Location: Inside the Glitchy Gate (The Primeval Forest)
Date & Time: Day 7 (Unknown External Time)
One week. Seven full days had bled into one another in the unknown, suffocating darkness of this Glitchy Gate.
A human's most dangerous weapon is their ability to adapt. Seven days ago, the fifty D-Rank Dungers were shivering at the mere thought of death; now, that raw terror had vanished from their faces. Their clothes were tattered, their standard armor was caked in grime and dried blood, but their gait held a strange, rhythmic calmness.
In this week, they had witnessed every terrifying face of the jungle, yet they remained virtually untouched. The B-Rank leader and the four C-Rankers moved before them like an impenetrable wall, dismantling every threat within minutes. Survival had become a dull, mechanical routine.
Two days ago, they had stumbled upon a clear river in the heart of the forest, solving their hydration crisis. For food, they harvested specific 'safe' fruits or roasted the mana-rich flesh of the boars and bears they slaughtered. The primal fear of hunger and thirst was gone.
But as the physical fear subsided, a psychological dread began to take root.
During the night, when the camp fell silent around the fire, the eyes of the D-Rankers held a heavy, hollow sadness. They knew the gate was glitched. A single calculation played on loop in their minds: How much time has passed outside? The memory of their families, their children, and their homes was slowly eroding their sanity. Food and safety kept their bodies alive, but the fear of the unknown time-skip was poisoning their minds.
The Primeval Ecosystem
The jungle had spared no effort in testing them. This realm was ruled by pure, wild animals whose mana density was abnormally high. Five distinct species had become their primary adversaries:
Razor-Rats (E-Rank): Dog-sized rodents with teeth as strong as tempered steel. They attacked in massive swarms during the night.
Shadow Hounds (D-Rank): Jet-black wolves that utilized the fog for stealth, attacking with terrifying speed.
Horned Boars (D-Rank): Wild boars with hide as thick as stone. Their charge carried the kinetic force of a high-speed truck.
Venom-scale Pythons (C-Rank): Forty-foot serpents that struck with silent precision from the tangled canopy above.
Iron-hide Bears (C-Rank): Massive bears that acted as the frontline infantry of the jungle's defense.
The Butchers of N.D.A.I.
None of these monsters stood a chance. Against the leader's 90,000 MP and the combined might of the C-Rank elites, the beasts were harvested like common weeds.
The D-Rankers were no longer warriors; they had been reduced to 'Butchers.' As soon as the elites dropped a monster, the lower ranks would move in, tearing into the flesh to extract Essence Stones and Mana Cores. In seven days, the N.D.A.I. had accumulated enough loot to fill their bags to the breaking point. Behind them lay a trail of hundreds of hollowed-out carcasses.
The Phantom's Grind (Rudra's Dual Harvest)
And within that trail of hollow shells, a shadow conducted a silent, deadly grind.
Tucked behind the squad, his Scavenger's Skin blending perfectly with the fog, Rudra focused on his mathematical harvest. His MP had taken a massive leap, reaching 43,820. This success was the result of a deliberate, dual-harvest strategy:
The Residuals: As the squad moved forward, Rudra utilized [Gluttony] on the discarded carcasses, siphoning the remaining 1% of residual mana left behind.
The Solo Hunts: This was his primary source. The Razor-Rats and Shadow Hounds that attempted to ambush the squad from the rear never reached their targets. Rudra intercepted them in the dark. Without making a sound or leaking his core aura, he broke their necks and absorbed 100% of their mana.
This stealth hunting had another significant benefit: his inventory was no longer empty. In these seven days, his solo kills had yielded over 30 fresh Essence Stones (E, D, and C-Rank).
Rudra walked silently through the damp earth, his mind calculating every variable. He kept his eyes fixed on the leader ahead.
"It's been a week," Rudra thought with cold logic. "E, D, and C-Rank monsters have swarmed us in the hundreds. Yet, we haven't encountered a single entity with mana even close to that leader's level."
"Sharp observation," Ruin Soul's voice resonated in his mind. "This jungle is an ecosystem. If C-Rank monsters exist in such high numbers, there is undoubtedly a B-Rank or higher Apex Predator ruling over them. It hasn't shown itself yet. The longer the silence, the more devastating the storm."
Rudra tightened his grip on his bone-sword. The D-Rankers believed they had conquered the jungle, but he knew this was only the prelude.
Chapter Summary
Time Lapse: Seven days have passed inside the Glitchy Gate. The squad has adapted to a survival routine, but psychological stress regarding time-dilation is mounting.
Ecosystem: Five major monster types are identified. The N.D.A.I. elites dominate every encounter, leading the lower ranks to act as resource harvesters.
Rudra's Progress: Through residuals and independent rear-guard kills, Rudra's MP reaches 43,820 (Peak C-Rank).
Inventory: Rudra has collected over 30 high-quality Essence Stones independently.
Foreshadowing: Ruin Soul warns that an Apex Predator (B-Rank or higher) is likely lurking, as the current power hierarchy of the jungle is missing its top predator.