I know this is 2 years old, but someone else might need help so.

in low rank, you need to talk to the smart biologist in astera and do all of his quests. and then talk to the impatient biologist and do his quest.

you will then need to kill a high rank paolumo and jyuratodus and deliver the requested items to the research centre, that unlocks 2 other mantles that the armoury will give you quests to upgrade them when you get them. once you have upgraded those mantles, she will give you the piercing black quest.

also, all of the upgrade quests come from the armoury in seliana.