The System light pulsed again, resuming the flow of information directly into Cid's mind. The pause had served to
cement the magnitude of the revelation: Knull, the Primordial Void manifested, the true supreme enemy. This was the
ultimate shadow fight.
[The System: Knull forged his army and his tools from the darkness itself. The symbiotes are not mere parasites; they are
living extensions of his being, designed to consume, corrupt, and expand the void. He hurled these creations against the
light. Entire worlds were engulfed. Realities terrorized.]
Fleeting images, like echoes of an ancient and violent history, flickered in the periphery of Cid's consciousness: planets
being devoured by a black tide, entire civilizations succumbing to madness and transformation. It was the total war of
the void against existence.
[The System: Though eventually contained, its influence never fully ceased. Its creations, the scattered symbiotes, have
adapted and, in some cases, developed their own wills. But the primordial connection to Knull persists. And now, with
his awakening, he seeks to reunite them and reassert his dominance over the multiverse.]
Cid absorbed the information. The symbiotes. Living darkness born from the essence of the void god. It made sense. The
Cult, in its previous, mundane form, had always been a pale echo of something larger. Knull was that original echo.
Cid thought, So the 'Cult' I fought was just a low-level sect... perhaps even a deviation from Knull's original plan. The real
threat is his primordial children and the returning father. This raises the bar significantly. The Eminence game requires
worthy targets. And the Architect of Darkness is the most worthy of all.
[The System: Our mission, the mission of the Cosmic Allied Organization, is not to destroy him. In his current weakened
state, a direct attack could unleash uncontrollable chaotic energies that would irreparably damage the fabric of the
multiverse. The goal is... containment. We must imprison Knull again while he is still vulnerable, before he regains his full
power and musters his most powerful creations.]
Containment. An elegant strategy in its subtlety. Not brute force, but strategic maneuvering to neutralize the enemy.
This resonated with the aesthetic of the Shadowed Eminence.
Cid thought: Containment... a plan worthy of the subtlety of shadows. Not a noisy confrontation, but a surgical
operation to isolate the source of the evil. As a Level 7 Agent, my role in this covert operation will be crucial.
[The System: This mission requires assets with unique capabilities. Assets that operate outside of Knull's standard
networks of influence. Most entities and champions in this multiverse have inherent weaknesses that Knull can exploit,
or are detectable by his ever-present symbiotic web. You, Cid Kagenou, are one of those unique assets.]
The light figure focused on him. The data projection intensified, explaining the extradimensional nature of his existence
and how his particular type of energy (Mana from the Sixth Cosmos, but manipulated in such a fundamental way that it
transcended the norms) made him "invisible" or irrelevant to most of Knull's detections, which relied on symbiotic
resonance, or the life energy of Creation.
[The System: Your origin outside this plane, your fundamental manipulation of energy that breaks the patterns of
Creation, grants you inherent immunity to Knull's detection. You are a blind spot in his network.]
Cid nodded gravely. He knew it was special, but he didn't know the scale. A blind spot in the god of darkness's network.
A perfect tool for infiltration.
Cid thought: A blind spot... Of course. The Level 7 Agent must operate where no one else can. My very existence is a
form of strategic camouflage on a cosmic scale. I anticipated it.
[The System: But you're not the only asset identified. There's another. Someone whose connection to the Abyss, to the
primordial shadows, is... unusual. A connection that, while potentially risky if Knull were at his full power, in this state
offers us a unique opportunity. Someone whose mastery over the shadows is not a creation, but a claim from the void.]
Another figure began to form in the data projection, a powerful silhouette surrounded by a palpable, shadowy aura.
Jinwoo. The Monarch.
[The System: Sung Jinwoo. The Shadow Monarch. His power stems from a source that resonates with the Primordial
Void, but which he has... subjugated. His shadow army is an extension of his will, not Knull's domain. He also operates
outside of Knull's detectable network, and his control over the darkness may be key to containment.]
Jinwoo's figure solidified in his mind. The taciturn, absurdly strong figure from the Nexus. Cid had "spotted" him as an
"asset of interest" during the conflict. Now he knew why. His power... the shadow... resonated with the ultimate enemy.
Cid thought: Sung Jinwoo... the "other" I sensed. A worthy rival... or rather, a temporary strategic-level ally for this
mission. His 'control' over the void... interesting. The Level 7 Agent needs a partner for high-risk operations. He'll be...
the 'Local Contact' or perhaps the 'Designated Shadow Asset'.
[The System: This mission requires the cooperation of both assets. Their skills complement each other in a way that is
critical to infiltrating Knull's domain, overcoming his defenses, and implementing the containment protocol. Cid Kagenou,
your first task as a Level 7 Agent is... to locate and recruit Sung Jinwoo. You must inform him of the true threat and
secure his cooperation.]
The directive was clear: Go find the Shadow Monarch. The first critical mission assigned directly by the Cosmic Allied
Organization.
Cid straightened, the seriousness of the task etched in his posture. This was the kind of high-impact, covert mission he
was born to perform. Locate a key asset, draw him into the real conflict, and assemble a team to confront the god of
darkness.
Cid thought: Locate... recruit... inform. The high-level diplomacy of a Level 7 Agent. I must proceed with the utmost
subtlety and demonstrate the Cosmic Allied Organization's credibility. Jinwoo is a powerful asset, but... he might be
reluctant. I'll have to be... persuasive. Or perhaps just demonstrate the urgency of the threat. Yes, that's more my style.
[The System: Once Sung Jinwoo has accepted the mission, you will be provided with the coordinates and method of
transit to Knull's domain. Time is a factor. Knull grows stronger with every moment.]
The System's light figure began to dissipate, the briefing coming to an end. The vast energy chamber remained, but the
intense presence retreated, leaving Cid with the weight of the information and the task at hand.
Alone in the vast expanse of the central base, beneath Shadow's mask, a subtle spark of anticipation flickered in Cid's
eyes. The mission had begun. The search for the 'Designated Shadow Asset' for Operation Evil Source Containment.
Cid thought: Toward the 'Sung Jinwoo' Operational Sector. First step... identify their location. The Cosmic Allied
Organization never fails. And the Level 7 Agent... even less so.
.
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