The Spectacular Rank F Hero

Chapter 54: Fractured Peace

The briefing room was in chaos when Rin and his team arrived. Officers scrambled to file reports, relay orders, and analyze footage from the Syndicate's brazen attack. The Commander stood at the center, barking commands into multiple communication channels, his face a mix of anger and exhaustion.

Rin sauntered in, his hands stuffed in his pockets, glowing faintly as remnants of the Chaos Core energy rippled around him.

"Glad to see you all survived," the Commander said without looking up. His tone was sharp, cutting through the noise like a blade. "Now, explain why they were after you."

"Because I'm so charming?" Rin offered with a shrug.

Mara pinched the bridge of her nose, clearly fighting the urge to throttle him. "They were after the Chaos Core, sir," she interjected. "But since the artifact bonded with Rin, it seems he's their new target."

The Commander's gaze shifted to Rin, narrowing like a hawk sighting prey. "You're telling me this idiot is walking around with one of the most volatile energy sources in the world?"

"Hey, I resent that," Rin said, crossing his arms. "I'm not walking. I'm standing."

---

Luthien stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. "Sir, with all due respect, Rin's intervention saved us. The Chaos Core was destabilizing. If he hadn't absorbed its energy, the entire mission team would have been obliterated."

"And now what?" the Commander snapped. "We've gone from containing a dangerous artifact to babysitting a walking nuke."

"Babysitting implies effort," Rin quipped.

The Commander slammed his fist on the table. "This isn't a joke, Park! Do you have any idea what's at stake here? The Syndicate won't stop, and they aren't the only ones who'll come after you. Every major faction will want a piece of that power."

"Let them come," Rin said, his grin widening. "I'll make sure they regret it."

---

The room fell silent, tension thick in the air. Luthien finally broke it. "Commander, we need a plan. Rin's abilities are still unstable, but if we can help him control the Core's energy, he could be our greatest asset."

The Commander sighed, rubbing his temples. "Fine. But I want him under constant supervision. If he so much as sneezes in the wrong direction, I want to know about it."

Rin raised a hand. "Question. If I'm such a big deal now, do I get a pay raise?"

Mara groaned, muttering under her breath.

---

As the team left the briefing room, Rin fell into step beside Luthien.

"You really think I can control this thing?" he asked, glancing at his still-glowing hands.

Luthien smiled faintly. "You've already proven you can harness it under pressure. The rest is just practice."

"And if I mess up?" Rin asked, his tone unusually serious.

"Then we'll deal with it," Luthien said firmly. "Together."

"Touching," Mara muttered, walking ahead of them. "Now let's focus on not getting ambushed again."

---

Later That Night

Rin sat alone in the training room, staring at his hands as faint arcs of energy danced across his skin. The glow was mesmerizing, almost hypnotic, but it carried an unsettling weight.

He clenched his fists, the energy flaring for a moment before subsiding. "Great. I'm a human light bulb now," he muttered.

The door creaked open, and Luthien entered, carrying a small device.

"Couldn't sleep either?" she asked, setting the device on a nearby table.

"Sleep's overrated," Rin replied. "What's that?"

"A power regulator," Luthien explained. "It's designed to suppress and channel energy. If we can sync it with your Core signature, it might help you control your abilities."

"Or it might blow me up," Rin said.

Luthien smiled. "Only one way to find out."

---

The device hummed to life as Luthien adjusted its settings. Rin stood in the center of the room, feeling a faint pressure build around him as the regulator began to interact with his energy.

"Focus," Luthien instructed. "Try to control the flow of energy, like you're turning a faucet on and off."

Rin closed his eyes, concentrating. At first, nothing happened. Then, slowly, the glow around his hands dimmed, reducing to a faint shimmer.

"Not bad," Luthien said, nodding. "Now try increasing it without losing control."

Rin furrowed his brow, channeling the energy outward. The glow intensified, spreading up his arms, but it remained stable.

"Hey, look at me," Rin said, smirking. "I'm a pro already."

The moment he said it, the energy surged uncontrollably, sending a shockwave through the room.

Luthien yelped as she was thrown backward, barely catching herself. The regulator sparked and fizzled out.

"Oops," Rin said, scratching the back of his head.

---

Luthien sighed, brushing herself off. "You're lucky I expected that."

"Yeah, yeah," Rin said, waving her off. "So what's the verdict, Doc? Am I fixable?"

Luthien smiled. "With time and effort, yes. But you'll need to take this seriously, Rin. The Chaos Core isn't something to mess around with."

"Got it," Rin said, giving her a thumbs-up. "No more messing around. Scout's honor."

"You were never a scout," Luthien pointed out.

"Details," Rin said, grinning.

---

The Next Day

The team was called back to the briefing room early the next morning. The Commander's expression was grim as he addressed them.

"We've intercepted intel suggesting another Syndicate attack, this time targeting a civilian facility," he said. "They're looking for leverage."

"Leverage for what?" Mara asked.

The Commander's gaze flicked to Rin. "To force us to hand him over."

Rin whistled. "Wow. I didn't realize I was this popular."

"This isn't a popularity contest," the Commander snapped. "If they succeed, countless lives will be at risk. Your team will intercept them and ensure that doesn't happen."

"Another day, another near-death experience," Rin said, standing. "Let's get to it."

---

As the team prepared for their mission, Rin caught Mara's eye.

"Don't worry," he said, his tone unusually sincere. "I'll make sure we all come back in one piece."

"You better," Mara said, her expression softening slightly. "Or I'll kill you myself."

With that, the team set out, ready to face whatever the Syndicate had in store.

To Be Continued.