Tirion Fordring, tormented beyond measure, pleaded, "I'll talk, I'll talk! It was a Void Creature, claiming to be the protector of the Thunderlord Clan. He ordered me to do this and promised me the King of Stormwind City, to rule over all humanity in Azeroth."
"Could it be Gromgal?"
The black skeletal Dragon paused slightly, and Tirion Fordring's eyes quickly dimmed. A golden light shot out from the top of his head and escaped into the Spatial Rift above Theramore.
"A mix of truth and falsehood, Tirion Fordring, you are indeed cunning enough."
The black skeletal Dragon didn't linger. It grabbed Tirion Fordring's remains and flew towards Razorfen Downs, disappearing from sight.
Krasus breathed a sigh of relief and whispered, "Sylvanas's dance is almost over. Theramore is about to become an eternal realm of death."
Robbie asked, "Do you know what the Land of the Dead is?"
Krasus sensed something amiss. As Dragon Mage had lived a life of leisure and adventure, he had experienced countless things throughout his long existence. Yet, before this Blood Elf, he was like a child, his knowledge and experience completely Pain Suppression. He was utterly helpless and could only reply:
"I've heard Her Majesty speak of it; it's just like Undercity."
Robbie calmly said, "It's not that simple. The Kodo Graveyard in Desolace, the final resting place of the Kodo, is an unstable, nascent realm of death. An eternal realm of death, it is the final destination of all the dead in Azeroth. When we approach the end of our lives, you and I will instinctively come here to quietly await death."
As Sylvanas's dance ended, the music on the airship also came to its final chapter.
The Holy Light's Gate in the center of Theramore had been stained black by the Power of Death, and a blue Flame shot into the sky—an extremely pure Soul Fire. The skeletons stopped dancing and knelt around the Soul Fire in worship.
Instead of dissipating, the dark clouds over Theramore formed a hemispherical, pitch-black canopy that enveloped the entire Island and a stretch of sea.
Like a phantom, the buildings of Theramore before it reappeared: the sturdy Castle in the city center, the towering mage tower, the heavily guarded barracks, the inn, rows of stone houses, and ships docked at the pier, with goods piled up like mountains.
The skull turned into white bones and sank into the ground. Figures appeared on the streets: richly dressed nobles, armored guards patrolling, rugged adventurers, street vendors hawking their wares, laborers squatting in corners on the docks smoking pipes, and thieves looking around suspiciously for targets. The former scenes of Theramore had reappeared.
Unfortunately, it remained completely silent, so Anjing you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone was stunned by the sight before them. Chen Stormstout murmured, "This is the eternal realm of death?"
Khadgar nodded. "Theramore is shrouded in the Power of Death; only souls can pass through. Ogres and Orcs cannot."
Sylvanas returned to the airship, her eyes still unfocused. Taran Zhu looked towards Chen Stormstout in the distance, their gazes meeting, their hostility undiminished.
Khadgar chuckled, "It's time to deal with Taran Zhu. The Pandaren of the Vale of Vale of Eternal Blossoms can only have one leader."
Krasus carefully tossed out the golden orb bestowed upon him by the Queen. The orb floated above Theramore, absorbing a small amount of Soul Fire, much like stealing a bowl of water from a lake.
Only at the very beginning of the formation of the Realm of Death is there a chance to steal the Soul Fire; obtaining it again afterward will come at a terrible price.
Seeing Krasus cautiously retrieve the golden orb filled with Soul Fire, Robbie asked in a deep voice:
Are you really sure?
Krasus looked puzzled.
Robbie said in a deep voice, "Krasus, you are the Red Dragon Queen's most trusted companion, Mastery almost all magic. Can't you guess what the Red Dragon Queen needs this Soul Fire for?"
Krasus's face darkened, a look of struggle appearing on his face. "I've guessed some of it, but I can't doubt the Queen, I can't."
Robbie said sternly, "I think you should understand that creating the Holy Dragon is just a pretext. It would be best if it succeeded, but if it failed, there would be no loss. What the Queen wants is the resentment of the Red Dragonflight. Their souls will become nourishment for Galakrond, and finally, the Soul Fire will be used to ignite Galakrond's bones, allowing him to be reborn."
"Stop talking!" Krasus clutched his head, letting out a painful groan.
Robbie continued:
"Once the Red Dragon Queen succeeds, all the Red Dragons will die, becoming nourishment for Galakrond's resurrection. For years, the Red Dragon Queen has been researching Galakrond's secrets, increasingly resembling the Father of Dragons. However, becoming the true Galakrond will take at least ten thousand years. The Holy Light made the Queen aware of the crisis, so she decided to take a shortcut: Galakrond will be resurrected, and the Queen will merge with him."
"No, no, that's not how it is." Krasus refused to admit it. "Although it's the most reasonable guess, Her Majesty the Queen would never abandon the Red Dragonflight. I believe her."
Robbie said regretfully, "In fact, that's the most merciful guess. The truth is only more terrifying and harder to accept. Haven't you ever wondered if Galakrond is really dead? Who is the soul inside the Red Dragon Queen's body?"
Krasus's body trembled violently. "Nonsense, you have no evidence whatsoever."
Robbie said regretfully, "I had my suspicions from the moment the Red Dragon Queen willingly became enslaved by the Dragonmaw Clan, Krasus. As Her Majesty's most trusted companion, why didn't you step in to rescue her?"
Krasus looked embarrassed.
When the Red Dragon Queen was coerced, Krasus, as a member of the Kirin Tor Council, was fully capable of mobilizing the best mages in Dalaran to rescue Red Dragon Queen.
To everyone's astonishment, Krasus found Rhonin to do this, and he himself simply stood by and did nothing.
At that time, Rhonin was infamous, a scourge of Dalaran, and not particularly strong. If no miracle occurred, he would only be an extra dish on the Dragonmaw Clan's dinner menu.
Krasus murmured, "It was Her Majesty the Queen who ordered me to mind my own business."
Robbie sighed and said, "It's a pity you disobeyed the Queen's orders and sent Rhonin, and he unexpectedly succeeded. You were secretly pleased, but you didn't know you had fallen into a trap."
Krasus said painfully, "I've investigated. Yes, Rhonin's success is suspicious. There are too many coincidences. Even High Archmage Antonidas couldn't have done it. It's like a pile of ore falling off a cliff and somehow assembling into Dalaran's most advanced magical golem. But everything seems perfectly reasonable, seamless, and flawless."
Robbie stared into his eyes. "I have a way that might help you find the truth."
Krasus quickly guessed. "You mean the Caverns of Time? That Timeline is sealed, and even Nozdormu's resurrection couldn't break through it."
Robbie chuckled and said, "Who says you need Bronze Dragonflight to travel through time?"
"You mean, the Infinite Dragonflight!"
Krasus abruptly took a step back, warily eyeing Robbie, then glancing at the golden sphere in his palm, hesitating.