"You two take your time looking around, I need to see if I can find any information about Lili—she's a Pandaren, so she should be quite noticeable here."
As soon as they arrived in Stormwind, Old Chen greeted them and then disappeared, leaving Sylvanas and Nathanos looking at each other.
"Ranger-General Windrunner… I have a feeling the place he's heading might be a tavern."
Sylvanas sighed, rubbing her forehead, "Who knows? He's certainly capable of something like that."
Old Chen was quite reliable in dangerous situations, but once the danger passed, he himself became the biggest unpredictable factor.
Like getting drunk on a gryphon and almost falling off, or almost preventing the gryphon from taking off because he ate too much lunch.
In short, this Pandaren seemed to be naturally unsuited for stability, always encountering unexpected situations.
The two Rangers who had traveled with Old Chen for some time clearly understood his characteristics. Sylvanas simply said, "He's right about one thing: Lili is a Pandaren, and she'll be very noticeable in the city."
Nathanos nodded silently. As a Ranger who had long worked in intelligence in Lordaeron, she probably already guessed what Sylvanas was planning to do, and she also sensed the people who had been watching them since they entered the city.
Sylvanas and Nathanos seemingly aimlessly wandered around the bustling trade district for a while, then walked straight into a cheese shop on the main road.
"Welcome to Tias Cheese Shop!"
The female attendant at the counter greeted them warmly, but at the same time, she was a little surprised because she noticed Sylvanas was a High Elf. Such exquisite features were almost as rare as nobles in Stormwind, as they rarely came to shops to make purchases themselves.
"May I ask what kind of cheese you'd like to buy? We have a very complete selection here, and the most popular is Stormwind's specialty cheese."
Despite her surprise, the attendant professionally introduced the types of cheese in their shop. Sylvanas gave Nathanos a look, and Nathanos immediately understood, striking up a conversation with the attendant and beginning to select some cheeses suitable for long-term storage.
Sylvanas, meanwhile, took advantage of the attendant's diverted attention to slip into the store's second-floor storeroom.
The moment she stepped onto the second floor, a hoarse male voice came, "Excuse me, miss, this is a restricted storage area. If there's anything you need—"
The man in the storeroom was about to decline the visitor's request when he saw Sylvanas's face. His expression suddenly changed, and he whispered, "Damn it!"
"I apologize for my intrusion, but it seems the other party wants to set the meeting place here." Sylvanas spread her hands, indicating it wasn't her fault.
"I know, Lady Sylvanas, it's all that damned Shaw's fault! I've told him many times that I'm out of this business, but he still keeps using my place as his safe house!"
Erin Tias complained, his mouth full of grievances. He had been retired from the intelligence department for some time, but that damned boss Shaw still bothered him constantly.
From the shadows nearby, a figure gradually emerged from dark to light. Master Assassin Shaw leaned against a shelf, arms crossed, "You seem to have a lot of opinions about me, Erin."
"Yes, I certainly have a lot of opinions! Next time you want to meet a client of this caliber, don't cause trouble here. This is my small shop, it can't handle big figures like you coming here often!"
Erin's remaining eye rolled, but despite complaining about Shaw's actions, he wisely left the warehouse, giving the two space to talk.
"I apologize that we can only meet here, Lady Sylvanas."
After Erin left, Shaw straightened up and bowed slightly to Sylvanas, "Is there something specific that brings you to Stormwind?"
"I'm just passing through and taking a tour. It just seems your people are reacting a bit excessively?" Sylvanas replied.
"Please forgive us. The kingdom is truly short-staffed these days. Elite troops are on an expedition to Pandaria, and some of the kingdom's parasites and pests are all surfacing at this time. SI:7 can only be extra careful."
Shaw's words also carried a hint of helplessness. Varian's disappearance in Pandaria earlier had caused a huge stir in the kingdom, and although the King eventually returned safely, the ripple effects of that incident were not small at all.
Sylvanas and her party entered Stormwind openly via air travel, which naturally attracted the attention of SI:7. As a Ranger-General, even if only a former Ranger-General, any mishap involving Sylvanas within Stormwind would be a serious diplomatic incident.
"Don't be so tense, Shaw," Perhaps having held similar responsibilities and understanding Shaw's difficulties, Sylvanas didn't say much, only asking, "But I do have something I'd like to ask of you."
"Please speak, as long as it's within the scope of my duties."
"Has any Pandaren visited Stormwind recently? Hmm… it should be a little girl."
A Pandaren?
Shaw immediately thought of the Pandaren Monk who should be holding a wine glass at the Pig and Whistle Inn right now, but that person had entered the city with Sylvanas, so they certainly weren't looking for him.
"That is indeed a small matter. A few days ago, the Explorer's League from Ironforge arrived at their Stormwind branch. The team leader was Brann Bronzebeard, and their team did have a young Pandaren—apologies, our people have rarely seen live Pandaren, so it's hard to distinguish gender."
Sylvanas silently compared the information: from Ironforge, shorter than Old Chen, a young Pandaren.
These characteristics made her nod slightly, "It should be her."
Shaw understood something, casually tore a label from a nearby shelf, then wrote an address with his pen and handed it to Sylvanas, "This is the address of the Explorer's League's Stormwind branch, in the Dwarf District—Oh, and His Majesty the King should be very pleased to see you. He has always wanted to meet someone from the Windrunner family and express his gratitude in person."
Sylvanas fell silent for a moment upon hearing that. She remembered the magnificent statues she had seen upon entering the city, but in the end, she shook her head, "The one who truly deserves that gratitude is my sister, not me. Please convey my regards to the King, and forgive me for not being able to appear."
"I understand. I wish you a pleasant journey." Shaw did not continue speaking, his figure disappearing into the shadows once more.
After leaving the cheese shop, Nathanos, carrying a package of specialty cheeses, asked, "Ranger-General Windrunner, is everything taken care of?"
Sylvanas seemed not to have fully recovered from Shaw's final words. She drifted off for a moment until Nathanos asked again, and then she replied, "We found Old Chen's niece, but before that, let's go catch that drunkard first."
Finding a friend's relative wasn't difficult, but, my dear sister, where did you go, and how can I find you?
....
Inside the Explorer's League's branch, Chen Shu was looking at his somewhat embarrassed niece with a feigned solemn expression, taking a deep breath, trying to make himself appear stricter.
"Lili! How could you sneak out of Wandering Isle alone? Your father must be worried sick!"
"Sorry, Chen Shu."
Lili was like a frosted eggplant, wilted and dispirited, with what seemed like tears flickering in her big eyes, only able to meekly whisper, "I just really wanted to go back to Pandaria and see it."
Seeing Lili in this state, Chen Shu really couldn't bring himself to continue lecturing her. He deliberated for a long time, and finally could only sigh, slowly saying, "I have to send you back to Wandering Isle. You're still too young, and adventuring outside is too dangerous."
"Ah?" Lili looked at Chen Shu pitifully, "Chen Shu, please don't, I beg you."
Brann only now understood that this little girl had secretly run away from home by herself.
Brann shook his head, and with a chuckle, served grape juice to Sylvanas and Nathanos, "Try it, it's a specialty of Alterac. I brought it from Ironforge. It's not easy to buy this in Stormwind."
"Thank you, Brann." Sylvanas took the juice, but still watched Chen Shu, who was lecturing his niece, with great interest.
Brann asked with some curiosity, "How did you two meet? I heard you were looking for a way to cure the Arcane Addiction?"
"I went to Eldre'Thalas. At first, I thought the library there might have records about the cure for Arcane Addiction, but in the end, I didn't find anything useful," Sylvanas took a sip of juice, recalling her journey during this period, "Later, I met Chen Shu in a dwarven camp. At that time, he was having a drinking contest with a dwarf named Gregan Stonebrew."
"Gregan? That guy used to be in Feralas. I haven't seen him for a while."
"You dwarves are truly passionate about adventure," Sylvanas smiled faintly, "Later, I also learned that Quel'Thalas, with the help of Lordaeron, seemed to have found a way to completely cure Arcane Addiction, so I didn't continue to stay in Kalimdor, and there were no answers I wanted there either."
"So you're planning to return to Quel'Thalas this time?" Brann glanced at the two rangers, "Although adventure is fun, home is always the harbor."
"Home? Haha, there's nothing left of my home." Sylvanas maintained her smile, as if talking about something completely unrelated to herself.
Brann didn't continue the conversation on this topic. He knew the current situation of the Windrunner family and knew that this family had sacrificed almost everything for Quel'Thalas and the Alliance.
"Then what are you planning to do next? Are you going to continue traveling in the Eastern Kingdoms?" Brann asked.
"To Pandaria," Sylvanas answered directly, "I heard the Alliance has made some discoveries there. Hmm... perhaps rejoining the army isn't a bad idea."
"Then you can come with our Explorer's ship—"
Before Brann could finish his sentence, he saw Chen Shu walk over with Lili, but the tears in Lili's eyes had disappeared, replaced by joy and excitement.
Sylvanas asked, "What, did your niece convince you after all?"
Chen Shu's face showed embarrassment, "I really couldn't refuse, and Pandaria isn't a particularly dangerous place. I'll write to her father and tell him the current situation."
As everyone expected, Chen Shu simply couldn't refuse Lili's request, and they weren't going to any dangerous areas. Pandaria was already considered peaceful and safe compared to most places in Azeroth.
"Hello, I'm Lili!" Lili greeted Sylvanas and the others excitedly. Now, she wasn't exactly sneaking out anymore. Although she had a nominal guardian, it was still much more enjoyable than doing nothing on Wandering Isle.
"Hello, little girl. Since you've convinced your Chen Shu, then we're companions now." Sylvanas bent down, her voice full of tenderness. She saw the past shadows of her younger brother and sister in this lively Pandaren girl.
She handed Lili a cup of juice, and at the same time asked Chen Shu, "Do you have a plan for where to go in Pandaria? As far as I know, it's a vast continent no smaller than Lordaeron plus Quel'Thalas."
"Not decided yet," Chen Shu sat cross-legged beside them—the dwarf's chairs and tables were still a bit cramped for him, "Although I grew up listening to stories of Pandaria, and the elders said it was our Pandaren's true homeland, I don't actually know much more about it than you do."
"Don't worry, you look like a great fellow!" Brann patted Chen Shu's sturdy arm, "Old Brann got a map of Pandaria! This is a masterpiece from Lordaeron's senior cartographers. I specifically asked Muradin to get it!"
With that, he carefully took the map out of his bag of holding, then slowly spread it flat on the table.
"Hmm?"
After scanning the map, Chen Shu suddenly let out a sound of confusion.
"Is this... the word 'Stormstout'?" He pointed to a mark located in Four Winds Valley.
"Let me see," Brann followed Chen Shu's finger and then confirmed, "It is indeed Stormstout—I remember you and Lili both have the surname Stormstout?"
"That's the common tongue translation." Chen Shu was a bit unsure that he had so easily found what seemed to be his homeland.
"Then it should be correct. All the place names on this map were confirmed after consulting local Pandaren Lorewalkers. If your homeland's language hasn't changed much, there's a high probability this is the origin of your surname."
Brann explained, and at the same time, he glanced at the full name of the location, "Four Winds Valley, Stormstout Brewery... Ho ho, looks like a must-visit place."
Chen Shu immediately nodded in agreement, "A brewery with Pandaren characteristics? To occupy such a large mark on the map, it must be the most famous brewery in the area!"
The dwarf and the Pandaren exchanged smiles. For these two, adventure and good wine represented everything.
"I heard the Alliance vanguard has already entered Vale of Eternal Blossoms?" Sylvanas couldn't be bothered with these two like-minded fellows. She just looked at the area in the center of Pandaria and the annotation next to it, "Surrounded by mountains on all sides, spring-like all year round, once the center of power for the Mogu and Pandaren."
"I heard that's also where the most ancient secrets and treasures of Pandaria are, and it's the Explorer's League's destination this time." Lili interjected at this moment, "When I was little, I also heard the elders on the island talk about this place. They said that Shaohao, the last emperor of the Pandaren, merged with Pandaria here."
"It's Shaohao, Lili, did you even pay attention when the teacher lectured in class?!"
Chen Shu covered his face.
.....
"Charge! Rip open the breach!"
The Alliance lieutenant roared, then himself joined the front line with his sword and shield, beginning a bloody slaughter.
Below Mogu'shan Palace, a chaotic battle was already underway. Zhu Talan watched the land stained red with blood, his brows tightly furrowed. If this were before, he would have long since tried every possible way to prevent the conflict between the two sides, because this kind of battle was the best nourishment for the Sha.
However, now, except for the Sha of Pride, all other Sha have been eliminated. To thwart the Old Gods' plan and resolve the hidden danger of the Mogu, the Alliance, after completing their preparations, launched an attack on Mogu'shan Palace.
The Mogu clans guarding the palace had suffered repeated defeats before, and now Mogu'shan Palace's defenses were weak, causing them to retreat steadily under the Alliance's offensive.
"No retreat!"
Just as the Mogu were falling into disarray, a lion-like roar erupted from their ranks. Immediately after, a tall Mogu, clad in heavy golden armor and wielding a heavy halberd, swung his massive weapon with immense force, directly overturning the ground. The terrifying impact actually tore a gap in the Alliance's front line.
"Long live the King!"
The Mogu's morale, which had plummeted to its lowest point, finally stabilized. Weapon Master Sien's eyes blazed with fury as he stood alone at the very front of the Mogu lines, appearing as if he could single-handedly turn the tide of battle.
However, the Alliance was not unprepared for him. Just as Sien was about to press his advantage, a battle hammer condensed from Holy Light streaked through the air. He hastily swung his halberd to block, but was still knocked off balance.
Before he could regain his footing, Mograine charged forward with his sword. Ashbringer burned with scorching Holy Light, and the sense of danger, like a thorn in his back, made Sien unable to ignore it. He quickly steadied himself and engaged Mograine in battle.
After several exchanges, Mograine's expression was grave. After another clash with Sien, he used the force to retreat a few steps, feeling his hands, which were somewhat numb, and stared intently at Sien, who also looked as if he was facing a formidable enemy.
"You attack, I'll cover."
Uther also arrived from behind at this moment. Silver Hand radiated brilliant light in his hand. The Holy Light swept over Mograine, restoring his sword-wholding hand to its original state. At the same time, that Holy Light pierced directly towards Sien, clearly targeting his eyes.
"Petty tricks!"
With a furious roar, a powerful sonic wave vibrated outwards, directly dispersing Uther's feint. Seeing this, Mograine surged forward again, starting another round of fierce close-quarters combat with Sien.
Uther provided cover from the side, swinging his warhammer, defeating several Mogu who tried to assist in the battle, while also not forgetting to provide blessings to Mograine with the power of Holy Light, ensuring he did not fall behind in his fight against Sien.
Seeing that he couldn't take down the paladin in front of him anytime soon, Sien grew anxious and angry. He was being held up here, and the Mogu were starting to rout again. If this continued, he would soon be deeply entrenched in the enemy's formation, unable to turn the tide, and possibly even losing his own life here.
"Elune, please grant me strength."
Hundreds of meters away, Shandris's longbow was drawn to full moon, and the arrow was already imbued with the power of the Moon Goddess. Accompanied by a crisp and pleasant whooshing sound, a violet stream of light streaked across the battlefield.
By the time Sien noticed, it was too late. The deadly arrow from Shandris was almost upon him. In that instant, the Weapon Master almost mobilized all his strength, forcibly twisting his body.
The arrow easily penetrated Sien's right shoulder; his sturdy armor was completely useless. The intense pain from his right shoulder brought a flicker of joy to Sien's heart, but before the relief of surviving could fully rise, falling starlight poured down like a waterfall from the void above his head, engulfing Sien before he could react.
Mograine, at this moment, also mustered all his strength and roared. The Holy Light flames of Ashbringer erupted. He pushed with both arms, sweeping the blade horizontally, and the light flames surged out like a fan, almost cutting Sien in half at the waist.
A mournful wail escaped Sien's lips, but the heavily wounded Weapon Master had not given up resistance. He exerted all his might to strike out with his heavy halberd, forcing back Mograine, who wanted to deliver the finishing blow, then mustered his last remaining strength, scrambling back into the Mogu ranks, and, aided by several trusted aides, hid behind the great gate of Mogu'shan Palace.
Witnessing Sien's disastrous defeat, the Mogu's last will to fight completely vanished. Facing the increasingly aggressive Alliance and Golden Lotus, they left behind a messy scene and retreated to the main hall of Mogu'shan.
After the Mogu retreated, a fervent cheer erupted from the vanguard, echoing throughout the valley.
-----------------
"That guy's attacks are strange. I blocked his attacks, but I still took damage." Mograine grimaced as he removed his armor, wearing a linen shirt that revealed his muscular physique, covered in bruises and swelling.
Every move Sien made carried a strange internal force. Even when Ashbringer blocked his halberd, Mograine would still be injured by the spreading energy.
Zhu Talan was treating Mograine's injuries with his inner energy. "Every one of his attacks is imbued with inner energy. Your weapon and armor can't defend against that kind of attack."
"What a troublesome opponent," Mograine sighed. "If it weren't for the Holy Light's protection, I would definitely have been worn down in a prolonged battle."
"We also have to thank General Shandris for her assistance; without her, we wouldn't have been able to defeat that powerful Mogu so quickly."
He and Uther attracted Sien's attention, but Shandris's sneak arrow was the key to victory. Sien, already stretched thin, had no chance to defend against the Sentinel General's full-power strike.
"My arrow was off target."
At this moment, Shandris pushed aside the tent flap and entered the command center. "It was supposed to hit him in the head."
Even Shandris hadn't expected that Mogu to be able to dodge her carefully prepared shot under those circumstances.
And Sien's vitality was unbelievably strong. Shandris's subsequent Starfall also failed to completely kill Sien, and even Mograine's final strike didn't cause his immediate death.
"But he's definitely not far from death. My sword strike definitely broke through his body." Mograine looked at his almost-healed injuries, moved his body, and said, "Thank you, Sect Leader Zhu."
Zhu Talan, however, said, "The Mogu's vitality far surpasses that of ordinary mortal races, and their dark magic is extremely bizarre. I'm worried that even such a fatal injury might not be enough to truly kill Sien."
"Is it that exaggerated?" Mograine stroked his chin. He was quite certain that even a Troll would have a hard time surviving such injuries.
"Don't worry, even if he doesn't die, he's certainly lost his combat capability for a short time. We'll rest briefly and then launch an attack on their final stronghold, not giving him time to recover from his injuries."
Uther walked to the tent, pushed aside the flap, looked at the closed Mogu'shan gate, and issued the final battle command.
....
"Ah! The Seat of Knowledge! It is said that all of Pandaria's history is recorded here!"
Zhou Zhuo enthusiastically introduced everything before them, leading a group of Lorewalkers to begin exploring the hall. "Look at these historical texts! I can't wait to uncover the secrets they hold!"
"Don't forget our purpose, Zhou Zhuo," Arthas said, flicking his finger. A spark of holy flame leaped from his fingertip, igniting the surrounding candles.
"Of course, Your Majesty. The Titan vault buried deep beneath the Vale of Eternal Blossoms—this could be the most significant discovery in history."
Zhou Zhuo nodded. He certainly hadn't forgotten their purpose for coming. The soldiers of the Alliance and the Golden Lotus had fought bravely to give them the opportunity to enter the Seat of Knowledge.
This grand hall, carved deep into the mountain above Mogu'shan Palace, recorded events from the establishment of the First Mogu Empire. If there was anywhere in Pandaria that recorded information about the Titan vault, it could only be here.
Arthas casually took down a scroll and began to read it. In the process of searching for the vault, he had considered seeking help from the Guardians of Ulduar, but the answer he received was that after the disappearance of the High Guardian Loken, almost all of the structures and units he was responsible for had gone offline. Even the other Guardians were unaware of the exact locations of those Titan facilities.
To obtain precise coordinates, they had to find them themselves.
However, the Vale of Eternal Blossoms was a vast valley, and without the specific location of the heart of Y'Shaarj's dungeon, it was impossible to begin searching.
The texts and scrolls in the Seat of Knowledge were as vast as the ocean, and even a targeted search was not easy. Time passed from day to night, and just as Arthas was feeling a bit drowsy, a startled cry from Zhou Zhuo instantly woke him up.
"Found it! This is it!"
Zhou Zhuo carefully lifted a scroll and spread it out on the ground. "The secrets of the Vale of Eternal Blossoms are about to be unveiled to us."
The text on the scroll was quickly read aloud by Zhou Zhuo. He began to meticulously study this piece of history that had been concealed for tens of thousands of years.
"...After Thunder Mountain lost its master, that mountain peak and the palace upon it were shrouded in ill omen, becoming no longer suitable for habitation. The Mogu then moved their entire tribe, resettling in the ever-springlike Vale of Eternal Blossoms."
Zhou Zhuo's eyes lit up. "So, the Vale of Eternal Blossoms was not initially the center of power for the Mogu Empire; Thunder Mountain, where the Thunder King resided, was... Ah, but after the Great Sundering, that mountain peak has disappeared from Pandaria's main continent. Perhaps that palace has long since sunk to the bottom of the sea."
Arthas said little, seemingly deep in thought, and motioned for Zhou Zhuo to continue.
Zhou Zhuo quickly scanned the contents recorded on the scroll, but soon he said with a hint of disappointment, "This only records some secrets of the Mogu Empire; there's no mention of anything related to the Titans."
"Are there any other valuable discoveries?" Arthas asked.
"Not yet. The number of texts here is simply too vast. We need some time to organize and filter through them."
Zhou Zhuo carefully rolled up the scroll and returned it to its original place. He looked at the seemingly endless bookshelves and alcoves, sighing, "If only we had discovered this place sooner. The knowledge recorded here could help us solve so many problems."
"Save your sentiments for later, Zhou Zhuo. Help me find information about the Thunder King and his palace, the more detailed, the better." After some time in thought, Arthas suddenly made a decision.
Since he couldn't find direct records about the location of the heart of Y'Shaarj, it might be better to ask the person who built the facility. Arthas knew that fellow wasn't dead; he was merely sealed within the Thunder King's dungeon due to a severe blow.
The Thunder King believed he had completely plundered the power of Guardian Loken and imprisoned him in the dungeon, intending for Loken to witness him accomplish a great feat that no Guardian, or even Titan, had ever completed.
But Loken had already become disheartened at that time. He was indifferent to everything, even the duties and endeavors for which he had once given his all, let alone the Thunder King's ridiculous and absurd "great undertaking."
With the help of Zhou Zhuo and a large group of Lorewalkers, a vast amount of information and historical records about the Thunder King were quickly uncovered. They even found a blueprint of the Thunder King's palace in the crevices of the scrolls.
"This is simply a miracle! A blueprint of an imperial palace, with even the drainage system drawn in such detail!" Zhou Zhuo exclaimed in wonder, holding the Thunder King's Throne.
A precisely drawn blueprint of the Thunder King's palace—if this had been discovered by the Thunder King at the time, given that tyrant's temperament, even nine generations of a family wouldn't be enough to be executed.
It was unknown which fearless Mogu or Pandaren brought this item out of the Thunder King's palace. It was also fortunate that after the Thunder King's death, the Thunder King's Throne became unsuitable for habitation; otherwise, this detailed blueprint of the imperial palace's layout would likely not still exist.
"It's not surprising, though. The Thunder King's rule was brutal and long-lasting. There were always those who defied him and wanted to overthrow his dynasty. This item might have been left behind from that time." Arthas picked up this blueprint, which could be considered a map, scanned it, and then put the scroll away.
"But Your Majesty, I don't understand, what can this blueprint bring us?"
Zhou Zhuo was somewhat puzzled. The Thunder King's palace had long since disappeared from Pandaria during the Great Sundering. How could such a map possibly help them?
"The Thunder King's palace was not destroyed in that catastrophe. It remains preserved with astonishing completeness and scale, only separated from Pandaria's main continent, becoming an island adrift at sea."
Arthas told Zhou Zhuo this, "But the specific circumstances are a long story. If you truly wish to understand, after the war ends, I will tell you the whole truth—consider it my reward to you."
"Please don't say that, His Majesty, Arthas. Your allowing us to enter this hall and freely browse ancient knowledge is already an immense gift," Zhou Zhuo bowed to Arthas in gratitude. "We will do everything we can to help the Alliance, because this is also helping ourselves."
Arthas said no more, only smiled and nodded, then left the Seat of Knowledge with the map of the Thunder King's Throne.
A few hours later, on the naxxanar, Ogrim had a group of Ghouls and skeletons dragging a massive sarcophagus. This sarcophagus was crafted from fine wood, adorned with exquisite jade and Mogu decorations. Its edges and surroundings were even wrapped in gold, clearly indicating the noble status of its owner.
"Your Majesty, we found what you were looking for in the mausoleum in the Valley of Emperors," Ogrim reported in a deep voice to Arthas upon reaching the core of Naxxramas.
Arthas placed his hand on the coffin lid, completely disregarding the curses and magic hidden on it, and with a slight push, he lifted the heavy coffin lid.
Lying in the coffin was a tall Mogu with blue skin and a magnificent crown. An ordinary Mogu's stature was already taller than a Tauren, but this Mogu's remains were surprisingly twice the size of a regular Mogu.
"It is indeed Loken," Arthas quickly confirmed Loken's identity. Besides his appearance, which was significantly different from an ordinary Mogu, there was also the immense energy hidden within his body.
Undying, one could say, was the best description for this first emperor of the Mogu. Even though his life force was destroyed by the Origin Engine, Loken's body still contained a certain power.
This power came from the heart of a "Mogu god," and it was also the secret to Loken's ability to resurrect.
"The technology of the ancient Mogu Empire is indeed extraordinary. Loken even managed to resolve the Flesh Curse on his own body."
Arthas observed Loken. Rather than a corpse, it looked more like an inert statue, because his body was no longer ordinary flesh and blood tissue, but rather rock similar to a Titan construct, a complete reversion to the original appearance of the first Mogu.
This was also a direction worth noting. The Mogu should have preserved a large amount of salvaged Titan technology, a considerable portion of which had been optimized and could be directly utilized by mortals. This was extremely valuable knowledge.
However, the subject of technological research was not Arthas's original intention for finding Loken's remains. What needed to be done next was the real business.
Dark magic lifted Loken's body from the coffin. Arthas personally carved numerous runes onto this body, and these runes all represented one meaning—"Commanding."
Soon, ice-blue Commanding runes were carved by Arthas onto Loken's body, but this energy invasion immediately triggered the self-preservation mechanism of the power within Loken. Clearly, even if Loken died unexpectedly on the battlefield, he had not left himself completely without a contingency plan for such a situation.
The power from the Mogu's deity, Great Guardian Loken, now resonated within Loken's body. Even though his body had lost its life force, a heart within him was beating strongly. Arthas's magic quickly touched it, and the intrusion of the Commanding runes completely activated it.
"Audacious madman! How dare you desecrate my body!"
Like a clap of thunder, Loken's soul, hidden within his core, revived under this stimulation. This was the trump card he had left for himself, and also his contingency for resurrection.
The moment he revived, he immediately controlled the power of Loken's Heart, preparing to let the tomb robber taste the wrath of the Thunder King.
Unfortunately, after several attempts, Loken was astonished to find that the divine power, which he had once controlled as easily as his own arm, was now completely unresponsive to his command. The runes floating on his body flickered like breath, completely severing his control over his own body.
"Thunder King, Loken, a resounding title, but unfortunately this power does not belong to you; you are merely a traitor and a thief."
Arthas said casually, then ignored Loken's futile efforts, simply further refining the Commanding runes on Loken's body.
Seeing that the strange power was gradually replacing his control over his body, the originally enraged Loken now completely calmed down. Arthas's words also did not provoke his anger. His soul emerged from his body, and countless illusory chains were entanglement around him.
"You are... a human? How can such a weak race possess such power?"
Loken was puzzled. In his eyes, humans were far weaker than Pandaren, and compared to the Mogu, their talent and abilities were even inferior to some slave races in the Mogu Empire.
How could these beings, who had devolved from the iron Vrykul and were completely corroded by the Flesh Curse, compare to his divine construct body, and how could they suppress the divine power within him?
"I'm not here to give you a history lesson. Tell me where the underground palace where Loken is imprisoned is located."
"You!—Below the blood pool in the laboratory. You must gain access at the Thunder Throne to enter—You controlled my mind?! How is this possible?!"
Loken initially intended to mock Arthas, believing he could not obtain any information from him, but soon, his body and soul completely betrayed him.
"This cannot be a power that belongs to Azeroth. There cannot be a power in this world that can defy its creator!"
The Commanding Power nearly overturned Loken's worldview. Ever since he stole Loken's mighty power and Aman'Thul's remaining blessings, he had no equal. Even the August Celestial found it difficult to stop his mighty power.
Even in the only battle he lost, which led to his demise, he was defeated by the Origin Engine left by the Titans. Although he was unwilling to lose, Loken still believed that without the intervention of the Titans and the Guardian, his power should have been Invincible in the world.
"Your will is not as firm as you imagine, and your actions are not as noble as you imagine."
Arthas sifted through the hidden information in Loken's soul. In a short time, he had almost reviewed Loken's entire life, but Loken's soul was not completely intact. Ten thousand years of slumber and the damage from the Origin Engine had somewhat affected him at the soul level; some memories were no longer clear.
But the crucial memories were mostly intact. After Arthas completed all of this, he re-sealed Loken's soul back into Loken's body. The next moment, the already deceased Loken's body trembled violently, and the emperor of the Mogu Empire opened his eyes.
"I... have revived."
Loken looked at his hands with some disbelief, but he soon realized that this was not the resurrection he had originally sought, nor was it the method he had taught the Zandalar.
Arthas's powerful and terrifying strength forcibly combined his soul and body. As a Titan construct who had overcome the Flesh Curse and possessed independent consciousness, this method was enough to activate his body's vitality and bring him back from the dead.
Thinking of this, Loken's brows furrowed, his expression almost twisting into a knot, "What exactly do you want to do? With such power, even ruling the world would not be difficult."
Although he didn't want to admit it, failure was failure. Loken realized that he was currently unable to resist Arthas. "As a descendant of the Vrykul, you should understand the will of our gods. I am merely exercising the functions bestowed upon us by the gods."
"The age of myths is over. Gods have perished, and stars have fallen. These are things you already knew in ancient times."
Arthas revived Loken because this Mogu emperor still had value. The Thunder Throne and a large amount of lost Titan technology still required Loken's existence. "But what you don't know is that the world is already fragmented. We need to awaken your foolish master and tell us where Y'Shaarj's remains are hidden."
....
When attacking the last gate of Mogu'shan Palace, the Alliance finally encountered what could be called troublesome resistance. The remaining Mogu clans somehow captured a large number of Lizardmen, using them as cannon fodder for a final stand inside the great hall.
However, the Lizardmen were, after all, just a disorganized rabble. Even with the Mogu's cooperation, they only slowed the Alliance's advance. If there were no other methods, the final hall gate being breached was only a matter of time.
Sien was currently leaning on the throne, his entire skin almost scorched black, and a hideous wound on his abdomen, so deep that the creeping of his internal organs could be seen.
Several Mogu shamans were sweating profusely, using magic to keep Sien alive. Beside the opulent hall lay a pile of unidentifiable flesh and blood residue, the essence from which had been almost entirely extracted to heal Sien's injuries.
The severe injuries made Sien feel an unprecedented weakness. He heard the sounds of battle from outside the hall and couldn't help but feel a sense of desolation. When had the Mogu's power weakened to such an extent, to be so vulnerable against the enemy?
He glanced at the Mogu tribal leaders who were at a loss in the hall, and his sense of desolation deepened. He understood that he couldn't count on these fools; they only showed ruthlessness and malice when fighting among themselves. Bullying the weak and fearing the strong had long been ingrained in the bones of these Mogu clans.
They spoke of fearing no external enemy, but showed little bravery when fighting, and ran faster than anyone when defeated.
At this thought, Sien, already gravely wounded and near death, almost fainted from exasperation. But the Mogu's dark magic and the hatred in his heart kept him from letting go. His eyes were bloodshot, and his malevolent gaze scrutinized every Mogu in the hall, wishing he could devour their flesh and drink their blood.
Outside the hall gate, the Alliance finally broke through the Lizardmen's resistance. Without the Mogu to control and command them, these beast-like creatures immediately scattered. The word 'rout' would be a compliment for them; the Lizardmen frantically fled within the hall, trying to squeeze into any crack or opening they found.
The Alliance soldiers had no intention of wiping out these beasts, who were clearly conscripted temporarily. They brought the protected battering ram to the front of the hall, ready to break through the door.
The log, wrapped with a ramming head, continuously pounded the tightly shut gate. However, just as the gate was twisting and deforming from the impact, on the verge of giving way, a figure leaped from behind, holding a maul, and stepped on the front end of the battering ram, pressing down hard, slowing its momentum.
"Wait!"
Zhu Talan shouted loudly, his voice carrying True Qi spreading rapidly. Almost all Alliance soldiers heard Zhu Talan's roar. The soldiers operating the siege weapon quickly stopped, looking at Zhu Talan with confusion.
"What happened!"
Mograine pushed through the battle line, looking at Zhu Talan, wondering why he was stopping them from destroying the gate.
"Something's not right inside."
Zhu Talan breathed a slight sigh of relief seeing the gate wasn't destroyed. Just now, the moment the gate was about to break open, a sudden sense of crisis inexplicably surged in his heart.
He was about to explain but suddenly his expression changed drastically, and he roared, "No, retreat quickly!"
With that, he directly picked up several of the foremost infantrymen and threw them back, then swiftly retreated himself.
Mograine also reacted instantly, summoning a Holy Light shield to protect himself and the soldiers behind him. Not long after the shield formed, the heavy hall gate exploded, twisting completely as if torn apart by a giant dragon. The terrifying impact sent the ramming log from the siege engine flying, its iron-clad end embedding directly into the high wall behind them.
A powerful and dangerous dark force rapidly spread, quickly expanding from within the hall. This anomaly made Mograine's heart sink, and he could only shout loudly, ordering, "Retreat quickly!"
Fortunately, the Alliance had anticipated the possibility of the Mogu using magical ambushes. The mages and priests immediately began casting corresponding counter-spells behind the infantry.
However, that constantly encroaching power frantically swept over everything. The corpses left from the previous battle, whether Mogu, Lizardmen, or Alliance soldiers, were directly swallowed and vanished into the darkness.
"What's happening!"
Under the protection of magic, the frontline infantry retreated relatively unscathed. Mograine roared directly at Zhu Talan, trying to understand what exactly was happening inside.
Zhu Talan was currently using True Qi to heal a wounded soldier beside him who had been affected by the dark magic. He answered without hesitation, "I don't know either, but the source must be inside the great hall!"
With a quick glance, Zhu Talan was astonished to find that all the Mogu who should have been standing by in the great hall were dead. Their bodies lay scattered on the ground, having become nourishment for the darkness.
"Is it Sha?! No... Sha isn't like this! Is this another dark entity?!"
Zhu Talan didn't have time to ponder why such dark power would erupt in the core of Mogu'shan Palace, but there was no time to hesitate now. "Retreat first! Construct a defensive line behind us, the Mogu are all finished!"
"What?"
Mograine finally had a chance to see what was happening inside through the darkness. After a brief moment of confusion, he immediately issued orders, "Retreat, retreat! Establish a defensive line at the gate behind us! Spellcasters, set up your defensive magic!"
The constantly writhing darkness, like the tentacles of an evil god, climbed over the once resplendent hall. Zhu Talan swung the maul in his hand, smashing a tentacle that tried to drag away a nearby soldier. In the last moment before exiting the hall, he instinctively looked back and saw a scene that would haunt him for life.
-----------------
About ten minutes later, the Alliance established a defensive line at one of the palace gates. However, this time it wasn't to resist the Mogu, but to defend against the eerie dark entity.
Mograine now found Zhu Talan at the defensive line. The moment he saw the Pandaren monk, he urgently asked, "What exactly happened back then?"
Zhu Talan was silent for a moment, seemingly still processing the scene he had witnessed. "It was Sien... He was swallowed by the darkness, just like Sha attaches to living beings. Dark power is continuously surging from the throne."
"Is it the Mogu's forbidden magic?" Mograine was puzzled, wondering why Sien hadn't possessed such power when they fought in the valley before.
"Probably not," Zhu Talan looked profoundly into the depths of the palace, which had been engulfed in blackness, even extinguishing the torchlight. "Although the Mogu's dark magic is evil, it's nowhere near this scale."
Mograine, hearing this, understood the severity of the situation. He called over a messenger and ordered, "Quickly inform the command center outside about the situation here! Move fast!"
Arthas was slightly surprised when he received the battle report; in his opinion, the Mogu in Vale of Eternal Blossoms were nothing more than grasshoppers after autumn, their days numbered.
Arthas picked up the battle report, and after browsing it, he first frowned, then suddenly realized. When a series of clues were strung together, Arthas came to a conjecture.
Naga had indeed landed in Pandaria; this was an indisputable fact. Not only had Pandaren witnessed it, but the Alliance Vanguard had also cleared out many Naga strongholds in the Jade Forest and the mountains of Vale of Eternal Blossoms.
When they thought there were more Naga lurking in Pandaria but couldn't find them, had they perhaps entered a blind spot?
"Have the Naga we cleared out been all of them… These Naga actually don't know the exact location of y'shaarj's heart, and they even had to use Mogu's methods to enter Vale of Eternal Blossoms. It's not that they wanted to hide behind the scenes, but rather that their effective forces could only achieve this much?"
Arthas speculated the answer in his mind, adding to the previous hint from Azshara that N'raqi, under N'Zoth, had already been active in Pandaria. Perhaps those Naga followers pushed out by N'Zoth were just a smokescreen; they simply didn't have the ability to complete this task.
So they set their sights on the Mogu. Perhaps it was a gift from N'Zoth, or perhaps some dark ritual, but in any case, they planted a suggestion in the hearts of the high-ranking members of the Mogu's major clans: they were to help the Naga complete a task, and the reward was the thing they most desired in their hearts.
Upon closer thought, this speculation seemed to align with various doubts encountered during the investigation in Pandaria. Most crucially, the power Sien unleashed in Mogu'shan Palace clearly did not belong to Y'Shaarj, which could only mean N'Zoth was meddling.
Thinking of this, Arthas quickly wrote a new directive and handed it to a Necromancer nearby, instructing him to deliver it to the Vanguard currently in Vale of Eternal Blossoms.
-----------------
At the Vanguard camp, Uther read Arthas's directive with a solemn expression. Finally, he put down the letter and said, "Notify Kirin Tor. We need more magical assistance."
Arthas's opinion was simple: to completely eliminate all influences related to the Old Gods and prevent N'Zoth's influence from spreading. Since N'Zoth had exposed his hidden power, it was actually a good thing for them.
Either N'Zoth was concealing something more important, or he hadn't yet found his true target and was attempting to stall for time or make a desperate gamble through this method.
And in reality, just as Arthas thought, if Zhu Talan's many years of experience fighting Sha had not made him detect something unusual, the Vanguard might have suffered heavy losses the moment they stormed the throne, and N'Zoth could have taken the opportunity to acquire more "nourishment" and create a terrifying flesh monster to occupy Mogu'shan Palace.
But now, Sien, whose heart was ignited by N'Zoth's resentment, only managed to absorb the power of the remaining Mogu and a portion of the Lizardmen. The influence N'Zoth could exert was significantly weakened, unable even to spread beyond the palace, and was suppressed by the Alliance deep within the palace.
"Sir, Lady Proudmoore has replied. She said Kirin Tor's magic forces will arrive very soon."
An Alliance major informed Uther of this news. Uther nodded slightly and immediately said to Mograine, "Our Druids, while soothing those Lizardmen, detected from their thoughts that there might be a large number of ancient artifacts under Mogu'shan Palace. Immediately dispatch personnel; we must ensure these things do not become evil nourishment."
Under intense arrangements, the Vanguard quickly fortified the perimeter of Mogu'shan Palace into an impenetrable fortress. They invested a large amount of resources to ensure that the dark magic would not seep out.
Zhu Talan also led the Shado-Pan and Golden Lotus to construct defensive fortifications near the pool under Mogu'shan Palace. They were going to use the ancient methods passed down for ten thousand years to prevent this important pool from being corrupted by the Old Gods.
"This is the core of the vibrant life in the entire Vale of Eternal Blossoms, containing a vast amount of energy. We must protect it from evil invasion."
Zhu Talan gazed at the calm water surface, feeling the vigorous life hidden within. If N'Zoth had truly succeeded in allowing Sien's power to spread outside, using the energy of this pool, the entire Vale of Eternal Blossoms might suffer terribly.
A large number of Shado-Pan disciples and Golden Lotus monks began to gather by the pool. They sat cross-legged, surrounding the pool. With peaceful minds, the monks' hearts were as calm as the lake before them, and as they meditated, dense True Qi enveloped the pool like mist.
They merged their power with nature, providing a solid protective shield for the pool. With the feedback from the pool's energy, this shield would become increasingly strong until it could self-circulate endlessly without the external force of the monks.
This method also had a drawback: the overflowing energy in the pool would gradually decrease, which would undoubtedly affect the ecological balance of Vale of Eternal Blossoms and even the entire Pandaria in the long run. However, for an emergency, it was a quite reliable method.
Zhu Talan also sat cross-legged by the pool, took a deep breath, cleared his mind of distracting thoughts, and calmly circulated the power of True Qi, as if he had merged with the entire world.
And in this meditation, he seemed to hear a voice calling his name.
"Zhu Talan."
"Who are you?" Zhu Talan suddenly opened his eyes. Just as he thought it was some kind of illusion, a vague figure gradually solidified before him.
He watched the figure warily, but soon, this wariness turned into shock, "Emperor Shaohao?!"
The figure smiled slightly, looking around at the surrounding monks. A look of relief hung on his somewhat transparent face, "It seems our people have found their way of survival… Very good."
Before Zhu Talan could reply, Shaohao's expression became serious, "You have done well, limiting the schemes of the Sha and the Old Gods, but they will not give up easily, because y'shaarj's heart is buried somewhere in Vale of Eternal Blossoms. N'Zoth will not give up before achieving his goal."
"What should I do, Emperor?" Zhu Talan hastily asked for guidance.
"Pandaria will tell you the answer, child…"
Shaohao's voice gradually began to blur. Zhu Talan tried hard to hear Shaohao's words clearly, but soon the voice almost became a gentle breeze, brushing past his ear.
"Buzz!"
Like a resounding bell, ethereal and distant, Zhu Talan suddenly woke up. He realized he had never opened his eyes. So what he had just seen and heard, was it truly an illusion?
However, a dragon's roar quickly dispelled Zhu Talan's distracting thoughts. Yu'lon's elegant figure appeared in the sky of Vale of Eternal Blossoms, and the voice of the August Celestial green dragon supreme also resounded in Zhu Talan's heart.
"Zhu, you saw Shaohao? He issued some kind of summons, hoping we can help Pandaria overcome this crisis."
The green dragon supreme's voice was still gentle as jade, but deeply hidden was a certain weariness. She observed everything in Vale of Eternal Blossoms, and at the same time, sensed the anomaly in Mogu'shan Palace. "Is it another evil god… That's truly troublesome."
"green dragon supreme!" Zhu Talan hastily stood up and bowed, "Pandaria is eternally grateful for this."
"No need to thank us, we are also a part of Pandaria," Yu'lon sighed, "That dark power isn't particularly strong, but it still exceeds the limit of what we can handle now."
"The current limit?" Zhu Talan detected a hidden meaning in Yu'lon's words.
"This is a very ancient matter… The four August Celestials are not truly complete now, because a part of our essence was once taken by Lei Shen. This was a heavy injury for us, difficult to recover from even after ten thousand years."
The voice of Yu'lon, appearing in Zhu Talan's mind, was filled with fatigue and weariness. Zhu Talan was inwardly astonished; so the four August Celestials had been looking after Pandaria for so long while still severely injured?
...
Jaina wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve, her expression serious as she perfected the magical defenses of Mogu'shan Palace.
"Lady Proudmoore, we've run out of Arcane power crystals."
At this moment, a battlemage at her side reported the difficulties in logistics: "The tenacity of those twisted Flesh creatures exceeded our expectations. The first batch of crystals isn't enough to clear more safe areas."
Jaina frowned slightly, "How much longer can we hold out?"
"If we don't push further, we can last until the next batch of supplies arrives," the battlemage replied, "But if we want to accelerate our progress, the current supplies will only last for 24 hours at most."
"That's enough. Continue to advance the sealing process. We must completely suppress these dark creatures."
Jaina didn't hesitate, deciding to continue pushing deeper into the Palace, even though it had almost become a nest for the Old God's minions. Sien and all the Mogu had become sacrifices to N'Zoth, their souls and flesh becoming the starting point for this dark outbreak.
"Yes, Lady Proudmoore."
After finishing the magical engineering at hand, Jaina breathed a sigh of relief. They had set up three layers of magical defense and Arcane sealing, which would at least restrict the twisted creatures and prevent them from pouring out of the Palace. The next step was to gradually clear this corruption from the Palace.
This was a rather slow process. The corruption brought by N'Zoth was extremely stubborn, and from time to time, Flesh constructs and even Faceless Ones would emerge from the darkness. Alliance soldiers also had to constantly monitor the environment for safety, protecting the relatively fragile spellcasters.
Fortunately, their primary goal was not to immediately eradicate N'Zoth's corruption. According to the Kirin Tor's detection, as long as N'Zoth's tentacles were prevented from spreading out of the Palace, the corrupted nest, deprived of its power source, would weaken on its own.
Every meter they pushed forward, the corruption would weaken a bit faster.
"You've worked hard, Jaina." Uther handed Jaina a water skin. He was also participating in the corruption clearing efforts, his Holy Light providing protection and blessings to the frontline soldiers.
Jaina took the water skin and reported what she had just heard, "We have a shortage of resources. We need more Arcane crystals to maintain the level of the seals and defensive magic."
"They are already in transit," Uther glanced at the magical shield that almost covered half of Mogu'shan Palace, "The fastest batch will arrive by evening."
"Through teleportation spells? That's too inefficient. For magical items like crystals, to ensure reliable transmission, you can't transport large quantities at once with teleportation magic. I estimate this first batch of supplies will only last us two days at most."
Jaina counted on her fingers, finding that the logistics situation was not optimistic, but fortunately, a portion of the deficit could be covered in time.
"More supplies will be transported by airship, and should arrive no later than a week from now."
As they spoke, a hideous Faceless One appeared within the Arcane barrier. He tried to attack the barrier but was quickly surrounded and defeated by the Alliance soldiers guarding the line.
After eliminating the Faceless One, to prevent the monsters' corpses from being reclaimed and reused by the corrupted nest inside, Silver Hand paladins used Holy Light to burn all the monster corpses to ash.
"It seems our efforts are not without effect."
Jaina was slightly relieved. To deal with the Old God and his minions, the Alliance had provided extensive training to their soldiers, and the results of systematically eradicating these corrupted creatures were already evident.
"This also serves as an accumulation of practical experience. The last time in Ahn'Qiraj, due to lack of experience, our expeditionary force suffered a heavy blow. Our warriors still need more tempering."
Uther's gaze pierced into the darkness deep within the Palace gates. He had already seen the twisted, writhing, hideous creatures inside. As the frontline defenders of Azeroth, they had to be fearless.
-----------------
After several searches in Naxxramas, they finally discovered the island where Thunder Throne was located, in a sea area some distance from Pandaria.
The Thunder God watched his former Throne from naxxanar, silent. Time had passed, his empire had fallen, and he himself had even become another's prisoner.
"This island seems to have lost its vitality." Kel'Thuzad observed the scene on the island with interest through the monitoring crystal called "Eye of Naxxramas," "It seems to be affected by a dark magic that we haven't yet identified."
"This is Flesh magic, a 'talent' that some Mogu naturally possess after suffering the Flesh Curse. Hmph… but I actually prefer to call it a curse."
The taciturn Thunder God suddenly spoke at this moment, "It seems my foolish subordinates have no idea how to control this power. The entire Imperial Palace and the surrounding areas have been eroded by dark magic."
More than thirteen thousand years ago, when the land had not yet split, the area where Thunder God Isle was located was clearly not like this. It was originally a pleasant wetland on the northern foothills of Kun-Lai Summit, but now, it had decayed into a lifeless swamp.
The Thunder God could guess without thinking that after his death, some ill-intentioned fools among his subordinates coveted the dark magic he had once used, resulting in the leakage of mysterious substances in the laboratory, which turned the area around the Imperial Palace into an uninhabitable dead zone.
naxxanar swept over the vast muddy swamps below, flying directly towards the Palace area of Thunder Throne.
Just then, above the vast Palace area, within the thick, ink-like dark clouds, several flashes of light flickered, like surging thunder.
Naxxramas also monitored this sudden anomaly. Kel'Thuzad looked through the monitoring screen and found that a dark shadow seemed to be moving in the clouds.
Several bolts of lightning also struck at this moment, and dazzling electric light attacked Naxxramas. A storm seemed to be brewing deep in the clouds, and the storm's target was Naxxramas in the sky.
However, this level of lightning attack was nothing to the Scourge's mobile fortress. The lightning that pierced through the clouds didn't even cause a ripple in Naxxramas's outer anti-magic shield.
And this sudden attack also revealed the identity of the hidden attacker: a red sky-serpent nearly a hundred meters long swam in the thunderclouds. Electric light danced on its crystal-blue scales. The sky-serpent continuously moved and maneuvered in the clouds, with violent lightning striking its scales and horns, as if a god had descended.
"Oh, what a beautiful creature." Kel'Thuzad couldn't help but exclaim.
Although he praised the grandeur and beauty of the sky-serpent, Kel'Thuzad's hands never stopped. He quickly controlled Naxxramas's attack system to target the sky-serpent in the clouds. The magic cannons, infused with a large amount of death energy and plague magic, were the bane of all living creatures. He had no doubt that this beautiful creature would soon unleash an even more beautiful death.
However, Arthas's voice sounded at this moment, "Thunder God, control your little pet. Don't let it affect our landing."
"Hmph."
The Thunder God snorted coldly, but his body moved honestly. He skillfully manipulated the lightning and storm power within him, and soon the sky-serpent in the clouds sensed its master's return.
"Alright, Nalak, go wait below."