The moment they clashed, a thunderous roar erupted.
"Kill—!"
The commander of the City Guard, though lacking experience in real war, was no ordinary man. He hadn't earned his position through luck or favors.
"Shields!"
A chorus of shouts rang out in response.
Clang…
Despite it being their first true battle, the City Guard—Beastfall City's elite, proved their worth. Their training had been nothing short of brutal, and when the commander bellowed his command, every battalion leader, centurion, and squad captain moved instantly, relaying the order. The soldiers raised the round shields strapped to their left arms, locking them into place with near-perfect unison.
Before the West Gate, two hundred thousand City Guards formed an iron wall—shields interlocked like dragon scales, becoming a fortress of flesh and steel. They turned the gate into a tortoise shell, shielding the last of the civilians behind them.
