In summer, dawn usually came much earlier, but perhaps because dark clouds blanketed the sky today, everything seemed gloomy.
A cool morning breeze blew in from afar. The branches and leaves swayed in the wind, their rustling echoing without pause. Occasionally, leaves danced through the air, drifting toward some unknown destination.
The already dim forest, shrouded in thick fog, became even more impenetrable. It felt as though countless pairs of eyes lurked within that darkness, making no one dare to venture forward.
"I wonder how hard it's going to rain."
"Damn it, training in the rain feels awful."
"Say, have you guys written letters home?"
"Did that ages ago. War's about to start. Who knows when we might die? It's good to say what's in your heart to your family."
"Hey, you bastard, always thinking about bad things. Don't forget, our White Tiger Duke is the Empire's God of War. Once the fighting starts, we might even earn military merit under him, go home, marry two wives... now that's the good life."
"Give it a rest. With that scrawny body of yours, one wife would drain you dry, let alone two."
"Bullshit. With this body of mine, I could handle three at once."
"Yeah, yeah, sure."
"Hahaha."
Within the three garrisons of the Star Luo Empire's Northwest Army Group in the Mingdou Mountain Range, the soldiers had long since awakened and were carefully inspecting their weapons and equipment.
Under normal circumstances, weapons were stored collectively in the armory and handed out to soldiers only for daily training. But with a formidable enemy at their doorstep, the rules could only be adjusted.
As they looked at the oppressive, overcast sky, where layers of dark clouds seemed crammed together, soldiers occasionally exchanged a few words. To them, rain was the most detestable