Chapter 9: Departure

The day had finally arrived. Soujin stood in front of his squad, eyeing them all with a determined gaze. The members still looked like they wanted to eat him alive.

"Good morning, you badasses!" Soujin greeted them, attempting to break the tension with a touch of humor.

His attempt fell flat. The squad members remained stone-faced, unimpressed by his effort.

“Still no reaction for that one, huh? Alright, let's get to it," he said, pulling out a list. "I’ve taken note of everyone's strengths and weaknesses. Here are your positions for today's mission."

Cera stepped forward, arms crossed, eyes narrowing. "What do you mean 'for the day'? Once you assign ranks, they’re final."

Soujin scratched his head, clearly perplexed. "Who decided that?"

Bellar stepped up beside Cera, looking exasperated. "That's how the squads are supposed to be," she said patiently, though her tone carried an edge of annoyance.

Before the conversation could continue, a young boy interrupted, his presence a sharp contrast to the grim atmosphere. He was one of the few who had gone to wake up Bellar and Cera the other day. Although he was embarrassed to see them half-dressed that day, today he was in full energetic spirit. He was the least gangster-looking of the lot. In fact, he looked like a handsome boy caught in the wrong crowd.

He stepped forward with a confident smile. "Hey, Captain. I'm Xero Shinmoto, one of the three strategists," he introduced himself, giving a respectful nod. "Allow me to explain the ranking system."

Soujin raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Go on, Xero."

Xero nodded, his demeanor professional. "The ranking system is pretty straightforward. At the top, we have the Captain. Then, the two Lieutenants," he gestured to Cera and Bellar, "followed by the three Tacticians, which includes myself."

He continued, "After us, there are the top ten fighters, ranked based on their combat abilities from one to ten. Following them are the four medics, essential for any mission, and finally, the rest of the squad fills in various support roles."

Soujin nodded slowly, understanding the logic. "Alright, I get it. Thanks for the explanation, Xero."

Xero grinned, clearly pleased to have been of help. "No problem, Captain. Just doing my part."

Soujin turned back to the squad trying to look serious. "Alright, let's get to work. Today, we prove why Squad 3 is the best."

Cera and Bellar exchanged a glance, the mischief in their eyes momentarily replaced by a flicker of respect.

Soujin began to lead his squad towards the gate, their mission weighing heavily on his mind. As they approached the exit, they encountered Muffet and her squad, standing ready for their own mission. Muffet, with her signature mischievous grin, stepped forward to greet Soujin.

"Well, well, if it isn't Captain Soujin and his merry band of misfits," she teased, her tone light but with an edge that suggested she enjoyed poking fun at him.

Soujin smiled back, trying to match her energy. "Morning, Muffet. We're all set and ready to go. Got everything in order today."

Muffet chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Is that so? Let's hope your 'order' keeps you alive out there."

Soujin's smile wavered slightly, but he held his ground. "Don't worry about us. We're tougher than we look."

Muffet's eyes sparkled with a hint of something unreadable. "Just try not to die, Soujin. Or worse, don't become like me."

Soujin frowned, puzzled by her words. "What do you mean by that, Muffet?"

She simply winked and turned away, her squad following her as they headed out on their mission. "You'll figure it out," she called over her shoulder, leaving Soujin standing there, perplexed and thoughtful.

While seeing her go, he couldn't help but wonder about the meaning behind her words. What had she been talking about? Shaking off his confusion, he turned back to his squad, determination hardening his resolve.

"Alright, everyone," he said, his voice steady. "Let's move out. We've got a job to do."

Cera and Bellar exchanged glances, sensing the seriousness in his tone. They nodded in unison, falling into step behind him as they marched towards their mission.

As they journeyed towards the Senodokidatsu forest, the tension within the squad simmered beneath the surface. The forest loomed with a dark and foreboding appearance, but Soujin's focus was on keeping his squad united and prepared.

Suddenly, Cera darted ahead of the group, moving further into the forest with reckless speed. Soujin groaned inwardly, knowing that this could only lead to trouble.

"Hey, Cera!" he called out. "That's dangerous. You need to stick with the group."

Cera glanced back with a pout. "What's your problem, Cap? I can handle myself you know."

Soujin face palmed. “You’re gonna keep acting this way aren’t you? Not following my rules and stuff? You should at least try to care about the squad more than yourself sometimes."

Before he could say more, Bellar chimed in with a sharp tone. "Cera, follow the captain's orders. Unless you really are just a little girl who needs to prove something."

Cera's eyes flared with anger. "What did you just say?" She spun around, fists clenched, ready to launch herself at Bellar.

The squad tensed, anticipating a clash. Soujin quickly stepped between them, raising his hands in a calming gesture. "Enough! We don't have time for this. We're about to enter enemy territory, and we need to be united, not at each other's throats."

Cera's glare was like daggers, but she didn't move. Bellar's had a very smug look on her face.

"Listen," Soujin continued. "This mission is too important to have you two start fighting. So, Cera, fall back in line. Bellar, keep your comments to yourself."

Cera huffed, clearly still fuming, but she stepped back into formation. Bellar shrugged nonchalantly, but she didn't say anything more.

"Good," Soujin said, relieved. "Let's move out. Stay alert and stick together."

They progressed further into the forest, the dense foliage closing in around them. The atmosphere grew tense as they neared the area where the Senodokidatsu monsters were known to gather. The squad members remained vigilant, their senses on high alert for any sign of danger.

Cera broke the silence, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Hey, Cap, how much you getting paid for this mission?"

Soujin glanced at her, caught off guard by the question. "A lot. That's all the Head Captain told me."

Cera raised an eyebrow. "A lot? That's pretty vague, don't you think?"

Soujin shrugged, trying to maintain his composure. "Yeah, well, that's how it is sometimes."

As they continued walking, Soujin's thoughts began to drift. Since reincarnating, he hadn't really considered how the financial side of things worked in this world. He just knew he needed money. The recent upgrade to the squad building had taken every penny he had, and the thought of it made him cringe inwardly.

He cried in his mind, the image of his empty wallet haunting him. "How did I get into this mess?" he thought, then tried to cheer himself up on the inside creating the image of completing the mission and a thumbs up from Head Captain will with a money bag handed to him. "I just need to make sure this mission goes well. Maybe then things will start looking up."

The squad moved quietly, their footsteps barely making a sound on the forest floor. Soujin shook off his worries and refocused on the task at hand. They were now getting deep in enemy territory.

Cera fell back into line beside him, still grumbling about the vague payment details. Bellar shot her a warning glance, but Soujin raised a hand to stop any further argument. "Stay focused, everyone. We're getting close."

They pressed on, the forest growing darker and more ominous with each step.

The squad arrived at the edge of the Senodokidatsu forest where the trees loomed tall and the underbrush was thick and tangled. The landscape became more foreboding with shadows that grew longer and darker.

Green-colored Senodokidatsu were scattered throughout the forest, their beady eyes turning towards the group. These creatures were the most common and least threatening among the Senodokidatsu, but they still posed a moderate threat to the Divine Blades. Resembling oversized pests in shape and size, they moved in unpredictable patterns, making them a nuisance to deal with.

Soujin gestured for the squad to spread out and remain vigilant. "Alright, everyone, keep your guard up. These might be the least threatening of the bunch, but that doesn’t mean we can let our guard down."

Cera moved ahead of the group scanning the area with sharp focus. "I don't see what the big deal is, these are weaklings," she muttered. "These things look like oversized cockroaches!"

Soujin sighed. "Cera, don't get too far from us. It's dangerous to separate from the group."

Cera rolled her eyes. "Cap, you worry too much. I can handle myself!"

Bellar watched Cera with some amusement and annoyance. "Let her do her thing," she said, drawing her blade with a swift, practiced motion. The rest of the squad followed suit.

"Alright, squad, you heard her. Stay on target and keep moving," Soujin commanded.

With a collective shout, the squad charged at the Green Senodokidatsu, their coordinated efforts making quick work of the oversized pests. Blades flashed and bodies moved in a deadly dance. The Senodokidatsu fell one by one under the precise strikes of the Divine Blades. The creatures' green blood stained the forest floor which mixed with the damp earth.

Once the last of the Green Senodokidatsu were dispatched, the squad regrouped.Soujin scanned the area, sensing a shift in the atmosphere. Then, almost as if on cue, the clouds aligned together with darkness causing the forest to shift further into it. The first drops of rain began to fall. It started as a light drizzle, but quickly made its way into a heavy downpour. The rain was cold and relentless, soaking through their uniforms and making the ground slippery and treacherous.

"Great, just what we needed," Cera muttered. She wiped water from her eyes.“ I hate the rain God...DAMMMITTTT!!!!!”

Suddenly, Cera's instincts flared. She swung her blade just in time to block an incoming attack. A Yellow Senodokidatsu loomed above her, its body stretching and undulating like a slimy serpent. The creature's eyes glowed with a sinister light, and a wide, predatory grin spread across its face.

"I've been waiting for you," the creature said with a gleeful tone. "I am Riza."

With an evil feminine laugh, Riza extended her slimy appendages, each one crackling with a dangerous energy. The rain seemed to sizzle against her body, creating a hissing sound that echoed through the forest.

Soujin stepped forward, his blade at the ready. "Stay sharp, everyone. This one's different."

Cera's eyes narrowed. She got a tight grip on her sword. "You think you’re the shit, don’t ya? I doubt ya can even make me flinch! Let’s see what you've got!"

Riza's laugh echoed through the trees. "Oh, I'll show you. Prepare to be devoured, little warriors!"

Riza's attacks were swift and unpredictable, her movements almost fluid in nature. She lashed out with her elongated limbs, forcing the squad to stay on their toes.

"Ignite, Raika!" Cera shouted, her blade erupting in flames. Her body became a beacon of fire . She charged at Riza with a defiant gaze.

“Wait, you idiot!” Bellar yelled, but it was too late. Cera was already in motion, her sword slicing through the air with blazing intensity.

She swung her flaming blade at Riza, the flames hissing and sputtering against the rain. The strike landed, but the effect was minimal. Riza's slimy body absorbed the blow, her sinister grin widening.

"Flames? How cute," Riza hissed with mockery. In an instant, her body shifted, conjuring a wave of crushing water that surged forward with relentless force.

Cera barely had time to react. The water engulfed her and its immense pressure crushed her body and extinguished her flames. The force of the attack sent her flying back. She crashed into the muddy ground with a painful thud.

"Cera!" Soujin shouted, his heart pounding with concern.

Cera pushed herself to her feet, despite the blood that drained from her. Her breaths came in ragged gasps. "I'm not done yet. Far from it..!”

Bellar stepped forward, "Cera, fall back. Let me—“

Cera shook her head, wiping blood from her mouth. "No way. I ain’t lettin this slimy bitch get away with that."

Riza's slimy body enveloped Cera, trapping her within its viscous embrace. The squad watched as Cera disappeared into the creature's grotesque body.

"No! Cera!" Soujin shouted.

Bellar's eyes widened with alarm. "Damn that bitch!"

Riza's laughter echoed through the forest "Ah, this one will be… simply ‘delicious’."