Clang!
With weapon skill ranging between level 5 and 6, the 3-star heroes were fierce in their assaults, attacking the shepherd simultaneously from multiple directions.
But Jonah himself was already level 8 in Basic Spearmanship and had survived three Quintal Trials.
Facing against five advanced heroes at once was not an overwhelming challenge to him.
Clang! Clang!
The shepherd parried their attacks effortlessly.
He kept them all at certain distance, away from him but still right at his range of attack.
Djhotti nodded to the performance as he addressed the dozens other trainees observing the duel.
"As a polearm wielder, you must strictly maintain distance with your enemies. Opposite to a sword-wielder or dagger-user, the nearer your opponent to your body, the more vulnerable you are."
The 3-star heroes heard the dwarf's advice.
So the five of them focused on penetrating Jonah's defense and reaching his center.
The shepherd noticed their intention and responded by shifting his positions rapidly so the 3-stars had to alter their approach frequently, breaking their charges every time.
Djhotti proceeded to give his next set of advice.
"When you are outnumbered and the enemies got you cornered, then you are presented with several options.
"Withstand the onslaught and whittle down your enemies until you are the only one standing. But this approach is only feasible if you're confident your strength and skill are superior to your enemies'.
"The second approach would be to break the enemy's pincer formation and turn the battle in your favor.
"To do this, you must be able to find the right opportunity to strike. And to do that, you must know how to read the flow of the battle."
Upon the dwarf's instruction, Jonah leaped and charged at one of his opponents.
The shepherd focused on that single warrior and channeled all his attacks on them.
The other four immediately noticed Jonah's flanks and rear were now open.
They all quickly charged toward him as the shepherd was still focusing his barrage on that one opponent.
The conclusion of the battle seemed set with how the duelists were positioned.
But Jonah suddenly lowered his spear and rushed toward his targeted opponent.
The 3-star thrusted their weapon toward the shepherd, but Jonah evaded it effortlessly.
The opponent then leaped away in order to avoid Jonah's charge.
However, the shepherd kept running past them.
Jonah left his enemy wondering of his stunt. The man could try attacking by getting so close like that.
What Jonah's enemy did not realize was that the shepherd had traded their positions.
Jonah was no longer in the trajectory of the other four opponents' charge. Their comrade was now in the way.
The four others immediately broke their momentum and halted their advance.
In the slight second where his opponents were caught in each other's ways, Jonah rushed to their flank and charged through all of them at once.
['Jonah (★★)' has obtained the skill, 'Insight'!]
The shepherd seized every slight opening provided by his sudden ambush.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
He dismantled their weapons and tore their formation apart.
Clang!
Clang!!!
Eventually, Jonah was the only one left standing.
"Now that is a good example of the second approach."
Djhotti told his trainees.
The dwarf then went on.
"Now all of you make groups of three. Each group will perform 2 on 1 duels between its members. Apply everything I have been teaching you so far."
With the 4-star's instruction, the trainees began scurrying around the training ground to perform their special exercises.
I caught a glimpse of Quinda teaming up with Haoban and an instructor candidate.
The former servant girl had done better than I expected.
She was actually a member of Party 6, accompanying the 3-star Tchakran warriors.
I heard from Trudy that the tall girl's skill with a halberd impressed both Haoban and Fangli that she was their first pick among the first floor trainees.
It was definitely a good decision for her to become a combatant.
With Djhotti resuming their training, I left the polearm wielders and proceeded to the next training ground.
Graihan had rounded up the sword-wielders and the other close-ranged combatants that we had.
With Ulrica training the archers, the lycanthrope was now in charge of instructing this group of trainees for the day.
The trainees were paired up together. They were having 1 on 1 duels.
"Your ultimate goal is to take down your enemy."
Graihan announced to his pupils.
"Don't get caught up in performing all the fancy and advanced techniques just for the sake of it.
"Focus on creating an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow to your prey. Your every movement must be purposed for that.
"The sooner you take down your enemy the better.
"If you can kill them quickly with less effort, then that's good. But if you need all your strength to take their life, then give everything you've got."
The trainees tried to take heed to the lycanthrope's advices.
Devisha and Shanny, in particular, immediately implemented them.
The Tsahanam assassin was facing off against Fangli, the Tchakran swordsman.
They both used dual swords, so it was a balanced matchup.
Fangli tried to overwhelm Devisha with his Three Swords Technique.
But the Tsahanam assassin kept her composure and evaded each attack effortlessly.
Suddenly Devisha noticed something from Fangli's assaults and finally launched an offensive move of her own.
['Devisha (★★★)' has obtained the skill, 'Weakness Detection'!]
Clang! Clang!
Devisha's attack was so swift and precise. Her scimitars immediately dismantled Fangli's twin swords.
On another duel, Shanny was facing against Rizarde.
The former head knight did not give the former maid any chance to fight back. He barraged her with powerful sword slashes and thrusts.
The 3-star had seen what Shanny was capable of through the Quintal Trial records, which restriction I had lifted.
Rizarde knew he should not let Shanny be on the offensive.
If he wanted to win his duel, he must attack.
But the 3-star eventually slipped up.
It was only for a fraction of a second, but Rizarde allowed an opening for Shanny to launch her counterattack.
For Shanny that was enough.
Slash! Thrust! Slash! Slash!
The former maid repaid the former head knight with interest.
She was dealing offensive moves with thrice the strength and thrice the speed.
If I did not know any better, I would think Shanny was in her berserk state.
['Shanny (★★)' has obtained the skill, 'Power Charge'!]
Eventually Rizarde was pushed to the other end of the dueling ground and collapsed at the peak of Shanny's barrage.
I nodded to myself having witnessed all the trainings provided by the other 4-stars.
Members of Party 1 were improving under the 4-stars' tutelage.
I had no doubt that the other trainees would also greatly benefit from their guidance, no matter the rate of their development.
Ulrica, Djhotti, and Graihan had actually said they had found some second floor trainees that caught their attention.
They initially wanted the instructor candidates that were, indeed, the best second floor trainees that we had.
I could see why the 4-stars wanted to recruit the Apprentice Instructors.
Since the instructor candidates started training with the 4-star heroes, some had actually developed their weapon skill to level 7.
That would put them as proficient as Darius and Devisha in Party 1.
Trudy was right. The instructor candidates had the potential to become as strong as Jonah and Shanny, our two of the most talented combatants beside the 4-stars.
But they were off-limits.
We needed the instructor candidates for the first floor academy.
It was hard, but I managed to convince the advanced heroes to change their mind.
The 4-stars eventually agreed to settle on the slightly-less talented trainees. Emphasizing on that particular term was how I managed to convince them
Now that the 4-stars had indeed discovered eligible trainees to potentially join their ranks, Party 3 to 5 would soon be complete.
It signified our army was getting stronger.
But that also meant the continuation of our climb was approaching.
The journey to the fourth Quintal Trial was about to begin.