The earth shook under the onslaught.
Fire, arrows, stone, and light rained down in a punishing barrage, tearing through ranks of demons before they could recover from the chaos in their center.
The air filled with the deafening roar of siege engines, mingled with the shrieks of wounded beasts and the cracking of heavy armor.
By the time the barrage ended, Roland felt nearly a quarter of his aether drained from maintaining the barrier.
As the smoke began to thin, he slowly lowered the shield, scanning the surroundings for any remaining threat.
And yet there were no movements, no sign of life among the demons outside the barrier.
Still, no one dared to move.
The demons who had managed to enter the shield stood frozen, wary of making any sudden gesture that might be mistaken for hostility.
As for the prisoners, they clung to the cages as if the iron bars were the only things keeping them safe.
Their eyes were darting nervously between Roland and the lifeless battlefield beyond.
