Chapter 40: The battle of Invictus (4)
The fighting had begun, and an hour had already passed since the Enforcers had taken cover behind a defensive block.
They had held their ground, even when more than 7,000 Initiates had swarmed their formation all at once. It was proof of their strength—especially in the face of such overwhelming numerical disadvantage. The attackers were ten times more numerous, more ferocious, more determined... but the Enforcers were more balanced.
Where their enemies had only rage, they were professionals, hardened in battle. After overcoming the initial shock, they regained their efficiency.
Although the number of troops present in the fortress had been drastically reduced due to the general staff’s decisions,
the major had made sure to keep his best elements, prioritizing the transfer of the less competent soldiers.
The quality of the remaining troops was such that they would not have been disgraced even among the elite of the Order.
Had they not been ordered to avoid killing their attackers, they might have stood a chance of winning after a bloody battle.
But alas, Captain Bernard had insisted: immobilize, neutralize, push back... but no killing.
That order was a real handicap—deeply unfair—especially when the other side didn’t hesitate to use everything at their disposal to kill. Some went so far as to bite the Enforcers, throwing themselves by the dozens at a single target to bring them down.
Yet despite the harshness of the order, they complied. Insubordination was a grave sin.
And so, over time, fatigue began to catch up with them. It was physical, psychological, and energetic exhaustion.
Soon, they would run out of ether and become unable to use their Resonances.