The battles at the stronghold had grown more intense by the minute.
Catherine, who had been shouldering most of the burden since the beginning, was starting to falter.
Cuts lined her arms, one eye was partially shut from swelling, and her breathing was uneven.
Even for someone as powerful as her, fighting on five different fronts for over an hour was starting to take its toll.
Nearby, several other Awakeners dropped to one knee, panting heavily.
Despite their coordination, carefully timed team skills, and tactical formations, the summoned beasts simply kept coming.
It was like trying to hold back a river with a few sandbags.
The battlefield was littered with corpses of both human and monster.
Blood soaked the dirt, and the air buzzed with heat and fading mana.
A massive lion-shaped beast lunged toward Catherine's blind spot.
She tried to shift but was a step too slow.
Then, a sound echoed across the field.
It was the sound of footsteps.
