The assembly whistle at dawn had barely echoed through Shrek Academy Main Campus when Tang San rushed out of the dormitory with his training pack on his back. The sausages he had saved last night were still tucked against his chest. He deliberately slowed his pace, checking the clasp on his Soul Guiding Bracer as he walked—today's training was team coordinated defense, and a loose bracer would affect Soul Power transmission. Using "checking his equipment" as an excuse to stall would ensure he made no mistakes during training while also giving him more time to adjust to the main campus's morning training rhythm. By the time he reached the training ground, Dai Mubai and the others were already lined up in their assigned area, while Teacher Zhao, who was in charge of training, held a diagram of a defensive formation.
"Today, we'll practice 'Triangular Coordinated Defense.' Groups of three: one main attacker, one controller, and one support. If you can withstand one wave of attacks from the dummy, you pass! Tang San, you're with Xiao Wu and Oscar. Your group goes last!" Teacher Zhao slapped the formation diagram onto the ground, and the dummy apparatus slowly began to activate, metal clashing across the training ground.
Using "checking the bracer to prevent Soul Power transmission errors" as a reason to adjust his preparation pace, avoiding training expenditure. Slacking Value +1. Current total: 111.
The groups ahead of them began their training one after another. Some had their formations broken through by the dummies due to coordination mistakes, while others successfully held back the attacks. When it was Tang San's group's turn, he did not immediately take the control position. Instead, he had Oscar stand at the center of the triangle. "Support types are safest in the middle. I'll stand on the left and control the dummy's legs. Xiao Wu will stand on the right to guard against sneak attacks. We'll start slowly and get a feel for the formation's rhythm." When the dummy charged over, he deliberately made the Blue Silver Grass's binding speed half a beat slower, wrapping around only one of the dummy's legs—"We're just starting with this formation. Binding it too tightly would leave Xiao Wu no room to attack. Leaving one leg free gives us just enough room to work out the coordination between support and main attack." Oscar took the chance to produce a Recovery Sausage, and Xiao Wu's Waist Bow struck the dummy squarely in the chest. Though they failed to withstand the attack in their first attempt, they made no coordination mistakes.
"Tang San! Why weren't you controlling it at full strength? The dummy was practically charging into your formation!" Teacher Zhao walked over, still marking errors on the formation diagram in his hand.
"Teacher, a triangular formation relies on the linkage of 'control, support, and attack.' If I controlled it at full strength, it would disrupt Xiao Wu's attack rhythm. Only by practicing slowly can we find the gaps in our three-person coordination. Going too fast would make it easier for the formation to fall apart." As Tang San spoke, he adjusted the angle of the Blue Silver Grass bindings. During their second attempt, they finally withstood a wave of attacks from the dummy. "Look, we just found our rhythm. Give us two more rounds, and we'll have it down."
Using "working out the gaps in triangular formation coordination" as a reason to control binding strength, avoiding excessive expenditure. Slacking Value +1. Current total: 112.
When the morning training ended, two senior students in main campus uniforms came looking for them as soon as they returned to the dormitory. The tall one in front patted the doorframe. "I heard you're from Suotuo City? Dare to have a match? The losers buy the winners meals for a week!" Dai Mubai was about to agree when Tang San stopped him. "We just finished defense training, and our Soul Power hasn't recovered. How about we compete this afternoon?" He deliberately put on a tired expression, though he actually wanted to use the noon break to learn what Martial Souls the senior students possessed. Competing without knowing the opponent's strength could easily lead to defeat and waste Soul Power. It would be safer to fight in the afternoon after preparing properly.
The afternoon spar took place in a corner of the training ground. The senior students' combination was "strong attack plus control," their Martial Souls being a great axe and vines respectively. The instant the referee called for the match to begin, the Great Axe Soul Master charged forward while the Vine Soul Master circled around to the side, intending to bind Xiao Wu. Tang San did not rush to control the vines. Instead, he had the Blue Silver Grass wrap around the handle of the great axe. The great axe was their primary offense. Controlling the weapon first was more effective than controlling the person. The vines were slow, and Xiao Wu could evade them. Although it consumed more Soul Power than controlling a person, it successfully limited the senior students' attack. Dai Mubai took the opportunity to strike the Great Axe Soul Master in the shoulder with White Tiger Fierce Light Wave, and the Seven Monsters won the spar smoothly.
"Tang San, why didn't you control the vines? Xiao Wu almost got bound just now!" one of the senior students shouted indignantly.
"The vine Martial Soul lacks toughness. Even if I controlled it, it could break free easily. Better to cripple your offense first. Besides, Xiao Wu's agility attack style can evade vines, so there was no need to waste Soul Power." As Tang San spoke, he had Oscar hand the senior students a sausage. "Thanks for the match. We'll buy the meals, but next time, let us know about a spar in advance so we can prepare."
Using "prioritizing the restriction of offensive Martial Souls to prevent attacks" as a reason to adjust the battlefield control target, avoiding ineffective expenditure. Slacking Value +1. Current total: 113.
At the evening tactical review meeting, Flender watched the sparring recording and nodded with a smile. "Your coordination today was far better than it was this morning, but Tang San's battlefield control can still be improved. Tomorrow, you'll practice 'Multi-Group Coordinated Defense.' The seven of you will form two triangular formations and support each other!" Tang San did not immediately respond. Instead, he took out a notebook and slowly recorded the mistakes from the day. Only a slow review could preserve the details. Writing too quickly could miss key information, and tomorrow's training needed targeted adjustments. As he wrote, he told Xiao Wu, "Tomorrow, you'll be in my group. Oscar will be with Dai Mubai. Don't rush in too aggressively when supporting each other."
Back in the dormitory, Tang San sat by his bed meditating, deliberately reducing the circulation speed of his Soul Power to seventy percent of normal. After training and sparring today, his meridians needed to relax. Slow Meditation would make his Soul Power more stable. Going too fast might cause problems in tomorrow's training. He touched the Soul Guiding Recovery Device against his chest and thought to himself, The main campus's training may be harder than the branch campus's, but as long as I find the right reasons—"working out formations" and "limiting offense"—the road to the peak of slacking can continue, and the Seven Monsters' coordination will only grow more skillful.
Using "slowly recording review details plus Slow Meditation to protect the meridians" as a reason to adjust his recovery pace, avoiding excessive expenditure. Slacking Value +1. Current total: 114.
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