Location: Rudra's Underground Base, Dharavi Ruins
Date & Time: March 4, 2025 | 07:00 AM (IST)
Rudra stood on the cold concrete floor of his underground sanctuary, his gaze fixed on the 1,200 sq. ft. holographic void of his inventory. While the high-grade materials were neatly categorized, the section reserved for common D-Rank Essence Stones was completely empty. The Black Market deals of the past few days had padded his cash reserves, but his tradeable resources had run dry.
In this new world, the rule for advancement was absolute: Constant Harvest.
"The stones are gone," Ruin Soul's icy voice resonated from the dark corners of his mind. "You must hunt today. N.D.A.I. networks detected a new D-Rank Hell Gate in Dharavi's Sector 9 moments ago. You need to be there."
Rudra closed his eyes, his expression unreadable. He had little interest in the mindless slaughter of D-Rank trash; he knew his 17,420 MP wouldn't see significant growth from such low-level cores. But logic dictated that necessity could not be ignored.
"Fine," Rudra replied coldly. He donned his Scavenger's Skin hoodie, layering his worn, dust-caked oversized jacket on top to mask the armor. He focused inward, completely suppressing the crackling blue lightning aura within his core until his mana signature was flat. To any external sensor, he appeared as nothing more than a weary, average D-Rank Dunger.
Location: Sector 9 Hell Gate, DharaviTime: 09:15 AM (IST) As Rudra approached the ruins of Sector 9, he immediately noted that the atmosphere was an anomaly.
Usually, D-Rank gates were guarded by a few N.D.A.I. vans and basic officers. Today, the perimeter was lined with heavy armored vehicles. N.D.A.I. mana-meters were emitting rapid, frantic beeps, their needles fluctuating wildly across the scales.
Rudra's eyes shifted to the Hell Gate itself. It wasn't the typical static purple-red mixture. The edges of the portal were 'glitching' like a corrupted electronic screen—flickering from deep crimson to a pale purple within seconds. The mana waves radiating from it were dangerously unstable.
But it wasn't the gate that alerted Rudra's instincts; it was the personnel.
Standing before a crowd of fifty average Dungers were five figures whose combined aura exerted a crushing pressure on the entire area. The air felt heavy, making it difficult for the lower-ranked Dungers to even breathe.
Rudra narrowed his eyes, conducting a cold mental analysis. C-Rankers. Not one or two, but five High-Tier C-Rankers assigned to a single D-Rank gate. Four of them possessed an average of roughly 35,000 MP, but the man at the front was a Peak C-Ranker. His aura was so dense it seemed to warp the very air around him.
"Five High-Tier C-Rankers for a D-Rank gate?" Rudra calculated the numbers. "Their collective mana exceeds 1,80,000. They could level a D-Rank dungeon in minutes. Something is wrong."
"What's the situation?" Rudra questioned Ruin Soul internally. "This gate is an anomaly, and their presence is statistically illogical."
"Stay calm," Ruin Soul replied with detached indifference. "The Hell Gate is merely unstable. Its frequency is shifting rapidly, which is confusing the N.D.A.I. sensors. They've deployed these C-Rankers as a precaution. However, instability often means the materials within are of higher value than standard dungeons. Focus on the Essence Stones."
Rudra processed the intelligence. There was risk, but the reward was high. Maintaining his anonymity, he stepped forward.
He blended into the crowd and registered his fake alias with the officer in a monotone voice. He received a standard Magitech bone-sword and took his place among the other Dungers.
But here, he made a subtle tactical error.
Under the crushing mana pressure of the C-Rank leaders, every other average Dunger looked nervous. Some were sweating; others gripped their blades with trembling hands. Rudra, however, was a statue. His heart rate was rhythmic, and his body language lacked even a trace of fear.
One of the C-Rankers (35,000 MP) caught this abnormal stillness. He detached himself from the front line and walked slowly toward Rudra, his eyes locked on the boy.
"You," the C-Ranker's voice was heavy with suspicion. He scanned Rudra from head to toe. "What's your story, kid? You aren't afraid? How is your body handling this pressure so easily?"
Rudra's mind cycled through multiple scenarios in microseconds. If he spoke, the cold tone of his voice might betray him. If he remained silent, the suspicion would escalate. He was about to feign nervousness when a voice cut through the tension from behind him.
"Oh, come on, Sir! Don't go scaring the poor kid!"
A scruffy D-Rank Dunger stepped forward from the crowd. It was the same man who had been in Rudra's squad during the previous raid.
"He was on my team last time, Sir," the Dunger explained with a respectful smile. "The kid is just naturally quiet, but he's got a steady hand and a focused head. He took down plenty of monsters during the last run. Nothing suspicious about him, just a good soldier."
The C-Ranker glanced at the Dunger, then back at Rudra. A thick silence hung in the air for several seconds. Finally, the C-Ranker exhaled sharply, suppressing his doubt.
"Fine," he muttered coldly, turning back to his position without another word.
Rudra's expression remained like stone behind his collar. He gave the other Dunger a slight, nearly imperceptible nod. The situation was stabilized.
Moments later, the Peak C-Rank leader stepped forward. He adjusted his heavy Magitech armor, his aura projecting a silent command for attention. He gestured toward the flickering, glitching Hell Gate.
"Listen up!" the Peak C-Ranker's voice boomed. "This gate is unstable. We don't know exactly how the environment or the monsters will behave. Do not break formation. Follow orders. Are you ready?"
"YES, SIR!" the fifty Dungers roared, raising their blades.
Rudra stood in the center of the mob. He said nothing, merely tightening his grip on the cheap bone-sword.
The leader entered the glitching Hell Gate first, followed by the four C-Rankers. Then, the line of average Dungers began to disappear into the unstable purple-red abyss. Rudra moved without a sound, crossing the threshold last.
As he entered, a violent static flicker rippled across the portal's edges, and the world behind him vanished.
Chapter Summary
Location & Time: Sector 9 Hell Gate, Dharavi | March 4, 2025, 09:15 AM.
The Anomaly: A D-Rank Hell Gate is 'unstable' and flickering, leading N.D.A.I. to deploy an unusually strong force of 5 High-Tier C-Rankers.
The Close Call: Rudra's unnatural calm under mana pressure attracts the suspicion of a C-Ranker. He is saved by a fellow Dunger from a previous raid who vouches for him.
The Strategic Reserve: Ruin Soul explains that unstable gates yield better resources, justifying the risk of infiltration.
Current Status:
Rank: C-Rank
MP: 17,420
Location: Inside the Unstable D-Rank Hell Gate.
Inventory: 1,200 sq. ft. (Basic stones deplete