[zRichard]

I'm just going to expand on one of Anh_Minh's arguments to fukarming, who got some events confused.

The Gateway Army, while having superior numbers, were exhausted and not at the ideal mental health (Hero's illusions). This was reported to Maou's group and she said that the forces would be evenly matched because of that. Then came the report that Ice General was not with his army. So, anime-only knowledge is more than enough to say "Ice General could have chosen to retreat with his men. He'd probably have made it."


EDIT: I also liked how they touched on the Hero's solitude. How Archer was sorry for leaving everything on Hero's shoulders. This is a direct attack to something that most classic JRPGs are guilty of.