Chapter 19: The Coastal Deception (Confounding the Spy)
[The Stage for Deception]
The coastal region near Busan, designated for an E-Rank Gate cleanup, was ideal for the deception. The terrain was rocky and volatile, and the Stellar Halo security perimeter was thin, relying heavily on automated surveillance that Sera's network could easily manage.
Sera arrived in a utilitarian Guild transport, accompanied by the two Shadow Legionnaires and met by Liaison Hyun Kim. Kim, an A-Rank Intelligence Specialist disguised in a D-Rank logistic officer's uniform, radiated an artificial calmness. His eyes, however, betrayed the sharp, ceaseless calculation of a seasoned spy attempting to categorize a ghost.
"Liaison Kim," Sera greeted him coolly, offering no warmth. "I trust the Marshall's orders regarding the Sentinels of Necessity were clear."
"Perfectly clear, Commander Song," Kim replied, his voice smooth and professional. He immediately scanned the two imposing Shadow Legionnaires. "These are the 'Shadow Sentinels' the reports mentioned. Impressive durability, though the Necrotic signature is... concerning."
"They are necessary," Sera corrected, allowing a hint of cold pride to enter her voice. She had deliberately brought only two Legionnaires, saving the other two and the four new ones from The Necrotic Sovereign's next evolution to keep Rudraunsh's true force hidden.
The E-Rank Gate was small but active, spewing out minor, chitinous Coral Stalkers. The creatures posed little threat, but the Gate's continuous energy output provided the perfect cover for a localized, aggressive cleanup.
"We will commence the core extraction immediately," Sera announced, bypassing the formality of a field debrief. "Shadows One and Two, form a perimeter. No contamination to spread."
[The Battle of Misdirection]
As the two Shadow Legionnaires engaged the wave of Coral Stalkers, Sera began her performance. She maintained a posture of intense, focused command, positioning herself as the sole tactical brain behind the terrifying constructs.
The Legionnaires fought with visible, brute C-Rank force. Their strikes were powerful, their armor immortal, and their movement was fluid. They absorbed the Coral Stalkers' brittle attacks without flinching, instantly repairing every crack and chip. But they moved in predictable, physical patterns.
Crucially, per Rudraunsh's instructions, they did not use their C-Rank abilities: no Shadow Phase infiltration, no Soul Chain Link drain. They were merely perfectly immortal D-Rank brawlers.
Liaison Kim observed every move, his D-Rank scanner working overtime. He was specifically looking for the link between the constructs and the U-Rank Necromancer.
He tried a casual probe. "Commander Song, your Necromancer is remarkably skilled in command optimization. Maintaining such durable constructs must cost a king's ransom in mana. How does your associate manage the sustained load?"
Sera offered a vague, confident reply. "The Necrotic Sovereign's authority is absolute. The cost is not relevant when the resource is limitless. My role is to ensure the efficiency of the application."
Her answer deflected the question of Rudraunsh's core capacity and instead focused on the concept of his power—the endless nature of his ability.
Kim was forced to conclude: The Necromancer is likely a high-Sustain Type, specializing in defensive immortality, and his power is so stable that Commander Song can command his units remotely without fear of failure.
[The Sabotage Operation]
The deception was working, but the core mission had to be completed. Sera moved closer to the sealed service access panel leading to the facility's underwater fuel line—the perfect point for injecting the contaminated core.
"The Gate is stabilizing," Sera announced loudly. "Shadow One, clear the area around the coastal power relay. We need to install the purification anchor."
Shadow One moved instantly toward the designated area—which was actually the fuel line access point.
Liaison Kim intercepted her, a look of polite concern on his face. "Commander Song, my logistics team can handle the anchor installation. It's a D-Rank electrical component, simple work."
"It's a delicate operation requiring a stable mana source," Sera countered, her S-Rank aura briefly flaring to emphasize her superior rank. "My Sentinels are the only entities here with the necessary spiritual stillness to prevent mana spillage. They are necessary."
Kim backed down, realizing he couldn't push an S-Rank on a minor detail without revealing his true mission.
As Shadow One reached the access panel, it performed a brief, simple action: it placed the highly contaminated E-Rank core (which Sera had handed off discreetly) near the main intake valve of the fuel line. The contamination wasn't a sudden explosion; it was a slow, invisible, Necrotic poison that would gradually seep into the LMC-7 Light Mana Fuel Cells.
[The Perfect Report]
Within minutes, the E-Rank Gate was fully cleared, the core extracted, and the Shadow Legionnaires were standing at attention, their mission executed flawlessly.
As they boarded the transport back to Seoul, Sera watched Kim typing his field report, confident in the data he would transmit.
Liaison Hyun Kim's Report Summary (Internal Stellar Halo Encrypted Channel):
* U-Rank Entity's Power: Confirmed to be a defensive, high-sustain Necromancer. His C-Rank summons demonstrate incredible durability but limited offensive capabilities and no apparent spiritual attack capacity. (Rudraunsh successfully hid their new abilities).
* Field Command: Commander Sera Song (S-Rank) is the operational field leader and primary strategist. She exercises absolute authority over the constructs, suggesting a stable, deep-seated partnership with the U-Rank entity.
* Threat Assessment: The U-Rank entity is a fixed defensive asset, relying on the durability of its base (The Immortal Sepulchre) and its constructs. The greatest threat is Commander Song's tactical genius and the entity's ability to sustain an endless, low-level siege.
* Recommendation: Do not engage the Sepulchre directly with anything less than a fully prepared S-Rank team. Focus on isolating Commander Song and disrupting her supply lines, as the Necromancer appears static.
Sera internally smirked. The A-Rank spy had fallen for every single line of misdirection, providing the Stellar Halo with a fundamentally wrong assessment of the Necrotic Sovereign's power—exactly what Rudraunsh needed.
[The Strategic Waiting Game]
Sera returned to the Sepulchre, reporting the success of the sabotage. Rudraunsh, still meditating, absorbed the details with quiet satisfaction.
"Kim's report gives us exactly one week of safety," Rudraunsh stated, his voice resonating from the shadows. "The S-Rank Automation in the deep-sea facility relies on pure Light Mana. The contaminated fuel will take seven days to fully degrade the Light Mana Crystal Array surrounding the Spectral Lich."
"Seven days," Sera confirmed. "That is our window. We strike when the S-Rank defenses are at their weakest and the Stellar Halo is confident in their false intelligence."
The remaining six Shadow Legionnaires (four C-Rank, two D-Rank spares) stood silently in the indigo light. Rudraunsh felt his core, now stable at 155% High D-Rank capacity. He had not used a single unit of mana during the whole operation.
He looked at Sera, the strategic trust deepening into something more profound. "Thank you, Sera. You have given us the gift of time."
Sera simply nodded, her professionalism briefly yielding to a spark of genuine admiration for their joint strategy. "You are the necessary shadow, Rudraunsh. I am merely the light that guides your blade."
The wait began. Seven days of silence, recovery, and preparation while the S-Rank enemy unknowingly weakened its own defenses. The next stage, the confrontation with the Spectral Lich and the subsequent personal upgrade, would be the true test of their C-Rank capacity.