After observing the sword-wielders, I knew they were given proper training under the tutelage of Shanny, Zecht, and Halim.
In another training ground, the archers were receiving theirs from Tarran, Ashni, Kinnara and her children.
The Garudas were excellent long-ranged combatant. They were capable of instructing this group of trainees.
Currently, the archers were running through a massive field installed with complex obstacle courses.
They were supposed to hit the targets spread around the field while dodging the Garudas, Tarran and Ashni attacking them from afar.
"An archer must have a good spatial awareness! Be alert of your surroundings as you try to hit your target!"
Tarran instructed while firing at the trainees from a high ground.
"Think like a hunter! Plan accordingly so you could strike your prey down while ensuring your own survival!"
Kinnara added while sending a rain of feather darts to the trainees.
In another training ground, Devisha and the Tsamudran Morivia were instructing the dual-wielders and dagger-users.
The two women were sparring against each other and showcased high level techniques to the trainees.
"Your goal is to strike your opponent where it hurts the most. Make use of your maneuverability to discover the enemy's weak spot where they least expect it. Exploit whatever advantages provided to you."
Morivia said as she swiftly thrusted her pair of short trishula toward Devisha.
"It is important to use feints in your attacks. By confusing your opponent, you would be able to disguise your actual blow and land an effective assault."
Devisha said as she skillfully parried Morivia's trishulas and launched a series of her own counter-attacks.
In another training ground, Jonah was currently sparring against the Tchakran glaive-wielder, Gaoling, and the Guntur Elder.
We had many experienced polearm wielders in the Main Forces that we could spare some to spar with the trainees extensively.
Gaoling twirled her glaive with the sophisticated Tchakran technique.
Her movement made her seem like a spinning whirlwind.
Meanwhile, the Guntur Elder swung his battle axe with immense strength.
Each swing struck like a thunder.
But Jonah was able to counter all their attacks with ease.
He had experienced so much from the Quintal Trials that the two advanced heroes posed little threat to him.
"Fancy techniques are useless if not accompanied with strength. And strength is useless if not accompanied with effective techniques."
Jonah told the two warriors sparring with him.
Right then, Gaoling reduced her movement and focused her strength into several powerful swings and thrusts.
The Guntur Elder also started twirling his battle axe and included some feints and variations to his assault.
Their change in tactic caused Jonah to be pushed back slightly.
['Gaoling (★★★)'s Basic Spearmanship has levelled up to level 9!]
['Gaoling (★★★)'s Thrust Charge has levelled up to level 2!]
['Sigmund (★★★)'s Basic Battle-Axe Technique has levelled up to level 9!]
['Sigmund (★★★)'s Insight has levelled up to level 3!]
The joint training was going well.
All of the Reserve raiders were instructed by our most skilled heroes in the lobby, which would enhance their growth significantly.
We should be able to get a good number of them to reach at least level 8 in basic combat skill.
"And that is the last enchantment."
I said to Cedran while casting a spell to the large boiling cauldron in the item synthesis lab.
We were trying to make new forging materials that would be useful in creating stronger weapons and magic artifacts.
With my capabilities and Cedran's alchemic knowledge, we were able to formulate several crafting materials that could serve our immediate needs.
"There are plenty, but each enchantment barely worth First Circle magic. So you should be able to cast them."
I told the young alchemist.
"Understood, Your Excellency. I will perform the procedures exactly as you showed me."
He replied while adjusting his foggy glasses.
With his reply, I teleported to the training facility below the Magic Hall.
The 5-star Lauressia was currently teaching our mages basic enchantments that every sorcerer needed to master.
Shield casting, detection spells, counter sorcery, rune protection, basic enhancement spells, dimensional magic, and more.
No matter their specialty, a mage needed to develop sufficient degree of proficiency on all those sorcery skills.
"Once more… Feel the ocean within you… That vast pool of energy…."
Lauressia instructed the mages as they stood in a circle at the center of the training hall.
Judging by the radiation around each of the mages, they were practicing a mana vessel reinforcement exercise.
It was an important training to strengthen one's mana vessel. Making it more stable and robust.
A mage could be killed if another mage fatally tempered their vessel.
That was what I did to defeat the Kali witch on the 15th floor.
By using strong unstable dark arts for greater power, she made her mana vessel vulnerable.
I exploited that weakness to ensure our survival and the mission's success.
"Feel the boundaries of that ocean… Feel how open and vulnerable they are…"
Having a weak mana vessel would also cause a mage to easily experience mana overflow.
Every mage knew they must not fall to that state in the mission. Especially in the Quintal Trial.
It certainly proved fatal when it happened to me on the 20th floor.
"Now make that ocean flow outward… Use the waves of your mana to accumulate into strong barriers… Feed those barriers with more waves until they grow into an impenetrable fortress that would protect your precious ocean…"
Lauressia spoke with that gentle melodious voice of hers.
Soon, I could sense magical layers forming on our mages' vessels.
['Yuxia (★★★★)'s Caster Heart has levelled up to level 2!]
['Vallerynne (★★★)'s Mana Overflow Resistance has levelled up to level 4!]
['Matrias (★★★)'s Mana Overflow Resistance has levelled up to level 4!]
['Meifa (★★★)' has obtained the skill, 'Mana Overflow Resistance'!]
['Kiran (★★★)' has obtained the skill, 'Mana Overflow Resistance'!]
['Aludra (★★★)' has obtained the skill, 'Mana Overflow Resistance'!]
A productive training session.
The presence of 5-star heroes had certainly benefitted the Raid Team.
"Excellent work, all of you."
I told the mages.
Lauressia performed a slight curtsy upon my arrival.
"It was just a simple magic exercise, Vice-Master. But we needed to set up a strong foundation before we could move on to more advanced sorcery training."
"Right you are, Lady Lauressia."
I replied the 5-star.
I continued to the others.
"It is almost time for the formation training. The rest of you better join the others soon."
After the specialization training session, the raiders would then engage in formation exercises.
We had expanded the training plan this time.
Previously, we only made each party face against one another.
But a simple duel would not be enough of a training for the raiders.
Given the challenges in the Quintal Trials, we needed to provide our heroes with more complete exercises.
One versus three duels. Two versus five. Three versus ten. Five versus twenty.
A swordsman and a spearman duo exercise. An archer and a swordsman pair. A swordsman-archer-spearman trio. Various other combinations.
Object defend simulation. Facility infiltration simulation. Target escort simulation. Target capture simulation.
We needed to prepare our raiders for every scenario that could come up in the Quintal Trials.
Andaman, Ulrica, Djhotti, and Zecht had structured extensive training plan which covered all our needs.
Given their roles in Dunia, they used to plan these kinds of training often.
The Tsamudran High Blood would arrange the training for his clan's army. The Near-Kin would do it for her Guntur warriors. The Keeper would train dwarves that aspired to be a Keeper like him. While Zecht would often hold special training exercises with his fellow mercenaries.
I had seen the training plan they came up with.
Basically the members of the Main Forces would be overseeing the training and also providing the necessary challenges for the trainees.
We had assigned all the members we needed for the required roles.
"I need to help Devisha and Ashni set up traps for the infiltration simulation. What about you two?"
Vallerynne asked Yuxia and Matrias as they were leaving the training hall.
"Ulrica's making me shoot lightning bolts for the target escort and capture exercises."
Matrias said.
Yuxia nodded alongside him.
"I'm supposed to provide the challenges for the defend simulation. Zecht wanted me to make the trainees suffer as they try to defend their objective."
Once the mages left the training hall, I turned to Lauressia.
We were not involved in providing the formation training.
There were other important matters that could really use our attention.
"We're in the middle of processing the new crafting materials. I need you to ensure we're producing them properly."
I told the 5-star.
She nodded.
"Certainly, Vice-Master."
The two of us then teleported ourselves back to the item synthesis lab where Cedran was currently working.
Lauressia was needed in this project since we needed her expertise in magic artifacts.
As a 5-star Tsamudran, Lauressia possessed a strong magic artifact of her own.
It was the golden crown on her head which resembled a warrior's helmet.
I had observed the artifact through the forged land's system.
The crown basically enhances her water magic, enchantments, as well as providing her with additional supply of mana.
I intended to make similar artifacts for our mages.
Which was why I needed Lauressia to help us in crafting the artifacts.
She would know when we finally created the proper materials to make them.
"I could already sense the material's integrity as it is being made. They should be enough to make the artifacts that you wanted, Vice-Master."
Lauressia said as she observed the large boiling cauldron Cedran was attending to.
She continued while casting a spell over the cauldron.
"The finished material would be even stronger if we get rid of the impurities. Your young alchemist is not capable of isolating them. So I shall help."
"I didn't bother to purify the solution since that means we would need to tend to the cauldron all the time. And we need to make a lot of them."
I told the 5-star.
She nodded to my explanation.
"You needn't worry, Vice-Master. I shall diligently work to create the perfect material even if that means I'll have to spend most of my time here."
"That is really generous of you. Considering it would not even be your party that would benefit from the artifacts we would be making."
The Tsamudran smiled at my words.
"We would only make Master's army stronger by helping everyone in the Raid Team. If we're going to save our world, Vice-Master, we certainly can't have Master's army lacking. So we need to help each other."
5-star heroes certainly knew what was at stake.
They understood that we had to do everything that we could to save the world.
Even if that meant lowering their status to serve those lower than them.
Indeed.
We must be willing to do everything to save our world.
The absolute nightmares that awaited ahead of us would demand as much and even more.