Chapter 15: The Radiant Blade (The Immortal Trap)
[The First Personal Ascent]
Rudraunsh spent the next two hours in a state of intense, controlled meditation within the core chamber of The Immortal Sepulchre. His body was still recovering from the brutal mana drain of integrating the Soul Chain Core, but now, the residual Necrotic energy of the shattered catalyst was working a profound change.
The energy was not simply healing his fatigue; it was restructuring the very capacity of his core. The Undying Authority was using the spiritual power of the Soul Chain Core to increase the surface area of his mana reservoir—making his E-Rank core less like a cup and more like a vast, flat tray that could hold more energy without increasing its apparent depth.
Mana Capacity: 100% of E-Rank Base.
Mana Capacity: 110% of E-Rank Base.
Mana Capacity: 120% of E-Rank Base.
The numbers ticked up slowly, agonizingly, but with a terrifying permanence. By the time he broke meditation, his personal capacity was at 130% of his original E-Rank base—a functional, measurable leap into what the system would define as Low D-Rank Capacity.
Rudraunsh opened his eyes, feeling the tangible, cold pressure of the expanded core. The change was slight, but revolutionary.
He checked the status of his army.
> [Current Army Sustained Load]
> Shadow Legionnaire (x2): 20% total upkeep.
> Mana Core Capacity: 130% (Low D-Rank Cap).
> Available Core for New Summons: 110% (equivalent to 13 E-Rank base units)
>
The increase in capacity, coupled with the efficiency of the Shadow Legionnaires, meant his reserves were vastly improved. He could now confidently sustain a larger, more powerful legion.
The new personal capacity allows for the permanent summoning of one more C-Rank Legionnaire.
Rudraunsh slammed his hand onto the floor, the newly powerful core channeling the ambient indigo mana of the Sepulchre.
"Rise. Be three."
The space beside the two existing C-Rank Shadow Legionnaires shimmered, and a third figure materialized instantly, its smoky black armor and chilling aura completing the trio.
> [Summon Status: Shadow Legionnaire (x3)]
> Current Sustained Mana Cost: 30% of Total Pool.
> Army Size: 3 C-Rank Immortal Units.
>
He had successfully performed his first personal upgrade and increased his summon count. The total army size was small, but their power was disproportionately immense.
[The A-Rank Threat]
Sera, who had been anxiously monitoring external feeds, entered the main chamber. Her eyes immediately registered the presence of the third, terrifyingly silent warrior.
"Three C-Ranks," she breathed, her S-Rank senses confirming the devastating upgrade. "Excellent. But time is gone. A-Rank Paladin Jaewon Lee and his four B-Rank support squad are ten minutes out. They are approaching on foot, maintaining formation. They are not expecting a fight; they are expecting an execution."
Rudraunsh was already reviewing the schematics of The Immortal Sepulchre.
"Paladin Lee relies on Light Domain—a spiritual skill that floods an area with pure, overwhelming Light Mana, crippling dark magic within its radius," Rudraunsh explained, recalling his knowledge of A-Rank Paladin tactics. "If he deploys it here, my Legionnaires will be weakened, and the Immortal Sepulchre will be destabilized."
"Then we run," Sera stated, pulling out a hidden key card.
"No. We exploit his strategy." Rudraunsh pointed to the sub-basement where the original Gate leak pulsed. "This entire building is an amplifier, not just a storage unit. If the Paladin deploys his Light Domain, he will assume it negates my power."
Rudraunsh turned to Sera, the cold calculation in his eyes reflecting the depth of his plan. "We are going to let him deploy the Light Domain. We are going to let him think he has won. Then, we will force the Light Domain to clash with the Undying Authority at the core."
[The Trap of Absolute Purity]
Rudraunsh and Sera enacted the final preparations with silent, grim efficiency.
* The Decoy: Rudraunsh dismissed his three Shadow Legionnaires into the Immortal Sepulchre to rest and stabilize their new link. The building appeared empty, save for the low indigo hum.
* The Lure: Sera disabled the top-floor security system and placed a small, inactive mana beacon—a lure—directly in the main entrance hall, right above the sub-basement.
* The Anchor: Rudraunsh went to the sub-basement. He focused his entire will, connecting his expanded core to the C-Rank Mana Stone anchored in the earth. He pushed his own Undying Authority into the stone, refining the Gate's natural leak into a concentrated reservoir of defensive power.
The air in the sub-basement became thick, heavy, and nearly solid with cold, indigo mana.
"The Paladin will enter, see the decoy beacon, and assume the Dark Mage is hiding here," Rudraunsh explained to Sera, who monitored the approach from a hidden crawlspace. "He will deploy the Light Domain to purify the area. The Light Domain will then strike the C-Rank Mana Stone and the Undying Authority I have anchored in the earth."
"But the Light is supposed to neutralize the Darkness," Sera whispered, confused.
"Normally, yes. But the Undying Authority is not simple darkness; it is order and permanence. Light cannot destroy order, only corrupt it. When the A-Rank Light Domain clashes with the Immortal Sepulchre's law, the energy will neutralize, but the Law of Undying will remain."
Rudraunsh's plan was simple: make the Paladin waste his ultimate weapon on a defensive wall he cannot break.
[The Clash of Laws]
The heavy steel door of The Immortal Sepulchre burst inward.
A-Rank Paladin Jaewon Lee stepped inside, flanked by his four B-Rank Blade-Guards. They were a vision of righteous power: gleaming white and gold armor, their swords vibrating with immense, pure Light Mana. The Paladin's face was a mask of cold, uncompromising fury.
"Dark Mage! I am Paladin Lee of the Radiant Blade! Surrender now and face final justice!"
Paladin Lee saw the empty hall and the small, inactive beacon in the center. He didn't hesitate. This was the source of the forbidden energy.
"Deploy Divine Purity! Purify this den of sin!"
The Paladin slammed his hand onto the floor. A colossal wave of Light Mana, powerful enough to vaporize low-rank demons and cripple C-Rank mages, exploded outward. It was the Light Domain—the ultimate A-Rank anti-Dark Magic technique.
The Light Mana filled the hall, radiating with blinding intensity. It should have instantly neutralized the Necrotic atmosphere.
But it didn't.
The Light Domain struck the anchored C-Rank Mana Stone and the reservoir of Undying Authority. There was a soundless CLASH!—not of steel, but of two opposing universal laws.
The Light neutralized the general ambient mana, yes, but the anchored Undying Authority simply held its ground, refusing to be undone. The Light Domain was instantly consumed, and the building remained imbued with a dense, oppressive indigo stillness.
Paladin Lee staggered back, his face a mixture of shock and disbelief. His most powerful Domain ability had vanished without achieving its purpose.
"Impossible," he choked out. "The energy signature is still active! The corruption holds!"
[The Endless War]
Rudraunsh was now moving. The Paladin had wasted his most powerful tool.
"Sera, initiate lockdown. No escape," Rudraunsh commanded through the comms.
The heavy steel shutters slammed down, plunging the hall into near-total darkness, broken only by the dim white light radiating from the Paladin's armor.
"Three C-Ranks, focused defense, overwhelming trauma," Rudraunsh whispered to himself.
He focused his expanded core, channeling the full 30% upkeep cost.
"Rise. Kill the light."
Three Shadow Legionnaires materialized silently, flanking the Paladin's B-Rank support squad. The Legionnaires were faster, their movements liquid and terrifying, and they immediately engaged the four B-Ranks.
The battle was a masterclass in attrition. The Paladin's squad was superior in raw power, landing powerful light-infused strikes that shattered the Legionnaires' armor. But the armor simply reformed, instantly and endlessly, draining the B-Ranks' mana with every futile strike.
Paladin Lee was forced to watch his elite support team engage in a hopeless war of attrition against ghosts that refused to die. The terror of the Undying Authority was now personal.
Rudraunsh, watching the carnage from the shadows of the sub-basement, felt the constant drain on his core. He was fighting the A-Rank Paladin by simply managing the upkeep of a war that could never be won by his opponent.
He smiled in the darkness. "Let the Radiant Blade pay the price of endless resurrection."
The true test of The Necrotic Sovereign had begun.