After our battle, we gave some of our rations to the PDF. It is a dried fruit and vegetable. My [Tinker: Ecology] might not be able to create the most filling ration, but it can design a machine that produces rations that are both nutritious and delicious.
And I cannot help but chuckle at the PDF devouring the rations like starving people who have just gone a week without eating anything. Even the captain, Taro, devours the ration and glares at me when he hears me chuckle.
"Frak off. I never eat high-end rations. Give me a break."
"Oh, I know. Just glad that you guys enjoy our entire week's worth of luxury rations."
Of course, I am lying. There is no way I will tell them that we are the ones making those rations. Taro stops chewing for a second before slowly swallowing the ration.
"What? You gave that to us."
"To share. Not for you guys to eat the entire thing."
"Ah."
He looks at the second bar in his hand and offers it to me.
"Do you want the rest?"
"Nah. Take it. We can buy more from the one making them."
"Wait. Do you have a connection to the Food Manufactorum?"
"Yup. It is still expensive even with the connection, but I can get them."
"Of course it is expensive. Only Lieutenant and above personnel in the Imperial Guard were able to eat them. We are lucky to eat other things than Corpse Starch and Algae Block."
I let them eat, and when he is done eating, I say.
"So, what will you do now?"
"We will stay here and give a report." He then looks at me with a serious expression. "I am grateful for what you have done for my squad and myself, but I must ask you to leave, Kael. I need to report back to the high command, and I don't want them to order me to arrest you. We don't want to fight you and your people, but we have family back in the Hob Block and if we disobey the high command…"
I nod my head in understanding and get up from the ground. I tell the other to gather the deceased and look at Taro one last time.
"Then, we will leave you guys. However, if you ever get into trouble, you can bring your family here. We will welcome you guys with open arms."
"Really?"
"Of course! We are all a big family here. We protect each other, and you guys? You are already brother and sister in arms. We fight together, we bleed together, and we help each other. We are already family."
He looks at me for a few seconds. I can see he is truly considering my offer. After a few seconds, he nods his head and says.
"I will keep it in mind."
"That is all I ask. Anyway! As promised, we will take one of the Tauros."
Taro and I have an agreement that they are willing to give one of the Tauros, a modified buggy car. It is the car that the PDF uses to reach here, but because of decreasing numbers, they no longer need all the cars that survive the battle.
Taro is more than willing to tell the high command that only seven Tauros are left from the fight.
"Make sure to repaint it, or you will be in a lot of trouble from the cog boy."
"Will do."
Cog boy is the slang for the Mechanicus, and I don't want any trouble from them, at least at the moment.
I shake Taro's hands one more time before sitting on the back of the car while Hannah takes the wheel. The others are walking alongside the car as we proceed through the tunnel to return to our base.
I open my system and review the tickets I received from rescuing the PDF squad.
|Congratulations! You have slain over 2,000 of Nurgle's Blessed in a single battle! You receive 1 Platinum Ticket.|
|Congratulations! You have slain a Champion of Nurgle! You receive 1 Diamond Ticket.|
|Congratulations! You have rescued a PDF squad destined for corruption! You receive 3 Silver Tickets.|
|Congratulations! You have changed the destiny of the entire Planet! You receive 2 Gold Tickets.|
|Congratulations! You have weakened the grip of Nurgle on Atoma! You receive 1 Legendary Ticket.|
It looks like they are the squad that supposedly gets corrupted by Nurgle and becomes one of the cult members. However, the last part is something I don't know how to feel about either way.
I just make things worse for Nurgle, and I'm not sure if that is a good thing. Without the protection, that bastard will know about me and send his so-called blessed soldiers to kill me. I am not ready to face Nurgle's Army.
Wait. When did the Plague War happen? I know that Darktide occurred during the Indomitus Crusade, but I am unsure of the exact date it took place. Is it near? If the Plague War were to occur, it would be detrimental to this planet. It is when Nurgle is at its most powerful.
Shit. It will happen, won't it? That is why Nurgle's influence is so strong in this sector. Dammit!
I quickly open the gacha section and use my silver tickets. I need to get stronger, and I hope the gacha will provide me with something to help me prepare for the upcoming disaster.
I watch it rolling and stop. I wince a little as a rush of knowledge enters my brain.
[Intermediate Programming]
|Uncommon Skill|
You are an experienced programmer in all languages, you code considerably faster than the average programmer, and can do so in any programming language you encounter.
Not something I need, but good because I don't need to switch my ability to code the program for the drones. With this, I can maintain and code new programs for drones. Not bad for support, but not good either.
I press the roll button once again and watch it roll.
[Blood Pack]
|Common Trait|
Your body holds inordinate amounts of blood, approximately five times the average person's, which does not affect your body in any noticeable way... somehow.
And this one is an outright useless thing. Maybe it will not let me easily get blood loss? I don't know. I shake my head and press the roll button to use the last silver ticket.
[Floating]
|Uncommon Ability|
Allows you to cloak yourself in winds that carry you, allowing you to fly through the air
This one is not bad. The ability to fly will always be useful, especially when you have a cloak of invisibility. You will always have the high ground in combat.
Now, it is the Gold Tickets.
[Expert Teaching]
|Elite Skill|
You are an expert teacher, the kind a protagonist would encounter mid-way through their journey to learn an essential skill from you before leaving and forgetting about you. You are incredibly skilled at imparting your knowledge and skills to your pupils; you could pick any old farmboy and turn him into a fine warrior.
This one is not bad. There are many people with a lack of education at the base. The imperium does not need someone smart to work in the factory. As long as they can move one thing to another, that is enough.
However, to work in the base, they require basic knowledge, and to join the guardians, they need to reach a certain level of education, not just possess a strong body. I can teach them the basics, but this power allows me to teach them more.
[Jack of All Trades]
|Rare Skill|
You have novice-level expertise in all basic trades (Novice Blacksmithing, Medicine, Mechanics, Cooking, Interfacing) with the competence of an apprentice and are fairly talented in those fields. Does not extend to combat skills.
Oh, come on! I hold back a grunt as a massive amount of knowledge rushes to my brain. I release a sigh when the pain is gone. It is a shame that it does not include combat skills, but the medicine alone is already enough for me to help the others.
It provides me with a comprehensive understanding of first aid and basic surgery.
However, it is underwhelming for two gold tickets. Let's hope the platinum ticket will give me something good.
[Blink]
|Rare Ability|
Allows the user to instantly teleport a short distance in their line of sight that must be normally accessible to them (can't teleport through glass). The basic range is 10 meters, but this can be improved with training. There is a slight cooldown between each blink, and overuse can cause intense vertigo.
I look at the new ability and nod my head. It is a good ability. It is a shame that it is coming from Platinum Ticket, but at least it is a good one. I need more movement-type ability.
Now, it is for the Diamond ticket.
[Living Dew]
|Epic Item|
Calamity Mod - A living dew from the deepest depths of the ancient jungle was said to be capable of granting its owner longevity and vitality, and they were right. When you consume the living dew, your vitality and lifespan are significantly increased, making you very resistant to all ailments and heal faster. In addition, these effects are amplified when you are in a jungle or forest.
This is great. I'm not sure if this item will stack with the Elixir of Life, but I will still drink this. Thank you, ROB! Finally, I got something great!
With a happy hum, I use the last and highest level ticket I've ever received. It is time for me to use a Legendary ticket.
[Boosted Gear]
|Mythical Item|
DxD - One of the Longinus created by God. The Gauntlet of the Red Dragon Emperor houses the soul of Ddraig, the Heavenly Dragon of Domination. This gauntlet allows its user to amplify their stats by expanding their stamina; the higher the level of boost, the higher the level of stamina expenditure.
I can feel a strange power coursing through my body and soul. It doesn't give me an immediate boost in my physical strength, but I know this is the greatest and biggest asset I have at the moment.
"Well… well… It looks like I get an interesting partner this time around."
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