B1C24: The Trial of Teamwork

Staff Sergeant Judas stood before the group of recruits, reflecting on the six months that had passed since they joined the academy. The teachers had nothing but praise for each one of them. He addressed the recruits, informing them that the first year of training was crucial in shaping them into soldiers, as war could erupt at any moment.

"There has always been a war between good and evil, light and darkness, right and wrong. In our world, it's a war between cultivators and demons. This may be new information to some of you, but believe me, it is all true," Staff Sergeant Judas explained.

"Demons? The recruits who have been taught discipline could not help but break the silence in amazement at the information they had just received.

"Silence!" an instructor yelled, bringing an end to the whispers.

Staff Sergeant Judas continued speaking, revealing that part of their first-year training involved fighting demons in teams to develop their teamwork. At a later stage, it would also involve each team member facing a demon or demons individually to gauge their progress. He gestured towards a killing array designed for teams to test their teamwork and gave them an hour to prepare for the upcoming team battle.

All the children gathered in teams to discuss battle strategy. Although they did not know the numbers of enemies they would have to face, they knew it would be a battle against demons. They had strong physical properties and high defence, so the teams would have to balance between defence and offence.

The Demonslayer team also gathered in the field to discuss their strategy. Trojan, the berserker, Hector, and Ashley were eager to focus on using their full power in completing the test. Nala, Agor, and Naomi disagreed and wanted to focus more on defence while picking off the enemies in smaller groups.

Tobias, Asher, and Phoebe said nothing as they looked towards Caleb. "I don't think any of you are wrong, but I believe the test is not about how strong we are, but about developing our teamwork. We need every member of the team to understand their role and perform it well."

"The safest strategy is to build the team with Naomi and Asher, our long-range damage dealers, as the core. The frontline will be held by our two shieldbearers, Agor and Nala. Tobias, Ashley, Phoebe, and Hector will go in a square formation surrounding our core, just behind Nala and Agor. Trojan and I will man the left and right side of the team respectively. Trojan, don't forget to retreat into the formation if you need a break." Everyone nodded, showing their agreement with the plan. Caleb added another point, "I will be on the wings and will take on the role of scout if needed. In situations where I am away, Tobias will have full authority to give direct commands."

Aware that the challenge might be tougher than expected, Caleb urged his team to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

As the hour passed, they positioned themselves inside the array, armed and geared. Unlike the Three Titan Array at the Moonfire Palace, recruits had to bring their weapons with them to the trial.

"Sir, Demonslayers are in position."

"Activate the array."

"Yes, Sir."

Inside the array, as the Demonslayers stepped forward, a breathtaking scene unfolded before their eyes. They found themselves in an expansive open field, stretching as far as the eye could see. The vibrant hues of fresh green grass covered the plains, creating a lush carpet beneath their feet. The sun shone brightly overhead, casting its warm rays upon their skin, enveloping them in a comforting embrace of light. The gentle breeze carried with it the sweet fragrance of nature, filling the air with a sense of tranquillity and serenity.

As they walked through the field, each step brought a distinct sensation, the texture of the grass tickling their feet, as if nature itself was reaching out to greet them. It was a surreal experience, for they knew deep down that all of this was merely an illusion, a carefully constructed environment within the confines of the array. Yet, the attention to detail and the immersive nature of the simulation made it difficult to fully grasp the illusionary nature of their surroundings.

Over the years of training, Asher's body cultivation had improved, and his carrying weight had also improved. Unlike most archers who only focus on skill, Asher could also carry a lot more quivers on his back. He had customized a quiver which housed 150 arrows, with four of those hoisted across his chest. Naomi also had two 150-arrow quivers, a staff for healing, and a small shield attached to her right arm.

"Get into formation," Caleb instructed. A 20-man army appeared 10 meters away from the team. The enemy soldiers resembled normal humans but bore the mark of the beast on their foreheads, signifying their allegiance to the darkness. Their armours were made out of patched skin that was not identifiable, and their weapons in all shapes and sizes dripped with blood. Caleb commanded the formation, and the Demonslayers moved seamlessly into their battle stances as the demons charged.

"Earth Wall," Agor and Nala created an earth wall. A mud wall rose from the ground on both sides, leaving a small gap and limiting the number of demons fought at a time. Asher, with the help of Naomi, skillfully eliminated the archers with precise shots. Everyone else made quick work of the enemies as they were funnelled through the earth walls into their deaths.

Impressed with their quick thinking and resourcefulness, Caleb gave Nala, Agor, Naomi, and Asher a thumbs up. The Demonslayers swiftly dispatched each subsequent group of enemies, improving their teamwork and coordination with every encounter.

By the time they faced the commander of the fifth group of enemies, the Demonslayers no longer required Caleb's specific commands. They fought together flawlessly, displaying a level of synchronization and understanding that surpassed their expectations. Caleb personally defeated the commander using his thunder skills and refined spear art techniques in a one-on-one battle.

Though they could have continued challenging the array, Caleb decided against it. The Demonslayers had already proven their capabilities. They all agreed to keep a low profile. There was not much to gain from the array, as they had tested their teamwork and found some areas to improve on. Tobias' leadership, Naomi's archery, and Trojan's gear—lack of skills was also an issue limiting the flexibility of the team. Realizing that they still had to improve, Caleb admitted defeat, and they exited the array.

Upon leaving the array, Asher curiously glanced at the ranking board for information about their score. He could see that the Demonslayers were positioned fifth, and four teams were still challenging the array. Although they were not ranked first, being in the top 5 still brought them some recognition and fame amongst their peers. They made their way back to their domes to continue their training.

A while later, the training came to an end. Osmos and Alex had smiles on their faces as their teams had both made it into the top 3. They looked at the training board in shock because they realized their rival, Caleb, and his Demonslayer team were in the fifth position. They could not believe that Caleb's team only had this level of power after 4 years of training. They knew something was not right, but they had their teams to worry about. The other two teams above Demonslayers looked down on them. They initially thought they had no chance in the top 4, seeing as Alex and Osmos' rating of the Demonslayers was always so high. But reality proved them wrong. Like peacocks, they couldn't wait to flaunt their position to gain recognition from others.

For the remaining part of the first year, every team focused on individual development and teamwork. They sought out instructors to work out tactics and made changes to their teams to improve their strong points. The Ray of Light team held the position of the number one team, closely followed by the non-constant Eye for Eye team. Osmos' team held the number one spot for the team with the most injuries during training, but all the hard-earned scars showed their determination to learn, allowing them to demonstrate their strength as the number two recruit team.

The Demonslayers kept their rank at 5 or 6, always staying below the radar, but their improvements could not be discounted. Every member of their team was at least at the Unity rank of body cultivation. Some members had broken through in faith cultivation to Prophet Rank. They had all immersed themselves in weapon arts, improving the quality and variation of their attacks.

After a full year of training, it was time for the final test—the military promotion test. Staff Sergeant Judas explained the nature of the test. The killing array was no longer new to the teams. They had used it to practice teamwork several times and already knew what to expect.

"You will be fighting a one-round timed battle against an army of 50 demons, led by a commander. The instructors would observe every action in the array. We want to see your teamwork, understand the essence of your team, and see how you use your resources. We will also be assessing your team leaders. It would be great to discover those with the potential to be commanders."