Wind pressure swept across the field like a wall.
Ola drove his battleaxe deep into the mud beneath his feet, barely managing to steady himself.
He watched helplessly as the mountain-sized Octopus Magical Beast shattered the newly reformed ranks with a single sweep.
There were no screams. After one muffled crash, all that remained was a mire of flesh, bones, and armor.
A massive breach opened in the center of the defensive line.
[All commanders, stay clear of the beast's front!] Diana's firm voice rang through the Mind Channel. [Main force, follow me around its flank! Keep pressing toward Unas's main formation!]
At her command, the entire battle line immediately began to shift.
Under their officers' shouted orders, the soldiers swiftly reformed their ranks, raised their shields, and skirted the killing ground ravaged by the monster, surging toward the Bonecrusher Clan's troops on the flank.
The once-crowded center of the defensive line emptied, leaving a broad stretch of open mud.
Sir Finley, Ola, and the finest warriors under their command became the only island in that empty ground, facing the mountain-like horror head-on.
[Finley! Take the Sharp Sword squad and Ola's men, and hold that monster off!] Diana's voice came again, this time from within the moving ranks.
[Yes!] Sir Finley acknowledged in a deep voice, a trace of gravity flashing through his eyes.
A level five magical beast. He knew exactly what that meant.
Under normal circumstances, it would take a hunting party of at least five fighters of the same tier to stand a chance against it.
But orders were absolute.
He immediately led his finest warriors to join Ola and the others in an assault squad, advancing into the writhing forest of tentacles.
The moment they engaged, Finley noticed something wrong.
Though the monster's presence was terrifying,