Chapter 172: Pre-battle planning

As the army encamped on the vast plains of Lioni, the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of fiery orange and deepening blue. The soldiers, their armor and weapons reflecting the last rays of sunlight, found themselves in a temporary oasis of tranquility amid the turmoil of war.

Suppertime had arrived, and the soldiers gathered around makeshift mess halls, their faces etched with a mixture of fatigue and determination. The clangor of metal plates and the chatter of comrades created a lively symphony that resonated across the camp. They shared stories of past battles, recounted tales from their hometowns, and exchanged jokes to lighten the heavy atmosphere that hung over them.