During the three-day adjustment period, Lin Mo felt like he'd been thrown into an intensive, cram-style crash course on "Wilderness Survival and Teamwork."
The training ground was a simulated wilderness area owned by the Wang Family. Though it wasn't as dangerous as the real outdoors, the terrain was complex, with all kinds of obstacles and simulated targets. The members of the Wind-Breaking Squad had become the strictest instructors imaginable.
Day One: Terminology and Signals—Talking to a Tiger and Getting the Point Across by Force
Captain Wang Deshui held a tactical tablet and tried to explain the most basic tactical hand signals and audio cues to Lin Mo.
"Your Majesty, the Tiger King, see? Raise one hand above your head and make a fist. That means 'stop advancing.'" Wang Deshui demonstrated.
Lin Mo tilted his huge head, his golden tiger eyes full of confusion.
(Inner thoughts): "A fist? What's that supposed to mean? You want this king to swipe at you?"
Wang Deshui gestured again. "Extend your arm horizontally and point to one side. That means 'move in that direction.'"
Lin Mo glanced at the direction he was pointing, then at him, and yawned.
(Inner thoughts): "You point once and expect this king to move? This king's appearance fee is very high!"
Communication ground to a halt for a while. In the end, Wang Keke played a crucial role. Using her mental link with Lin Mo, she acted as a real-time interpreter, directly translating all kinds of tactical orders into "thoughts" Lin Mo could understand, such as "Stop!" "Left!" "Take cover!" and "Attack that dummy!"
They also simplified some of the signals. For instance, a short whistle from Wang Deshui meant "stay alert," while a long one meant "danger has passed." Flashing a flashlight at specific intervals indicated different commands. They also agreed on what Lin Mo's "speech" meant: a low, threatening growl indicated he'd spotted an enemy; a short, urgent growl meant he needed support; and a comfortable purr meant...the area was safe, or he was in a good mood.
(Inner thoughts): "What a hassle... But I'll put up with it for the sake of getting meat! I'll just treat it like learning a foreign language!"
Day Two: Formations and Coordination—A Tiger-Shaped Tank and an Aerial Unit
The combat formation drills were even more chaotic.
The Wind-Breaking Squad's standard marching formation went like this: scouts Li Ning and Zhang Yong moved ahead; Shield Warrior Li Kai followed close behind to form the first line of defense; Captain Wang Deshui directed from the center; machine gunner Wang Haitao and snipers Wang Tao and Wang Hai took up advantageous positions; and Wang Keke and Aunt Zhang were protected in the middle.
Now, there was Lin Mo too.
At first, Wang Deshui tried to keep Lin Mo beside Wang Keke, inside the protective formation. Lin Mo wouldn't have it.
(Inner thoughts): "You want this king to be a pet?! What a joke! I'm the main source of firepower!"
He shoved Li Kai aside and strode to the front of the squad, chest out, as if to say, "This king will lead the way. The rest of you follow."
Li Kai looked at the spot he'd been so easily pushed from, then at Lin Mo's back, which was broader than his shield, and could only laugh helplessly.
Wang Deshui readily adapted and immediately adjusted their tactics. "All right! His Majesty the Tiger King will serve as our vanguard and primary close-combat fighter! Li Kai, support him from the flank. Protect His Majesty the Tiger King's...sides and rear, though I don't think he'll need much protection."
Next came an ambush drill. A simulated "Iron-Toothed Rat pack" (represented by moving targets) surged in from the flank.
"Suppressing fire!" Wang Deshui ordered.
Wang Haitao's Heavy Machine Gun immediately spat flames, its spent shells clattering to the ground.
Lin Mo saw that and thought, No way! Are you stealing my kills? He let out a low growl and activated [Lightning Strike], his body turning into a streak of golden lightning as he charged straight into the "rat pack." His tiger claws flew, smashing more than a dozen targets to pieces in an instant. Then he turned back proudly to look at the machine gunner.
Wang Haitao stared at the empty firing range, silently released the trigger, and looked utterly innocent.
Wang Deshui pressed a hand to his forehead. "...Your Majesty the Tiger King, that was magnificent! But please remember, the firepower team can clear out the small fry. You need to conserve your strength for more powerful targets."
Next came a tactical drill against a "high-level monster" (a specially reinforced target).
"Sniper, take position! Wait for an opening!"
"His Majesty the Tiger King will draw its attention from the front!"
"Scouts, watch your surroundings!"
This time, Lin Mo had learned his lesson. Instead of rushing in to tear the target apart, he followed orders and circled it, letting out threatening growls to draw its "attention." At the same time, his keen hearing picked up the faint sounds of the sniper in the distance adjusting his breathing and pulling the trigger.
"Bang!"
A muffled gunshot rang out. A specially made training round hit the target's "vital spot" with precision, marking it as a kill.
(Inner thoughts): "Wow! That gun's awesome! Working together really does seem more efficient. I draw their attention, they deal the damage. Perfect!"
What amazed the Wind-Breaking Squad most were Lin Mo's wings. During a drill in which they were simulated as surrounded, Lin Mo beat his wings and skimmed low over the ground, appearing behind the "enemy" formation in an instant and catching them off guard.
Wang Deshui's eyes lit up. "His Majesty the Tiger King's ability to fly can serve as a strategic tool for surprise attacks and reconnaissance! Li Ning, Zhang Yong, you need to coordinate with His Majesty the Tiger King and establish an aerial-and-ground reconnaissance system!"
So Lin Mo gained another task: learning to follow the images transmitted by the drones and distinguish dangerous signs worth noting from natural phenomena that could be ignored.
Day Three: Wilderness Rules—Keep Your Head Down to Stay Alive and Eat Well
The final day was mostly devoted to lessons and rules. Wang Deshui, the most experienced of them all, and Aunt Zhang led the sessions, with Wang Keke translating as they went.
"Rule number one, and the most important: out in the wilderness, the greatest danger often isn't monsters. It's the unknown and the environment." Wang Deshui's expression was serious. "Don't venture into unfamiliar terrain without good reason, especially caves, the depths of dense forests, or abandoned buildings."
"Rule number two: the less noise you make, the longer you live. Don't make loud sounds unless necessary, or you'll draw trouble you don't need. Of course, Your Majesty the Tiger King, your roar...can be used as a deterrent when necessary." Wang Deshui glanced at Lin Mo's roar, which could stop a baby from crying, and added the last part.
(Inner thoughts): "Got it. If I can attack by surprise, I won't fight head-on. Keeping my head down is what I do best!"
"Rule number three: there are dangers lurking all around water sources. Monsters need water too, so water sources are often hunting grounds. When collecting water, move quickly and stay alert. It's best to have someone cover you."
"Rule number four: scent management. High-level monsters have an extremely keen sense of smell. The smell of blood and certain other scents will attract them like a beacon. Be careful when handling prey and waste. We have special deodorizing agents and sealed bags."
(Inner thoughts): "I need to watch out for that! I don't want to be eating what's in my bowl and have something come for what's in the pot. Though what's in the pot might taste even better... Still, overeating would be bad."
"Rule number five: nighttime is when many fearsome hunters come out. Unless you have a completely secure shelter, try to avoid traveling at night."
Aunt Zhang also added some information about the habits of different monsters: which ones preferred to live in groups, which were loners, which were poisonous, which were good at lying in wait...
After three days, Lin Mo's head felt a little stuffed, but he'd learned a great deal. He was no longer a ferocious tiger who fought using only instinct and talent. He'd begun to think like a "warrior." He understood the role of every member of the team and the importance of signals and coordination. More importantly, he'd memorized the ironclad wilderness rules that would help him stay alive longer and eat better.
(Inner thoughts): "Who knew fighting a war was so complicated... But for that dazzling 'buffet' at the front lines, this is worth the effort!"
Once the adjustment period ended, the members of the Wind-Breaking Squad looked at the Winged Tiger before them. Its bearing was composed, and its eyes held less recklessness and more calm and alertness. The last trace of disdain they'd felt toward it as a "battle pet" vanished.
This was a powerful comrade they could trust, even if its way of communicating was a little unusual and its appetite might be a little too big...
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