The battle raged on.
Molten heat and iron rained down from above, scorching the Hobgoblins and stopping them from breaching the walls. Liquid fire poured from cleverly concealed cauldrons, turning the ground before the walls into a searing death trap. The Hobgoblins screamed in pain, their advance slowed by the deadly deluge.
Meanwhile, General Varkis ordered his ranged troops to shoot arrows over the battlements. The sky darkened as a swarm of arrows blotted out the sun. Rain's eyes widened as he shouted, "Take cover!"
Thraigar ducked to the side of the wall, finding a safer position. Chin, Chill, and Chick grabbed their shields, covering their bodies as best as they could. Rain ducked behind a wall, using it as a makeshift shield. Arrows grazed their skin, but his Aasimar troops quickly healed any wounds, their divine abilities mending flesh with ethereal light.
The battlefield was a chaotic maelstrom. Hobgoblins screamed and howled, the clang of metal against metal ringing through the air.
General Gralnor, undeterred by the traps and the molten rain, continued his assault on the gate. His axe swung with terrifying power, each strike sending shockwaves through the wood and iron. Cracks began to form, the once-strong barrier weakening under the relentless onslaught.
Rain darted between positions, rallying his troops and directing their efforts. "Hold the line! Don't let them through!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Thraigar, hidden at the side, hurled boulders with immense force, each impact sending Hobgoblins flying. Chill, Chin, and Chick fired their cannons and ballistas, their projectiles tearing through the advancing ranks. The air was thick with smoke and the acrid scent of burning flesh, but they didn't falter.
As the Hobgoblins continued their attacks, more traps were triggered. Walls of spikes shot up from the ground, impaling those who ventured too close. Explosive snares detonated, sending shockwaves through the enemy ranks.
The battle raged on, each side relentless in their pursuit of victory. Rain knew they couldn't hold out forever, but they had to buy enough time for the villagers.
With each passing moment, the situation grew more dire. The gate was on the verge of breaking, and the Hobgoblins showed no signs of stopping.
"Where are they?" another demanded, looking around nervously.
"Did they escape?" a third asked, scanning the surroundings.
The Hobgoblins were clueless, their anticipation turning to bewilderment. General Gralnor sniffed the air, his eyes narrowing to slits as he sensed something amiss.
"Everyone out!" he bellowed, but his warning came too late.
~BoOooOmM!~
A deafening explosion rocked the village, the force of it shaking the very ground. Flames erupted, engulfing everything in their path. The heat was intense, a searing inferno that incinerated every Hobgoblin within the village. The blast wave sent debris flying, and the air was filled with the agonized screams of those caught in the fiery trap.
Rain and his companions were already a few hundred meters away, having retreated to a safe distance before the detonation. He watched as the village, their home, was consumed by the flames. There was blood on Rain's lip from biting down in frustration and sorrow. Destroying their village was a bitter pill to swallow, but it was a necessary sacrifice to eradicate the Hobgoblins.
The important thing right now was to make sure that they survive no matter what.
As the smoke and fire raged behind them, Rain took a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions. The cost was high, but it was a price they had to pay to ensure their survival.
Rain turned to his companions, their faces reflecting a mix of relief and sadness. "We did what we had to," he said, his voice firm despite the turmoil within him. "We may have lost our village, but we saved our people. Now, let's finish this."
With renewed determination, they prepared for the final confrontation. The explosion had decimated the Hobgoblin forces, but the battle was not yet over. Any remaining Hobgoblins would still pose a threat. Rain knew they had to be relentless to end the menace once and for all.