After Mara checked repeatedly and confirmed there was no danger around, she finally couldn't help but rush out of the Sporeggar.
The Draenei encampment before her had suffered a horrific massacre; the hunters and others who had been guarding it were all gone, leaving behind only bloodstains everywhere and a few bodies that hadn't completely turned cold yet.
Mara wandered through the camp in a daze, checking the vitality of her clansmen on the ground as if possessed, but each time she grew more despairing than the last.
"All... all dead... Adele, Aud, Uncle Kata..." Mara slumped to the ground, oblivious to the splattering blood and water, her face ashen, as if the familiar world had instantly collapsed before her.
Mara clutched her head with trembling hands; what met her eyes were the bloodstains and cold bodies of her clansmen. The blue blood of the Draenei spilled into the Sporeggar of Zangarmarsh, a sight that seemed to awaken Mara's deepest fears.
The new Ranger recruit sat on the ground, trembling uncontrollably, muttering something repeatedly.
After a while, there was some movement from the Sporeggar behind Mara, but Mara remained oblivious, still slumped in place, trembling.
Was death coming?
No, Botan, looking somewhat disheveled with several still-bleeding wounds, stumbled out of the Sporeggar. He looked around the camp in shock, then noticed Mara among a few Draenei corpses.
Botan rushed over, disregarding his own injuries, and grabbed Mara's shoulders, shaking her out of her stupor.
"Mara, Mara! Pull yourself together, the invaders are coming soon!"
Botan's anxious voice reached Mara's ears, and a flicker of light returned to the new Ranger recruit's dull eyes. Mara was stunned for half a second before looking at Botan somewhat confusedly, "Bo... Botan, why... why are you covered in wounds? Where are Kaelar and Lyka?"
The Ranger Captain's expression was downcast. He bit his lower lip and forced out a few words, "Let's get out of here first. Can you still walk?"
Mara picked up her longbow that had fallen to the ground and got up. Botan breathed a sigh of relief at the sight, but before he had walked a few steps, he heard Mara, who was still standing in place, ask blankly, "Captain... will we die? Will we end up like Uncle Kata and the others...?"
Botan's steps faltered. A smile could no longer grace his face, which was turned away from Mara, but his voice was as firm as ever, "Mara, please believe me, we will definitely survive!"
Soon, the two Draenei Rangers began to move, quickly fleeing the area, while one of those tracking the Draenei's movements also wore an expression not unlike the despairing Mara.
"Akama, seeing you so spirited puts my mind at ease. Lord Illidan instructed me to take good care of you."
Vashj's voice carried a natural allure; if one didn't look at her terrifying snake body and hair, anyone would be captivated by such a voice.
"You and your master are both more hateful than those demons."
Although Akama's soul had been fragmented by Illidan, Illidan couldn't control his body at all times; that evil monster had more important things to do.
"In the eyes of many who don't understand our plan, we might indeed be hateful, but these are all necessary sacrifices."
Vashj paid no mind to Akama's curses. Instead, she asked Akama, "Moreover, even if you still harbor feelings for the Draenei, what about the other Broken in the Ashtongue Tribe? They showed no mercy when they wielded their blades against their kin, and Lord Illidan's magic didn't control them."
Akama fell silent. What Vashj said was exactly what he had always worried about: the Broken were Draenei mutated by the chaotic environment of Outland. Although no one could confirm that this mutation was contagious, the normal Draenei looked at them with undeniable fear and rejection hidden in their eyes.
Akama, of course, knew what the Draenei were afraid of: they were afraid that they, too, would transform from Draenei with noble forms into repulsive monsters. Perhaps the former Archbishops could empathize with and understand the feelings of their kin, but some Broken couldn't comprehend the rejection from their "kin."
In the eyes of many Broken, they were already outcasts, expelled from Draenei settlements, and now, they seemed to have gained a rare "opportunity for revenge."
Akama had always worried that such a thing would happen, and he had neither the ability nor the right to stop such behavior, so he had always kept the Ashtongue Tribe far from Draenei settlements, only maintaining covert contact with the Draenei.
Even so, the resentment in the hearts of the Broken, who had endured discrimination and rejection, and their growing negative emotions after becoming monsters, ultimately led to the current situation.
Akama tried to make the Broken of the Ashtongue Tribe "go through the motions" in this purge to deceive Illidan, but clearly, while some did follow the instructions of Akama, the Great Sage, there were also those who wanted to vent their inner dissatisfaction.
Illidan's scheme had succeeded, not only cutting off the possibility of the Ashtongue Tribe and the Draenei joining forces, but also creating rifts within the previously united Ashtongue Tribe.
Now, Akama was truly isolated and helpless, and with the part of his soul that was controlled, the possibility of escaping Illidan's clutches was minuscule.
Akama ignored Vashj's mocking gaze and slowly walked over to a long-dead Draenei Ranger. This brave warrior had willingly stayed behind to cover his comrades, ultimately dying here. In his dying moments, even with his body pierced by several spears, his eyes remained open, seemingly to ensure his comrades had escaped far enough.
Akama gently closed the Draenei's eyes with his hand and whispered, "May the spirits bless your soul... my friend..."
Vashj stared at Akama for a while, then disregarded the Broken Shaman and refocused her attention on commanding the battle and transforming Zangarmarsh.
"Karathress, take your men and clear this area. Set up the water pumps."
"Yes, my lady." Deeplord Karathress, clutching his Morning Star Hammer, twisted his massive body, leaving a clear trail in the muddy swamp. "Morogrim, you fool, take the water pumps and follow me! Have your subordinates watch over those Fungus Giants; they are biological weapons that can be shaped!"
Sea Giant Morogrim carried the massive water pump, his heavy footsteps causing the ground to tremble.
Akama watched the Sea Giant and Naga disappear into the distance and sighed: the fires of war in Outland, he feared, would never cease.