Episode 4: Training Begins

Morning at the Cleaners' Base

The episode opens with Rudo waking up in Team Akuta's base—a fortified structure built into a mountain of compacted trash. The contrast between this makeshift home and his previous life in The Sphere is stark. The base is functional but crude, with walls reinforced by salvaged metal and rooms carved out of compressed garbage.

Enjin explains the daily routine of Cleaners: patrol The Pit for Trash Beasts, salvage valuable materials, and protect the scattered communities of survivors. Rudo learns that the Cleaners aren't just fighters—they're the closest thing to law enforcement and community service that exists in the wasteland.

Understanding Givers and Vital Instruments

Zanka takes charge of Rudo's education, starting with the fundamentals. She explains that Givers are individuals born with the ability to breathe life into objects, transforming them into Vital Instruments. This power isn't magic—it's a unique form of energy manipulation that only certain people possess.

The process requires three elements:

• Intent - Clear visualization of what you want to create
• Energy - The Giver's life force channeled through their body
• Material - The object being transformed (quality affects the result)

Rudo's 3R gloves act as a catalyst, making it easier for him to channel his energy. However, Zanka emphasizes that he must learn to create Vital Instruments without relying solely on the gloves, as they could be damaged or lost in battle.

First Training Session: Failure and Frustration

Rudo's first official training session is humbling. Despite his success in creating a weapon during his desperate fight with the Trash Beast in Episode 1, he now struggles to replicate the feat under controlled conditions. His attempts produce unstable, malformed objects that crumble or explode.

Zanka explains that his initial success was driven by pure survival instinct and adrenaline—a common phenomenon among new Givers. Now he must learn to access that power consciously and consistently. The training is physically and mentally exhausting, as creating Vital Instruments drains the user's stamina.

This sequence effectively shows Rudo's vulnerability and inexperience. He's not a natural prodigy who masters everything instantly—he has to work hard and fail repeatedly before making progress. This makes his eventual growth more satisfying and realistic.

Zanka's Teaching Methods

Zanka proves to be a demanding but effective teacher. Her training philosophy is "learn by doing"—she throws Rudo into increasingly difficult challenges, forcing him to adapt or fail. She demonstrates her own Vital Instrument, the Lovely Assistaff, a elegant weapon that can extend, retract, and split into multiple segments.

Through her demonstrations, Rudo learns that Vital Instruments reflect their creator's personality and fighting style. Zanka's weapon is precise and graceful, matching her noble background and refined combat techniques. This raises the question: what will Rudo's signature Vital Instrument be like once he masters his abilities?

Riyo's Unexpected Help

During a break in training, Riyo Reaper approaches Rudo with her characteristically cheerful demeanor. Unlike Zanka's strict approach, Riyo offers a different perspective: she suggests that Rudo is overthinking the process. As a former assassin who relied on instinct, she advises him to trust his gut feelings rather than trying to intellectualize everything.

She demonstrates by casually creating a small Vital Instrument—her signature scissors, The Ripper—with seemingly no effort. However, she reveals that it took her years to make it look easy. Her advice helps Rudo understand that there's no single "correct" way to be a Giver; each person must find their own path.

Breakthrough Moment

Late in the episode, exhausted and frustrated, Rudo sits alone among piles of failed attempts. He reflects on why he's doing this—not just to survive, but to find justice for Regto and prove his innocence. Thinking about his adoptive father and the 3R gloves' meaning (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), Rudo has an epiphany.

He realizes that creating Vital Instruments isn't about forcing his will onto objects—it's about understanding their potential and helping them become something new. With this mindset shift, he successfully creates a stable Vital Instrument: a simple but functional hammer made from scrap metal.

The moment is understated but powerful. There's no dramatic light show or explosion—just a quiet success that represents genuine progress. Zanka, who has been secretly watching, nods in approval. This small victory marks the beginning of Rudo's true journey as a Giver.

Evening Discussion: The Cleaners' Mission

That evening, Team Akuta gathers for dinner—a communal meal made from salvaged ingredients. The atmosphere is relaxed, and Rudo gets to see his teammates' personalities outside of training and combat. Enjin shares more about the Cleaners' history and purpose.

The Cleaners were founded decades ago by survivors who refused to become victims of The Pit's chaos. Their mission is threefold: eliminate Trash Beasts that threaten communities, maintain order in the lawless wasteland, and search for the truth about The Sphere's relationship with The Pit. This last goal is kept secret from most people, as it could be dangerous to openly question The Sphere's authority.

Foreshadowing Future Challenges

The episode ends with Jabber arriving at the base with urgent information. He's discovered unusual Trash Beast activity in a sector near one of the larger survivor settlements. The beasts are behaving strangely, almost as if they're being coordinated by something intelligent. Enjin decides that tomorrow, Rudo will join his first real mission—ready or not.