Without magic, humans were vulnerable to supernatural creatures, and this resulted in a high death toll. As the soldiers defending the city struggled to stay alive, the low-level demons seized the opening created by the demon casters to reach the city wall. The demons flung their Abyss Ivy ropes over the wall and climbed the wall, quickly reaching the parapet.
The demons were much faster than the soldiers, and soon, the soldiers found themselves overwhelmed with magic and melee attacks. Amidst the chaos, more soldiers were slain.
Only a few minutes had passed, but two hundred soldiers were already dead. The demons had suffered casualties, too, as the despairing soldiers were fighting with all they had. However, the demons had the numbers advantage, and it seemed highly likely that the soldiers would lose.
Sometimes certain characters just remind you of other characters in other universe and stories and stuff. This Dante guy kinda reminded me of Hubert from Fire Emblem Three Houses, man. An EVIL(TM) face that says “I’m definitely up to something”? A pretty stinking reputation? Is actually not too stinking? Frighteningly loyal to Her (in this case, His) Majesty? And then totally ended up as the Emperor’s right-hand man or something? A magic user? ...I know there are like, s*** ton of characters who also fits the bill, but Three Houses IS my current obsession (MAID OUTFITS Y’ALL, BRB GOTTA BE A WYVERN RIDING AX-WIELDING WHIPSWORD-LASHING ARCHER MAID), so Hubert popped up right on top of my head. Had any character in WDYSM reminded you of anyone else, True Believers?