The first thing the people of Falmouth heard was the sound.

Not church bells.

Not warning horns.

Not galloping horses.

It was something deeper.

A heavy thudding noise echoed from the sky, growing louder every second until it rolled across the city like distant thunder.

At first, nobody understood what they were hearing.

Merchants near the market slowly looked upward. Children stopped running through the streets. Guards standing on the walls turned toward the northern sky with confused expressions.

Then someone shouted.

"Something’s coming!"

People started pointing upward.

Dark shapes appeared above the clouds.

Small at first.

Then larger.

Then impossible to ignore.

Three Black Hawk helicopters descended from the sky, their rotors beating the air so hard that the sound shook windows across nearby streets. The noise spread through the city like a storm arriving overhead.

Loose banners snapped violently in the wind.

Dust and paper flew through the streets.

Several horses panicked immediately, nearly throwing their riders off.

One woman screamed and grabbed her child while civilians hurried away from the center roads in fear.

The city guards reacted quickly.

"Flying creatures!"

"Above the walls!"

"Hold your positions!"

Several guards even reached for bows before their captain stopped them.

"WAIT!"

Nobody fired.

Not yet.

Because someone on the lead aircraft had raised the banner of Cedric Valehurst.

And inside that same helicopter, Cedric himself sat gripping the side of his seat hard enough that his knuckles had turned white.

The merchant tried to maintain his dignity, but honestly, the fear on his face was obvious.

The pilot glanced back briefly from the cockpit.

"First helicopter ride?"

Cedric swallowed slowly.

"Yes."

The co-pilot smirked.

"You’re handling it better than most nobles."

"I’m not a noble," Cedric answered quickly.

"Even better."

Across from him, Marcus sat calmly near the open side door of the helicopter, one hand resting on his knee while he looked down at the city below.

Falmouth spread beneath them clearly now.

Stone walls surrounded most of the inner districts while parts of the poorer outer neighborhoods stretched beyond the gates. From above, Marcus could already see signs of tension inside the city.

Crowded streets.

Barricades near intersections.

Extra watch fires burning along the southern side.

The city looked nervous.

Marcus focused on the walls first.

Good enough against medieval armies.

Not good enough against modern weapons.

The southern side of the city faced dense forests and rolling hills, exactly where Cedric warned the brigands were gathering.

The co-pilot leaned slightly toward the opening while studying the city.

"Layout matches the map."

Marcus nodded.

"Put us down inside the northern square."

"Copy."

Cedric blinked in surprise.

"Inside the city?"

Marcus glanced toward him.

"You wanted the civilians reassured, didn’t you?"

Cedric hesitated before answering.

"Yes."

"Then they need to see us."

That was enough.

The helicopters descended lower.

The reaction below became immediate chaos.

Rotor wash slammed into the streets as the lead Black Hawk lowered toward the large stone plaza near the central fountain. Market cloth snapped wildly while dust exploded outward across the square.

People shouted and stumbled backward.

Several civilians dropped to the ground, convinced some kind of monster had descended from the sky.

The landing gear struck the stone with a heavy thud.

The second helicopter landed nearby moments later.

Then the third.

The rotors kept spinning while Atlas infantry immediately dismounted from the aircraft.

Twenty men moved into formation quickly.

Not rushed.

Not confused.

Organized.

Professional.

Tomas led the first squad out of the second helicopter, his M4 Carbine held low but ready while his eyes constantly scanned nearby rooftops and alleys.

Rolf followed with the second squad, already studying the crowd and nearby guard positions out of habit.

To the people of Falmouth, Atlas looked unreal.

No swords.

No shields.

No chainmail armor.

Instead, the soldiers wore tactical gear, combat helmets, chest rigs, gloves, and carried black rifles across their uniforms.

The city guards openly stared at them.

Some looked frightened.

Others confused.

A few looked relieved.

Marcus stepped out last from the lead helicopter.

Cedric followed behind him far less gracefully, nearly stumbling when his boots hit the stone plaza before quickly recovering himself.

Hundreds of eyes immediately focused on them.

Marcus noticed the fear in the crowd instantly.

Good.

Fear could become panic if handled badly. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Cedric understood that too.

He looked toward Marcus.

Marcus gave a small nod.

Cedric took a breath before stepping toward the fountain near the center of the square.

Several guards tried helping him up onto the raised stone edge, but Cedric waved them off and climbed up himself.

The plaza slowly quieted.

Not completely.

But enough.

Cedric raised his voice.

"People of Falmouth!"

The crowd turned toward him.

"I know many of you are afraid," Cedric continued loudly. "I know many of you heard rumors about brigands gathering south of the city. I know some of you already abandoned your homes outside the walls."

Murmurs spread through the crowd immediately.

Cedric raised his voice higher.

"But Falmouth is not alone."

That line caught their attention.

Cedric turned slightly and gestured toward Marcus.

"I have contracted Marcus Manfred and Atlas to defend this city."

The reaction changed immediately.

Whispers spread through the crowd.

"Marcus Manfred?"

"The one from Berm?"

"The wyvern hunter?"

Cedric raised his hand for silence.

"Yes," he shouted. "The same Marcus Manfred who saved Berm from the wyvern attack. The same commander who helped kill the Red Dragon. The same man who crossed the Forest of No Return and returned alive."

That last line hit hardest.

Several people gasped openly.

One city guard near the fountain muttered under his breath.

"That’s impossible..."

Cedric continued firmly.

"Atlas accepted the contract. Their soldiers are here now. Falmouth will be defended."

Nobody cheered immediately.

Fear didn’t disappear that easily.

But Marcus saw the shift happen anyway.

The panic softened.

People looked at the helicopters differently now.

Not as monsters.

Not as invaders.

But as protection.

And that mattered.

Marcus turned toward Tomas and Rolf.

"Establish perimeter."

Tomas nodded instantly.

"First Squad, outer ring. Watch rooftops and alleyways."

Rolf looked toward his own men.

"Second Squad, secure the landing zone. Civilians stay back unless they want to lose teeth."

Marcus looked at him.

Rolf paused.

"...Politely."

"Better."

The squads moved immediately.

Cedric climbed down from the fountain and walked back toward Marcus.

"You think that helped?"

Marcus kept his eyes on the crowd.

"For now."

Cedric frowned slightly.

"For now?"

"Fear doesn’t disappear because of one speech."

Cedric slowly nodded.

That was true.

Marcus looked toward the southern side of the city.

"We need a command center."

Cedric immediately straightened.

"Yes. I prepared a building near the administrative district. Stone construction. Three floors. Good visibility."

"Show me."

The helicopters remained in the square while Atlas personnel unloaded equipment.

Crates.

Radios.

Maps.

Medical kits.

Ammunition.

Heavy weapons.

The city guards watched everything with complete confusion while Atlas soldiers moved equipment with practiced speed.

Then the convoy trucks finally entered the city through the northern gate.

And panic almost started all over again.

The first M939 truck rolled into the streets with a loud diesel engine growling between buildings. Massive tires crushed loose stone beneath heavy steel weight while black smoke drifted lightly from the exhaust.

People stopped and stared.

A child pointed openly.

"Is that another flying machine?"

His father immediately pulled him backward.

"I don’t know what it is. Don’t touch it."

The co-pilot laughed quietly after hearing that.

"Close enough."

Marcus ignored him and followed Cedric toward the command center location.

The building turned out exactly as Cedric described.

Large.

Stone-built.

Three floors tall.

Wide windows on the upper levels.

Good visibility across nearby roads.

Good positioning near the administrative district.

Honestly, Cedric picked well.

Marcus stepped inside immediately and began studying the structure.

Main hall.

Roof access.

Multiple entrances.

Storage rooms.

Stair positions.

Good enough.

"Usable," he finally said.

Cedric visibly relaxed hearing that.

Atlas personnel entered moments later and transformed the building almost immediately.

Tables were moved.

Maps unfolded.

Radio equipment connected.

A large city map was placed at the center of the room while supply teams carried ammunition crates and medical equipment upstairs.

Two soldiers set up communications equipment near the upper floor windows while others secured the entrances.

Within half an hour, the building no longer looked like an office.

It looked like a military headquarters.

Cedric stood quietly near the doorway watching the transformation happen.

Again, the same thought returned to him.

Atlas moved fast.

Dangerously fast.

Marcus pointed toward the southern side of the city map.

"That wall becomes priority."

Tomas nodded immediately.

"Yes, sir."

"Observation posts on every tower."

"Understood."

"Machine gun coverage on every major approach road."

"Yes, sir."

Tomas immediately turned and began relaying orders.

Rolf grinned slightly nearby.

"So we’re bringing out the fun stuff?"

Marcus looked directly at him.

"You don’t fire unless ordered."

"Yes, sir."

"Rolf."

The man straightened slightly.

"Yes?"

"This is still a city. Civilians everywhere. You control your fire."

Rolf’s grin faded into something more serious.

"Understood."

Good.

Marcus trusted Rolf’s courage.

His judgment still needed work.

Atlas infantry moved toward the southern walls shortly afterward carrying machine guns, ammunition belts, tripods, sandbags, and rifles.

The city guards watched them with open confusion.

An older guard frowned while Tomas’s squad unpacked a machine gun near one of the towers.

"What kind of weapon is that?"

Tomas glanced toward him.

"Machine gun."

The guard blinked.

"...A what?"

"You’ll understand if they attack."

The weapon teams mounted the guns carefully while Atlas spotters checked firing angles across the fields south of the city.

Another squad set up near the eastern side.

A third covered the road approaching from the hills.

Marcus personally inspected every firing position.

"Lower the angle," he told one gunner.

The soldier adjusted the mount immediately.

"Good. Cover the road, not the sky."

"Yes, sir."

Marcus moved to another position.

"Ammo belt staged properly. Don’t let it twist during firing."

"Understood."

Sandbags were stacked along parapets while rifle teams spread themselves across the wall towers.

Within an hour, the southern wall of Falmouth looked completely different.

Machine guns covered the roads.

Atlas riflemen watched the forests.

Spotters scanned the tree lines constantly.

And slowly, the city guards started copying their rhythm.

Not perfectly.

But enough.

As sunset approached, Cedric joined Marcus near the southern wall.

Below them, civilians hurried to move carts and livestock behind the gates before nightfall.

"You really think they’ll attack from there?" Cedric asked quietly.

Marcus stared toward the dark forest beyond the fields.

"Yes."

Cedric swallowed.

"How can you be certain?"

Marcus answered simply.

"Because that’s where I’d attack from."

Cedric had no response to that.

Because the answer felt too honest.

Marcus turned toward one of the nearby radio operators.

"Command center status?"

"Operational, sir."

"Wall teams?"

"All southern positions established. East wall coverage active."

"Good."

Marcus looked back toward the forests again.

The brigands were out there somewhere.

Fifty men.

Maybe eighty.

Maybe more.

They probably believed Falmouth was weak, frightened, and vulnerable.

Yesterday, maybe they were right.

But today was different.

Atlas had arrived.

Marcus rested both hands against the cold stone wall while staring toward the darkening tree line.

Behind him, Falmouth slowly settled under the protection of armed soldiers and strange machines.

Ahead of him, the forest disappeared into shadow beneath the setting sun.

Marcus narrowed his eyes slightly.

Then quietly said.

"Let’s see if they still want the city now."