In the clearing under the World Tree, a group of ten people and Mia were working and talking endlessly. The fact that there were 11 girls in our crafting group, I decided to avoid talking or thinking about, since I was heading towards a proper matriarchy.

“Hello girls!”

[Michael!](Mia)

[Michael sir, have your exercises ended?](Denise)

“Not just yet, we’re here for a short break. About the things I asked about, how long will it take?”

[We are working on them, but by tonight, we will have enough for everybody! It is a wonderful idea and with it, we actually managed to have three other girls change their Job to craftsman! I also managed to advance to the Basic LvL 2 for my crafting skill!](Denise)

“I’m happy to hear that. Keep working hard!”- I said while patting her head

Realizing that it became a habit of sorts and the fact that Mia was looking strangely at me, I quickly changed the subject.

“Mia, about those five? How are they doing?”

[I explained to them a couple of times the requirements and they had down the basics really fast. Who knows, maybe we will have a new Job by the end of the day.](Mia)

“I certainly hope so. What about the thing I requested for lunch? Is it ready?”

[There are sufficient for your entire unit. How many do you plan to take?](Mia)

“Only enough not to starve them too much. We wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise we have planned for them later on, now do we?”

When the group heard the conversation, they were slightly confused but expectant about the ‘surprise’ I promised, but shuddered a bit when they saw Alexandra smiling at them. Poor people… They actually think I will make them run through the night or something… I won’t okay! I really won’t! After all, these girls and even the boys are especially good looking (to the point where I feel inferior), so they need their beauty sleep.

“Alright you lot! Create a single row and come to Mia here to get your gift for today.”

Curiosity is a really powerful thing and it didn’t take longer than a dozen of seconds for the queue to be created. They followed Alexandra’s instructions and stood in line quietly and patiently advanced one at a time. Myself and Alexa were the last two people in the queue and we also took the ‘package’. After that, we turned around to the group in which the girls looked like a pack of hungry hyenas ready do rip the leaves apart and eat the thing which smelled like absolute heaven, while the guys looked like they were one breath away from devouring the small package with leaves included.

“What you hold in your hands is the work that our camp put in for five days in a row to create. Is nothing much, however I can guarantee the taste of it. Everyone, open your packages!”

[[[Yes sir!]]]

“What you’re looking and salivating at is the first batch of smoked meat available to our camp. This is a simple reward for your hard work this morning. As the training for the rest of the day will be quite hard, in order not to puke the meal you will have usually at lunch, I decided to replace it with these. Everyone, at ease and enjoy the ‘meal’!”

[[[Yes sir!!!]]]

I felt a bit bad for starving them, especially since they had a light breakfast this morning as well, however is better this way. I knew that the training was successful because during our run, I got a notification letting me know how I received some extra gains.

+1 point in Agility received! +2 points in Endurance received!

It was guaranteed that I wasn’t the only one, so I began to gulf down the smoked pieces of meat and the tomato-like fruit/vegetable.

+2 Endurance points received! +1 Strength point received! +2 Magic points received!

“Well that was unexpected… Alexandra?”

[I received a total of 9 attribute points Michael!](A)

“…of course you did… You lot! How do you like your reward? Is it good?”

[[[YES SIR! THANK YOU SIR!]]]

I still couldn’t get used to the choir of voices which in a regular military unit would sound gruff and deep, to sound as high pitched and cute as this one was…

“Work hard you morons! Why can’t I hear your voices? Aren’t you supposed to be men among men!? How can something as puny as numbers overwhelm you?” – I almost cried out

The break was about a 30 minutes total, out of which they only had about ten to sit down and get some rest. If I can’t create a Spartan unit, that doesn’t mean I can’t provide them with Spartan training.

“Alright you lot! On your feet and get into position! Five rows of five one arm’s length away from each other! Come on, come on, come on!”

I was explaining complaints, however there was literally none? I was amazed by that, since they not only looked tired, they were most certainly as well. Seeing Alexandra look like she just returned from a walk through a park, all girls were pumped up to reach her standard, while the poor dudes, due to the second talk I had with them they were doing their best not to fall behind. The notion of showing off was postponed for now…

“Everyone get your spear, stone knife and five javelins each! Get your weapons fast and come back here! If any of you are late, they will have to run extra laps around the clearing tonight!”

Seeing them run like the devil himself was behind them, I felt slightly bad about how I chased them around the World Tree this morning… It’s a necessary evil though!

I grabbed my weapons as well and Alexandra hers. When the group converged once more, they were already in formation looking ready to raid some Murlocs.

They probably believed that that’s what we’re going to do, however they were wrong… very wrong!

“Time for a competition! We’ll split the teams in two, 25 on each group. Alexandra will lead one and I the other. The goal is simple: whoever hunts the most will win! We will score this competition using points: 1 point for each rabbit or other small animal, 2 points for a pheasant, 3 points for a deer and 4 points for a boar! Questions?”

Alexandra immediately raised her hand, action that sent shivers down my spine. I wanted to tell her that she doesn’t need to do that, however I remembered what I previously said about military law: everyone abides by it!

“Yes Alexandra?”

[What about bears or wolfs?](A)

“Let’s not mess with the wolfs for now please and we’ll score the bears with 10 points each. However, I would advise against such an action. The others are not ready for such a fight yet. In addition, while you will be scored for the prey you bring back, you will also lose points for each injury your team has. I always emphasized that safety take priority over anything else, therefore keep that in mind! For tonight, the winners will receive a prize, so everyone, do your best!”

[[[YES SIR!!!]]]

I took my half of the group (we split the boys evenly four and four) and moved out in different locations. We went South, while Alexandra’s group headed North. To keep things fair, we also split the four hunters that participated in the first dungeon expedition as four and four.

The only problem was that our ‘enemy’ team had a crazed berserker in it and to top it off, she is strangely competitive… However, if there was something proved by time back on Earth, is that a civilized way always provides better results than the barbaric approach.

“Alright folks! Eyes and ears at me! You heard the competition rules and I am hoping you want to win, right!?”

[[[YES!!!]]]

“Good! Now, in order for that to happen and to maximize our potential we will be splitting in groups of five! Each group will have a squad leader responsible for calling the shots and deciding what to do in any specific situation. You people will decide on the squad leader! In addition, just as important, if you encounter the type of prey you cannot take out alone or is more abundant than you could harvest on your own, whistle and we will all gather to your location. Is that clear?”

[[[Yes sir!]]]

“Good! I will not be a squad leader by the way, but I will provide instructions depending on the situation. Go on! Split up and create the teams!”

After some internal fights about who gets me (about which I felt stupidly proud), we each took a different area at about 100 meters from each other. This type of exercise was supposed to help improve their communication as well as teamwork, but we’ll also be able to maximize the efficiency of the hunting team.

It didn’t take long and my team found a group of five stags and about twenty deer. Everyone’s eyes turned on me; however, I closed my eyes and waited for the designed team leader to make his decision.

[Uhm… since Mister Michael said that we should not kill too many healthy animals, we are going to focus and try to kill the stag and the deer at the end of the herd. The stag has been injured, so it is likely that he will be killed either by those wounds or by the wolves soon enough and the deer looks old as well.](Random elf no7)

I nodded my head and patted the person’s shoulder in appreciation. I was thoroughly impressed by the fact that he remembered so much from what I said, as well as observed so quickly things that even myself did not see. Like those wounds for example, anyone could see that it might have been a fight between the current pack leader and this youngster. However, the older and more seasoned stag was quite merciless with his contender and unluckily for him, his condition is very bad at the moment. What I couldn’t see was the other deer. If one looked carefully, there was indeed a slight fur discoloration and the movement speed was slower than the rest of the herd.

“Haaah… It’s true what they say about still learning even after you already hit old age.”

The guy set up the attack tactic as one person scaring them off from the front of the pack and lead them to the opposite way where the remaining four will wait to ambush the two marks. Due to the pack being so suddenly attacked, in their frenzy they will run away from the baiter and run over the older deer and the wounded stag.

I thought that the situation itself was optimistic, mildly put, as in reality things never work as expected. Nevertheless, that in itself should prove as a good lesson and I’ll also be able to see their ability to improvise based on their surroundings.

[Michael sir, I will have to count on you to sneak passed the pack scare them our way.](Random elf no7)

“Understood!” – I nodded and silently creeped in front of the unsuspecting prey

From there on was easy sailing. I scared them off, they ran the expected route, and no trampling happened; however the two marks were slower than the rest and left behind. On the squad leader’s signal, four javelins accurately fell hitting the two targets, three hitting the older deer that was still quite lively and one the injured stag.

Once more I was impressed with this guy’s judgement and the fact that he decided to not take any chances with the deer escaping, therefore focusing her with three people, while himself aimed for the wounded stag. That shot also was praiseworthy as it impaled the target through the neck and straight into the ground.

“Well done! Your name?”

[Laurence! Laurence Greenwood sir!](Laurence)

“You did really well Laurence! I’ll keep this in mind for the future. You three as well. Nice aim!”

[[[Thank you sir!]]]

“Let’s quickly take care of the prey like I’ve taught you.”

After draining the two of blood, we used some javelins and vines again to tie the prey and move towards the other groups when…

*Loud whistling sound*

[Michael sir!?](Laurence)

“Yes… let’s hurry to their location.”

After rushing through the forest, we found a group of twenty people surrounding a bear. My legs almost gave out at the sight…

“You dimwits! What did I tell you about the bears!? Do you have a death wish?”

[We did not seek it out ourselves Mister Michael; the bear attacked us all of a sudden. We were not injured because we backed away slowly and used our spears to keep it at a distance, however it suddenly got even more aggressive…] - Random elf no8 complained

[Mister Michael, look at its underbelly. I think it was hurt and not by our group.](Laurence)

“Motherfucker what kind of eyesight do you even have? Are you Legolas in disguise?”

“Alright, all of you back down slowly and our team will engage it at close range. The others prepare your javelins and throw at my signal!”

*RAWWWWR!!!*

The bear obviously wasn’t a fan of my strategy and instantly dashed towards me when saw that the circle opened up to let us in. I felt my sphincter loosening a bit and prayed that I won’t shit my pants… Speaking of which…

“Fuck! Can’t this stupid fur-ball let people think in peace!? You four stay a bit behind me!”

After hearing me curse, the four immediately complied and I used the only thing I could think of and stabbed the bear in the nose. The result? I almost went deaf!

Moreover, not only myself, but everyone else as well. The good news was that the bear began to roll about on the ground with his snot badly pierced through, so I had a bit of leeway to back down with my group and give the signal.

A rain of javelins followed and the bear was deader than dead. The good news? Bear paws meat! That shit’s delicious! The bad news? A shitload of holes through the fur of the poor animal.

We performed the bear’s last rites (blood draining) and sent half of the group to go back to the clearing and drop the prey we caught so far near the World Tree, to the twenty-odd squad that takes care of skinning, tanning and sewing. Yup, I just multipurposed them this morning…

Without even noticing, dusk was upon us and with it the end of the competition was signaled.

“I wonder if I’ll still be able to keep my pride as a man. Knowing that crazed Valkyrie, she probably decimated half of the creatures North of the camp…”