Though the soldiers fought with desperate resolve, locked in a battle to the death, they remained acutely aware of the root of their peril, the portals.
Amidst the chaos, skilled runesmiths labored with relentless urgency, striving to unravel the arcane mysteries that sustained the gateways.
Mana flickered and shimmered upon their palms, their fingers weaving intricate patterns as ethereal symbols traced through the air.
Unyielding and unrelenting, they pressed onward, never faltering, never ceasing.
Over twenty runesmiths were stationed at each portal, their breaths ragged and bodies slick with sweat, toiling amid the relentless destruction and chaos.
Yet, they had no choice.
There was no time to wait for calm before focus could be summoned.
What complicated their task further was the infusion of chaotic energy by the demons, an insidious corruption woven into the very fabric of the runes.
This only drained more precious time.
Still, they did not falter.
