Depart

The day of departure finally arrived, and we were woken early by the instructors. Today, King Jothua would visit the base to see us off. We dressed neatly, ate, and gathered in formation on the training ground. Though I'd been practicing spear techniques these past few days, the army issued me a sword, so I'd use that for now. If needed, I could conjure a spear with magic later. "Attention! Salute!" the commander shouted. In the distance, we saw King Jothua slowly ascend the platform, followed by a few heroes. "(Why's the treatment so different when we're all reincarnators?)" I thought to myself. "Please welcome His Majesty to address us," the commander announced.King Jothua spoke: "Good morning, brave warriors and heroes. Today, you embark on the greatest counterattack in human history. The demon invasion has united us, ending petty conflicts over minor gains. Today, all humanity stands together, fighting for the shared dream of peace. Perhaps it's fate that the heroes and elite warriors of every nation have gathered here. You will fight once more for humanity, for peace—not against tyrants, oppression, or injustice, but to prevent humanity's annihilation, to secure the hope of survival. The conflict between humans and demons has persisted since ancient times, but today, we will put an end to it. Tomorrow, we will greet a new, peaceful future. We will survive. We are ready. To end the Demon King's evil, it's time to raise the banner of victory, sound the horn of attack, and march toward the demon realm. We can win, and we will win!" Thunderous applause erupted as the warriors cheered with fervor."Let's hear from a hero as well," King Jothua said with a smile, gesturing to Kaia. Kaia stepped forward nervously, standing before the king. "Brave warriors, my name is Kaia. Everyone here today is a hero, each with their own ambitions, united for one goal: to defeat the Demon King and liberate the world. I don't claim to be the strongest, but like all of you, I'll shed my blood for humanity's peace. Today, I ask for your support to join me in defeating the Demon King. Thank you!" Kaia bowed, and the crowd applauded warmly."Now, mages, prepare the teleportation ritual," the commander ordered. Royal mages began chanting spells in an open area, while we lined up in formation under the commander's guidance. Spearmen formed the vanguard, swordsmen flanked the sides, mages were positioned in the center, and the few archers were placed at the rear. The heroes joined us, stepping off the platform. "This teleportation array will transport you near the Demon King's castle. Upon entering the demon realm, reform your ranks quickly and stay alert for enemy ambushes. Under the heroes' leadership, head straight for the Demon King's palace, covering each other as you advance. Protect the mage corps—they're key to your return," the commander instructed. I was assigned to the left wing's swordsmen unit, while Ohui, a spearman, was likely in the front. Outside the base, the walls were lined with citizens bidding us farewell. Whether it was telepathy or something else, I spotted Bona in the crowd. I shouted to her, and she noticed me. "Take care of yourself and your parents. Wait for me to return!" I called. "Brother White, you've got this! I'll be waiting for you!" Bona waved and shouted back.The light dome created by the mages grew larger and stabilized. The heroes led the way, stepping into the dome. "Stay close to avoid getting lost. If we encounter enemies, we'll need to support each other," Noah said. "You too, man. If I get hurt, you better heal me," Kadi said, gripping his weapon tightly. Feigo was assigned to the spearmen, Naan to the mage corps, while Kadi, Noah, and I were in the left wing. Nobu was sent to the right wing. Everyone stepped into the light circle in tense but orderly fashion. The massive light dome enveloped all thousand of us. "Commence teleportation. May you all return safely!" the commander shouted. The dome gradually turned white, the outside scenery fading. We stood in a vast white space, the light growing blinding. One by one, those inside the dome turned into light and vanished. My vision went white, and I disappeared too. We were all being teleported to the demon realm...