder. Rin glanced around nervously. "Is it just me, or does it feel like the ruins are mad at us?"

"They're reacting to the shard," Mara said. "We need to move quickly."

The group navigated the labyrinthine ruins, the oppressive atmosphere pressing down on them. Just as they reached the outer edge of the ruins, a figure stepped into their path.

It was a man dressed in dark robes, his face obscured by a hood. The air around him crackled with energy, and his presence sent a chill down Rin's spine.

"Leaving so soon?" the man said, his voice smooth but menacing.

"Who the hell are you?" Rin asked, gripping his sword.

The man chuckled. "A servant of the Red Veil. And you… you've taken something that doesn't belong to you."

"Great," Rin muttered. "More cultists."

The man raised his hand, and dark energy began to swirl around him. "You won't leave here alive."

Rin sighed. "Why does every day end with someone trying to kill me?"

---

End of Chapter 32