"Attention, all knights! Attention, all knights! Three gargoyles are spotted on the clock tower and five on the fountain in the town square. Both locations are northwest from the town gate."
Evelyn alerted her soldiers as they stealthily entered Stonewall.
"It is too dangerous to engage all the enemies at once. We'll start by taking down the ones on the clock tower first. Archer 1 to 3, climb to the roof of the yellow-painted building to your west and confirm visual on the clock tower. The rest of you, stand by the town gate."
"Yes, my lady!"
Three archers then went to the yellow building as pointed by Evelyn. They found a tall ladder next to the building and used it to climb onto the roof.
The archers then set their sight on the clock tower.
"This is Archer 1, confirming visual on the clock tower and the three gargoyles."
"Copy that, Archer 1. Can all of you aim all three targets on the tower from that position?" asked Evelyn.
"It's possible for the one facing southwest." said Archer 1.
"The same for the one facing southeast." said Archer 2.
"It's not possible for the one facing northwest." said Archer 3.
"Roger, Archer 3. There's an adjoining building with black chimney to your left. Do you see it?" asked Evelyn.
"Yes, my lady."
"Go behind that chimney and see if you can take your aim from there. But do not go further from the chimney! I repeat! DO NOT go further from the chimney!" instructed Evelyn.
The third archer did as Evelyn said. He jumped over to the next building and made his way to the black chimney.
The knight readied his bow and take aim to his designated demon. He nodded after he done so.
"I got a clear aim on the northwest gargoyle, my lady."
"Copy that, Archer 3. Attention, Archer 1 to 3! Attention, Archer 1 to 3! Ready your aim on your designated target!" ordered Evelyn.
The two archers in the yellow building and the archer behind the black chimney faced their bow on their designated gargoyles.
"Report status, Archers!" ordered Evelyn.
"Archer 1, ready. No movement on the target."
"Archer 2, ready. No movement."
"Archer 3, ready. No movement."
"Roger. Fire on my mark." said Evelyn.
The three archers pulled the string of their bow. They held their breath and let their aim steadied.
"Engage the targets in 3…2…1…Fire!"
Two arrows came from the yellow building and one from the black chimney.
They struck all three gargoyles in the clock tower, causing the creatures to fall on the ground at the bottom of the tower.
"Archer 1, direct hit!"
"Archer 2, direct hit!"
"Archer 3, direct hit!"
"No mana activity detected from the three gargoyles. Targets eliminated. 15 gargoyles remaining." declared Evelyn.
She then redirected her gaze to other parts of the town.
"Archer 1 to 3, make your way to the large windmill east of you via the alley between the white smithy and blue shop. Archer 9 to 12, join them through the main road extending northeast from your position.
"Spearman 1 to 8, go with Archer 9 to 12 and hide in the stable behind the windmill. Wait for my orders once you reached your destination."
"Yes, my lady!"
The noble lady then redirected her gaze to the town square.
"Attention, all knights! Attention, all knights! Five gargoyles are spotted on the fountain in the town square northwest of the town gate.
"Archer 4 to 7, make your way to the inn southwest of the town square via artisan street west of your position and wait for my orders. Archer 8, make your way to the top of the clock tower and see if you can take aim on the gargoyle sitting right on the top of the fountain."
"Yes, my lady!"
The soldiers then made their way to their designated spot.
As they navigated their way through the town, they discovered the remains of the townspeople who fell victim to the gargoyles attack.
Dismembered bodies lying cold on the streets, in the building, everywhere. The soldiers could not help but shiver at the sight of them.
This reactions, of course, did not go unnoticed by Evelyn.
"Keep your focus with you, soldiers. This is no time for mourning. The sooner we finish this mission, the sooner we can put these poor souls to rest."
Archer 4 to 7 then reached the inn they were instructed to go to.
"My lady, we've arrived at the inn." reported Archer 4.
"Roger, Archer 4." replied Evelyn. "Attention, Archer 4 to 7! Attention, Archer 4 to 7! Go by the window and see if you could aim for the four gargoyles on the base of the fountain."
The four archers went to the window as instructed. The three of them shook their head as they tried to take aim from there.
"The fountain's decorative pieces are preventing us from getting a clear shot on the ones facing west, north, and east." reported one of the soldiers.
"Copy that. Archer 4, stay in the inn and aim for the one facing south. Archer 5, go to the tailor shop opposite of the inn via the adjoining buildings surrounding the square and aim for the one facing north.
"Archer 6, using the same path, go to the red building beside the inn and aim the one facing west. Archer 7, to the green building beside the inn and aim the one facing east.
"To all soldiers, DO NOT STEP INTO THE SQUARE! I REPEAT! DO NOT STEP INTO THE SQUARE! Stay behind the buildings!" ended Evelyn on her orders.
"Yes, my lady!"
"My lady, this is Archer 8. I've arrived on the top of the clock tower. I got a clear shot on the gargoyle on top of the fountain."
"Roger, Archer 8. Wait for my signal." said Evelyn.
The three archers then went to their designated spot. They traversed through the inn's adjoining buildings and secured their spot.
"Archer 5 to 7, report status!" ordered Evelyn.
"Archer 6 is in the red building. Got a clear aim on the west gargoyle."
"Archer 7 in the green building. Clear angle for the east one."
"This is Archer 5. The tailor shop's entrance is blocked by debris. Trying to find another path."
Focusing too much to reach his destination, Archer 5 was so preoccupied looking around the tailor shop he didn't realize half his foot had stepped into the town square.
"STOP, ARCHER 5!" ordered Evelyn sternly.
The gargoyle facing north quickly shifted its head as it detected the knight's movement.
Thankfully, the gargoyle didn't move any further.
"Don't go any farther, Archer 5." ordered Evelyn. "The gargoyle is only reacting to you edging into its territory. If you back away slowly, you'll escape its detection."
Archer 5 gulped and whispered, "Yes, my lady."
He backed away stealthily as instructed.
As the knight pulled away and gained more distance, the north-facing gargoyle gradually returned its head to its original position and went into dormancy once again.
The knight breathed a sigh of relief once he realized he was out of danger.
"That was careless of you, Archer 5." said Evelyn.
"I'm sorry, my lady. I promise I'll be more careful."
"Back to the mission. Since you can't enter the shop, can you aim the target from where you're standing right now?" asked Evelyn.
The knight readied his bow and analyzed his position between the gargoyle.
He slightly nodded. There was a hint of hesitation to the response.
"It's not a clear shot. But I can aim the eye from here."
"Roger that, Archer 5. Be ready to launch additional shots."
"Yes, my lady."
With the five archers in place, Evelyn gave out her command.
"Attention, Archer 4 to 8! Attention, Archer 4 to 8! Ready your aim on your designated target!"
The archers did as commanded. Their arrows were pointed directly to the eyes of the five gargoyles perching on the fountain.
"Status report!" asked Evelyn.
"Archer 4, ready. No movement detected."
"Archer 5, ready. No movement."
"Archer 6, ready. No movement."
"Archer 7, ready. No movement."
"Archer 8, ready. No movement."
Evelyn nodded.
"Copy that, Archers. Engage the targets on my mark."
The archers pulled the strings of their bow. The arrows were ready to be fired.
"Engage targets in 3…2…1…Fire!"
All five archers let their string loose and launched their arrows. All five bolts struck the eye of the five gargoyles. All five creatures fell to the ground.
"Archer 4, direct hit."
"Archer 5, arrow hit the edge of the eye."
"Archer 6, direct hit."
"Archer 7, direct hit."
"Archer 8, direct hit."
"No mana activity on the south, west, and east-facing gargoyles." reported Evelyn. "Minor mana activity on the north-facing gargoyle. Archer 5, fire additional shots."
"Yes, my lady!"
Archer 5 went closer to his target and fired another arrow to the gargoyle's eye. Rendering the demon motionless.
"Archer 5, direct hit."
"No mana activity detected. All five targets eliminated. 10 gargoyles remaining. Archer 4 to 8, standby in the town square until further command."
"Yes, my lady!"
Evelyn then redirected her gaze to the four gargoyles sitting on the fence of the town chief's house.
"Attention, all knights! Attention, all knights! Four gargoyles are spotted by the town chief's house.
"For this targets, we'll use the Lure and Trap Tactic. I will act as the lure and lead the four gargoyles to the windmill.
"Archer 1 to 3, and 9 to 12 will shoot them down as the targets reached the windmill. The Spearman Squad will be dealing the finishing blow to the eyes while the gargoyles are paralyzed for a short moment after they crash-landed to the ground. Is that understood?"
The soldiers were hesitant to reply their commander since Evelyn was offering herself as bait to the demons. A reaction which Evelyn despised, of course.
"I repeat! IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?"
"YES, MY LADY!"
"Very well. Let's commence the Lure and Trap Tactic."