Soldiers and civilians lay dying or dead throughout the Empire camp. A group of soldiers had managed to slip past the Beans, making their way to the stables and preparing the horses to evacuate. An increasing swarm of Beans surrounded Bösch and the soldiers fighting around him. Gladisch had lost her splintered piece of wood, resorting to her fists to fight. Reist encouraged the French man as he fought a Bean with his musket.

The massive Bean creature’s attack hit the ground just inside the gate, a surprisingly hard bean ricocheting up and grazing Sauer’s leg, drawing blood. If he had not started running when he had, he would surely have died. The massive Bean creature took another step forward, shaking the ground.

As Sauer ran, he watched the French man drive the butt of his musket into the Bean’s chest with a wet sucking noise. He pulled back, surprised to find that it was stuck. As he struggled to rip the musket out of the Bean, Reist tried to convince him to run. The French man, distracted by Reist, did not notice as the Bean lashed out, knocking him to the ground. Reist began to scream as beans began to slowly lower towards his mouth.

Bösch’s group was having a difficult time fending off the Beans. Sauer watched as a Bean lunged at Rob, who tried to dodge the attack but failed, the Bean grabbing his arm as it fell forward. Rob shouted in pain as the Bean threw him to the ground, twisting his arm violently behind his back. The other soldiers, preoccupied by their own opponents, were unable to help as Rob and the Bean rolled around on the ground, Rob only using his right arm, trying desperately to get out of the creature’s grip.

Bösch fought two Beans at once, stabbing the barrel of his musket into their chests. Schmidt wrestled the butt of his musket out of the neck of a Bean, glancing between his opponent and Rob every few moments. Jakob held his musket over his chest, which was the only thing between him and the Bean trying to push him to the ground.

The Bean finally pinned Rob to the ground, his injured arm stuck under his back at an awkward angle. Bösch, Schmidt, and Jakob seemed to get into an argument, all three desperate but unable to help Rob escape his opponent.

A clump of beans slowly fell towards Rob’s face. He shut his mouth tightly, his eyes wide with fear as he watched the clump of beans fall towards his face. Sauer assumed keeping his mouth closed would do little to stop the creature from killing him.

There was a flash of movement to Sauer’s right. Gladisch sprinted towards Bösch’s struggling group. Two Beans changed their focus to her as she ran past, giving a pair of soldiers an opening to flee to the stables. As they fled, one of the soldiers ran too close to another Bean, his screams muffled as it pulled him to the ground and blocked his throat. The other soldier was able to make it past safely, meeting the other survivors at the stables.

Gladisch rushed towards Rob, kicking his opponent in the chest with all of her power. The Bean flew backwards, pulling up chunks of dirt and grass as it skidded across the ground. Gladisch picked Rob up from under his arms, causing him to shout in pain, and set him on his feet. Gladisch pointed towards an opening to the stables and Rob took it, narrowly dodging a Bean whose attention had shifted from Jakob.

Sauer heard whistling.

He did not stop to watch this time as beans fell behind him. The massive Bean creature missed, instead hitting the right side of the wall, which promptly crumbled.

Gladisch was helping Bösch when he shouted something, pointing to Reist. She was screaming, tears flowing freely down her face as she attempted to help the French man while evading the Bean lunging at her every few seconds. Gladisch nodded and moved to help her instead.

Gladisch reached Reist, who was now pinned to the ground. She flailed desperately as the Bean held her in place, a clump of beans lowering towards her face. Reist scratched at the Bean’s chest as Gladisch kicked it hard in the side of the head, sending it sprawling.

Schmidt gave up on his musket, leaving it lodged in the Bean’s neck at an awkward angle. He and Bösch argued as they fought, Schmidt attempting to distract the Beans while Bösch and Jakob attacked.

Schmidt, Bösch, Jakob, and their Bean opponents danced around the battlefield. Bösch grabbed the musket sticking out of the Bean’s neck, drawing its attention from Schmidt, then shouted something at Schmidt who replied angrily and ran towards the stables. Bösch and Jakob continued to fight, their Bean opponents slowly overtaking them.

Gladisch picked up Reist like she had Rob, placing her on her feet and telling her to run to the stables. Reist objected, again trying to run to the body of the French man. Gladisch grabbed her by her shoulders and said something, causing Reist to yell. After a moment’s hesitation, Reist ran towards the stables in tears.

“KIRSA!” Sauer shouted desperately.

Gladisch, distracted by Reist, did not notice as a Bean attacked her from behind. She was able to remain standing as the Bean latched onto her back, attempting to pull her to the ground. She steadied herself then bent forward quickly, flipping the Bean over her back with a violent shout.

Parts of the Bean broke off as it flew over Gladisch, covering her in small clumps of beans. They moved across her on their own, making their way towards her mouth. Distracted by the beans covering her body, she didn’t notice as the Bean on the ground grabbed onto her legs, pulling her down. She scratched at her opponent as the beans covered her mouth, but it was no use. Slowly, her clawing died down, and eventually she stopped moving altogether.