Chapter 339: Hold the Line, We'll Ambush
The towns and castles falling to the elite orc forces didn't surprise Matthew much.
The combat strength of the elite orc soldiers was undeniably high.
The average challenge level of the elite orcs Matthew encountered earlier was already 6+!
This was higher than most of the regular soldiers in the Netheril Empire.
The nobles of the Carl Plains, accustomed to peace, were even less capable of training soldiers than the nobles of Blood Moon City.
At least the latter had to explore ruins and clear out gnolls, kobolds, and murlocs, inadvertently strengthening their forces.
The highly developed Carl Plains had long distanced themselves from such dangers and troubles.
Most of their soldiers were only tasked with clearing out endless waves of kobolds and murlocs.
At most, they played the role of enforcers, bullying commoners on behalf of their masters.
The last time these towns and castles survived,
it was because the orc armies had gained so much from plundering human villages that they saw no need to expend extra effort attacking fortifications.
Now, things were different!
"The Carl family is truly ruthless."
While Matthew and Bay Territory profited greatly during this time, it was a mere drop in the bucket compared to what the Carl family would gain.
Most of the low-ranking nobles and commoners, used as cannon fodder, didn't even know why they were dying.
Even in the relatively stable Netheril Empire, the cycle of the strong preying on the weak played out bloodily before Matthew's eyes.
This served as a reminder for Matthew: Bay Territory was still not strong enough and had to continue growing and developing.
Only by becoming stronger could they resist when unforeseen crises struck!
Putting aside the vortex of chaos in the central Carl Plains for now,
Matthew led the Bay Territory soldiers and adventurers back to the Misty Fortress.
Supplies needed replenishing, rewards needed distributing, tasks needed settling, and the soldiers and adventurers required rest.
Simultaneously, Matthew needed updates from 343 and the Harley Knights about the battles between the southern orc army and Blood Moon City's forces.
Just as Matthew had anticipated,
the two sides were locked in fierce combat at Darkmoon City and Carlisle Castle.
The 200,000-strong orc army had been assaulting the Blood Moon City defenses for over ten days.
The orcs had lost 50,000 soldiers, while the defenders suffered 10,000 casualties.
Without reinforcements of 30,000 soldiers, the defenses might have already collapsed.
Due to disparities in strength and numbers, the 70,000 remaining Blood Moon City troops could only passively defend.
According to 343, the defense line's survival in the early days was thanks to a batch of spellcasters urgently transferred from the Mage Tower by the Harley Knights.
From the information provided by 343, Matthew gained insight into the orc soldiers' capabilities.
Their average challenge level was 5+, stronger than Matthew had anticipated.
More importantly, while their equipment wasn't as advanced as the elite orcs in the central Carl Plains, it was still adequate.
Additionally, they weren't experiencing food shortages despite Bay Territory and the adventurers blocking their supply routes.
This was why Matthew felt compelled to return urgently.
Without his intervention, Blood Moon City's army was on the verge of collapse!
For now, Matthew's collaboration with Blood Moon City was mutually beneficial.
Both sides got what they wanted.
Thus, Matthew had to ensure Blood Moon City didn't fall!
Matthew spent considerable time and effort analyzing the battlefield from high above with Yaya.
After observing the battlefield for two days, he noted the orc soldiers' vastly different tactics compared to the vanguard.
These Blackstone Clan orcs displayed remarkable combat performance.
Though lacking in siege equipment, their discipline far surpassed that of other orc forces.
They executed their plans methodically, showing exceptional organization, unlike their usually chaotic kin.
This was a highly unusual orc army.
"So, it's them. Our grudge started this early?"
Matthew had recognized the Blackstone orcs—they were the same ones destined to destroy and overrun Blood Moon City in the future.
The Blackstone orcs, while less renowned than the Bloodskull or Ironbeast clans, were no weaker.
Their population exceeded 10 million!
The Blackstone orcs before him were merely their rejected elders and recruits.
Only those who survived battles and plundered sufficient loot could formally join the clan.
This clan, with its exceptional soldier-training methods, would become one of the top three orc clans in the future.
Watching the struggling Blood Moon City soldiers below, Matthew knew it was time to act.
Without their front-line resistance, Matthew and Bay Territory would lose their chance to ambush.
Resolute, Matthew prepared to make his move.
Returning to the Misty Fortress with Yaya, Matthew gathered 3,000 Bay Territory soldiers and began summoning elite adventurers.
"This mission will be challenging, but the rewards will be equally generous."
Matthew's declaration quickly piqued the interest of many elite adventurers.
They weren't fools—they understood the orcs' threat.
Many adventurers were from the Eastern Province, and a significant number resided near Blood Moon City.
With a natural inclination to fight orcs and Bay Territory offering substantial rewards, few elite adventurers refused the call.
Thus, Matthew assembled 10,000 elite adventurers, with mid-tier professionals as the minimum requirement and over a hundred high-tier professionals among them.
Matthew then led them around to the rear of the Blackstone orc army camp.
"Step one: Eliminate all Blackstone orc wolf-rider scouts!"
Matthew's strategy was straightforward: blind the Blackstone orcs by taking out their eyes and ears, rendering them deaf and blind for the next steps.
Wolf-riders had a challenge level of 7+!
Ferocious and highly mobile, they were particularly troublesome opponents, especially on open plains.
However, the high-tier adventurers took action!
Forming elite hunting squads, they used their overwhelming strength to ambush several groups of wolf-rider scouts.
When the wolf-riders began regrouping, Matthew and Yaya entered the fray.
Together, they ambushed three wolf-rider teams, each numbering about a hundred, intentionally leaving survivors to spread Yaya's fearsome reputation among the scouts.
"Will they send reinforcements?"
"Or abandon their scouting altogether?"