"Solaris Empire: Second Expedition III"

Rat Calendar, Year 2026

7th Day of January, Wednesday

Solaris Empire, Outside the Capital City, Colossal Dimensional Gate

In the earliest morning of the Solaris Empire, Accel had arrived at his first expedition to another world. According to the latest instructions, the rest of the details would be provided inside the new world, which the higher-ups would soon introduce. The total number of volunteers reached one million, with the majority coming from the Western Continent, Central Continent, and Southern Continent, each with a diverse range of people, backgrounds, and systems.

Due to the large number of volunteers, they were separated into field armies, with each field army consisting of 100,000 people. These were commanded by nobles of the Margraviate rank, which included Imperial, Prime, Grand, or standard Margraves. Accel was assigned to the 5th Field Army, which was currently waiting for its turn to enter the Colossal Dimensional Gate. The gate itself was massive, reaching the height of a 25- to 30-story building, with a width spanning between 0.5 to 1 hectare. This was the largest dimensional gate Accel had ever seen.

After an hour of waiting, Accel and the 5th Field Army began moving toward the gate. As soon as they entered, Accel felt a disorienting sensation, as if experiencing both a headache and dizziness at the same time. However, he managed to recover in just a few seconds and pressed forward. Some of the other recruits were not as fortunate—many stumbled or collapsed momentarily due to the side effects of dimensional travel before quickly regaining their footing.

Training Grounds: Final Preparations

Upon arrival in Tranquilis, the initial base camp was already well-established, built during the First Expedition. The base had large fortified training grounds where the new recruits could fully prepare before advancing into the world beyond the secured perimeter. Each field army was assigned a specific training area to familiarize themselves with the environment, terrain, and potential threats they would face.

Accel, along with the other members of the 5th Field Army, was directed to a designated combat readiness zone. This area contained weapon testing grounds, sparring rings, and endurance courses to ensure that everyone was in peak condition before the real expedition began. While most people focused on honing their combat skills, Accel took the opportunity to observe the overall command structure and various fighting styles around him. Since his Archivist System remained a secret, he blended in by practicing with a sword and shield like the rest of the swordsman-class recruits.

At the far end of the training grounds, a large gathering of officers and nobles signaled that an important announcement was about to be made.

A Grim Announcement: The Betrayal of the First Expedition

Standing on an elevated platform, several high-ranking nobles from the Western Continent prepared to address the recruits. Among them was Margrave Alistair Durnhelm Vaelmont, the commanding officer of the 5th Field Army. Like most Western nobles, his name carried a first, middle, and family name, which distinguished him from foreign recruits like Accel, who only had a first and last name.

With a commanding presence, Margrave Alistair spoke:

"Attention, all recruits of the Second Expedition! Before you begin your mission, there is a grave matter you must all be made aware of. The First Expedition was not just a failure—it was a catastrophe. While we expected the dangers of an unknown world, what we did not expect was betrayal from within."

A murmur spread through the crowd as the recruits exchanged uncertain glances. Alistair continued, his expression dark.

"Some volunteers from the Northern Continent betrayed the First Expedition. Driven by greed and selfish ambition, they seized control over 1% to 3% of Tranquilis, using it for their own resources and power. They abandoned their duty, exploited the land for their own gain, and endangered the lives of countless expedition members."

The atmosphere turned heavy. The Northern Continent had always been known for its ruthless power struggles, but for them to go as far as betraying an entire expedition was beyond disgraceful.

"To ensure the success of this Second Expedition, we cannot allow these traitors to continue their selfish conquest. You have been given a mission—to explore, secure, and expand the Western Continent's foothold in Tranquilis. But take heed: if you encounter any of these Northern Continent traitors, you are authorized to eliminate them immediately."

A cold silence filled the air. Killing another human was far different from hunting monsters or creatures native to Tranquilis. Yet the higher-ups had made their stance clear—these traitors were to be considered a grave threat to the expedition.

"To further incentivize your efforts, know this—eliminating a traitor will grant double the usual merit rewards. However, as foreign volunteers, the choice is ultimately yours. We will not force you to take action, but be warned—these individuals have already chosen to forsake the expedition for their own selfish ambitions."

A mixture of emotions ran through the recruits. Some clenched their fists in anger at the betrayal, while others accepted the announcement in silence. Accel himself remained neutral—he had no personal grudge against the Northern Continent, but he understood the necessity of eliminating threats. If these traitors truly endangered the expedition, then dealing with them was simply another part of survival.

Preparing for the Journey Ahead

With the announcement concluded, the recruits returned to their training and preparations. Over the next several hours, Accel focused on adjusting to the environment, observing how the different field armies coordinated, and making note of any potential figures of interest.

The Second Expedition had officially begun—and with it, the real test of survival in the world of Tranquilis.