Chapter 322: Time to Level Up
Orion nodded grimly, his eyes calmly yet solemnly scanning the ancient battlefield stretching endlessly before them. "Exactly. Each decade, warriors gather here to spill even more blood. I doubt anyone even remembers clearly what started this all."
Arya softly whispered, her voice filled with sorrow, "So many lives wasted... for what?"
The day gradually slipped toward evening, the oppressive gray skies deepening into hues of orange and crimson.
As the sun dipped below the distant horizon, Duke Varian signaled his unit to halt for the night as the rest of the commanders also stopped their respective soldiers.
Soldiers swiftly broke formation, spreading out across the flat, barren land, each unit beginning to erect their tents with precision.
Soon, hundreds of thousands of small campfires flickered gently across the encampment, casting long, dancing shadows upon the weary faces of warriors preparing themselves for the coming battle.
Orion and his companions stepped down from their ornate carriage, each stretching their limbs and quietly observing the soldiers around them.
The grim expressions of the common warriors, filled with resignation yet steely determination, were sobering reminders of the cost of war.
Even as night approached, the dense, acrid scent of blood lingered oppressively in the air, mingling with the smoke of cooking fires and quiet murmurs of conversation.
Soon, Duke Varian approached them, his amber eyes somber and filled with heavy responsibility. The lines of worry and tension upon his face had deepened since their last meeting.
He spoke softly, voice steady yet tinged with sorrow. "We’ll rest here for tonight. By tomorrow afternoon, we’ll reach the battlefield itself."
Orion nodded solemnly in acknowledgment, his gaze calmly meeting the Duke’s. His companions remained respectfully silent, sensing the heavy burden Duke Varian bore.