The voice outside the door was urgent, but more so resolute. Everyone stopped their discussion and turned their gaze toward the doorway.
"Please wait a moment, everyone. I have important information to report!" someone outside the door shouted.
Max frowned and immediately signaled the guards to open the door. A scout in light armor, his face slightly muddy, quickly entered; it was Jack.
Sophia stood up and asked with concern, "What happened? Jack, why did you rush back so quickly? Did you find something wrong?"
Jack took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and said, "Captain, Ares and Ted have just discovered some very crucial information. They've found a secret reinforcement force of about five hundred men outside the enemy camp. This force is advancing rapidly and is expected to arrive by dawn tomorrow."
Max's brow furrowed even more, but he remained calm and asked, "How did they know about this reinforcement? Do they have any more specific intelligence?"
Jack nodded and continued, "Ares and Ted captured an enemy scout. After interrogation, they learned that this reinforcement force was an elite unit sent directly from the enemy headquarters. Their mission was to join the main force at the front before dawn and launch a full-scale offensive."
A brief silence fell over the room, and everyone's expressions became extremely solemn.
Harold broke the silence after a moment of contemplation: "If this is true, our current defensive strategy may not be able to cope with such a powerful enemy. We need to revise our plans, or we may face great danger."
Lina stood up and said firmly, "Time is of the essence, we must act immediately! The situation cannot be delayed. We can first get the villagers to take refuge in shelters, and at the same time strengthen the important fortifications around the village."
At this moment, a new recruit standing in the corner spoke up: "But our forces are already insufficient. Can we really hold off an elite force of five hundred men?"
Sofia gently patted the young soldier on the shoulder and comforted him, "Don't be afraid, young man. As long as we all work together, there is no difficulty that we cannot overcome."
Max looked around and then decisively said, “Very good, let’s divide the tasks immediately. Jack, go back and report the detailed intelligence to Ares, telling him we need to adjust our defense strategy overnight. Sophia, you’re in charge of organizing the villagers’ evacuation and finding safe havens. Lina, I’ll go with you to inspect the city walls and main defensive structures to see where we can further strengthen them. The rest of you, return to your respective teams and begin the final preparations for the upcoming battle!”
Everyone agreed and quickly dispersed to get busy at their respective posts.
As Max and Lina were patrolling the city walls, they suddenly heard a noise behind them. Turning around, they saw a group of villagers carrying various tools, rushing towards them.
"What are you doing here...?" Max asked, somewhat puzzled.
A burly man stepped forward and said with a simple, honest smile, "Captain, we've heard that the enemy's army is coming. Although we civilians can't be of much help, we can't let you bear all the pressure alone. We're willing to do our part and help build walls and dig trenches in the city, so that you can have less of a burden!"
A woman nearby added, "Yes, we all believe Captain Max will be able to protect the village, but we also need to do our part!"
Hearing these simple words, Max felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He knew that at this moment, everyone was united in facing the challenges ahead.
"Alright, in that case, I'll leave it to you. Please be sure to stay safe." With that, Max turned and continued his patrol. Just as they were leaving, the little boy's voice, though still childish, rang out again from behind: "Uncles and aunties, you must defeat those bad guys! I'll work hard too, and grow up to be a warrior like you!"
As night deepened, the entire village prepared in a tense but orderly manner to repel the enemy. Inside the council hall, the lights remained bright, and the sounds of discussion rose and fell. Everyone was working towards the same goal.
Suddenly, Ares burst in with several soldiers, his face slightly anxious: "Captain, there's new information. The reinforcements have started to speed up their advance and will arrive here earlier than expected..."
Max's gaze instantly hardened. He looked at everyone and said, word by word, "No matter what happens, we must hold on to the very last moment tonight. Tomorrow morning at sunrise will be the crucial moment that will decide our fate..."
As the tension in the council chamber reached its peak, everyone's mood grew increasingly heavy. Max's words weighed heavily on everyone's hearts, like a stumbling block. The new intelligence brought by Ares not only intensified the sense of urgency but also made everyone realize the importance and severity of the upcoming battle.
“What does accelerating the march mean? Does it mean that the enemy is taking this battle very seriously, and may even be sending more troops?” Lina asked, her brow furrowed.
“Very likely,” Harold replied. “We need to reassess our defensive strategy and consider some contingency plans.”
Max nodded and turned to Sofia: "How are things on your end? Have the villagers all been arranged for evacuation?"
Sofia replied, "Yes, most people have been safely taken to caves and other hidden places. However, there are still some who are unwilling to leave their homes... especially the elderly."
Max sighed and said understandingly, "Try to persuade them, tell them that young and strong people will protect the village. All we can do now is try our best."
Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by the door being flung open—Jack reappeared in the doorway. "Captain! Something's happened!" he reported breathlessly.
Everyone turned to look at Jack. Max asked hurriedly, "What happened?"
Jack took a deep breath and then reported, "Just now, we discovered several small groups of enemy scouts attempting to infiltrate the area around the village for reconnaissance. Fortunately, they were all stopped and eliminated in time by the patrol."
This news immediately sparked discussion. "This is a good sign. At least we know the enemy is cautiously probing us; it also might mean their main attack force isn't far from here," Lina analyzed.
Suddenly, a commotion arose outside, accompanied by excited shouts from several children: "Go, uncles and aunties!" and encouraging words from adults. "Don't worry, kids, you will all become great heroes who protect the village someday!"
Hearing these voices, even in such a time of crisis, brought a sense of warmth to the people inside the house.
Just then, a guard rushed into the hall to report, "Captain, several men insist on staying here to help build a temporary defensive line..." Before he could finish speaking, two men, slightly weary but with resolute expressions, walked into the room. "Good evening, everyone. We don't want to just stay in hiding and wait for the results. Please let us join the defense!"
Seeing the determination in their eyes, and considering the current shortage of manpower, Max finally nodded in agreement. "I am very grateful for your support. But please make sure you stay safe and follow instructions."
After receiving permission, the two quickly left the meeting venue and began working with other volunteers to reinforce the defenses. The entire night was filled with busy figures and occasional whispers: "Hurry up, give it your all!" "I believe we can get through this."
When the first rays of sunlight finally shone into this small town that had been shrouded in darkness for so long, everything was ready and waiting for the final moment to arrive...
Just then, faint footsteps and the crisp sound of weapons clashing against armor drifted from afar. "They're here," the soldier on lookout duty on the city wall murmured to himself, "I wonder if we can truly usher in our dawn, just as Captain Max said..."
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