章 700: Only Madmen

(20 mins later)

The courtyard, once alive with the thunderous clash of steel and battle cries, now laid in grim silence, with littered bodies strewn across the blood-slick cobblestones.

Over the past twenty minutes, a brutal and unrelenting battle had unfolded, leaving Ben and Dumpy as the only figures standing amidst the carnage.

Their progress had been hastened once the enemy numbers thinned and gaps began to appear in their defenses, allowing them to exploit every weakness with ruthless efficiency.

The air hung heavy with the metallic scent of blood, mingled with the faint, acrid residue of dissipated magic.

Broken weapons, shattered shields, and remnants of armor were scattered haphazardly, a testament to the ferocity of the fight that had raged moments ago.