Changing Equipment

Ange quickly reported to the Infantry Regiment and, along with Jada, completed the transfer procedures at the Regiment Commander's office. After reviewing the relevant documents, the Commander officially approved Ange's enlistment.

Subsequently, Ange was assigned to Jada's squad. While getting acquainted with his new teammates, Ange learned that Jada was not only his direct superior but also a captain within the Infantry Regiment. What surprised and grateful Ange even more was that Jada had proactively reported his situation to the Commander, which led to this transfer.

Jada took Ange on a tour of the Infantry Regiment's encampment and briefly introduced him to the other comrades. Afterward, Jada began to explain in detail about their Infantry Regiment.

"We belong to the Tan'anster Heavy Infantry 36th Regiment," Jada said. "The Commander you just met is the commander of the 33rd Infantry Regiment, Richard. He is a Level 2 Warrior. The entire Duchy has seventy-two Heavy Infantry Regiments, with each regiment having an approximate strength of 2,000 men."

Jada continued, "Currently, there are five infantry regiments on the battlefield: the 36th, 37th, 38th, 42nd, and 43rd Regiments. In addition, three cavalry regiments and two archer regiments are participating in the fighting."

Jada's explanation gave Ange a clearer understanding of the current military situation. He realized that the environment he was in was exceptionally complex and that he needed to adapt quickly. Jada also told Ange that infantry regiments suffered the highest casualties, advising him to be prepared.

After hearing Jada's explanation, Ange had a clearer idea of why he was transferred to the Infantry Regiment.

Once Jada finished speaking, he looked at Ange's equipment and decided to take him to the armory to get new gear. They quickly arrived at the armory. Ange had guarded the armory before when he was in the Logistics Regiment, so he was familiar with the environment.

Jada presented the necessary documentation, and the armory staff asked Ange about his combat habits. Ange replied, "I specialize in shield blocks and hand axe chops."

A staff member brought out a rectangular, curved shield. Ange examined it closely and found that the shield's length was about the same as his arm, its width was about two hand spans, and its thickness was about one finger joint. The shield was entirely made of metal, and the inner grip was designed very smoothly, making it comfortable and non-slip in his hand. This piqued Ange's curiosity, but now was not the time to investigate.

He tapped the shield lightly with his finger, producing a crisp sound. The quartermaster staff explained, "This shield has two enchantment arrays. One is 'Fortification' to enhance its durability, and the other is 'Weight Reduction' to lighten its load."

Ange tried lifting the shield and found that without activating the arrays, it weighed about 10 kilograms. Although slightly heavy, he could feel the shield's sturdiness and reliability. Ange tried channeling his Qi force into the array, and immediately, the shield in his hand felt much lighter.

Seeing Ange easily activate the shield's enchantment arrays, the quartermaster staff looked at him with a bit of respect and introduced the axe with even more enthusiasm.

The staff member produced a double-bladed hand axe. Ange examined it carefully and found it to be much more advanced than the single-bladed axe he had used before. Between the two blades, there was a sharp spearhead, allowing it to be used not only for chopping but also for thrusting, increasing combat flexibility. The staff member explained, "This axe has only one sharpness enchantment. Because the casting material is of very high quality, no other arrays are needed. It pursues ultimate sharpness and durability."

Ange tested the axe's weight and feel, finding it perfectly balanced and comfortable to wield. He nodded in satisfaction and then asked the staff for a set of standard armor. Although the standard equipment for the Heavy Infantry Regiment primarily consisted of black longswords and black heavy armor, Ange felt his shield and hand axe were more suited to his fighting style.

Soon, the staff handed Ange a set of standard armor. While not as heavy as the heavy armor, this set was flexible, suiting Ange's combat style. Ange put on the armor, finding it a perfect fit and allowing for free movement.

Although his equipment seemed somewhat out of place in the Infantry Regiment, Ange didn't mind. He knew he was only on temporary assignment and would apply for discharge after his military service was complete. When meeting with the Commander, Ange had clearly explained his situation: "Commander, I am only seconded to the Infantry Regiment for now. I will apply for discharge after my military service is completed."

The Infantry Regiment Commander expressed understanding, his attitude consistent with Queby's from the Logistics Regiment: "Ange, I understand your situation. Serve with peace of mind, and we will support your decision."

This understanding and support brought Ange a sense of relief, and he would perform well in the Infantry Regiment because of it.

After changing into his new gear, Ange followed Jada back to the encampment. Jada told Ange, "You can arrange your time for now and get familiar with your new equipment."

Ange decided to wear his new gear to the training grounds to get accustomed to it. He bid farewell to Jada and headed alone to the Infantry Regiment's training grounds. Other soldiers from different infantry regiments were also present. They looked surprised to see Ange wearing standard armor, with a shield on his left forearm and a double-bladed axe in his right hand. After all, everyone's equipment was basically the same, and Ange's attire stood out.

Many soldiers stopped their training and looked at Ange with curiosity. Ange smiled and nodded to everyone, expressing his gratitude without saying much. Then, he began to focus on his training.

Ange first familiarized himself with the shield's usage, feeling its sturdiness and the lightness provided by the enchantment. Next, he practiced chopping and thrusting with the double-bladed axe, experiencing how the sharpness enchantment enhanced the weapon's power. During his training, Ange continuously adjusted his stance and movements, gradually adapting to the characteristics of his new equipment.

After the training session, Ange felt he had initially mastered the use of his new equipment, and his body had gradually adapted to the new weight and balance.

As he left the training grounds, Ange nodded to the surrounding soldiers once more.

Ange had dinner with his fellow Infantry Regiment warriors. They sat around a long table, the atmosphere warm and friendly. During dinner, the warriors enthusiastically shared many things Ange hadn't known before.

"Did you know that the Black Magic Crystals inside Foul Spirits are necessary materials for Noble Rank Advancement?" one warrior said. "Every time we defeat a Foul Spirit, we try our best to retrieve its Black Magic Crystal."

Another warrior added, "Also, some Foul Spirits have innate Magic Markings. Those markings are precious research materials for the Duchy's Magic Alchemists. They are always willing to pay a high price for these markings."

"And, the skin of Foul Spirits is also excellent material for making armor," a third warrior chimed in. "It's tough and durable, much better than ordinary materials."

Ange listened quietly, silently taking in the information, feeling his knowledge base expanding. He learned more details about Foul Spirits and gained a deeper understanding of the Duchy's military strategy and Magic Alchemy.

After dinner, Ange expressed his gratitude to the warriors: "Thank you for sharing. This information is very valuable to me."

The warriors smiled and patted his shoulder. "It's nothing. We're all comrades. Feel free to ask us anything you need to know."

The next day, Ange accompanied his teammates to the front lines for a rotation. The fighting on the front lines remained fierce, with Foul Spirits and humans locked in a war of attrition. Both sides were evenly matched, and it was uncertain who would last until the end. The Foul Spirits had also begun to mimic human tactics, employing a rotating battle strategy, all hoping to ensure that both sides' warriors could maintain a relatively stable state of combat.

The 36th Regiment, where Ange was stationed, quickly completed the rotation with other infantry regiments. Since Ange had prior experience in independently killing Foul Spirits, his fear of them had gradually diminished. Now, facing himself with new equipment, Ange felt an urgent hope to engage with Foul Spirits soon, to test the effectiveness of his gear and his own strength.

After the rotation, Ange quickly got into his rhythm. He meticulously checked his equipment to ensure everything was in order. As the situation on the front lines continued to evolve, he began to prepare for all sorts of eventualities. In his interactions with his new comrades, Ange displayed confidence and enthusiasm, which inspired greater trust and anticipation in them.

In the time that followed, Ange looked forward to his first encounter with the Foul Spirits, fully prepared to showcase his abilities and contribute to victory.