As Max and his warriors departed the village, the remaining villagers busied themselves. Sofia directed everyone to strengthen defenses, setting traps at key locations around the village and increasing the number of men on the city walls. Night fell, and a tense atmosphere permeated the entire village.
Several hours later, Joshua led his men through a dense forest. He skillfully navigated the complex terrain and hidden dangers. Suddenly, a scout ran back from the front to report: "A small enemy patrol has been spotted ahead, about fifteen men!"
Max immediately stopped and looked at Carl. "Any suggestions?"
Karl pondered for a moment, “If we launch a direct attack, we might be able to catch them off guard and wipe out this enemy force. However, doing so could attract the attention of a larger enemy force.”
“Hmm…” Max frowned. “Lina, what do you think?”
Lina bit her lip. "We can try to approach quietly, without alerting them. If we have the chance, we should deal with it quickly; if not, we can consider retreating."
Everyone nodded in agreement, and then cautiously continued forward.
As they approached the enemy's outpost, a young recruit, overcome with nervousness, snapped a dry branch. The snap shattered the tranquility of the night...
**(At this moment, the enemy patrol captain looked up towards the source of the sound and alertly drew his sword.)**
Almost simultaneously, Joshua whispered, "Take cover!" Everyone quickly dropped to the ground. Fortunately, the moon was hidden behind the clouds, making visibility very poor. A few seconds later, it seemed the enemy hadn't noticed.
Just as everyone was about to stand up again, they heard a faint voice from not far away: "Where did that sound come from? Should we go and check it out?" Clearly, someone in the enemy group had noticed something amiss.
"Don't be afraid," Karl whispered encouragingly to his companions. "We still have a chance..."
Just then, a bird was startled and took flight, chirping a few times in mid-air before quickly disappearing without a trace. The patrol was thrown into chaos—they clearly thought they were under attack.
Seizing this fleeting opportunity, Max made the decision without hesitation: "Attack!" Everyone rushed into the darkness like arrows. After a brief but fierce battle, the patrol was completely wiped out. Only two people suffered minor injuries in the process.
"I can't believe it was done so easily... That's fantastic!" exclaimed a young man who had just joined the combat force.
Another villager patted him on the shoulder with a laugh, "Hey kid, this is just the beginning! We have a lot more battles to fight!"
However, their joy was short-lived. Just as everyone was about to proceed according to plan, more torchlight appeared in the distance—the enemy had clearly noticed the anomaly and was gathering a large force to encircle and annihilate them…
Meanwhile, Sofia, who remained in the village, received intelligence from the front lines. She immediately convened a meeting to discuss countermeasures. "We must speed up preparations. The enemy may soon launch a large-scale offensive..."
"Hopefully Max and the others can return to provide support as soon as possible," Ares said with concern. "However, judging from the current situation... we don't have much time left..."
As night deepens, a battle for survival is about to unfold...
"No matter the outcome, I hope everyone can persevere to the very end." Istra looked resolutely at each brave face before her, silently praying for a miracle. "Because we are not only fighting for ourselves, but also for the eyes behind us that are waiting for our victorious return..."
Just as everyone was making their final efforts at their respective posts, a sudden commotion arose in the square—
Suddenly, the two men who had been secretly following them appeared in the village and loudly proclaimed, "We have a way to change this unfavorable situation. Please allow us to share some crucial information with you!"
All eyes instantly focused on the two strangers. What would they say next? And were they truly as reliable as they claimed...? It all remained a mystery...
When these two strangers suddenly appeared and stood in the village's central square, the villagers began to murmur amongst themselves. Sofia strode out of the council chamber, her gaze sharp and wary.
"Who are you? Why are you here?" she asked sharply, and the surrounding villagers tensed up, gripping their weapons tightly.
“We are travelers from the north, and we have learned that you are about to face a great battle,” the tall man replied, his voice deep yet carrying an undeniable air of authority. “My name is Leonard, and this is my companion, Karin.”
Karin nodded slightly, giving a friendly smile. "We do have some information that can help you defeat the approaching enemy."
Upon hearing this, some villagers couldn't help but whisper among themselves: "Are they really reliable? Could they be enemy spies?" "But what if they really have important intelligence?" Various speculations and doubts intertwined among the crowd.
Just as everyone hesitated, Ares stepped forward. "I believe in them!" he said firmly, then turned to Sophia, "Let me take them to see you and talk to them in detail. Perhaps this is a ray of hope that God has given us."
Seeing Ares's determined gaze, Sophia nodded slightly. "Alright, please follow me." She turned and led the two toward the council hall, leaving behind the villagers still discussing the matter in the square.
The candlelight flickered in the meeting room as three people sat around a table. Karin took a crumpled map from her pocket and unfolded it, laying it on the table. "This is a map of intelligence we've carefully gathered. It marks the enemy's troop deployment and their weaknesses."
Leonard continued, "According to this information, the enemy's main force is approaching the village from three different directions; however, they are completely unaware of a hidden path to the east. Using this route, we can avoid a direct confrontation and launch a surprise attack from behind..."
Sofia listened attentively and carefully studied the contents of the blueprints in her hands, a glimmer of confidence gradually growing in her heart. "If we can truly succeed in implementing this plan, then it's possible to reverse the entire war situation!" However, she couldn't help but worry, "But... how can we get this valuable information to Max?"
Just as everyone fell into a brief silence, a series of hurried footsteps sounded outside—the small detachment sent out to scout the front lines had returned ahead of schedule. The leader, upon seeing the leaders, eagerly shouted, "Report! Captain Max and his men are retreating rapidly this way; they should reach the village soon!"
This news immediately excited everyone, and it also meant the arrival of new hope. "Great! Now we can tell them everything right away!" Ares said excitedly.
But Istra remained cautious. "We can't let our guard down. Although we now have a more detailed battle strategy, everything changes in an instant on the battlefield. We need to discuss the specific details of the operation as soon as possible and make the most thorough preparations..."
As night deepened outside, an emergency meeting was underway to formulate the next operational plan. Everyone was focused intently on the discussion, hoping to find a way to both protect their homeland and ensure everyone's safe return.
Meanwhile, on the road leading to the village not far away, the exhausted warriors, having just endured a fierce battle, finally returned to familiar surroundings. There, at the brightly lit entrance, stood their waiting family and friends…
"It's good that you're back. Leave the rest to me." Leonard greeted the warriors, who had just entered and looked travel-worn and disheveled, but were still full of energy and fighting spirit.
"Hmm? You're the ally Sophia mentioned who carries important information?" Lina asked curiously, looking at the unfamiliar face before her.
“That’s right, I come from a faraway place, a man dedicated to fighting for justice. Rest assured, as long as we are here, the forces of darkness will not dare to act arrogantly!” Leonard assured her, patting his chest. But Lina still frowned slightly, seemingly not entirely agreeing, and looked at Sophia for further confirmation.
"Let's hear what he has to say first. What we need now is unity and trust." Sofia patted Lina's hand reassuringly, then turned to look out the window at the dawning sky, her eyes flickering uncertainly. The new battle had only just begun; unknown dangers awaited them all to overcome together.
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