The victory over the Akunza Confederation had sent shockwaves through the region. Word of the Elysean army's brutal efficiency spread quickly, reaching distant villages and settlements. Some sent envoys to pledge their submission, hoping to avoid the same fate. Others retreated further into the wilderness, clinging to the belief that they could resist.
Marshal Armand Roux had no intention of giving them that chance.
From his command post at Fort Saint-Louis, Roux wasted no time in organizing the next phase of the campaign. The fort was no longer just a neglected outpost—it had become the heart of Elysea's expansion in Pan-America. Engineers and laborers, both Elysean and native conscripts, worked day and night to expand the fortifications.
Stone walls replaced the rotting wooden palisades. Artillery emplacements were reinforced. A new barracks was built to house the growing garrison, and supply depots were stocked with rations, ammunition, and medical supplies.