Night had fallen, and the town was cloaked in darkness. The streets were empty—or so it seemed. Frank and Leo perched atop the rooftops, their eyes scanning every shadow, every flicker of movement. The barricades they had set up gleamed faintly in the moonlight, ropes and bells ready to alert them of intruders.
"Stay focused," Frank whispered to Leo. "The first wave will test our defenses. Watch the alleys, rooftops, and streets. Don't panic. Remember the training."
The first sign came quietly—a faint scrape of metal against stone, almost imperceptible. Then a low whistle. The hooded attackers were moving with precision, using the alleys and rooftops exactly as indicated on the map from the watchtower.
"Now," Frank breathed, signaling the town's watchers.
Bells clanged, a warning that echoed through the quiet streets. Crates and barrels blocked key entry points, slowing the attackers. Frank and Leo moved in sync, striking at the first figure who slipped through a side alley. Leo's strikes were precise, guided by Frank's voice and movements.
The attackers were relentless, but the town's barricades and alert system gave Frank the advantage. Every movement was calculated: slowing, dividing, and isolating the intruders. The hooded figures struggled to coordinate as the traps disrupted their patterns.
Frank dodged a swing aimed at his head, countering with a precise strike to force the attacker off balance. Leo, standing beside him, used a crate as cover and sent another attacker stumbling into a rope trap they had set.
Within minutes, the first wave retreated, realizing the town was not as easy a target as they had assumed. Frank and Leo caught their breath, adrenaline still coursing through their veins.
"Good work," Frank said, looking over the barricades and watching the retreating attackers. "This was a test, not the real attack. But it proves one thing: preparation works. Knowledge and coordination can overcome strength and stealth."
Leo exhaled, a smile breaking through his exhaustion. "We did it… we actually defended the town!"
Frank's gaze swept over the streets, rooftops, and shadows. The cloaked figure watching from afar had retreated, but Frank knew they were still out there, planning the next move.
"This is only the beginning," Frank said quietly. "We've survived the first wave. But they will come back… stronger. Smarter. And next time, it won't just be testing us—it will be real."
Above the town, the night whispered again:
"There he stands… and now he defends."