Magni's question didn't linger for long, as Arthas quickly provided him with the answer.
"Dagran and I made a deal—I'd let him return to his city, and in exchange, he'd tell me the weakest point of the entire underground cavern where the Molten Core is located."
Arthas pointed to the lava below the Black Iron Anvil, "The Molten Core is at the end of this lava. Soon, our Elemental Creatures allies will surge in here with the ocean's waves, and the magma pool below will be instantly submerged."
"So the Black Iron Anvil will become just for show, right? Alright, I understand." Magni clicked his tongue, surprised by how grand Arthas's plan was.
But as for the outcome, it was indeed as Arthas said: even if the Black Iron Anvil wasn't taken away, once the Shadowforge City was flooded, the magma pool below would likely turn into solid rock almost immediately.
Without the heat from the magma pool, a mere Anvil couldn't fully function, which is why Ironforge's Great Anvil is also at the center of the Great Forge.
"After the battle, I'll send people to move this thing away. The Dark Iron Dwarves won't be able to use it anyway." Magni nodded, already anticipating that the forges near the Black Iron Anvil would be unusable for a long time to come.
Once the seawater, as Arthas described, flooded the magma pool beneath Shadowforge City and surged into the Fire Element's sacred land, at least half of Shadowforge City's magma pools would vanish. While it might not necessarily affect the Dark Iron Dwarves residing there, for the crafting of Dark Iron Dwarves armaments and other forging activities, it would be a devastating blow.
Looking at the Shadowforge City gate, scattered with Elemental Creatures shackles, broken weapons, and damaged armor, Arthas took out a core pulsating with tidal energy. After crushing it, Duke Hydraxis appeared before him.
However, at this moment, the Water Elemental Creatures Duke's body was a bit smaller, indicating that the hot and dry environment of Shadowforge City had affected the Water Elemental Lord.
Although for Elementals, size and combat power are not entirely equal, an Elemental Creatures that has lost a portion of its body composition is like a person going into battle without having eaten enough or without sufficient supplies; it will certainly still be affected.
Therefore, it's rare to see Water Elementals actively enter lava to duel Fire Elementals, and almost no Fire Elementals, no matter how hot-headed, would plunge into the ocean.
Although the environments of the ocean and lava have no self-awareness, they are all sources of the Elemental Creatures' body composition. A Fire Element that plunges into water, while not immediately extinguished, is equivalent to being severely beaten by another powerful Water Elemental Creatures.
Duke Hydraxis disliked the environment of Shadowforge City, but he knew that Arthas summoning him here meant that the time for the final battle had arrived.
"Are you ready? Our Elemental Creatures army is poised in the bay. As soon as the terrain changes and seawater floods this underground cavern, we will have the ability to engage Ragnaros directly."
As Duke Hydraxis said, everyone is an Elemental Creatures, so who's afraid of whom? Everyone has a greater advantage in their respective home territories. Although the Fire Elementals can stay in the Molten Core without coming out, with Arthas's help, the Water Elementals can directly flood their home base, so there's no fear of not being able to defeat them.
The only problem is that Neptulon will not easily make a move, so while the Water Elementals and Fire Elementals are locked in battle, Ragnaros's physical form still needs to be dealt with.
Duke Hydraxis had originally planned to use Neptulon's power to stall Ragnaros. Once the seawater spread further, even Ragnaros couldn't evaporate the entire bay, and even if he could, more seawater would surge in.
However, Arthas seemed to have other plans; he said he would face Ragnaros alongside Duke Hydraxis.
"Almost. My people have positioned the device in the right place, and the Fire Element cores have provided enough energy for the machine. I just need one more favor from you."
Arthas looked at Duke Hydraxis, and the Water Elemental Creatures Duke replied without hesitation:
"Speak."
"I hope the Water Elementals can seal off Shadowforge City outside the Molten Core—the seawater flooding into this ley line will instantly generate a large amount of deadly high-temperature steam. If all this steam floods into Shadowforge City, I'm afraid most of the residents in the city will perish, and their deaths will be extremely gruesome."
The waves on Duke Hydraxis's body churned for several seconds before he slowly responded, "This is somewhat difficult. Before the seawater enters, our power will be greatly weakened by the environment here, but once the seawater enters, the situation you described will occur.
Moreover… I don't think there's any need to rescue these corrupted ones enslaved by Ragnaros. A large portion of them willingly serve Ragnaros and Twilight's Hammer."
"As you said, the Dark Iron Dwarves are our enemies; they serve the evil Ragnaros. However, we cannot lose our humanity and simply watch the Dark Iron Dwarves become miserable corpses in a steam hell. Even from a utilitarian perspective, living Dark Iron Dwarves are more useful. Otherwise, we would only gain a dead city and the eternal hatred of the remaining Dark Iron Dwarves.
Now they are merely defeated, and they have also been betrayed by Ragnaros's subordinates. We don't need to completely push them towards Ragnaros, creating an unending cycle of conflict. I think even the Bronzebeard Clan, who hold grudges against the Dark Iron Dwarves, would not want to see such an outcome."
Magni smacked his lips, looking at the completely silent Shadowforge City, and said, "Alright, although I truly despise these self-righteous Dark Iron Dwarves who caused such a disaster, if I were to actually kill every Dark Iron Dwarves I saw, especially with such cruel methods, even I couldn't agree—
The Three Hammers War happened centuries ago. I know hatred doesn't disappear so easily, but I still want to confirm whether the Dark Iron Dwarves have been our generational enemies due to Ragnaros's control, or if it's their true nature.
Until I know the answer to this, I will not resort to such extreme measures."
After listening to Magni's explanation, a smile appeared on Arthas's face as he looked at Duke Hydraxis, "That's the reason."
As an Elemental Creatures, Duke Hydraxis couldn't quite understand Arthas's and Magni's thoughts, because battles between Elemental Creatures are unending; they fight almost their entire lives, from birth to demise.
In other words, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say this is the meaning of their existence.
Duke Hydraxis wouldn't consider such issues; there's no mercy between Elementals, just as the wind never stops impacting mountains, rocks melt under high temperatures, and waves forever crash against the sand.
This is a law, a rule, the reason for the Elementals' existence.
But as Arthas's ally, as the Alliance's ally, although this request was a bit troublesome, Duke Hydraxis still agreed.
"Then have your armies retreat further, try not to be affected, and then leave your mage units behind. This task cannot be completed by Water Elementals alone; we need the assistance of your mages."
"I will inform Jaina to prepare her mage units." Arthas nodded in response, having achieved a relatively satisfactory outcome.
...
At the other extreme of the scorching Molten Core, in the heart of the icy Dragonblight, atop the towering Dragonshrine, the Red Dragon Queen, Alexstrasza the Life-Binder, had been waiting here with Valastrasz for some time.
The biting cold wind had no effect on Valastrasz and Alexstrasza. Although they appeared to be wearing only a thin robe and armor with sheer fabric covering vital areas respectively, this did not change their true nature.
Those waiting in the cold wind were not mortals, but Guardian Dragons. The cold of Northrend, which could extinguish life, had no effect on these beings who stood at the pinnacle of Azeroth.
However, Valastrasz was growing impatient. Even if the cold wind didn't affect his body, this boring and prolonged wait made him very unhappy.
He was always an impetuous sort. During the time Alexstrasza had him waiting here to meet Malygos, he was patient at first, but gradually, that patience, like the snowflakes drifting outside the shrine, was quickly blown away by the wind without a trace.
"Your Majesty… with all due respect, how much longer must we wait? There's no sign of anything yet, neither from the shrine's teleportation device nor the surrounding sky. Forget Guardian Dragons, I haven't even seen a single vulture."
"Be patient, Valastrasz. I've already sent a message to Malygos… If he truly doesn't intend to appear at the Dragonshrine, then we'll go to the Nexus to find him."
Alexstrasza still maintained her patience, though in truth, there was a slight ripple of emotion within her. It wasn't annoyance at Malygos's potential no-show, but rather concern for Malygos.
—The Malygos of the past was a warm, cheerful, and bright Guardian. Upon receiving news from his siblings, he was often the first to arrive.
But the events of ten thousand years ago had struck him too hard; compared to his former self, he was like a completely different person now.
Obsessive, cold, and passive—that was the Guardian's current state.
The two Guardian Dragons waited for an unknown period longer at the Dragonshrine. Just as Valastrasz finally couldn't bear the wait and began to complain about Malygos's behavior again, a strong spatial fluctuation caused Valastrasz to involuntarily shut his mouth.
"Show some respect, dragon whelp. If not for Alexstrasza, I would turn you into an ice sculpture and throw you from the top of the shrine!"
A voice, subtly revealing an unsettling emotion amidst its indifference, resonated in Valastrasz's ears, accompanied by an almost undisguised surge of powerful Arcane energy.
Valastrasz's face turned a little green. The moment Malygos appeared, he was already pressuring him. He felt that if Alexstrasza hadn't been by his side, he might truly have met the fate Malygos spoke of.
"Relax, my brother. You shouldn't be angry with a junior—we have indeed waited for quite a while."
Alexstrasza sighed as she looked at the tall male human before her, whose face was covered in a messy beard, and whose blue hair was a tangled mess, displaying a demeanor of decadence, indifference, and irritation.
Malygos, in his human form, heard Alexstrasza's words. A flicker of something passed through his Arcane-glowing eyes, but he offered no explanation for his "lateness," instead speaking with great displeasure and coldness:
"Tell me quickly what you want, my sister. I don't think you came to reminisce with me."
A hint of disappointment flickered in Alexstrasza's eyes. She took two steps forward, moving closer to Malygos.
"In that case, I'll tell you directly. My brave child, Valastrasz, along with mortal heroes, defeated Deathwing's son, the corrupted Black Dragon Prince Nefarian. He brought Nefarian's corpse and has something he wants to tell you."
Valastrasz noticed that when Alexstrasza spoke the name "Deathwing," a disturbing aura suddenly emanated from Malygos, making him feel like a helpless wild rabbit in an icy plain, being targeted by an entire wolf pack.
Just as Malygos's rage was about to erupt, the subsequent words calmed the Guardian Dragon, though Valastrasz felt it was merely a superficial calm.
Because upon hearing of Nefarian's death, Malygos's hand, which had been relaxed at his side, suddenly clenched and then relaxed again.
After hearing Alexstrasza's words, Malygos turned to look at Valastrasz, his voice still cold and merciless, "Oh, the offspring of that beast. Perhaps I should have personally strangled them all, just as this little Red Dragon did."
Seeing Malygos still appearing unmoved, Alexstrasza gave Valastrasz a meaningful look. The little Red Dragon took a deep breath and threw Nefarian's human form corpse before Malygos.
Before the little Red Dragon could speak, Malygos, whose face finally changed upon seeing the son of his blood enemy, suddenly kicked the long-dead Nefarian. The kick, full of rage, sent Nefarian's corpse tumbling several times.
Alexstrasza watched silently, not stopping Malygos's actions. She knew Malygos needed to vent. Although such behavior didn't fit the identity of a Guardian Dragon, she didn't intend to say anything.
Valastrasz sighed inwardly as he watched Malygos's actions. Although he might inwardly criticize the Weaver's attitude, he also knew Malygos's experiences. For him to act this way showed the extent of his hatred for Deathwing.
However, Malygos did not seem content with just a single kick. He looked at Nefarian's corpse, his eyes filled with disgust and hatred. The eldest Guardian Dragon extended his right hand, effortlessly manipulating the Ley Lines' energy.
Valastrasz suddenly realized something, but before he could stop it, everything happened.