Chapter 250 - Search and Rescue

"While I appreciate the consideration, is there a reason why you're choosing me for this?"

Jack's never had a conversation with the Rogue Elves Division before. But he was sure that the Head knew about him. Jack knew that his status as a human in an all-elves organization was something worthy of attention. That said, he wasn't going to push the buttons of the elderly elf.

Despite the straightforward approach, though, the Divison Head paused. He fell deep in thought as if considering how much he should reveal.

"Well...," said the elf after a moment of silence, "I suppose you are entitled to some information."

"Okay," Jack nodded, "Lay it on me."

The elderly elf moved a blank piece of wood from the side of the table to the center. Jack didn't know what he would get from the empty, nondescript plank. But, he hoped the elf would soon explain why it was him specifically that would complete the mission.

"Your mission," the elf explained as the blank wooden plank formed 3D shapes, "Is to rescue a party of elves that had gone to another mission beforehand. They had fallen under unforeseen circumstances. And, out of the entire roster, you are the one most fitting for the job."

"A search and rescue? Hardly a difficult mission, I'd say. Although, I don't get why I'm the best man for the job. I don't have any prior experience in conducting this type of mission. Someone within the Division should fit the bill better than I do."

"A fair point," answered the elf while he nodded, "While there certainly are teams with more experience and better gear, they are, by under no circumstances, incapable of surviving the mission. Much to my displeasure, you are the only one capable of surviving."

Jack looked down and onto the 3D figure on the desk. He stared at it, wondering what he would have to do. Because, based on what the Division Head said, it wasn't going to be easy.

"I'm going to need more details than that," said Jack while he kept looking at the figure in front of him. It was in the shape of an island. And, by the looks of it, the whole thing seemed to be in treacherous cold weather.

"Your destination is this," the elf pointed at the island and explained further, "It's a piece of land in between dimensions. The Rogue Elves Division is the only group dedicated to exploring it. However, no elf has ever gotten far because of the harsh weather conditions."

"And you think I can handle it?"

While Jack wouldn't be afraid of dealing with it, he still hesitated. No matter how he looked at it, the mission seemed more dangerous than it was worth.

"Yes," the elf answered without a pause, "That is if you focus on your mission and that alone. Rescuing the team before you is the primary objective of this task. Anything else would be secondary. I am more than confident that your constitution allows for a much better chance of completing this mission."

Jack knew that the Division Head was right. Out of everyone available for the mission, he was the only one who stood a chance of surviving. His Affinity with Ice magic was well-suited for the task.

"The medical staff person that came here earlier," the elderly elf added, "Was here because, among the members of the team, only one returned. The elf that had returned was gravely injured. So, I assure you, this threat is nothing but dangerous."

"Alright. What else do I need to know?"

Following that statement, the two discussed what Jack needed to do. The elf gave bits of information that felt imperative to Jack's mission and safety.

After spending a few minutes going over everything, the Division Head sent Jack away along with the coordinates of the dimension. From there, Jack got ready for the mission with the appropriate gear. He then headed straight towards the teleportation room.

While all this was happening, Jack hadn't realized that his doubt earlier was no more. He focused on the mission and didn't bother to think about what he would be doing after that.

Just like that, Jack had returned to his usual self.

Down to the very bone of his being, Jack was a soldier. And, a good one at that. He followed orders without question, believing in the idea of doing good for someone or something as a consequence of his actions. He lacked direction in his life because he never had the chance to take charge of it.

And, as crazy as it sounds, that was okay. Jack was unequivocally fine with it. Because, whoever Jack chose to follow, they pointed Jack in the right direction, where he would prove to be most useful.

Nevertheless, Jack headed straight towards the teleportation room. He didn't even bother telling anyone that he planned to go on a mission — one that seemed more dangerous than anything he had encountered before.

As Jack effortlessly put in the coordinates to the panel, he walked over to the teleportation pad. The beam of light shot from the ceiling and encompassed Jack's body. And, in a matter of seconds, Jack arrived in what appeared to be a snowing tundra.

The first thing Jack did was to take a quick look around.

With the snow limiting his vision by some degree, Jack couldn't see very far from where he was standing. As far as he could tell, the entire island was white, covered in snow.

'Where do I even start?'

Even though Jack knew what he was looking for, coming here was different. There were no paths around him, no markings as to where the other elves went. If he were to start running around the place looking for them, Jack might end up spending hours or even days to find them.

Jack had to play it smart. He had to find something that he could use to track them.

So, with that in mind, Jack pulled out a small gray stone from his inventory and imbued it with his Mana. From there, the stone slightly cracked as a magic array appeared at the ground beneath Jack's feet. The cracks on the stone gradually increased as the magic array shone brighter.

Chink! Poof!

The stone soon shattered and went up in a puff of smoke. The smoke then temporarily clouded Jack's vision. And, a few seconds later, his vision turned black and white. The only thing of color to him was a small path on the ground which led to some unknown location.

'I guess that's where they are.'

Enchant magic on a one-time consumable spell.

Jack has been sharpening his Enchanting skills for quite some time now. And, the stone he crushed before now was one of the things he made. It was essentially an item preloaded with a tracking spell that would otherwise take some time to set up.

That said, Jack had an idea of where he needed to go. All he really needed to do now was to follow the path before the spell timed out.

So, without hesitation, Jack ran along the path, hoping the elves were at the end of it. His steps in moving across the tundra were constant and uninhibited like the snow hadn't affected his movement whatsoever. Jack had even gone so far into thinking that the weather was comfortable.

Nonetheless, Jack's journey through the snow was rather uneventful. In other words, the tundra, or at least where he was, was empty.

The absence of anything threatening made Jack reassess his earlier impression before coming here. He might have overestimated the dangers of the tundra as he kept running along the path. That was until he stopped at a crater on the ground.

'A pit? Here?'

Jack looked around, double-checking his surroundings. He then turned his attention back to the hole in the ground. It wasn't anything big, but someone careless would have just as easily fallen down into it. Whatever made this thing, they certainly weren't subtle about it.

Which bore the question, who or what made the hole in the first place?

With that in mind, Jack got to thinking. He proceeded to do so while walking the same path as before. Jack couldn't afford to be distracted as he knew the mission and what was at stake.

However, at the corner of his eye, another hole popped up that he was certain wasn't there before.

Thinking that he was just seeing things, Jack ignored it and kept on walking. He took another three steps forward and, out of the corner of his eye, another hole appeared.

A second time couldn't be a coincidence now as Jack made the conscious decision to stop. Jack had the better sense than to keep going now. He had to be careful. Anyone in the same situation would have done the same.

Pulling the [Frozen Teardrop of Mist] from his Inventory, Jack readied himself for what was to come.