Anger was building.
It had been a long time since he had seen such an arrogant fellow. The last one so arrogant had been made into a specimen, displayed in a museum, and ridiculed.
And he even said he wanted to fight ten?
Fighting ten at once, even Xavius wouldn't dare say such a thing, fearing he'd be beaten to death.
One plus one for mages might be greater than two, but one plus nine isn't just simply ten; it's already beyond ten.
With mages specializing in offense, defense, harassment, and control, facing one enemy simultaneously would absolutely be a terrifying nightmare.
You brat, you arrogant scoundrel! Not only did you blaspheme the queen and deceive her, but you also dared to spout such nonsense.
If he were to walk out of here alive today, the Highborne shouldn't be called Highborne anymore; they might as well be called useless cowards!
"Archmage Elisande, will you participate?"
Ravencrest bowed slightly, wanting to invite the Archmage to join the battle. If the Countess, skilled in control-type spells, could participate, the win rate would surely soar to a terrifying height.
Although he was close to commoners and had even helped a gifted commoner become an excellent mage, this commoner's name was Illidan Stormrage.
This question was truly laughable. A group of males, vying for the queen's favor, asked another female if she would help them out.
This was truly like living in a tauren household; they might as well move to Highmountain and watch the tauren all day.
"No interest."
Elisande rolled her eyes slightly. She had already seen the future; prophecy guided her to help Ximen Chuixue.
The Sin'dorei would not perish, but would continue eternally.
Nobles weren't necessarily mostly male; there were many females too. They also adored and admired queen Azshara madly, yet they didn't react much to the queen having a consort.
Only sycophants would react; true admirers would only offer blessings.
How does that saying go? There's a love called letting go, giving up forever for love.
Soon, after some discussion, these nobles selected ten Highlords.
There was Highlord Ravencrest, the commander who resisted The Legion, Dath'Remar, the founding king of the high elves, and even Xavius, the queen's advisor who had already been demonized.
Azshara, as the queen's consort, merely watched quietly and snapped her fingers.
arcane energy formed a chair. She sat down, crossing her legs in an elegant posture, took a glass of Shadowberry wine, parted her red lips to exhale, and watched the farce below with a lazy, charming gaze.
"Ximen Chuixue, my consort, go easy on them. They are all my subjects, not deserving of death."
"I'll try."
Arthas responded coolly, leaping onto the plaza. He extended his right hand, pointing at Xavius. The Helm of Domination obscured his face, preventing anyone from seeing the disdainful sneer on his lips, otherwise they would surely have gone mad with rage again.
"Come at me all at once. Don't waste time. You know nothing of power."
"As the queen's consort, I will kindly teach you how to respect a demigod. I, Ximen Chuixue, am your best 'Big Brother'!
"Everyone, introduce your name, title, and strength, starting with you!"
Damn it! He was being looked down upon, underestimated, this hateful fellow.
And what the hell is 'Big Brother'?
And 'introduce yourselves'? I'll introduce your head!
Xavius was seething with rage, his anger having reached its peak. His ashen face was twisted and ferocious, his gnashing teeth exuding waves of fear that sent chills down one's spine.
He swore that he would tear this so-called Ximen Chuixue to shreds right in front of Her Majesty the queen!
Constantly mentioning 'queen's consort,' 'queen's consort', he was doing it on purpose, wasn't he!
He was furious, but there really were fools who would fall for it.
"Yes, Jarod Shadowsong of Starsong Village, Mount Hyjal!"
A young spellblade stood ramrod straight, shouting loudly.
This completely bewildered the other Highborne. Who was this kid? Didn't he know that doing this was a very shameful thing?
The enemy tells you to shout, and you shout. If he tells you to fly, why don't you fly!
"Who told you to shout! Is this how you, young man, haphazardly defend Her Majesty the queen's dignity? You are ruining the reputation of the Kaldorei Empire! How shameful!"
Ravencrest roared in anger. This was his subordinate officer. Because he was an excellent spellblade and could also wield a shield as a protection warrior, he was given a spot.
Azshara didn't reprimand him, only found it very amusing. She hadn't realized her subjects had a talent for telling jokes before.
Arthas listened with a strange expression, feeling a sense of déjà vu. Was the next step to find an opportunity to instill some Etajima spirit into the other party?
He shook his head, casting these chaotic thoughts aside.
"A sword comes from the west, a flying sword from beyond the heavens. Ximen Chuixue, Lord of White Cloud City, I await your instruction!"
No sooner had he spoken than he flashed in front of Ravencrest, landed two punches to his face, and then knocked him unconscious with an elbow.
Any more hits and he'd die. Unless there was deep hatred, it was best not to kill wantonly.
"Commander!"
Jarod had just shouted when his battle-hardened experience made him instinctively raise his shield in front of him.
Shield Wall!
Bang!
Two loud bangs. An unbearable force came through the shield, surpassing its critical point in an instant.
As the shield shattered, fragments pierced his body, and he was kicked away.
"Take that!"
A longsword struck from behind, and ice shackles appeared on both sides, attempting to bind him.
Just as they were about to hit, Arthas flashed again, appearing on the other side, and punched the mage unconscious twice.
As a fireball locked onto his face and flew towards him, a strange insight flashed through his mind, a sudden realization. His body merely twisted slightly, and with an incredible drunken sway, he dodged the fireball.
Ice lances, fireballs, arcane Missiles, these basic spells were dodged one by one.
The power of basic spells was not small, and they were easy to control. In a duel, the most valuable spells were often these extremely fast-casting ones.
One punch, two punches.
Sinestra's taught Resistance Skin had already reached max level. Even if occasionally hit by magic, its power was reduced to less than a tenth.
He dodged when he could, and simultaneously countered with a Drunken Fist critical strike.
The sound of bones breaking kept coming, and screams rose and fell.
Xavius had not made a move; he was waiting for an opportunity, a perfect opportunity, an opportunity for a single fatal blow.
Finally, when the last mage entangled Arthas with Icebound, he acted.
Fel flames surged, all energy concentrated in his hands, condensing into a massive fireball over ten meters in diameter.
Before it even drew close, the scorching wave had already seared the fur on his body, emitting a pungent burning smell!