After establishing the rank system, the underground base remained silent for a few seconds.
The weight of Ansh's words still lingered in the air.
Then—
Ansh shifted his gaze toward the old man.
"Now that the structure is clear…"
"…it's time to assign positions."
The old man gave a slight nod.
"I have already evaluated their capabilities."
"Good," Ansh replied. "Then proceed."
Without wasting time, the old man stepped forward.
A commanding aura naturally spread from him.
Even without raising his voice—
everyone instinctively straightened.
"I will now assign the highest operational ranks."
His gaze moved toward the three standing in front.
"The Shadow Generals."
A brief pause.
Then—
he gestured toward the bodyguard.
"Step forward."
The man obeyed instantly.
The old man spoke,
"From this moment onward…"
"You will hold the position of Shadow General."
"Code: SG-01."
A slight pause.
"Your name—"
He looked at him calmly.
"…Kael."
Ansh raised an eyebrow slightly.
Kael.
It suited him.
Cold.
Direct.
Sharp.
Kael gave a short nod.
No emotion.
No hesitation.
"Understood."
The old man then turned toward Alina.
"Step forward."
Alina moved ahead calmly.
Her expression had already regained its composure.
"You will hold the position of Shadow General."
"Code: SG-02."
A brief pause.
"Your name remains unchanged."
"…Alina."
She nodded slightly.
"I understand."
Then—
the old man turned toward the man standing in the middle.
For a moment—
even his gaze sharpened.
"Step forward."
The man walked forward slowly.
His presence—
heavier than the others.
"You will hold the position of Shadow General."
"Code: SG-03."
A brief pause.
Then—
"Your name…"
"…Rudra."
A faint silence followed.
The name itself carried weight.
Rudra didn't react much.
But his eyes—
held a quiet intensity.
"I accept."
The three stood side by side now.
Kael.
Alina.
Rudra.
The three pillars beneath the old man.
Ansh watched them carefully.
Good…
This is exactly what I need.
The old man then turned toward Ansh.
"The Shadow Generals have been assigned."
Ansh nodded.
"Proceed with their roles."
The old man stepped slightly aside.
Allowing Ansh to take over.
Ansh walked forward.
His presence—
calm, yet commanding.
He stopped in front of the three.
"From this moment onward…"
"You are no longer just fighters."
"You are leaders."
A brief pause.
"And each of you…"
"…will carry a different responsibility."
He turned toward Kael first.
"Kael."
Kael's eyes met his instantly.
"You will lead a special unit."
"A unit that exists for one purpose only—"
"…assassination."
The atmosphere tightened slightly.
"This team will operate directly under you."
"They will not answer to anyone else…"
"…except you, the old man…"
"…and me."
Kael didn't hesitate.
"What about recruitment?"
Ansh replied instantly,
"You choose them."
"You train them."
"You build them."
A faint pause.
"The initial members will be selected from the core."
"There will be thirteen."
Kael nodded.
"I understand."
Ansh leaned slightly forward.
"And one more thing."
Kael remained silent.
"This unit…"
"…will be the blade of this organization."
"Make sure it never dulls."
A brief silence.
Then—
"It won't."
Ansh smiled faintly.
Good.
He then turned toward Rudra.
"Rudra."
Rudra stepped forward slightly.
"You will oversee expansion."
"Eleven states."
"Twenty-two members already assigned."
A pause.
"Your job is simple—"
"Spread our influence."
"Build networks."
"Strengthen our presence."
Rudra spoke calmly,
"And authority?"
"You have full authority over regional operations," Ansh replied.
"Recruitment, alliances, executions—"
"…all under your control."
A brief pause.
"Your first task—"
"Each state needs a face."
"Someone who represents us locally."
Rudra nodded.
"I'll select them."
Ansh added calmly,
"Trust is not required."
That made Rudra pause slightly.
Ansh continued,
"After the system descent…"
"…betrayal won't be an option."
Rudra didn't question it.
He simply nodded.
"Understood."
Then—
Ansh turned toward Alina.
"Alina."
She stepped forward.
Her expression calm.
Professional.
"You will handle negotiations."
"Deals."
"Money."
"Resources."
A brief pause.
"You will control the backbone of this organization."
Alina listened carefully.
"You can select people to assist you."
"Build your own team."
She nodded.
"I will."
Ansh looked at her for a moment.
Then added—
"And make sure…"
"…we never run out of resources."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"That won't happen."
Ansh stepped back slightly.
Then looked at all three.
"You will report to him."
He gestured toward the old man.
"He manages everything."
A brief pause.
"And I…"
He turned slightly.
"…will manage everything above that."
No one questioned it.
No one needed to.
Because at this point—
they all understood.
He was the one behind everything.
The one pulling the strings.
The one shaping the future.
A brief silence followed.
Then—
Ansh spoke again.
"One more thing."
Everyone focused again.
"This organization…"
"…needs a name."
Silence.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
Ansh's lips curved slightly.
"…Eclipse."
The word echoed through the underground base.
Cold.
Mysterious.
Absolute.
"A shadow that devours light."
"A presence that cannot be ignored."
"A force that arrives…"
"…and everything disappears."
No one spoke.
But everyone felt it.
This name—
fit perfectly.
The old man nodded slowly.
"…Eclipse."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Appropriate."
Ansh turned toward him.
"Start preparations."
The old man nodded.
"I will contact the target organization."
Ansh continued,
"Within ten days…"
"I want one organization completely destroyed."
A brief silence.
The weight of that command—
heavy.
Absolute.
"And after that—"
"We take only ten more assassination orders."
He glanced toward Kael.
"Handled by your unit."
Kael nodded.
"Understood."
Ansh then looked toward the old man again.
"After that…"
"You focus on reaching the Eighth Trigram."
A rare pause from the old man.
"…Understood."
Then—
"Alina."
She stepped forward slightly.
"Work with him."
"Start gathering weapons."
"Mass quantity."
"Survival supplies."
"Food."
"No limits."
Alina nodded.
"I'll handle it."
Ansh exhaled slowly.
"…That's all."
For a moment—
no one moved.
Then—
"One by one…"
They began to disperse.
Each with their own task.
Each with their own role.
Each becoming a piece—
of something far greater.
Soon—
only Ansh remained.
Standing alone.
Silent.
Still.
After a few seconds—
he turned.
And walked out.
Back to the surface.
Back to the mansion.
Back to his room.
The moment he entered—
he locked the door.
Then walked toward a drawer.
And pulled out—
a scroll.
On it—
one line was written:
"Eighth Trigram – Practice Form."
Ansh stared at it quietly.
Then sat down.
His expression—
completely focused.
"I don't have time to waste…"
He slowly unrolled it.
His eyes scanning every detail.
Every movement.
Every instruction.
This…
was different.
This wasn't something ordinary.
This was something created specifically—
for the Ashbound bloodline.
Something his great-grandfather had left behind.
A method…
to surpass limits.
A method…
to prepare for something greater.
Ansh took a deep breath.
Then—
closed his eyes.
And began.
Because while the world outside slowly moved…
While Eclipse began its first steps in the shadows…
Ansh—
was preparing himself.
For what was coming next.
And whatever it was—
he intended to be ready.