Chapter 154: 24 Hours
[Next apocalypse game will start in 24 hours, prepare yourself accordingly]
[Time Left - 24:00]
With just one day left before the next round of the apocalypse game, Alan was determined to ensure that his Wolverine militia was well-prepared. After a rejuvenating rest, he made his way to one of the larger halls at the back of the cruise ship, where all 200 members had gathered.
"Mr. D, you're here!" Daniel and Luis greeted him enthusiastically and even had a cup of coffee prepared for him.
However, their attention was quickly drawn to the young woman who accompanied Alan. She seemed slightly agitated as she questioned. "Tell me, do you know where Rose went for the last two days?"
Both Daniel and Luis looked at each other, then shook their heads in unison. "No, we haven't seen her. She hasn't been around," they responded.
Alan, after savoring his coffee, turned his focus to the disciplined group of Wolverines under Marsh's command. He barked, "Attention! Fall in!"
The Wolverines swiftly arranged themselves in formation, their faces marked with determination, ready to receive instructions from their leader.
With simple observation, it became evident that not everyone was able to fall into formation as swiftly as the military personnel could. Some members struggled to grasp the concept of unit cohesion, highlighting the importance of training and discipline.
Marsh seized this opportunity to emphasize the significance of understanding the dynamics of a cohesive unit. He knew that for the Wolverines to function effectively and survive the challenges ahead, they needed to operate as a well-coordinated team.
With the group now at attention, Alan stepped forward and scanned the group, his gaze sweeping over the assembled fighters and survivors, a mix of familiar and new faces. His voice was firm and carried the weight of their shared purpose. "Welcome to the Wolverines unit," he began. "You may have varying levels of experience, but today's training is essential for all of us. Whether you find it easy or challenging, I urge each of you to give it your all. Our survival in this game depends on our ability to work together as a cohesive and skilled team."
Alan began by introducing himself and the officer he had selected to help lead the Wolverines. Without Merle, he was left with only two dependable leaders: Vicky and Marsh. Each of them was tasked with overseeing 100 members of the unit.
The sheer number of 100 men under her command caught Vicky off guard, and for a moment, she was taken aback. However, she quickly composed herself, took a deep breath, and placed her trust in Alan's judgment.
With the introduction complete, Alan knew that their immediate focus had to be on creating an efficient and effective structure for the unit. Ideally, he would have liked to organize the group based on their unique skills and strengths. However, the game's conditions demanded a different approach.
In the early hours of the game, players could only form groups of 10 players, which required them to adapt to a different strategy. To ensure their survival, Alan needed to establish 20 squads, each led by a capable squad leader. This organization was crucial for their collective success in the perilous initial phases of the game.
Marsh was entrusted with selecting his 10 squad leaders from the military personnel, drawing on their experience and discipline. Meanwhile, Alan worked closely with Vicky as she chose 10 more squad leaders from the original Wolverines. Among those chosen were Vicky, Rose, Daniel, Kenny, Bill, Shamus, Marie, Gus, Milo, and Poe.
To ensure the Wolverines' highest chances of survival, Alan meticulously divided the 40 support units and the 60 new members into the two platoons, making each squad consisted of 2 support units and 3 new members, with the remaining slots being filled by either military personnel in Marsh's platoon or original Wolverines members in Vicky's platoon to maintain a sense of familiarity.
Milo proposed the division of the ten inmates into two squads, with him and Poe taking on leadership roles for these teams. The composition of these squads would remain consistent with the Wolverines' structure, consisting of two support units and new members to fill the number. With Alan's consent for the proposed squad division, the additional support units and new members showed signs of anxiety, their foreheads glistening with sweat, as they anticipated becoming part of the inmate-led teams.
While many of the squad leaders under Vicky's command lacked battle leadership experience, Alan prioritized trust and reliability over experience. He believed that leadership skills could be developed over time through training and shared experiences. This approach underscored the importance of teamwork and unity within the Wolverines unit.
The details of the training program were left to Vicky and Marsh, but Alan emphasized the need for a gradual and challenging process. The training would commence with small-scale exercises, such as teams of five members competing against each other. Subsequently, more complex challenges tailored to each squad's abilities would follow, culminating in a final test that required the entire 100-man platoon to work together effectively.
"You have the whole day to train," he announced, his eyes resting on Vicky as she expressed her surprise. "What? You are not training with us?"
Alan, with a calm and reassuring smile, replied, "Unfortunately, no."
He had complete faith in Vicky's leadership abilities and knew that she had the best interests of the platoon at heart. Moreover, Lieutenant Marsh possessed the skills and capabilities needed to carry out the training effectively. With Vicky and Marsh overseeing the training, Alan felt confident that they would prepare the unit adequately.
Alan then proceeded to head toward their workshop where he found all the necessary materials neatly prepared for him. Alan wasted no time and started crafting, focusing on ensuring that their equipment and supplies were ready for the upcoming game.
[You have successfully crafted an item]
[Your (Science - Master) allows you to successfully create an uncommon item]
[Your Inventor Jobclass allows you to successfully create a higher quality item]
[Name: Metal Sword]
[Name: Metal Shield]
[Name: Metal Armor]
It was a grueling six hours of non-stop work, but Alan's determination didn't waver as he meticulously crafted the last batch of 150 sets of items to distribute to his units. Even though it was a significant accomplishment, he wasn't ready to call it a day just yet.
He went to another table where another batch of materials, consisted of hundreds of cut-out pieces from [common] items. Alongside them, there was a bowl of antiseptics and alcohol, ready for him to work his crafting magic.
[You have successfully crafted an item]
[Your (Science - Master) allows you to successfully create an uncommon item]
[Your Inventor Jobclass allows you to successfully create a higher quality item]
[Name: Medical Bandage]
[Type: Medicine]
[Rarity: Uncommon]
[Attributes: Recovers 90 HP within 1.5 minutes]
[Effects: Suppresses Bleeding]
[Able to Bring Outside the Game: No]
[Remarks: It's smelly but effective]
Alan's dedication to perfecting his craft had paid off.
With his previous expert skill, he was already able to create this item, but with a very small chance of success. His [Master] skill and [Inventor] job class had not just made all of them [uncommon] but also managed to transform the mundane into the extraordinary.
The medical bandages he created boasted significantly improved stats. Their HP restoration had jumped from 80 to 90, their usage time had been reduced from 2 minutes to 1.5 minutes, and their recovery rate was impressively improved from 0.66HP per second to 1 HP per second. It was undoubtedly the finest medical bandage available in the game, a testament to his crafting prowess.
Despite spending most of his last day in the workshop, Alan knew his work wasn't done. He still had sword training to conduct, with over 300 eager players, some of whom were his own unit members aiming to acquire the [novice] sword weapon skill. Alan patiently spent a few hours of his time on this last batch of players, hoping it would increase their chances of survival. As the day turned into night, a notification appeared on his game link,
[Next apocalypse game will start in 12 hours, prepare yourself accordingly]
[Time Left - 12:00]
With limited time remaining, Alan knew there were still a few crucial tasks he had to address before the new round began.
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