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Chapter 442: Strike
Dazzling flames expanded and spread.
Before the terrifying blaze and destructive force could cause harm,
the blinding light had already rendered the unsuspecting drow unable to see, their eyes watering uncontrollably.
"Ah...!"
"Ambush!"
"Commander!"
"Caster!!"
"Where is the enemy?"
"..."
The drow's assault was heavily disrupted.
The gnolls, though also affected by the light, became even fiercer in their attacks, causing significant trouble for the drow, who lacked strong defenses.
Over 30 drow warriors were struck down.
Their death cries spread fear among the remaining drow, who instinctively began retreating.
At the moment the fireball exploded, the drow commander instinctively crushed the gem on her ring finger.
Flame Shield!
The flames surged forth!
The powerful shockwave caused the Flame Shield to tremble.
Taking advantage of this precious respite, the drow commander ignored the anguished screams of her guards and activated the spell on her cloak.
Shadow Stealth!
The aftermath of the fiery blast shattered the Flame Shield.
The searing air lashed against the drow commander's face, prompting her to roar in rage:
"The enemy is to the north! Reserve troops, take them out!"
The drow soldiers surged forward at her command, relief evident on their faces.
Though many had secretly wished for the commander's demise,
they would never want her to die in battle!
The reason was simple: if the commander from the Silver Serpent family were to fall,
they, as her failing protectors, would lose their status as soldiers and be demoted to despised slaves.
No drow desired to become a slave!
About 200 drow soldiers charged northward.
These experienced soldiers instinctively spread out, avoiding becoming easy targets for area spells.
Their eyes gleamed with excitement and cruelty. Killing or capturing the caster would bring them significant rewards.
Military merit was their only chance to change their fate!
But they found nothing. After advancing nearly 200 meters, another fiery explosion lit up the gnoll camp behind them.
Another fireball detonated!
The drow soldiers exchanged uneasy glances as their commander's enraged screams echoed:
"He's moved west, you fools!"
"Catch him, no matter what!"
The commander's furious shouts carried raw malice and venom, sending chills down the spines of her troops.
The pursuing drow adjusted their direction, while a dozen sharp ones veered eastward.
Before they could advance 50 meters, the leading drow soldier was suddenly flung backward and crashed to the ground.
None of the other soldiers went to help him. They merely glanced coldly at the trembling arrow in his chest and silently spread out further.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Annie's archery was precise and lethal.
Each arrow she released brought down a drow soldier.
Her accuracy caused significant pressure on the advancing drow.
Yet their comrades' deaths only spurred the soldiers forward. They continued their erratic maneuvers, closing the gap to Annie.
Standing behind her, Matthew watched as the drow forces poured out of the camp.
He launched another fireball at the densest cluster of drow.
Fireballs traveled fast, delivering devastating damage far beyond the drow's expectations.
Within a 6-7 meter radius, every drow caught in the blast was heavily injured.
"Ding, you have slain 7 drow soldiers, restoring 70 mana points and gaining 2,100 Fate Power."
The average drow had reached Level 7—impressive indeed.
But this didn't stop Matthew from casting fireballs repeatedly.
While decimating the drow ranks, he disrupted their formations, preventing them from regrouping.
Of course, Matthew knew this strategy was temporary.
If the drow commander wasn't entirely incompetent, she'd soon see through his tactics.
"Spread out, you fools!"
"Retake the camp. Follow me!"
After observing six or seven fireball strikes, the commander realized Matthew hadn't targeted the gnoll camp.
This led her to conclude that the caster was aiding the gnolls.
Furious and humiliated, she led her six surviving guards into the camp.
Yet she didn't immediately attack. Instead, she found a hidden spot and ordered her troops to hold off.
Her plan was clear: killing the gnolls yielded little.
If she could stall the caster, it would give her troops more time to encircle and capture him.
Capturing the caster would bring immense rewards, whether she enslaved him or offered him to her goddess.
And before that, she'd ensure he suffered greatly.
The commander's mind teemed with countless cruel "artistic" ideas.
But she overestimated her soldiers.
As the drow reached the cave entrance,
Annie stood firm, showing no fear.
Seizing their tightly packed formation, she loosed an arrow that pierced two soldiers simultaneously.
A perfect double kill!
"It's a surface elf!" (Drow term for surface elves)
"Capture her for the goddess!"
"Kill her!"
The drow soldiers' fear transformed into frenzied cries of excitement.
Annie's identity thrilled them.
Yet as they charged the cave, four crossbow bolts flew from the shadows.
Each bolt struck true, ripping through enchanted armor and shattering the bodies beneath.
Whoosh!
Before the fallen soldiers could hit the ground, short spears followed, taking down two more attackers.
The battle-hardened drow soldiers snarled:
"They're no more than 10!"
"Attack! Bring me their heads!"