Reincarnated with a Military System in Another World

226  Visiting the Kingdom of Eldoria

Vincent stood at the head of the table, surrounded by a small group of his most trusted soldiers. The air in the room was thick with tension and anticipation. On the screen behind him was a detailed map of Eldoria.

"Alright, listen up," Vincent began, his tone firm but calm. "This is a scouting mission. We won't expect any demon forces. We will just gather intel and assess the situation in Eldoria. Our objective is to confirm if there are any survivors and, if possible, locate any remaining defenses or strongholds that haven't fallen."

Marcus, standing to Vincent's right, nodded. "Understood, sir. We'll keep it quiet and stay under the radar."

Vincent's gaze swept over the faces of the five soldiers he'd personally chosen for this mission. They were the best of the best—elite special forces operatives who had proven themselves time and time again in the heat of battle. They knew how to move fast, stay silent, and get out without leaving a trace.

Elinalese, who had insisted on accompanying them, stood at the back of the room, listening intently. She was no longer the fragile figure they had rescued from the clutches of the Demon Lord. She had regained her strength, and though Vincent was reluctant to bring her along, he knew her knowledge of the kingdom's terrain and defenses could prove invaluable.

"Marcus will lead the ground team," Vincent continued, "while I'll stay with Elinalese as her escort. We'll be flying in on one Blackhawk. The plan is to land on the outskirts of Eldoria, near what used to be the capital, and proceed on foot."

Marcus stepped forward, addressing the team. "This is recon, people. We're not here to pick a fight. If we encounter the Demon Lord's forces, we evade and report back. Our focus is on intelligence gathering—nothing more."

The soldiers nodded, their faces set in grim determination. They knew the stakes. Eldoria was a ghost kingdom now, its proud spires reduced to rubble. But they also knew that whatever they discovered there could be the key to stopping the Demon Lord's next move.

Vincent turned to Elinalese. "Are you sure you're up for this?" he asked quietly. "It's going to be dangerous."

She met his gaze without flinching. "I need to see it for myself, Vincent. I need to know what's left... if there's anything worth saving." Her voice was steady, but Vincent could see the flicker of pain in her eyes.

"Alright," he said with a sigh. "But you stay close to me at all times. If things go south, you get on that chopper and leave. Understood?"

"Understood," she replied firmly.

Akarios Airfield

The Blackhawk helicopter's rotors whirred to life, the sound cutting through the early morning silence like a knife. The sun had barely begun to rise, casting a pale glow over the base. Vincent watched as Marcus and the five operatives performed final checks on their gear. Elinalese stood by the helicopter, her eyes scanning the horizon as if trying to glimpse her homeland through the mist.

"Ready?" Marcus asked as he approached Vincent, adjusting the strap of his tactical vest.

"Yeah," Vincent replied, his eyes shifting to the Duchess. "Let's get moving before we lose the cover of dawn."

The team boarded the helicopter quickly, securing their positions. Vincent helped Elinalese into her seat, ensuring she was strapped in securely before taking his place beside her. The pilot gave a thumbs-up, and within moments, they were airborne, the ground falling away beneath them.

The ride was tense but quiet. Marcus and his team were focused, double-checking their equipment and mentally preparing for whatever they might face. Elinalese, on the other hand, stared out of the window, her eyes distant. Vincent could only imagine what she was feeling, returning to a place that had been her home, now likely reduced to ruins.

As they approached the borders of Eldoria, the landscape below them began to change. Once lush forests and verdant fields were now charred wastelands, the ground scarred by the Demon Lord's dark magic. Vincent's heart sank at the sight, but he kept his expression neutral, not wanting to add to Elinalese's pain.

"Five minutes to LZ," the pilot announced through the comms, bringing Vincent back to the present.

"Marcus, get your team ready," Vincent ordered. "We're going in hot."

The soldiers nodded, checking their weapons one last time. Marcus signaled the pilot, who began to descend. The Blackhawk hovered just above the treeline before touching down on a patch of scorched earth. The moment the skids hit the ground, Marcus and his team disembarked, securing the perimeter.

"Clear," Marcus called out, motioning for Vincent and Elinalese to follow.

Vincent helped Elinalese down, her boots crunching against the brittle ground.

"Stay close," Vincent reminded Elinalese, his hand hovering near his sidearm. "Marcus, take point."

The team moved quickly and efficiently, staying low as they navigated the twisted remnants of Eldoria's outer defenses. The once-great walls were now crumbling ruins, and the streets were littered with debris. Every shadow felt like it could be hiding an enemy, but so far, they had encountered nothing but the eerie silence.

Elinalese's breath hitched as they turned a corner and came upon what was once the grand square of the capital. The statue of her father, which had once stood proudly in the center, was now a shattered heap of stone. Her eyes glistened, but she pressed on, her resolve unbroken.

Marcus raised a hand, signaling for everyone to stop. "Commander, we've got movement up ahead," he whispered into his comms.

"Demons?"

"Can't confirm, we might have to take a closer look," Marcus replied.

Vincent nodded, gesturing for Marcus to move forward. The squad fanned out, keeping low and using the remnants of walls and debris for cover. Elinalese stayed close to Vincent, her eyes darting nervously as they moved through the ruins of her once-proud city.

"Marcus, stay sharp," Vincent whispered into his comms. "If it's not demons, it could be survivors."

"Copy that, Commander," Marcus responded.

As they approached the source of the movement, Vincent raised a clenched fist, signaling everyone to stop. He strained his ears, trying to discern any sound beyond the distant cawing of crows.

Then, a muffled cry pierced through the oppressive silence. It was faint but unmistakable—a human voice.

Elinalese's eyes widened, her hand gripping Vincent's arm. "That... that sounded like someone calling for help," she whispered urgently. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Vincent nodded. "Marcus, check it out," he ordered.

Marcus and two of his soldiers advanced cautiously, weapons raised. The rest of the team held their position, scanning the surrounding area for any signs of an ambush. Elinalese stayed close to Vincent, her breathing quickening as they moved deeper into the shadows of the ruined buildings.

Suddenly, Marcus's voice came through the comms, tinged with disbelief. "Commander, you're going to want to see this."

Vincent exchanged a quick glance with Elinalese before signaling for them to move forward. They rounded a corner and came face to face with a group of huddled figures hiding behind a collapsed wall. There were about a dozen of them—men, women, and children—covered in dirt and dressed in tattered clothing. Their eyes were wide with fear, but when they saw Elinalese, their expressions shifted from terror to something that looked like desperate hope.

"Elinalese?" one of the women whispered, stepping forward hesitantly. "Is... is it really you?"