Chapter 335: Overall View!

Chapter 335: The Grand Scale!

The academic district of the Dingle Region was immense, featuring seven tall buildings that enclosed a distinct, private area in Saint Antis—a tropical port city.

In many artistic works, Saint Antis was chosen as the setting for the vast majority of beautiful love stories.

In contrast, background settings for murder cases, espionage plots, and court dramas were mostly arranged in Wayne.

Although both regions bordered the sea, their climatic

"Captain, someone is looking for you. It's the captain of the other squad."

"Let him in."

"Understood, Captain."

Karen rose from the bed, walked into the private washroom, and washed his face. Noticing a row of bottles and jars sitting on the sink, he picked up a bottle to inspect it. Finding it was mouthwash, he went ahead and used it.

Then,

why did it feel like these things on the vanity were actually quite valuable?

Would the hotel housekeeping replenish them every day?

But would it be going too far to pack these things up and take them away as well?

Karen lightly tapped his forehead. Ever since he became a captain, why was he growing increasingly "captain-like"?

When he stepped out of the bedroom into the small parlor, Karen saw Muri standing there. Then, Karen froze.

For he saw a pile of twelve cartons of cigarettes and nine bottles of liquor on the coffee table!

The fellows in those two rooms had completely misconstrued his intent; he hadn't told them to deliver things to his quarters right this instant. And who on earth stacked them like that? Were they treating it like spoils of war?

Muri glanced at the coffee table and asked, "Karen, are you very fond of smoking and drinking?"

Karen shook his head and replied, "I'm gathering them to trade for points on the black market once the training is over."

Ventura looked at his captain with profound admiration. While he himself wouldn't speak openly about such matters, his captain faced them with utter composure—the captain operated on a far higher level than he did.

Muri chuckled. "Haha, why didn't I think of such a way to earn extra pocket money? No, I need to call the others right now and tell them to do the same."

With that, Muri actually picked up the receiver and dialed his own team members' rooms. After delivering the orders, he set the phone down and disclosed the purpose of his visit to Karen:

"I'd like to treat you to a meal, just the two of us. Since we are the captains of our respective squads, I believe we ought to have a private chat first."

"Very well, I agree. However, there is still food here, so let us talk here to save it from going to waste."

"Oh, that works too."

Ventura rose, cleared the coffee table, and brought out several plates. He portioned out foods from the dining cart whose flavors wouldn't be compromised by cooling, arranged them nicely, and set down two glasses of ice water on the coffee table.

"Captain, I will go find Bart and the others."

"Mm."

After Ventura departed, Karen and Muri sat facing each other on the sofas.

Karen picked up a fork and began to eat. It was nearly lunchtime, and he was indeed hungry.

Muri also picked up his fork and said, "This training won't last very long. The first class begins tonight, followed by three classes over the next three days. The specific schedule isn't out yet because the instructors are all quite busy, and they need to coordinate the times among themselves.

Overall, however, it is divided into four major categories: one is formations, one is close-quarters combat, one is team battle, and finally, specific arrangements for the Gate of Samsara.

The curriculum schedule will be delivered to us a bit later; I simply happened to find out ahead of time."

"What do the first three categories signify?" Karen inquired.

"They are just training. Do you feel the first three categories are discordant with our current objective?"

"Mm, a little."

"This actually demonstrates that the higher-ups hold our group in high regard. Our mission is not as simple as merely going to the Gate of Samsara. Moving forward, we will all be primary targets for cultivation. And since it is cultivation, they certainly won't be too short-sighted or eager for quick results."

"Yes, quite so." Karen nodded, picking up his glass to take a sip of water. "Are we attending the classes together?"

"We are. A major reason I sought you out is that, since the final selection groups were fixed at six members per squad, we will likely be divided into two separate teams upon entering the Gate of Samsara, each with its own objective. The exact goals and procedures should be detailed on the final day of classes, so they remain unknown for now.

Yet the interior of the Gate of Samsara poses immense danger. Every time it opens, the Church of Samsara itself loses a substantial number of people within.

Therefore, my suggestion is that, starting now, we do our best to help both teams deepen their mutual understanding and build a rapport. Once inside the Gate of Samsara, provided it remains within our own squad's threshold for risk, we can offer assistance to each other's team. Would that be acceptable to you?"

"It is acceptable, I agree."

"Excellent. Now that this consensus is reached, everything else is just minor details."

"You didn't actually need to make a special trip for this, let alone with such formality. We are fundamentally on the same side, and after entering the Gate of Samsara, it's impossible for us to ally with the Church of Samsara or any other divine churches."

"I didn't think you would refuse, but I still felt the need to come over and show a proper gesture."

"Mm, I understand."

The two began to eat. Just then, the doorbell rang.

Karen and Muri rose simultaneously. Karen smiled at Muri, signaling for him to remain seated, and walked to the entrance to open the door. Standing outside was a young man with somewhat long, flowing hair.

"Hello, my name is Pasio."

"Hello."

"Captain!" Pasio raised a wine glass and waved to Muri.

"I am discussing business with Captain Karen."

"Oh, I see." Pasio stepped back out.

Karen closed the door and returned to sit on the sofa.

Muri said with a touch of helplessness, "My team members aren't so easy to manage."

"You will grow into it as time goes on."

Muri shook his head. "Our problem is that we have been together for too long."

"Mm, that is also a problem."

Having finished their simple meal, Muri stood up. "I won't disturb your rest any longer. See you tonight at class."

"Alright, goodbye."

......

Dinner was once again taken in their own rooms. Evidently, the hosts had no intention of organizing any sort of welcome ceremony or "opening" ritual.

This was partly because the mentors were all very busy, and partly because nearly half of the twelve individuals were originally from the Digne Region itself.

Knowing they had class in the evening, everyone rested fully in their rooms. Being exceptional youths of outstanding physical and mental caliber, none of them suffered from the insomnia of jet lag.

The venue for the first class was the conference hall on the hotel's third floor. As captains of their respective squads, Karen and Muri received notice to collect the curriculum schedules and sign for confirmation first.

Having collected their schedules, the two took the elevator to the third floor. Outside the conference hall, Muri's squad members stood leaning against the wall in various states of lethargy, whereas opposite them, Karen's five stood in a perfectly straight, rigid line—the contrast was striking.

Karen noticed that the corner of Muri's mouth twitched.

Entering the conference hall, they found the lectern empty; the instructor had not yet arrived.

Karen and Muri sat in one row, while the rest took seats behind them.

After a brief moment, an old man with a white beard walked into the hall and stepped onto the platform.

He first patted the microphone on the lectern with his hand, then spoke directly into it:

"Hey, hey!"

In an instant, a terrifying wave of sound blasted directly toward them.

Karen closed his eyes, his muscles tightening instantaneously, as did Muri beside him. Many sitting behind them cried out, caught completely off guard.

"Hehe, my apologies, my apologies." The white-bearded elder smiled. "I am your formations instructor. You may call me directly by my name—Piro."

The crowd seated below rose to their feet one after another, preparing to salute their mentor.

Piro clapped his hands:

"Clap! Clap!"

The very next instant, everyone who had been sitting in the conference hall found themselves standing upon a sandy beach, drenched as a sudden, rolling wave broke over them.

"Cough, cough, my apologies. The distance was a fraction off. This old teacher didn't mean to soak your clothes." Piro was drenched himself, grasping his white beard to wring out the water.

"Our class is only for the first half of the night; you must head back to rest for the second half, since you have lessons tomorrow after now. Thus, I have no intention of starting from the basics of formations with you.

For I know well that some among you must already be quite proficient in formations, making a lecture on the basics a pointless exercise, while for those less adept, even if you grasp the fundamentals, it won't be of much practical use. If your opponent is merely a mediocre formation master, I trust you can resolve him through other means.

Therefore, I have decided that tonight, I shall simply take you to admire the scenery.

Does anyone know exactly when I laid down this formation?"

Karen thought to himself: During the "testing, testing."

Pasio, Digat, and Mars raised their hands in quick succession.

"You speak," Piro said, pointing a finger at Pasio.

"Teacher, you deployed the formation using sound waves."

"A correct answer. When a truly pinnacle formation master utilizes their craft, they can dissolve a complex array into the simplest wind and rain, placing you within their grasp before you even perceive it."

Piro spread his hands, and a bubble materialized around him.

Seeing this, Karen instantly threw up his hand and shouted, "Rally to me!"

Muri likewise barked immediately, "Rally to me."

Every member of the two squads rushed to close ranks around their respective captains.

Beneath Karen's feet, the "Cage of Order" manifested instantly, enveloping him and his teammates entirely within its bounds.

Muri, meanwhile, drew forth a scroll, from which a dark radiance spilled, shaping a protective curtain of light that shrouded his group.

In the next heartbeat, the environment around them shifted abruptly, and the whole company materialized deep within the sea.

Piro chuckled. "It seems your reflexes are quite sharp, testing, testing."

The two spoken words transformed into crashing waves, smashing directly against the barriers of the two squads.

Karen immediately cast a second, a third, and a fourth Cage of Order to reinforce their position.

Beside him, Muri continued to pour his spiritual power into the scroll to bolster its defense.

Piro spread his arms wide and pulled downward.

"Hum!"

The seawater beneath them froze at a blistering speed, turning into a massive, solid pillar of ice. The sudden rush of frigid energy instantly shattered Karen's Cage of Order and ruptured the defensive array emanating from Muri's scroll.

All twelve youths tumbled onto the surface of the pillar, which began to shoot upward, higher and higher, breaking through the surface of the sea and continuing its relentless ascent.

When it finally ground to a halt, Karen looked toward the hotel not far away; it now lay far below them, appearing exceedingly minuscule.

Mars said in astonishment, "To trigger such a powerful effect using only elementary arrays like distance compression, water manipulation, and freezing, deployed casually on a whim. Is this the true power of a Great Formation Master?"

"It is, yet it is not." Piro looked at the crowd with a smile. "Let me ask you all: what do you believe is the true essence of a formation?"

Mars spoke up: "It is transformation!"

Pasio spoke up: "It is borrowing!"

Digat spoke up: "It is circulation!"

In his heart, Karen thought: It is perspective.

—From "Hoffen's Notes on Formations"

Piro stroked his white beard,

And said:

"It is perspective.

I once had a close yet unfamiliar friend who pointed this out to me in a letter. He said I had always been practicing addition, and that it was time to learn how to practice subtraction.

I asked him, what is subtraction?

He offered an example, saying that subtraction is when a mountain stands before you; if you look up at it closely, you cannot see its full shape, but as you continuously step backward, the mountain reveals itself to you in its entirety.

He also said that with a realm as high as mine, coupled with an understanding of formations that surpasses ordinary men, forcing an amplification upon an array would always yield conspicuous effects, yet it amounted to nothing grand.

He said I viewed formations as a warrior views his physique, a blacksmith his hammer, a swordsman his greatsword, or a knight his falcon—seemingly correct, yet already straying further and further down a misguided path.

A true formation is not about a bishop successfully sealing a fierce beast.

Rather, it is about

Allowing a mere divine servant to seal a god!"

———

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