-1457- The looming malice

After the battle with Squad e571 and witnessing the capabilities of the Sky Wizards under Rozen's command, Misora, Lecty, and Rico finally understood what they truly lacked as a squad.

"Just like you said, we were only focused on becoming stronger individually and fulfilling our own dreams. We never thought about the fact that we are a squad and need to fight together. Simply making ourselves stronger is meaningless."

Misora showed a very serious expression.

"The Head of the Sky Wizard Division also told us that humanity's greatest strength is its ability to unite. Back then, humans were able to survive the Armored Beetles and retreat to this sky because the Pope's family united humanity. Even the Arachnell-class armored beetles understand the importance of group action. If we keep holding each other back, there's no way we can achieve our dreams."

Having fully understood this, Misora, Lecty, and Rico decided to make a change.

"I... I will try my best to help everyone!" Lecty couldn't hide her nervousness but still desperately said to Rozen, "So... so please teach us!"

The timid Lecty rarely requested something so strongly.

"Even if I'm perfect, it would be quite lonely if I were the only perfect person in the world," Rico continued to hold her head high but also expressed her intentions, "Since that's the case, getting stronger with these guys and making them more perfect isn't a bad idea."

In other words, Rico was also willing to work hard with Misora and Lecty.

Thus, after this incident, the three of them finally became united.

The seeds of trust and faith finally took root and sprouted between these three girls.

So, they came to Rozen.

"Please!"

Misora and Lecty bowed their heads together, pleading with Rozen.

Rico didn't do the same but still looked directly at Rozen, her eyes full of emotion that hadn't been there before.

Rozen looked at the three girls and smirked.

"It's good that you've come to your senses, considering you were problem children to begin with."

Rozen said that casually.

"But I still haven't officially become your instructor. I already guided you before and made an agreement that I'd only take on the role if you won two ranking battles."

So far, Squad e601 had won only one battle, and the next ranking battle hadn't yet come.

"Besides, if all you're aiming for is teamwork and cooperation, you don't necessarily need me. Rico could handle it just as well."

Rico was naturally intelligent, just lacking in experience, and with a strong sense of self. If she had the intention of team combat, Rico's mind could certainly devise many strategies.

However...

"I've never really put in any effort in that area. Even if you ask me to do it, without experience, even if I'm a goddess, that's asking too much," Rico said, "Or do you think you can't compare to me?"

This girl actually used a provocative tactic.

"Are you sure you want to compare with me?"

Rozen rolled his eyes.

In the past, before using the power of Miracle to traverse worlds, Rozen had already been developing his tactical and strategic capabilities as a Master and Summoner.

Because whether as a Master or Summoner, commanding Servants or Familiars in battle from behind the lines required Rozen to consciously develop his strategic mind. During simulated battles, Rozen's performance often astonished everyone in Chaldea, with even Lev repeatedly marveling at it.

Using this ability, Rozen had even outsmarted the famous King Arthur in the Fuyuki Singularity.

Later, after being adopted by the Akabane clan and receiving the secret teachings of Puppetry Arts, this ability had fully blossomed.

The Crimson Wing Formation, a secret technique compiled over a thousand years by the Akabane clan, is not like the formation that enhances power but focuses on group combat abilities. It teaches how to manipulate puppets for group combat, with various complex strategies and formations.

Rozen had acquired this and completely absorbed it, so the tactical, strategic, and formation knowledge in his mind was as vast as his knowledge of magecraft and sorcery. This formed the foundation of his group combat ability.

Of course, even the Crimson Wing Formation only recorded group combat tactics for a very limited number of people.

After all, when members of the Akabane family use the Crimson Wing Formation, they can control one thread per finger, operating a total of ten puppets. The ten-man combat tactics are the most recorded. Additionally, there are tactics for the entire clan in battle, such as a hundred-man formation, and even formations for a thousand or ten thousand people, which were passed down over a thousand years, so the knowledge is incredibly rich.

When Rozen commanded several hundred people for clearing in SAO, devising perfect formations and tactics, it was also thanks to the exquisite Crimson Wing Formation.

To this day, after experiencing multiple worlds, Rozen had combined the Crimson Wing Formation with his Mind's Eye and various other forms of knowledge, reaching the level where he could command hundreds of thousands of troops effortlessly.

In other words, Rozen's ability in this area was truly immense, on par with his magical strength. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to command thousands of Sky Wizards in a recent battle, giving orders with such precision that Freon at the time was left completely astonished.

Moreover, Rozen now had the Virtual Aether that was developed to reduce the mental burden. Even when there is no burden on the brain, it can still be used to enhance Rozen's cognitive abilities, making his mind comparable to a supercomputer. With this, how could his ability in this regard be weak?

Compared to Rozen, who else in this world could match him in this area?

Rozen, now completely different from the past, not only had overwhelming strength but also an exceptionally sharp mind. With a perfected mentality, it was likely that he now had no weaknesses, becoming virtually invincible.

Reaching this level allowed Rozen to have the leisure to guide others, fostering talent and watching others grow stronger.

Perhaps this was also the mindset of Scáthach, his teacher, who was similarly flawless in both strength and intellect.

With these thoughts, Rozen looked again at the three girls before him.

The girls were nervous, waiting anxiously and silently for Rozen's response.

Seeing this, Rozen sighed.

"Your next ranking battle is not far off, so I can only train you in basic formations and teach you basic tactics. Is that okay?"

Rozen said this.

The three members of Squad e601 were overjoyed.

"Yes!"

"No problem!"

"Bring it on!"

Misora, Lecty, and Rico responded one after another.

"Alright!" Rozen nodded and said, "Then we'll start this afternoon!"

Upon hearing this, the three girls responded loudly.

Rozen then began to train Squad e601 once more.

At the same time, various forms of goodwill and malice started approaching, reaching this floating city.