The oil did not last forever.
What had begun as a wall of flame surrounding the fortress gates gradually thinned into scattered patches of burning ground. Black smoke still climbed along the walls, but the rivers of fire that had forced even the trolls to hesitate were disappearing.
The creatures noticed. One troll stepped through the dying flames, its legs burned nearly black from the knees down. Blistered skin had split open to expose the red muscle beneath, yet the creature barely seemed to acknowledge the damage. It reached the gate, lifted the tree trunk in both hands, and swung.
The reinforced wood shuddered beneath the impact. Another troll joined it, followed shortly by a third.
The Tower railguns had inflicted incredible damage, but their greatest weakness had become painfully obvious. They took too long to recharge.
