Rodrick's first mission

As the pair set off back through the forest, walking the beaten path, they are immediately enveloped by the sounds and smells of nature. The dense canopy of trees overhead provides dappled shade, casting patches of sunlight on the ground in between. The air is filled with the sweet fragrance of wildflowers, the musty scent of decaying leaves, and the pungent aroma of mushrooms and other fungi. The faint rustling of leaves and twigs can be heard in the distance.

Rodrick continues recounting the series of events leading to him gaining his system-given title.

"Unluckily enough, my brother Samuel and I were grouped together in the same platoon consisting of five squads. Exiting the military drop pods from the battleship, we landed in a supply post not far from an ongoing battle sounding off in the distance. A planet-wide alarm goes off as we count heads and prepare our gear for combat."

Upon recounting the ancient memory, Rodrick was immediately transported back to a moment from his past...

"Glancing from his viewport while descending through the clouds towards their destination, Rodrick witnesses the sight of a planet going up in flames. Flashes of explosions and battles are visible everywhere his eyes go. Many mountains are shattered, as though bludgeoned from the side with a giant hammer."

As Rodrick exits his drop pod along with his fellow squad members, they are assaulted with air so thick with smoke and ash that it makes it difficult to breathe. Intense heat is scorching their skin, causing the ground to crack and split. The sky is a deep, ominous red, as if the very heavens are on fire.

Rodrick sees their target destination - a small supply camp containing a smattering of tents, each consisting of different colors. The camp is surrounded by conjured stone walls courtesy of the rock elementals and adepts deployed all around, scanning the earth checking for hidden mines and possible underground networks being dug out under their base.

Rodrick and his squadmates proceed to gather at the depot square where a sergeant could be seen standing on scaffolding, yelling out orders to arriving squads.

"Squad one, your mission is to deliver the supplies we have prepared to our infantry units deployed in sector 5, which is two hundred kilometers to your northeast. Proceed into that green tent over there," he said, pointing to a nearby tent adorned with the military supply symbol. "There you shall state your orders and receive further details pertaining to your mission."

The sergeant's voice grew more urgent as he continued. "Additionally, I assign you to a search and rescue mission on your way to your target. You are to search for the missing members of squad eight and, if possible, recover any supplies you might encounter that they failed to deliver, and take those with you to your target. MOVE! NOW!!"

The supposed members of squad one rush off with haste towards the green tent, leaving Rodrick and his squad as the next in line to receive orders. As the sergeant peruses his holo-screen projecting out of his headgear, another alarm starts blaring. His body visibly tenses, and he locks eyes with the recruits.

Spit flies from his mouth as he bellows, "We don't have a lot of time, soldiers! That alarm means another god-damn space carrier is orbiting this planet, dropping off more of those nether-blasted devourers. Move faster, and we might just get our people back to their loved ones."

As the sergeant finishes his urgent speech, he turns to Rodrick's squad and with a commanding tone says, "Listen up squad three, here are your orders."