As Raynor's voice fell, Snowclaw Rain was the first to speak. Her voice was coarse, carrying the rugged cadence unique to the children of the ice plains.
"Governor, we have witnessed your strength." She paused, her tone shifting. "But whether you are the 'Ice Master' of the prophecies, the one who can truly unite Brevis, may require further proof."
Icefang Kuai's steady voice supplemented her, his words carrying the weight of weathered determination. "The recognition of the ice plains is earned not just through power, but through other precious things. We need evidence that you are worth following—not just another ruler from a warm hive city who only seeks to exploit us."
Their words carried the characteristic bluntness of those who lived upon the ice. They were indeed drawn to Raynor's formidable combat prowess in slaying Guga, his strategic wisdom in surrounding the Orks, and the rumors of the "Frost Dragon." The seeds of submission had already been sown in their hearts.
However, as Great Patriarchs responsible for the lives of hundreds of millions of tribespeople, they carried the fate of entire nations on their shoulders. For centuries, they had defended their independence with blood and bone; they would not easily entrust their future to an outsider of unknown origin.
Raynor gave a faint, indifferent smile. He did not rush to argue. Instead, the purple light in his eyes suddenly grew intense, and an invisible wave of psionic pressure descended like an avalanche. It instantly enveloped Snowclaw Rain, Icefang Kuai, and their entire cavalry contingent.
Sarah's psionic energy was released through the Ripper, and through his system link, Raynor precisely calibrated the intensity of the pressure. It was enough to display absolute power without causing physical harm.
With Raynor as the epicenter, ripples of invisible psionic force radiated outward. The raging blizzard slowed down; snowflakes hung suspended in mid-air, their intricate patterns visible to the naked eye. The air became thick and heavy, as if lungs were being filled with lead, making every breath a struggle.
The riders behind the two Patriarchs groaned. Many turned pale, their weapons slipping from their numb fingers. The Ice-Spine Striders beneath them roared uneasily, crouching low to the ground with limbs that would not stop trembling.
The two Great Patriarchs shuddered. It felt as if a colossal iceberg had collapsed upon them; their hearts were gripped by an invisible hand, and their bones emitted an agonizing creak under the strain. Blood seemed to stagnate in their veins, and even breathing became a herculean task. Yet they gritted their teeth, veins bulging on their foreheads. Relying on iron wills and the dignity of tribal leaders, they forced their spines straight and glared at Raynor. Their feet sank deep into the snow, but they refused to bend a knee.
Just as they reached their breaking point and their consciousness was about to buckle, the snowy landscape behind Raynor suddenly distorted. A massive psionic phantom materialized out of thin air: a cyan-blue Frost Dragon!
Its scales shimmered with a crystalline luster, refracting the dim light into cold, sharp beams. Its colossal wings folded slightly, obscuring half the sky. Its long, elegant neck coiled around Raynor, and the dragon's head descended slowly to rest beside his shoulder. Its massive eyes, glowing like twin stars, stared majestically at the two Patriarchs.
The Dragon's Presence intertwined with Raynor's own aura, forming a near-physical weight of supreme oppression that pierced into the depths of their souls. This was not Sarah's true form, but a high-fidelity psionic illusion Raynor had crafted by combining Sarah's energy with the thousand-year-old myths of the Brevis Ice Plains. He knew that for clans who believed in ancient legends, awe rooted in their cultural foundations was far more impactful than a simple display of military might.
The pupils of Rain and Kuai contracted violently. Their stoic resolve crumbled instantly, replaced by profound shock. They did not fear death—as clan leaders, they had long since made peace with their mortality. But faced with an existence that transcended understanding and perfectly matched the deities of their legends, an instinctive surrender was born from the depths of their bloodline.
This was reverence for the myth, and more importantly, it was the confirmation of the "Ice Master."
The two looked at each other, seeing the same shock and resolve. Snowclaw Rain was the first to drop to both knees, her heavy bone axe driven deep into the snow. She bowed her proud head, her rough cheek pressed against the cold frost, her voice raspy but unshakable.
"The Snowclaw Clan is willing to follow the Ice Master!"
Icefang Kuai followed immediately, kneeling with a look of absolute piety. He placed his chainsword by his side and pressed his forehead to the snow. "The Icefang Clan awaits the Ice Master's guidance!"
The riders behind them fell like dominoes, hundreds of figures lining up in neat ranks across the ice. Their low voices of oath-taking mixed with the howling wind, resounding through the heavens.
"We follow the Ice Master!!!"
Raynor gradually retracted the psionic pressure, and the phantom of the Frost Dragon faded into the wind like mist. The blizzard resumed its fury, but it could no longer shake the kneeling ranks.
He stepped forward, reaching out to help Rain and Kuai to their feet. His tone softened slightly, yet it retained the majesty of a sovereign.
"I accept your fealty. But fealty is never a one-way street." His gaze swept over their weary, resolute faces. "Tell me, what do your tribes need most right now?"
Snowclaw Rain stood up and wiped the slush from her face, her voice tinged with a bitterness she couldn't hide. "This winter has been exceptionally long, and the cold is... unnatural." Her eyes dimmed with heavy sorrow.
"Prey is becoming scarce. Our elderly and children—more are freezing and starving to death every day. We don't have enough furs, and they aren't warm enough. Our territory is being squeezed by the Orks. Many smaller tribes have already vanished."
Icefang Kuai nodded in agreement. "Medical resources are non-existent. The illnesses of the ice plains are hard to treat to begin with; now, we can only watch as our kin die in agony." His voice was low, filled with a deep sense of powerlessness.
Raynor had expected this. Since assuming the governorship of Brevis, he had learned of these conditions from the limited records available.
"I can allow the elderly and children of your tribes to migrate into the plains within the Manhe River borders," he said solemnly.
These words were like a thunderclap, causing a sudden, fiery light to erupt in the eyes of Rain and Kuai. The area within the Manhe was the core region of the Brevis Hive; while conditions there weren't exactly luxurious, the climate was warm and the environment far less hostile. For tribes struggling for survival on the ice, this was a lifeline in a hopeless situation.
"Governor... is this true?" Rain's voice trembled.
"I do not make empty promises," Raynor stated firmly. "The Hive will provide basic rations, cold-weather clothing, shelter, and medical support until this winter passes and the Ork threat is neutralized."
His tone shifted, his gaze becoming cool and calculating once more. "But this is not a charity. Resources within the Hive are also tight. My mercy requires a return."
"Command us, Ice Master!" Rain and Kuai said in unison, without a hint of hesitation. To save their people, they would have offered their lives, let alone a mere return of favor.
"Your warriors know the geography of the ice plains better than my troops. Your beasts are better suited for pursuing enemies in this wasteland than my steel tanks." He made sure they caught every word; this concerned the survival of their clans.
"I want you to assemble the majority of your combat-capable cavalry. Coordinate with my follow-up forces to purge every organized Greenskin remnant outside the Forbidden Wall."
A cold, sharp light glinted in his purple eyes. "Restore peace to the ice plains. This is the price for your people's survival space—and your opportunity to prove your value."