A section of the eastern rampart collapsed—not from their doing, but from cumulative damage. Demons and paladins alike tumbled into the courtyard, still fighting even as they fell. One landed near Liam, a young demon with half his face burned by holy fire.
Their eyes met for a second. The young demon's lips moved—trying to say something, ask for something.
Liam kept running.
[Humanity Index: 27% → 26%]
Seventy feet.
The western wall stood close now. They could see individual paladins—tired, bloodstained, focused on the eastern assault and not watching their own position.
"DEMON ASSAULT! SOUTH WALL!"
Someone had finally noticed. A paladin lieutenant, sharper than the rest, pointing and shouting orders.
Soldiers started turning, started repositioning, started realizing the impossible—that something was in the courtyard, moving with purpose, heading toward them.
"BREAK!" Liam roared.
