Episode 5: First Mission

Mission Briefing

The episode opens with Jabber presenting his intelligence to Team Akuta. A settlement called Rust Haven, located in the eastern sector of The Pit, has reported unusual Trash Beast activity. Unlike normal beasts that attack randomly, these creatures are moving in coordinated patterns, almost as if following orders.

Enjin decides this is the perfect opportunity for Rudo's first mission. The team will investigate the threat, eliminate any Trash Beasts, and try to determine what's causing their strange behavior. Zanka emphasizes that this isn't a training exercise—Rudo's life and the lives of innocent people are at stake.

Journey to Rust Haven

As Team Akuta travels through The Pit, the episode showcases the wasteland's diverse environments. They pass through valleys of compacted trash, forests of rusted metal structures, and toxic pools that emit noxious fumes. This journey serves as world-building, showing viewers more of The Pit's geography and dangers.

During the journey, Rudo learns about his teammates' combat roles. Enjin is the heavy hitter and leader, Zanka handles tactical coordination and mid-range combat, Riyo specializes in speed and assassination, and Eishia provides support and healing. Rudo's role is still being defined—his versatile ability to create any type of Vital Instrument means he could fill multiple positions.

Arrival and Investigation

Rust Haven is a small but well-defended settlement built into the remains of what appears to be an old factory. The residents are grateful for the Cleaners' arrival but clearly terrified. They report that Trash Beasts have been circling the settlement at night, testing their defenses but not attacking—highly unusual behavior.

Team Akuta sets up a perimeter and waits for nightfall. Rudo is nervous but tries to hide it, not wanting to appear weak in front of his teammates. Riyo notices his anxiety and offers some surprisingly wise advice: "Fear keeps you alive. It's when you stop being afraid that you make fatal mistakes."

The First Wave

As darkness falls, the Trash Beasts emerge. What starts as a few scattered creatures quickly becomes a coordinated assault from multiple directions. The beasts are diverse—some are fast and agile, others are massive and powerful, and a few possess ranged attacks using projectile trash.

This is Rudo's first real combat situation, and the difference from training is immediately apparent. The beasts are faster, more aggressive, and far more dangerous than he expected. His first attempt to create a Vital Instrument fails due to panic, forcing Zanka to save him. She sharply reminds him: "Control your breathing. Remember your training."

Taking a moment to center himself, Rudo successfully creates a reinforced shield from a metal plate. It's not elegant, but it works, blocking a beast's attack and giving him confidence. From there, he begins to find his rhythm, creating simple but effective weapons as needed.

Team Coordination

The episode showcases Team Akuta's combat synergy. Enjin draws the attention of the largest beasts with his overwhelming power. Zanka coordinates the team's movements, calling out threats and opportunities. Riyo darts between enemies, eliminating smaller beasts with surgical precision. Eishia maintains a safe position, ready to heal injuries.

Rudo struggles to find his place in this well-oiled machine. His versatility is both an advantage and a disadvantage—he can adapt to any situation, but he doesn't have a defined role. Enjin notices this and gives him a simple directive: "Don't try to do everything. Just watch our backs and fill the gaps."

The Alpha Beast

Just as the team gains the upper hand, a massive Trash Beast emerges—clearly the leader of the pack. This Alpha Beast is different from the others. It's more intelligent, its movements are calculated, and most disturbingly, it seems to be directing the other beasts' actions.

The Alpha Beast targets Rudo specifically, perhaps sensing his inexperience. It charges with devastating force, scattering the team. Rudo finds himself isolated, facing a creature far beyond his current abilities. In this moment of crisis, he remembers Regto's teachings about finding value in discarded things and Zanka's lessons about understanding materials.

Instead of creating a weapon to fight the Alpha directly, Rudo creates a trap using the surrounding trash. He fashions a net from scrap cables and uses it to entangle the beast's legs, causing it to stumble. This gives Team Akuta the opening they need to coordinate a finishing attack.

The Mystery Deepens

After the battle, Team Akuta examines the Alpha Beast's remains. Enjin discovers something disturbing: embedded in the creature's core is a small, crystalline object that pulses with strange energy. It's clearly not natural to Trash Beasts—someone or something placed it there.

This discovery raises alarming questions. Who has the ability to control Trash Beasts? What's their purpose? And most importantly, is this an isolated incident or part of a larger plan? Jabber will need to investigate further, but one thing is clear: there's a new player in The Pit, and they're dangerous.

Aftermath and Growth

The episode concludes with Team Akuta returning to their base. Rudo is exhausted but exhilarated—he survived his first real mission. More importantly, he contributed meaningfully to the team's success. His creative use of Vital Instruments, while not as flashy as his teammates' techniques, proved effective.

Enjin acknowledges Rudo's performance, noting that his ability to think creatively under pressure is valuable. Zanka is more critical, pointing out several mistakes, but she also admits he showed good instincts. Riyo simply grins and says, "You didn't die. That's a passing grade in The Pit."