It wasn't that easy, of course. There were still a bunch of questions, but once everyone got on board, it became much simpler. They started making plans of what to teach, where each of the teaching places would be, fighting rings and even exercise regions and the purchase of exercise equipment. Once Mel had gotten her quiet word in and request that Arthur please not make decisions without at least consulting her, she had joined in wholeheartedly in the planning.
Eric and Leia's focus would be on fighting tactics and weapons, Yao Jing on close combat and unarmored combat. Mel and Noor had both the most experience dealing with monsters, so they would focus on teaching tactics to deal with the variety of monsters and surviving them while Lin Su and Uswah would help others practise their cultivation techniques.
Rick and Arthur would help out where they could, though Rick's job was to play manager and sales person, getting in new customers. Of course, to start they were going to gateway entrance to just Clan members and iron out the basics of the training.
"Don't forget the Chin's," Mel said. "They can come and train, maybe for helping fill out the warehouse. And then, later for a price."
Arthur nodded. He wasn't entirely sure they should be favoring the Prime Group that much, but then again, they were already allied. Not giving them first chance would be insulting.
"No problem. The big question is what we're going to do about the building when we're not here," Arthur said. A quick glance at the building data, he sighed.
It would have been great if he had the funds to actually buy a building bonus, like security; but in this case the bonus was only for the residence. Any upgrades he wanted, he'd have to pay. And right now, he was too poor to do that. Which meant that the building could be stolen from at any time.
In the end, rather than set-up a watch rotation, they chose to just schedule training sessions throughout the day. With the various magical stone lamps and lights set through the building, and the necessity anyway for night time training, it made sense to just make use of the facility 24/7. Having people active and in the building would be just as effective a deterrent from a thief as any security guard.
Of course, once all the bureaucracy was over, it was time for fun.
***
With all the space that they had, it made sense to have a mass combat. The group split, utilizing a series of short sticks to pick sides rather than taking them for a more chaotic battle. It was how Arthur found himself grouped with a motley crew of Noor, Eric, Rick and Yao Jing to face off against Mel, Uswah, Leia, Jan and Li Sun on the other.
It amused him, a little, that it was all the men on one side against the women on the other. Not all of them, of course, what with the lack of numbers for the men thus far, but he hoped, eventually, that'd change. Unfortunately, the equilibrium of Climber society and the Towers meant that that level of equality might take a while to arrive.
All issues for the future. For the present...
"Rick, you've got Jan. Eric, Leia. I'll take Li Sun and Noor, you have Uswah. Yao Jing, Mel." He gave the orders fast and firmly, choosing not to overthink matters too greatly. This was, after all, supposed to be fun. "Remember, only one technique!"
Li Sun, across and to the right of him just grinned as the group shifted a little, getting in position. He readied his staff, choosing to use that rather than his more deadly spear. At the same time, he pulled at the energy within him, getting it ready.
"When we start?" Jan asked, curiously.
In answer, Rick charged forward, yanking his bowie knife up. It was still in its sheath, the closest thing he had to a safe option for the weapon. Which, really, wans't that safe but it was what they had. Anyway, none of them were intent on moving at full speed, and even though it would look to a non-Climber, the entire group was going to limit themselves. Which was, after all, the reason why they were only using one technique.
In Arthur's case, he pulled on his energy within to begin the process of creating his newest technique. The Imbued Strike stretched outwards, swallowing the staff in its entirety. He focused on keeping it contained as he charged after his group, angling to the side to meet Li Sun.
He wondered what she intended to use. They were restricted to some extent, certain types of techniques like his Refined Exploding Energy Dart was just too dangerous to utilize; even if it might have done significant damage to his opponents. After all, the goal was not to kill each other, just win.
Eyes narrowed, he watched for the flow of power through her. There was something, something in her external aura but it wasn't fully visible, just close to it. It was almost like it was pulsing, shifting each moment.
Then there was no more, as he reached her. She was wielding a pair of tonfa, the twisted nightsticks on either hand spinning outwards to block his staff as it came down. His aura pulsed, trying to wrap around hers, trying to impart the Yin effect and failing. On the other hand, his hand ached, the staff vibrating at the contact.
A flurry of blows, he pushing forward, she backing away reluctantly. She tried to slip close, intent on using both of the tonfas to her advantage and land her strike. She failed, as he wove a net of wood before him, the staff rebounding back faster and faster with each attack, his hands aching as he tried to control the increasingly erratic movement.
One last strike, rising from the center line, blocking a lunge. It was battered aside and the staff, already vibrating in a way that made it hard to hold spun away, his grip lost. She didn't give him time to recover, instead passing forwards and attacking with the tonfa in a lunge for his upper chest.
He collapsed backwards, voiding his body and hunching inwards to pull his chest aside even as he swung his backhand down. He struck, just the top of her hand and the top of the tonfa's handle. Felt his aura finally interact firmly with hers and pulse, the Yin energy he'd gathered flowing into her briefly.
Then, contact, as she hammered her own strike into him. He fell back, chest aching, feeling like she had hit him not once, but a couple of times in short order. Off-balance already, he fell back and he tucked himself in, rolling and spinning, lifting himself off a little with arm and shoulder while swinging his leg into a sweep.
Contact, another pulse of Yin energy into her. Small drips, enterring her system, this time more. Then, he was up on his feet again as Li Sun cursed. They squared off, only for their private fight to be interrupted.
Arthur cursed as he bowled over, Yao Jing's thrown body slamming into him and making him roll over. Caught by surprise, his aura and the Yin energy he converted flowed into the man, unceasing until they managed to extricate themselves. The bodybuilder looked woozy, Arthur's own technique staggered to a stop as the sudden expulsion of his Yin energy robbing him of what energy he had before.
Mel wasn't joining Li Sun, instead having chosen to help Jan beat on Rick who was already on the losing end of that fight. By the time he and Yao Jing were able to rejoin the battle and get around Li Sun, it was as good as over.
Of course, all that meant was that they had to do it again.