Just as Sylvanas sank into self-loathing, a sudden commotion broke out behind Halazzi's position, and the orderly shield formation began to fall apart.
Although he did not know what had happened, Yawen, shrewd with age, seized the opportunity to advise Sylvanas. "This is our chance! Their formation is falling into disarray. Second Lady, order the mages to blast a path through with their spells!"
Seeing that there was still a chance to turn things around, Sylvanas rallied herself and regained her resolute expression. She turned to the dejected Xiao'en and gave her orders.
"Mages of Chenxingzhe! Use your most destructive fire spells to blast through the enemy formation at once. Everything hinges on this!"
Xiao'en jolted at the command, gathered his scattered thoughts, and looked down at the Trolls below.
Their shield formation had originally been so orderly that even the mages could do nothing against it. But now that it was beginning to crumble, there was plenty they could do.
"Mages, heed my command! Use Pyroblast at once and blast them apart!"
At Xiao'en's command, the five mages simultaneously began preparing Pyroblast, a tremendously powerful spell that took considerable time to cast.
This spell was a full size larger than an ordinary Fireball and could even explode upon striking its target. It could not have been better suited to blasting apart the Trolls' now-disordered formation.
Xiao'en had originally considered using Flamestrike as well, but under these circumstances, that spell, which focused on area damage rather than breaking through defenses, gave way to the more suitable Pyroblast.
By now, Nalorakk had personally led his vanguard up the other side of the small hill. The rangers guarding the rear reported that the enemy's charge was powerful, and without many traps prepared beforehand, it would be difficult to hold them off for long.
Sylvanas and the others now had to race against time to scatter the Trolls blocking their way. A moment too late, and they could be caught between the Trolls on both sides.
Meanwhile, Halazzi was glaring furiously at a squad of elven rangers that had suddenly emerged behind him. There were not many of them, but their sudden appearance in his rear had caught him somewhat off guard.
When he first learned that the main elven force from the Farstriders' camp had gone out to lay an ambush, he had known there could not be many rangers left in the camp. He truly had not expected them to dare split off troops to pursue him while still leaving people behind to defend it.
"Little elf! You're courting death!"
Upon seeing Charlemagne at their head, Halazzi roared, channeled his rage, and used Heroic Leap followed by Charge to rush straight up to him.
This gave Charlemagne, who was leading the pursuit, quite a fright. He had not expected the enemy to dare rush straight into his main force. Moreover, Halazzi's movements flowed seamlessly together without the slightest pause. Lacking practical experience fighting warriors, Charlemagne had not even had time to react before this advanced warrior was upon him.
At that critical moment, his body's instincts saved his life. Lireesa's training had already ingrained the response in him, and he immediately channeled focus into his feet and used Disengage to leap backward at speed.
While still in midair, he hurriedly ordered the rangers, "Spread out! Don't fight him head-on. An advanced warrior isn't someone we can stand against directly!"
After Charlemagne escaped him, Halazzi grew angry with embarrassment. As an advanced warrior, he had failed even when ambushing an elven brat who had yet to reach the advanced rank. He vented his anger on the other rangers around him instead.
Like a tiger among sheep, Halazzi went on a rampage through the panicked rangers. These rangers, intermediate at best, could do no damage in melee to him with rage covering his entire body. Instead, he cut them down one after another with his scimitar.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
Just as Halazzi was about to finish off an injured ranger on the ground, three powerful arrows flying toward him in succession suddenly drew his attention.
"Clang, clang, clang!"
By the time he raised his blade and knocked all three arrows aside, a companion had already seized the opportunity to rescue the fallen ranger.
Halazzi shook his numb right hand, somewhat surprised. The force behind those three arrows had exceeded his expectations, nearly breaking through the rage he had hastily layered over his scimitar.
Looking up, he saw that it was indeed the ranger leader who had escaped him earlier. The little elf, as he saw him, was now staring sharply at him as he drew another three arrows, nocked them, and took aim.
His expression tightened. Halazzi hastily retreated a few steps and quickly took a stance to receive the incoming volley.
What he did not know was that Charlemagne was merely bluffing. Three consecutive Aimed Shots had temporarily drained his focus.
Although he could keep shooting arrows, ordinary attacks like these could do nothing to impede Halazzi.
After easily knocking the three arrows aside, Halazzi clearly realized that he had been tricked. With an angry roar, he prepared to Charge at Charlemagne again.
"Not a chance! Halazzi, your opponent is me!"
At this shout, Halazzi, whose attention was already intensely focused, twisted aside and dodged an arrow hastily fired from the flank. Yet there was not a trace of satisfaction on his face. Instead, his expression was grim.
Sure enough, when he turned to look, the elves on the hill had already blasted his Trolls' formation apart.
With their numerical advantage, the High Elves swiftly broke through the Trolls' encirclement, while continuing to inflict casualties on the Trolls scattering in panic after their formation collapsed.
"Aah!!"
Halazzi was nearly mad with rage. He had thought today would be his chance to redeem himself, only for a wet-behind-the-ears elven brat to ruin his entire plan. Now he had lost everything, and if he did not leave, even he would be in danger.
"Retreat! Regroup with Nalorakk!"
Quickly gathering the remnants of his troops, Halazzi lingered no longer. He headed toward Nalorakk, swinging his scimitar all the way to deflect the arrows flying at him.
"Phew..."
After the enemy withdrew, Charlemagne finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had faced such a powerful opponent in his very first real battle, and only after relaxing did he realize that even his calves were trembling slightly.
At that moment, Sylvanas finally brought her troops over to join Charlemagne. She looked at the male elf before her with a complicated expression, unable to speak for a moment.
She had stubbornly insisted on carrying out this risky plan despite his and her seniors' objections, only to end up being rescued by the troops he led. This was truly difficult for the ever-proud Sylvanas to accept.
"...Thank you."
Charlemagne was anxiously arranging for Liadrin's priests to treat the rangers injured earlier when a soft murmur from behind suddenly caught his attention.
"Hm? Sylvanas, did you say something?"
For once, she had thanked him frankly, yet this fellow looked utterly bewildered, having failed to hear her. Queen Xi's temper flared at once. She turned her head and strode away.
"I didn't say anything!"
(End of chapter)