Chapter 258: Crushing Defeat Head-On
"One orc warrior can easily kill two human soldiers."
"Ten orc warriors will lose five to kill ten human soldiers!"
"A hundred orc warriors can't beat a hundred human soldiers!"
"A thousand human soldiers can easily defeat a thousand orc warriors!"
This is a "joke" that originated from the Scarlet Fortress.
At the same time, it can be seen as praise for the Scarlet Fortress and a unique way of recruiting soldiers.
Interestingly, this rule was quite fitting during the early days of the Scarlet Fortress.
However, in recent decades, with the emergence of one "vast and invincible" floating city after another,
the Netheril Empire's resource allocation naturally shifted even more significantly and straightforwardly.
As a result, soldiers' benefits were reduced, and the permanent garrison at the Scarlet Fortress gradually decreased.
Old John and Arnold left the army partly because of this.
The quality of soldiers declined significantly, and the Scarlet Fortress, which used to easily fend off orc invasions, found itself struggling against scattered raiding parties.
Matthew didn't delve too deeply into these "changes," but he gleaned the information he needed.
"A professional army is better than a mob of reckless brutes!"
Of course, experience can only be trusted halfway; the rest must be proven in practice.
However, when the scattered trolls charged from afar,
the Bay Territory soldiers, who had just rested for a few hours, did not hesitate to raise their weapons.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
A relentless barrage of arrows rained down.
Instantly, it disrupted the trolls' charge.
The alternating rounds of shooting put immense pressure on the trolls, with many struck by crossbow bolts and falling to the ground.
This sight filled the troll soldiers with great terror.
During the past few days of harassment, they had endured crossbow attacks.
Although the thicker bolts caused some pain, they usually healed quickly after removing the arrows.
But now?
The situation was entirely different!
Trolls struck in vital areas fell one after another, unable to rise.
This terrifying lethality naturally made the already panicked trolls even more desperate.
Their somewhat organized charge instantly disintegrated into chaos before even clashing with the human soldiers.
Sensing a rare opportunity, Angela raised her sword and shouted clearly:
"Everyone, prepare, advance!"
"Maintain formation, do not move recklessly!"
Shield-bearing soldiers stepped forward, forming a neat line, advancing steadily.
Seeing the enemy in disarray before even engaging, the initially nervous Bay Territory soldiers grew confident.
"Is this all the trolls have got?"
As the two sides were about to collide, Matthew and Yaya, who had been waiting, targeted the trolls' vanguard without hesitation.
"Roar…!"
A palpable Dragon's Intimidation descended, causing hundreds of troll soldiers to fall to the ground, with the remaining thousand or so severely affected.
Sensing another opportunity, Angela ordered the soldiers to press forward.
As they closed in to about 50 meters, they pulled out long, detachable spears hidden behind their shields.
The paralyzing poison on the bolts proved highly effective against the troll soldiers.
Injuries that would be fatal multiple times over for an average human,
didn't outright kill the trolls, but incapacitated them swiftly.
The soldiers, morale soaring, collided with the disordered troll ranks under Angela's command.
In the first moments of the clash,
wounded troll soldiers cooperated by collapsing.
The entire troll line was immediately breached.
In the past, Angela would have ordered the mobile units to break through from the gap.
But this time, Angela remembered the "tactics" discussed at the strategy meeting.
So, she held firm and kept the Bay Territory soldiers steady as well.
"These trolls are nothing!"
"Everyone, stay calm, keep it steady!"
Hearing Angela's instructions, Matthew also caught the command:
"Second row, spearmen, advance!"
Sharp spears thrust forward.
Their main goal wasn't to poke holes in the trolls but to keep them at bay.
Seeing how well things were going, the soldiers put all their effort into shooting at the incoming trolls.
"Third row, archers, fire!"
"..."
The troll army, already overwhelmed, seemed on the brink of collapse.
Taking advantage of the moment, Matthew and Yaya wreaked havoc among the trolls.
Some trolls attempted to break through and attack the soldiers' defenses.
But as soon as they engaged, ten towering rock golems emerged from each flank.
The golems' massive fists pummeled the trolls, causing their vanguard to panic and retreat.
The trolls continued to fall back as the Bay Territory formation pressed forward!
Seeing the dire situation, the troll priests quickly sent their trusted guards to support and command.
But it was too late; the trolls' defeat was sealed.
As the first troll dropped its weapon and fled, others followed suit, escaping the chaotic battlefield.
Under such circumstances, the mounting pressure was palpable.
A dragon in the sky.
Golems squeezing from the sides.
Cavalry tearing through the flanks!
The troll soldiers finally broke, screaming as they fled.
They collided head-on with the overseers rushing over, who tried to intimidate and cut down the deserters.
But the overseers were soon met with a barrage of Matthew's fireballs.
Riding the momentum of the collapsing enemy, Matthew and Yaya swooped down to trouble the troll priests once more!
This time, their goal was to pin down the troll priests.
They were clearing the best pursuit path for the attacking Bay Territory army.
The enraged troll priests quickly dropped their hesitations and attacked the oncoming Yaya!
Losing the battle was one thing,
But they couldn't let their enemy's arrogance go unchecked!