Chapter 563: Rose's Revenge
Jifan carefully observed the formation of the Cole Elves. Despite their high mobility, they didn't utilize it to their advantage and instead dove headfirst into the slave army.
The Cole Elves had excellent combat skills.
They could shoot arrows while riding horses.
While advancing, they merged into an assault formation, forcefully breaking through the slave warriors' defense.
Other cavalry units expertly widened the breach, slicing the enemy force into several segments.
Though fewer in number, they held a clear upper hand.
The slave warriors fought individually, and despite their larger numbers, they felt surrounded by Cole Elven knights.
Two elite cavalry units of ten thousand Elves each flanked from both sides, firing as they advanced.
Multiple cavalry teams in the center charged forward like an unstoppable force, piercing the slave army and regrouping to launch a counterattack.
The Cole Elves even infused their artistry into battle.
They always found the weak points in the slave army, slipping in elegantly and shattering dangerous resistance.
The entire process flowed like water, giving Jifan a terrifying sense of graceful slaughter, like a butcher skillfully dissecting an ox.
On the surface, the Cole Elves held a decisive advantage, swiftly killing and strangling the slave warriors.
But Jifan couldn't help but furrow his brows and ask in confusion:
"Why would the Cole Elves charge in so recklessly when they clearly don't need to engage directly?"
Anyone who had fought the Drow Elves knew one thing well.
Slave warriors were merely cannon fodder, used to wear down the enemy's strength and morale.
Even if Elven knights were skilled, charging a slave army made up of Minotaurs, Gnolls, Trolls, Half-Giants, and Gray Dwarves would still incur losses.
After all, the Lord had once discussed with everyone—no matter how powerful a cavalry unit is, they should never charge a well-formed enemy line unless absolutely necessary.
Otherwise, even in victory, the cost would be agonizing.
Training Elven cavalry was far more expensive than training human cavalry.
Seeing hundreds of Elven knights swallowed by the surging slave army, Jifan couldn't help but feel heartache.
"Is this part of the plan too?"
Otherwise, this behavior was just too strange!
Just as Jifan was pondering, a massive army of Drow Elves suddenly surged out from the nearby forest.
Numerous and clad in gray-purple armor, they charged like a dark tide toward the burning battlefield.
Leading the charge were scores of Lizard Knights.
Slender and agile Shadow Lizards screeched as they rushed forward.
Just as Jifan thought the Cole Elves were about to suffer heavy losses—
He was surprised to find that the Elven cavalry, who had charged deep into the slave army, had already broken out through the breaches.
They left behind only piles of slave corpses.
The Cole Elven knights regrouped ahead—white steeds, golden helmets, in perfect formation, showing unmatched discipline and strength.
Seeing the Drow army surge forth, the Cole Elves showed no sign of retreating. Instead, they charged at the oncoming Drow.
Such confidence!
Watching this "ferocious" battle style, Jifan squinted and looked toward the sky above the Drow Elves.
A massive cloud of crimson fire rolled under waves of surging mana, unleashing a downpour of searing flames.
Eighth-Circle Near-Legendary Spell—Rain of Fire!
The sky was filled with blazing flames that poured down upon the Drow army.
Unprepared Drow warriors were immediately scorched and thrown into chaos.
Dozens of Drow fell at once, their charging formations thrown into disarray.
Yet, they showed uncharacteristic tenacity—rather than retreating at the first setback, they continued their charge against the Cole Elves.
Besides Rain of Fire, Cole Elven spellcasters also unleashed Stinking Cloud and Meteor Shower among other Eighth-Circle Near-Legendary spells.
The Drow army's vanguard was instantly shattered.
Seizing the opportunity, the Cole Elven knights charged in without hesitation.
Though their speed was impressive, the Drow outnumbered them.
Shadow Lizards were also larger than white horses—despite the assault, they managed to slow the Elves down.
The Drow fearlessly surrounded the Elves, launching ambushes and encirclements.
Both sides were now locked in brutal melee, with no mercy shown.
Jifan noticed that due to the numerical disadvantage, Cole Elves were suffering increasing casualties.
"What power could have united the Drow like this—and made them so fearless of death?"
Jifan, who had a guess, calmly watched the battlefield lit with magical flashes and softly said:
"Is this all part of the Cole Elves' plan?"
Matthew didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked from another angle:
"What are the Cole Elves most known for?"
Longevity?
That's innate!
Art?
That's cultivated!
A society of nearly all Professionals?
Close enough.
"It's the High Elven Spellcasters."
Jifan's eyes lit up. He instantly realized that High Elven Spellcasters didn't just impact battle by casting spells directly.
As expected, when the Drow army surrounded the Elven knights—
A rolling thunder of hooves came from all sides of the forest.
Over 300,000 lightly-equipped Cole Elven soldiers swept in to surround the Drow.
The Drow army, thinking they could devour the tens of thousands of Elves, was thrown into chaos.
They never imagined such a massive force could encircle them so silently.
It was almost unthinkable!
Though panic spread, the Drow quickly regained control.
Over 100,000 slave warriors were ordered to throw themselves to their deaths, charging into the Cole Elves.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Drow army attacked the central Cole Elven cavalry with everything they had.
They planned to devour the bait completely.
The Cole Elven commander, noting the Drow's movement, immediately issued a full-defense order.
Hundreds of elite Elven spellcasters unleashed a range of defensive spells.
They shielded the surrounding Elven knights, cast group healing, raised earthen walls, summoned trenches—crafting a defensive terrain advantage.
These combat-mage-trained spellcasters showcased their full strength to help the Elven knights withstand the siege.
Watching all this, the Drow commander's eyes glinted with eerie violet light as she murmured coldly:
"Since you've delivered yourselves… I won't be polite."
As her words fell, a tide of blood-red light surged from all directions.
The brilliant crimson pierced the heavens, turning the blue sky blood-red.
It was as if the sky had been pulled down, becoming a swirling black mist.
Whipping winds and storm clouds converged over the battlefield.
Upon contact with the black mist, Drow Elves' eyes turned blood-red.
Bloodlust surged, their speed increased, and their fighting turned into blow-for-blow, life-for-life madness.
Unless a Drow was decapitated, she would keep attacking—slashing, stabbing, even biting.
The unprepared Cole Elves immediately suffered devastating losses.
In moments, thousands of Elves fell, though even more Drow were also slain.
Yet the spreading death mist was being absorbed into the surrounding black fog.
More and more Drow fell under its influence.
Some individuals, amidst chilling screams, transformed into Driders.
Cole Elves with weaker resistance also began to succumb to the madness under the black mist.
The Cole army halted its encirclement and turned defensive.
Watching his fellow soldiers fall, the surrounded Cole Elven commander's expression changed drastically.
Seeing the black mist in the sky, he gave a nod to several figures clad in pale gold cloaks.
A few Drow, still sane, looked on in panic at their frenzied allies.
They dared not move and could only go along with the attacks.
As their actions aligned with the crazed Drow, whispers filled their ears.
Their minds and consciousness began slipping into madness without even realizing it.
Leading Jifan away from the battlefield, Matthew pointed to the chaos ahead and said calmly:
"These are the future enemies of Bay Territory—beings who can cast spells that affect tens or even hundreds of thousands of troops."
"To oppose them, one must not only defeat their armies, but also resist the whispers that corrode the mind and will."
Jifan immediately understood—this was why the Lord required adventurers and soldiers to train in special skills and talents.
No matter how powerful, if one cannot resist the enemy's mental influence—
They will, like the Cole Elves now, gradually merge with the Drow's madness.
Jifan watched in horror as the Elven knights became increasingly disorganized, losing their former grace and structure.
The ebb and flow of the battlefield shocked Jifan to the core.
It made him truly grasp the depth and power possessed by major forces like the Drow and Cole Elves.
So how would the Cole Elves resist this threat?
Unexpectedly, the Cole Elves made no move.
Their outer army simply rested in place, maintaining their defensive formation.
They watched solemnly as their surrounded comrades were gradually overwhelmed by the crazed Drow.
Half an hour passed.
Only 4,000 Cole Elves remained, still tenaciously holding on under the protection of Elven mages.
The ground was littered with corpses—Cole Elves, Driders, and even twisted Wax-Melt Fiends.
Over a third of the Drow army attacking them had already been turned into Driders.
From afar, Matthew gazed at a familiar-looking creature and raised an eyebrow in recognition:
"So it's you…"
"ROAR…!"
It roared wildly, cruel and greedy, staring at the Driders.
Shetlai felt her commands executed perfectly.
Her urge to create more Driders grew ever stronger.
She raised her gray-black staff high, chanting twisted incantations while directing shimmering altars to greedily plunder the souls of the dead Elves.
The soundless wails of the souls were gradually swallowed by the black mist, becoming part of it.
Seeing the crazed Drow unable to break through the mages' defenses—
The once-defeated Shetlai showed no hesitation.
She raised her staff toward the sky, guiding the swirling black mist to descend.
The spiraling fog was absorbed into a glowing formation, slowly warping the surrounding space and emitting a deep crimson glow.
A twisted apparition slowly emerged beside Shetlai.
Its form was indescribable. Countless threads extended from its back, attaching to every Drider.
The drifting spirits nearby were unconsciously absorbed and devoured.
Whether dead Drow or Cole Elves, none could escape its consumption.
Yet this horrifying scene was nearly invisible to others.
Matthew was the exception.
He motioned for Jifan and the others to retreat further, avoiding exposure while quietly observing and gathering intel.
"Divine Incarnation. Class Level: ???, Challenge Rating: ???, HP: ???, ATK: ???"
Seeing the familiar divine incarnation, Matthew raised an eyebrow in pleasant surprise:
"Damn, Rose is really going all out!"
That's right—the mastermind who sacrificed over 100,000 Drow and slave warriors to ambush tens of thousands of Cole Elves was none other than the Spider Goddess—Rose!
What Matthew didn't expect was her early descent onto the material plane—before the first Elemental Tide even arrived.
Even as a mere divine avatar, it was still a true miracle.
It would greatly reinforce her authority, aiding her in uniting the Drow forces of the Underdark.
But was this feast of souls really worth such a bold move?
Matthew turned to look at the immobile Cole army, a faint smile on his face.
The incarnation's eyes burned like winter wraithfire, locked onto the struggling Cole Elves.
She pointed ahead—instantly, dozens of Driders expanded in size.
"Aah…!"
"ROAR…!"
"HISSS…!"
Amid grotesque transformations, they howled and grew into towering monsters.
Their twisted and mutated auras surged, their remaining reason vanishing as they charged like beasts.
Several extraordinary-tier Elven warriors stepped in without hesitation.
But they underestimated the Driders.
Their increased size came with massive boosts in strength and speed.
In the blink of an eye, the Elven warriors were repelled—three were heavily injured and quickly incapacitated.