Even after Talis disappeared, they didn't have much time to rest, because just ten minutes later another attack began. Trevon and Leon took the front again while the rank six to eight knights dealt with the rest—of course, Filgiri was among them. As for Jirena, she stayed behind as before, waiting to bring the wounded from the battlefield to heal them as much as possible. This time the attack was larger, and in front of them were one thousand five hundred knights along with some mages, so they were forced to deploy almost all their forces, with the remainder still waiting for his orders. The number of knights fighting alongside him reached one thousand four hundred and fifty, yet they still had the advantage because, unlike their opponents, who brought only five rank eights, this side had Leon and Trevon.
'This is already the third attack in just a few minutes.'
[This is becoming more and more exhausting for you.]
'The King sent more knights, so they should arrive in at most two hours.'
The clash between the two forces happened immediately, without time for long preparation, enemy knights advancing in a more organized formation than in previous waves while the mages kept enough distance to provide support without exposing themselves directly. The flow of enemies was constant, with no breaks between assaults, forcing both Leon and Trevon to maintain a high pace from the very first contact.
"Fire Spear"
Leon entered the direct clash first, his spear carving a path through the opposing knights as the heat around his body began to affect the environment, reducing the effectiveness of any group approach. He focused on quickly eliminating those closest to him while keeping attention on the mages positioned farther back.
Trevon followed right beside him, adjusting his style to complement Leon's, not trying to dominate the battlefield but ensuring that no enemy took advantage of the openings created by Leon's more aggressive attacks.
'I just need to stay alert for the rank eights.'
The first minutes were dominated by direct exchanges, knights from both sides clashing in a continuous sequence of strikes, blocks, and movements. Filgiri was among the lower ranks at that moment due to being injured, positioned in the middle line, holding pressure against two opponents at once, his endurance being tested as the attacks piled up.
'Lord Leon told me not to overdo it.'
He didn't advance beyond what was necessary, focusing on holding position and preventing enemies from breaking through, while absorbing impacts that made his armor creak under constant pressure.
'But it's hard not to overdo it in a war.'
"Fireball"
"Wind Storm"
The enemy mages began acting more frequently, launching coordinated and combined attacks of fire and wind aimed at specific areas of the formation, forcing the knights to constantly reorganize.
"Trevon, handle them."
"Yes, sir."
Trevon started intercepting part of these assaults, using his mana to alter the trajectories of spells and reduce their impact before they reached the main line, while Leon dealt with those who managed to get too close. The large number of opponents prevented any deep advance, turning the battle into a more static and exhausting one.
As time passed, the battlefield became increasingly irregular. The ground was no longer intact, and the mix of mana, ice, and constant impact made movement difficult, especially for those already injured. Filgiri took a stronger blow to his side, being forced a few steps back, but managed to stay on his feet and return to position, ignoring the pain to keep holding the line. Around him, other knights also began to show signs of fatigue, although the constant rotation still kept the formation stable.
'I need to eliminate more enemies before my knights get exhausted.'
Leon increased his pace for a short period, focusing faster attacks to reduce the number of nearby opponents, his spear piercing defenses more efficiently as the heat around him intensified. This opened enough space for some knights to advance and eliminate enemies further back, reducing pressure on the main line. Even so, the number was still high, and exhaustion was becoming the main factor in the battle.
'Are they retreating?'
Trevon noticed the shift in the enemies' rhythm as the mages began to pull back slightly, reducing the frequency of direct attacks and altering their support pattern. He didn't say anything but adjusted his position, keeping attention on the flanks while continuing to assist the front line.
'No… it looks like they're reorganizing.'
The number of enemies began to decrease more visibly. The opposing line lost consistency, and their attacks became less coordinated, allowing the kingdom's knights to regain some control of the battlefield. Leon maintained pressure until the very end, ensuring there was no room for regrouping since he had noticed their movement, while Trevon covered the points where resistance still remained.
"We did it."
"Damn, that was exhausting."
"You'll get used to it once you're on the front lines of a war."
Some knights struggled to stay standing as they looked at the outcome of the battle. When the last group was eliminated, there was no immediate relief, as they remained alert. The silence that followed was brief, and the accumulated exhaustion became evident in everyone still standing. Filgiri rested his sword on the ground for a moment, breathing heavily before recomposing himself, while Jirena was already moving among the wounded, organizing the first treatments quickly.
"We need to be quick with the healing, so let's hurry."
"Yes, Lady Jirena."
While the knights behind were being treated, Leon remained on the front line, watching the sea again. His expression didn't change, but his mana was no longer at the same level as before. Trevon approached a few steps, keeping enough distance not to interfere, but close enough to follow the situation.
'Third attack finished… but the pattern still hasn't changed.'
The answer came before anyone could truly rest. The sea began to stir again, this time more violently than before, without the same refined control seen in the previous attack, but with a larger amount of mana being released at once. The pressure rose quickly, and even those farther away noticed the change.
"This is serious."
"These guys don't give up."
There was no time for full reorganization. The water split again, but this time at multiple points simultaneously. Unlike previous waves, there wasn't a single central force or organized formation advancing, but several fronts emerging at once, indicating an attempt to completely overwhelm the defense.
"The fourth attack has begun."
"Trevon, call the Solfyr knights—we're deploying them into the battle."