In the briefing room, Olga stood at the front of the assembled group, clearing her throat to get everyone's attention before beginning. "Alright, so we've found the next Singularity. It takes place in France, in the year 1431. Right now, we don't have any solid intel on what we're facing, so we'll have to go in blind."
She paused for a moment, adjusting the papers in her hand. "Secondly, we're currently only able to Rayshift at most five people, and Fujimaru is our only Master, so her participation is mandatory. We'll also need Mash to go—her shield is required for summoning. I'm definitely going as well, which leaves two spots open."
Meliodas leaned casually against the wall, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I'll sit this one out. I'm still setting up my tavern."
Escanor gave a nod, arms crossed over his chest. "I shall stay behind as well. I'm helping the Captain prepare the drink menu."
Ban smirked and leaned forward in his chair. "I'll go. I assume you guys have a method to bring objects back from the Singularity, right?"
Olga raised an eyebrow. "We do, but why do you ask?"
Ban shrugged. "Because the kitchen's got too few ingredients, and from the sounds of things, this base is gonna get packed in the future. I'd rather start gathering ingredients early."
Olga blinked, momentarily taken aback, before nodding in approval. "Huh. That actually makes a lot of sense. Thank you for your foresight."
Ban waved it off with a grin. "No prob."
Suddenly, something clicked in Olga's mind. She turned sharply toward Meliodas, narrowing her eyes. "Wait a minute—what do you mean you're setting up a tavern?"
Meliodas flashed a mischievous grin. "I found a big empty room and started converting it into a bar. Like Ban said, this place will be packed full of people soon, and I'll be the only option around for alcohol. I'm gonna make a fortune."
Olga opened her mouth to protest, then stopped herself, rubbing her temples with a sigh. "Just… don't destroy anything. No knocking down walls."
Meliodas gave her a cheerful thumbs-up. "No problem. Thanks, boss!"
Elizabeth smiled softly and said, "I'll stay behind and keep an eye on him."
Olga nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Elizabeth."
Gabriel then raised her hand, her expression calm and gentle. "If all of you don't mind, I would like to go."
Olga turned to her with a small smile. "Of course, I don't mind. Does anyone else want to volunteer?"
Diane stretched her arms and said with a grin, "I'm fine. Ritsuka showed me this place called a game room, and I'm having a lot of fun playing these things called video games."
King floated nearby, glancing at her fondly. "And I'm not going if Diane isn't."
Gowther, without looking up from the stack of books beside him, added, "I'm not even a quarter of the way through all the books here, so I'll also stay behind."
Olga sighed heavily, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "I hope the next batch of people that Tet sends are more serious."
Ritsuka chuckled softly from her seat. "Hang in there, Director."
A few hours later, everyone was prepped and ready as the Rayshift sequence began. Roman's voice came through the comms, steady but excited. "Alright—beginning the Rayshift in five... four... three... two... one..."
A surge of light engulfed the group, and when it faded, the five opened their eyes to find themselves standing on vast, grassy plains stretching endlessly beneath a bright blue sky. The wind carried the scent of wildflowers and distant earth.
Olga scanned the horizon, her expression thoughtful. "Not a town or village in sight... Well, let's start walking."
Before they could take a step, a small, fluffy white fox-like creature wriggled out from behind Mash's shield and leapt onto her shoulder, curling its tail around her neck.
"Fou!" the little creature chirped.
Mash blinked in surprise, then smiled warmly. "Oh, Fou, there you are."
Gabriel and Ban both eyed the creature warily. Ban tilted his head, a brow raised. "What's that?"
Mash adjusted her grip on her shield, looking a little sheepish. "Oh, this is Fou. I'm... not really sure what he is."
Ban crossed his arms with a shrug. "That so? Okay then." He turned to Olga with a questioning glance.
Olga shook her head, sighing. "I have no idea what it is. It just showed up in Chaldea one day and never left. It seems to only like Mash and Ritsuka for some reason."
Ban grunted. "We'll worry about that later. We should get to the nearest town before nightfall."
Without warning, he reached over, grabbed Ritsuka, and slung her over his shoulder effortlessly.
"Hey! What's the big idea!?" Ritsuka yelped, kicking lightly in protest.
Ban smirked, unfazed. "Sorry, kid, but from what I can tell, you're the slowest of the bunch. The rest of us can cover several miles in minutes—it's just faster this way."
Mash gave an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Senpai, but he's right. This will be more efficient."
Ritsuka pouted, crossing her arms even as she hung over Ban's shoulder. "Okay... but I don't like it."
Ban chuckled. "Get used to it, 'cause till you get stronger, this is how we're traveling."
Olga's eyes suddenly glowed a soft, radiant blue—Castiel's presence taking over. Her voice became calm and composed. "Indeed. This will be a lot faster."
Gabriel smiled gently at Ritsuka. "Sorry, Ritsuka dear, just bear with it. It'll be over quickly."
And with that, the four of them took off in a blur of motion—Ban leading the charge, Mash keeping pace beside him, Olga and Gabriel following close behind.
Ritsuka's indignant scream echoed across the plains. "Aaaaah! Too fast!"
Within fifteen minutes, they crested a low hill and sighted the first town in the distance, its stone walls glinting faintly in the afternoon sun.
Mash's eyes widened as the landscape ahead came into focus. She pointed excitedly. "Look—it's a town!"
Ban narrowed his eyes, his expression turning serious. "Look closer."
Mash followed his gaze and felt her heart drop. Smoke rose in thick plumes from burning rooftops, and skeletal figures were chasing terrified survivors through the streets.
Gabriel's face hardened, her voice heavy with urgency. "Those poor people... Castiel, to the sky! We must save them!"
Castiel gave a firm nod, her calm expression unwavering. In an instant, both she and Gabriel unfurled their radiant wings, the light from their feathers cutting through the smoky horizon as they soared toward the town.
Ban's tone sharpened. "Double time! Mash, pick up the pace!"
Mash gripped her shield tightly, determination flashing in her eyes. "Yes!" she replied, breaking into a sprint beside him.
The two reached the outskirts of the town just in time. A skeleton, sword raised high, was about to strike down an old man when Ban blurred into view and delivered a powerful kick that sent the undead flying into a crumbling wall.
He set Ritsuka down gently, his expression serious. "Mash, stick with Ritsuka. You two look for survivors."
Mash gave a firm nod. "Understood, Ban."
Ritsuka groaned, one hand on her stomach as she tried to steady herself. "Sure thing... as soon as I catch my breath."
Ban smirked faintly before turning and sprinting into the chaos. All around, buildings burned and screams echoed through the streets. He caught sight of Gabriel and Castiel already tearing through the undead, their attacks made of pure light obliterating the creatures in dazzling flashes.
Ban moved alongside them, taking out any stragglers they missed with precise, brutal efficiency. He helped dig trapped villagers out of rubble, his movements fast but careful—until a thunderous roar shook the air.
He froze, eyes snapping toward the horizon. In the distance, a massive wyvern descended from the clouds, its scales glinting like molten iron.
Ban's grin turned feral. "Heh... meat acquired."
Without hesitation, he charged straight toward it. The wyvern roared again, its massive wings kicking up dust and debris, but Ban didn't falter. He leapt high into the air, his body twisting with impossible strength, and drove a devastating kick into the top of the creature's skull.
Bone shattered. Brain matter burst. The wyvern crashed to the ground in a thunderous heap.
Ban landed beside the corpse, dusting off his hands with a cocky smirk. He grabbed the beast effortlessly and hauled it back toward the town, dropping it with a heavy thud next to Mash.
"Watch that for me," he said, flashing a grin. "I gotta process it and send it back to Chaldea."
Mash stared wide-eyed at the massive, lifeless wyvern, momentarily speechless. But she quickly nodded, still in shock. "O-Okay..."
Ban gave her a thumbs-up before turning on his heel and sprinting back into the fray, vanishing once more into the smoke and chaos of battle.