durnar

Two, bear the impact with your shield.

Your shield is a weapon too. Right when you are about to be rammed, you can use your shield to attack.

Though you must also keep your eyes on your opponent. Don't stagger forward. You'd be giving the enemy a chance to attack your teammates or yourself when you have your back open.

Three, deflect the attack.

You know why I knocked you back into the path of Lava's Arts? Because you were basically begging me to do it, with your stance and your balance.

If your defense stance was like this instead...

Haah!

Agh!

Hm...

Hm?

See?

You still stepped back, but that doesn't affect Lava or Kroos's attack path in any way.

Yeah!

Good. You should get this down.

Okay, Instructor!

Fang.

Yes, Instructor!!

You're the team captain. Your job is to command everyone else.

Yes, Instructor!!

Tell me. How do you confirm your teammate's situations?

By feel and observation.

Observation? How do you observe?

I-I use my eyes...

You look back to check on your friends. Do you think your enemies will just let this chance slip by?

I... I don't think so.

Did you guys base your positions on your basic coursework's textbook?

Yes, Instructor.

We don't follow it strictly, though.

The battlefield is a place of chaos. Doing everything by the book is how mistakes happen.

Let's see.

Hibiscus.

Yes, Instructor!

You need to take on some of Fang's responsibilities. Is that okay?

Ah, yes!

But what exactly should I do?

Fang needs eyes in the back of her head, and that's where you come in.

If you, Lava, and Kroos change your positioning, you need to tell Fang.

If anything in the environment around you changes, you need to tell her immediately, especially if it happens behind her.

And if Fang is incapacitated, it falls on you to lead the team.

Can you do that?

Yes, Instructor! I'll try!

Okay.

Kroos.

My bad. I'm so sorry~

I shouldn't have shot at Hibiscus.

I'm not too familiar with what exactly ranged operators do, so I'm not going to say much.

If we just look at how well you work with your teammates, you're doing pretty well.

Cheers~

Mind telling me how you're doing in the shooting practice matches just so I get a rough idea?

Meteor is usually my teacher there. She always takes me down in no time~

Kroos, be serious...

Meteor—

Hm...

Okay, okay, I get it.

Alright, people, cheer up.

It's only been a few minutes.

We'll be using the training grounds' obstacles next.

This is a battlefield, and your enemies on the battlefield won't go easy on you.

I hope all of you, maybe I, will get to live for a few seconds longer.

Let's all do our best, girls.

An hour later.

*Pant*... *pant*...

Well, looks like I still have it in me. Awesome.

Yep, and right on time. That concludes our training for today.

Congrats, everyone!

Why aren't you clapping?

S-Sorry, Instructor...

Alright, how about I treat all of you to something tasty?

Maybe some lap cheong?

I got some lap cheong imported straight from Yan, marinated in the finest sauces. It's got to be the sweetest and most fragrant thing ever.

Oh, that sounds so tasty!

It sounds really greasy...

But before that, I need to take you to Medical.

So that we can both learn where your limits lie.

So Cardigan and the gang didn't get sent to Medical because of you. I was so scared...

Of course it wasn't me.

I'm not sure about anyone else, but I've got my ways to deal with you girls. I wasn't a soldier all those years for nothing.

I had it figured out a long time ago what exactly to prioritize.

That said.

Know that a lot of actual blood and sweat, even the lives of some of my friends, went into these techniques I'm teaching you.

If I find out you don't have this etched into your brains, I'll bring my electric blade the next time I spar.

Is that understood?!

Y-Yes, Instructor!

Okay, let's get going, then. We'll get a bite to eat once you're done with your checkups.

Okay!

(I think I forgot about something...)

(What did she want me to do again?)

Fang, you like spicy, sour stuff?

Y-Yes!

You see, I got these snacks—

Yes, thank you, Instructor!

Class's over. Stop calling me 'Instructor.'

Sorry about that, Dur-nar...

Perfect timing. You manage the training grounds here, right?

Y-Yes, Instructor Dobermann. What's the matter?

Looks like Dur-nar and her team wrecked some of the equipment and obstacles while they were using this place. My guess is they had a pretty intense sparring match.

Help me fix it up. I'll be training with some reserve operators later tonight.

Yes, of course. Right away.

Thanks.