Inside the iron cage, the two gladiators embraced, the Tauren's powerful bear hug strong enough to break the Orcs's ribs.
After a long while, it was Homan Ironhoof who collapsed limply. His chest was caved in, and his upper body was severely twisted and unrecognizable.
The fall of a powerful gladiator was met with thunderous cheers, and the Goblin host announced enthusiastically:
"A fine match! Poor Homan Ironhoof, he can finally rest. The match continues. The challenger from Darkshire, Ashkandi the Wilderness Hunters, his next opponent is the Conqueror of the Waves, the Watermodo, the Ogre Who Comes Riding the Waves. As everyone knows, Watermodo has suffocated more than three hundred Orcs to death."
Blackmoore said to Moroes with a wry smile, "I've really gone all out this time. Do you know how much profit Watermodo has brought me? If he dies, my loss will be huge."
Moroes said coldly, "Winning Lord Medivh's favor is more valuable than anything else."
Watermodo is a two-headed Ogre Mage Mastery in water magic. His strong body is surrounded by green Elemental Water, which serves as both his armor and weapon.
As soon as it stepped into the iron cage, the Water Elemental rapidly expanded, filling every inch of space. Watermodo's body was enveloped in a large amount of Elemental Water, and it slowly approached Ashkandi.
Ashkandi remained unfazed, allowing the Elemental Waters to envelop his entire body and seal his mouth and nose.
"Struggle in my Water Demon Hell, you little dwarf!" Watermodo laughed heartily.
The Goblin host said regretfully:
"I feel sorry for the newcomer. He defeated the mighty Homan Ironhoof, yet he's going to die of suffocation. Was this really a fair match? I want to ask Lord Blackmoore, are you trying to kill our newcomer? My God, he can't breathe."
Ashkandi floated in the watery hell, a trickle of blood oozing from his mouth and nose.
Suddenly, Watermodo's expression changed drastically, and both heads simultaneously showed signs of pain, emitting piercing screams.
"Oh my god, what happened?" the Goblin host exclaimed.
The veins on Watermodo's strong body bulged like serpentine snakes. Suddenly, his blood vessels burst, and bright red blood flowed freely. His body quickly withered, leaving only skin and bones, as if it had been drained of all its energy.
"Is his blood poisonous?" Blackmoore asked doubtfully.
Moroes shook his head. "Ashkandi is skilled in Blood Magic. He doesn't know many spells, but they are all very practical."
In the stands, Anachronos, Khadgar, and three others gathered together, intently watching the match.
"This is not right," Anachronos exclaimed. "We Bronze Dragonflight know history very well, how come we've never heard of Ashkandi before?"
"Apart from that famous Greatsword of the Brotherhood," Khadgar added, "I always thought Ashkandi was a member of the Iron Horse Brotherhood; who would have thought he was an Orcs?"
Durotan asserted, "He's definitely not Thrall; you can't tell just by looking at his build."
Anachronos shook his head and said, "Thrall wasn't this strong before the Burning Legion's help. It's obvious that Blackmoore promoted him and helped him become the Arena Champion. This was clearly Thrall's Destiny. Has history changed?"
Khadgar also became insecure. "What changes would occur if Ashkandi replaced Thrall as the leader of the Orcs?"
"Anything can happen, the future is uncertain," Anachronos said worriedly. "Time is too complicated, so we try to avoid interfering with history, but we haven't done anything at all."
"Could this be the true history?" Khadgar wondered.
"I must interject," said Imperator Mar'gok, pointing to the desiccated Ogre corpse inside the iron cage. "I know the Watermodo Ogre. His Water Demon Hell left a deep impression on me. He was originally Court Mages of Highmaul, but later stole a stone tablet left by the Titans and defected."
Velen couldn't help but ask, "What does this prove? An Ogre you knew is dead. Are you saying Ogres are inferior to Orcs?"
Mar'gok scoffed, "Ha, don't you understand? A noble Ogre Court Mages has been reduced to a lowly gladiator."
Anachronos thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps he's short of money, or maybe he's been captured and lost his freedom."
Mar'gok shook his head. "I know Watermodo's strength. There aren't many who can defeat him, and he's not short of money. In any Ogre Gathering Place, he'd be treated as an honored guest."
Khadgar stroked his chin and said, "Could it be that he came with some kind of purpose?"
Durotan said, "We'll find out the truth by asking Blackmoore."
The third gladiatorial match began, with Ashkandi's opponent being a giant ape from Stranglethorn Vale, who had been convicted of kidnapping Tauren princess and was ransomed by Blackmoore to serve as a gladiator.
Under the awning, Blackmoore said regretfully:
"I really like this gorilla; it's my well-behaved pet. It's such a shame it likes female Orcs."
The female Adjutant whispered in his ear, "My distinguished guests have something to ask you." She then handed him a pot of fine wine.
Smelling the enticing aroma of the wine, Blackmoore rose and followed his Adjutant out of his seat.
Anachronos asked, "What is the origin of Watermodo?"
For the sake of the fine wine, Blackmoore didn't hide anything and readily answered:
"That's a long story. In the second year Dark Portal, he went into seclusion near Durnholde. At that time, we were fighting the Orcs and didn't have time to deal with him."
The year two of the Dark Portal, according to official historical records, is the time when Blackmoore took Thrall.
Anachronos, feeling uneasy, asked, "When did he become a gladiator?"
Blackmoore replied, "I think you know about Ogres; they're very restless creatures who often harass the local people. After I became the commander of Durnholde, I planned to eliminate them, but unexpectedly, they came to me willing to be my gladiator, so I had no choice but to accept."
After bidding farewell to Blackmoore, Durotan stated definitively, "Watermodo must have some purpose."
Khadgar pondered deeply, "Perhaps he came for Thrall. Could he also travel through time? Mar'gok, what use is the Titans tablet he stole?"
Mar'gok shook his head. "We haven't unlocked the secret of that stone slab yet."
Anachronos snorted, "Time travel is an exclusive ability of us Bronze Dragonflight. It's fortunate he's dead, otherwise I would never have let him go."
Below the arena was a kitchen where fallen gladiators, if left unburied, would be processed into food.
The corpse of Watermodo was sent to the kitchen warehouse. Not long after, a pool of Fresh Water flowed from the dried corpse, which transformed into a tall Water Elemental.
"Fortunately, I have already mastered the Elemental Body, which allows me to feign death and abandon the Ogre's physical body."
The reborn Watermodo muttered to himself in lingering fear, "The aura of Bronze Dragonflight... how did they get here?"
A clear, crisp voice rang out behind him.
"Ogre Watermodo, congratulations on breaking free from the Flesh Bondage. Now, tell me, who sent you?"
Watermodo turned around hastily and saw a slender figure, exclaiming in surprise, "Jaina!"
"You recognize me." Jaina raised an eyebrow. "You can't hide it from me. I happen to need a Water Elemental, so let's see how you perform."