Chapter 84

The next day, after the Hawk Team had rested well, they left the small town and set off toward the wilderness. However, their task for the day was not to fight but to learn.

"As monster hunters, the most important thing during a hunt is not how to obtain more monster materials or earn more money, but to protect your team. Therefore, thorough preparation is essential, as it can help you avoid unnecessary dangers," the lively Locke once again took on the role of the commentator. He seemed to enjoy this job, which allowed him to showcase his eloquence and educate these rookies: "First, when you arrive in an unfamiliar place, you need to understand its terrain, the types of monsters, their distribution, and their habits. So, if possible, prepare a map, or gather information from the locals to find a suitable place for hunting based on your abilities. Otherwise, if you recklessly wander around, you might encounter powerful monsters or groups of monsters in the wilderness, and you could be wiped out at any moment!"

At this point, Locke pointed to the distance: "For example, 200 miles north of here, within a 30-mile radius, there are large numbers of Wind Wolves. Wind Wolves are accustomed to group activities, and the smallest Wind Wolf pack has around 200 members. With your team's capabilities, even encountering a small pack would be difficult to handle, let alone a large one, which would be like a mere snack, and you wouldn't even be able to run away."

At this moment, the archer Dalien added: "Most monsters have their own territories. As long as you don't intrude on their territory, you rarely get attacked. However, there are some special cases where monsters might leave their territory and change their activity range. Therefore, just understanding the information is not enough. In actual actions, you must always observe. Each type of monster, their scent, footprints, and habits will give you clues. For example, a D-rank Level 5 monster, the Groundsplitter Bear, likes to leave paw prints throughout its territory. Their paw strength is very strong, leaving cracks on the ground that won't heal for a short time. In the area where a C-rank Level 3 Black Python lives, the plants will wither and die due to the toxicity in its breath, and no plants will grow there again. If you suddenly encounter a barren area in a lush forest, you need to be cautious. Experienced mercenaries only use written information as a reference and don't stick to rigid rules."

Luo Feng and the others gained a lot of knowledge. These things were not taught in the academy, although they were not related to cultivation, they were very useful for survival and adventure in the wild. Moreover, the Warblade Mercenary Group explained everything vividly, making the listeners pay close attention.

"When traveling in areas with many barriers, you need to be observant and alert, as some monsters are very cunning and will hide in the dark, waiting for prey to arrive before launching a surprise attack," said the thief Burke. As he finished speaking, a group of black shadows suddenly emerged from the dense forest, which were a group of ambush-type monsters. The thief, who was highly alert, had already detected their presence and used this real-life example to teach everyone.

"Rookies, now watch how we fight!" Locke laughed and moved forward, taking the lead as the team's vanguard and tank, naturally positioning himself at the front of the formation.

The others quickly fell into their positions, forming a formation in less than two seconds, without any confusion due to the sudden situation. This was the quality of mercenaries, who, although not part of a regular army, had high standards.

To better simulate the battles that Luo Feng and the others would face, the Warblade Mercenary Group did not go to their usual hunting grounds but to a monster area that a team of ten at the low-level Magic Qi stage could handle. They used their low-level Magic Qi stage powers to fight, making it more realistic and allowing the observers to gain more insights.

It must be said that although the Warblade Mercenary Group was a small group, their combat experience was highly valuable. Each member played to their specialized role: the warrior's defense, the knight's charge, the thief's agility, and the archer's ranged attacks. The core member, the holy cleric Daly, controlled the entire situation, using auras to enhance the attack, defense, and speed of the most needed members at the most appropriate times. The most remarkable thing was the默契 (默契 means默契, but in this context, it means默契) between the members, as each knew what the others intended, making the battle particularly smooth.

The group of monsters was quickly dealt with, taking less than five minutes.

One of the students exclaimed, "That's amazing! If it were us, it would take a lot more effort!"

"This is the power of a team," Daly said earnestly as the others collected the spoils. "In reality, the combined strength of ten people is definitely stronger than our low-level Magic Qi stage. However, a team is not just a simple addition of one plus one. There is also a chemical reaction. If there is no chemical reaction between team members, one plus one will be less than two. To cultivate this chemical reaction, or teamwork, it requires not only actual combat but also active communication and a deeper understanding of each other."

The group responded in unison, "Understood!"

During the first week of the internship, the group continuously observed and learned the team skills of the Warblade Mercenary Group, especially Luo Feng, who had to learn even more.

In all the battles, Daly never said a word, as the situation changed rapidly, and by the time a word was spoken, it was often too late for the teammates to react. Therefore, the holy cleric often conveyed his commands through actions, such as when his attack aura suddenly intensified, or when he continuously enhanced the attack aura for multiple people, indicating a focus on offense rather than defense. In dire situations, he would only say one word, which was a prearranged signal among the team. Others, including the Warblade Mercenary Group, would not understand these signals, as sometimes the enemies were not just monsters but also ruthless bandits, making the signals useful.

Learning the holy cleric's leadership methods, Luo Feng observed the Warblade Mercenary Group's battles during the day and organized his teammates for discussions, map studies, and the setting of signals at night. Various activities helped the group become more familiar with each other and develop a sense of teamwork.

And the real battles were quietly approaching.

On the eighth night of the internship, the Warblade Mercenary Group gathered everyone, and Daly said, "Through this period of learning, I believe you all have gained some understanding of teamwork. Just observing is not enough. Starting tomorrow, we will no longer demonstrate, but you will take the lead. Please prepare thoroughly. Now, I will give you your first small task."

The group became alert and listened carefully.

Daly continued, "The task is simple: hunt and kill thirty E-rank monsters, regardless of type, and bring back their materials as proof!"

As he said, this small task was relatively easy, as it was the first team hunt, and the group needed time to adapt.

That night, Luo Feng organized a meeting to select a suitable hunting location. Everyone offered their opinions and various hunting strategies, creating a lively atmosphere.

The next morning, the group was gathered, and before setting off, Daly said solemnly, "Luo Feng, from now on, the Hawk Team will no longer follow us but will act independently in the wilderness. The fate of your teammates will be in your hands as the leader. The task is important, but for mercenary hunters, the safety of your teammates is paramount. I hope you can complete the task well and bring your teammates back safely! Also, regardless of whether the task is completed, you must return to the camp before dark, or we will assume the Hawk Team has encountered an accident and will start a search."

Luo Feng saluted, "Understood, Leader Daly. I will do my best!"

"Good, go!"

After bidding farewell to the mercenary group, the group entered the wilderness and, according to the plan, found a suitable area for the team to hunt.

On the first day of the independent mission, the Hawk Team's performance was still somewhat inexperienced and awkward, but the task was relatively simple, serving as a warm-up. They completed it without any issues and returned safely.

In the following days, the number of monsters to be hunted increased, and their levels rose, even including specific types of monsters, making the difficulty gradually increase. However, the Hawk Team performed excellently, with a well-planned strategy and the presence of the highly skilled Aaron, who had been a hidden ace in the team. They encountered no significant problems, which boosted the team's confidence. However, a negative trend began to emerge, which Luo Feng noticed.

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