With the team now comfortable in the virtual world and having grasped the basics of magic and skills, Kosu felt it was time to put their training to the test. An idea struck him: a mock battle against the three of them would give him insight into their capabilities and teamwork.

"Alright, team," Kosu said, gathering them together. "We're going to have a mock battle. It'll be a 1 against 3, with me fighting all of you at once."

The team exchanged glances, excitement mixed with apprehension. "Are you sure about this?" Ashley asked, her brow furrowed. "We're still rookies."

Kosu smiled reassuringly. "I know you're new to this, which is why I'll give you a handicap. I won't use any skills, magic, or special techniques like Mind Slash. All you need to do is injure me once to win."

The three looked at each other, a mixture of determination and disbelief on their faces. "That's a bit too generous, don't you think?" Mitscle remarked, crossing his arms. "We're not that weak!"

Kosu chuckled. "I believe in you. But don't underestimate the challenge. We'll turn off the unlimited mana feature for this battle, so you'll need to manage your resources carefully."

The team nodded, their competitive spirit ignited. They gathered for a quick strategy meeting, huddling together to discuss their approach. Kosu observed them with pride, appreciating their willingness to collaborate despite their inexperience.

"Remember to communicate and support each other," Kosu reminded them as they finalized their plan. "Every second counts."

Once they felt ready, Kosu activated the battle mode. The atmosphere shifted, tension building as the countdown began. "Let the mock battle begin!"

Rhyth, taking his position at the back, strummed his guitar, initiating a powerful melody. As he sang, a shimmering aura enveloped Ashley and Mitscle, granting them valuable buffs. "Let's go!" he called out, his voice echoing with encouragement.

Ashley and Mitscle charged forward, their hearts racing. Mitscle jumped high into the air and unleashed a rain of bullets toward Kosu. But with ease, Kosu dodged each projectile, demonstrating his agility by slicing the bullets in half mid-air with his katana.

"Stay focused!" Kosu called out, closing the distance between them. As he approached, multiple fireballs erupted from Ashley's hands, hurtling toward him. Kosu swiftly dodged, showcasing his acrobatic skills as he flipped and rolled to avoid the blasts.

Mitscle, noticing Kosu's movement, attempted to flank him to provide cover for Ashley. But Kosu was quicker; he turned, aiming a gun at Mitscle and firing an electric bullet that struck him squarely, rendering him instantly knocked out.

"Ah!" Mitscle gasped as he fell, out of the fight.

Kosu pressed forward, narrowing the gap to Ashley. Just as he prepared to slash her with his katana, Rhyth stepped in with a new spell, summoning a barrier of water in front of Ashley. The barrier shimmered as Kosu's blade struck it, momentarily halting his advance.

Ashley was taken aback, her legs trembling as she processed what had just happened. "I— I didn't know you could do that!" she stammered, her heart pounding.

Kosu smirked. "You should feel lucky this is a virtual world," he said, his tone teasing as he swiftly moved behind Ashley. With a quick motion, he knocked her off her feet with the flat of his blade.

Rhyth, witnessing the turn of events, raised his hand in a gesture of forfeit. "Okay, okay! I think we've had enough!"

Kosu stepped back, a grin on his face as he looked at them. "Good effort, everyone! You showed great potential, but there's still a lot to learn. Remember, battles are unpredictable, and communication is key."

As the mock battle concluded, Kosu took a moment to assess the team. They were panting and slightly bruised, but the fire of determination still burned in their eyes. Kosu then open the control panel again, after a few type of commands, a wave of data coated the team, restoring their energy and mending their wounds.

"Alright, team. Let's gather around and discuss what just happened," Kosu said, motioning for them to sit. The team formed a circle, eager to hear his feedback.

"First off, great job out there! You all showed a lot of potential, even if the outcome wasn't exactly what you hoped for," he began. "Mitscle, your agility was impressive, especially with your quick jumps. However, you are vulnerable when you are in the mid-air. You need your team cover you up when you do that. Communicate with the team is the key."

Mitscle nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I see what you mean. I got a bit too focused on my attack and didn't watch for openings."

"Kosu, I tried to help, but I didn't expect you to counter so quickly," Ashley chimed in. "I was caught off guard when you took Mitscle out."

Kosu turned to her. "Ashley, your spellcasting was strong, but you need to work on your timing. When you launched those fireballs, it was a good idea, but you should have coordinated with Mitscle better. If you'd both attacked at the same time, it might have created a distraction for me."

Ashley bit her lip, nodding in agreement. "I'll definitely practice that. I need to be more aware of the team's movements."

"Rhyth, you did well with your support, but try to be quicker in your responses," Kosu continued. "When I was closing in on Ashley, you had the right idea with the water barrier, but you failed to cover for Mitscle, don't you? Timing is crucial."

Rhyth grinned sheepishly. "I guess I got a little nervous. I'll work on that!"

As they discussed their performances, the team began brainstorming ways to overcome their shortcomings. They shared ideas for improving their communication, strategizing more effectively, and practicing their skills in ways that would complement one another.

Just as they were wrapping up their discussion and preparing to finish the training session, Kosu's communication device buzzed with an incoming message. He glanced down at the screen, and his heart raced as he read the notification: The Guild has successfully got the location of Sakura's team.

As soon as Kosu received the news, he halted the training session. "Alright, everyone, we need to pause for a moment," he said, his tone serious. "I have to log out and take care of something important. But you can continue your training if you wish. I've enabled the infinite mana feature, so feel free to practice to your heart's content."

With that, Kosu logged out, leaving the team to process the information. As he departed, Mitscle seemed deep in thought, his brow furrowed as he considered their recent training and the upcoming mission.

Kosu, meanwhile, rushed straight to the Guild Master's office. Tetsuo, the Guild Master, was already waiting for him. "Kosu, good to see you," Tetsuo greeted. "We have important matters to discuss."

"Is it about Sakura's team?" Kosu asked, eager for information.

"Yes," Tetsuo replied, gesturing for him to join the video call with Marco from the City Hall. Kosu quickly settled into the seat, focusing intently on the screen as Marco's face appeared.

"Thanks for joining us, Kosu," Marco said, his expression serious. "We've been analyzing the GPS signals, and while they're constantly moving, we've pinpointed a location that shows the highest concentration of activity. We believe this location holds the key to finding Sakura's team."

He paused, and Kosu leaned in closer. "Where is it?" he asked.

"It's an old manor that has been abandoned for nearly a decade," Marco continued. "The master of the house passed away a long time ago, but we believe it's still significant. It could be where they're hiding or where we can find clues about their whereabouts."

Tetsuo nodded, his expression resolute. "We need to start the mission to search this manor right away. I want you on the team, Kosu."

Kosu felt a surge of excitement but hesitated. "I'd like to bring my new team along—they've been training hard and are eager to help."

Tetsuo shook his head. "They're still too inexperienced for this mission. This time, you'll be going with Thorn's team from the City Hall. They're more seasoned and can handle the dangers we might encounter."

Kosu frowned, knowing his team's potential but recognizing Tetsuo's concern. "Understood. I'll do my best to gather information and ensure we're prepared for the next opportunity."

As the meeting concluded, Kosu felt a mix of urgency and determination. He would do everything in his power to help Sakura and her team, and he knew his new team would be ready for the challenges ahead.