Land of Hope

The shifting and rapid retreat of the artillery fire, like the ebbing tide, briefly drained away some of the battlefield's din, but it also instantly removed the most direct long-range fire suppression against Sauron's landing forces!

With the threat of artillery from the sea gone, the Sauron Army officers on the beach immediately let out even more frenzied howls. Waving their war sabers, they drove the soldiers forward like a breached flood, launching an even fiercer assault against the Iron Islands defenders' remaining inland defensive line!

The Iron Islands defenders, who had just gained a moment's respite from the supporting artillery fire and even found a sliver of hope, suddenly came under far greater pressure!

At the same time, atop the isolated Beacon Tower standing outside the main defenses, Webber realized something had changed almost the instant the cannon fire began to die down!

The battle at sea had clearly entered a new phase. Carnford's fleet could no longer provide them with direct support for the time being, and they had to evacuate immediately from this exposed dead end, which was about to be completely surrounded!

"Quick! Get to the bottom floor! Quick!" Webber screamed hoarsely toward the stairs. Enduring the agony and dizziness wracking his body, he crawled and tumbled down the narrow spiral staircase.

The instant his foot touched the dust-covered stone floor below, a flash of cold light shot past the tip of his nose! With a "thunk," a crude throwing knife buried itself deep in the wooden pillar opposite, its tail still trembling violently!

"It's me! Webber!" Webber broke out in a cold sweat and immediately crouched down as he shouted, his heart pounding.

In the dim light of the bottom floor, the civilians were seen clutching their crude "weapons" and cowering in the corners, trembling