The air was thick with tension as Marcus stood before his Squirrel Army, assembled in neat rows on the village green. The villagers watched with a mixture of awe and apprehension. Some of them had gotten used to the sight of squirrels dashing around the fields and helping with chores, but this was different. This was a call to arms.
Marcus cleared his throat, addressing his unlikely warriors with as much seriousness as he could muster.
"Alright, listen up!" he called out, trying to channel his inner commander. The squirrels, for their part, sat at attention, their small, beady eyes focused intently on him.
**System Update: "Strategic Mode Initiated. Assessing Threat Level."**
Marcus rolled his eyes, muttering, "You always know when to add dramatic flair, don't you?"
**System Alert: "Affirmative. Strategic Mode enables heightened hero effectiveness by 18%."**
