The two stood atop the Burning Throne. Sargeras's eyes flared with green light; in the Dark Titan's view, a true tool must not be too submissive, yet not too defiant. Rhodes walked that delicate line perfectly.
"Very well," Sargeras's deep voice rumbled like tectonic plates shifting. "Since you requested it, I shall grant you this 'glory.' Prepare yourself, Rhodes. You are already a powerful demigod; I will bestow upon you Fel energy beyond imagining. Your body must endure this power. Remember to relax your mind—do not resist my gift, or it will backfire."
Sargeras wanted to see what made this unique demigod so special. Rhodes's power was a strange anomaly, balancing Order, Light, Shadow, and Life simultaneously. Since Rhodes could already cast Fel spells, Sargeras felt confident in pouring his essence into him.
"Come, great Sargeras. I am ready to receive this grand blessing—the Primal Fel gifted by your own hand," Rhodes said with feigned piety, opening his arms wide.
Once I take this Fel energy, I'm out of here, Rhodes thought. There's no future following this guy.
The Infusion
Before the words had fully echoed, the flow of energy throughout the Burning Throne shifted. Fel from every corner converged into an emerald torrent, swirling around Rhodes. The air filled with the shrieks of countless souls—echoes of those devoured by Sargeras over eons.
Rhodes suppressed his Holy Light's instinctual rejection. He breathed deep and embraced the "venomous snake" to steal its essence.
"Relax your will. Do not resist," Sargeras extended a massive armored palm. "Let me see how much you can take." A faint, cruel smirk touched the Titan's lips; he intended to bind this demigod's soul forever.
As a vast sea of chaos and destruction surged into his veins, a familiar chime rang in Rhodes's mind:
[System Alert: External energy infusion detected... Analyzing: High-concentration Fel (Titan-grade)... A Great Deity has granted you a boon. Your attributes are being significantly enhanced.]
The Heroes of Might and Magic System activated!
An invisible barrier unfurled around Rhodes's soul. It appeared thin, yet it perfectly filtered out Sargeras's will. The dark whispers and chaotic impulses trying to enslave his mind were scrubbed away, leaving only the pure, raw energy.
Rhodes's attribute panel began to skyrocket:
Power +1... +1... +1...
Attack +1... +1...
Defense +1... +1...
Intelligence +1... +1...
Through the spiritual link, his Ten Holy Archangels—though light-years away—channeled their divine power into his soul, helping him resist the Dark Titan's corruption.
Sargeras, you old dog, Rhodes sneered internally. You really don't trust anyone.
The Performance
Within seconds, his base attributes had increased by at least 10 points each. Most of the energy was being compressed and stored in a special "Energy Pool" provided by his Emerald Dream Mark—the very Fel Essence he needed for Azeroth's mission!
But the show had to continue.
"Ugh—AAHHH! Lord Sargeras, it hurts! My soul is being torn apart!" Rhodes let out a gut-wrenching roar. Emerald veins pulsed across his skin, and his eyes glowed with sickly green light. He collapsed to one knee, hands clawing at the hot crystal floor, perfectly mimicking a soul being forcibly overwritten.
Sargeras watched with satisfaction. In his perception, Rhodes's defenses were crumbling—a facade meticulously maintained by the System.
"Hold on, Rhodes. I believe in your potential," Sargeras said mockingly. He was certain he was gaining a loyal slave. "Transformation is painful, but you shall be reborn as the Legion's general. Your life belongs to Sargeras!"
The Titan added his Will Fragments to the torrent—a spiritual brand intended to make Rhodes an extension of his own consciousness. Rhodes "let go" of his final resistance, allowing the purified Fel to wrap around him.
He looked up, his gaze shifting from agony to a "fervent" zeal.
"Great... Master... Great Dark Titan... I feel... your power... it is so... vast..."
The transformation was complete. Rhodes's skin took on a deep Fel-green hue. To seal the deal, he triggered a new form: Demon Transformation.
Rhodes grew to ten meters, sprouting massive bat-like wings and three curved horns that formed a crown of flame. A heavy tail lashed behind him, and his body was encased in demonic scales. He now possessed power comparable to Kil'jaeden or Archimonde.
The Betrayal
Sargeras laughed. "You have succeeded. The mark of the Legion is upon your soul. Tell me, Rhodes, can you still use the other forces? The Light? The Arcane?"
"I can, Great Master," Rhodes replied. He dropped the demon form and instantly shifted into his Light Giant form—a 60-meter-tall colossus of golden radiance that even made Sargeras blink in discomfort.
"Enough! Hide that Light in my presence," Sargeras waved him off, disgusted.
Rhodes reverted to his demon form, kneeling. "I shall use this power to open the way to Azeroth for you."
"Not just open the way," Sargeras turned toward his throne. "I want you to seize the world-soul. I will give you the planet as your fiefdom. You now have power surpassing Archimonde. Go, bring me victory. Summon my army, and I shall end this farce personally."
"As you command, Master. I shall depart for Azeroth now."
Rhodes stood and began weaving a spatial spell. He locked onto Azeroth's coordinates and opened a blue portal.
"Now, you belong to the Legion. Your will is an extension of mine," Sargeras declared.
Rhodes paused at the threshold of the portal. Then, he began to laugh. The sound was not the hollow echo of a slave, but a sharp, mocking cackle that filled the silent throne room.
"Extension?" Rhodes turned back. His eyes were crystal clear, filled with sharp ridicule. "You mean this gift?"
He raised his right hand and snapped his fingers. A thin wisp of Sargeras's soul-brand drifted from his fingertips like a snuffed candle and vanished.
"That 'little gift' you tucked inside? I saw it," Rhodes's grin widened as Sargeras's fiery pupils constricted. "The craftsmanship was a bit crude, so I... recycled it. Environmentally friendly. Non-toxic."
"What? How? You escaped my branding? Impossible!"
"Bye-bye, Lord Sargeras! Thanks for the Fel energy. Actually, I've been lying to you the whole time. Hahaha!"
With a final wave, Rhodes stepped into the portal and vanished. Behind him, the Burning Throne erupted with the roar of a betrayed god.