Returning from Dirk's residence, Jake temporarily set aside real-world matters and prepared to enter the game world.
In the game world, as Jake appeared inside the camp, the surroundings were filled with noise. The entire camp had become lively, with everyone sorting their belongings and getting ready to depart. While most of those serving here were poor individuals like Brenton and the others, lacking armor and proper weapons, they had brought along various possessions – shoes, clothes, and more. This was the difference between their makeshift forces and the regular army.
Jake organized his belongings, putting on all wearable equipment. After leaving Pergamon County, they had already started moving toward the front lines to transport food. Although they were still within their country's jurisdiction, it didn't mean there was no danger. After leaving the camp, Jake saw the soldiers of the Third Battalion forming up in queues, getting ready to depart.
Upon seeing Jake, Eli gestured for him to come over and then tossed him a longsword, saying, "Give it a try."
People around them looked at Jake with envy. For those lacking weapons like them, whether it was a longsword, a broadsword, or a bow and arrow, they were all desired items. Now, Eli had given Jake a bow and arrow, and naturally, they looked on with longing.
However, they didn't dare to voice any objections. On one hand, they had come to understand Eli's temper during this period. Even if they disagreed, it wouldn't matter, and they might even face punishment.
Furthermore, Jake's performance during this period had been noticed by everyone. He was undoubtedly the strongest person in the Third Battalion, second only to Eli. Some even speculated that Eli might not be a match for Jake. People held deep respect for the strong.
Jake casually pulled the bowstring. With his strength, pulling the bowstring open wasn't an issue. This bow wasn't anything exceptional, showing as a plain equipment in his Identification skill. Nevertheless, for Jake who had no bow and arrows, it was still something he could use.
"Not bad," Jake said.
"Take it and use it," Eli said.
Eli knew that Jake, with his excellent equipment, might not have much use for this ordinary longbow. However, at the moment, he was just the captain of a makeshift force, and he didn't possess any high-quality longbows. The disparities between Skylark Camp's different battalions were evident in how they organized themselves.
The soldiers of the Third Battalion quickly finished getting ready, while the members of the other battalions were still slowly forming up and chatting with carefree smiles. The difference was clear compared to the Third Battalion.
Those in the Third Battalion somewhat despised the soldiers from other battalions. They felt the others had no discipline whatsoever. This was where they realized Eli's strict training had proven effective.
However, those from other battalions didn't necessarily think highly of the Third Battalion. After all, they were all just makeshift forces. Was it necessary to train so rigorously and endure so much hardship? In any case, they would return home in three months.
Nearly an hour later, Skylark Camp was finally organized. With five battalions in total, over a thousand soldiers departed Pergamon County, heading toward the distance.
Walking amidst the procession, Jake was in the middle of the formation. The entire Skylark Camp was impoverished; only battalion-level captains had horses to ride. Even then, they weren't high-quality warhorses. As for the others, they had to rely on their two legs for transportation.
The journey was quite boring. Everyone was on the road, occasionally exchanging a word or two to break the monotony. During these times, Eli didn't usually say much. It wouldn't be realistic to expect everyone to remain silent continuously.
It was in the afternoon when the group finally reached another county. Here, the food supplies were already prepared in advance. The task for Jake and their Skylark Camp was to transport these provisions to the frontline.
The supply convoy naturally didn't consist of just Jake's group. There were many groups, all heading from different directions towards the same destination. Similar to Jake's group, these convoy members were all temporary conscripts.
With the food loaded onto the wagons, the convoy continued onward towards their destination. By dusk, as the night fell, the convoy halted and set up camp. They hadn't encountered any accidents along the way, and the journey had been quite smooth.
In the southwestern region of the YF Kingdom, there lay a barren wilderness plain. The geological conditions were unsuitable for cultivation, and it was situated at the border junction of four nations: YF, FY, TJ, and SY. Consequently, the ownership of this area had always been disputed. Each country believed it was their territory.
This contention led to numerous conflicts between the nations. Eventually, the question of ownership remained unresolved. Later on, the nations realized this area held little value, and they were unwilling to continue expending manpower, resources, and funds. Thus, it became a no-man's land. In fact, the denizens of the Demon Realm managed to infiltrate and establish a stronghold here for quite some time before anyone took notice. It wasn't until they erected a fortress as a bridgehead into the human realm that people became vigilant.
Due to the strategic location of this area, traversing the wilderness plain allowed one to enter any of the four countries. Therefore, these four nations were wary of each other. Despite forming a consensus to attack the inhabitants of the Demon Realm and expel them from this region, they acted independently. Each nation attacked the new demon-constructed fortress from its own direction, forbidding the residents of other countries from approaching their own territory's direction.
Simultaneously, the lack of trust among the four countries meant that they had to be cautious of each other while attacking inhabitants of the Demon Realm. They needed to prevent enemies from exploiting the wilderness plain to infiltrate their territories. As a result, their efficiency in attacking the demons was significantly reduced.
In the YF Kingdom, the veteran commander leading the expedition was Hank. Hank had become famous over the years, having commanded troops in various campaigns against neighboring countries and even the inhabitants of the Demon Realm. His extensive battle experience made him a capable commander, and he had been chosen for this particular mission due to the unique nature of the demon invasion event.
At present, Hank was fifty years old. While he might not possess the same vigor he had in his youth, he exuded a more composed demeanor. Transforming from a fierce young general to a seasoned strategist.
"How much food supplies do we have left in the camp?" Hank sat within his main commander's tent, inquiring of his adjutant.
Inhabitants of the Demon Realm had displayed an unusually fierce resistance this time. The battles had been intense, depleting the supplies they had brought with them. Consequently, they needed additional supplies sent from the rear to sustain their efforts.