The Shadow of Greatness
The smoke in the outskirts of Gurugram had barely settled, but the echo of Chirag's 'Sovereign Heartbeat' was still ringing in Rudra's mind. Sitting in his darkened room, Rudra watched the recording on his screen. Chirag looked exhausted, yet he was smiling—the face of a hero the world now worshipped.
"Master," the Ruin Soul's cold voice resonated in the room. "Chirag has shattered the 800\text{M} MP threshold today. Your total MP is currently 45,000. The logic is simple—if Chirag were to release his 'Heartbeat' near you today, your very existence would be wiped out at the atomic level. To him, you are currently nothing more than a speck of dust."
Rudra clenched his fist so hard his knuckles turned white. It wasn't his ego that was wounded, but his 'Sovereign' nature that found this stagnation unacceptable. Chirag was innocent, but he had become a colossal wall standing in Rudra's path.
"I can't stay this far behind," Rudra whispered. "If I am to reach the 'Eternal' rank, I must break through this Diamond Tier barrier tonight."
The Confrontation: Adiraj's Office
The next morning, Rudra walked straight into Adiraj's private office. Adiraj was buried under a mountain of paperwork; the administrative aftermath of Chirag's raid was overwhelming.
"Sir, I need permission for solo raids," Rudra said, skipping any pleasantries.
Adiraj stopped his pen and looked up, a faint, tired smile on his face. "Solo raids? Rudra, you are officially a D-Rank trainee. Publicly, you have zero record. You think I'm going to send you into the jaws of death alone?"
"Sir, you and I both know I am not a trainee," Rudra stepped forward, placing his hands on the desk. "I need solo entry into Rank B and B+ gates. I need to stay there until my Tier evolves."
"No! Absolutely not!" Adiraj stood up abruptly, his S-Rank aura causing the room to vibrate slightly. "Have you gone mad after watching Chirag? He is an SS-Ranker! He has a margin for error; you don't. One mistake, and your body becomes monster feed. I will never grant this permission."
The Clash of Wills
Silence filled the room. Adiraj's eyes were full of concern, but Rudra's eyes held a 'Hunger' that Adiraj had never seen before—not even in the most veteran hunters.
"Sir, you told me I was the 'Secret Sword' of Garud Vajra," Rudra said quietly, but his voice carried an immense weight. "If a sword is kept only behind a shield, it begins to rust. Chirag has reached the Diamond Tier. If I stay at Gold, I will never be able to stand beside him. Do you want me to remain in the shadows, just a spectator to history?"
Adiraj paused. He saw in Rudra's eyes the kind of stubbornness found only in those who either write history or end up as dust.
"In B+ Rank gates, monster MP reaches 175,000, Rudra," Adiraj explained. "Your current MP is nothing compared to them. You won't last ten seconds."
"Then I'll have to learn how to kill them in nine," Rudra shot back.
Adiraj took a deep breath and sank back into his chair. He knew stopping Rudra was now impossible. If he didn't grant permission, Rudra would likely infiltrate the gates illegally, which was far more dangerous.
"Fine," Adiraj said softly. "I'm issuing you a 'Special Solo Operative' pass. But remember, the moment your life is truly at risk, I will lock those gates permanently. Go. Evolve your Tier."
The System's Response
As Rudra stepped out of Adiraj's office, his violet floating screen suddenly flared to life. This time, the notification color was a deep, menacing purple.
[NOTIFICATION: NEW QUEST TRIGGERED]
Quest Name: The Road to Diamond Tier
Objective: Perform solo raids and eliminate monsters to fulfill experience requirements.
Current Progress:
Monsters Slain: 0 / 2,000
Bosses Slain: 0 / 30 (Rank D+ or higher)
[REWARDS UPON COMPLETION]
30,000 Crystals (Ancient Currency)
Tier Upgrade: Diamond (Multiplier: 2.0x)
Stat Points: +20 to all Attributes.
Rudra stared at the screen, a lethal smile creeping onto his face. Chirag took four minutes... Rudra knew he had to do even better.
"Master," the Ruin Soul whispered. "Do not be tempted by the 30,000 crystals; the blood of 2,000 monsters is the true prize. Your 'Gluttony' shall feast tonight."
The Departure
Under the cover of night, Rudra pulled on his black hoodie and swiped his new I.D. card. He set the coordinates for the most dangerous B-Rank gate in Delhi.
The world believed Chirag was their only hope, but in the darkness, a 'Sovereign' was about to reveal his true form. Rudra unsheathed his Darksmith dagger, its violet glow cutting through the shadows.
"Diamond Tier... I'm coming for you."