The morning air was crisp as the Black Swan squad loaded into the armored trucks. Rufus stood at the front of the command vehicle, surveying the team. Each member moved with quiet precision, their new equipment fitting snugly, the internal spheres pulsing faintly beneath their leather armor. The glow was subtle, imperceptible to anyone outside their ranks, but Rufus could feel every flicker, every beat, a constant reassurance of control.
The city stretched behind them, gleaming and chaotic, but their focus was elsewhere. Today was their first mission outside the warehouse. Not a grand battle, not a hunt for high-tier monsters—just a simple National Guard assignment. Something manageable, something that would test them, but not break them.
"Remember," Rufus said, his voice calm, commanding, "today is about rhythm, coordination, and trust. Not glory. Not greed. Just precision."
Fred, riding shotgun, nodded sharply. "We got this, Commander." His usual confidence was tempered with nerves—a new squad, new mission, new world outside the walls of the slums.
The mission briefing was straightforward. A small pack of low-order creatures had been reported near the outskirts of the city, scavenging in abandoned factories. Their aggression was minimal, but they had started encroaching into civilian areas. Capture or eliminate, discretion advised.
Rufus scanned the assignment, committing every detail to memory. The trucks rumbled forward, carrying them past familiar cityscapes into the industrial outskirts. Broken walls, empty streets, and the occasional flicker of movement reminded them the wilds were untamed, unpredictable.
The squad moved cautiously once disembarked. Lira led half the team, scanning for environmental hazards. Nami whispered suggestions on formation adjustments, and Fred's instincts guided the group as they navigated the crumbling alleys. Tess bounced slightly ahead, restless, testing the limits of their spacing, while Mako's massive form served as a stabilizing anchor for those around him.
Rufus observed quietly, noting each member's reactions. The spheres inside them pulsed in tandem with his own, sharing small bursts of energy, subtly enhancing their strength and reactions. The first obstacle came in the form of a collapsed walkway, the concrete cracked and uneven.
"Engage mode," Rufus ordered.
The short swords hummed faintly, absorbing the energy of the spheres as the team adjusted. Shields glowed faintly, and the Black Swan moved as a single unit, each member relying on another. They crossed safely, but Tess tripped slightly, nearly losing her footing. Fred caught her shoulder instinctively.
"Careful," he muttered, a reminder that discipline was just as important as strength.
Minutes later, the pack of creatures appeared. Small, wolf-like, with flickers of low-tier elemental energy. They were aggressive but manageable. The squad's formation tightened. Leather armor absorbed minor scratches, shields deflected basic strikes, and Rufus observed every move from the command vehicle's sensors.
"Full mode," he commanded.
The shields' internal spheres flared briefly as they began coordinating strikes. Nami directed precise positioning, Rei called out movements, and the team engaged with practiced efficiency. Within moments, the pack was neutralized. A few had escaped, but that was acceptable for a first mission.
The squad regrouped, breathing heavily but steadily. Rufus allowed himself a small nod. The test was simple, but it revealed their strengths and their weaknesses: Fred's leadership under minor stress, Tess's over-eagerness, Nami's analytical adjustments, Lira's strategic foresight.
"Good," Rufus said finally, his tone even but satisfied. "This was your first real assignment. You survived. You adapted. But remember, the wild is nothing like this city, nothing like this mission. Stay sharp. Stay coordinated. And trust each other."
As they loaded back into the trucks, the glow of the spheres within their bodies dimmed slightly—still active, still present, but ready for recovery. Rufus allowed a brief scan of the surrounding area. Nothing major this time. No threats beyond the minor pack. The wilds were calm, for now.
The Black Swan had taken its first step into the untamed world. Not with glory, not with spectacle, but with steady, deliberate progress.
And Rufus knew—this was only the beginning.