The Shadowmoon Clan.
Ner'zhul.
Hearing those names, Noah's expression turned strange.
He had just killed that man's disciple not long ago, and now he was running into his clan?
Noah wondered if he had some kind of unresolved karmic loop with Ner'zhul. Otherwise, why did he keep encountering people tied to this future Lich King?
But since they had appeared, Noah had no intention of letting them go.
He had never been an easy man to deal with.
With that thought, pale golden light erupted from Noah's body once more.
Under the gaze of both Orcs and Draenei, the space around them twisted violently again.
But this time, it was different.
Everyone broke into a cold sweat.
Because the space on the Orcs' side collapsed outright.
Shattered space peeled away, revealing something like a void-black abyss.
The Orcs vanished like reflections in a broken mirror as the space disintegrated.
Less than a second later, time itself seemed to rewind.
The fractured space restored itself completely.
Except the Orcs were gone.
As if they had never existed.
The Draenei stood drenched in cold sweat.
This was beyond comprehension.
Even Akama was speechless.
"Alright. The Orcs are dealt with," Noah said calmly, as if he had just brushed dust off his sleeve.
He turned toward Akama.
"Now tell me what I want to know."
"Draenei-no. Former Draenei. Former Draenei Exarch?"
"Is there something I can do for you?" Akama asked.
His voice was steady, but he felt terrible.
He hadn't expected to encounter an existence like this.
Once, he had been a Draenei Exarch.
Blessed by the Light.
Protected by it.
But during the defense of Shattrath against the corrupted Orcs, poisonous mists had tainted him.
He lost the Light.
And with it, his qualification as an Exarch.
Now, he and those like him lived in exile.
Fleeing.
Resisting.
Searching for somewhere to survive.
Scenes like today weren't new to Akama.
They had seen far worse during their escape.
The Orcs themselves were nothing special anymore.
But this being-
This thing that didn't feel like it belonged to Draenor at all-
That was different.
And frightening.
Especially because of how casually ruthless he was.
"I want to know," Noah said after a brief pause, "where the thing you once believed in is."
"You know what I'm talking about."
"I'm looking for the Light."
"I'm looking for the Naaru."
"I want an answer."
"At least one that satisfies me."
Noah didn't know Akama.
He didn't know about Broken Draenei either.
He felt nothing special toward him.
All he knew was that this man had once been a powerful follower of the Light.
And that alone could save Noah a great deal of trouble.
Nothing else mattered.
"The Naaru?" Akama stiffened as Noah's intent came through the mental link.
"Are you with the Burning Legion?"
"The Burning Legion?" Noah scoffed.
"No. I'm not."
That was a joke.
He was busy avoiding those monsters, not working for them.
"I just want to see a Naaru."
"And study the Light."
"The Light is not something to be 'studied,'" Akama replied, distrust clear in his voice.
"It relies on unwavering faith, not-"
"Tell me where it is," Noah cut in flatly.
"Or I'll subdue you, extract your memories, then kill you and everyone here."
He had no interest in conversation.
Why waste time being polite with a stranger?
Noah's blunt threat left Akama at a loss.
He didn't know if this being could truly do it.
But he didn't want to gamble.
Akama knew he was unlucky.
If Nobundo had already guided him toward Shamanism, he wouldn't be this powerless.
But reality didn't care.
Faced with Noah's pressure, Akama felt his head ache.
"I'm sorry," he finally sighed.
"I truly don't know."
Seeing Noah's expression darken, he immediately added, "It's the truth. You may search my mind if you wish."
"But please."
"Do not trouble my people."
"Fine," Noah said dismissively, waving a hand.
"Then tell me this."
"Where does that direction lead?"
"That way?" Akama followed Noah's gesture.
After a moment, he answered quietly.
"That is Shattrath City."
"But it is in ruins."
"Shattrath City..." Noah repeated.
He thought for a moment, then nodded.
"I see."
"Will I encounter anything else on the way?"
Akama shook his head bitterly.
Not because there was nothing.
But because he truly didn't know.
That was understandable.
Akama and his people were barely surviving.
They fled when danger appeared.
They only fought when cornered.
They had no capacity to care about anything else.
Noah understood.
He hadn't gained much information.
But at least he had a destination.
Shattrath City.
He felt like he'd heard of it before.
Friends had mentioned it-an important city in Outland after Draenor shattered.
Noah didn't dwell on it.
After confirming direction and distance, he took flight once more.
Akama watched the strange figure disappear into the distance and sighed.
He couldn't understand why such an existence had appeared on Draenor.
As for Shattrath's current state, he didn't know.
But he hoped this being wouldn't find the Naaru.
He had a bad feeling.
The man didn't feel evil.
But he carried a strange hostility toward the Naaru.
Shaking his head, Akama pushed the thought aside.
Whatever happened to the Naaru was no longer his concern.
He had lost the Light.
He was no longer an Exarch.
His purpose now was simple.
To find a place where these Broken Draenei could live.
Peacefully.
"That's enough," Akama said quietly, his gaze hardening.
"Let's move."
"It's not safe here."
"At least... not anymore."
...
Guided by Akama's directions, Noah flew toward Shattrath City.
The closer he got, the more clearly he sensed life force.
And faint traces of Holy Light.
That reassured him.
He was in the right place.
The signals were weak.
Easily overlooked by others.
But Noah had touched the Light himself.
He possessed pure life force.
His perception was far sharper.
Soon, a green forest came into view.
Or rather, what passed for one-clusters of struggling seedlings.
Though remnants of evil lingered, they were barely holding on.
Life.
Light.
They flowed freely here.
Noah touched his aching left eye.
This was Shattrath.
Even with ruins ahead, he trusted his perception.
"Who would've thought," Noah muttered, "that Dragonborn magic would turn me into a radar."
"A Holy Light radar, at that."
"Looks like I'm in the right place."
"We were never in the wrong place," the System replied.
"This is where I locked on."
"I must remind you of something."
"Oh?" Noah stopped midair and descended slowly.
"Go on."
"I've detected more targets than expected," the System said.
"I initially assumed there would be only one."
"I was wrong."
"There are many beings here wielding Holy Light."
"It is not just the one we anticipated."
Hearing that, Noah's face darkened.
More than one Naaru?
That meant a whole cluster.
This was bad.
His original plan had been simple.
Sneak in.
Knock one out.
Forcefully extract its Light.
Then bolt back to Azeroth, summon Odin, and go home.
If it worked, great.
If not, he'd release the cat.
But this?
This was a headache.
He didn't know how strong a Naaru actually was.
That was a blind spot.
As someone who quit early, how would he know?
He didn't even know why so many were gathered here.
"So what now?" Noah asked irritably.
"Turn back?"
"Or just release the cat?"
"No," the System replied evenly.
"There are still choices."
"Choices again?" Noah frowned.
"What choices?"
"It depends entirely on your courage," the System said.
"You can ambush a weaker Naaru, seize it, drain it dry, and retreat."
"Or."
"You can take a risk."
"Target the specific Naaru I've locked onto."
"His Light is terrifying."
"The benefit to you would be immense."
A brief pause followed.
"Now," the System concluded, "it's down to how you choose."