Meanwhile, on the ground.
The deafening roar shook the air as several Black Steel Constructs sank their enormous metal claws deep into the wall. With a grinding screech, they ripped out stone blocks weighing half a ton as though pulling teeth.
Dust billowed, and the breach continued to widen.
Countless red figures poured up the collapsed slope, trampling their companions' corpses. Like a swarm of ants, they knew neither fatigue nor fear. Under the onslaught of this red tide, the defenders' line shattered. The surviving troops were forced to abandon the breach and retreat into the city's streets and alleys.
The battle shifted from open ground to cramped alley fighting.
In the narrow, zigzagging alleys, long spears were useless. The soldiers could only draw short swords or even daggers and grapple with the Ascended surging toward them. Every breath came with the dull sound of blades sinking into flesh. Every inch of ground they surrendered was carpeted with entrails, making even keeping their footing a struggle.
"Hold the line! Don't let them past the corner!"
A Centurion roared and smashed his shield into the twisted face before him. But a rush of sound through the air soon drowned out his voice.
It was a rain of arrows from outside the city.
Marquis Blackflame's army cared nothing for the lives of their own "Ascended" caught in the melee. Wave after wave of arrows poured down, blanketing the entire alley indiscriminately.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The sound of arrows piercing bodies rose one after another. A young defender had just raised his shield to block an enemy's weapon when an armor-piercing arrow struck from above and to the side, punching straight through his collarbone. He fell alongside the Ascended before him.
Arrows blotted out the narrow strip of sky, turning the alley into