Chapter 51: A Glimpse of Chaos
The aftermath of Rin's last chaotic "victory" echoed through the Hero Association's corridors like a slap to their collective ego. Reports flooded in—some exaggerated, some outright fabrications—but they all shared a common thread: an F-rank hero had single-handedly derailed the Phantom Syndicate's meticulously planned operation in Sector 9. Rin's name was plastered across headlines alongside blurry images of him stumbling through the wreckage, coffee cup in hand.
Rin, on the other hand, was blissfully unaware of his newfound notoriety.
---
Rin slouched on the couch in his cramped apartment, scrolling through job postings on his tablet. His heroic endeavors might have paid the rent last month, but hero work wasn't exactly stable employment. Most gigs barely covered expenses, and the Hero Association took a sizable cut for "administrative purposes."
"I swear, if I see another ad for a sidekick position, I'm going to lose it," Rin muttered, tossing the tablet onto the coffee table.
Just as he reached for his rapidly cooling instant noodles, a loud ding from his communicator made him groan. He already knew who it was.
"Rin, pick up!" Mara's voice blasted through the device, followed by several seconds of furious tapping.
Reluctantly, Rin answered. "Can't this wait? I'm in the middle of something important."
"Eating expired noodles isn't important," Mara shot back. "Get your lazy butt to HQ. There's been an emergency briefing."
"An emergency? Why do I have to be involved? There are literally hundreds of heroes for this kind of thing."
"Because you're the only idiot who keeps stumbling into Phantom Syndicate plots and somehow surviving. Now move!"
---
Fifteen minutes later, Rin strolled into the briefing room, a stale donut in hand. The room was packed with heroes of all ranks, their colorful costumes creating a kaleidoscope of chaos. At the front stood Captain Fiera, a stern-faced A-rank hero known for her no-nonsense demeanor and fiery temper.
"Nice of you to join us, Park," Fiera said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Rin plopped into a seat near the back and yawned. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."
The briefing began, with Fiera detailing a recent Phantom Syndicate sighting near the ruins of an old hero training facility. Their leader, the elusive Phantom King, was rumored to be involved. The air in the room grew tense as she described the potential threat.
"We believe they're searching for a relic—something called the Chaos Core," Fiera said, her tone grim. "If they find it, the consequences could be catastrophic."
Rin froze mid-bite, the name striking a chord. Chaos Core? Why did that sound familiar?
Mara leaned over and whispered, "You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"It's nothing," Rin replied quickly, but his mind raced.
---
The mission briefing ended with teams being assigned to investigate. To Rin's dismay, he was paired with Mara and Luthien. Their objective: scout the outer perimeter of the ruins and report any activity.
As they made their way to the deployment area, Mara couldn't resist teasing him. "Looks like your streak of bad luck is continuing. How do you always end up in the middle of this stuff?"
"I'm starting to think the universe hates me," Rin replied, his tone dry.
Luthien, ever the enigmatic mage, walked silently beside them, her staff glowing faintly. She finally spoke as they boarded their transport. "Perhaps it's not hatred. Perhaps the universe simply has plans for you."
"Great," Rin muttered. "I can't wait to see how it ruins my life next."
---
The ruins were exactly as Rin expected: creepy, crumbling, and crawling with danger. The facility had been abandoned for decades, its walls scarred from battles long forgotten.
"This place gives me the creeps," Mara said, shivering.
"Stay close," Luthien instructed. Her staff emitted a soft light, illuminating their path through the darkness.
As they moved deeper into the ruins, Rin couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Every creak and whisper of wind made his skin crawl.
"Do you hear that?" he asked, stopping abruptly.
"Hear what?" Mara replied, her hand on the hilt of her sword.
Before Rin could answer, the ground beneath them trembled. A low, guttural growl echoed through the corridor, sending chills down their spines.
"Luthien, tell me that's just the wind," Mara said nervously.
"It's not," Luthien replied, her voice calm but tense.
The growl grew louder, accompanied by the sound of claws scraping against stone. From the shadows emerged a massive creature, its eyes glowing with an unnatural light. It was a Guardian, an ancient construct designed to protect the facility.
"Well, this is fantastic," Rin said, backing away slowly. "Who's ready to die first?"
The Guardian lunged, its claws tearing through the air. Mara and Luthien sprang into action, attacking with precision and magic. Rin, meanwhile, did what he did best—ran for his life.
"You could at least pretend to help!" Mara shouted as she dodged a swipe.
"I'm providing moral support!" Rin called back, ducking behind a crumbling pillar.
---
The battle raged on, with Mara and Luthien struggling to gain the upper hand. Despite their efforts, the Guardian seemed unstoppable, its regenerative abilities countering every attack.
Rin peeked out from his hiding spot and sighed. "Guess I have no choice."
Grabbing a broken piece of piping, he stepped out into the open. "Hey, ugly! Over here!"
The Guardian turned, its glowing eyes locking onto Rin. With a roar, it charged toward him.
"Rin, what are you doing?!" Mara screamed.
"Improvising!" Rin replied, dodging the creature's claws by a hair's breadth.
He led the Guardian on a wild chase through the ruins, narrowly avoiding its attacks. As he ran, his "bad luck" kicked in—a loose piece of debris fell from above, striking the Guardian squarely on the head. The impact sent it crashing to the ground, dazed.
"Did…did you just knock it out by accident?" Mara asked, staring in disbelief.
"Of course not," Rin said, feigning confidence. "That was all part of my plan."
Luthien approached the fallen Guardian, her staff glowing brightly. She chanted a spell, and the creature dissolved into a harmless pile of rubble.
"Next time, try not to nearly die," she said, giving Rin a pointed look.
"Where's the fun in that?" Rin replied with a smirk.
---
As the team regrouped, Rin couldn't shake the nagging feeling that their mission was far from over. The Chaos Core, whatever it was, seemed to be at the heart of everything happening. And for reasons he couldn't explain, it felt like it was calling to him.
"Well, that was fun," Mara said, sheathing her sword. "Let's get out of here before something worse shows up."
"Agreed," Rin said, though he had a sinking feeling that worse things were already on their way.
To Be Continued...