Vol'jin's mind raced. The four Guardians of Ulduar, and Thrall, the Savior, were not people Vol'jin could afford to offend. He immediately put on a flattering smile and said tactfully:
"Great Savior Thrall, I am foolish and do not know how to decide."
Thrall smiled knowingly, his words carrying a hidden meaning of approval:
"Vol'jin, you are indeed cunning enough."
Yogg-Saron's tentacles firmly bound the four guardians of Ulduar, awaiting Thrall's command.
Thrall knew that since he had already dealt with Sif in that way, he might as well go all the way and say with a fierce expression:
"I will keep the four Guardians in Dalaran forever, tormenting them day and night, letting their agonizing cries echo throughout Northrend. If I had to give a time limit, I would want it to be ten thousand years."
Upon hearing this, the four Guardians were terrified. If this were true, they would not only suffer torment for ten thousand years, but also be ridiculed by mortals, which would be worse than being killed.
Yogg-Saron smiled with satisfaction, "Thrall, you certainly haven't disappointed me."
The tentacles emitted an ominous dark aura, enveloping the four Guardians and drilling into their bodies through their seven orifices, igniting the dark aura that had been buried and accumulated within them for many years.
Bang!
The metal shells of the four Guardians cracked, and their intricate internal components separated, floating in the air with the help of the dark aura, revealing their core areas.
The heart of the Titan Keepers.
The heart of the four guardians is even more beautiful than Sif's heart, reflecting an unparalleled brilliance; it is simply the most beautiful work of art in the world.
The dark aura of the Old Gods swirled around the four hearts. The four Guardians had resigned themselves to their fate and helplessly closed their eyes. In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through their minds.
From the day the Titan Keepers were born, they were endowed with immense power and profound wisdom by the Titans; even the Elemental Lords were once defeated by them.
Their bodies were created by the Titans, but the Titans could not create souls. Where did the powerful souls of the Titan Keepers come from? There are many incredible speculations about this.
For example, Odyn, the chief administrator, believed that the souls of the Titan Keepers were unhatched World Souls, while God of Wisdom Loken, held a different view, believing that they were ancient Old Gods who were destroyed by the Titans, and whose memories were erased, thus becoming servants of the Titans.
Regardless of the circumstances, the Guardian's soul must have been tampered with by the Titans, who forcibly erased his previous memories—a truly chilling thought.
After the fall of the Pantheon, the Guardians had ample reason not to remain loyal to the Titans.
A dark aura lingered around the hearts of the four guardians, as if admiring a beautiful work of art; anyone who dared to intrude would Corruption the souls of the Titan Keepers.
Strangely, the aura of the Old Gods ceased, the intricate components returned to their original positions, and the outer shell tightly closed. Although the four guardians were filled with the aura of Yogg-Saron, their souls remained free and pure.
The four Guardians were puzzled as to why Yogg-Saron chose to let go.
Thrall looked displeased and demanded, "Why weren't they tortured?"
Sylvanas shook her head imperceptibly. Thrall was cunning enough, but he was still too young. He was used to being arrogant and domineering, looking down on everyone. He couldn't control his temper and dared to bargain with an Old Gods.
Yogg-Saron scoffed, "Foolish Thrall, you are too arrogant. Do you think you have the right to command the Old Gods? Look around you, what a grave mistake you have made."
Thrall looked around suspiciously, only to find that Vol'jin, Eitrigg, Sylvanas, and the others all had their heads down, their eyes tightly closed, not daring to look at the tentacles of the Old Gods in the sky.
Not only the leaders of these Horde, but all the mages of Dalaran lowered their heads in self-consciousness. Out of awe for the Old Gods, their bodies trembled uncontrollably, and some even tightly wrapped their eyes with black cloth.
Mortals must not look directly at the Old Gods.
Thrall then realized the enormity of his mistake. Not only had he looked directly at an Old Gods, but he had also dared to command Old Gods to do things—a truly outrageous error.
Thrall opened his mouth, about to plead, when a loud bang was heard.
Thrall's body exploded, leaving tiny bits of flesh scattered on the ground, with only his head remaining, rolling around alone on the ground.
This is the consequence of looking directly at the Old Gods.
A black wind rolled in, and Yogg-Saron's tentacles, carrying the four Guardians, vanished.
Vol'jin stared at Thrall's head on the ground, and a bad thought immediately crossed his mind. If he stepped on it, Thrall would die. He hesitated.
Sylvanas was suspicious. Normally, if a mortal looked directly at an Old Gods, the only outcome would be physical death and the soul being devoured by the Old Gods.
Why did Yogg-Saron leave Thrall's head intact, instead of annihilating his soul?
The proud Yogg-Saron would never fear the Elune. Perhaps one day in the future, Thrall will be of use to the Old Gods, Sylvanas speculated.
Just as Vol'jin was unable to make up his mind, a light flashed, and Emissary teleported to Dalaran, carefully cradling Thrall's head.
"Foolish Thrall, how could you make such a mistake? Fortunately, Azeroth has the Legion's Altars to repair your body. When will you stop causing me any trouble?"
Vol'jin sighed with regret, lamenting that he hadn't made up his mind and missed a golden opportunity.
The Emissary took Thrall's head, and the next day, Thrall appeared in Dalaran intact. Having learned this lesson, Thrall's temper became increasingly volatile, and Thrall cruelly devoured several of Rhonin's apprentices.
"Rhonin!"
Thrall, biting into Rhonin's disciple, said angrily:
"Yogg-Saron treated me like this; I must avenge this! And the four Guardians of Ulduar —they must not be let off! They must pay the price!"
Rhonin was filled with bitterness; Thrall's words must be a plea for Dalaran's help in exacting revenge.
But Yogg-Saron is Old Gods, even the Titans couldn't do anything about him, so what good ideas could Rhonin possibly have? Yet he dared not offend Thrall, and quickly said:
"Absolutely, absolutely! Yogg-Saron is plotting to destroy Azeroth. The Alliance and the Horde must unite and kill Yogg-Saron."
Thrall, looking at Rhonin's perfunctory expression, said unhappily:
"Rhonin, I hate your hypocrisy. The Old Gods are nothing to fear; they're nothing but empty shells. After all, we've already killed C'Thun."
The death of C'Thun was a hoax, which brought Saurfang the Great fame and fortune. Rhonin paused for a moment, then immediately understood Thrall's intention and devised a plan:
"My Savior, I have an idea. We'll tell the world that the seal on Ulduar is unstable, the four guardians have been Corruption by the power of the Old Gods, and Azeroth is in imminent danger. Then we'll call on everyone to donate money and supplies to save Azeroth. Those who planned the battle against C'Thun made a fortune back then; this time, we must make even more."
Thrall's eyes darted around, and he said with a serious expression:
"Rhonin, times have changed. Back then, Saurfang made a fortune by calling on everyone to donate money and supplies in the name of fighting C'Thun, making more money than the entire Kingdom of Stormwind. But if he did it again, it would be hard to fool him again. I need a more meticulous plan."