This Mimiron unit uses a standard steel shell, which is sufficient for crushing ordinary enemies. However, it is not quite enough to withstand a top-tier powerhouse like Vereesa.
In no time, its body was pierced by arrows; the iron shell seemed incapable of enduring the assault. Ordinary arrows wouldn't have mattered, but Vereesa used magical arrows with every shot.
As former High Elves, every elf is a born wizard. From birth, elven infants were bathed in the Arcane energy of the Sunwell, their bodies subtly adapted to magic. Regardless of their future profession, they were able to incorporate the Arcane into their daily lives.
The Windrunner family are all natural scouts; this profession is essential, as the war against the Forest Trolls cannot be won without both warriors and rangers. The warriors possess magic, and so do the rangers, who enchant their arrows with various elements to achieve different effects.
Whoosh!
Another arrow flew out, striking Mimiron squarely in the chassis. Its enchanted ice element froze a large portion of the machine. Despite its mechanical form, the extreme cold made it sluggish.
"Waaaaah, you can't do this!"
Whoosh!
Three more arrows struck the frost-covered body. Boom!
The arrows exploded, the instantaneous high temperature melting the ice. This constant switching between hot and cold—the repeated expansion and contraction—caused the steel to crack. Even thick steel plates couldn't withstand such violent temperature changes, resulting in the entire frame being torn apart.
"Wow, what is the principle behind this? It looks very interesting. Are you guys studying science too?"
Mimiron's voice was quite comical; even though he was clearly at a disadvantage, he kept babbling incomprehensible things. He lacked any semblance of the seriousness or tension of war. If Vereesa hadn't held back, she would have blown his head off.
Back then, you could actually obtain a Mimiron's Head mount. How many people dreamed of getting it, trying every week only to come up empty-handed?
"What an eye-opening scientific experiment! Very good—you are now qualified to challenge my final weapons experiment."
As Mimiron spoke to himself, his body was suddenly grabbed by a huge mechanical arm. A circular pillar opened on one side, sucking him inside.
External gears turned, and the dome above vibrated. Soon, circular holes appeared, and missiles emerged. The scene was spectacular and awe-inspiring; it was hard to imagine missiles existing in a world of swords and magic.
Thinking about it carefully, Mimiron has been here for tens of thousands of years. Since losing his mind, he has done nothing but research and development. Even Loken doesn't know he is still alive; when Loken occasionally sees the body, he simply thinks it is a mechanical creation from the past. As long as it poses no threat, Mimiron is left to his own devices.
After tens of thousands of years of undisturbed research, it is not surprising that missiles were created. However, judging from their trajectory, they appeared to be short-range, unable to strike targets across different regions.
Magic can achieve similar power, and its system is already mature. Therefore, most civilizations have no need for expensive mechanical research. Developing technology without a massive budget is nothing but a pipe dream.
"Haha! The ultimate means of destruction! I call this weapon 'Three Thousand Ways to Take Your Life'!"
This time, Mimiron mounted his head onto a giant robot with two bulb-like eyes that flashed green light, making the machine look like a massive, glowing lamp.
I'll take your life three thousand times? Are you Leonardo da Vinci?
Vereesa's originally serious expression faltered when she heard the weapon's name. Wasn't it a bit too tacky?
Whoosh!
As Mimiron pressed the activation button, missiles rained down from above in a saturation attack. Precision wasn't required; complete coverage was the goal. The fiery explosions would engulf the entire workshop, rendering any attempt to dodge futile. There would be no escape.
"Don't be afraid. Come back to me."
As soon as Arthas finished speaking, Vereesa leaped back behind him, using the force of the wind.
An invisible force surged forth, forming a unique, circular portal around the group. This was a void portal, typically used for traversing the universe, but also capable of absorbing or transferring energy.
The missiles crashed to the ground and exploded. The flames reached a terrifying 5,000 degrees Celsius, enough to melt steel into liquid. Flesh-and-blood creatures had no chance of survival; even if they dodged the initial impact, they would be vaporized instantly by the heat.
This was why Mimiron claimed he could take your life three thousand times over. This was no joke. If you weren't careful, you really would lose your life.
Unfortunately, he had encountered an existence even more powerful than a greedy adventurer. This method was sufficient for ordinary people; even Loken's steel soldiers would have been melted into puddles of molten iron.
High temperatures surged from all directions, only to be absorbed by the portal before they could get close. The other end of the portal connected back to Mimiron's location. The intense heat relentlessly scorched his own shield, deforming the sturdy energy field under the extreme temperature.
Vereesa was both surprised and relieved. Thank goodness she had listened to Arthas; otherwise, she would have been instantly melted. At that point, forget about resurrection—they wouldn't have even found a single shoe nail.
"Is this the 'Three Thousand ways to Kill You'? This guy has some skills after all."
Ysera had recovered. With the aura's blessing, her strength was returning quickly, though she was getting hungry. Recovery requires replenishing energy. She wanted a hearty meal—specifically, the delicious Pandaren food from Lordaeron.
She had become picky. She wouldn't have acted this way if she hadn't tasted such delicacies before. But once someone experiences the best, it is difficult to lower their standards and accept a less comfortable environment.
"Arthas, hurry up, I'm getting hungry. There is a delicious wind serpent in Zul'Drak. I'm sure you have a way to turn it into a delicacy."
She was quite blunt, speaking almost like a mate. Women admire strength, and Ysera was no exception. With her older sister Alexstrasza as a role model, she only needed to follow suit.
"Uh, it should be okay. There's no time to catch them now, so let's just make do with this."
Arthas pulled a table from his backpack and laid out several authentic local dishes: crucian carp soup, jam bread, black pepper steak, roast lamb leg, a huge cake, and ice cream.
"Let's eat together. This heat won't dissipate quickly. Let's eat our fill first, then we can wake Mimiron up."
Vereesa was stunned. How did they suddenly end up having a picnic? Weren't they fighting Titan Keepers? This didn't seem right!
"Forget it, if you can't figure it out, don't think about it anymore," she remembered Arthas once saying. She was also hungry, so she picked up a black pepper steak. The moment it hit her tongue, the spice mixed with the aroma of the beef made her eyes light up. It was delicious!
Thalyssra was also taken aback. Aside from assisting Jandice with the illusion, she had been a bystander—or rather, a liaison officer handling magical communications.
"Can I eat too?"
"Of course, we're a family. Sit down and eat quickly, or you won't get a turn later."
Arthas took a bite of a roasted lamb leg. It was fragrant, crispy, and refreshing, with the gamey smell perfectly removed. The meat was tender yet chewy. The "system's" products were always top-notch.
Thalyssra saw the usually quiet Vereesa eating quickly, so she tried the crucian carp soup. Her eyes lit up instantly. It was better than the food in Suramar!
He handed Tyrande a bowl of fruit salad and a fork. "Let's eat together."
Tyrande, however, picked up a grilled fish and began to eat with relish. Her eyes were calm, but she ate very quickly.
"We do not prohibit eating meat. You need to learn more about the customs of the Kaldorei, my silly husband!"
Arthas grinned mischievously. "I'll show you what's what when we get back tonight!"
Tyrande seemed to know exactly what he was thinking. Instead of showing fear, she gave him a defiant look. The message was clear: Who's afraid of who?
Night Elves give the impression of revering nature, and they do. However, that doesn't mean they are vegetarians or oppose all logging. They demand balance. Liking animals and hunting them are two different things. Druids need meat to replenish the energy spent traversing mountains. And without cutting trees, where would their homes come from?
The picnic lasted exactly fifteen minutes. Every woman patted her belly contentedly. They had all eaten quickly—slow eaters simply got less food.
"Phew, that was satisfying. No wonder my sister likes traveling with you; we can fight and eat well anytime. Love you!"
In her state of contentment, Vereesa stopped pretending and openly showed her affection.
Thalyssra rolled her eyes, but then received a magical message from the Northern Expeditionary Army.
"Master, the Northern Expedition says Illidan's forces have wiped out the remaining undead. They've requested the Alliance fleet for transport to the Eastern Kingdoms, along with a large amount of supplies."
"Oh? They're moving fast. Well, I can't go back on my word. Tell Onyxia to prepare a batch of low-quality food for the troops and a small batch of high-quality food for Illidan himself."
Arthas was playing the shrewd businessman. Most of Illidan's minions were undead and didn't eat anyway. As for the die-hard Quel'Thalas loyalists who refused to join the Alliance, Arthas felt they didn't deserve his best resources.
The women wore strange expressions, surprised by Arthas's cunning side. Perhaps he had spent too much time with the Black Dragon Princess.
Jandice remained calm. She knew her master was free-spirited and unpredictable. That unpredictability was exactly why his enemies had such headaches. No one likes an opponent who leaves no trace of their logic.
For instance, the Twilight's Hammer had gone to Kul Tiras to stir up trouble on Yogg-Saron's orders, hoping to divert Arthas's attention. It was a classic strategy, but Arthas hadn't fallen for it. He sent the Guardians Cult to handle that while he focused on Northrend.
Once Ulduar is under control, Northrend becomes the Lordaeron Empire's backyard. Onyxia would wake up laughing at the thought of all those resources and glittering treasures.
"Hehe, brother-in-law, you're so naughty," Vereesa said, tasting her ice cream.
"It's alright. They're going to the Outlands anyway; they don't need our best resources. Just give them enough to get by. They're acting as our outpost against the Burning Legion, so we shouldn't be too stingy."
Arthas had no interest in Outland. There was nothing good left there, so he was happy to let others go in his place.