After the recruits calmed down from the amazing specifications of the weapons, the figure continued.

  "Your third pivotal piece of gear is the Bulwark," the Figure concluded, bringing in an image of a book with handles on the back, then it suddenly transformed into a barrier, reminiscent of a riot shield, yet its size seemed imposing.

  “This tool can withstand thermonuclear explosions capable of obliterating a small country, stopping them cold. The size and shape of your shield can be modified to however you need it to be, it can extend to a diameter of two-meter radius. However, like the others, it requires care and vigilance, once its durability has been compromised, it will cease to function. It can withstand five hundred rounds from Winston and five shots from the Pision.”

  "Your next essential piece of equipment is the All Cloak," the Figure proclaimed, revealing an image of a versatile fabric that can adapt to any shape.

  "This is the standard uniform for every mission, it can seamlessly camouflage in any terrain, unless you're in spacetime travel or under fire. With a see-through function, it permits unobstructed vision while adapting to extreme temperatures from fifteen thousand degrees Celsius to negative two hundred seventy-three degrees Celsius. The All Cloak is nearly impervious to conventional weaponry, resisting piercing attacks traveling at one hundred thousand kilometers per second and enduring up to two hits from our Pision projectiles before disintegration on the third. It also transforms into a parachute for safe descents, morphs into a tent for shelter, serves as an efficient diving apparatus, and absorbs G-forces during atmospheric entry to maintain your body’s alignment. When you need warmth, it can function as a simple blanket. The All Cloak is rugged, even if damaged, its extraordinary properties remain intact. It charges from any energy source, including dark energy and body heat, providing up to seventy-two hours of use when fully charged. It can be split into two, though space entry capabilities become inactive. Additionally, it can mold into prosthetics for severed limbs and staunch bleeding when applied to wounds. Just remember, it's a tool, not a lifeline."

  "Please be aware," the Figure stated, pausing for emphasis, "that losing or misusing your gear will have serious consequences. Neglecting your equipment can lead to deductions from your pay and possibly mandatory civil service in the Dreamscape. This gear is crafted from humanity's hard work and sacrifice, so treat it with respect. While each piece is rebuilt after use, it's critical to check its functionality. Quality is assured, but spacetime can be unpredictable. For guidance on inspecting your equipment, refer to the manual available in the booklet icon on your visual display."

  Axel’s brows furrowed as unease rippled through the group.

  “The Dreamscape is no mere fantasy,” the Figure warned sternly. “An expanse of time, here you will either teach children how to behave properly, tell them eating vegetables is good for the body, make them face monsters in their bed, or inspire them to be pillar of humanity, this will all be done on their sleep which you will join them in. This is to remember you are the pillars that held up the sky protecting their innocent smiles.”

  Each recruit felt it was a rather relaxing task, but how many children are we talking about exactly?

  The sanctions are as follows.

  “Failure to keep a piece of combat gear will give you a penalty of two hundred years in the Dreamscape which is equivalent to twenty-four hours on Earth time as we can dilate it within your consciousness.”

  “Should you lose a mission item, the tools provided for specialized needs, be wary. Mishandling these can lead to sentences ranging from fifty to five thousand years within the Dreamscape. Having it fall onto enemy hands or consequently delaying your fellow operatives on completing their own objectives due to the loss of such devices may lead to a heavy clean-up operation or even worse, opening another battle theater for humanity. Operatives will bring you to a hospital and will be in a coma for a month to finish your service.”

  The men couldn’t help but feel moved as so much trust and hope rested on their shoulders, yet as elite soldiers, they felt that the punishment seemed inadequate for such a huge blunder.

  Axel clenched his fists, the passion within ignited. Even though he wouldn’t set himself for failure, he felt that inspiring those children in his free time wouldn’t be so bad after all.

  After letting the information sink in, the Figure continued his briefing.

  “Your Rations Space can hold up to five hundred metric tons, allowing for transport, logistic relief, or raw and cooked materials for your meals. However, selfishness in its utilization will lead to financial repercussions, deducted from your payout depending on your residential timeline.”

  “Personal Storage Space, as the name encompasses, is a space provided given to all our operatives for their own use. It is designed for keeping your own valuables, but beware, no spacetime explosives or devices that could disturb the balance of space and time are permitted, otherwise everything except those mentioned are allowed. Any non-living, inanimate object can occupy this space, otherwise, it will be automatically rejected if the system detects it has any form of life, don’t even think about abducting a woman you like with this storage space.”

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Everyone couldn’t help but smile wryly as the figure in black tried to break the ice, but everyone’s muscles were so taut due to the huge responsibility being pressed onto them.

  “Lastly on the briefing about the Inventory, is the Evolutionary Specimen Space. This is a highly specialized storage in the form of a DNA icon that can be clicked and will gather biological samples for you during your journey. The specimen can be obtained as payment, as spoils of war, on a corpse of an enemy or something you stumbled upon during an exploration if you’re lucky. These samples serve to enhance your genetics, granting you increased stamina, intelligence, strength, and durability derived from foreign species, remains of an entity long gone or some plants along the way that has compatibility with our bodies. This is one of the currencies available among your ranks, allowing you to trade or sell your discoveries, civilians of timelines forty-second century and above can also trade here, rest assured that there is no scammer in this trading platform, however overpriced good may appear from time to time and it is under your digression to tread carefully while trading.”

  “The payout of each mission will usually be delivered to you right away, if you want a different payout or a different need from what was provided, there will be a scale icon below the booklet icon where you can have it negotiated, depending on the amount of pay you want to have replaced, this process can be done within an hour at the shortest time or up to a year for the longest, a pay can be disputed three times and will have a processing fee from the fourth onwards. Don’t even think you’d get into the yearlong negotiations because these usually are on the level of owning a galaxy. On one note, there will be up to thousands of options to choose from for your negotiation so keep in mind that you will need to be brief, precise and concise if you plan to request for a negotiation on your payout. There will also be monetary compensation we call the Coin. These coins are universally traded within all human race ran facilities as well as selected extraterrestrial allied settlements, this includes twenty-first century where you reside, a coin can be exchanged for a hundred thousand US dollars by contacting any operative by dialing your previous codename on your last mission, once you have successfully dialed your codename, an operative will verify your identity automatically and the money will be sent to your bank account, if a bank account is non-existent, a mail should arrive in your doorsteps exactly twenty four hours after your trade. However, let me remind you, this is not usually used very often as most people love trading more than using a currency. ”

  “The icon with the two shaking hands is the trading platform where you can trade the ones I have mentioned earlier, it is located above the manual icon. Currently, it is greyed out because you have yet to complete a single mission. It will be available once you have successfully completed a mission. The interface will also match your personality and preferences so there wouldn’t be any hassle on your trading experience.”

  “Finally, it is crucial to grasp the nature of spacetime travel. The continuum operates under strict laws of equivalent exchange, if a soldier from the thirty-first century enters a time before their own, a correspondent operator can track them within a range of their personal value, primarily within their race’s timeline. Each move in spacetime comes with unseen costs.” The figure in black stated firmly, reminding them that every move had a price.

  Axel closed his eyes momentarily, attempting to assimilate the multitude of details while fostering an intense focus for the trials ahead.

  “Understand this,” the Figure added, levelling its gaze towards each recruit as if piercing into their souls.

  “You are on the verge of embarking on a journey that will transcend time, a mission that will define you. Fates intertwine in this theater, where every action carries consequences both known and unfathomable.”

  “Understood, sir,” Axel and his colleagues responded in unison, clarity igniting their mind like a fire. The intricacy of the time-space web revealed itself like a complex tapestry, urging him to consider the profound connection between actions and consequences.

  “You are tasked with a mission deemed Level Infant Difficulty,” the Figure announced, transitioning smoothly. “You are tasked to complete two objectives and a main mission. Breaking down the two objectives, the first one will be rescuing people of the arcanist heritage, the second one is to disinfect plague infested areas, both these objectives are both vital to humanities progress. Every action you take will be evaluated based on performance, efficiency, your capability to utilize the system and the tools provided to you.”

  The screen flickered again, showcasing a figure from the past. It was a young woman clad in armor, eyes fierce and intelligent, encircled by a hint of light.

  “This is Jeanne d'Arc, one of the most powerful Arcanists of the fifteenth century. She was known for her unique ability to decipher enemy transmissions through something called Void Codes,” the Figure explained. “These codes echo across time, holding secrets vital for our survival.”

  “During her life, she uncovered messages detailing that the black plague was orchestrated by foreign entities that should have been the final nail for the coffin of humanity, but we made a clutch through her efforts. It’s believed they sowed discord among humanity, manipulating our ancestors while crippling our progress. Her involvement is pivotal, your main mission is to retrieve her and secure her knowledge for our benefit.”

  “This mission is already on its six thousand three hundred twenty-ninth iteration, meaning this mission is executed six thousand three hundred twenty-nine times without failure, some of our combat teams being wiped out to rescue the arcanist, some going home with incurable insanity due to the pressure, we relieved them of service by putting them back in their childhood years wiped of the horrors of the mission, some only surviving with their head and torso intact yet still clinging to life with only the fire of humanity in their eyes. Be assured that as long as you do not draw your last breath our medical equipment can make you good as new.”

  The visuals shifted again, this time displaying reptilian creatures with intelligent eyes and insectoid nightmares, each depicted with innate powers beyond comprehension.

  The seven soldiers couldn’t help but gulp at the sight of these nightmarish beings. Axel’s face turned pale at the sight of such creatures, he couldn’t fathom how he could combat such horrors. He even wondered if they’d be cannon fodder in such a mission, he wasn’t one to look down on himself, but he knew his skills might not be enough to fight these abominations alone.

  ‘Have humanity been surviving like this way all along?’ The hearts of the men slightly faltered at such horrors displayed on the projection.