章 71: The duel.

"If we want to survive, we have to fight as one! We have to push forward, for them, for each other. But..." he paused, taking a deep breath. "I won't ask any of you to give more than you already have. If you want to stay here and wait for evacuation, I understand. No one will think less of you."

He took a final look around, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and resolve. "But for those of you who still have something left to give... who still have the courage to push forward... follow me. Together, we'll show them what we're made of."

There was a heartbeat of silence, and then one by one, his soldiers raised their weapons, nodding in grim determination. They weren't just following orders anymore; they were following him.