"Dagran Thaurissan, what are you doing here?"
Administrator Exoratus descended to the front lines in a blaze of fire. He stared at Dagran, his already grim face devoid of any expression.
"The Dark Iron Dwarves will defeat Ragnaros's enemies, Administrator," Dagran dismounted his battle ram and looked directly into Exoratus's eyes, "Therefore, we are here now."
"Ah, I understand. The Black Iron Emperor wants to prove his strength," Exoratus nodded repeatedly. He waved his hand, and the Elementals made way for the Dark Iron Dwarves' troops. "Then, go forth, for Ragnaros."
Dagran calmly turned, mounted his ride, and said, "For Ragnaros."
Exoratus stroked his chin, watching Dagran and his Dark Iron Dwarves depart. The Fire Elemental Wizard Shas'rar came to Exoratus's side.
"Administrator, you just let him leave? Their numbers are completely suicidal. The strength of those mortals has exceeded our imagination."
Exoratus turned his head to glance at Shas'rar and slowly said, "Of course he knows he's going to his death. Am I supposed to stop him?
His decision to take the initiative at this time indicates that he no longer trusts Ragnaros. Keeping such a fellow is useless.
With so many Dark Iron Dwarves, we can always find a new king."
"What about the remaining Dark Iron Dwarves? If their king dies, there will certainly be great chaos—those guys are not easy to control."
Exoratus's smile became very strange. "Isn't that perfect? Did we kill their king? Wasn't it the Alliance who killed Dagran?"
...
"Arthas, look, the Dark Iron Dwarves couldn't hold back."
On the Alliance front, Jaina was observing the battlefield with a magical telescope. Suddenly, she noticed an unusual unit rapidly bypassing the Elemental Creatures and charging towards the Alliance lines.
"Finally, they can't sit still?" Arthas immediately spotted the Dark Iron Dwarves within the Elemental Creatures' army.
Magni snorted twice, gripping fearbreaker in his hand, and walked directly to the front line. "Let me meet this 'Black Iron Emperor' and see what he's truly capable of."
Arthas did not stop Magni. The hatred between the Dark Iron Dwarves and the Bronzebeard Dwarves was deeply ingrained in their blood. Magni's decision to confront Dagran was something he couldn't prevent.
Moreover, Dagran's actions already indicated many issues. His led troops had moved beyond the range where Elemental Creatures could provide support. Rather than charging into battle, it was more like they were 'delivering themselves' to their deaths.
"It seems the other side isn't united either. You were right after all, Arthas." Thoras stood on a high point, watching Magni lead his elite Dwarf cavalry to prepare for battle against Dagran, and chuckled. "However, this Black Iron King is somewhat beyond my expectations."
"You think he's not like a king who would do such a thing?" Arthas countered.
Thoras paused, seemingly not having considered this question carefully.
"Enslaved for centuries by an irresistible force, it's indeed somewhat unbelievable that the Dark Iron Dwarves could still have a king like this."
Thoras stated his reason, "One might say that his 'backbone' makes him unusual."
"Perhaps, but I actually think this might be something deeply embedded in the Dark Iron Dwarves' very bones. You can call them prejudiced, or stubborn, but trying to completely control such a race has never been an easy task."
Arthas shrugged, "Furthermore, Ragnaros himself, besides branding a curse into the Dark Iron Dwarves' blood to prevent their betrayal, had no other means to control them.
If Ragnaros could help the Dark Iron Dwarves achieve their 'goals,' then fine. But they have been dormant in the resource-scarce Redridge Mountains for centuries, ultimately gaining nothing, and even losing Hordemar City."
Arthas looked up at the dark dome. Above the rock layers was the wonder built by the Dark Iron Dwarves. However, this city was eventually occupied by a group of orcs and Black Dragons.
The phrase 'ill-fated' perfectly describes the Dark Iron Dwarves. First, they were driven out of Ironforge, then their new home in the Redridge Mountains was destroyed by Ragnaros, and they even lost the second city they built, finally being forced to leave the surface and build Darkforge City underground.
During all these years of forced allegiance to Ragnaros, what the Dark Iron Dwarves gained most from Ragnaros was not power, but fear.
And fear cannot rule a kingdom forever.
Moreover, the Dark Iron Dwarves have their own civilization, their own pride, and their own king. If they weren't constrained by Ragnaros, they would certainly be the fiercest opponents of the Fire Elementals.
Of course, not all Dark Iron Dwarves are like this, but at least Dagran has not been brainwashed by Ragnaros, nor manipulated by the Twilight's Hammer cultists. This King at least still clearly understands that he is a Black Iron Dwarf, and nothing else.
"Jaina, can you go to the battlefield and keep an eye on Magni?"
Arthas suddenly turned to his girlfriend. Jaina was a bit slow to react, and after a moment, she replied, "Of course, but that Black Iron King doesn't seem to be a match for Magni. Are you worried about him having some hidden tricks?"
Arthas shook his head. "No, I want you to hold Magni back a bit. Don't let him smash Dagran to death with one hammer. The value of this Black Iron Dwarf King being alive might be greater for us."
"Alright, I understand—I hope I can make it in time." Jaina nodded and used teleportation to leave the command room.
"Heh, Magni might have an argument with you later." Thoras looked at Arthas, teasing.
"Let him be. But Dagran is indeed better alive. A dead Black Iron King is no different from any other Black Iron Dwarf."
—As Thoras and Arthas expected, when Magni returned to the command room, he strode quickly to Arthas's side and leaped up, ready to punch Arthas.
"You brat! My warhammer was about to smash Dagran's head!"
Magni's punch was, of course, dodged by Arthas. Although he didn't use much force, he wasn't really trying to hit Arthas; he was just expressing his dissatisfaction.
Jaina followed in with a wry smile. She had already been lectured by Magni several times on the way, and she couldn't say much because she had indeed interfered.
"Alright, calm down, Magni. If you want to smash Dark Iron Dwarves' heads, there will be plenty of opportunities in this war, but Dagran only has one head, and if you smash it, I won't find a replacement."
Magni glared at Arthas, his beard bristling. "You'd better come up with a reason to convince me, or else I'll go right now... I'll go to the prisoner-of-war camp and beat Dagran up!"