Hikari straps on her steel helmet. She lifts her steel shield to test its weight. It was made of three layers of steam tank armour cobbled together, about the weight of her claymore and the height of her leg.
The curved front gives it more defense against projectiles.
She held her hammer in her hand, tilting it back and forth. The balance was quite off.
It needed a longer shaft with a proper counter weight which the hastily constructed weapon lacked.
"I guess I can throw this"
Around her, the breaching team was likewise getting their gear ready. Steel plate armour.
A light crystal atop their helmets
Their belts were slotted with dynamite, acid flasks, flares, bombs and a pickaxe.
A mix of guns that fired a spread of shrapnel and a singular piercing bullet and flame throwers as well. A fair bit more complex than the common muskets of the line infantry.
"Welcome to the breaching team, Hikari."
Rey pops his head out of his armoured suit.
"Well, what do you think?"
Hikari studied his armour.
A two metre tall hunk of steel.
Armed with a cannon over its shoulders. A cannon on its right hand and a drill on the left.
Its insides contained a variety of complex machinery and mana circuits, powered by a mana core the size of her handcannon balls.
"Adorable"
"Adorable? He. You just watch. This pressure cannon can pierce right through an orc.
"But It's not safe here."
"Oh this is the safest place to be right now. I'd rather not be back at the camp, surrounded by the slayers and the slayer master's bodyguards and assassins."
"I see."
"Alright! Form up! It's time to get going!"
Rey lowered his head back into the hatch.
Hikari picked up her shield and planted it on the ground facing the thin wall. The breaching team formed up behind her. Two men set off the fuse on the dynamite stuck to the wall and then ran for cover behind Hikari's shield.
Kaboom! The wall exploded into pieces. The rubble pelted Hikari's shield, making a loud clanking sound.
Hikari advanced through the smoke.
As they entered the cavern, the cave dwellers scurry away into small tunnels.
It was dark and empty, except for the dim glow of mana crystals. The men fan out and briefly sweep the cavern.
"Clear!" "Clear!" The breachers declared.
They lowered the weapons and gathered back behind her. Three of them began assembling a pole slotting a glowing light crystal at the top.
"Form up!" Rey spoke through the speaker phone installed in his armour.
Hikari moved to the next wall.
"Now Hikari. Feel the earth and tell me if there's anything in the next room."
Hikari closed her eyes and projected her mana sense through the stone.
There was an entire eco system below the wyvern peaks. Various creatures whose shapes she couldn't discern scurrying around the myriad tunnels.
"Empty."
"Right. Your detection probably isn't that sensitive yet. Just tell me if there's anything big up ahead. Load the breaching charges!"
Kaboom! The wall was shattered into pieces.
Performing the same drill, they checked the empty cave.
"Don't need to be too tense yet. It's only at the higher depths where we'll face significant resistance."
"I see."
After more than a dozen breaches, they have run out of charges allowing them some rest time.
Several caves behind them, the engineers were setting up rail tracks, wall lighting and support columns. Miners clearing away the loose debris and collecting mana crystals.
It was an uneventful expedition so far.
Hikari bit into her dried rations.
"Pssh can you hear me?" Rey whispered in his armoured suit with the speaker phone off.
"Yes."
"We're in the middle of the raid now. There's likely eyes and ears about. I trust your senses but let's be on the safe side. "
"Ok."
"Don't reply either. Just listen. About the haul you brought back from the first mana vein. Well the dead adventurer's gear is safe. "
Hikari continued chewing.
"The wyvern parts are safe too. Mana crystals are fair game. "
Hikari swallowed and took another bite.
"But those fruits are a dead giveaway you looted the mana vein. And yes, they are safe to eat. First thing when we recapture the mining shaft, set up your ritual and begin right away."
Rey takes a bite and swallows.
"And that dark crystal. Absorb it and keep it between us for now. I'll discuss this with your lady Ria when we get back."
Hikari swallows.
The porters arrived with the resupply.
"Form up, ladies and gentlemen! Time for the next breach!" Rey spoke through his speakerphone.
Hikari got into position, the breachers forming up behind her.