Duke Bolvar gazed at the clear sky, a bitter smile playing on his lips. He recalled the peaceful and tranquil days of Stormwind City before the Orcs invasion.
Unfortunately, ever since the Orcs crossed the Dark Portal, Azeroth has been engulfed in war, and everything has changed.
Varian roared in fury, "Duke, please mind your place! This is blasphemy against the royal family!"
Bolvar retorted, "Then wasn't it blasphemy for the Orcs to devour King Llane? Didn't you ever think of revenge?"
Varian's expression froze; compared to the King's power, his hatred for the Orcs seemed less important.
Bolvar stared into Varian's bewildered eyes, then shook his head in disappointment.
"Let me teach you how to spot Orcs's plot. Dranosh doesn't want to lose troops at the Wrathgate, so he proposed this ridiculous duel. Look at the location— the Orcs camp! And I can only take a small number of guards with me. This is clearly a ploy to make me refuse you. If Dranosh successfully avoids battle, you, as the leader of the Alliance, will become a useless piece of trash, bearing the responsibility for retreating without a fight."
Bolvar's reminder made Bolvar realize Dranosh's plot. He was deeply frustrated that his own mind wasn't as sharp as an Orcs's.
Duke Bolvar murmured to himself:
"The royal family and the people are inherently opposed. In order to maintain the privileges of the royal family, Kings have never hesitated to betray the interests of the people. I agree to this duel, but I have one condition."
Varian, who had been dejected, was overjoyed upon hearing this and hurriedly said:
"Explain."
"The Alliance army must withdraw from Northrend. Let our children go home, and never again should they set foot on Battlefield that has no meaning."
Varian nodded in agreement.
Duke Bolvar's agreement to enter the Orcs Camp for a duel greatly surprised Dranosh.
This was Saurfang the Great's plan, and in the Overlord's prediction, Duke Bolvar would certainly refuse.
To everyone's surprise, Duke Bolvar agreed. Dranosh couldn't understand it; his wisdom was insufficient to detect the conspiracy.
But this aroused the suspicion of the cunning Thrall.
Thrall ordered Tirion Fordring's Argent Legion to retreat and return to their camp in Dragonblight.
In Northrend, Thrall had only two hundred Orcs soldiers. The Argent Crusade, originally intended as rations, became his most relied-upon force.
Varian ordered the Alliance's 50,000-strong army to retreat to Valiance Keep, preparing to return to Kingdom of Stormwind by ship. It was yet another war that cost countless manpower and resources and ended in failure.
But being able to survive was the greatest fortune; the soldiers wept with joy, celebrating their survival.
The Orcs camp is the former Fordragon Fortress.
Dranosh was no fool; he noticed that one side of the fortress was a steep cliff.
If the enemy launches an attack from the cliff, firing arrows from above, the Orcs will be at a disadvantage and will inevitably suffer heavy losses.
Dranosh was extremely wary of the Alliance's 50,000-strong army.
Dranosh built outposts atop the cliffs and dispatched numerous scouts to patrol the area, covering half of Dragonblight, to ensure the camp would not be attacked by the enemy.
After doing all this, Dranosh finally felt relieved and prepared for his duel with Duke Bolvar.
Before the duel, Robbie accompanied Duke Bolvar to the Wrathgate, gazing at the distant Fordragon Fortress.
Not far from the fortress, a large number of Orcs were patrolling.
Remember during the Wrathgate campaign, when the Undercity Royal Apothecary Society used Plague to ambush the Alliance, the Horde, and the Scourge?
In fact, there is a major flaw in this.
Duke Bolvar, Dranosh, and the Lich King Arthas are all no fools; they will certainly send scouts to protect their flanks.
The Royal Apothecary Society swaggered in, pushing a large swarm of Plague- laden Catapults in a sneak attack. How could they possibly escape the detection of the Alliance Horde Scourge's Plague Bats?
Unless there is magical power involved.
Robbie said seriously, "The Horde cannot be trusted, and the Burning Legion is even less so."
Bolvar nodded and replied solemnly:
"I am well aware of the Burning Legion's cunning and was unwilling to harm Alliance soldiers, which is why I did not allow Varimathras to act. Now the Alliance army has withdrawn, Argent Crusade has also retreated, leaving only 20,000 Horde soldiers, King Varian, and a small number of Dalaran Mages."
Robbie, looking puzzled, asked:
"But there's absolutely no need for you to risk entering the Orcs Camp."
Duke Bolvar, his gaze deep and thoughtful, said:
"My original plan was to cooperate with Varimathras to eliminate Stormwind City's monarchical succession system, but the death of the Night Watch King made me realize that it was pointless. Elune, can find a replacement at any time. I just hope that this new King will be wiser. If he can see the true nature of the Orcs, then my adventure will have been worthwhile."
Robbie remained silent for a while, then waved his hand. Soldiers from the Scourge Army presented him with a set of armor and weapons. Robbie briefly explained:
"Dranosh drank too much Demon Blood, and the Orcs soldiers were also tainted by Fel energy to varying degrees. While this increased the Orcs' strength, it also posed a huge threat. This sword can trigger a burst of Demon Blood, which can destroy muscles throughout the body in severe cases. And this armor can effectively prevent the invasion of Plague and Flame."
Duke Bolvar asked in confusion:
"I understand preventing the Plague, but why defend against Flame?"
Robbie smiled without saying a word.
The appointed time arrived, Duke Bolvar, dressed in his finest attire, led a small number of soldiers into the Orcs camp.
Twenty thousand Orcs soldiers surrounded the duel site. Although the Duke had brought fewer than a hundred soldiers with him and was surrounded, he seemed completely unconcerned.
Thrall, Varian, Rhonin, Vol'jin, Eitrigg, and others watched from the sidelines, the Horde generals looking at Duke Bolvar as if he were a dead man.
Dranosh, clad in jet-black armor and carrying a sharp Battle Axe, grinned and said:
"Duke Bolvar, everyone says you are a wise man, but I never expected you to be so foolish. Haven't you heard of the rules of our Orcs duels?"
Bolvar responded calmly:
"Remove your armor and enter the arena carrying only one weapon; the use of any magic is prohibited."
Dranosh laughed so hard he almost cried:
"Fool, that's just our propaganda. You actually believed such a low-level lie? You're utterly foolish. There's only one truth in Orcs duels: the rules are set by the side with the advantage. I hereby declare the rules of this duel: twenty thousand Orcs against you alone."
Duke Bolvar was not surprised, but simply glanced at King Varian beside him.
Varian blushed with shame and dared not meet Bolvar's gaze, hiding behind an Orcs general. At this moment, the King's reputation meant nothing.
Duke Bolvar sighed and said, "In that case, let's begin."
Dranosh waved his arms. "Prepare for battle, children of the Horde! Blood and glory await us! Devour these foolish humans!"
A loud horn sounded, and Dranosh raised his Battle Axe and led the Charge.
Bang!
In a single exchange, Dranosh's massive body was sent flying backward, landing on the ground, his fate unknown.
Bolvar's sword drew a graceful arc, and the charging Orcs lost their strength, collapsing limply to the ground.