The terrified villagers huddled together in the center of the stone courtyard. Sefa wrapped a thick wool blanket around Elias to stop the old baker from shivering. The freezing rain continued to fall from the dark sky but the high stone walls of the estate offered absolute shelter from the violent storm.Jamie stood in the wide breach where the reinforced oak doors used to hang. The burning splinters of the obliterated gate hissed loudly as the sleet hit the ruined timber. He looked down the sloping cobblestone road leading back into the lower district.The surviving squad formed a tight defensive line across the shattered entrance. Nine capital soldiers remained standing. The loss of Doku and Mera hung heavy over their exhausted formations. Emeric braced his iron tower shield against the slick wet stones. Godric held his wooden bow steady despite his trembling fingers. Camilla wiped a mixture of rain and blood from her chin as she stood beside the remaining recruits.A massive horde

The pale morning light struggled to pierce the toxic gray fog blanketing the settlement. Jamie stood near the shattered entrance of the High Estate and watched the demonic horde test the invisible boundary.A massive possessed wolf charged the open archway. The beast crossed the threshold and instantly disintegrated into a cloud of fine gray ash. The dark energy evaporated before it could touch the stone tiles. Dozens of shadow clones followed the beast in a blind frenzy. They threw themselves at the perimeter and pulverized into dust upon impact.The ancestral wards held firm against the assault. The invisible barrier provided absolute protection against the threat of the Abyss.The demon warlord standing in the lower street let out a frustrated growl. The intelligent creature realized it could not breach the compound with brute force. It commanded the horde to stop charging.The beasts did not retreat into the outer sectors. Hundreds of thousands of void eyes stared through the free