Chapter 599: The "Gluttonous" Deity
The damage caused by Yaya was not significant, but it dealt a heavy blow to the morale of the Cole Elf army.
The retreating formation had already been broken apart. On the rear Icewind Fortress walls, a batch of resting Ail Elf warriors had already formed an offensive posture.
Tigris gritted his teeth and issued the retreat order:
"The vanguard encircle all blocking lines and cover the retreat of the central army."
"The rearguard stays to defend and block Icewind Fortress's follow-up attacks."
"Wait until we return to Ironhammer Fortress 50 kilometers away; the rested elite troops will come to reinforce."
"..."
As soon as this order was given, it immediately triggered unrest among the Cole Elves.
All Cole Elf warriors were veterans; they naturally sensed the dangers hidden in these orders.
It was one thing for the vanguard warriors to engage in fierce battle with Bay Territory's interception teams.
Each side relying on their own abilities—whoever had the skills would survive.
The warriors stationed at the rear to defend would block the possible pursuing forces from Icewind Fortress.
They could rely on the existing camps and supplies for defense, hold out for a time, and wait for reinforcements.
It seemed good at first glance, but all the elves knew very well:
Throughout history, rearguard units were always heavily attacked.
Nine out of ten such units would be completely annihilated.
The one that survived usually did so by surrendering early.
The Ail Elf warriors of Icewind Fortress were of average strength; they were confident in holding them off.
But facing the Bay Territory warriors with endless tricks, the massive and unmatched Yaya, and the very formidable specially modified warriors, they had no confidence in holding the line.
If selected to stay behind, it was a death sentence.
What made most Cole Elf warriors even angrier was.
In this critical moment for the army, if sacrifice was needed, none of the chosen warriors would have objected.
From the moment they chose to become soldiers and join the Cole Elf army, they had been prepared to die in battle.
However, they absolutely could not tolerate being assigned suicide missions in an unfair manner without their consent.
Soon, many Cole Elf warriors grew agitated, shouting very direct slogans and reasons.
What they wanted was fairness, not to become cannon fodder for others' survival!
Facing the sudden turmoil, Tigris, who had long prepared for such possibilities, was momentarily stunned by this deadly point.
His expression darkened, his gaze flickering, clearly pondering something.
Councilor Kaledor also knew very well that the dilemma facing Tigris was crucial.
If Tigris guaranteed the safety of "that group" of elves, the ideals and faith of the other soldiers would collapse, and they might completely break down.
But if he acted fairly for the army's sake.
Then the deaths of noble elves and spellcasters from his orders would bring terrifying trouble.
Defeat, retreat, and heavy casualties were enough to shake Tigris's position.
If he also offended the powerful elven factions, Tigris would face even greater troubles.
It was truly a dilemma!
A trace of contemplation flashed in Eiris's eyes.
He put himself in Tigris's shoes—what choice would he make?
Beside Eiris, Aicharn remained very calm. From the moment Tigris hesitated, he had already made his choice.
"This guy doesn't care about the army or the Cole Elf warriors' safety, only his own interests..."
"Such an elven commander is merely a pawn for those people. Even this war is just a 'banquet' to welcome those fools' return..."
Red light flashed in Aicharn's eyes as he suppressed the insane thoughts in his mind, quietly waiting for Tigris to decide.
No matter how Tigris chose, Aicharn would support it fully.
Because either path would bring great risks.
Soon, Tigris issued a new order.
The ordinary elf legions had more numbers and many wounded, slowing their marching speed.
They would defend the main camp and wait for reinforcements two days later.
Tigris would lead the elite troops to open the way ahead, attacking dangerous interception lines to cover the army's retreat.
Most Cole Elf warriors remained highly dissatisfied and very upset about the "elite" missions.
But seeing Tigris personally lead the charge.
And seeing that the staying Cole Elf warriors still numbered 150,000.
Judging from the mission assignment, at least they weren't being sent to die.
Even so, the army's reorganization still caused considerable chaos.
Yaya watched the Cole Elf army splitting into three parts with surprise and immediately understood their plan.
She decisively focused most of her attention on the vanguard troops of the Cole Elf army.
The reorganized elite Cole Elf warriors, under falling rocks and incoming fire and bolts, proactively attacked the interception lines.
Furious, Tigris personally prepared to destroy the Bay Territory defenses in one blow.
However, he and his elite warriors were quickly dumbfounded.
After firing a few rounds of long-range attacks at them.
The Bay Territory troops, who had just been fighting fiercely, suddenly packed up their bows, crossbows, and cannons using spatial equipment.
Then set fire to the area before the fortifications and trenches, stalling the Cole Elf army's advance and slipping away up the mountain.
They ran!
It was a completely wasted attack.
All that strength gathered into a punch hitting empty air.
The vanguard Cole Elf troops were utterly frustrated.
Clenching his fists, Tigris barely restrained the impulse to pursue and ordered the massive central army to retreat.
Unexpectedly, 2 kilometers away on another mountain slope.
A brand-new Bay Territory force blatantly rolled huge rocks onto the valley road.
The Rocky Mountains, separating the Cole Elf Kingdom from the Ail Elves, already had dense overlapping peaks and narrow valleys.
The dug-out road barely allowed a hundred-man team to march single file.
If these Bay Territory troops were left alone, the blocked paths and dug trenches would completely seal the retreat.
Helplessly, Tigris had to split forces to drive them away.
The Bay Territory warriors were extremely cunning.
Each line no longer had just 1000 soldiers.
Instead, there was a full standard brigade—5000 people!
Fully equipped, with complete facilities and ample battle supplies.
If fewer than 20,000 Cole Elves charged.
The Bay Territory warriors dared to rely on their preparation to engage these elves, now without siege weapons, golems, or war puppets, in brutal battle.
Though they might suffer some losses.
They could inflict heavy damage on the Cole Elf elites, posing a great threat to the moving army.
Moreover, a perfect medical system drastically reduced the Bay Territory warriors' casualties, ensuring sustained combat power.
The clearing units, thinking they could quickly drive them off, were immediately stunned by the powerful long-range firepower.
200 newly-built magic cannons, all allocated to them by Jifan.
Plus 2000 magic crossbows firing in waves, delivering a devastating blow to the charging clearing troops.
Boom boom boom!
Crack!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Even dispersed, more than 300 elite Cole Elf warriors fell instantly.
Fortunately, the elven commanders were very wary of the Bay Territory forces and reacted extremely fast, immediately halting the assault.
The Bay Territory commanders also ordered a ceasefire, with faint smiles on their faces, turning to the stunned Ail Elf commanders and saying:
"A dead Cole Elf."
"In their current state, they won't even waste manpower to retrieve the corpse."
"This way, it won't burden them much."
"But if it's a severely wounded elf."
"They'll have to assign 1–2 warriors for care, some medical supplies for treatment, and more manpower and resources for transport..."
"The manpower and material drain would even surpass the loss of two full combatants."
Noticing the Ail Elf commanders' realization, Jifan patiently continued:
"In a prolonged battle, it's about soldier fundamentals, offense-defense transitions, supply chains, and medical logistics."
"Never overly rely on one attack method; always have backup plans..."
Without listening to Jifan teaching the Ail Elf commanders, Annie lightly rubbed her palms, feeling an unparalleled sense of reality, and turned her head somewhat dazedly.
"That's right, this is why Yaya and I are not worried."
Losing all mana was not a big deal for Matthew and Yaya, as they could quickly recover through mana absorption.
After all, there were many creatures in Bay Territory's underground laboratories that should have died long ago.
A sense of joy surged in Annie's heart, understanding that this was Matthew treating her as one of his own.
It was as if she had put down a heavy burden, and she looked at the approaching elf warriors with ease, asking:
"Now that they've set their sights on us, are we going to continue fighting?"
Matthew pointed at the retreating army lined up in a long queue and said with certainty:
"With their current strength, they can only guard two spots at most..."
Before Tigris could personally lead the charge.
The Bay Territory soldiers who had already retreated from the first defensive line suddenly charged back out from the flames and smoke.
They quickly set up the fine-tuned magic cannons and decisively opened fire on the gathered troops below.
Boom boom boom!
The Cole Elf troops below, rushing along the road.
Were immediately showered with cannon fire.
In an instant, the retreat route, crowded with troops, saw a large number of Cole Elf warriors fall.
The surrounding elf cavalry units shouted and charged up angrily.
The Bay Territory warriors quickly formed ranks and used dense crossbow fire to shoot at these charging targets on the slope.
The patrol elf cavalry, lacking sufficient numbers, endured four volleys of crossbow fire before finally reaching the Bay Territory warriors.
Losing nearly half their number, the elf cavalry were just about to draw their bows.
The cannons aiming downward suddenly adjusted their firing angles.
"Cannons, flatten!"
Facing the black cannon muzzles, the elf knights felt an unspeakable terror engulf them, as if they were being stared at by a monstrous beast.
Old John licked his lips and, without hesitation, waved the command flag:
"Fire!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
After the roaring cannon fire, in the clearing smoke, fewer than one in ten of the hundred-plus elf knights remained.
Most of them were not dead but had broken legs.
The pure white warhorses, the largest targets specifically aimed at, were torn to pieces.
The wounded elf warriors howled endlessly, their shrill cries echoing across the hillside.
The surviving elf cavalry, dazed and bewildered, stared blankly at the hellish scene, dragged back to reality by their comrades' painful screams.
They didn't wait for a second round of cannon fire but charged at the Bay Territory line as if they had gone mad.
Thorn, grinning, easily flipped and tied up seven or eight charging elf warriors.
He glanced at the Cole Elf warriors treating their comrades, made a throat-slitting gesture at them, then turned and left.
The low-flying griffin riders noticed the situation and immediately reported it to Tigris.
"Form more clearing units, drive them out, and occupy the defensive line!"
Roaring, Tigris felt his sanity greatly shaken, suppressing the urge to unleash powerful spells, and continued arranging viciously:
"Send all scout units out, climb the slopes, and crush the enemy with sheer numbers!"
Facing Tigris's somewhat crazed orders, Councilor Kaledor opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.
Yaya still circled in the sky, her massive, terrifying body, deadly flaming breath, and incredible regeneration ability constantly reminding them.
If they dared to attack and expose their positions.
Yaya, who was always seeking targets, would swoop down without hesitation and hunt them down.
Although the elven archmages were powerful, facing a true dragon like Yaya without preparation, they could easily lose their lives.
More importantly, the Yaya exuding boundless dragon might in the sky might only be a clone!
If they exhausted their spells and mana, the real Yaya returning to the battlefield would be even more reckless.
And might truly treat them as hunting targets!
That was the reason why the legendary figures dared not act rashly!
Otherwise, they would have personally attacked long ago, breaking through Bay Territory's defenses with their terrifying legendary might.
Tigris's orders made the enraged Cole Elf army highly excited.
They had long despised the Bay Territory warriors—even though they were vastly outnumbered, they still dared to be arrogant.
Thus, dozens of Cole Elf scout units immediately rushed toward the Bay Territory's defensive lines.
They spread out, launching flanking attacks from both sides.