Chapter 139: The Great Battle Is Imminent

With the floating city at his disposal, Patrick had no fear of the combined forces of orcs and trolls, save for the threat posed by warlocks, red dragons, and divine priests. He only needed to observe the reactions of the ruling councilors.

If they remained as insular and arrogant as before, Patrick would simply stop concerning himself with them. While a dozen years might represent a quarter of a human lifespan, to Patrick—now inhabiting an elven form—those years would pass as fleetingly as a month or two.

Patrick had no interest in guessing the inner thoughts of the council elders. With a great war looming, distraction would only hinder future progress.

After the battle reports were forwarded, the King’s direct response was to order the troops to hold their positions and observe the trolls' subsequent movements. The Council, conversely, took little action beyond immediately authorizing the transfer of military supplies, with a portion of the provisions sent directly to the floating city via the teleportation chambers. Their reply mirrored King Anasterian’s: wait and see how the trolls proceeded before making further arrangements.

This was unlike the major families Patrick knew. Such uncharacteristic behavior was truly baffling. The Council faction had not interfered much with the transport and deployment of supplies. While every elf held a blood feud against the trolls, it was unlike those old foxes in the Council to refrain from meddling behind the scenes.

His father-in-law, Borald Windrunner, spoke up directly: "It is possible for the Council to act this way. When it comes to the matter of the trolls, those old councilors will not resort to petty schemes."

Patrick was puzzled. "Why is my father-in-law so certain? Is there some connection between the two?"

"Ha-ha!" The old man chuckled, his spirit high. "You are the youngest outstanding elf in the thousands-year history of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas to sit on the Council before reaching a thousand years of age—a feat unprecedented. But you are still young, after all. You did not participate in the bloody battles between the kingdom and the forest trolls. Of the councilors and legislators currently in the chamber, which one of them did not crawl out from the mountains of corpses and seas of blood during the Troll Wars? Our hatred for the trolls is carved into our very bones. Regarding these ancestral enemies, the Silvermoon Council has always been united."

A fine wrinkle marked the old man's face. Although he still looked like a man in his prime, Patrick could sense the biting, intense aura radiating from him as he spoke—especially when he mentioned the trolls, his hatred and gnashing of teeth were palpable.

"..." Patrick began to understand.

He had indeed never participated in the kingdom's early bloodbaths against the trolls. Those elves who had survived from the Troll Wars to the present day were, without exception, at the pinnacle of elven society.

The simplest and most direct example was the Windrunner family. They were not a family of spellcasters, but their ancestral ranger skills were renowned throughout Quel'Thalas. The trolls knew better than anyone the lethality of the rangers.

In the early days of Quel'Thalas, the first generation of the Windrunner family was appointed as Commanders-in-Chief of the ranger forces, initiating the purge of the trolls. The Troll Wars spanned thousands of years, and it was only with the alliance of humans and high elves that the Amani Empire of the forest trolls was finally defeated. From then on, the forest trolls declined, and the Amani tribe began to fracture.

Later, those elders who had fought the bloody battles passed away, and their successors—the current Council faction—continued the purge. Borald Windrunner, Alleria's father, was one of the leaders who had commanded the rangers against the trolls in those days.

Others, including Genriny, Senior, and Oakes, had all climbed to their current positions through the carnage of war. This was why, despite the Windrunner family lacking powerful spellcasters, they still held a seat on the Council that no one could shake.

*Perhaps I really was overthinking it,* Patrick mused. *Perhaps the Council truly had no hidden agenda this time.*

He shook his head, casting the unnecessary thoughts aside. With a formidable enemy at the gates, if the councilors were playing games in the shadows, he could settle the score with them later. Patrick had already reached the ninth rank; he would surely give those councilors a surprise.

"Councilor, our rangers have detected unusual activity in the mountains to the southwest. A large number of unknown creatures are approaching the Ghostlands. According to front-line scouts, these creatures have never been seen before. They are neither human nor elf; they have green skin and tusks like trolls. They are aggressive. We await your orders."

"Councilor, the troll army has begun its offensive from the east. Although the front line was prepared, they are outnumbered. The troll forces are vast. We await your orders."

...

Patrick was still considering how to manage his relationship with the Council when he heard the urgent reports. His heart tightened: *It has arrived. The Dark Tide is here.*

"Pass my order: have all elves currently outside return to the floating city for sanctuary. Abandon all territory outside. Until we understand the situation, preserve all vital strength. Furthermore, have all troops hold their positions. Whether they are rangers, mages, or any other class, enter combat readiness immediately. Prepare for battle. Cease all celebrations in the floating city and initiate defensive protocols."

Patrick called for his aide: "Idonis."

Idonis, who had been waiting nearby, appeared instantly: "I am here, my lord."

"Have the mages at the Sunspire activate the floating city's defensive barrier and monitor the operation of the arrays. All spare mages are to report to the front line."

"Your will be done." Idonis withdrew.

Patrick said, "I have a very bad premonition. There may be a connection between the trolls and those creatures that suddenly appeared in the southwest."

Alleria was more composed, though she too was concerned about the green-skinned creatures with tusks. "With the floating city, the trolls are no threat. Our focus should be the southwest."

The orders were issued, and the jubilant atmosphere of the floating city came to an abrupt halt. Upon hearing of the troll invasion, elves in the streets reached for their blades, axes, and bows. Idonis and Garind Shadrin, the two standing committee members of the Sunspire representing the supreme leaders of the mage and ranger forces, respectively, had already gone out to organize the troops to face the formidable foe.

The municipal department, led by Quel'Thilis, began working at full capacity to activate the teleportation arrays, rescuing the retreating elves and bringing them to the floating city. Several teleportation arrays in the Sun City were crowded with mages and security forces, ensuring maximum safety while accelerating the rescue effort.

Yanida managed the floating city's energy supply and the monitoring of the defensive barriers from within the mage tower—the city was the foundation for all the elves here, and there could be no room for error. Kandiris was responsible for the distribution of military supplies, various spellcasting components, and medical necessities.

With the great battle imminent, every elf needed to be at their post.