Chapter 39: The battle of Invictus (3)
At the top of the fortress hierarchy stood Major Kraft, an Enforcer of Master rank, followed by two Intermediate Enforcers: Captain Bernard and Captain Grégoire. The rest of Invictus’ forces were composed of Enforcers bearing the rank of Initiate.
The wall was already showing cracks. If it had only been one Initiate, the makeshift structure wouldn’t have even trembled. But it wasn’t one, nor ten, nor even a hundred—it was well over a thousand now, and their numbers kept growing as more reached the wide gates.
Unsurprisingly, the wall couldn’t hold for long, but it lasted just enough for the Enforcers to form a proper formation.
Captain Bernard had immediately assessed that they were outnumbered by far, and that fighting without strategy would lead to devastating losses on their side.
If he’d had a choice, he would have prevented the confrontation altogether.
Various weapons were available within the fortress, designed to counter every type of pest, and there was no shortage of shields.
The Enforcers had been equipped with sturdy shields and formed a tight wall.
When the parasitized Initiates launched another assault, not a single Enforcer fell back. This wasn’t a single defensive line, but rather several stacked one behind the other, designed to absorb the blow. Even those in the back supported the ones on the front lines.
At first, the parasitized Initiates had no formation and acted in complete chaos. While this increased their destructive potential, it left them vulnerable to a well-coordinated defense. Various rotations were organized between those in front and those behind, allowing them to preserve their energy. The captain had been clear: this would be a marathon.
After noticing a semblance of order returning to the battle, Bernard glanced back. He saw that the Major had already subdued Grégoire, though the solution was only temporary.
Upon Bernard’s arrival, the Major promptly congratulated him, acknowledging his performance:
"Good reaction!"