Saturday, March 14, 2028 |
Time: 06:00 AM (Karakoram Range, Border Zone)
The first light of dawn had yet to touch the jagged peaks of the Karakoram Range, but the region was already radiating a terrifying golden mana pressure. Target No. 3: A Rank S Legendary Hell Gate hung in the sky like a jagged wound in reality, leaking violet energy that vaporized the falling snow into steam before it could even touch the ground.
Kavir's 'Zero-Frequency Void Veil' was fully operational, not only concealing the massive rift from global eyes but also establishing a pressurized safe zone. Outside the portal, over 350 N.D.A. Dungeon Workers were a whirlwind of activity, deploying heavy Magitech drillers and massive mana-capacitors. This was more than a raid; it was the foundation of a new industrial empire.
President Chirag stood at the edge of the plateau, his white presidential coat snapping in the freezing wind. Beside him stood Isadora, her emerald tactical suit glowing faintly as she maintained a protective shroud of vines to ward off the sub-zero temperatures.
"Appraisers, status report," Chirag commanded, his voice steady and absolute.
The elite N.D.A. appraisal team launched their S-Rank Scan Drones into the portal. Within seconds, the holographic terminals flickered with data.
DUNGEON SCAN COMPLETE: TARGET NO. 3
RANK: S | TIER: Legendary
FLOORS: 8 | ENVIRONMENT: Crystalline Abyss
PROJECTED CORE BOSS MP: 1.4 Billion – 14 Billion
Isadora's breath hitched as she read the numbers. A boss with a potential 14 Billion MP was an entity of pure destruction, far exceeding the threat level of the Siberian disaster that had haunted her for years.
The Sovereign's Protection
Chirag sensed the slight tremor in Isadora's heartbeat. Without turning, he extended his hand toward her, hovering just inches from her shoulder.
[SKILL ACTIVATED: SOVEREIGN'S SYNC – ETERNAL SUSTENANCE]
A warm, golden radiance flowed from Chirag's fingertips, weaving into Isadora's mana circuits. The fatigue from the climb vanished instantly. She felt her mana reserves—which had dipped slightly during the ascent—instantly hit maximum capacity, held there by a constant, unstoppable regeneration.
"What is this?" Isadora asked, her voice filled with wonder.
"You are with me on this raid," Chirag said softly, his eyes fixed on the portal. "I will not have you succumb to fatigue or mana depletion. As long as I draw breath, your strength will remain absolute. Let us proceed."
Isadora looked at the silhouette of the man beside her. She couldn't tell if this was a gesture of genuine care or cold efficiency, but she felt a strange, stirring comfort in his presence. She simply nodded. As they crossed the threshold into the gate, the 350 workers outside took their defensive positions.
Floor 1: The Divine Legion
The world inside the portal was a nightmare of beauty. They stood at the edge of a Crystalline Abyss, where gargantuan gold and violet crystals sprouted from the walls like jagged teeth. The ambient mana pressure here was so dense that a standard S-Ranker would have been crushed upon entry.
"Isadora, stay back," Chirag ordered.
Isadora expected Chirag to draw his blade, but what she witnessed instead shattered her understanding of power. Chirag threw his arms wide, and his 40 Billion ECP erupted in a singular, violent pulse.
[SKILL ACTIVATED: IMPERIAL LEGION – THE 10,000 SUN-WARRIORS]
Unlike the thousand soldiers he had summoned in Ladakh, golden rifts began to tear open across the entire floor. One by one, divine soldiers clad in solar armor stepped into reality. A hundred... a thousand... five thousand... until a staggering 10,000 stood in formation.
The collective power of 10,000 Sun-Soldiers—each possessing 600 Million MP—shook the very foundations of the crystalline cavern. Isadora nearly lost her footing. This army alone was enough to glass the entire planet. She finally understood Kavir's words: "The world didn't have a President then."
"I see it now," Isadora whispered, her voice lost in the hum of the legion. "Kavir was right. With you here, Siberia would have been a mere footnote. You aren't just a man... you are a walking Apocalypse."
Chirag didn't draw his sword. He simply pointed a single finger forward. "From Floor 1 to Floor 7... erase everything that stands in our way. We move toward the Core."
The 10,000 soldiers let out a synchronized war cry and charged into the swarm of Legendary-tier crystal beasts emerging from the shadows. It wasn't a battle; it was a systematic erasure.
The Silent Watcher
Isadora followed Chirag through the carnage. He stood perfectly calm, his focus split between the movement of his legion and Isadora's mana stability. She realized that for all his terrifying power, Chirag's protection was just as deep.
"Chirag..." Isadora thought to herself, watching the golden light reflect in his eyes. "How can someone this powerful be so profoundly alone?"
The path ahead was being paved in gold and violet shards. Floor 1 was cleared in less than three minutes.
📊 Sovereign Archive: Chapter 142 Strategic Summary
Current Raid: Target No. 3 (Karakoram)
Rank/Tier: Rank S Legendary (8 Floors).
Scaling Logic: Base 2 + 6 Tier Steps = 8 Floors.
Core Boss Potential: 1.4B - 14B MP.
Chirag's Combat Profile
Active Summon: 10,000 Imperial Soldiers (Total Force ECP: 6 Trillion).
Support Aura: [Eternal Sustenance] - Infinite mana/stamina for Isadora.
Relationship Progress (The Slow Burn)
Subtle Protection: Chirag's proactive buffing of Isadora.
Isadora's Perspective: Shift from professional fear to personal awe and curiosity.
Global Status (Day 1 of 7)
Strike Team Alpha (Chirag/Isadora): Floor 1 Clear.
Strike Team Shadow (Rudra/Isha): Deployment to Thar Desert confirmed.
Industrial Goal: 10 Gates to be secured within 168 hours.