#Chapter 136: Truth and Fury

The afternoon assault nearly broke us completely. Giana had spent all morning testing our defenses like a cat toying with wounded prey. But when the sun hit its peak, she unleashed hell itself. Professional soldiers crashed against our barriers in endless waves. Siege engines turned centuries-old walls into rubble. Magic-enhanced weapons sliced through our defensive enchantments like butter. I watched our people fall and felt each death tear something inside me. These people weren't anonymous soldiers. They were Sarah from the bakery, Jason who fixed our fences, elderly Tom who told stories to the children. People who'd looked me in the eye and trusted me to bring them home. "Eastern wall's compromised!" Kane's voice cut through the chaos as he directed forces to plug gaps. "We need reinforcements now!" But we didn't have reinforcements. Every able body was already bleeding somewhere else. Our reserves? Gone hours ago. Raymond appeared beside me with blood streaming down hi