The relentless battle surged on, consuming the once beautiful forest in chaos. Flames roared high, crackling as they devoured trees and vegetation, casting a blood-red glow on the battlefield. Smoke coiled thickly in the air, making every breath a struggle.
The defenders were pushed to their limits, their weapons heavy in their hands, their movements slower with each passing moment.
Phoenix cut down another monster, and her blade sliced through its corrupted flesh. She could feel the strain on her muscles, the fire in her lungs, but she refused to falter. Her eyes scanned the battlefield, sharp as daggers, taking in the carnage.
The monsters, unnatural and grotesque, seemed endless. Their movements were calculated, almost coordinated, a far cry from the mindless beasts they had faced before.
And then she saw them.
