The Dead Zone: Entry into the Abyss
It was 2:00 AM. In the heart of an abandoned industrial warehouse in Delhi, a Rank B (Platinum Rank) portal swirled with a menacing hum. Since Chirag's raid, the N.D.A. had marked this gate as "High Danger," but for Rudra, it was nothing more than a necessary 'Experience Farm.'
Rudra pulled up his black mask and stepped into the vortex.
The moment he crossed the threshold, the system flashed a notification:
[LOCATION: IRON-HELL DUNGEON]
Condition: High Mana Density.
Monsters: Rank B Mechanical Golems & Scrap-Hounds.
Objective: Eliminate the Boss to exit.
Rudra unsheathed his Darksmith dagger. Chirag's 4-minute record weighed heavily on his mind, but as the oppressive atmosphere of the dungeon settled over him, he realized this environment was far more volatile than he had anticipated.
The Massacre: Shadows in Motion
The rhythmic clanking of metal echoed through the dark, narrow corridors. Hundreds of Scrap-Hounds—mechanical beasts with glowing red eyes—lunged toward Rudra.
Rudra took a deep breath, and his form began to blur into the surrounding darkness.
"[SKILL ACTIVATED: STEALTH]"
He became a ghost. Moving without a sound, he drifted through the ranks of the monsters. In one heartbeat, he was behind a Hound; in the next, his dagger had sliced through its hydraulic joints. But to fulfill the requirement of 2,000 kills, he couldn't just destroy them—he had to 'Devour' them.
"Now... feast," Rudra whispered.
"[SKILL ACTIVATED: GLUTTONY]"
A dark, swirling 'Void' erupted around Rudra. It wasn't just an aura; it was a hungry, predatory force. Whenever a Scrap-Hound drew near, the black tendrils would ensnare it, stripping away its mana and metal casing in a single, violent pull.
The Struggle: The Scrap King
At the heart of the dungeon stood the Mechanical Golem (Rank B+ Boss), a 20-foot titan of rusted iron. Its MP was clocked at 325,000. Rudra tried to increase his pace, but his mana reservoir was struggling to process the sheer volume of energy he was absorbing.
The Boss swung a massive iron pillar at him. Rudra dodged, but the shockwave sent him crashing into a stone wall. Fatigue began to seep into his bones. He was starting to understand the true risk of a solo raid at his current level.
His eyes flared with a sharp violet light as he focused his internal pressure on the Titan.
"[SKILL ACTIVATED: DOMINANCE]"
The sudden weight of the skill caused the Boss's iron frame to stall for a fraction of a second. Seizing the opening, Rudra used the black vines of Gluttony to latch onto the Boss's core, dissolving it at the atomic level.
The Exit: A Hard Reality
Rudra stumbled out of the portal, his body trembling violently. He collapsed to his knees on the cold warehouse floor. He checked his Bio-Link card with heavy breath.
[RAID COMPLETE: IRON-HELL]
Clear Time: 12 Minutes 00 Seconds.
Total Kills: 2,100 Monsters.
Bosses Slain: 1 / 30 (Current Progress).
Compared to Chirag's 4 minutes, these 12 minutes felt like a century. Rudra's lungs burned, and his reservoir had reached a dangerous state of overheating.
"Master," the Ruin Soul's voice echoed, devoid of any mercy or comfort. "Do not push your limits like this again. This time, your 'Dominance' skill saved you; otherwise, that Boss would have crushed you where you stood. Your body is not yet ready to chase Chirag's records."
Rudra took a long, shaky breath and lowered his head. "You're right. Chirag has raw SS-Rank mana... I only have a hungry reservoir. Until I solve this physical limitation and the processing bottleneck, I won't chase his records. Survival is the only priority."
The Resolve
Rudra removed his mask, feeling the cold Delhi air hit his face. His target was no longer about breaking records; it was about becoming capable of 'Surviving.' The 12-minute clear was a stark reminder that the road to becoming a "Sovereign" was still long and treacherous.
"Wise choice, Master," the Ruin Soul replied. "Stop chasing the clock. Just hunt. The Diamond Tier is your only true hope."
Rudra stood up slowly and vanished into the shadows, his violet eyes now filled with a grim, new seriousness.