The next day, Arla and Squad Aegis began taking on their missions together — each one assigned directly by the Adventurer's Council, tailored to match the squad's current capabilities.
Mane — a mage from the North, skilled at unleashing powerful spells but often loses position easily.
Jian — a Girl from the West who uses advanced lightweight tech for long-range combat.
Hera — another Westerner, wielding medium-type tech weaponry with long-range attacks.
Beni — a heavy-tech user from the West, relying on power and ranged bombardment.
Arla — Knight who's equally strong in both offense and defense — a close-range combatant with powerful physical abilities, but very weak mana.
Compared to Mane and Arla, the others didn't have any glaring weaknesses. But that was exactly the problem — their balance made them stagnant. The squad's overall power felt capped, their growth hindered. And according to Valeria's observation during missions, the main reason was clear: Of course, the reason lies in the event known as 33/3 — a turning point where they truly hadn't yet discovered who they were. They were still lost, still searching for their own identity, unsure of what they were meant to become.
.
Valeria sighed in quiet frustration.
"Looks like I'll need to make some major adjustments and improvements to this squad. If we ever want to rank up and take on tougher missions… I'll have to speak with the Adventurer's Council."
When Valeria arrived at the Adventurer's Council headquarters, the receptionist immediately greeted her.
"Ah—Commander Valeria of Squad Aegis! What brings you here today?"
Valeria crossed her arms thoughtfully.
"I was wondering… with Aegis's current progress, would it be possible for us to qualify for a rank-up soon?"
The receptionist flipped through glowing data panels projected from a mana crystal.
"Hmm… let's see… oh… uh-oh…"
Her tone grew hesitant.
"I'm afraid your squad isn't quite ready for rank-up evaluations yet. However… if you insist, there is one mission that can serve as proof of worth. Would you like to take it, Commander?"
Valeria narrowed her eyes at the shimmering quest board. The missions displayed weren't the usual "defeat the monster" types — they were trials. Designed to test resolve, judgment, and the ability to make choices under pressure.
"I see… so that's the kind of mission they're assigning us. Fine. I'll take it."
The receptionist smiled.
"Excellent! Please sign here. You know the procedure, right?"
Without hesitation, Valeria bit her thumb until it bled and pressed it onto the contract seal, channeling a faint glow of mana into her signature.
"Done. When can we begin?"
"Whenever you're ready," said the receptionist. "Actually… how about today? There's an outbreak of goblins in the southern region. The situation's getting out of control — perfect for this test."
Valeria smirked.
"Understood. Thank you for the info."
Back at the squad base, Valeria's voice echoed sharply through the corridors:
"EVERYONE, GATHER AT THE FIELD—NOW!"
Once the squad assembled, Mane frowned.
"What's going on, Commander? Aren't we supposed to be working on our scheduled mission right now?"
"That mission's been canceled," Valeria declared firmly. "We're heading to the Southern Region."
The trio — Jian, Beni, and Hera — froze.
"The South!? You mean that place crawling with goblins right now!? Just the thought of hundreds of those things charging at me makes my skin crawl…"
Mane spoke calmly.
"Relax, it's not that bad. We've got Commander Valeria with us, right?"
But Valeria shook her head.
"No. I won't be helping you this time. I've already calculated your odds — and I know you all can handle this."
Beni's voice trembled.
"Wait, seriously!? That's way too dangerous!"
Valeria:
"Every mission carries danger," Valeria said sharply. "You've just gotten too comfortable. This ends now."
"Arla — you'll be the captain for this operation. My analysis of your past missions proves you're ready. Do you accept?"
Arla smiled confidently.
"Of course, Commander Valeria."
Valeria nodded once.
"Mane, prepare the teleport."
Mane's eyes lit up as he opened a swirling blue gate.
"Alright! Everyone, step through!"
As soon as they arrived, the sky hung heavy and gray, choked with thick smoke and swirling ash — like a fog straight out of hell. From the distance came the echoes of screams and roars that never stopped — the sound of hundreds, maybe thousands of goblins running wild, destroying everything in their path.
Houses burned, flames licking the rooftops and painting the night with an infernal glow. The streets were littered with rubble — splintered wood, shattered stone, and mangled bodies strewn without form or mercy. The few survivors ran in panic; some clutching their children, others just sprinting aimlessly, chased by the cruel, mocking laughter of the goblins.
Through the haze and fire, wave after wave of goblins poured in — endless, chaotic, and relentless, like an army rising from the pits of darkness. They pushed and clawed at each other, some leaping through shattered windows to loot, others hacking down anyone still standing. Blood ran down the streets, mixing with the ash and shards of glass.
The clash of metal, the screams of humans, and the pounding of countless feet fused into one — a twisted symphony of chaos.
Mane's eyes widened in shock.
"Looks like… this is going to be one hell of a fight…"