The Dragonhawk released its talons, dropping Baron Kru onto the wooden wall of the second fortress. He stumbled and nearly fell on his backside.
Rudolf said nothing. He merely gave him a military salute from the air, then pulled the reins. His Dragonhawk let out a long cry and soared back into the clouds.
"My lord!" Several knights who had retreated gathered around him, their armor drenched and their faces haggard.
Baron Kru braced himself against a merlon, steadied his footing, and wiped the seawater from his face.
He looked down. Seawater was pouring through the breach in the first wall.
The mudflats between the two embankments were rapidly submerged beneath murky water, forming a broad expanse. The water kept rising until it was level with the sea, at a depth of just under ten meters.
The Many-Armed Folk warriors roared, regaining their agility in the water.
Most of the warriors submerged, leaving the defenders' arrows with no targets.
"Ballistae! Aim for the big ones sticking out of the water!" Baron Kru roared.
He was the commander of this fortress. Now everyone's life hung on his judgment.
The ballistae on the second wall began to thunder.
Their bolts plunged into the water, lost momentum, and struck the sea beasts' thick shells, raising only ripples and leaving a few white scratches.
Meanwhile, another contingent of the Many-Armed Folk, led by several giant sea crabs, turned to attack the surviving Arrow Towers along the first wall.
Without the wall's protection, those isolated Arrow Towers became fragile building blocks.
The giant crabs swung their enormous claws, smashing an Arrow Tower's base in just a few blows.
The crashes of splintering timber rang out without pause.
Whenever an Arrow Tower began to tilt, a Dragonhawk swooped down, seized the soldiers atop it, and carried