The Shadow of Doubt
The silence within the grand briefing hall of the Mumbai N.D.A. Headquarters was so heavy it felt physical. Each breath taken by the gathered S-Rankers seemed to echo against the cold, reinforced walls. The revelation from the previous hour—that every common soldier in the upcoming Legendary Gate possessed a staggering 21 Million MP—had acted like a bucket of ice water over the egos of these "Living Gods."
Mason Steele, the American titan, gripped the edge of the mahogany table until the wood groaned. "President," he rumbled, his voice strained. "If even the fodder in there has 21 Million MP, we'll be buried under sheer numbers. Our base reserves aren't much higher than that. How are fifteen of us supposed to face a civilization of monsters?"
The Sovereign's Reassurance: The Truth of Multipliers
Chirag opened his eyes, the faint violet-white glow of his Diamond Tier reflecting off the holographic displays. He realized that if fear took root now, the raid would fail before the first foot hit the water.
"I gave you those numbers to instill caution, not cowardice," Chirag said, his voice cutting through the tension with serene authority. "You are forgetting that 'Tiers' are not exclusive to the monsters. You are Exotic Tier warriors. Your multipliers may be lower than their Legendary status, but your 'Base' is significantly higher. You are the apex of human evolution."
Chirag gestured toward the central air, and the holographic projector flared to life, projecting the raw, calculated potential of the warriors in the room. He didn't use a cold table this time; he let the numbers burn in the air as a testament to their power.
The Hierarchy of Power:
First, the Sovereign himself. Chirag revealed his own standing: a massive 400 Million Base MP, which, when intensified by his 2.0\times Diamond Tier, resulted in a terrifying 800 Million Effective MP.
Then came the Titans of the West and East. Mason Steele stood at a 40 Million Base MP—with his 10.0\times Exotic Multiplier, his effective output reached a staggering 400 Million. Viktor of Russia followed closely with a 35 Million Base, resulting in 350 Million Effective MP. Juliette of France commanded 320 Million Effective MP from her 32 Million Base. Even the lowest-ranked among the Top 15 held an average of 200 Million Effective MP.
"Do you see now?" Chirag's voice resonated. "Mason Steele alone possesses the effective power to neutralize twenty Legendary soldiers simultaneously. You are not weak. You are the peak of this world. With me at 800 Million MP backing you, we are an unstoppable force."
Viktor unclenched his fist, a predatory smile returning to his face. "800 Million... and the rest of us between 200M and 400M. Yes. Now the odds feel like a proper war."
The Formation: Chirag's Master Squad
With confidence restored, Chirag began the final phase of the briefing. He announced the creation of the 'Master Squad'—the elite vanguard that would breach the heart of the Legendary Gate.
One by one, he called out the names of the fifteen S-Rankers. From the shadows in the corner, Adiraj watched with a discerning eye. He noticed a glaring omission. Chirag had not called a single name for the trainee standing in the dark. Rudra.
The S-Rankers glanced at the boy in the black hoodie, whispering among themselves. To them, it seemed the President had finally acknowledged that a mere 'Silver' trainee had no place in an Exotic-rank massacre. But Rudra remained still, his gaze fixed on the floor. He knew exactly what this was: Chirag was shielding his "Secret Ace" from the world's prying eyes.
The Sovereign's New Skill: [Heavenly Command - Synchronization]
"Strength is only half the battle," Chirag continued, his expression turning sharp. "In a Legendary raid, coordination is usually the first thing to fail. To prevent that, I will be activating a specialized synchronization."
[NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: HEAVENLY COMMAND - SYNCHRONIZATION]
Type: Mental Link & Mana Buffer.
Effect: Chirag utilizes his 800 Million Effective MP to weave a neural network connecting all fifteen S-Rankers.
Bonus: Through this link, Chirag can absorb the physical and mental exhaustion of his squad into himself, while 'Syncing' their individual attacks to strike with ten times the combined impact.
"With this skill," Chirag said, his eyes flashing with absolute conviction, "you fifteen will not be separate warriors. You will be fifteen arms of a single body. My body."
The Hidden Blade
The briefing adjourned. The S-Rankers filed out to prepare their gear, their spirits bolstered by the President's immense power. When the hall finally emptied, only Chirag, Adiraj, and Rudra remained in the dim holographic light.
"You left him out of the Master Squad on purpose," Adiraj noted, looking at Rudra.
Chirag turned toward the boy, his Diamond-tier aura dimming to a soft glow. "Because the Master Squad is the Shield. And behind every shield, there must be a Sword. Rudra, you will not walk through the front gates with us. You will enter through the Shadow Entrance—the mana-leak point of the anomaly."
Chirag's gaze turned lethal. "When the Legendary Generals pin us down with their intelligence and 21 Million MP soldiers, you will emerge from their own shadows. You are the only one with the Void Edge capable of bypassing their innate defenses."
Rudra pulled his hoodie lower, his violet eyes igniting in the darkness like a brewing storm. His 2.0\times Diamond Multiplier hummed in his veins, ready to be tested against the arrogance of a monster civilization.
"I understand, President," Rudra said softly. "I'll be waiting in the dark."