"Althea, Lumine—keep the enemy mages busy," Shera ordered. "Mana guns, don't let up, wanni shield them from attacks."
She turned sharply. "Theon, intercept anyone trying to reinforce the Circle Warriors cassian's engaged with, don't let them pile on."
Even as she spoke, Shera was already fighting. Five enemy mages pressed her at once, spells flashing in rapid succession, and she held them back alone—hammer moving, Domain flaring—while another team under her command moved into position at her signal.
Cassian, meanwhile, was holding off two Circle Warriors by himself. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't overwhelming either. The real problem wasn't quality—it was numbers.
The cult had no shortage of bodies.
Most of their forces were warped vessels and Hollow Fangs—twisted, half-empty things—but even those were stronger than normal humans. And they just kept coming, wave after wave, grinding forward without fear or hesitation.
