The night was unusually quiet in the last remaining fortress of humanity. The massive stone walls stood tall, silent sentinels against the darkness that surrounded them. Inside, life continued cautiously; people whispered about old legends, but most dismissed them as myths.
Raven, a young recruit, adjusted the straps of his armor and checked his sword for the hundredth time. He had trained for months for this moment, though he had no idea that tonight, his skills would be tested like never before.
Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream pierced the silence. The call echoed across the courtyard and sent shivers down Raven's spine. Civilians scrambled for cover as monstrous shadows appeared at the edge of the wall. The creatures were enormous, their glowing eyes scanning for any movement, and their claws scraped the stone as if the fortress itself was prey.
Raven's heart pounded. He had faced training monsters before, but these were real—bigger, faster, and smarter than anything he had imagined. He tightened his grip on his sword and sprinted toward the main gate, following the sound of panic.
In the chaos, Raven spotted a young girl trapped under a fallen beam. Without thinking, he rushed forward, lifting it with all his strength. The girl's eyes widened in fear and relief as he pulled her to safety. Around him, screams mixed with the guttural growls of the creatures.
As Raven ran to regroup with the other soldiers, he noticed something odd. One of the creatures paused, tilting its massive head as if observing him. A strange, almost intelligent gleam shone in its eye before it disappeared into the shadows.
Raven felt a chill. This was no ordinary attack. Someone—or something—was controlling them. And he knew, deep in his gut, that this night was only the beginning.
The fortress walls trembled as more screams echoed from the far end. Raven tightened his grip on his sword, ready to face the horrors outside. Whatever was coming, he knew he couldn't run.
The night had just begun.