The fel corruption is getting worse.
Malfurion looked with concern at the decaying forest and soil. If this continued, he feared the entire Mount Hyjal mountain range would be affected by the fel.
Although the Burning Legion was defeated, their far-reaching impact was difficult to eradicate. The Druids tried everything, but they could not remove the fel corrosion.
Now they have only managed to barely control the corrosion, but if it stays like this, there will be no place for the Night Elves to live.
This won't do. We need to find a place to settle down as soon as possible.
Tyrande's eyes were filled with worry. After losing Nordrassil, the Night Elves also lost their immortality.
Diseases and weaknesses that had not troubled them for ten thousand years plagued them at this critical moment, and the lands corrupted by fel were constantly spreading terrible plagues.
Any Elf who consumed animals or plants corrupted by fel, or drank from springs corrupted by fel, would suffer from festering sores all over their body, covered in foul-smelling pustules.
Many could not bear such terrible torment and chose to quietly end their lives. Tyrande and Malfurion, as leaders, were heartbroken by this but powerless.
The number of Druids and priests was limited and could not look after every clan member, but the number of Elves who mistakenly ate or ate contaminated food due to hunger was not small.
It's just... the Sentinels have already reached the westernmost part of this continent. Blackshore is indeed not contaminated yet, but it cannot accommodate our people.
The situation Tyrande described was despair-inducing, but it wasn't the worst of it.
Blackshore is located in the low-lying areas of Felwood Forest. The rivers of Felwood flow almost directly into Blackshore, and the fel corruption is very likely to be carried there as well.
All in all, Blackshore might serve as a temporary refuge, but it would be difficult for it to become a long-term home for the Night Elves.
Compared to the resource-rich and pleasant Mount Hyjal, Blackshore was indeed too barren and narrow.
But at this time, the Night Elves didn't have much room to be picky. It was already fortunate to have a foothold in Blackshore.
Let the clan members settle down in Blackshore and Ashenvale first. Fandral told me he had some new discoveries that might help us.
Malfurion could only make such a helpless decision.
However, Malfurion's expression did not soften. He looked at the sea to the west, deep in thought.
Are you still thinking about Illidan?
Tyrande saw through Malfurion's thoughts with a single sentence, and the Arch Druid just sighed slightly.
Malfurion rubbed his face with his hand, trying to relieve some of the pressure and fatigue. Illidan... what has he done, and what is his purpose? We are completely unclear, but I have to face some facts.
Illidan might have no connection to the forest's corruption, but his escape from prison, harming the Warden and Sentinel Force, still constitutes numerous crimes.
Malfurion never understood what his brother encountered that caused such a drastic change in his character.
Malfurion had to admit that Illidan was obsessed with powerful strength, but at least at that time, Illidan had not reached the point of resorting to any means, even betraying his own family and friends.
Until he entered Azshara's palace, Malfurion and Tyrande could no longer understand him.
For ten thousand years, Malfurion believed his brother was misled by fel magic, which is why he didn't kill him but imprisoned him under Mount Hyjal.
But a few days ago, when confronting Illidan by the Azshara coast, Malfurion suddenly felt that Illidan might not have changed at all.
He was not misled by anything, nor was he manipulated by fel. Instead, all his actions might have been his original intention.
This thought made Malfurion very uneasy. He wanted to find Illidan and ask for the full story, but he couldn't abandon his people at the moment.
Where do you think Illidan would go?
Malfurion asked, He's not the kind of person who would spend the rest of his life on a deserted island. He must have something planned.
I don't know, but perhaps... he wants to go to the continent across the sea? Prince Arthas talked to us about it; there are still ruins on that land where demons once rampaged. Perhaps Illidan is going there for that reason?
Tyrande was also a little unsure, but Illidan had gone to such great lengths to leave Kalimdor, so this was the only possibility.
The Eastern Kingdoms... that is indeed a strange land for us now. It's not impossible for Illidan to want to go there.
Malfurion realized that Tyrande was right. The appearance of the orcs was inextricably linked to the Burning Legion, and the Eastern Kingdoms was where the orcs first appeared.
At this moment, Malfurion suddenly thought of a question: How did the orcs cross the Endless Void and star sea to reach Azeroth?
The answer was very simple. As Night Elves who were once shrouded in the light of Arcane magic, he could easily think of the answer—a portal.
And to cross such a vast distance, connecting two worlds, and being able to accommodate an entire army to pass through, it would require a stable and reliable portal.
If everything Arthas said was true... then that portal that could connect the astral realm might still stand on the continent of the Eastern Kingdoms!
A bad thought suddenly flashed through Malfurion's mind.
Tyrande, I think we might need to deal with matters here as soon as possible. I have a bad feeling.
After this thought appeared in Malfurion's mind, his intuition began to constantly warn him.
...
At the same time, on the Endless Sea, Illidan was sitting on a gigantic sea beast summoned by Vashj. Although there were no ships, crossing the Endless Ocean was not difficult with these extremely astonishingly large and resilient beasts.
How much longer until we can see the continent?
Illidan's tone was calm, showing no eagerness at all.
It will probably take another week. The Endless Sea is too vast, and we have to avoid The Maelstrom, so we must take a detour... It's just, Lord Illidan, have you considered where to land?
Vashj raised this question because she knew from some sources that most of the Eastern Kingdoms were currently in human hands, especially the places where one could land. If they were not careful, they would attract human attention.
We go north. I remember, Dath'Remar and his followers should also be there.