The bombardment intensified, the thunderous impacts shaking the very foundations of the courthouse with each bone-rattling.
Bum! Bum! Bum! It was as if the heavens themselves had unleashed their fury, raining down a torrent of celestial debris upon the beleaguered defenders.
The air was thick with the acrid stench of pulverized stone and splintered wood, the clouds of dust and debris swirling in an ever-thickening miasma that obscured vision and choked the lungs. Each impact felt like a trebuchet had unleashed its payload upon them, the sheer force of the falling rocks and boulders sending shockwaves rippling through the ground.
Aden pressed himself against the meager shelter of the courthouse's walls, his eyes squinting against the maelstrom of dust and rubble. Around him, he could hear the anguished cries of the wounded, their voices a haunting chorus amidst the cacophony of destruction.
As if the sky itself had cracked open, stars seemed to rain down upon them, massive boulders hurtling earthward with terrifying velocity. Each impact shook the very earth, the thunderous roar of their descent echoing in Aden's ears like the harbingers of doom itself.
Overhead, the harpies circled like carrion birds, their screeching cries punctuating the rhythm of the bombardment. With each pass, they unleashed a fresh volley of devastation, their talons clutching the jagged stones and boulders that served as their deadly ammunition.
Aden's grip tightened on his shield, the metal rim biting into his flesh as he braced against the relentless onslaught. His muscles burned with the effort of maintaining his defensive stance, his body a bulwark against the forces that threatened to overwhelm them all.
The thunderous impacts shook the very foundations of the courthouse, each blow more devastating than the last. The rooftops shuddered and groaned, the sound of splintering wood and shattering tiles echoing like the death knell of a once-mighty edifice.
As the debris rained down upon the village, chaos erupted within the courthouse's walls. The women and children huddled inside the town hall erupted into a frenzy of panic, their screams mingling with the cacophony of destruction that assailed their sanctuary.
Among the crowd, Corporal Knightly sprang into action, his voice cutting through the din like a blade. "Everyone to the cellar, quickly! Follow Father Edgar!" he commanded—his tone firm and resolute, brooking no argument.
The terrified civilians turned to the aged cleric, their eyes wide with fear, but finding solace in his unwavering calm. Father Edgar wasted no time, ushering the women and children towards the safety of the cellar, his gentle yet insistent guidance providing a beacon of hope amidst the chaos.
As the evacuation unfolded, Corporal Knightly's gaze swept over the remaining defenders – Aden, Hjalmar, Phil, and Maeda. "The rest of you, follow me!" he barked, his voice cutting through the din like a whip crack.
The men wasted no time, falling into step behind their commanding officer as he led them toward the stairwell that would take them to the rooftop. Their faces were etched with grim determination, each man understanding the grave task that lay before them.
As they ascended the creaking steps, the sounds of battle grew louder, and more intense. The impacts of falling debris shook the very structure beneath their feet, the groaning of the strained beams and rafters a constant reminder of the imminent danger they faced.
Upon reaching the rooftop, the scene that greeted them was one of utter devastation. The once-proud battlements lay in ruins, shattered and crumbling under the relentless onslaught of the harpies' deadly rain.
Knightly's gaze swept over the carnage, his jaw clenched tightly as he surveyed the battered defenses. "We must hold this position at all costs," he growled, his voice tinged with a sense of grim resolve. "If the rooftop falls, the entire courthouse will follow."
With those words, the defenders fanned out, each man taking up a position behind the crumbling ramparts. Their shields were raised, their weapons at the ready, as they braced themselves for the next wave of the harpies' onslaught.
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The women and children, wide-eyed with fear, heeded his call, racing toward safety under the guidance of Corporal Knightly. The cellar became a sanctuary, a refuge from the onslaught above. Tears streamed down their faces as they huddled together, seeking solace and protection from the raging storm.
"Move! Make way!" Ethan yelled at the crowd.
Aden saw Ethan and Martin bring Old man Jedd from the rooftop. The old man was knocked unconscious with fresh blood staining his clothes, he must've been blasted by the harpy bombing.
They brought him to the cellar with all the refugees.
The courthouse trembled under the relentless assault, its structure tested to its limits. The harpies, their shrieks echoing through the air, continued their relentless barrage, unyielding in their determination to wreak havoc upon the village.
Outside, the battle raged on. The defenders, now desperate to regain control, redoubled their efforts. Arrows flew through the air, finding their marks on a few harpies, but the swarm seemed unending. The hwachas fired continuously, but their range was limited, unable to reach the harpies at their current altitude.
With every divebomb, the courthouse shook, and the once-sturdy walls began to crack. "We can't hold them off for much longer!" Aden shouted, sweat dripping down his brow. The situation seemed dire, and hope was fading fast.
some of the rocks have already penetrated into the second floor, just right above the ground floor where women and children take refuge.
"Defend the hwachas!" shout
some of the harpies dared themselves to destroy the hwacha in close combat they clawed the siege weapon, trying their hard to tear down every single plat of irons and wooden plank
the defenders shot down any harpies nearby, Aden thrust his spear at any harpy nearby, he was overwhelmed as he must be careful not to get smashed by the rocks falling from above.
Gilbert busy gave Aden cover from falling rocks with the kite shield.
"Grab the rocks and toss them out of the rooftop." Captain Willem yelled. the harpies wanted to overload the rooftop with each rock and boulder they tossed from above.
The rest of the defenders tossing the rocks out of the rooftop,
Captain Willem assessed the situation. it was only about time the rooftop collapsed and the defenders couldn't keep shielding the hwachas from the boulder rain above.
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The harpies were relentless, their divebombing attacks raining down upon the courthouse with a ferocity that was unmatched. The roof of the courthouse groaned and creaked under the weight of the piling rocks, threatening to collapse at any moment.
The defenders worked quickly, getting rid of the rocks from the roof and doing their best to fortify the structure. But even as they worked, the harpies continued their relentless bombing, the rocks and boulders wheezing in the air with a deafening screech.
As the defenders struggled to keep the roof from collapsing, the harpies began to target the second floor of the courthouse, their divebombing attacks causing the structure to groan and buckle under the weight of the piling rocks.
The defenders knew that they had to act quickly, for the safety of the villagers was at stake. They began to evacuate the villagers, leading them to the basement as the harpies continued their relentless assault.
But even as they worked to evacuate the villagers, the second floor of the courthouse collapsed, burying those who had been unable to escape in time. The sound of screams and cries filled the air, a testament to the horror and devastation that had engulfed the village.
As the dust settled and the harpies retreated, the defenders were left to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. The courthouse, once a symbol of their strength and unity, lay in ruins, a testament to the ferocity of the harpies' attack.
But even in the face of such horror and devastation, the defenders refused to give up hope. They knew that they had to band together and rebuild, to honor the memory of those who had been lost and to protect their village from the looming threat of the harpies.
And so, with a sense of determination and purpose, the defenders set out to rebuild their village, their minds focused on the task at hand. For in the face of adversity and uncertainty, it was their willingness to persevere and overcome that would ultimately guide them through the challenges that lay ahead.
by evening the courthouse was only left with letter L crumbled yet still standing walls. most of its construction was already debris. no more rooftop above them.
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