Having climbed the 22nd floor, the lobby started to become busier.
The fifth Quintal Trial was drawing near and we had to be ready to face its challenge.
Now that there were more than 40 parties in the Reserve Forces, they started having regular joint training with the Main Forces again.
We used similar training plan the Raid Team implemented while climbing toward the 20th floor.
During the first half of the day, the raiders would be split into groups according to their combat specialty.
Sword-wielders, polearm-wielders, archers, and other sorts of combatant the Raid Team had.
Each of the group would gather in a training facility suited for their specialization and be instructed by the members of the Main Forces.
So far, the Reserve raiders had an average of level 6 in basic combat skill.
It was still below the standard of proficiency we demanded from the raiders in the Raid Team.
But this was to be expected since most of the Reserve raiders were no longer guided after graduating from the first floor academy.
We needed to appoint a new teaching faculty on the second floor to raise the training standard of the 2-star trainees and consistently produce better-skilled raider candidates.
Not now, however.
We needed to focus most of our manpower to the fifth Quintal Trial at the moment.
After climbing past the 20th floor, everyone in the Main Forces had developed their main combat skill to the intermediate level. The 4-star heroes had also further developed their skills.
They were definitely more than capable to instruct the inexperienced Reserve raiders.
Thanks to my Heaven's Eye skill, I was able to observe all the raiders training while I was working in the Magic Hall.
Shanny, Zecht, and Halim were in charge of training the sword-wielders.
The less-skilled raiders, which made up most of the trainees, were being instructed by Zecht and Halim. They were teaching the trainees some intermediate level techniques for them to replicate.
"You need to be able to perform these techniques even with your eyes closed. Enemies on the current floors have varying attack patterns. It would be dangerous if you can't adapt to them."
Zecht told the trainees while Halim skillfully showed various sword strokes.
Apparently Zecht's outburst that night did help him.
Yuxia said the party 2 leader no longer locked himself up in his training chamber for a long time.
Zecht had returned to his bright and laid back self once again.
Though Yuxia mentioned there seemed to be more explosiveness in Zecht's attacks nowadays.
As if rage was consistently veiling his weapon and movement. Silent rage, according to the elementalist.
More ruthless would be the perfect term to describe him.
The pain of losing his comrades, of losing Norn, would never completely disappear.
It had to scar and manifest in some form.
I was glad he chose to take it out on our enemies.
Meanwhile, Shanny was overseeing the more talented trainees sparring in a large dueling hall.
"Is your sword just a decoration? Use it! Don't just let it hang on your hand!
"And why are you two just bashing your swords against each other's blade? Are you children playing swordfight? Find a way to get through each other's defense!
"Would it kill you to put more strength to your swings? Haven't you had breakfast? I thought Master let the third floor residents eat whatever they wanted anytime."
Shanny was never one to hold back with words.
I could see why Zecht let her handle the more talented trainees.
She would not have the patience to instruct the less-skilled ones. They would drive her insane and she would just beat them to a pulp.
It was now a bit hard to believe she once worked as a maid considering her temper.
"Hey, what's the matter with you? Why are you holding back?"
Shanny said to a tall crimson-haired woman cladded in pristine armor.
It was Celeste, the mage-swordswoman.
"Didn't I tell you to give your all in training? Fight as if the duel was a real battle!"
Shanny told the advanced hero.
Celeste was a bit hesitant to reply.
"Forgive me, milady. But…"
The mage-swordswoman casted her pitying eyes toward her duel opponent.
I could see why Celeste was holding back.
Her opponent was out of breath and covered with wounds.
The fight would be over any second now had it continued.
Shanny could see it as well.
"Alright, then. Go take a break outside before you die from blood loss."
She said excusing Celeste's opponent.
Shanny then drew her practice sword and pointed it at the advanced hero.
"None of these trainees can properly match you. So I will be your sparring partner."
Celeste's eyes widened upon Shanny's declaration.
The advanced hero grasped her long sword tighter for she knew Shanny was not joking.
"Give it your all this time. Don't worry of hurting me. You won't."
Shanny told Celeste confidently.
After hearing my comrade's words, the mage-swordswoman whispered a chant under her breath.
A layer of mana soon enveloped Celeste's body and her long sword.
['Celeste (★★★)' is casting multiple enchantments.]
[Enchantment casted!]
['Celeste (★★★)'s strength and agility have increased by 5 for a period of time!]
The mage-swordswoman leapt toward Shanny with great speed.
Her glowing long sword was poised to pierce my comrade's heart.
While maintaining a calm expression, Shanny swung her sword to the side and parried Celeste's assault.
Clang!
Shanny followed the parry with a swift counter-attack toward Celeste's abdomen.
But the mage-swordswoman shifted her stance and avoided the fatal attack.
She resumed swiping her long sword toward Shanny's unguarded side, putting her entire strength in the swing to reduce the chance for the assault to be parried.
It worked.
As Celeste intended, Shanny did not try to parry the swipe nor did she try to block.
The former maid instead jumped over the long sword and executed a swipe of her own mid-air.
Celeste quickly poised her sword to block before she was beheaded by Shanny's clever counter-assault.
Clang!
The two of them continued exchanging life-threatening blows.
That being said, it was Shanny who always had the upper hand.
Celeste tried to create an opportunity for herself but my comrade would always break her momentum and turn the tide against her.
Seeing Shanny fighting a 3-star at summoning hero with such ease, it was interesting to know that she was originally a 1-star hero.
The forged land was surely founded with strange laws.
"Is this all you can do? Will you now give up since nothing seem to work against me?"
Shanny calmly asked the mage-swordswoman in the middle of the duel.
She was not trying to put her opponent down.
My comrade was simply taunting her.
Celeste suddenly took a step back and read the situation briefly.
She then drew a deep breath and chanted another spell.
['Celeste (★★★)' is casting an enchantment.]
[Enchantment casted!]
['Celeste (★★★)'s agility has increased by 8 for a period of time!]
The mage-swordswoman rushed forward and began barraging Shanny with rapid movement.
But Celeste was not attacking Shanny mindlessly.
This time, the mage-swordswoman was aiming mostly to Shanny's left.
My comrade usually held her shield on that side.
Now that Shanny was not fighting with a shield, it would be a bit harder to defend against assaults coming from that direction.
Celeste had figured this out as well.
She already saw the Quintal Trial's records and witnessed Shanny fought, after all.
With the new tactic, Celeste was finally able to land more effective blows against my comrade.
Shanny was still capable of dodging, parrying and blocking every assault dealt by Celeste.
But she was made more vulnerable after each attack.
Eventually Shanny was put in a state where her left side was wide open.
Celeste immediately thrusted her long sword toward the weak spot.
Clang!
Despite Celeste's tremendous effort, Shanny was able to perfectly block the attack without causing her harm.
After all, she already anticipated Celeste aiming for her left side.
But my comrade was still pushed back a step by Celeste's assault.
['Celeste (★★★)'s Basic Swordsmanship has levelled up to level 9!]
['Celeste (★★★)'s Insight has levelled up to level 3!]