Chapter 5: The Secret Offer
[The Immortal Sepulchre]
Rudraunsh remained in the confines of the F-Rank dungeon, not because he was afraid of the exit, but because the cold stillness of the tunnels offered the perfect environment for reflection and management. After the adrenaline faded, his mind was sharp, focused entirely on the physics of his Undying Authority.
He needed to confirm the new ability that had instinctively manifested previously when he dismissed the Rusted Bone Skeletons. It wasn't simple dispersal; it was storage.
He re-summoned the two crude figures. They rose instantly, carrying the faint scent of Gloom Crawler residue.
Mana Consumption: 12% of Total Pool.
He focused his intent, not on annihilation, but on assimilation. He imagined a deep, cold void within his Soul Sea—a serene, black ocean where concepts of decay and order co-existed. This was the nascent dimension of the Immortal Sepulchre.
The Skeletons dissolved not into dust, but into streams of concentrated dark mana that flowed back into Rudraunsh's chest. He felt no loss of energy, only a sensation of two heavy weights being placed gently on an invisible shelf inside him.
Mana Consumption: 0%. Sustained Consumption: 0%.
A wave of relief, cold and absolute, washed over him. He hadn't just stored them; he had placed them in a dormant state where they required zero maintenance mana. The bodies were stable, perfectly preserved, and ready to be summoned instantly.
The key to my survival, he realized, touching the area over his heart. The power isn't about how much I can summon, but how much I can keep ready.
This function immediately scaled up his future potential. Once his overall mana capacity matured, he wouldn't need to struggle through extended battles; he could simply swap out damaged units for fresh ones, or store a specialized army until the exact moment of need. The Immortal Sepulchre was his ultimate tactical advantage—a waiting army of the endlessly resilient.
He settled against the wall, absorbing his last F-Rank Mana Stone, and reviewed the messages from Sera Song. Officer Kang's investigation meant his brief anonymity was over. He needed Sera's shield now more than ever.
[Sera's Political Gambit]
Outside the tunnels, in a brightly lit, sterile coffee shop two districts away, Sera Song was already moving. She was dressed in her pristine Yeonhwa Academy uniform, the very picture of the high-potential, S-Rank future the Stellar Halo coveted.
She was meeting with Bae Jisung, a low-ranking logistics manager for the Stellar Halo's Eastern Seoul Sector. Jisung was a known weak point: ambitious, easily flattered, and prone to gossip.
Sera sipped her expensive herbal tea, a picture of calm confidence.
"I appreciate you taking time from your busy schedule, Manager Bae," Sera said, her voice dripping with the deference Jisung craved. "I just wanted to offer my regrets. My friend, Minho, has been quite hysterical about this whole 'Dark Mage' incident near the sealed Gate."
Jisung, a man in his late thirties with thinning hair and a too-tight Guild jacket, leaned in conspiratorially. "Hysterical is right, Miss Song. Officer Kang is chasing shadows. We've had zero confirmed sightings. It's embarrassing for the Guild."
"Exactly," Sera agreed smoothly. "But I think I know what he saw. Minho is always boasting about his strength, isn't he? I think he just invented a villain to cover his own failure."
She lowered her voice, dropping a calculated piece of political poison. "You see, Rudraunsh Kurozan—the boy Minho was fighting—has a minor, pathetic Necromancy ability. He only summons a single, shaky skeleton. But Officer Kang is desperate for a promotion, isn't he? He must be exaggerating the mana traces to elevate the case to a 'Catastrophe Watch' to justify his efforts."
Jisung's eyes widened, recognizing the political maneuvering instantly. If Officer Kang escalated a simple student brawl into a major Dark Magic hunt and failed, it would be a huge black mark on the Eastern Sector's prestige. And the Stellar Halo valued prestige above all else.
"An excellent point, Miss Song. Kang is quite hungry for credit," Jisung murmured, already mentally drafting the memo to his superiors. "He should stick to routine reports. We can't have the public thinking Seoul is crawling with forbidden magic."
"Precisely," Sera concluded, smiling warmly. "The Stellar Halo is too prestigious to be chasing after student rumors. Perhaps a quiet word could be sent down the chain? Just to make sure Officer Kang keeps his ambition in check."
She stood, leaving a considerable tip on the table. "I must get back to my studies. Thank you for clearing up my concern, Manager Bae. I always feel safer knowing the Guild's management is so level-headed."
Sera exited the coffee shop, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips. She had accomplished two things: first, she had created a political obstacle for Officer Kang, ensuring the pursuit would be slowed by bureaucratic resistance. Second, she had established an early line of credit with the Stellar Halo management, reinforcing the idea that she, the S-Rank Potential, was on their side—making them trust her more when she inevitably defected.
[The First Exchange]
Rudraunsh remained in the dungeon tunnels until nightfall. A single, encrypted message pinged on the burner phone.
> [S.S.] : Political obstacle deployed. Officer Kang's ambition has been flagged. Pursuit will slow to a crawl, but it is not stopped. He still detected the Indigo Trace.
> [S.S.] : Now for the resources. I know you need materials for your Evolution. I found the perfect source: the Black Market Auction near Gangnam tonight. They deal in specialized, dark mana-infused items, often from mid-level Gates.
> [S.S.] : Attached is a map, two million won in untraceable credit, and a list of key items. You will be disguised. Get in, get the catalyst, and get out. This is the first step toward building our power base.
>
Rudraunsh stared at the screen, a new, intense respect for Sera blooming in his mind. She was cold, ruthless, and exceptionally efficient. She hadn't just given him an alibi; she had presented him with a fully financed, high-risk, high-reward mission.
The two million won (about $1,500 USD) was a fortune to an E-Rank student. It was enough to secure a necessary catalyst and stabilize his evolution.
He studied the attached map and the target list. The most promising item was listed simply as: "Ancient Ossuary Fragment (Origin Unknown) – High Necrotic Energy Signature."
If the Gloom Crawler chitin was a Grade 1 catalyst, this fragment, rumored to come from an ancient tomb, could be the key to jumping straight to Grade 2 or 3 evolution.
He changed into the simple, dark clothes Sera had left him in a pre-arranged dead drop—a subtle, hooded cloak that blended perfectly with the city's shadows. He retrieved his two Rusted Bone Skeletons from the Immortal Sepulchre, their silent presence a comfort. They were his tools, his shield, and his secret.
He stepped out of the subway tunnel and into the electric chaos of Seoul's nightlife. The scent of rain, street food, and neon lights hit him, a stark contrast to the dungeon's decay.
Rudraunsh Kurozan was no longer the cornered rat. He was now a Hunter—a Dark Sentinel—and he was heading toward the only place in the city that would appreciate the sheer, terrifying necessity of his power: the Black Market.
He looked down at his hand, remembering Sera's cold, businesslike logic. I need a shadow, and you are the ultimate darkness.
He smiled, a genuine, predatory expression. "Then let the shadow begin to gather its army."