Sudden Retreat and Cannon Fire

Just as Joanna thought she might die, a long horn call suddenly sounded from somewhere.

In that instant, the priests surrounding her stopped in unison, turned around, and flew away in neat formation. And it was not only the priests around Joanna—every chaotic battle across the sky seemed to have been forcibly interrupted, as all the priests began a startlingly abrupt retreat.

The mages, their eyes red with killing, stared in astonishment. As the battlefield thinned out, a cool wind swept in, pulling them back from the slaughter, if only a little.

Thus, most of them did not rush to pursue.

Neither did Joanna. She hovered where she was, looking around in confusion. The familiar faces around her gave her some reassurance, but when she looked farther away, the Hori Kingdom soldiers beyond the city gates... seemed to be retreating as well.

The tide of people receded so swiftly and hastily that everyone on Ikor's side became even more bewildered.

What was going on?

In her daze, Joanna suddenly raised her head and looked into the sky. Beneath the blazing sun in the clear heavens, she saw dozens of densely packed points of light tracing smooth arcs as they slowly descended toward Locke City.

After a brief moment of blankness, she realized what was happening.

"Quick, run! The enemy has opened fire again!"

Joanna was not the only one who looked up. Soldiers, mages, civilians poking their heads out from their homes... In their eyes, the shells fired by the Holy Light Cannons were still far away, yet unbearably clear.

Shock gave way to disbelief, and at last, despair appeared on every face.

Locke City was finished.

Without the Rune Defense Array to stop them, the entire city would be reduced to ashes beneath the bombardment. Could anyone escape? Perhaps.