The Maelstrom was originally a giant vortex formed in the middle of the Great Sea after the explosion of the Well of Eternity.
Any ships traveling between the eastern and western continents had to carefully navigate around it, because even a 100,000-ton behemoth couldn't withstand the Maelstrom's tearing force. Once caught inside, escape was impossible.
Normally, it was an extremely dangerous place, but it was also an entrance. By diving into the Maelstrom, one had a chance to enter the earth elemental plane, Deepholm.
Before the elemental planes' seals were broken, entering was not easy. Back then, doing so was practically suicide. Those unfamiliar with the Maelstrom had almost no chance of entering Deepholm.
After the elemental planes' seals were lifted, it became much safer. The bottom of the vortex practically became a portal connecting Azeroth and the earth elemental plane. By passing through the vortex and taking some precautions, one could safely enter Deepholm!
This was the opportunity Aiden had been waiting for, because Deathwing and all his servants were hiding here. Eliminating them would be like cutting off N'Zoth's left and right arms.
Of course, N'Zoth would never sit idly by and wait for his demise. He had been caught off guard by Aiden's unexpected time travel to the War of the Ancients, but he quickly recovered and began to calculate how to refine his plans under these new circumstances.
He had always known Aiden's intentions, just as Aiden had always understood his goals.
After calming down, he immediately knew how to respond.
N'Zoth first noticed that the night elves were beginning to resurrect the fallen immortals from the War of the Ancients, and he was unwilling to let them succeed so easily.
He called out the name of one of his servants: "Ragnaros, my servant, after the elemental planes' seals are broken, let your Firelands descend upon Mount Hyjal. Tell me, you will not disappoint me."
"Yes, Master." In the scorching Firelands, the Fire Lord Ragnaros was incredibly humble, because the one issuing the order was the true master of this world—his master—the most powerful Old God, N'Zoth!
More than two years ago, Ragnaros and Archimonde fought a great battle on Blackrock Mountain, but the "Fire Lord" failed to defeat the "Defiler" and had his essence drained.
In the end, Ragnaros could only retreat back to the fire elemental plane in a sorry state, slowly licking his wounds.
Now, it was time for him to return to the land!
When N'Zoth's will disappeared, Ragnaros immediately became high-spirited: "Thaurissan, my servant."
He imitated his master's tone. Responding to him was a dwarf—he was incredibly strong, his hair, beard, and eyebrows were all fiery red, as if they were burning fiercely. Beneath his dark skin, fiery essence flowed, making his skin look like a piece of iron that had been burned red.
If anyone approached him, they would know that it wasn't just "like" that; his skin did indeed radiate endless heat at all times.
The dwarf's body had been transformed by the Fire Lord's essence, granting him unparalleled power—he was no longer a mortal, but a genuine demigod!
But he had also paid the price.
The dwarf constantly endured the pain of being burned by flames, as if he were bathing in magma. The intense pain prevented him from ever sleeping or resting. Possessing immense power and an extremely violent disposition, he always wanted to destroy everything.
"What are your orders, my master?" The dwarf knelt on the ground, awaiting his master's command.
Even his breath carried scorching sparks.
"The time has come, the time for us to return to the land! I want you to return to Azeroth and do something for me."
"As you command, Master." The dwarf didn't even ask what it was.
Whatever it was, he would definitely do his best to complete it.
He now served the Fire Lord before him wholeheartedly, just as his ancestors had done.
His former name was Dagran Thaurissan, King of the Dark Iron dwarves, husband of Moira Bronzebeard, Princess of Ironforge.
Emperor Thaurissan had been fortunate enough to survive the great battle between Archimonde and Ragnaros. After falling unconscious, he was sucked into the fire elemental plane, where his special bloodline caught Ragnaros's attention.
However, the Fire Lord did not kill him. Instead, he bestowed upon him unparalleled power and personally transformed his body.
The price was his loyalty.
——
N'Zoth also gave orders to Al'Akir, the Wind Lord, instructing him to fully coordinate with Deathwing's actions and act according to his plan.
Al'Akir, who faithfully followed the Old Gods, of course dared not disagree in the slightest. He immediately stated that once the seals were broken, the wind elemental plane, the Skywall, would immediately descend upon the skies of Azeroth!
N'Zoth was very satisfied with his performance.
However, the remaining two elemental lords were somewhat disobedient, which annoyed him.
Therazane the Stonemother was the master of the earth elemental plane, Deepholm.
This was also the home of the former Earth Warder, Neltharion. The Earthshrine was Deathwing's temple.
In ancient times, Therazane, like the other elemental lords, was the most loyal servant of the Old Gods. When the titans returned to Azeroth, Therazane led her servants in a bloody battle against the titans' giants.
But after the Titans defeated and sealed all the elemental beings and the Old Gods, "Stone Mother" was no longer willing to accept assignments from the Old Gods. She stayed in her own kingdom, maintaining absolute neutrality, ignoring everyone and not provoking anyone.
This was not what N'Zoth wanted to see.
Deepholm was also Deathwing's stronghold, and he had been suppressing the Stone Mother while the Twilight's Hammer was constantly infiltrating.
Given enough time, the Stone Mother would eventually submit.
But the problem was that they no longer had time.
Soon, the champions would enter Deepholm.
'I must not let the Stone Mother side with the mortals!'
N'Zoth quickly devised a plan.
Of the four elemental lords, Neptulon the Tidehunter was the most rebellious.
If Therazane the Stonemother was merely passive, Neptulon, after being sealed, made it clear that he would never again accept the servitude and control of the Old Gods.
N'Zoth knew that gentle methods were ineffective against the lord of water elements. Fortunately, it not only knew how to appease, but also how to assert its authority!
If a servant doesn't listen, beat him until he does!
"Who should I send to complete this task? Hmm... Ozumat, my servant," N'Zoth named its most powerful faceless servant. "I want you to capture Neptulon. Tell me, can you handle it?"
"Of course, Great Master. Your will shall be done. Your servant will now go and capture Neptulon and offer him at your feet."
Ozumat answered humbly.
It was a gigantic octopus-shaped monster, and its appearance made it clear at a glance that it was a high-ranking faceless one skilled in underwater combat.
The power of the elemental lords was beyond doubt. They could directly grant demigod power to their followers, and their own strength was even more unimaginable.
For example, Ragnaros, although defeated in the battle with Archimonde, there were few beings in all of Azeroth who could take him on in a one-on-one fight with the Defiler.
The fact that he could contend with Archimonde was enough to demonstrate his great strength.
Neptulon was no weaker than Ragnaros, and Ozumat was confident in defeating him in his own domain. The octopus monster's formidable strength was evident.
—
After arranging everything, N'Zoth carefully considered it again and found no other omissions.
"Let me see if the trolls are obedient?"
It turned its gaze to Zandalar Island.
At this time, the trolls were also taking action.
Since the Burning Legion's arrival two years ago, the troll sages of the Zandalari tribe sent envoys to various troll tribes, following the prophecy of the prophet Zul, to reunite the trolls and establish a unified troll empire, to recreate the glory of the ancient troll empire.
Zul'jin, the leader of the Amani tribe, considered himself the most powerful of all troll leaders, or at least one of the strongest trolls. He believed that he was the chosen one to reunite all troll tribes, but the sages of the Zandalari tribe did not think so.
According to the prophecy of the prophet Zul, the great troll who would complete the unification was not on Zandalar Island. As for who it was, the sages couldn't say for sure. They only told them to act according to circumstances.
After hiding on Zandalar Island for more than two years, the trolls of the dozen or so tribes on the island had long been unable to restrain themselves. Although the island was safe, it was too small. At first, it could meet everyone's needs, but over time, the trolls of the other tribes became very restless. Fights and even bloody conflicts became more and more frequent, and the situation gradually began to get out of the Zandalari tribe's control.
Just as the seals of the elemental planes were about to be lifted, the sages finally brought good news—the time for the trolls to regain their glory had come!
The trolls, who had been fighting among themselves for petty gains, immediately shook hands and made peace, turning their ambitions towards external enemies.
The trolls built a large number of warships, preparing for an expedition.
They all believed that this time was the trolls' rise—the other residents of Azeroth had been devastated by repeated disasters and must be fragile. And how could these weakened and scattered races resist the united trolls?
They vaguely remembered the glory of the ancient Zandalari Empire ten thousand years ago. They ruled the primeval land and had the world's most powerful allies—the mogu.
They used the strength of their entire tribe to defeat the aqir and stop the aqir's conspiracy to sweep the world, but they were attacked from behind by the night elves!
That was the weakest time of the troll empire. The despicable night elves struck the trolls' weakness, causing Azeroth's most powerful civilization to fall apart.
For ten thousand years, the trolls had been bullied and had long lost the glory of their former empire.
The high elves drove them out of their homes, and they also joined forces with the newly formed human empire of Arathor to try to exterminate them!
Almost all intelligent races in the world were their enemies.
But now, the trolls would return to this world in a new guise, just as the night elves defeated them in their weakest moment, and now the rising and unified trolls would surely defeat these races completely in their weakest moment!
The trolls were preparing for war.
Seeing this scene, N'Zoth was very satisfied.
The chess pieces had been placed, now it was up to the opponent to make their move!