The battle kept going. Monsters came in waves and didn't stop. The soldiers had been fighting for days. They were very tired and moving slowly, but they didn't give up. The front was messy with blood, dirt, and the loud sounds of swords hitting monster skin.
Commander Sirus looked at the fight and the camp. He made up his mind. "Roland has held the line too long. I need to take over," he said. His voice was calm but quick. He turned to Alan and Kaguya. "I'll go to the front. Kaguya, keep the soldiers working together. Alan, stay here and don't get in trouble."
With that, Sirus fixed his armor and walked to the battle. Soldiers saluted him as he went by. They felt a little better seeing a new commander. When he got to the front, Roland saw him and let out a tired breath. "You're a sight for sore eyes, Sirus," Roland said. His voice was rough. "The men are holding, but they need rest."
Sirus nodded and put a hand on Roland's shoulder. "You've done enough, Sir Roland. Go back to camp. Help the hurt ones and rest. It's been two days. I'll take over."
Roland looked back at the fight. More monsters rushed in. He nodded, tired. "Don't let them break through. This is the last spot before the capital."
"They won't get past," Sirus said. His voice was strong. Roland stepped back and told his close soldiers to pull out and rest. Sirus took charge of the rest. His voice was loud over the noise. "Hold the line! Switch out the tired ones. Fix the weak spots. Hunters, shoot the big monsters! Not one gets through!"
The soldiers listened to him. They moved better, even though they were worn out. Sirus stood at the front. His sword shone as he cut into the monsters. He stayed calm, and his orders were fast and clear.
At the command post, Alan and Kaguya watched. Sirus's plans started to work. The front, which was falling apart, got steady. But the fight wasn't done. The monsters kept coming, so many of them. A dark figure stood far off, like a storm waiting to hit.
Sirus led the soldiers. They moved together better now. He made smart plans, using what the soldiers were good at. They hit hard and lost fewer men. The soldiers followed him well. The front started to look organized.
The monsters were still a lot, but the soldiers cut them down step by step. Shields stayed up, making a wall. Archers and hunters shot the big ones from far away. Mages used strong magic to kill groups of small monsters. The foot soldiers moved carefully, cutting through the crowd.
But it was different now. Without Roland's wild, hard attacks, the monsters died slower. Every hit was planned, every step thought out, but it took more time. Roland's big swings had scared the monsters. Now, they fought back a little, running to the shadows and coming back stronger.
The soldiers felt better with Sirus's way, but the fight dragged on. There was no fast, huge kill like with Roland. They killed one monster at a time. Each moment felt long.
Kaguya stood by Alan, watching. "It's working, but…" she said, then stopped. She saw soldiers fight a big monster. Its tough skin was hard to cut. It hit back strong, knocking men down. "We're moving forward, but it takes longer. Roland's brutality was what kept the monsters in check—without him. Now it's a drawn-out fight."
Alan looked at the battle. His hands were tight. "Roland was a hammer. Sirus is a scalpel. Sometimes you need both."
The air was full of sword sounds and monster roars. The soldiers held the line, but Alan felt time slipping. The far-off figure—the one with the crow, the one Kaguya saw—still watched.
On the field, Sirus shouted again, louder now. "Get in line! Keep pushing! We'll wear them out, but we can't lose ground. Every second matters!" His plan was solid, but time pressed hard. The soldiers felt it too, even with their new order. The fight went on. Doubt started to grow. Could they hold long enough? Would help come in time?