Awkward Trip Before the Blast

"Artifact retrieval, A rank quest, priority 'First Ark'. We will be diving into the center like droplets in the sea, I need one Aggressor, and one Watcher. Obrez and Blast must defend me at all cost, Woez will be the Watcher and Pitka will be switching between Vanguard and Aggressor with Libera." Your leader then looks at you and Lues, "Adapt and improvise."

Ark Priority, just like the ship that Noah built to preserve life for the next generation to come. Recalling the contents within the documents on the hotel, it means as follows: Because the Citadel's position isn't mobile such as that of a Landship, which means that the Vagants need to prevent any future catastrophe—

'Ark' is the trait of the mission on how much weight you carry on your shoulder for the survival of the whole, everyone can make an ark this way, but the weight for each of them is different

The First Ark, priority of life. Come back alive, first and foremost. Re-estimate, plan again, and strike again with a better grasp. It is the coward who kills the dragon. Do not be ashamed to retreat.

The Second Ark, the mission is important. The reason you are deployed, the reason you are chosen. The reason we still live.

The Third Ark, the success of this mission not only will matter to your pay grade, but to the people who need protection. We fight naught for greed, we fight for our families. We fight to protect, until there is nothing to protect.

The Last Ark, there's no going back. It is a one-way road. Your duties and responsibilities fall upon you, failure is not an option.

Or so to speak, those were some that you remember from the top of your head. Such condescending words given to their employees. Of course, with each rule implemented, with each oath, there's a special silver lining for the special situations that can happen in this godforsaken world.

The Angel Ark, the God Ark, the Decade Ark, all the little details they decide to add just for the unfortunate occasions. You hope not to see them soon in your briefings.

Ratatoskr then shows what will be expected in the magical holograms as she continues, "The ancient structures have been preserved by dense void fluctuations, resulting in many B-rank Calamities. And one of them is what I want both Libera and Pitka to neutralize temporarily.."

"Temporarily?" ask Lues. "How about a capture?"

The holograms show a mole rat with golden armor in flaming pattern, the back of the beast is a flaming ball akin to those in the sky but on a smaller scale.

"Apparently, even if we can capture this Calamity, we can't bring it home due to its size and its Grade Eight resilience," replies your leader.

Now you're wondering how big it is.

The briefing was short and precise, your leader only reminds you of the terrain and how to deal with every Calamities in the area. As master strategists say, 'Know your enemies and yourself'. Ratatoskr is qualified to lead and you believe in her—if only she stops forcing a terrible smile when both of your gaze meets, as a junior Tactician, you need to absorb as much knowledge as you can from your superior but it's hard if she sees you as a troublesome child in her eyes.

'I need to prove my competency somehow!'

And making your coworkers like you is one of them! Obrez seems really quiet, you're wondering if he can speak a Russian or two. Woez is already waging war with you and Lues for no reason, in-between those moments, she looks calm and composed. Blast is the tricky one, and unlies Woez and Obrez, he is an A-rank akin to Ratatoskr.

Lues who is bored, snatches Goyang away from your cradle and into her.

Estimation: 4 minutes before arriving.

You decided to strike a conversation in the rather silent and stiff atmosphere.

"So how long did all of you work for Vagant?"

Ratatoskr's forehead pales again as it sharpens her grey eyes, as if you made a heavy mistake by asking.

'Why!? Is asking how long you work for Vagant taboo??'

Woez who's unfazed, ironically saves the day. "Ratatoskr and I joined the same day around two years ago, Obrez came one year after and Blast is someone we babysit."

"If I'm a baby then Ollie would be a Fetus," says Blast.

"I'm older than every single one of you!" A faint feminine voice can be heard from Blast's machinery, the masked man then takes the source of the voice and holds it in front of him. "AND HOW MANY TIMES DO I TOLD YOU TO NOT PUT ME ON THAT MACHINE!?"

"I thought you would find it comfy there, it's warm, yes?" says the perpetrator.

"I'M NOT A BIRD! Also, who are these new faces?"

You immediately try to answer enthusiastically, while subconsciously looking like you're angry due to your anxiety, "Pitka! And this one is Libera, my sister." As you gesture towards Lues.

You can see a silhouette resembling Tanomobi inside the bottle. "Oohoho! Such rich mana coming from you two! The name's Ollie! Also, the lady with a peaked cap needs to restrain her excessive elemental essences. Because everyone here has been cultivating it besides Blast."

"Eugh!?" says everyone simultaneously except Lues, you, Blast, and his bottle.

So every elemental essence you let go in the air can be used, this is bad as your adversary can use it when you face them. Then again, the fact that you've become a walking aromatic nourisher, means you can empower your allies and friends tremendously! This mindset clouds your question about why there is a sentient being inside the bottle.

You let out a convincing smile so that the other won't be guilty of taking your elemental essences. "Just take as much as you want, I'm not mad."

They immediately stopped cultivating your elemental essence.

'WHY!?'

Not long after, you peeks through the small window to see the ruins of a metropolis from your past era. The void might have preserved it but the life within didn't last.

Ratatoskr stands up. "Everyone, welcome to the 'Ancient Work', buckle up and prepare to dive in."