"The sixth level has fallen."
"The first and second levels have fallen too."
Battle shields formed a towering wall, temporarily holding back the gargoyles' ravaging assault.
Bad news kept pouring in. There was no longer any point in spreading their troops out to defend each level of the walls.
To buy time, Valentin decided to gather his troops on the fourth level.
The fourth level held their strategic reserves. It had numerous compartments and sturdy walls. Concentrating all their forces there would buy them at least another five hours.
"Cover each other! Pull the entire shield wall back to the fourth level!" Battlefield messengers darted through the fiercely contested levels, directing the troops to carry out Marshal Valentin's orders.
The shield wall retreated. Outside, the gargoyles were already frantic with impatience. Having tasted blood, they could hardly wait to rip apart the human soldiers' armor, drink their blood, and chew their flesh.
"Watch out, Marshal Valentin!" Young Sergeant Jett swung his greatsword, striking precisely at a gargoyle's right wing.
Black blood splashed across the wall. Valentin delivered a fatal blow, cutting down an armored knight, then spun around, seized the gargoyle by the neck with his right hand, and pinned it firmly against the wall.
The pig-snouted, green-eyed gargoyle shrieked incessantly. Jett brought his sword down in a clean, decisive stroke, cutting it in half at the waist.
The gargoyle's dying cries quickly drew the attention of the flock outside the fortress. These swift aerial hunters soon pinpointed Valentin's position.
The battle had reached a point where broad tactical coordination was no longer necessary.
Valentin was now simply a high-level soldier, sharing the same fate as everyone else.
Most of the rear guard were senior officers from King's Bay's defensive forces. As high-level Class Practitioners, they could keep casualties to