"Those who cannot fight."
"Continue evacuating."
"Those who can."
He pointed forward.
"Stand beside me."
Without hesitation—
Hundreds of civilians stepped into formation.
Blacksmiths carrying hammers.
Hunters gripping bows.
Builders wielding heavy axes.
Shopkeepers holding old spears.
Some even carried single-shot rifles inherited from previous generations.
They weren't soldiers.
Today—
They would become them.
Far beyond the walls—
The earth trembled.
A deafening horn echoed across the battlefield.
BOOOOOOOOM—
The demon army advanced.
Thousands upon thousands.
Demons.
Monsters.
Beasts.
Their roars merged into one impossible sound.
The ground shook beneath their march.
Taai inhaled deeply.
"...Ready."
The wall cannons fired first.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Massive shells tore through the advancing ranks.
Entire groups vanished beneath explosions.
Archers released volleys.
The sky darkened with arrows.
Mages unleashed walls of flame, ice, and lightning.
Dozens of monsters fell.
Yet...
The horde never slowed.
"They're climbing!"
"Ladders!"
"Flying monsters!"
The defenders answered immediately.
Spears pierced climbing demons.
Axes hacked apart monstrous limbs.
The northern wall became a sea of steel.
Then—
CRAAAAAAACK!
A monstrous fist slammed into the gate.