Location: Deep Inside the D-Rank Hell Gate
Date & Time: February 15, 2025 | 01:15 PM (IST)
Rudra was about to pry a massive chunk of Infused Ore from the cavern wall when Ruin Soul's chilling voice echoed in his mind, halting his hand.
"Stop. Use alternate mining."
"What do you mean?" Rudra whispered, pulling his hand back. His Scavenger's Skin hoodie made him practically invisible in the dim, shadowed corner of the cave.
"If you strip this entire wall bare, those N.D.A.I. fools will realize immediately that someone else is in this dungeon with them. Don't take everything," Ruin Soul explained with cold, surgical logic. "Take only one Glowshard for every three you see. Leave the rest. Harvest only the purest Infused Ore and leave the low-grade scraps on the wall. They need to believe the natural ecosystem of this cave is still intact."
The logic was flawless. Rudra moved like a ghost from one wall to another, picking his targets with precision. His 1,200 sq. ft. inventory was rapidly filling with high-grade Essence Dust and the purest raw materials available, yet the cave still looked largely untouched to an untrained eye.
Further ahead, the C-Rank leader had shifted the squad's formation. The narrow tunnels had finally opened up into a massive, echoing cavern—the Boss Room.
The leader raised his hand, signaling a halt. "Only ten D-Rankers will proceed with me into the Boss Room! The rest of you, stay here. Keep your weapons ready and start harvesting whatever materials you can find on these walls—Essence Dust, Glowshards, anything. Move fast!"
The squad split with mechanical efficiency. The leader and his chosen ten stepped into the heart of the cavern, while the remaining Dungers began scouring the very walls Rudra had intentionally left partially filled.
Rudra watched from a jagged ledge near the high ceiling. In the center of the Boss Room stood a gargantuan D-Rank Rock-Goliath. Its massive frame was composed of jagged iron-ore and pulsing mana crystals.
For a heartbeat, Rudra's hand drifted toward his Blood Crescent. But he quickly recalculated. Exposing his identity and risking a fight against a Boss in front of eleven armed Dungers and an entire backup squad was a mathematical disaster. He stayed in the shadows.
Below, the battle erupted. The Rock-Goliath let out a deafening, grinding roar as it charged, but the N.D.A.I. was prepared. The ten D-Rankers utilized their Magitech weapons to deliver precise, heavy strikes to the Goliath's legs and joints, successfully slowing its massive momentum.
Then, the C-Rank leader made his move. He coated his heavy bone-sword in a dense layer of mana, leaped into the air, and delivered a crushing blow that split the Goliath's stone skull in two. The massive beast collapsed to the ground with a thunderous thud, life leaving its crystalline eyes.
The leader quickly tore open the Goliath's chest and extracted the glowing Boss Core. The moment the core was removed, the bioluminescent light of the dungeon began to dim. The air pressure shifted violently.
"Pack everything and run for the exit—now!" the leader roared, his voice echoing with urgency. "The Boss is dead and the aura is destabilizing. The Hell Gate is about to close! If we don't leave this second, we're trapped here forever!"
At the mention of the gate closing, the Dungers frantically stuffed whatever remaining scraps of material they could find into their bags and bolted toward the exit.
Despite the frantic rush, there was no fear on their faces—only a wave of pure, triumphant relief. They had cleared a Hell Gate without a single casualty. The Magitech weapons had proven their worth. They were alive, and they had their loot.
Rudra watched them vanish into the swirling purple-red portal from the darkness of the ceiling. The C-Rank leader believed they had squeezed every bit of value from this dungeon, but the truth was far different. The real treasure of the Dharavi Gate wasn't in the hands of any N.D.A.I. officer; it was securely tucked away in the void of a lone scavenger's inventory.
Chapter Summary
Location & Time: Boss Room, Dharavi Hell Gate | February 15, 2025, 01:15 PM.
The Tactic: Rudra employs 'Alternate Mining,' strategically leaving behind enough materials to avoid alerting the N.D.A.I. squad to his presence.
The Climax: The N.D.A.I. squad successfully defeats the Rock-Goliath (D-Rank Boss). The leader claims the Boss Core, triggering the dungeon's destabilization.
The Escape: The squad retreats in high spirits, believing they have successfully looted and cleared the gate.
The Irony: While the squad celebrates their "victory," Rudra has successfully harvested the highest-grade materials in bulk without engaging in combat or revealing himself.
Current Status:
Rudra's Inventory: Loaded with high-purity Infused Ore, Glowshards, and Essence Dust.
Mission Status: Success. Rudra is about to exit the gate right behind the squad.