End of the beginning

Adam, Ptolemy, and Alexander, still shaken from their encounter with the creature, finally reached the top of the tower. The scene that greeted them was one of utter chaos. Guards were scrambling in all directions, their faces pale with fear and confusion. The once orderly and disciplined force now seemed to be unraveling at the seams.

At the center of the turmoil stood the commander of the second wall’s battalion, also named Ptolemy. He was a towering figure, his voice booming over the din as he tried to restore order. “Hold your positions, you cowards!” he bellowed, his voice laced with both authority and desperation. “We must defend the wall!”

But the panic was too great, and the guards were losing their nerve. The situation grew even more dire when, through the dim light of the evening, the boys spotted a massive, unstoppable force emerging from the shadows of the distant third wall. It was an army, vast and overwhelming, their sheer numbers stretching far beyond what the eye could see.

The ground trembled under the weight of their march, and the air filled with the thunderous sound of their advance. These were no ordinary soldiers—they were giants, towering and fierce, their armor glinting ominously in the fading light. The third wall, the outermost and strongest defense of the city, had fallen, and now these colossal forces were moving toward the second wall with terrifying speed and determination.

The panic among the guards reached its peak. Some froze in place, paralyzed by fear, while others turned to flee, abandoning their posts. The commander, realizing the gravity of the situation, tried to rally his men, but it was clear that the overwhelming might of the advancing army was too much for them to withstand.

Adam, Ptolemy, and Alexander watched in horror as the giants closed in, their massive forms looming ever closer. The second wall, once thought to be impregnable, now seemed fragile and vulnerable against the onslaught that was about to come.

Adam, Ptolemy, and Alexander, driven by a mixture of fear and admiration, made their way toward the legendary commander, Ptolemy. This was the man they had idolized for years, a figure of awe and respect. Stories of his heroic deeds in countless battles had been told and retold among the youth of the city, and his presence alone inspired a sense of courage in those around him. His body bore the marks of a lifetime spent in combat—scars crisscrossed his arms, chest, and legs, each one telling a tale of a battle fought and won. The most prominent of these scars was a deep, jagged line that ran from above his left eye down his cheek, a constant reminder of the dangers he had faced.

As Adam approached, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement mixed with nervousness. Here he was, standing before the man he had looked up to all his life. Gathering his courage, Adam asked the commander if he could join the defense. Ptolemy, noticing the determination in Adam’s eyes, didn’t dismiss the request despite the boy’s young age. Instead, he recognized Adam’s potential and placed him in a role where he could contribute without being in immediate danger.

“Take this position,” Ptolemy instructed, leading Adam to a section of the wall where large cauldrons of acid were prepared. “You and the others will pour this down on the invaders when they try to scale the wall. It’s a crucial task, and it requires steady hands and a sharp mind.”

Adam nodded, understanding the importance of the role he had been given. It wasn’t the front lines, but it was still a critical part of the defense. As he took his place alongside other young defenders, he felt a sense of purpose. The battle ahead would be fierce, but with Ptolemy leading them, and with his friends by his side, he was ready to face whatever came next.

As the battle raged on, the guards fought valiantly against the onslaught of creatures, but the sheer strength and numbers of the enemy forces began to overwhelm them. On the battlefield, the air was thick with the sound of clashing weapons, roars, and the cries of men and monsters alike.

Adam, stationed at the top of the wall with Ptolemy’s elite defenders, watched in horror as the first wave of creatures—similar to the one he had previously slain—climbed the walls with frightening speed. "Hold your ground!" Ptolemy shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. Adam, despite the fear gnawing at his insides, followed orders, pouring acid onto the creatures as they tried to scale the walls.

But then, from the horizon, emerged the second army—massive, towering creatures known as "Tontals." Their pale, almost ghostly skin contrasted with the darkness of the night, and their bulging muscles rippled as they moved. With each step, the ground seemed to shake.

One of the guards gasped, "By the gods, what are those things?"

"They’re Tontals!" shouted another. "Legends speak of them, but I never believed they were real!"

As the Tontals approached, Ptolemy’s face hardened. "Prepare yourselves!" he ordered, but even he knew the task before them was monumental.

The Tontals reached the base of the wall, their massive hands gripping the stone and pulling themselves up with terrifying ease. Adam’s heart pounded in his chest as he saw one of the creatures nearing his position. "Ptolemy!" he shouted, "They're coming up fast!"

Ptolemy looked at Adam and then back at the creature. "Stay focused, Adam! Don’t let fear control you!"

Just then, a loud crash echoed through the night as Wilkes, the leader of the Tontals, breached the wall with a single, devastating blow. The section of the wall where Adam stood shook violently, nearly throwing him off balance.

Adam turned to see Wilkes standing in the gap he had just created, his pale, massive frame silhouetted against the dim light. "So, this is the mighty wall they say cannot be breached," Wilkes said with a smirk, his voice deep and filled with malice.

As the battle raged on, the guards fought valiantly, but the strength and sheer numbers of the enemy forces began to overwhelm them. The air was thick with the sound of clashing weapons, roars, and the cries of men and monsters alike.

Adam, stationed at the top of the wall with Ptolemy's elite defenders, watched in horror as the first wave of creatures—similar to the one he had previously slain—climbed the walls with frightening speed. "Hold your ground!" Ptolemy shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. Despite the fear gnawing at his insides, Adam followed orders, pouring acid onto the creatures as they tried to scale the walls.

Then, from the horizon, emerged the second army—massive, towering creatures known as "Tontals." Their pale, ghostly skin contrasted with the darkness of the night, and their bulging muscles rippled as they moved. With each step, the ground seemed to tremble.

One of the guards gasped, "By the gods, what are those things?"

"They’re Tontals!" another shouted. "Legends spoke of them, but I never believed they were real!"

As the Tontals approached, Ptolemy’s face hardened. "Prepare yourselves!" he ordered, though even he knew the challenge they faced was immense.

The Tontals reached the base of the wall, their massive hands gripping the stone and pulling themselves up with terrifying ease. Adam’s heart pounded as he saw one of the creatures nearing his position. "Ptolemy!" he shouted, "They're coming up fast!"

Ptolemy looked at Adam and then back at the creature. "Stay focused, Adam! Don’t let fear control you!"

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the night as Wilkes, the leader of the Tontals, breached the wall with a single, devastating blow. The section of the wall where Adam stood shook violently, nearly throwing him off balance.

Adam turned to see Wilkes standing in the gap he had just created, his massive frame looming ominously. "So, this is the mighty wall they say cannot be breached," Wilkes said with a smirk, his deep voice dripping with malice.

Adam froze, unable to move as he realized the immense danger he was in.

But before Wilkes could make another move, Ptolemy appeared, stepping in front of Adam. "You shall go no further!" Ptolemy declared, his sword drawn and ready.

Wilkes glanced at Ptolemy, his smirk widening. "You think you can stop me, little man?"

Without another word, Wilkes moved with terrifying speed, striking Ptolemy with a powerful blow to the abdomen. The impact was so fierce that Ptolemy was split in half, his body crumpling to the ground in two pieces. There was no battle, no chance for Ptolemy to fight back. In an instant, the commander who had been a hero to so many was dead.

Adam’s eyes widened in horror as he watched Ptolemy fall. The man who had seemed invincible, the one who had inspired him with his bravery and strength, was now lying lifeless before him.

Wilkes looked down at the remains of the commander with disdain. "Fool," he muttered, stepping over the body as he advanced toward Adam.

Adam’s mind raced, panic overtaking him as he realized he was next. But something inside him snapped. The fear that had paralyzed him turned into a burning rage. With a surge of adrenaline, Adam grabbed a fallen sword from one of the dead guards and, without thinking, charged at Wilkes.

Wilkes turned just in time to see Adam leap at him, eyes blazing with fury. "You’ll pay for that!" Adam screamed as he swung the sword with all his strength.

Wilkes, caught off guard by the ferocity of Adam’s attack, stumbled backward. In a moment of sheer determination, Adam drove the sword deep into Wilkes’ neck, severing his head from his body in one swift motion. The giant body of Wilkes collapsed to the ground with a thunderous crash.

Adam stood there, panting heavily, the sword still clutched in his hands. The battlefield around him was eerily silent, the chaos momentarily halted as the other creatures took note of their leader’s defeat.