CHAPTER 373: PLANET INFERNIS

The teleportation sequence peaked with a bright flash of light that seemed to consume everything. For a moment, there was nothing but a void, a strange sensation of being removed from time and space. The hum of the teleporter faded into an eerie silence as the group materialized on the frozen, perpetually dark side of the planet Infernis.

The blinding light of the teleportation sequence faded, leaving the group disoriented and overwhelmed by a sudden shift in their surroundings. The hum of the camper van gave way to the howling wind outside, an eerie and alien sound. Mako blinked several times, his vision adjusting to the dim, flickering light within the camper van. The first thing he noticed was the chill, a cold so intense it seemed to seep through every layer of their gear and settle deep into their bones.

Outside, the view through the van’s reinforced windows revealed a landscape bathed in perpetual darkness. The ground was a frozen expanse of jagged black ice and glittering frost, reflecting the faint starlight. The planet’s dark side was a place of absolute stillness, save for the relentless wind that carved its way through the frozen plains.

Inside the van, the gravity made every movement feel laborious. The increased weight pressed down on them, making even simple tasks a challenge. Mako gritted his teeth as he adjusted the straps of his environmental suit, feeling the added strain in every muscle.

[User had entered a new environment]

[Calculating attribute increase bonus]

[...]

[User will receive a 2.5 times bonus for all attribute-increasing activities due to the added strain and difficulty of completing those tasks.]

Mako received several notifications, the moment he opened his eyes. He knew that traversing, fighting, and overall living on a different planet would pose great physical challenges as the air pressure and gravity of Infernis were different from Earth.

What he didn’t realize was that his body was constantly undergoing training. Every physical exercise, page he read, or minute he spent meditating caused his attribute bars to increase incrementally, with the growth depending on the intensity and duration of his actions. On Infernis, where even the simplest tasks demanded greater effort, the system compensated for the increased difficulty by accelerating the rate at which his attributes improved.

Alexi let out a low groan as he tried to stretch, only to stagger slightly as his body resisted the effort. Erin sat silently for a moment, her breathing slow and deliberate, her eyes closed as she concentrated on adjusting to the new environment.

"You guys holding up?" Mako asked, his voice muffled slightly by the helmet of his suit. He moved to the control panel and adjusted the internal temperature of the van, ensuring they wouldn’t freeze while they got their bearings.

"I feel like I’m walking through mud," Alexi replied, his tone strained. "Heavy mud. And it’s freezing."

"I’ll manage," Erin said softly, opening her eyes and flexing her fingers inside the insulated gloves. "It’s just... a lot."

Mako nodded, understanding the sentiment. They had tried their best to be ready as they trained for the harsh environments, but it was still nothing quite like the real deal. The sheer nature of Infernis, combined with the oppressive gravity and biting cold, made Earth’s harshest climates feel tame in comparison.

After a few moments of adjusting their gear and securing the van’s systems, Mako retrieved the starter pack Angela had given them right before the teleportation began. The sleek circular disk reflected the faint light inside the van as he handed it to Erin. Without a word, she placed it on the floor and pressed the button in its center. The device activated instantly, emitting a soft hum before projecting a holographic image into the air.

Commander Anderson appeared before them, his sharp features illuminated by the glowing blue light of the projection. His expression was as stern as ever, his eyes scanning the group as if he were there in person.

"Cadets," he began, his voice steady and commanding, "Welcome to Infernus. You are now standing on the dark side of this planet, a region of perpetual night and extreme cold. Your exam begins now, and this will be the most challenging test of your abilities yet."

The group listened intently as Anderson’s image gestured, and a series of maps and diagrams appeared around him. The frozen terrain of Infernus was displayed in vivid detail, with key locations marked in glowing icons. Mako leaned forward slightly, studying the map, while Erin and Alexi exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of determination and apprehension.

"This exam will test every aspect of your training," Anderson continued. "Your teamwork, resourcefulness, and adaptability will determine your success. The objectives you are about to hear vary in difficulty and will contribute differently to your overall grade. Choose wisely, and remember: survival is your first priority."

The holographic map shifted, zooming in on their current location and highlighting a series of mission objectives. Anderson’s voice grew sharper as he explained each task. Mako listened carefully, his mind already calculating various approaches.

"Your first objective is simple but critical: establish a stable shelter. Ensure your life-support systems are functioning and that you have access to heat, breathable air, and clean water. Failure to secure these basics will jeopardize every other mission."

As Anderson spoke, the van’s systems hummed softly, their indicators showing stable readings for now. The group made a mental note to regularly check the oxygen supply and backup generator to ensure their survival.

"Once your survival is assured, you can begin completing various missions that have been marked for you as objectives on the map with the easiest mission being to gather resource samples," Anderson continued.

Some of the highlighted mission objectives on the holographic map turned blue, indicating that these were the resource-gathering missions.

"The frozen plains around you hold deposits of several rare minerals. If you choose to pursue this mission, you’ll gain detailed information about the crystals, the risks associated with their source locations, and the methods for extraction and storage. Success will depend on your skills and ingenuity, as using clever strategies will be key to earning the maximum points for each completed mission."

Anderson’s image shifted again, now a couple of objectives began to be highlighted in red color with all points being equidistant from their starting location. "Another critical task will involve activating a thermal beacon at the designated site."

"The unassembled beacon will already be present at the marked locations with instructions on how to assemble and activate it. Once the beacon has been activated, it will take some time before it can activate its protective barrier which will it temporarily defenseless. This beacon will create a localized heat and light source, improving conditions for future operations. However, with no defenses during its warmup, it will be vulnerable to the local beasts that would be attracted towards it."

"Your task is to protect the beacon from any attacking beasts while it powers up and activates its defenses. Your points will be directly determined by how effectively you minimize damage to the beacon."

The group exchanged silent looks, the weight of the tasks sinking in.

Anderson’s voice grew more serious as the next objective appeared. "You may also encounter the planet’s native wildlife and beasts. Reports suggest the existence of predator species adapted to these extreme conditions. Your mission also includes documenting the behavior of each new species you encounter in great detail and collecting their beast crystals."

"Remember, the rule regarding beast crystals remains the same as during your recruitment test. You are permitted to keep any beast crystal from creatures you defeat, and you will earn individual points for each one you claim."

Some of the highlighted objectives began to glow purple as these indicated locations where a sign of life was detected meaning these were the spots where they would definitely encounter some beasts.

Mako tightened his grip with excitement at the thought of facing new beasts and finally having a way to start leveling up again.

"The final and most challenging task," Anderson said, his voice lowering slightly, "is a reconnaissance mission into the twilight zone."

The last and most distant objective marker on the holographic map was finally illuminated and began to glow in a golden color.

"This is an area that hasn’t been thoroughly explored yet and is fraught with volatile energy phenomena and unpredictable weather. Your mission is to traverse the Twilight Zone and gather intelligence before returning safely. This mission carries the highest point value but also the greatest risk as you would be venturing into the unknown where anything could happen so I would only advise you to consider this mission if you are desperate for points and try to leave it as your last mission."

As the hologram faded, the group sat in silence for a moment, the enormity of their situation settling over them like the planet’s gravity. Mako was the first to speak, his voice steady but firm.

"All right," he said, looking at Erin and Alexi. "We already have our survival situation figured out thanks to this camper van so I suggest we quickly start moving towards one of the nearer mineral extraction missions so that we can get a feel for the terrain of the planet and assess our fighting capabilities and make our next moves from there after we have some idea of what we’re capable of handling."

"That sounds like a good approach," Erin said, her voice measured and Alexi nodded in agreement.

With that, the group began their preparations. They donned their environmental suits, double-checking every seal and strap to ensure they were protected against the planet’s relentless cold. Mako secured his katana at his side and clipped the Energy Condensed Hand Cannon to his belt. Erin strapped her new bow across her back, while Alexi adjusted the Sypher Wing Twin Blades at his hips.

The camper van’s systems beeped softly as they activated drive mode and began driving the van to the closest marked blue location on the map where they would have to mine a mineral called Cryolite.

Mako activated the external sensors, which displayed a live feed of the surrounding terrain on the van’s monitor. The frozen plains stretched endlessly in all directions with nothing to guide them to their destination but the holographic map they received from their starter pack.

As the camper van rumbled across the frozen plains, its reinforced tires crunching over the jagged ice, the group sat in focused silence, each lost in their thoughts, excited yet anxious of what was to come during their time on Infernis.