On the tundra of Northrend, the howling north wind showed no mercy to any living creature here. The Alliance's Northrend vanguard was drinking hot dwarven wine in the nascent form of the Valiance Keep, chatting about various stories happening on this land.
Despite the absence of the Scourge threat, Arthas still advocated for the development of Northrend, as this ancient land harbored many secrets. If utilized, it would surely become a crucial link in achieving their goals in the future.
However, since the Alliance's attention was not entirely focused on this land, the dispatched vanguard only operated in the outer areas of Northrend.
Howling Fjord, Grizzly Hills, and Borean Tundra all had Alliance camps, while the deeper Icecrown Glacier, Storm Peaks, Gundrak, Sholazar Basin, and Crystalsong Forest had no personnel stationed there yet.
Dragonblight was special; it was a dragon graveyard and holy land. Dealing with these large creatures was inevitable in the future, but now was not the time to meet them in the name of the Alliance. The five Dragonflights were all arrogant and looked down on mortals, and the Red Dragonflight had just experienced a war between mortal races, so giving them some time to recover was not out of the question.
Lieutenant Colonel Alos, a seasoned Alliance veteran who had served for many years, was the current highest commander of this outpost.
"Lieutenant Colonel, news has come again from the northern outpost. They were attacked by Magnataur, suffering significant losses in personnel and supplies," a messenger, covered in dust, rushed into the command room and submitted the latest intelligence.
Alos took the miscellaneous intelligence and sighed, "Mammoths, Gorlocs, ghost ships at sea, Naga, and now a group of Magnataur popping up? Are they close relatives of mammoths? Do they also like to go crazy and use their tusks to pick up tents and the five unlucky souls inside?"
"Uh, I don't think so, sir," the messenger also looked embarrassed. There was nothing he could do; the harsh environment and strange creatures of Northrend had caused them a lot of trouble. "They are native creatures, with a certain level of intelligence, just like the Gnolls in Elwynn Forest—oh, and they also enslave many Kobolds."
"Sigh…" Alos looked at the Magnataur described in the messy handwriting on the paper intelligence, and couldn't help but rub his face in distress. In this northern land, troubles always arose, and according to this report, the Magnataur were clearly not something their small vanguard could wipe out. "Tell the people at the outpost to withdraw from the territory of those damned Magnataur, and find a high ground to monitor their every move. Although the Alliance has provided us with ample supplies and reinforcements, we must use them in the right places. This is a critical period."
"Critical period?" The messenger was constantly shuttling between the outpost and the command post day and night, so he hadn't had time to learn about the news from the mainland.
Alos nodded. These were already public announcements, not secrets. He also wanted the messenger to take them to the front to inform the vanguard who had left the camp. "The Dark Portal is about to reopen. We are going to welcome the Alliance's heroes home, and we also need to establish outposts in distant foreign lands to prepare for future battles with demons."
The young messenger had not experienced Mount Hyjal or the two Orc Wars before that, and he was not very clear about what the world was about to face. A hint of confusion appeared on his somewhat naive, yet roughened by the cold wind, face.
But Alos, who had experienced several major wars, patted the young man's shoulder and said earnestly, "This is a huge challenge facing our entire civilization, and even the entire world. The Alliance's leaders have gathered the strength of the entire world. Go, tell our compatriots who are exploring this icy world that we are not idle or meaningless here. We are also contributing to our homeland and our future."
Alos understood that perhaps this young man could not understand these things now, but one day, he would know the heavy burden carried by an Alliance soldier.
The wind and snow of Borean Tundra made the tents flap, and white snowflakes were carried by the wind into the tents, falling into the blazing brazier and vanishing in an instant.
…
"This is not good news, Anub'arak." Arthas's expression was solemn. He should have been attending the war council for the Dark Portal war with the Alliance, not preparing for another war in Icecrown Citadel.
"I have confirmed it repeatedly, Your Majesty," the Crypt Lord rustled, "The Titan Halls in the Storm Peaks mountains, which have been silent for centuries, have opened their doors, and constructs of steel are pouring out like a swarm of insects."
Arthas sat on the cold saronite high-backed chair, his voice low, "It had to be now…"
The entities within Ulduar had likely learned of the impending opening of the Dark Portal through some means. They deliberately chose this moment, when the world's attention was too preoccupied to notice them, to resume activity on Azeroth.
This was contrary to Arthas's expectations. He had planned to resolve the conflicts in Outland, establish a firm bridgehead, and then systematically eradicate the persistent problems of these planets. But now there was no time. The enemy would not sit idly by. If the steel constructs from Ulduar were allowed to roam freely in the Storm Peaks, then defeating Yogg-Saron's conspiracy would become even more difficult.
"If you cannot attend to the war in the North, the Scourge can operate independently." Anub'arak saw Arthas's dilemma. He knew that Lich King was about to participate in the expedition against Outland as an Alliance commander.
"No, I cannot leave," Arthas replied without hesitation, "He needs time. Once I leave, the war against Ulduar will surely fall into a stalemate under the mediation of those Titan Guardians. If I leave, it would play right into their hands."
Arthas suddenly felt a great sense of crisis. His enemies would not follow a set plan and allow themselves to be slaughtered. They were constantly monitoring the situation on the entire planet. Unlike the Burning Legion, the Old Gods had a clearer understanding of the situation on Azeroth. They would cause trouble at any time they deemed appropriate.
This time, it coincided with the opening of the Dark Portal. If he couldn't curb Yogg-Saron's conspiracy, he feared that by the time he returned to Azeroth, Deathwing and the Old Gods might even appear simultaneously, dealing a heavy blow to Azeroth.
C'Thun, N'Zoth, Yogg-Saron, these three still active Old Gods, if given the chance, would not give the living beings of Azeroth any chance to resist. If they united, the Dark Empire would likely reappear in an instant.
After realizing this, Arthas immediately understood that he could not leave Azeroth for too long, otherwise, the others would not be able to cope.
Even if the Alliance's strength was strong now, multi-front warfare could not achieve victory. Arthas, who controlled the Scourge, could be said to be the only insurance.
After a brief thought, Arthas tapped the table with his knuckles and connected two communications.
The two parties Arthas contacted were Malygos, the King of the Blue Dragons, and Archaedas, who had closed Uldaman and was currently overhauling that Titan ruin.
The Alliance was already too preoccupied with dealing with the enemies in Ulduar to worry about the war preparations for the Dark Portal, which had been ongoing for more than just a day or two and couldn't be stopped on a whim.
If they stopped now, what would happen to the supplies and Legions that had already been moved to the front lines in the Blasted Lands?
Furthermore, Arthas had considered it carefully and felt that he could find better assistance for this matter; although the Alliance army had participated in a major battle on Mount Hyjal once, that was just the beginning.
To face potential future enemies, they still needed more experience.
This world had no magical adventurers, no fated protagonists who could die and resurrect again and again, using their many lives to study Ulduar.
If the threat in Ulduar was to be eliminated, countless people would sacrifice themselves.
After a brief wait, the first to connect the communication was Malygos, the King of the Blue Dragons.
"My friend, it seems you've run into some trouble." Malygos was a bit surprised; he was originally in Coldarra entertaining a little one that filled him with joy—a descendant of an old man he found somewhat difficult to deal with in ancient times.
He had never imagined that the old geezer, whose temper was as foul as a rock, could have such a well-behaved and sensible granddaughter.
If Senegos, far away in Aszuna, knew that Malygos was evaluating him this way, he would surely curse him fiercely—wasn't Malygos the one with the foulest temper and the stubbornest mouth in the entire Blue Dragonflight?
"To be precise, it's not that I've run into trouble, but that we've run into trouble."
Arthas's tone made Malygos somewhat solemn.
He knew how capable his human friend was and naturally understood that the trouble Arthas spoke of was likely something that would truly shake the world.
He pondered for a moment, then said over the Arcane communication, "Since it's such a serious matter, let's just talk face-to-face.
Wait for me for a bit; I'll just give a few instructions to the younger ones here."
With that, the Weaver closed the communication, and Arthas didn't ask further.
Malygos quickly cut off the communication and redirected his attention to the High Elf beside him.
The one by his side was, of course, not a High Elf, but a Blue Dragon shapeshifted into a High Elf: Stellagosa, a descendant of the ancient Blue Dragon Senegos of Aszuna.
"Lord Malygos?" Stellagosa said timidly.
Although she was a lawless young lady in Azurewing Repose, she was still a bit nervous when facing the King of the Blue Dragonflight, Malygos the Weaver.
Her grandfather had sent her here, naturally hoping she could serve as a bond.
Neither Senegos nor Malygos was willing to back down, but when the envoy sent by Malygos arrived at Azurewing Repose and explained the Blue Dragonflight's predicament, the soft-hearted Senegos finally decided to help his radical brother, lest they truly become the last bloodline of the Blue Dragonflight.
It turned out that seeing Stellagosa was arguably Malygos's happiest moment in ten thousand years.
When a pure, young Blue Dragon appeared before him, Malygos's excitement and emotion almost made him lose control of the surging Arcane power in Coldarra, nearly tearing apart the Nexus and the Eye of Eternity.
The Blue Dragonflight still had hope; his kin could still multiply and thrive!
This was Malygos's greatest regret and guilt in his life, which only slightly diminished upon seeing Stellagosa.
He doted on Stellagosa as if she were his own granddaughter, seemingly to compensate for those he had lost.
Stellagosa was also somewhat overwhelmed by the favor.
Compared to her grandfather who had watched her grow up, the name and status of Lord Malygos initially almost made her unable to recover.
She even felt a bit ashamed that Malygos's excitement at the time almost scared her into directly reverting to her original form and fleeing.
But after a period of getting along, she found that this Lord Weaver, whom her grandfather had described as a dragon-eating evil dragon, was extremely gentle towards her.
He not only answered her questions but also took her to experience many unique Blue Dragon customs in Coldarra that she couldn't experience in Azurewing Repose.
However, today Stellagosa noticed that Lord Malygos's expression was somewhat heavy, no longer as relaxed and cheerful as in previous days, as if something bad had happened.
This made her a little worried that she might have caused Lord Weaver to delay something by taking up too much of his time.
Malygos heard Stellagosa's question and came back to his senses, "Ah, it's nothing, Stellagosa, I just have to go see a friend of mine.
He has some things to discuss with me.
You don't need to worry; I'll send someone to accompany you.
Who do you want to be with? Tarecgosa, Martigosa, or someone else?"
However, as soon as he finished speaking, Malygos looked at the somewhat hesitant Stellagosa and suddenly had another idea—he always felt that the younger ones in his family were somewhat useless, none of them reliable, always causing him trouble, especially that Kare.
He even sometimes wondered if Kare was truly a Blue Dragon.
If he let these guys take care of little Stellagosa, wouldn't they lead her astray?
Once this thought appeared in Malygos's mind, it wouldn't go away.
He deliberated repeatedly, and no matter how he thought about it, he felt uneasy leaving Stellagosa with others when he wasn't in Coldarra.
Finally, Malygos made a decision that went against—uh, no, followed his heart.
He asked Stellagosa, "Of course, if you want to go out with me and see, I can also take you to explore other places in Northrend."
Hearing this, Stellagosa's eyes immediately lit up, "Really, Lord Malygos, won't it be too much trouble for you?"
Malygos was overjoyed; she was already showing concern for him, unlike those idiots in his own family, hmph, better not to mention them—"No, and you can also get to know that fellow.
Although he's just a mortal, he's the most extraordinary fellow I've ever seen in my long life."
Malygos, of course, knew where he was going.
Although he found it strange that Arthas's signal was in Icecrown Glacier, he didn't think too much about it and directly took Stellagosa through a portal to his beacon.
However, the moment he stepped into Icecrown Citadel, he regretted it; he probably shouldn't have brought Stellagosa to this place.
Cold saronite constructed the entire empty hall.
At the head of the rectangular conference table, an iron throne carved with grotesque skeletons spewed chilling soul fire.
The lighting fixtures on the walls were skull-shaped lamps, inside which flickered the same eerie blue glow.
The saronite, imbued with dark power, absorbed the surrounding light, yet only reflected the blue spectral glow.
Its matte surface appeared a terrifying blue-black to the eye, not to mention the strange energy emanating from the metal, which even gave Malygos a case of "dragon-skin goosebumps."
Stellagosa's originally joyful smile instantly froze on her face.
She had never seen such a sight.
One must know that on Aszuna, the most frightening things were merely the Withered and the Fallen Night Elves scurrying about; other threats simply didn't exist for dragons.
"Arthas?! What have you been building in Icecrown Glacier?!"
A chill shot straight up Malygos's spine.
Due to the special geographical location of Icecrown Glacier, the Arcane network was disrupted by the surging soul energy here, making it difficult even for him to constantly monitor the situation.
But when he personally arrived, he wanted to loudly rebuke his past folly and his subordinates' dereliction of duty.
This was no human outpost; this was clearly a city of death built in the world!
Before his heart stopped, he really wanted to hear what Arthas was doing.
He had once thought he knew Arthas was undertaking something big, but he never imagined that what Arthas was doing was truly a world-shattering event!
Fortunately, although Malygos was a Guardian Dragon, he was not as repulsed by the power of death as his two sisters were; necromancy was also a type of magic.
However, seeing the scene before him, he still worried whether Arthas could maintain control.
Of course, he was more concerned about his good child's mental and physical health.
He subtly pulled Stellagosa closer to him, while also observing her expression.
To his relief, although Stellagosa no longer smiled, she wasn't panicked; instead, there was more curiosity in her eyes.
What Malygos didn't know was that while in Aszuna, Stellagosa frequently visited the cursed Nath'alas Academy.
Observing and participating in the actions of the Highborne ghosts was her entire understanding of the undead.
At this moment, this naive little Blue Dragon thought Icecrown Citadel was a place similar to Nath'alas Academy.
"Welcome to Azeroth's last, and foremost, line of defense," Arthas revealed a smile.
To cooperate with dragons, one had to display strength that would convince them.
"This is Icecrown Citadel."