The wind blew across the eastern wall carrying the smell of pine and cold stone. Evan felt the air tighten around the fortress as the rival patrol stood still on the distant ridge. Whatever these men wanted they had come prepared and their presence alone stirred tension through every soldier on the wall.

Rhel lowered his spyglass. “They are observing us. Judging our strength.”

Evan kept his eyes on the silhouettes. Their formation was tight not sloppy like raiders. They carried heavy shields polished armor and long metal spears that glimmered faintly with magic. Their discipline reminded him of photos he once saw of ancient phalanxes but with a layer of arcane energy built into the weapon heads.

Taron climbed up beside them breathing hard from running. “Commander the new weapons are distributed. Every squad leader has one compact unit and spare cores.”

Rhel nodded. “Good. But no one fires unless I give the order.”

Evan leaned on the stone wall. “They have no idea what these weapons can do. But we also have no idea what theirs can do. If this turns into a fight both sides will be testing unknown equipment.”

Rhel exhaled slowly. “Which is why we hold position. No fear. No aggression.”

A horn sounded from the ridge. A long deep howl that rolled across the valley. The rival soldiers shifted formation. The front line knelt the back line raised their spears and a single figure stepped forward.

A tall commander draped in black and silver armor. His helmet carried a crest shaped like the same serpent emblem on their banners. He shouted something but the distance swallowed his words. The tone however cut sharp and demanding.

Rhel frowned. “They are issuing a challenge of some kind.”

“Not a friendly one I assume” Evan said.

“Rarely.”

Another horn answered from Ironhold. The walls trembled with its echo. Rhel signaled for a runner who called down to the courtyard below. Soldiers formed defensive ranks with shields lifted and new weapons ready.

Evan watched carefully as the rival commander raised a glowing spear. The weapon’s head crackled with raw mana forming a bright arc that curled up like a thin lightning vine. The soldiers behind him summoned similar charges.

“Is that normal” Evan asked.

Rhel clenched his jaw. “Their nation specializes in charged spear arrays. They generate group resonance. If they strike as one they can break stone walls.”

Evan’s heart thudded. “That sounds horrible.”

“It is.”

The rival commander slammed the spear butt onto the ground. A bright flash exploded outward forming a shock ring of mana. The soldiers behind him shifted again creating a new formation.

Rhel muttered. “They are posturing. Warning us.”

Evan sighed. “Great. They know how to look intimidating.”

“Be glad that is all they do for now.”

But then something changed. A second group of rival soldiers stepped forward carrying tubular devices larger than their spears. Evan squinted. The shapes looked familiar in a strange uncanny way.

“That is bad” Rhel said quietly. “They brought range gear.”

Evan’s stomach twisted. “How good is their accuracy”

“Not good. But if they fire enough something always hits.”

Just as Evan opened his mouth to respond a flash sparked inside the rival tubes.

Rhel reacted instantly. “Shields up Brace”

The rival soldiers fired a volley of unstable mana bolts. The beams scattered in wild angles. Some cracked against the ground. Some spun into the trees. Two struck the fortress wall but only produced shallow burns. Another shot ricocheted into the sky.

Evan blinked. “Their weapons are even worse than yours.”

“For now” Rhel said.

The rival commander shouted again. This time the words reached them carried by the wind.

“—Ironhold declare your surrender or face cleansing—”

Rhel scoffed. “Cleansing. They want to provoke us into responding so they can justify an invasion.”

Evan looked down the wall. His compact weapons glimmered in steady rows on the belts of soldiers. They were stable accurate and disciplined. But even with them a full battle against a rival kingdom this early could destroy Ironhold before the new designs spread across the army.

Evan forced himself calm. “We cannot let them think we are weak.”

Rhel nodded. “Agreed. But we also cannot provoke them into launching a full strike.”

Evan’s mind raced. He scanned the ridge studied the range angle the wind the distance. Then an idea sparked in his mind.

“Rhel give me one of the compact units.”

The commander stared. “What are you planning”

“A demonstration. Nothing lethal. But something they cannot ignore.”

Rhel hesitated then handed Evan a weapon. Taron looked horrified. “Master Marshall that is risky. If you miss or hit the wrong place—”

“I will not miss.”

Evan raised the weapon bracing it against the wall. He adjusted the sight letting the red dot float across the ridge. He did not aim at the soldiers. He aimed at the ground right in front of the rival commander’s boots.

He whispered. “Precision. Always precision.”

He squeezed the trigger.
A crisp beam shot across the valley.

It hit the dirt at the commander’s feet sending a sharp burst of dust upward.

The rival soldiers froze.
The rival commander stumbled back one step.
The valley fell silent.

Rhel inhaled sharply. “Marshall you just shocked a foreign commander.”

Evan lowered the weapon. “Good. Now they know we are not easy prey.”

The rival formation rippled in confusion. They had not expected accuracy at that range. Their tubes and spears were crude and chaotic. What they had just witnessed looked nothing like anything they knew.

The rival commander shouted to regroup. They backed away slowly step by step until the entire patrol retreated behind the ridge out of view.

Ironhold erupted in cheers but Rhel raised a hand to silence them. “Do not celebrate. They will return. Maybe with more men. Maybe with scouts. Maybe with mages. But Marshall you bought us time.”

Evan handed the compact weapon back. “Then we use every minute. We strengthen the walls and double production. If they come back I want this fortress carrying enough precision fire to turn them around for good.”

Rhel nodded. “Then get to the workshop. Ironhold will need everything you can build.”

Evan exhaled shaking off the adrenaline. The standoff was over for now. But the war of weapons had already begun.

And he was right in the center of it.