"We've been fortunate so far," Alexander announced, standing at the center of the small clearing they'd chosen for the day's camp. "But luck isn't a strategy. Today, we train."

  The morning light filtered through the emerald canopy, creating dappled patterns across the forest floor. Alexander had risen before dawn to scout the area, ensuring it was defensible and free of immediate threats. Now, with the team gathered around him, he shifted fully into the military commander he'd been trained to become.

  "The creatures in these woods follow patterns," he continued, kneeling to sketch a rough diagram in the dirt. "Shadow Stalkers attack from above, Thornvines constrict from below, and Timber Wolves always try to separate their prey."

  Riva nodded, her hunter's experience confirming his analysis. "The wolves use pack tactics—fnking and feinting."

  "Exactly. Which is why we need to counter with formations of our own." Alexander stood, brushing dirt from his hands. "Four basic formations to start. Diamond, Line, Wedge, and Circle. Each serves a specific purpose."

  He positioned the team, pcing himself at the front of the diamond formation, Riva and Valeria on the fnks, and Elijah at the rear.

  "Diamond for movement through potentially hostile territory," he expined. "I take point, Riva and Valeria guard our fnks, Elijah stays protected at center-rear where he can support with healing."

  He demonstrated the transitions, moving the team through each formation with precise commands. Line formation for confronting threats from a single direction. Wedge for breaking through concentrated opposition. Circle for defense when surrounded.

  "Verbal commands will be single words. 'Diamond,' 'Line,' 'Wedge,' 'Circle.' No room for misinterpretation in combat." Alexander's military academy training was evident in every crisp instruction and practiced movement. "When I call a formation, I expect immediate response. Lives will depend on it."

  Valeria raised a hand. "What about weapons coordination?"

  "Good question. We'll assign zones of responsibility." Alexander drew another diagram. "In the diamond, I handle forward threats, Riva takes right quadrant, Valeria left. Elijah, you focus on awareness and healing, not offense. Your role is support, not direct combat."

  Elijah nodded, though Alexander caught a flicker of something—perhaps disappointment—in his twin's expression.

  "Now for practical application," Alexander continued. "We'll simute attacks from different directions. Ready positions."

  The team moved into diamond formation, weapons drawn. Alexander carried a standard-issue short sword and dagger. Riva wielded a hunter's bow with remarkable skill, while Valeria favored a spear that kept opponents at distance. Elijah carried a simple staff, more defensive than offensive.

  "Threat front!" Alexander called suddenly, dropping into a combat stance.

  The team reacted, but not quickly enough. Their movements were uncoordinated, with Valeria and Riva colliding as they tried to adjust.

  "Again," Alexander commanded. "Threat front!"

  They responded better this time, but still too slowly.

  "In real combat, that hesitation would cost lives," Alexander said, his tone firm but not harsh. "Again. Threat left!"

  For the next two hours, he drilled them relentlessly. Transitions between formations, responses to threats from multiple directions, retreat protocols, and advance maneuvers. Sweat soaked through their clothes despite the cool forest air, muscles burning from the constant movement.

  "Enough basics," Alexander finally announced. "Time for integrated combat simution. Riva, those target dummies you fashioned from branches will be our opponents."

  Riva had constructed crude but effective practice dummies from fallen branches, bark, and vines. She positioned them around the clearing according to Alexander's instructions.

  "Scenario one: patrol ambush," Alexander expined. "Diamond formation moving through hostile territory when attacked by multiple Shadow Stalkers. Begin."

  The team fell into diamond formation and began moving across the clearing. Alexander suddenly pointed to a dummy concealed in the branches above.

  "Contact high right!"

  The formation shifted instantly, with Riva drawing and loosing a practice arrow in one fluid motion. The missile struck the target with satisfying accuracy.

  "Second contact left!" Alexander called.

  Valeria pivoted, her spear thrust finding another dummy hidden in the undergrowth. The team maintained formation, continuing to move while responding to threats.

  "Contact rear!" Alexander shouted, testing Elijah's awareness.

  Elijah spun, bringing his staff up in a defensive posture, but he was a half-second too slow. In a real situation, he would have been injured.

  "Disengage and reposition!" Alexander ordered, and the team backpedaled into a defensive circle. "Elijah, you need to maintain better situational awareness. In a real attack, you'd be wounded now."

  Elijah nodded, face flushed with exertion and disappointment. "Understood."

  They ran the scenario again, and again, and again. Each time, their movements became more coordinated, their responses quicker. By the fifth attempt, they functioned like a unit that had trained together for months rather than days.

  "Now let's integrate healing into our combat scenarios," Alexander said. "Simution: I've taken damage from a Timber Wolf attack. Elijah, demonstrate field healing while the formation maintains protection."

  They arranged themselves in a defensive circle. Alexander knelt at the center, simuting an injury to his arm. Elijah moved to him while Riva and Valeria maintained vigince outward.

  "Contact front!" Alexander called unexpectedly.

  Riva and Valeria responded to the simuted threat while Elijah continued his healing work. This was the true test—could they maintain combat effectiveness while managing injuries?

  What happened next surprised everyone. Elijah pced his hands on Alexander's "wounded" arm and closed his eyes in concentration. The healing interface activated—a standard Game mechanic—but instead of the usual slow regeneration effect, a brilliant blue light pulsed from Elijah's hands. Alexander's interface dispyed an immediate healing notification far beyond what basic techniques should produce.

  "What was that?" Alexander asked, genuinely surprised.

  Elijah looked equally startled. "I... don't know. I just focused on accelerating the standard healing protocol and... it responded."

  "Your technique seems unusually effective," Valeria observed, watching Elijah with renewed interest.

  Alexander flexed his arm, noting the healing effect had even restored some stamina—a secondary benefit not typically associated with basic healing. "Whatever you did, it's impressive. Can you replicate it?"

  "I think so," Elijah said, though uncertainty tinged his voice.

  "Let's find out. Valeria, you're injured now. Right leg, mobility reduced."

  Valeria assumed a position simuting a leg wound. Again, Elijah applied his healing technique, and again the unusually powerful blue light emanated from his hands.

  "Remarkable," Alexander said. "You seem to have a natural talent for healing beyond basic training."

  Elijah shrugged, though Alexander could see his twin was pleased by the discovery. "It just feels... intuitive. Like the Game's healing system responds to intention rather than just technique."

  "This changes our tactical approach," Alexander said, already recalcuting their combat capabilities. "Your healing efficiency means we can be more aggressive in engagements, knowing you can restore us effectively afterward."

  They continued training throughout the day, integrating Elijah's newly discovered healing efficiency into their combat scenarios. Instead of holding him entirely in reserve, Alexander adapted their formations to allow Elijah limited offensive action followed by healing pulses.

  By te afternoon, even Alexander was impressed with their progress. The final exercise—a simuted encounter with multiple Timber Wolves attacking from different directions—went fwlessly. The team rotated through formations smoothly, communicated with minimal words, and responded to threats with coordinated precision.

  "Diamond... Circle... Wedge!" Alexander called in rapid succession, and the team executed each transition perfectly, maintaining their zones of responsibility while adapting to the changing scenario.

  When they finished, even Riva—the most experienced hunter among them—was breathing hard.

  "Well done," Alexander said, allowing a rare smile. "You've exceeded expectations."

  "Your training methods are quite... thorough," Valeria noted, massaging a sore shoulder.

  "The academy instructors would have called this a light warm-up," Alexander replied, though his tone held a hint of humor. "But you've all performed admirably. Especially you, Elijah. That healing ability gives us a significant advantage."

  Elijah nodded, looking simultaneously proud and thoughtful. "It felt natural, somehow. Like I'm connecting to the healing system on a deeper level than the interface suggests is possible."

  Alexander filed this information away. His brother had always been the more intuitive of the two, while Alexander relied on structure and proven techniques. Perhaps Elijah's approach had merit they hadn't fully appreciated during their separate trainings.

  "We'll incorporate your healing technique into all future combat pnning," Alexander decided. "Tomorrow we'll work on integrated movement and terrain advantage. The Whispering Woods offers numerous defensive positions we should learn to utilize."

  As they prepared the evening meal, Alexander watched his team with new appreciation. They were becoming a cohesive unit—each with distinct strengths that complemented the others. Riva's hunting expertise, Valeria's calcuted precision, Elijah's surprising healing talent, and his own strategic training.

  For the first time since entering the Game, Alexander felt genuine confidence in their survival prospects. The standard combat doctrine from his academy training emphasized that superior preparation neutralized superior numbers. Today had proven that principle sound.

  Whatever challenges the Tower of Ascension held for them, they would face them with discipline, coordination, and increasingly effective tactics.

  Even in the inherently unpredictable environment of the Game, Alexander took comfort in the military precision he'd instilled in his team today. Order from chaos. Structure from uncertainty. This was what he'd been trained for.

  And yet, watching Elijah demonstrate his unusual healing ability once more before they settled for the night, Alexander couldn't help wondering what other unexpected talents might emerge as they ascended through the Tower's hundred floors.

  Not everything, it seemed, could be predicted by standard military doctrine.