Chapter Twenty-Two: White Heat

Patrick unfolded his mental senses, reaching into Sebwatha to perceive the trolls within. He detected the presence of a high-level spellcaster—seven spellcasters in total, three hundred seventy-four warriors, and one individual shielded by divine power. This last, however, was so heavily protected by energy that his true strength could not be discerned.

“The one protected by divine power must be Chief Zumalosh,” Patrick mused.

From memory, the mightiest troll in all of Sebwatha was indeed Chief Zumalosh, who possessed skills like Armor-Piercing Strike and Cleaving Slash. Yet, his threat level was not considered high.

“So far, there are no signs of other high-level spellcasters. My mental senses found nothing else—this must be Chief Zumalosh. Hopefully, nothing unexpected arises.”

The army’s mages began to bolster the troops, casting spells such as Haste, Stoneskin, and Arcane Agility, maintaining the strategy of long-range firepower exchanges.

Patrick sensed a towering troll with flaming red hair, tusks longer than those of others, and a necklace of teeth across his chest. This must surely be Chief Zumalosh.

Behind Zumalosh, several troll witch doctors chanted ceaselessly, channeling voodoo power into him. His muscles bulged, veins stood out beneath the skin.

Nearby, a group of Amani Berserkers absorbed energy, while the Darkpine Sorcerers released waves of black energy toward them. Green witchcraft entered their bodies, causing the berserkers to swell in size—clothes and trousers ripped apart, eyes gradually lost clarity and turned blood-red. Some trolls licked their tusks, as if craving blood to soothe their raging hearts.

The Amani Berserkers charged straight at the elven lines, followed by Amani Warriors and Amani Axe Throwers. Troll forces quickly closed in on Patrick’s position. The rangers loosed arrows like rain upon the trolls; enchanted arrows inflicted considerable damage, but ordinary arrows were blocked by shields or failed to strike vital spots. Trolls casually pulled the arrows from their bodies and, relying on their superior regenerative abilities, continued their charge unhindered.

Patrick began casting spells, compressing a Fireblast in his palm and launching it at the trolls. Explosions erupted, scorching many trolls, yet the Amani Berserkers, numb to pain, pressed on even as flames consumed their bodies—they had become mindless killing machines.

Patrick continued to unleash Fireblast spells upon the trolls. The effects of the compressed Fireblast were evident, but still could not halt the trolls’ advance. Close combat became inevitable; the elves’ position was rocked by the assault. With the distance too short, the rangers’ bows lost effectiveness; they switched to daggers, but these had little impact. The trolls’ regenerative ability proved invaluable at this moment.

Aurelia was already fighting, blade in hand. The Ranger Marshal drew upon Patrick’s Arcane Agility to enhance her movements, weaving deftly through the battlefield. Her dagger and short sword slashed at troll throats, killing them in a single strike.

Patrick’s mental power surged, controlling and directing arcane energy. A blazing fire dragon ignited the air around him, instantly incinerating nearby trolls, filling the air with a pungent stench.

Chief Zumalosh had also reached the elven ranks. Empowered by witch doctors and voodoo, his strength and speed had more than doubled, and he slew elves with every swing.

“The divine protector is Chief Zumalosh. The space around him is locked by divine power—I cannot use mental force to guide a spell and kill him instantly.”

“So what do I do? Fight him hand-to-hand?” Patrick asked anxiously.

“You can only harm him physically, or alter his surroundings.”

Zumalosh, shielded by divine power, had thwarted Patrick’s plan to kill him with a spatial rift spell. Now that spells were ineffective against him, Patrick felt momentarily at a loss.

Of course—alter the environment. Scorched earth. How could I have forgotten?

Patrick’s mind erupted, arcane energy blasting the surrounding trolls away, like an Arcane Explosion. Threads of mental power wrapped around Chief Zumalosh, compressing the arcane energy, mimicking the spell’s form. In mere moments, flames engulfed Zumalosh. The divine shield began to dissolve under the fire, burning his skin. The inferno blinded him, robbed him of strength, and he finally collapsed, struggling silently until he faded away.

Aurelia saw Zumalosh fall and cried out, “The enemy leader is dead! Victory is ours—for Quel’Thalas!”

The elves echoed her call, shouting, “For Quel’Thalas!” The despair brought on by the trolls’ assault was instantly dispelled.

The tide of battle turned in favor of the elves. With their leader slain, troll morale plummeted. In contrast, the elves began to control the rhythm of war, pursuing and encircling the trolls with a fierce determination to annihilate them.

A beam of green light descended upon the troll warriors, rekindling their shattered resolve. Trolls waved their spears and axes, intent on attacking Patrick’s position once more.

“Wait, something’s wrong. That priest’s spell isn’t over yet—be careful.” Allen, sensing the troll priest’s magic, cautioned Patrick.

Another beam of green light fell, but this time its target was not the trolls, but the elves.

“It’s the trolls’ witchcraft—Corruption! Maintain your Arcane Barrier and dodge the spell attacks.”

The troll priest’s witchcraft struck, cursing many rangers. Their arms and skin erupted in boils and began to rot; those afflicted collapsed, writhing in pain and losing the ability to fight. Troll Berserkers and Axe Throwers, still alive, were about to reach the front lines.

“Ethonis, Canderis, let’s lift the curse together, quickly!” Patrick shouted to Ethonis and Canderis as the troll warriors closed in.

Together, Patrick, Ethonis, and Canderis dispelled the curse from the troops, then unleashed Fireblast spells upon the charging trolls, repelling the battered remnants.

“All rangers with explosive arrows, fire at Sebwatha!” Patrick called out. “The enemy’s senior priest is still inside—shoot now!”

Aurelia glanced at Patrick, then drew her bow without hesitation. All the rangers followed suit; those without explosive arrows fired at the troll warriors.

Patrick gathered a vast amount of arcane energy, compressing it with mental force into a small sphere. A super-concentrated Fireblast formed, glowing bright orange, and he hurled it toward Sebwatha.