As the ruins of the town came into view, Javier narrowed his eyes.
He raised a hand calmly.
"Buddy, stop."
Cuquawked.
Buddy halted mid-step.
Ahead lay the broken gate of the halfling-occupied dwarven town, now a half-burning shell soaked in ash, blood, and silence.
"Advance. Surround. No escape."
The five thousand puppet knights moved instantly.
With synchronized precision, they surged forward, splitting into formations.
Left flank. Right flank. Rear intercept.
Armor clanked.
Weapons drawn.
Shields up.
The sound of their march was thunder on stone.
In less than a minute, the entire town was surrounded.
Not a single exit left unguarded.
From above, it looked like a white ring of death closing around the heart of a defeated town.
Javier remained at the center, mounted calmly on Buddy.
His cloak fluttered behind him, his expression cold.
Buddy began to move again, slow and steady.
Several puppet knights marched around him, shields raised, weapons at the ready.
