The Great Leap (5 Months Later)
Five months have passed since the bloodbath at the Taloja warehouse, and the world has undergone a terrifying metamorphosis. The purple fissures in the sky—the Hell Gates—are no longer anomalies; they are part of the daily weather report. Humanity has moved from blind panic to a cold, calculated state of management.
While E-Rank gates are now considered "nuisances" handled by local police squads, the planet now trembles under the frequent opening of B-Rank Hell Gates. These are city-killers, requiring entire guild armies to suppress. Despite the urgency, Magitech development remains stubbornly stuck at 10% advancement. Suits are still heavy, mana-batteries are prone to overheating, and weapons often shatter under the raw pressure of an elite's mana.
The G.D.A. Summit: The Geneva Exchange
In the high-tech halls of Geneva, representatives from 90 nations gathered for the Global Dungers Association (G.D.A.) summit. The air was thick with the scent of ozone and political desperation.
The Ten Strategic Exchanges:
A.D.A. (USA): "We need a global mana-signature database. If we don't track every elite, the next B-Rank surge will wipe us off the map."
D.A.C. (China): "Database? You mean a leash. China will manage its own signatures and its own borders."
R.D.F. (Russia): "Monsters don't recognize borders, comrade. If an S-Rank gate opens in Siberia, the fallout hits everyone. Enough with the secrets."
N.D.A. (India): "We propose an 'S-Rank Mobilization Protocol.' Our legends shouldn't be national trophies; they should be global shields."
U.K. Ministry of Dungers: "And what of the 10% bottleneck? Our Magitech is failing our boys. We need to share blueprints, not just mana-data."
France Association: "We suggest 'Dunger Passports.' Elite squads must have the right to move across continents without bureaucratic delays."
Japan D.A.: "We are willing to share our specific protocols for Spirit-type monsters, provided we receive assistance with deep-sea gate containment."
Germany Science Wing: "Our suits are exploding during B-Rank raids. We need to standardize mana-conductive alloys immediately."
Brazil Union: "Smaller nations cannot afford S-Rank protection. We need a Global Fund to hire mercenaries for C-Rank surges."
A.D.A. & N.D.A. Joint Statement: "Agreed. We are proposing a Magitech Joint Development Treaty. Selected nations will pool their research to push past the 10% limit together."
The Verdict:
The summit concluded with the Geneva Dunger Accord. No nation would deploy Dungers across borders without notification, and all S-Rankers were pledged to protect humanity as a whole. Specific treaties, like the India-Russia Pact, were signed, allowing their Dungers to move freely between both nations for gate suppression.
The S-Rank Pantheon: Ten Living Gods
The world now looks to ten individuals—the only confirmed S-Rank Dungers on Earth.
In the East, 1. Zhang Wei of the Dungeans Association of China holds the top spot as the Gravity Warden. His Legendary Tier power allows him to pin high-rank monsters to the earth with a mere thought.
Closely following is 2. America's Mason Steele, a Legendary Tier Titan Vanguard whose physical defense is so absolute he doesn't even bother with a Magitech suit.
His teammate, 3.Elena Vance, an Exotic Tier Solar Elementalist, can incinerate city blocks in a single burst.
Russia boasts the Exotic Tier 4. Viktor Volkov, a Blood Berserker who grows stronger with every wound.
5. Katya Petrova, an Emerald Tier Blizzard Mage who turns battlefields into frozen graveyards.
6.Japan's Kenji, a Platinum Tier Spirit Summoner, commands an army of ghosts.
7. U.K.'s Arthur, another Platinum Tier Grand Blade-Master, wields a custom Rank-S Magitech sword named Excalibur 2.0. Rounding out the 8. America's mysterious Void Assassin (Ghost)
9. China's Mei Lin, a Gold Tier Celestial Healer who is arguably the most precious asset on the planet.
10.The Pride of India: Adiraj and the Garud Vajra Guild
Then there is India's sole S-Ranker: Adiraj. Based in Delhi, he is the leader of the Garud Vajra Guild, the undisputed Top 1 Guild in the country. Adiraj is a marvel—the first Dunger in history to evolve from Rank A all the way to Rank S.
He is a Legendary Tier Thunder Striker, capable of the Vajra Flash, a movement so fast it appears as teleportation. Despite his overwhelming power, Adiraj is famously kind-hearted, often choosing to solo B-Rank gates to ensure no lower-rank Dungers are put at risk. He provides full tactical support to the N.D.A., though he is currently ranked 4th globally because Indian Magitech cannot yet sustain his full speed. When he goes all out, his prototype suits literally melt off his body.
The Invisible Shadow: Rudra's Status
While the world worships the Ten, Rudra has been grinding in the pitch-black corners of the world. In these five months, he has devoured thousands of monsters in illegal raids, his Stealth skill keeping him invisible even to the N.D.A.'s most advanced scanners.
He stands on the edge of a rain-slicked rooftop, watching the N.D.A. drones patrol the city.
"Ruin Soul, where do I stand against these 'Gods'?" Rudra asks, his voice barely a whisper.
"Master," the Ruin Soul's voice echoes with a cold, vibrating resonance. "This global list is built on static mana-output. These 'Legendary' and 'Exotic' tiers were granted by a single awakening. But you... you are a Sovereign of Growth. Your Diamond Tier is currently in its infancy. Your power is currently less than a Sub-C Rank Dunger, a mere shadow compared to Adiraj. But remember: your scaling is infinite. When you reach Level 100, you will finally step into the S-Rank as a True Sovereign. For now, let them play at being Gods. Soon, they will realize they are merely the next meal."
Rudra pulls his hood low, his violet eyes glowing for a split second before he vanishes into the void.
📂 Rudra's Final Progression [Chapter 9]
Current Level: 22
Dunger Rank: D (Gold)
Tier: Diamond (Starting Point)
Combat Power: Sub-C Rank (Developing)
Skill [Stealth]: Unlocked at Level 15. This allows Rudra to bypass all Magitech and Mana-Signature scanners, making him a complete ghost within the system.
Skill [Darksmith - EVOLVED]: Evolved at Level 18. His manifested weapons now possess 50\% increased durability and stay manifested for 20\% longer. He can now forge weapons that withstand the impact of Rank-D Bosses without shattering instantly.