Chapter 68: The Journey

Chapter 68: The Journey



Vincent, along with his Special Forces who were the Alpha 1 to 5, and Eamon and his associates watched as the corvette sailed out of the harbor. The survivors they had rescued were safely on their way back to Akarios Island, and now it was time for Vincent and his team to focus on their mission.

The ruins of Felaria still lay before them. Smoke still rose from smoldering wreckage, and the smell of burnt wood and charred metal lingered in the air.

If the Kingdom of Eldoria didn't take action in the next months rehabilitating the port, or saw no use to it, Vincent would gladly take the port city to himself and establish a base. But of course, only if the conditions are met.

"Okay, we are going to move out now, our destination is the Dwarven Kingdom," Vincent said, his face turning to Eamon. "Now, Eamon, you and your associates are the ones who are expert in navigating the terrain of this world. We'll rely on your guidance to reach the Dwarven Kingdom safely," Vincent continued, his tone serious. "Lead the way, and we'll follow."

"Uhm...Sir Vincent. You do know that it's far from here right? And there are no transportation here, and even with transportation it would take us at most three weeks to reach the Dwarven Kingdom. Traveling on foot will be challenging and slow."

Vincent nodded, acknowledging the difficulty ahead. "Don't worry about the transportation, we will provide it."

"Provide it? Uhm..." Eamon looked around, as if searching for vehicles. "I don't see any means of transportation here, Sir Vincent."

Vincent smiled slightly. "That's because it's not here yet. Give me a moment."

He stepped back and went to a random alley where he accessed his system interface. There, an M-ATV Oshkosh that he put in his inventory during his preparation. It was a convenient feature. If he had learned about this earlier, he would have taken the vehicles that he left near the Eldoria and the house in the clearing.

While using the system, he noticed something on the ground. It was a corpse but he was familiar with the clothing...it belonged to the one that brought him from here to Akarios Island.

"Captain Bartholomew?" Vincent looked down at the body grimly. The lifeless eyes of Captain Bartholomew stared blankly at the sky, his once-proud uniform now stained with blood and dirt.

"So they got you too and your crew huh? If only you could hear my words now," Vincent murmured.

He summoned two M-ATV Oshkosh and one M939 Truck, and they materialized right beside him. Realizing he couldn't bring them all by himself to the group, Vincent stepped out of the alley and called Alpha 2 and 3.

"We're making good time," Vincent remarked to the radio he was holding as they emerged on the other side of the pass, the vast expanse of the valley stretching out before them. Eamon nodded, a look of determination on his face. "And we are traveling so fast. With this pace, we might reach the Dwarven Kingdom within two or three days."

"It's still a long way to go. Anyways, what did you tell me about stopping to one of the nation-states along the way?"

"Ah...the city of Ferm," Eamon said. "It's the hometown of one of my apprentice here. We can resupply and rest there if needed. Ferm is known for its hospitality and trading goods. Plus, it's a relatively safe place compared to the wilderness."

Vincent considered the suggestion, then nodded. "Alright. Let's make Ferm our next stop. We can rest and gather any supplies we might need for the remainder of the journey."

The convoy continued through the valley, the sun casting long shadows as it began to set. The landscape was a mix of rugged mountains and lush valleys, the road winding through picturesque scenery that contrasted sharply with the devastation they had left behind in Felaria.

As night fell, they decided to set up camp near a small river. They prepared their meals which were MREs. It's going to be the first time Eamon and his associates eat this type of food. The soldiers handed out the MRES, and Eamon and his associates examined the packages

curiously.

"What is this?" Eamon asked, holding up the brown pouch.

"MRES, Meals Ready-to-Eat," Vincent explained. "They're self-contained, nutritious meals that are easy to prepare and eat in the field. Just add water, and you're good to go."

Eamon and his associates followed Vincent's instructions, adding water to the heating elements inside the pouches. Soon, they were greeted by the aroma of warm food.

"This is amazing," one of Eamon's associates remarked as he tasted the meal. "It's hot and actually quite good."

Vincent smiled. "Glad you like it. These are standard issue for our troops. It's not gourmet, but it gets the job done."

As they ate, the group relaxed around the campfire. After the meal, Vincent gathered his team

for a briefing. "We've made good progress today and I don't want breaking momentum so we are going to leave now and head to Ferm."