Chapter 18: The Deep-Sea Prison (The Necessary Delay)
[The Fragile Veil of Peace]
The immediate aftermath of the A-Rank defeat established a precarious, globally recognized Neutral Zone around The Immortal Sepulchre. This was not peace; it was a temporary, desperate ceasefire dictated by the Stellar Halo's fear of the U-Rank entity's exponential growth.
Inside the Sepulchre, Rudraunsh continued to consolidate his new gains. His four Shadow Legionnaires patrolled the building's mana borders, their silent vigilance maintaining the oppressive indigo atmosphere. Rudraunsh himself was focused on refining his core, which now registered at 155% of E-Rank Base capacity.
Sera, however, was immersed in the political game, using the "Sentinels of Necessity" pact to gather intelligence about the next target: the Spectral Lich of Gyeongju.
"Grand Marshall Sung-Hoon has accepted the terms, but he has initiated Operation: White Silence," Sera reported, projecting a massive, complex schematic of the East Sea coast onto the wall. "It's a counter-intelligence directive. They are flooding the secured facilities with redundant, passive defenses to make it impossible for you to steal anything, even with clearance."
The Deep-Sea Mana Containment Facility—the prison for the Spectral Lich—was a nightmare of layered security.
"The Lich is imprisoned 500 meters below the surface, encased in a triple-layered Light Mana Crystal Array," Sera continued. "The security isn't B-Rank personnel; it's S-Rank Automation."
[Logistical Hurdles and Political Maneuvering]
Rudraunsh studied the schematic. "Our C-Rank Legionnaires can handle the C-Rank Lich, but not if they have to breach layers of S-Rank Light Mana defenses. We need time to weaken the passive defenses without triggering an immediate, S-Rank military response."
"Exactly," Sera agreed, tapping a key point on the schematic: the main airlock transfer station, located 100 meters above the Lich's prison. "The facility relies on a continuous supply of highly filtered Light Mana Fuel Cells (LMC-7) to power the crystal array. If those fuel cells are contaminated or destabilized, the S-Rank defenses will naturally degrade over the next week."
Rudraunsh understood the assignment: this was a logistical sabotage mission, not a frontal assault.
"The pact gives us access to Gate cleanup sites. We use a cleanup site near the coast to justify our presence, and then we contaminate the fuel line," Rudraunsh determined.
Sera presented the second, more delicate problem: the spy. "Marshall Sung-Hoon sent a liaison to 'coordinate' our clean-up efforts under the pact. His name is Liaison Officer Hyun Kim. He's an A-Rank Intelligence Specialist, disguised as a D-Rank logistics officer. His primary mission is to assess your power and find a weakness in our operation."
"An A-Rank spy," Rudraunsh mused, leaning back. "That is acceptable. His presence confirms the Marshall's fear. We will use him."
[The Test of the Spy]
Rudraunsh's plan for Liaison Kim was not to eliminate him, but to utterly confound him—to provide proof that the Sentinels of Necessity were too powerful, too elusive, and too necessary to be contained.
Rudraunsh pulled two of the Shadow Legionnaires from the Sepulchre. "I need you to prepare two things, Sera. First, a heavily contaminated E-Rank monster core—enough to poison the Light Mana Fuel Cells. Second, a public debut for the Shadow Legionnaires."
"A public debut? Why?" Sera questioned, worried about exposing their C-Rank strength prematurely.
"To establish the narrative for the spy," Rudraunsh explained. "Liaison Kim needs to report that my 'army' operates independently, efficiently, and invisibly. You will take the two Legionnaires to the coastal E-Rank Gate cleanup site. You, the S-Rank Light Potential, will command two C-Rank shadows to clear the Gate. The Legionnaires will deliberately use only their physical attacks, hiding their Shadow Phase and Soul Chain Link abilities."
Rudraunsh tapped his expanded core. "I will remain in the Sepulchre, recovering core stability for the main mission. Kim will be forced to conclude that Sera Song is the true field commander, and the Necrotic Sovereign is merely the hidden, powerful asset who sustains the army."
This strategy achieved multiple goals:
* Protects Rudraunsh's U-Rank status by keeping him out of the field.
* Elevates Sera's apparent rank in the eyes of the Stellar Halo, confusing their threat matrix.
* Hides the full C-Rank capacity of the Legionnaires, saving their true abilities for the S-Rank automated defenses.
[A Subtle Glimmer of Affection]
Sera recognized the brilliance of the plan. It was a perfect strategic shield, but it also demanded immense trust.
"You are trusting me, an S-Rank Light Potential, to command your most valuable weapons in the field, alone," Sera noted, a hint of admiration in her voice.
"I trust your control, your tactical mind, and your need for efficiency," Rudraunsh replied simply. He then paused, his cold gaze softening slightly beneath the hood. "And if anything were to happen to the Sentinels of Necessity's face, the consequences for the Stellar Halo would be immediate and severe."
Sera took the compliment, knowing it was the highest form of assurance Rudraunsh could offer. She secured the contaminated E-Rank core and prepared her field gear, the stark white of her uniform a jarring contrast to the indigo gloom of the Sepulchre.
"I will handle Liaison Kim. I will give him a report that confuses his entire mission," Sera promised. "The Spectral Lich will wait."
Rudraunsh watched her move out of the Sepulchre, flanked by the two silent, formidable Shadow Legionnaires. The political game had begun, and the world's survival was entirely dependent on the perfect coordination between the ultimate Light and the necessary Dark.