The C-Rank Hell Gate: Delhi Outskirts
On the desolate outskirts of Delhi, amidst the rusted remains of an abandoned factory, a C-Rank Hell Gate pulsed with a sickly violet light. The N.D.A. had cordoned off the area, but today's raid wasn't for the regulars. It was a field test for an elite trainee unit from the Garud Vajra Guild.
"Listen up, Rudra," Adiraj said, leaning against a concrete pillar. He was dressed in a new, lightweight Magitech suit. "This is your first official field mission. Training halls are one thing, but a real dungeon is where the air tastes like death. Use this chance. Test your limits, refine your instincts, and level up. I'll be out here monitoring the gate's stability."
Rudra gave a short, silent nod. His expression remained a blank mask, but his violet eyes were already dissecting the mana-waves bleeding from the rift.
The Elite Squad: Vikram's Command
"Alright, team, move out!" a booming voice commanded.
This was Vikram, a B-Rank Dunger and a seasoned leader within Garud Vajra. Vikram had recently been promoted after breaking through the Diamond Tier, making him a rising star in the guild. He carried a massive Greatsword that thrummed with orange mana.
"Rudra, you're with my squad," Vikram said, throwing a sharp, condescending look at the 17-year-old. "You're a D-Ranker, so stay in the back. If you trip over your own feet or get in our way, I'm leaving you behind. I have no room for dead weight."
The other two members of the squad, both B-Ranks, smirked. To them, Rudra was just a "charity case" Adiraj had picked up in Mumbai. Rudra said nothing, fading into their shadows as they stepped into the rift.
Inside the Labyrinth: First Blood
The moment they crossed the threshold, the damp, putrid air of a 'Ghoulish Catacomb' hit them. The ground was littered with ancient, yellowed bones. Suddenly, the darkness erupted as a horde of Rank-C Skeleton Soldiers clattered toward them.
"Form up!" Vikram roared, his Greatsword cleaving through three skeletons in a single explosive arc.
Rudra watched from the periphery. Vikram's technique was sharp and powerful, but compared to Adiraj, he was moving in slow motion. Seeing an opening, Rudra manifested his Darksmith dagger. He became a blur, weaving through Vikram's shadow to strike the monsters the elites had missed.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Target Slain: Skeleton Soldier (Rank-C)
EXP Gained: +450
EXP Gained: +450...
Rudra controlled his speed perfectly, staying just out of the elites' line of sight while ensuring every strike was lethal.
Progression: Leveling the Shadow
As they pushed deeper into the catacombs, the monsters grew larger and more resilient. Rudra continued his silent harvest, striking from the dark.
"Master... your body is beginning to synchronize with the ambient mana," the Ruin Soul whispered.
Suddenly, a towering 'Lich' lunged at Rudra from a hidden alcove. With a cold sidestep, Rudra drove his dagger straight into the creature's mana-core.
[LEVEL UP!]
Rudra: Level 23 ➔ Level 24
Rudra felt a surge of vitality wash away his fatigue. His mana-pool expanded instantly. Vikram glanced back, surprised. "Hey, D-Ranker! I told you to stay back, but you're actually keeping up. Not bad."
Rudra didn't respond. He was already looking for the next kill. By the time they reached the Boss chamber, another notification flashed in his vision.
[LEVEL UP!]
Rudra: Level 24 ➔ Level 25
The Evolution of Gluttony: The Sovereign's Reservoir
As Rudra hit Level 25, the Murderous Ruin Stone in his chest pulsed with violent heat. A transformative energy began rewriting his internal mana-circuits.
[SYSTEM ALERT: SKILL 'GLUTTONY' HAS EVOLVED]
Rudra froze for a split second. He felt the massive, SSS+ rank violet aura—the power he had been struggling to suppress manually—suddenly get sucked into a void within his soul.
New Ability Unlocked: [SOVEREIGN'S RESERVOIR]
Effect: The Gluttony skill has now devoured Master's entire violet aura, storing it within an internal 'Abyss.'
Benefit: Rudra no longer needs to exert effort to hide his power. Gluttony has 'sealed' it completely. He can now draw out exactly as much aura as he needs, whenever he needs it.
The Perfect Mask: Whether it's an S-Rank Dunger or Kavir's advanced Omega Scanner, Rudra will appear as a complete 'Zero'—a perfectly normal human. His true essence is now hidden deep within the stomach of Gluttony.
Rudra let out a thin, cold smile. "I will stand right in front of them, and they won't even realize that Death is breathing down their necks."
The Aftermath
Vikram brought his Greatsword down on the Boss—a Giant Skeleton Knight—finishing the raid. He leaned on his sword, panting heavily. "Huff... that was tougher than expected, but we cleared it."
He looked over at Rudra, who was standing perfectly still, not a single drop of sweat on his forehead. "You... you're not even tired? Your stamina is freaky, kid."
"Practice," Rudra replied simply.
When they emerged from the gate, Adiraj was waiting. He scanned Rudra with his S-Rank intuition, but felt absolutely nothing. No threat, no violet waves—nothing. Gluttony had devoured every trace of the Sovereign's presence.
"How was it?" Adiraj asked, a curious glint in his eyes.
"Fruitful," Rudra answered. He knew that from this moment on, Kavir's machines were nothing more than toys to him.