With the sword in my hand, I began slashing at the orcs rushing toward me.
"I'm going to tire myself out at this rate… and then I'll get surrounded," I muttered under my breath, stepping back as two more lunged.
Even with all my training, taking on two of these brutes at once was pushing it.
If have no choice.
**I'll have to use my mana again.**
_Sigh..._
The dense mana in the air made it easier to manipulate—but even so, something felt off.
Rolling up my sleeves slightly, I could see the blue glow running through my veins growing rapidly.
The light had grown brighter. Sharper.
**My body is already overloading with mana**
"Still so many of you left, huh?" I whispered, surveying the scattered battlefield.
The once-organized formation had shattered.
Some still followed Miss Sera and Miss Kaelyn at the front, fighting with all their strength. Others lay dead… or had fled in panic. A few brave ones held the rear alongside me, fighting back the orcs.
But at this rate, **we might have to retreat**.
"Sir Alve! More monsters approaching behind the orcs! What are your orders?" a knight called out, barely dodging a swing.
I exhaled sharply.
"Hold your ground and keep fighting the orcs! Any injured—retreat with the civilians and head for healing camps.
And reaming others still able to fight—**follow me!**"
With the remaining knights rallying behind me, I turned toward the direction the orcs had emerged from.
A new threat appeared in the fog.
**Gargoyles.**
Great.
"Oh, just my luck. I have a sword instead of magic…" I muttered.
Last time it was the stone golems inside the palace—and now _this_?
I called out to the group, "If you can use magic—do it swiftly and aim precisely! Block with your swords when needed, but don't waste movements!"
As I spoke, I focused, channeling mana into my blade.
The sword's edge began to shimmer with that familiar blue aura.
To fight **gargoyles**, I needed more than raw strength—I needed a sword infused with **dense mana**.
"Guess there goes my promise to the King..."
_Crack!_
My blade sank into the stony skin of the first gargoyle. A crack echoed as its chest split, fragments scattering across the ground.
Their durability was beyond normal.
Their **grip**, even worse.
"Don't let them grab you!" I shouted, glancing back at the others.
"Their grip is stronger than the rocks they throw!"
This fight wasn't going to be short.
But as long as we stood, we might have a chance.