Accurately deducing the kind of person Calculus is Luciette had sent Alucard to put the reins on him.
It is not too difficult for her to guess why the Maths Team had returned with hardly a scratch from the Orc Village’s raid, while the four teams under his command made up of commoners returned like ragged dolls.
She knows that it was not because of their differences in cultivation ranking, but due to Calculus’ negligence.
Among the gentry, it is well known that those of the Devilheart family have long seen most of the commoners and even the lesser nobles as sub-human. And it is no surprise that Calculus cannot accept peasants and the like taking more achievements than him and stealing his lime light.
Those inferior beings should learn their place and not challenge their betters.
However, even before he has achieved any significant achievements, Luciette and all the other strategists are already setting their eyes on Kairos' team. A team without even a team name, made of peasants and orphans of the poorest kind.
Led by the Maths Team, the Orcs Subjugation Group’s current route is actually heading away from the Orc's village to the north-east of their forest encampment. Instead, they moved directly eastward; the direction of the Red Team’s timber base.
Using the excuse of a safer route, and since the detour is only an addition of a couple more hours, Alucard did not refute against Calculus' decisions. The latter is, after all, their commanding officer, and he had estimated they would intercept Kairos’ group on this path. If the other side truly sent Kairos, then joining teams would make the monster slaying mission even safer.
He had personally led his team against the peasant boy and resulted in undeniable defeat. Though trickery was involved, it takes an exceptional individual to formulate victory against a superior force. Alucard knows that the Orc race is a powerful foe for them to take down, if Kairos’ team could join in, their operation will become much easier.
However, Calculus did not tell Alucard he has other plans. His objective, unfortunately, does not involve the Orcs.
…..
Kairos led his team towards the Orcs Village directly through the thick forest that is littered with Orc Scouts.
So far, they have already successfully taken down over thirty targets. However, it is far from enough to deter these blood-crazed magical beasts.
For a group of young commoners, they have already outshone their station, and at the same time, they incurred little losses.
The main reason they could hold their own against such fearsome beasts is not their cultivation ranks, but the manoeuvre and defensive formation that their leader, Kairos, had taught them. Created by copying the pattern of a particular set of stars, he placed the 25 of them in an elaborate stratagem.
As they marched, they practised to stand in the right positions, and it allowed the team to expend their energy efficiently while defending from all directions and counter-attacking with greater force than what a single individual can do.
It proved to be invaluable in the battle against the Orcs. This is not to say that their cultivation is not noteworthy. To keep up such a high-level battle formation is in fact quite straining on twelve year olds, especially when the five Soul Force users bore the most burden by positioning themselves at the core.
Alan, Tommy and Kairos entered the Mock Battlefield examination at F rank while Jim and Edward are both G ranks. Now five whole days have passed, and with the stimulants of battle, they have already made large improvements.
Kairos himself can feel that his abilities are now at the peak of F rank and would reach the next level soon. However, crossing ranks between J to F is considered quick by most. They are in fact unofficial ranks added on by Saint Empire's ministers and does not have a large gap between them. Their purpose for existing is to encourage the poorer students to compete among themselves for improvements, and this system will also save on the resources spent on them.
The official ranks are Triple S, Double S, S, A, B, C, D, E and F Ranks, and each increase means a huge difference in power. Furthermore, each Rank is separated into three Grades, Entry, Mid and Peak.
This classification of cultivation strength is based on the energy level one has acquired and how powerful the practitioner is in sustained battles. Using martial techniques, artefacts and other factors that translate to actual combat ability as their benchmark.
Practitioners with a high level of cultivation but improper martial arts skill are unable to fulfil their roles if they cannot utilise their power properly. Just like one who is an incredible horse rider but having a donkey as his mount is unable to show his skills, it is the same for martial practitioners.
However, if it is because of some worldly objects like Talismans, or powerful weapons and armours, it will not be considered in the judging process. After all, as a military state, and with the threat of war looming on the horizon, the Saint Empire is willing to invest in any worthy warrior that proves himself.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
But there are exceptions to everything, in this case, when an individual display power far above their combat level. This is where Secret Arts, weapon mastery and other techniques come in. The formation that Kairos uses is one such case of the exception rule, bringing those within the array into a combat grade beyond their individual ability, after all, the Empire is unable to efficiently evaluate everything.
Unfortunately, the formation improves the team’s combat level and not the individual’s. Kairos’ cultivation has already risen to Peak F rank, but due to his lack of martial skills, he is only fighting at the level of a Mid F ranker, at the very best.
However, because of the Origin Cultivation Method he and his group has opened the doors to a very different cultivation path than the rest of Saint Empire.
The path of cultivation is also known as the Martial Way (武道）. And how far one has journeyed on this road is judged by their Cultivation Levels, but even Triple S is only the top of Mortal Cultivators and far from the end of one’s journey.
Cultivation exists for every creature, big or small, in all manners of things, creating the infinite pathways towards Dao. For some, their chosen way is quick and easy but achieve little at the end. Some may walk a long and arduous path, but with unlimited potential.
Some ways could accomplish many great things earlier on but are short lived and futureless. Some ways taken have great potential and an unmeasurable future, but the journey is slow and long suffering. All these depend on the Martial way an individual chose, and the cultivation methods they adopt.
The paths that Kairos and his team took are whole new different ones compared to what Saint Empire currently uses. They could feel that their cultivation path is filled infinite potential, one which leads them to achieve many things in the future and on a very different Martial Way.
Each Martial way is graded by their ability and how advanced they are on the Cultivation Level. From lowest to highest grades, they are called the Mortal's Way (人道), the Heart's Way (心道), the Spirit's Way（灵道），the Soul's Way（魂道）and the God's Way（神道). Each individual's martial way can also be either on the Righteous Path (正道) or the Evil Path (邪道).
Unlike other practitioners, their martial paths are not merely from the training manuals made from the culmination of the ideals and thoughts. It is not the "Righteous path" that most martial artists choose nor is it from the "Wicked path” which Demonists take, but they have already trodden unknowingly onto the "Heavenly path（天道）"
The Heavenly Path is a mythical cultivation way that has only popped up a few times in history. Each time it appears, the practitioner that cultivated its style is a heaven-sent talent, but unless Kairos and team have a better set of skills, their cultivation advantage merely helped them improve their training speed.
This is not always an advantage. Those who rush ahead without strengthening their foundation could hurt their tendons and bones when using Ki that is stronger than what their body could withstand. And there are even heavier repercussions, where a person's martial strength and cultivation destroyed.
With F rank abilities coupled with 4 other teams of G ranks and Kairos' formation, the regular Orcs are not much of a match against them.
As they travelled towards the Orc's village, where the source of the marauders is, they faced more Orcs that assaulted them from all sides. But whenever they get attacked, the entire team will lend their power to the party engaged in combat, and whichever team mate that is in direct combat with the Orcs and is in need of rest would be quickly exchanged with a fresh blade.
When the two arms of a person are unable to block further blows, the other team members will be in the right position to assist him. When one person moves to strike the opponent, another will step into his place automatically. When one person faces an attack from the opponent, another step in to strike back at the opponent.
This star array is an impressive set up that provides phenomenal coordination, even though everyone is only using brute force and raw speed to fight.
Looking at this scene from their crystal ball, the instructors of the Saint Cadets Academy nodded and started scribbling markings on their writing sheets.
"They are all F and G rank students, but I'll say that even the E ranks wouldn't be able to handle the Orcs that well." The instructor with the tiny white beard says
"It is indeed peculiar. While I have not seen this formation before, they don't seem to be using any complimenting martial arts with it. Could it be that one of those students figured out an ancient array of some sort?" the instructor with long white beard says
"Well, if someone figured out something of that standard, then it is most likely their leader, Kairos. Of the group, no one else I feel possess such talents" the instructor with tiny white beard replies.
"Hooh? It looks like our Head of Student Affairs is interested in someone? Interesting. Interesting" a short and round instructor says while laughing.
"Head of Logistics, don't you feel they are a rather interesting generation?" says the first instructor instructor with his tiny white beard swaying in the wind.
"They are indeed, they are indeed. Hohoho. What George is building at his side is rather interesting too don't you think so?" He raised a pudgy arm and pointed at the very bottom of the giant crystal ball. Several real time moving images can be seen, reflections of what is happening at various locations on the training ground at this time.
"Let's pull it up for a look."
The image singled out is centred at the Red Base, and an instructor went forward and tapped his finger on the picture. The larger scene on Kairos' operation at the middle of the crystal ball quickly vanished and became a replaced by the image of George's tent.
Currently, for the construction at the camp, George has ordered the guys to create a good sized water moat along with several barriers placements and even have the guys set up several archer towers. As the base is rather small, the amount needed is not large either, but this will still take a few days to complete.
Although it still cannot be compared with the hill base's fortifications, once the setup is done, this will become a powerful fortified base to use as a defensive zone.
But while Kairos and his team are on their route to subdue the Orcs, Luciette's forces have been attacking the red team at the extraction sites whenever people enter the forest.
Previously it was Kairos' team that had held off the enemies from their backs. Now that he is sent to subdue the Orcs, the covert team that is replacing Kairos cannot bring about the same effect.
The gap that Kairos' team left is too large, and this is also one of the reasons why Luciette was so adamant in trying to take them down.
After several clashes against the blue teams, George's covert team found themselves unable to meet with their objective and sent another request for an increase in guards to protect the teams assigned to procure materials, but till now George has been rejecting these requests.
Both commanders know that there are little to gain to be made in clashing at this point of time, and should George send in more fighters to guard the extraction teams then it would become a lucrative target for Luciette.
Things will be different if Kairos' team is still around. George will not even hesitate to turn the "target" into a "bait" for her, for there’s no one like that boy who could make him feel there is somehow a guarantee for a full retreat without losses.
Instead of increasing the number of guards, he doubled the number of scouts and tasked them with the order to report the surrounding red team movements. This way, he could reduce the number of people coagulating at one spot.
He knows that losing men at this point in time will definitely cause a snowballing effect later on in the match. Therefore, the most important strategy is to minimise any possible losses while preparing for their next step.
At the bottom of the crystal ball, a bright flash glowed, and it spreads quickly to a small circular area, but it stops the moment the light touches another image. It caught all the instructors’ attention, and when they took a closer look, they realise it was the scene of Kairos' team progress in the forest that had switched places with the big screen.
One of the instructors quickly went forward and tapped his finger on that image to pull it back onto the big screen at the centre of the crystal ball.
The glow quickly dimmed, a white reflection cast onto the boys creating a white silhouette and making their faces almost unrecognisable.
Even on the screen, it could be seen that everyone on Kairos' side held their hands to their eyes away from the blinding light.
After rushing for a full day and night, Calculus finally spotted Kairos' team. He stood nearby with a predatory grin on his face while watching the flashbang he activated.