Unlike ordinary armies, this kind of elite squad composed entirely of extraordinary powerhouses would set out on missions right from the start.
The Federation spent enormous manpower and resources maintaining the task force, so naturally they weren't free-riders, but this method of teaching while fighting still bred dissatisfaction among some members.
Of course, under Shike's Sky-tier suppression, nothing actually came of it.
"Hey! Ley! Name's Mith. This is my first time on the battlefield — what about you? Nervous?"
The pale youth who had been the first to step up for testing earlier sidled over, his face plastered with an ingratiating grin.
"Not bad!" Ley responded flatly, then jerked his chin toward the burly man with the Fire Feather Art at the sixth layer from earlier. "What's his name?"
"Him? That's Locke. Word is he used to be a seriously formidable mercenary. Who's he putting on that smug face for, anyway?"
Mith played the part of a sycophant to perfection — picking sides and helping the boss put down the runner-up had practically become instinct for him.
"Oh," Ley said mildly, and didn't press further.
As newcomers, all of these task-force members had been issued a fresh set of gear. The material was highly flexible and could even shrug off high temperatures and slashes from ordinary blades — decent mundane treasures, all things considered.
"Check it out! These new threads — how cool!"
Mith gazed down at the uniform black outfit they all wore and couldn't help lovingly fussing with his collar.
Watching him act like a complete idiot left Leylin momentarily lost for words. "We're on a mission! Watch yourself!"
At that, Mith — still hurtling forward at high speed — flinched, then guiltily glanced toward Instructor Shike's position. Only after confirming that Shike wasn't looking their way did he relax and let out a breath of relief.
"Ley, tell me — what kind of mission do you think we'll be sent on?"
After his initial excitement faded, Mith calmed down, and a faint prickle of nerves immediately set him on edge. He looked over at Ley beside him.
In his eyes, this companion was not only deeply mysterious but carried a composure that ordinary people simply didn't possess. Even just being near the man gave Mith a vague sense of security.
"It definitely won't be easy, that's for sure!"
Ley replied in a low voice. In truth, he suspected this mission was precisely the trial meant for the new recruits.
Nothing laid bare the truth like real combat. Through brutal battle, weeding out failures and the weak, letting the stronger survive and claim more resources — that was simply the cruel law of nature.
Leylin estimated this operation might very well have been tailor-made for them. If that was the case, the difficulty would likely be considerable, and it was entirely possible that more than half the members would fall. Total annihilation wasn't out of the question, either.
After all, for the Atlantis Federation, they had more than enough strength and resources to attract a sufficient number of desperadoes. They had no reason to fear attrition.
"But... could it be that we'll run into the Three Serpent Cult on our very first mission?" A thread of doubt flickered through Leylin's mind.
His intelligence was still far from complete — he had no clear picture of the Three Serpent Cult's true nature. Making hasty contact would absolutely not be a good idea.
"Our mission this time is to annihilate an extremely evil, blood-soaked cult — a branch of the Mobius Ring! Kill everyone there!"
Fortunately, Shike's cold voice cut through from up ahead just then, dispelling Leylin's doubts.
By now they had traveled far from the camp and the city, arriving in a desolate wilderness. Rivers of crimson lava cast an orange-red glow across the landscape, staining the very horizon a blood-like red.
Thanks to the augmentation of the Fire Feather Technique, all the special task force members maintained vigorous stamina. Even after a long forced march, they were still in excellent condition.
"The Mobius Ring?" Mises immediately let out a gasp beside him. "You mean that disgusting cult that's obsessed with blood sacrifices and dismemberment?"
"Obsessed with blood sacrifices and dismemberment?" Leylin furrowed his brow. He seemed to vaguely recall the burly Fire Feather clansman he'd befriended mentioning something about this.
The cult appeared to be extremely secretive, and its high-ranking members wielded terrifying power. Rumors said it had even spread into the Flame Worship Empire and simply could not be eradicated.
Of course, given their extreme methods, they weren't exactly popular either.
"That Mobius Ring?" "Heavens! I heard they're absolutely insane — they once slaughtered an entire city just to avenge a bishop..."
A flurry of whispered exclamations erupted as the task force members began chattering among themselves.
"Silence!!!" Shike's face flushed red at the sight, and a massive wave of sound swept outward. If Leylin hadn't sensed a soundproofing barrier instantly deployed around them, he might have suspected Shike was a mole deliberately tipping off the Mobius Ring.
"We are soldiers! Obedience to orders is our sacred duty! So what if it's the Mobius Ring? What is there to fear? Don't forget — you are members of the special task force now! The instant you disobey a military order, I will execute you on the spot. And even if you manage to flee, you will be hunted down by the entire Atlas Federation!"