Chapter 75

The heat was unbearable, and after just a few steps, the linen shirt was drenched and stuck to the body.

The humidity in the mountains was heavy, with thick fog rolling in, and the hot wind carried raindrops.

In the distance, everything was a hazy gray, and the wailing of a mountain cat could be heard from dozens of feet away, audible but unseen.

After entering the Gandar Mountains, it became clear that the path here was far more difficult to navigate than the one near the lumberyard. To be precise, there was hardly any path at all.

The team at the front had to forcefully cut through the thickets and weeds with machetes to clear a path for the rest of the troops.

As they entered the undulating mountains, the ridges were high and steep, with some areas suddenly breaking off into deep, rocky chasms. The slopes were covered with shrubs, and the grass and thorny vines intertwined, creating a dense, impenetrable barrier.

Sometimes, they had to follow a narrow path along the cliff, with a precipice on one side and a deep valley on the other. The narrow path was crowded with heavily armored infantry, making it impossible to move forward or backward.

The mountain paths were much more difficult to traverse than expected. A five-man scout team could pass through the cliffs relatively easily, but once the main force was squeezed in, even a slight delay by those at the front would cause a blockage that would spread to the back.

Red Socks unhooked his water flask from his waist, took a small sip, and passed it to He Boqiang, saying, "Drink sparingly. We don't know how long we'll have to wait on this mountain path. The weather is so humid, yet we're still so thirsty."

He Boqiang patted the copper water flask at his waist, indicating that there was still plenty inside.

He Boqiang cut a section of bamboo from the cliffside, quickly trimmed it into a smooth stick, and placed it under the tent bag Red Socks was carrying. This way, Red Socks didn't need to unload his heavy pack; he could lean against the cliff and rest comfortably with the support of the bamboo stick.

This made it easy to continue moving forward when the team was ready, as no preparation was needed.

"You always have good ideas!" Red Socks praised He Boqiang.

He Boqiang walked to the edge of the cliff and saw the dense forest growing on the steep slope below. If someone were to slip and fall, they might not die from the fall, but the thorny vines and branches would trap them in the forest, making it extremely difficult to climb back up.

The path was muddy, and the water seeped out from the grass that had been trampled by the soldiers. Each step would flood the shoes with water from the roots.

Half of the second squad's soldiers carried machetes, while the other half carried axes. They needed to clear a path through the forest for the cavalry to pass on the gentle slopes.

The sound of horse bells came from the fog, and soon Baron Sidney rode up from behind. The soldiers pressed themselves against the cliff to let him pass as he went to check what was happening ahead.

Soon, the order came from the Earl for the infantry to camp for the night.

There was no space to set up tents on the narrow mountain path, but fortunately, Suldak had recently issued each soldier of the second squad a dogskin sleeping bag after the intense hunt for red-eyed hyenas. The hyena leather was highly waterproof, and even on a muddy path, it would not get damp.

Red Socks unhooked his large backpack and laid out the sleeping bag on the narrow mountain path, tying the ropes to the vines extending from the cliff to prevent rolling off during sleep.

The other squads' soldiers looked at the dogskin sleeping bags of the second squad with envy.

He Boqiang didn't sleep well at all that night, suffering from insomnia. Just as he was about to fall asleep, Red Socks woke him up, looking bewildered at the starry sky.

"An order came from the front. We need to be ready to move out at any time," Red Socks explained.

Suldak issued each soldier a piece of baked wheat cake, which they ate with cold water from their flasks, serving as breakfast.

At dawn, the second squad was already on the move.

As they passed a narrow path, they found clear signs of a battle. The air still carried the scent of blood, and though there were no visible casualties among the infantry, three decapitated and skinned demon corpses hung from the treetops on the side of the deep ravine. Their purple blood had dried, and their bodies were covered in wounds. It was unclear what price the forward squad had paid to defeat these three demons.

After leaving this treacherous path, the team plunged into a vast, dense forest filled with various poisonous insects, giant snakes, and toxic plants. The best way to protect against these pests was to be fully armed from head to toe.

Big-bearded Kager caught a giant snake, which he chopped into three pieces with his axe. The head of the snake continued to attack Kager, and it was only when Augustus took advantage of the snake's distraction to impale its head with a Pagliu spear, pinning it to the ground, that the battle was finally over.

Thus, the five-meter-long, arm-thick giant snake naturally became the second squad's dinner.

He Boqiang could see the towering Moya Ridge in the distance, the highest peak in the eastern part of the Gandar Mountains.

The demons had established their base on this peak, using its strategic location to weather the initial weak period. They were waiting for the demon gates in the mountains to open, allowing a steady stream of demons to enter Moya Ridge and build a defensive stronghold, effectively driving a stake into the western front of Duke Newman's army.

If the demons on Moya Ridge were not eliminated, the Beina Army's various units in the western defense zone of Handanar County would be pinned down on the front lines.

The 57th Heavy Infantry Regiment had been marching through the mountains for three days before they reached the edge of the area responsible for clearing the forest path.

According to Count Monty Gos's plan, the five battalions of the 57th Regiment would split up, with each battalion responsible for clearing a section of the forest path.

The Fourth Battalion was assigned to the area closest to Moya Ridge, where demon scouts were often seen, making it the most dangerous task among all the infantry battalions.

Baron Sidney, riding his Gubole horse, led the Fourth Battalion away from the main force with a proud chin, showing no fear of the demons on Moya Ridge...

Only the veterans of the Fourth Battalion knew what those demons meant to them: despair, death, and the end of life...