"That soul was… Emperor Thoradin?"
Jaina, who had seen Thoradin's portrait in the archives of Dalaran, immediately reacted. As the cornerstone of human civilization, his portrait was still circulated even in the City of Magic.
"Emperor Thoradin? His soul? It's been almost three thousand years!" Gavinrad slapped his helmet, the tremor letting him know he wasn't dreaming.
"A soul is a very peculiar… thing. It can trigger many miracles we never even imagined," Uther, though also astonished, focused more on Thoradin's state.
Although Thoradin's soul was trapped in that decaying body, the soul itself was still very pure and powerful, showing no signs of departing from the real world.
However, souls are often beyond ordinary human comprehension, and the reason for their formation is also a mystery.
After conversing with Arthas for a moment, Thoradin looked at the people behind Arthas, "Your allies are also trustworthy beings. Therefore, I can trust you, Arthas."
As his soul drifted towards the sky, Thoradin suddenly said again, "Consider it the last request of a lonely spirit like me, Arthas. Take my sword and find a worthy master for it."
With his words finished, Thoradin's figure completely dissipated into the air.
His soul had been confined here by the special energy of the Whispering Forest, and later, for various reasons, he had to be confined within Gerard's corpse.
Gerard's body had been too severely assimilated by the Void. If Arthas had not arrived to purify his remains with the Holy Light, Thoradin would have had no choice but to find a way to completely annihilate this body to prevent it from harming other lives.
Arthas's Holy Light also broke the shackles on Thoradin during this process, and the Emperor was finally able to break free from the constraints of the real world and go to the other side.
Thoradin's life could not be said to be smooth sailing, but in his tumultuous life, the Emperor had few regrets left.
Just as he said, his last regret now was merely that the divine sword stromgarde should not be forever buried in a tomb.
What happened in life was settled in life. After death, Thoradin no longer worried about the future of humanity, because everything was humanity's own choice, and his responsibility and mission ended at the moment his life ended.
light of dawn transformed back into a Holy Tome, slung over Arthas's waist, returning to its unremarkable appearance.
"Arthas, Emperor Thoradin, where did he go?" Jaina hurried to Arthas's side, asking somewhat curiously.
"He has fulfilled all his wishes, has no more attachments, and has left our world," Arthas looked in the direction where Thoradin disappeared. He always had a premonition that he might meet this legendary Emperor again in the future.
However, in what capacity Thoradin would appear at that time was an unknown.
There was not much mourning either, after all, although Thoradin was a legendary Emperor of humanity, he lived too long ago from their time. He was more like a symbol and an emblem, rather than a single person.
Arthas looked at the others and said solemnly, "Emperor Thoradin also died fighting that monster. His strength far exceeds ordinary human imagination… But since we could travel across the ocean and thwart the Burning Legion's conspiracy, then today there will only be one outcome: evil will be defeated!"
Everyone looked at Arthas, smiling. They had followed Arthas here and had never considered the consequences of failure. Eliminate evil completely; Zakas, this cancerous tumor, had poisoned Tirisfal for too long. It was time to put an end to it.
"Get ready. Wait for the members of Tyr's Guard to arrive. We will complete Tyr's unfinished work. This time, it is in the name of the Alliance and the Silver Hand to end ancient evil."
After listening to Arthas's declaration, everyone found a place to rest and recuperate, waiting by the lake for the arrival of Tyr's Guard to open the true path to Tir's Tomb.
The wait was not too long. In the afternoon, the elite members of Tyr's Guard arrived by the lake. The captain of the guard was still leading them. They were also standing ready, looking solemnly at the calm lake.
The captain of the guard brought a stone tablet, walked to Arthas's side, and said in a deep voice, "If you are ready, I will open the tomb. Our people will guard the lakeside to prevent any stragglers from escaping—if you fail, we can only activate the tomb's final energy, but whether that can stop Zakas will be up to fate."
"The Holy Light will protect us." Arthas nodded affirmatively.
"May Tyr's will and courage be with you."
The captain of the guard plunged his longsword into the ground and began to read the ancient incantations on the stone tablet in an obscure language. This was the Vrykul language, and also the last legacy of Tyr's followers.
Gavinrad and Dathrohan solemnly put on their war helmets, Tirion and Uther stepped forward a few paces, while Mograine remained silent, holding the buzzing Ashbringer. Their attention was all focused on the surface of the lake.
Magni and Muradin walked to Jaina's side. They would be responsible for protecting the mage, who was at a disadvantage in close combat, and Arthas also stood by Jaina's side.
Jaina, in turn, cast prepared spells on everyone. Arthas told her that Tir's Tomb was beneath the lake, and crossing this stretch of water required Jaina's magical assistance.
As the incantation progressed, the people on the lake shore felt a faint tremor. The tremor gradually intensified, and the small pebbles at their feet began to roll down the slope into the lake with the vibrations.
Ripples appeared on the calm water. The long-sealed secret passage to Tyr's Tomb slowly opened, and air rushed out of the water, forming cavities and ripples.
After the captain of the guard finished reciting the last incantation, everyone perceived an ancient, complex aura rising from beneath the water, containing upright and peaceful Holy Light, and orderly Arcane. And amidst the Arcane and Holy Light, a chaotic, mad power was also mixed.
"The gate is open, Prince Arthas, it's time!"
The captain of the guard's shout made the elite Tyr's Guard present immediately set up their shield formation, drew their longswords, and stared intently at the lake's surface, to prevent any corrupted remnants from escaping the tomb that had been sealed for an unknown duration.
Arthas and the others, at this moment, swiftly rushed into the lake. Protected by Jaina's magic, they moved as if on solid ground in the water. A few minutes later, they followed the ancient aura and found the location of the secret passage.