Chapter 600: Winner Takes All
After this round of "nourishment," the Elven Gods should quickly escape the awkwardness of just "awakening."
The greatly expanded territories and populations of the elven forces compared to thousands of years ago would inevitably provide them with a constant "supply."
That is the strength of a kingdom with deep roots and a rich heritage!
Even the Ail Elves might catch a new breath this time.
However, Matthew did not rely on these unreliable allies.
From their lack of contact with the Silverleaf Family and Bay Territory to discuss rebuilding the Rocky Mountains defensive line, their foolish mindset was clear.
They already seemed to expect Bay Territory and the Silverleaf Family to block the Cole Elf Kingdom's advance.
Meanwhile, they themselves had begun rebuilding fortifications and strongholds based on the characteristics of the Five Great Lakes.
How did Matthew know so clearly?
Because these fools secretly bought a large number of engineering golems and materials for constructing teleportation arrays from Bay Territory.
They learned a crucial lesson from being beaten by the Cole Elves and witnessing Bay Territory resist them.
Using the super teleportation arrays provided by Grand Arcanist Cronorman and Bloodmoon City, they planned to form a defensive network capable of mutual support and rapid retreat.
Upon learning of their confident plans, Annie and the Silverleaf Family showed undisguised contempt.
"These fools still don't understand that the real foundation of victory lies with the basic soldiers."
"Not these defense projects designed for them to embezzle."
The Silverleaf Family saw through their schemes but said nothing, and simply demanded a large number of elven civilians and common warriors.
As for resources, those families didn't even have enough for themselves.
The massive influx of elves to the Silverleaf Family.
Was primarily to upgrade and renovate the fortresses and strongholds throughout the Rocky Mountains.
At the same time, the Silverleaf Family decided to jointly develop the Rocky Mountains' rich mineral and magical resources with Bay Territory.
Annie, long aware of the importance of population, readily accepted the burdens discarded by other Ail Elf families.
The Dragon Frenzy disaster and the Cole Elf offensive.
Had long forced the Ail Elves to focus on warfare and military industries.
Combined with various factions hoarding materials for building cities and fortresses.
The resource-rich Ail Elf region ironically fell into a material shortage.
In response to the hardships faced by most ordinary Ail Elves, the Silverleaf Family decisively issued a frontier recruitment order.
Offering generous rewards and abundant living supplies, they attracted many displaced by wall-building projects or families ruined by war casualties.
Bay Territory obtained a 50% mining right for many Rocky Mountains mineral veins.
Upon investigation, the veins' astonishing reserves and superb quality were confirmed.
Naturally, to better protect these assets and help the Silverleaf Family gain a solid foothold in the Rockies.
Bay Territory used teleport arrays, maritime, and river transport to ship massive amounts of food, supplies, military products, and production equipment.
Valued at over 30 million gold coins, this investment consumed all profits earned from trades with other families and factions.
Correspondingly, Bay Territory and the Silverleaf Family rapidly established a series of factories in fortresses and castles throughout the Rockies.
Factories specialized in producing various weaponry and equipment.
They also established self-sufficient agricultural eco-parks to maintain local food supply and consumption.
Of course, fully mastering the Rockies and turning them into an unbreakable line against the Cole Elf Kingdom.
Required even more massive investment of funds and resources.
"The first batch of pioneers has completed training and is on their way."
"In about two weeks, once the Dragon Frenzy fog fully dissipates, 200,000 trained gnolls and 300,000 murlocs will also arrive."
"You must manage and restrain them well, and arrange for the murlocs to infiltrate the Five Great Lakes area..."
"As for the adventurers, suppress their curiosity to avoid them running off to die against the Cole Elves."
"First clean up the Rockies, set up magical beast and plant cultivation bases..."
"Don't forget to build underground storage points and prepare underground strategic tunnels. Our future enemies aren't just the Cole Elves..."
Hearing this, Jifan felt the heavy weight of responsibility.
Yet he did not resist the challenge; instead, he was secretly overjoyed.
Two years ago, he and his sister were struggling in the Bloodmoon City slums, where death lurked around every corner.
Now, he was Bay Territory's Rocky Mountains chief, managing a million-strong region, facing unimaginable powerful enemies.
For him, the future was full of challenges and hope.
Annie hesitated, glancing at the Ail Elves beginning to learn from Bay Territory staff, and asked doubtfully:
"Are you sure they don't need "training" first? They're practical, but their habits and certain aspects..."
Matthew shook his head. He was well aware that cooperation with the Silverleaf Family would inevitably bring troubles.
It was not only a test for these Ail Elves but also for Bay Territory's own personnel.
Outside the territory, the work environment would be much harsher and diverse.
Matthew didn't want them to become greenhouse flowers; he hoped they'd recognize others' flaws and limitations to sharpen themselves.
Some might fall behind; some might "fall."
But Matthew believed that under Bay Territory's excellent governance, they would easily make smart comparisons.
Don't be stupid!
Memorizing Matthew's instructions, Jifan deepened his mental imprint and pointed toward the silent Cole Elf camp.
What about over there?
Standing quietly by the wall, Matthew gazed thoughtfully at the glittering figure in the camp's center and said without hesitation:
"With the diamond golem there, any direct assault would cost us dearly."
"So, we won't attack. We'll let them tear each other apart."
Hearing Matthew's plan, Jifan and Annie blinked in surprise.
How would that work?
Before they could figure it out, Matthew beckoned to a nearby stealthy gray elf elite.
She respectfully approached Matthew and saluted.
Despite Bay Territory's education and transformation, the gray elves' innate caution still influenced their behavior.
Annie scrutinized the tall, strong figure of the female gray elf warrior—far sturdier and more athletic than regular elves.
Clearly, she had adapted well since leaving the surgery table.
She had also learned new combat skills and feats, combining body, skill, and specialization into formidable combat power.
Annie, eager for strength while preserving attractiveness, grew impatient.
"Tell them the Cole Elf army's situation and deliver these teleportation array supplies to them..."
The gray elf took the storage equipment without hesitation and quickly descended the wall.
Watching her leave, Annie couldn't help asking: "Are you trying to sow discord? Like the stratagem we learned?"
Matthew smiled mysteriously, pointing at the dazed Cole Elves inside Icewind Fortress:
"A thousand-mile dyke collapses from an ant hole. The Cole Elves' internal divisions are huge, worsened by past injustices..."
"We need the survivors to speak out, to sow seeds of doubt in the camp and spark an ideological transformation..."
This unprecedented approach made Annie and Jifan ponder deeply.
If they followed the Lord's plan, the Cole Elf camp would soon fall into chaos.
External pressure.
Internal conflict.
Suspicion among comrades.
Even the strongest army would lose morale after such upheaval.
Both eagerly watched the gray elf swagger toward the Cole Elf camp, attracting growing attention, and began to anticipate the coming spectacle.
Pale-faced Eiris silently watched the quarreling commanders, not hearing a word.
He never imagined he would also be abandoned.
Tigris's cold words still echoed in his ears:
"Your injuries are too severe. If you act rashly, your life is at risk..."
"Stay in the camp. I'll give you control of the diamond golem. Hold the camp as best you can..."
"In at most five days, I will return with reinforcements, defeat Bay Territory, and retake Icewind Fortress."
Despite the deep disappointment in his heart, Eiris still harbored a sliver of hope for Tigris.
One day passed.
Bay Territory launched no attack, and no news came from the retreating Cole Elf army.
Two days passed.
Still no attack, no news.
Eiris, his injuries partially healed, began leading the remaining Cole Elves to build defenses and temporary walls.
From fighting Bay Territory, he had learned a crucial principle.
"Know your purpose, let go of pride, and face everything with full effort."
In defensive warfare, having walls and not having them made a world of difference.
Otherwise, Eiris wouldn't have been ambushed by Matthew and nearly killed by Yaya while trying to breach Bay Territory's defenses.
With no thought of offense now, Eiris focused on perfecting defense.
He believed the longer they held out, the better everyone's survival chances.
Three days passed.
Eiris and the Cole Elves spent massive supplies building a three-meter-high makeshift wall.
Some wounded mages initially refused, thinking manual labor beneath them.
Under tremendous pressure, Eiris issued a ruthless order:
"If you refuse, you will be court-martialed and must evacuate last when retreating."
Facing a higher-status, stronger, nobler Eiris, the elf mages lowered their proud heads.
Grudgingly, they used spells like "Mud to Stone," "Shape Terrain," and "Create Water" that they normally disdained.
Otherwise, even 100,000 Cole Elves couldn't have quickly built a wall surrounding the camp.
Four days passed.
Bay Territory and the Ail Elves still did not attack, but set up "anti-communication" arrays around them.
Eiris sent three waves of scouts to investigate, none returned.
Suddenly, the massive Cole Elf camp became deaf and blind.
All Cole Elves grew increasingly uneasy.
They could only cling to Tigris's promise, hoping reinforcements would come soon.
Five days passed.
Still no sign of reinforcements.
Instead, Bay Territory made its move.
Despite having superior numbers, over 100,000 Cole Elf warriors tacitly chose to defend.
Unexpectedly, Bay Territory did not attack but instead stopped 1 kilometer away.
It was an awkward distance—the Cole Elves couldn't launch a quick assault.
All their cavalry had been taken away, their bows lacked the range, and their assault units dared not move.
They could only watch as the Bay Territory warriors, in perfect formation, dug a deep trench around the entire camp.
The Cole Elves, who had just finished building walls, immediately felt numb.
Weren't they going to attack?
What was this supposed to mean?
After digging the deep trench, Bay Territory forces began slowly constructing a taller wall behind it, preparing to encircle them completely.
Sensing danger, Eiris tried leading a raid.
But Yaya circling overhead quickly cooled all reckless thoughts among the Cole Elves.
Two days later.
Trapped within a "drawn prison," the Cole Elves discovered a terrifying fact.
"Our food and supplies can only last half a month..."
As a first-time commander, Eiris suffered a major loss by not sealing the information, causing panic among the army.
Now, it had been ten days since the other elves retreated.
A heavy atmosphere filled the Cole Elf camp.
The commanders had been arguing for days.
Yet no consensus could be reached.
Some commanders wanted to break out.
But lacking siege equipment, they couldn't even step onto the outer wall.
Some wanted to continue defending.
But with dwindling supplies, starvation loomed.
Some proposed sending elite troops.
But again, the problem was how to breach the encircling wall.
Others suggested escaping via teleportation arrays, which faced heavy resistance.
No one wanted to abandon comrades—after all, they were the ones already abandoned.
However, Eiris sensed many commanders were tempted by the idea.
The fear of death was eroding their moral bottom line...
A reminder from a guard snapped Eiris back to reality.
Under the gaze of the other commanders, he opened the envelope, curiously feeling the smooth, resilient paper, and commented patiently:
"Is this what they call paper? It does have artistic merit—another Bay Territory invention. Truly fascinating..."
After a quick glance at the contents, Eiris laid the paper flat and beckoned everyone, saying calmly:
"Come and see—Bay Territory is ready to act against us."
The commanders crowded around, and when they saw the trilingual message, an uproar broke out.
"The army has completely withdrawn from the Rockies? Impossible!"
"Eighty thousand dead, 120,000 captured? Lies!"
"This must be a trick to sow chaos among us!"
"But if true, they've lost so much they can't possibly re-enter the Rockies..."
"That can't be true—how many people does Bay Territory even have? Tigris is a legendary archmage!"
"Haven't you realized yet? We were just bait to delay the enemy."
"Without us here, they might have been wiped out!"
"If it were a lie, why is there still no reinforcements after the promised five days?"
"Maybe Bay Territory pitied us and decided to tell the truth—how ironic!"
"I don't trust them—they must have ulterior motives!"
"..."
Amid the furious argument, even the staunchest commanders gradually accepted the situation.
The Cole Elf Kingdom had truly abandoned them!
The furious shouting and bickering were merely ways to vent anger and fear.