After Jaina took over as leader of Dalaran, the Sunreavers, primarily composed of Blood Elves, were expelled.
At that time, Orgrimmar was in chaos, and Garrosh didn't have time to win over this group of mages. Unexpectedly, they joined Thrall's side.
Although the remnants of the Kor'kron army have a numerical advantage, the Sunreavers are all powerful Archmages, Garrosh would surely lose if a real battle broke out.
Nodding at Taran Zhu, Garrosh knew he had to win the support of the Sunreavers, or at the very least keep this mage force neutral.
Taran Zhu entered the seal, Chen Stormstout, who was next to Thrall, took a deep breath and also used the cocoon technique to save himself and step into the seal.
The two Pandaren martial arts masters engaged in close combat, displaying their ultimate skills, while also resisting the corrosive power of the Sha forces. Both were on high alert.
Especially when they entered the Flowing Water, the two masters displayed their superb lightness skills, leaping and bounding across the water's surface, exchanging punches and kicks while secretly conversing to distract each other.
"Chen Stormstout, have you gone mad? I heard that Thrall ate you, why are you helping your enemy?" Taran Zhu asked deliberately.
"Taran Zhu, given our status, why should we care about hatred? My cooperation with Thrall is merely to prevent the Heart of Y'Shaarj from falling into Garrosh's hands," Chen Stormstout said in a low voice.
"Does Thrall think he's a kind soul? Don't forget how many Pandaren became Orcs food—it was Thrall who did it," Taran Zhu said through gritted teeth.
Chen Stormstout took a deep breath. "Taran Zhu, you're not unaware of the Pandaren. They're incredibly fierce in internal strife, but completely incompetent in external battles. I have betrayed countless Pandaren, but even if I hadn't done it, someone else would have—either you or Lorewalker Cho. It's just that you had no choice."
"Fine, I won't argue with you about right and wrong." Taran Zhu's eyes gleamed, tempting her, "Don't you want to merge with the Heart of Darkness?"
Chen Stormstout, said in a low voice, "I dream of living in anonymity, waiting for this generation of heroes to grow old and die, so that no one will remember me stirring up trouble. But Taran Zhu, you were once closest to the Heart of Darkness, do you have a way to merge with it?"
Taran Zhu was stumped by the question and took a long time to say, "I've been thinking about this these past few days. Elder Jinxiu of the Jinyu disregarded the Flowing Water Prophecy and is definitely not a benevolent person. The Flowing Water Monster he drives is unaffected by the power of the Sha and has a way to obtain the Heart of Darkness. I guess he doesn't know how to fuse with this thing either."
Chen Stormstout said worriedly, "Your guess is absolutely right, but I'm certain that Garrosh has a way to fuse with the Heart of Darkness."
Taran Zhu was slightly taken aback. "Where's Thrall?"
Chen Stormstout shook his head, it was unclear whether he was denying it or saying he didn't know.
The two Pandaren Grandmasters fought with increasing ferocity, neither giving an inch, and neither able to get even a step closer to the Heart of Darkness.
Meanwhile, Garrosh engaged in a fierce verbal exchange with Thrall's side, his target being Aethas Sunreavers was wearing a helmet.
"Aethas Sunreavers, you are a disgrace to the Blood Elves. Who put you in your current position?" Garrosh said with a ferocious expression, "It was I who sent your Sunreavers to Dalaran. Back then, this green-skinned Orcs was against it."
Aethas Sunreaver was a Steadfast supporter of the neutrality of Dalaran Mages. During both of the Orcs invasions of Dalaran, Aethas led the retreat.
Later, Silvermoon City was massacred by the Orcs. Prince Kael'thas wanted to raise the banner of revenge, but was thwarted by Lor'themar Theron. The two sides were locked in a fierce internal conflict. Aethas, who held a neutral stance, was caught in the middle and was disliked by both sides. Coupled with his conflict with High Archmage Rommath, Aethas had no choice but to lead the Sunreavers to Dalaran.
Dalaran initially rejected the Sunreavers, but during the campaign against the Lich King, Garrosh needed to plant spies in Dalaran. The two hit it off immediately, and under Garrosh's firm stance, Rhonin had no choice but to agree to Sunreavers Dalaran, and the Silver Covenant was immediately established to counterbalance the Sunreavers.
Aethas, of course, remembered this incident and whispered, "Garrosh, I remember your help. Over the years, the Sunreavers have done a lot for the Orcs, repaying your kindness. But when that woman banished us, where were you? She imprisoned us; who rescued us? Thrall."
Garrosh stared at Thrall in astonishment. Thrall was no longer the Warchief; how could he possess such abilities?
Thrall grinned. "You wouldn't believe it, would you? I ate Rommath's father back then, becoming his nightmare. He was terrified of me and obeyed my every word."
"I see, "Garrosh understood. Suddenly remembering something, he sneered, "Aethas, Nightborne apprentice Lena once told me something interesting: Harpy, a Banshee, and... Do you want me to say it in public?"
Aethas swayed slightly, but because he was wearing a helmet, no one could see his expression.
That was a disgrace to Aethas's life. Near Tai An Nuo in Suramar, Aethas was researching the Withered when he was accidentally drained of his magic and fell into a weakened state. As a result, he was captured by Harpy and taken back to give birth to her child. He only escaped after his magic was restored. If Garrosh had told him this in public, he would have preferred to kill him.
"Savior Thrall, thank you for rescuing me, but..."
Thrall was furious. "Aethas, are you going to back out? You promised me you'd take down Garrosh and steal the Heart of Darkness!"
Aethas clutched his helmet and whispered, "I'm sorry, I can't do that. But please rest assured, I swear to protect you and will never let Garrosh hurt you."
Garrosh and Thrall noticed Aethas's resolute attitude, indicating that a fight was unlikely for the time being, and they could only wait for the two Pandaren Grandmasters to clash, resulting in a stalemate.
Taran Zhu and Chen Stormstout were very close to the Heart of Darkness, and the powerful Sha energy was corroding their minds.
Chen Stormstout, and before him, countless Pandaren cried out and screamed, their faces bleeding, baring their teeth and claws as they came to claim his life.
Taran Zhu also felt very bad. Those Pandaren martial arts masters who resisted the Orcs were brutally killed by Taran Zhu and now turned into vengeful ghosts, sneering at him.
"Chen Stormstout, if this continues, we'll all die."
What's your idea?
Taran Zhu took a step back, and Chen Stormstout, seeing this, also took a step back, until the Sha power invading their bodies became less unbearable.
Both knew they couldn't defeat each other in a short time, so they temporarily halted their attacks to prepare for a protracted battle.
Garrosh and Thrall both witnessed the tacit understanding between the two Pandaren Grandmasters.
Garrosh was anxious; time was running out. If the war between the Jinyu and the Pandaren ended, he would have no choice but to flee.
Thrall had the same thought, and his eyes darted around. "Garrosh, do you know how to fuse with the Heart of Darkness?"
Garrosh sneered, "Of course I know."
Thrall glanced at Garrosh with suspicion. "Why don't we write the key points on our palms and show them to the other side?"
Garrosh agreed, took out a pen, wrote in his palm, and then simultaneously showed his palm.
Thrall's palms are "water," Garrosh's palms are "Flowing Water."
Thrall smiled slightly, "Then what are we waiting for? I've brought enough mages."
Garrosh nodded. "Good idea. Then let's see who can fuse with the Heart of Darkness their own abilities."