Chapter 9: The Hidden Catastrophe Rank
[The System's Blindness]
The morning after neutralizing Officer Kang, Rudraunsh arrived at the main safe house: a high-end, secure apartment building that Sera maintained using her substantial family resources. It was a world away from the industrial sprawl, providing a brief but necessary respite.
Sera met him at the entrance, her expression strictly professional. "Kang filed a report citing 'extreme psychological distress' and 'unclassified magical assault.' He mentioned an unkillable, obsidian entity," she confirmed, offering a rare, almost imperceptible smirk. "The bureaucracy is burying it. The Stellar Halo thinks he suffered a breakdown."
"Good," Rudraunsh replied, stepping inside. He felt the need to formalize his status. He needed an official Hunter Rank to access higher-grade materials without relying solely on the dangerous Black Market. "I need to register my class again. I need to move past E-Rank."
Sera led him to a dedicated private Hunter Registration Terminal she had installed. It was illegal, but far safer than walking into a public Guild Hall.
"Your rank won't change, Rudraunsh. The system is designed to measure mana pool, aura density, and raw physical strength," Sera warned, activating the device. "Your Undying Authority cheats the system by trading your core energy for perfect resilience, which the system can't quantify."
Rudraunsh ignored her, placing his palm on the glowing registration plate.
"Initiating Class and Rank Re-evaluation," the cold, mechanical voice of the System terminal announced.
The process began with a deep mana scan. Rudraunsh pushed his internal energy to its limit. His mana pool was small, but the quality—the dense, dark energy of the Immortal Dao—was terrifyingly potent.
The terminal flashed:
> [Hunter Identity: Rudraunsh Kurozan]
> Registered Rank: E-Rank (Confirmed)
> Mana Density: Low (E)
> Aura Output: Low (E)
>
"See?" Sera muttered. "It's judging your capacity, not your utility."
Rudraunsh wasn't finished. He focused on the Immortal Sepulchre, calling on the stored essence of his two Steelbone Warriors. He didn't summon them physically; he merely opened the internal gate, allowing their terrifying, refined D-Rank Necrotic energy to bleed into his aura.
The terminal lights flickered violently, cycling through red, orange, and back to white. The cold, mechanical voice wavered.
[The System's Rejection]
The terminal, sensing a sudden, massive influx of power that did not originate from Rudraunsh's physical body, tried desperately to categorize the anomaly.
Classification Error. Mana Signature Unidentified. Energy Trace: Catastrophic.
The screen flashed a series of urgent, red warnings, bypassing the simple ranking system entirely.
> [WARNING: SYSTEM OVERLOAD]
> Classification Attempt: Necromancer (High-Grade Forbidden)
> System Result: FAILED. Signature exceeds known parameters.
> Anomaly Status: THREAT LEVEL UNSTABLE.
> Final Rank Designation: U-RANK (Unquantifiable/Unstable)
> Registration Status: BLOCKED. Subject is classified as an Institutional Outcast.
> Note: Recommended immediate isolation and neutralization protocol.
>
A grim silence settled in the room. Rudraunsh removed his hand from the terminal, a chilling sense of validation settling over him. He had officially been branded U-RANK, a status that meant he was not just weak, but fundamentally broken and dangerous in the eyes of the established world.
"U-Rank," Sera whispered, staring at the flashing red message. "They didn't just reject you; they categorized you as a flaw in their entire reality."
"It means they can't stop me, not even with their system," Rudraunsh stated calmly. "It means every victory I achieve, every monster I kill, will be uncredited and untraceable. I am officially an anti-Hunter."
He had secured the title he needed: the ultimate outlaw.
[A New Alliance, A Deeper Trust]
Sera deactivated the terminal. She approached Rudraunsh, her eyes alight with fascination and a dark excitement.
"The Stellar Halo will never tolerate an Unstable existence. They will mobilize higher-ranked Hunters when they realize Kang's report was true," she said, her voice dropping to a serious tone. "We need a permanent base of operations, and we need a cover identity for your activities."
She pulled out a complex, handwritten blueprint.
"I acquired the deed to the old Dongdaemun Gate building—the same abandoned structure near the alley where you first summoned. It's condemned, has a stable mana leak, and is perfectly positioned for undetectable Gate runs."
"The Gate is sealed," Rudraunsh pointed out.
"But the mana is leaking," Sera corrected. "We will convert the structure into our headquarters. We will call it The Immortal Sepulchre."
Rudraunsh's eyes narrowed slightly. The name was identical to the internal dimension where he stored his Steelbone Warriors. It was a massive leap of faith and trust for Sera to propose using his private term for their external headquarters.
"You trust me that much?" Rudraunsh asked, genuinely surprised.
Sera met his gaze, the professionalism finally cracking to reveal a deep, earnest sincerity. "I trust your power, and I trust your code. You didn't kill Kang, despite the danger he represented. You are the only source of absolute power who chooses restraint. I need that protection, and I need that necessity."
She took his hand, her warm, S-Rank Light mana contrasting sharply with his cold, U-Rank dark energy. It was the first time their hands had met without the barrier of a transaction.
"I won't be an asset to the Stellar Halo. I will be your partner, Rudraunsh. We will build The Immortal Sepulchre together, and we will rise to the ranks they tried to deny us."
Rudraunsh felt the profound weight of her trust. It was not just an alliance of strategy; it was the genesis of their shared destiny. He squeezed her hand gently—the first hint of affection beyond mere professionalism.
"Then let's build the Sepulchre, Sera," he agreed. "And let the world chase a ghost."
[The Imminent Catastrophe]
As they stood there, hands clasped, a violent red alert suddenly flashed on Sera's private network terminal, overriding all other screens.
> [URGENT FIELD ALERT]
> Threat Designation: MID-LEVEL GATE BREACH (Level C)
> Location: Central Commercial District, Seoul.
> Status: UNCONTAINED. Primary Response Team (B-Rank) required.
> Note: Breach severity rapidly escalating. Potential for regional Contagion.
>
The alarm blared, jarring them out of their intimate moment.
"A C-Rank breach," Sera whispered, her face pale. "In the city center. That's too much for the local D and E ranks. The Stellar Halo is mobilizing their main forces."
Rudraunsh looked at the coordinates. The breach was only fifteen minutes away, right in the heart of Seoul. This was the moment of truth—the opportunity to prove his necessity to the very public that would eventually worship him.
"This is it," Rudraunsh stated, pulling his hand free to retrieve his cloak. "Phase 1: The Outcast Savior. I have D-Rank Steelbone Warriors, and I am the only U-Rank on the map."
He looked at Sera. "I am going to that breach. I will clear it before the Stellar Halo can arrive. I will show them what an 'Institutional Outcast' can do."
He didn't need the system's recognition. He needed the public's survival.