The entrance to the cave was overgrown with weeds, and looking inside, it was pitch black, likely occupied by some creature as a nest, emanating a foul stench.
Velen, a clean freak, immediately looked disgusted, but Velen was determined to get a Lightforging Dragon Aspects.
Using the Power of the Holy Light to protect his entire body, Velen endured the discomfort and lowered his head to crawl into the cave.
The Holy Light kept Velen completely dry. The cave was deep and winding, but thankfully there were no forks in the path. He just needed to keep going until he caught up with Lyazos Herin.
These caves usually don't have just one exit. If Blackwood sees someone chasing him, he'll definitely escape through another exit, allowing Ysera to continue the pursuit.
However, to Velen's surprise, after going deeper for about a hundred meters, the view suddenly opened up, revealing a completely different world—a huge cave.
In the center of the cave stood a black stone tablet, upon which stood eye-shaped handles, the very Power of the Old Gods.
"Oh no, this is a trap."
Velen was horrified, but it was too late.
A strange eye appeared on the stone tablet, and at the same time, strange energy appeared under his feet, forming a strange pattern. Velen felt a dizzying sensation.
In a half-asleep, half-awake state, Velen vaguely heard a sound coming from inside:
"Isn't that Prophet Velen? Why isn't it Ysera?"
"Haha, a Prophet has fallen into a trap set for Ysera; his prophecy is utterly useless."
In a daze, Velen vaguely saw two tall, Faceless Ones lift Velen up and lead him toward Portal filled with eyes.
"We only need one spy anyway, Velen is the same. We'll use him to get things done, and hopefully God won't blame us."
Velen then realized that what was originally a plan by the Old Gods against Ysera had led Velen into a trap because of the prophecy.
When Velen awoke, he found himself entangled by countless tentacles, with strange whispers echoing in his ears, causing him to become mentally scattered and unable to concentrate.
Unable to discern his location, Velen felt no trace of Power of the Holy Light.
"Prophet Velen, welcome to my Black Empire."
A strange voice rang in Velen's ears. He struggled to open his eyes, but everything was blurry, as if shrouded in mist. He could vaguely see countless tall figures surrounding him, whispering amongst themselves, but he couldn't make it out clearly.
"Oh, Velen, you've forced me to change my mind. I had intended to plant a seed deep within Ysera's spirit for my own use, but now that it's you, it seems I can only turn you into Faceless Ones."
"No, no," Velen struggled instinctively, "Great Old Gods, I am willing to be one of your pawns."
The voice hesitated for a long time:
"This is difficult. The Holy Light is pure energy, and I cannot hide it from the Naaru who planted the seeds of darkness deep within your spirit. I'm sorry, Velen, you are of no use to me."
"I promise you, I'm willing to serve you, I swear on my honor." Driven by the instinct to survive, Velen pleaded incessantly.
"Haha, do you think I'm stupid? Once you leave here, you'll be back with Naaru immediately. Your promise is meaningless, unless..."
"Unless what?" Velen grasped at the last glimmer of hope.
"I need something to hold against you. Once the Army of the Light finds out, you're dead." The voice chuckled wickedly.
Velen pondered for a long time, the strange whispers making his thoughts chaotic and his mind hazy. He blurted out:
"I have a son who serves as a general under Kil'jaeden."
"That's hardly a secret; almost everyone in Azeroth knows it." The voice was clearly dissatisfied.
"I have a secret deal with the Void Lords, we have a deal." Velen was desperate to survive.
"It seems we're family, but that won't give you any leverage. The Army of the Light isn't stupid; they should have known your secret long ago."
Velen's mind was buzzing; he desperately tried to think of a solution:
"I once betrayed the Holy Light and assassinated a Naaru. Part of his corpse fell into the hands of an Orcs, who later became the infamous Ashbringer."
"Explosive news, but that's not all, Velen. If you want to live, there's only one way: open your heart and let me scan your memories. If there's anything in your memories that can be used against you, I'll let you go back, and then I'll send someone to contact you."
At that moment, Velen's mind was not clear; as if he were drunk, he agreed without thinking.
"Relax, don't resist, this process is quick, you won't experience any pain."
Velen felt a sudden chill run through his head. His life had been extraordinary, witnessing the demise of countless civilizations—a process that had lasted far longer than Malfurion's.
After a long while, Velen fell into a coma again, and when he woke up, he found himself lying in a cave.
The empty cave was filled with the sound of dripping water, but the eerie stone tablet was gone. Velen scratched his head, somewhat incredulous; the experience he had just had felt like a nightmare.
Velen, disregarding the pursuit of Blackwood, hurriedly returned the way he came. After exiting the cave, he heard gusts of wind coming from the dense forest, and birds and beasts scattered and fled. Ysera's lithe figure streaked across the sky.
"What just happened?" Velen asked, bewildered. "Was I really captured by the Old Gods and made a pawn?"
In reality, this is nothing to Velen; the more forces involved, the more useful Velen becomes.
On the contrary, those who wholeheartedly serve the Holy Light and have no other intentions are easily abandoned, while Velen, who is adept at navigating between different factions, is able to live longer.
Velen, with his limited knowledge, wouldn't take the threat of an Old Gods seriously.
Ysera's loud voice rang out. "Little Satyr, you have angered me."
Velen unfurled a pair of golden wings and followed the sound.
Blackwood, in a panic, leaped into the ravine, and Ysera swooped down beside him.
A scene from Velen's vision appeared: Nightmare Lord Xavius, appeared beside the mountain stream and threw Tear of Elune, imbued with the Nightmare power, at Ysera.
"No!"
Tear of Elune struck Ysera squarely in the abdomen, sending her screaming as she fell into the ravine.
Xavius excitedly ran over, and soon after, a painful dragon's roar echoed from within the mountain stream.
Corrupted by the Nightmare power, Ysera, her body torn to pieces, struggled to fly out of the mountain stream, her dragon eyes filled with pain.
"Look, poor little Green Dragonflight, lost in the face of Nightmares, Tyrande, I will soon bring you a gift."
"It's done! "Velen thought to himself with amusement. Just as he had predicted, after controlling "Ysera," Xavius's first task was to attack the Temple of the Moon.
Corrupted by the Nightmare power, Ysera flapped her wings and flew towards the Temple of the Moon. Velen calmed himself, temporarily forgetting his earlier unpleasantness, and quickly followed after her.
Temple of the Moon.
When the twisted Ysera descended from the sky, Tyrande, unaware of the truth, was horrified.
Ysera is an ancient Dragon Aspects, and after being corrupted by Nightmares, her power has increased even further.
The Temple of the Moon is not powerful enough to defeat a Dragon Aspects.
Just as Tyrande was about to lead the Priests in retreat, Magatha Wildtotem ended his meditation, opened his eyes, and said to Tyrande:
"The Holy Light has foretold everything. We can save Ysera, but we need your help."
Tyrande's eyes darted around, and she suddenly realized something, so she nodded.