Protect their companions, protect their comrades, so that they could kill more enemies at the gates of the city.
The Mages sacrificed themselves to the enemies.
The number of dead Mages was increasing. They did not use any magic to protect themselves, ignoring the devils that rushed at them. All their attacks and magic were concentrated on the enemies at the city gate, because only in this way could they make their spells cause more damage, kill more enemies, and let their companions hold on for a while longer.
The continuous killing turned Desert City into purgatory. The priests were exhausted, but they did not dare to stop giving their companions their blessings. Out of them all, the line of Priests was the best-protected. Some allied demons and undeads were left to protect the safety of the priests.
Only so long as the Priests could remain standing could their companions persist.