Chapter 86: Not you
Ronan and the girls joined the army as they all set off.
The weakest among them was at the Transcendent Realm. They could at least reach 100 km/h, so their speed was quite fast.
Yet, the journey wasn’t any easier.
They spent close to six hours just getting there, maintaining an average speed of around 120 km/h. Peak Transcendent Realm experts and even Sovereign Realm beings could fly much faster than this, but alas, they were a battalion and needed to stick together.
They also had to account for the rest of the soldiers and the difficult terrain. They weren’t simply running across a smooth road. They had to travel through a forest, cross streams, and move through muddy terrain.
Still, it was all worth it.
By evening, they had finally arrived at the war camp, which was 500 kilometers away.
The first thing that caught Ronan’s eyes was the tents.
Tens of thousands of them were packed together like a dense swarm of ants.
Next was the intense smell of blood and rotten flesh, as corpses littered the ground.
They were at the edge of a forest, standing in an open field.
Farther ahead were rolling hills of bare ground, the sand stained a mixture of red and green from the enormous amount of blood spilled by both the orcs and humans who had fought there.
Corpses, rotten and decaying, could be seen forming small hills.
The stench was especially potent for Ronan, Hesa, and Yen, causing the three of them to frown instantly.
"We are here," Peci spoke as the soldiers all hunched over, breathing heavily.
Large beads of sweat slid down their armor as heavy gasps filled the area.
Only Ronan and the two girls were unaffected as they approached the tents.
They could see a large number of humans gathered around, exhaustion evident on their faces. Those who were injured or covered in scars were being rushed toward the medical area.
Many had bandages wrapped around their bodies.
Yet most of them weren’t fighting because they loved war. They were fighting because they had to.
Some fought to protect their loved ones back home.
Others fought to secure a better future for their families.
Some simply wanted to build a better life for themselves.
But none of them had stepped onto the battlefield without knowing that the chances of dying were high.
The soldiers looked at Ronan and the others, and Ronan could see the shock in their expressions when they noticed the one-star badges on their clothes.
Adventurers?
Shortly afterward, more than a thousand humans appeared, and relieved smiles spread across their faces.
They desperately needed fresh blood.
Most of the soldiers were injured or drained. If this continued, they might actually lose.
Thankfully, the news seemed to have reached them, and reinforcements had been sent.
"Take care of them and introduce them to the others. They’ll join you guys tomorrow," Peci spoke.
"Yes, Commander," a soldier replied with a smile as the new recruits followed him.
Most of them would rest tonight.
It was already getting dark, and they needed to recover. Tomorrow would be the day of action.
Still, the new recruits decided to help wherever they could, whether it was distributing food or assisting with tending to the wounded.
Their presence immediately relieved some of the veterans, and the effect of the fresh soldiers was felt almost immediately.
Meanwhile, Ronan and the girls were brought to a larger tent at the core of the base.
This was where the commanders discussed war operations.
Topics such as food, transportation, the number of soldiers available for deployment, and other important matters were discussed here.
The environment was much neater, and even the tents surrounding it were larger, as this was where the higher-ups stayed.
"Commander."
Two soldiers stood guard and immediately saluted when they saw Peci.
"At ease," Peci spoke as he entered with Ronan and the others.
Inside, even the temperature was different.
It was much cozier, and simply staying there seemed to make one relax. It helped people gather their thoughts and think more clearly...a rather useful effect for those responsible for making important decisions.
Currently, a late-night meeting was taking place around a rather long table.
More than twelve people sat around it, with enough chairs for nearly eighteen people in total.
Drinks and good-quality food, rather than military rations, were placed in front of them.
The sudden appearance of Peci and three new faces brought the meeting to an abrupt stop.
"Commander Peci, you are back?"
The man sitting at the highest seat spoke.
This was the general, a Peak Sovereign Realm being. All the commanders present were also at the Sovereign Realm.
Ronan looked at them all and shook his head.
They were all old men and women.
It seemed they had dedicated their lives to protecting the people of this city.
How noble...
Well, that’s humanity’s problem.
He was just a runaway undead creature.
By the way, when are we going to get to the fun part?
He wanted to start hacking orcs to death.
"Yes, General. These are three adventurers who decided to join us. Two are at the Sovereign Realm, while one is at the Peak Transcendent Realm," Peci introduced with a smile as the eyes of the commanders and general lit up.
Really?
This is a good discovery.
Adding two Sovereign Realm experts to the battlefield would severely reduce their burden.
"Ah, you two ladies, please have a seat," one of the commanders said with a smile as Peci sat down with a relieved expression.
Even he had been surprised when the First Sergeant brought them over, but it seemed the gods had smiled upon them and sent help.
This was a good thing for them, and they would gladly accept it.
Yen and Hesa, now called Eve and Joy, nodded and sat down, observing the people around them.
Their strength was impressive.
There were several five-star Sovereign Realm experts and even stronger individuals present, with the General’s Peak Sovereign Realm aura bearing down heavily on them.
"Ehn... Wait, not you."
Just as Ronan was about to take his seat, one of the commanders spoke with a frown.
"We appreciate you volunteering, but only Sovereign Realm beings are needed in here."
Although he was an adventurer, Ronan was still only at the Peak Transcendent Realm.
He couldn’t be here, nor could he help them with the discussions.
They didn’t need him.
He should simply stay outside, and if they were partners, the two women could relay the information to him later.
Besides, the two women looked to be in their late twenties yet were already at the Sovereign Realm.
They had excellent potential.
"Heh?"
Ronan froze as his fingers tightened around the chair.
Wait, what?