Gul'dan's mentor, the Lich King Ner'zhul.
Robbie lowered his head in thought, while Krasus took a deep breath.
The history of Azeroth is problematic. Robbie witnessed Arthas's growth, but had absolutely no connection to Ner'zhul.
According to historical records, Kil'jaeden placed Ner'zhul's soul in an ice coffin and sent it to the icy wasteland of Northrend to begin building the Scourge, becoming the first Lich King.
However, there's a loophole here. Northrend is the territory of both the Red Dragon and Blue Dragonflights, and it's also home to the Guardians of Ulduar. How could they allow an Orcs has lost his physical body to run rampant?
As a member of the Red Dragonflight, Krasus was well aware that Ner'zhul's identity as the Lich King was a lie fabricated by Thrall and others.
Throughout Arthas's rise to power, Ner'zhul was merely a transparent tool, with no evidence whatsoever to prove his existence.
Krasus asked with ill intent, "Ner'zhul, what are you doing here?"
"I was framed by Gul'dan." The skull's jaw opened and closed, and it was unclear how it produced the sound, "Gul'dan betrayed me, replacing me with an Orc Warlock. He coveted my Shaman knowledge, so he kept me by his side, and I suffered endless torment. After arriving at the Tomb of Sargeras, Gul'dan betrayed the Orcs, wanting to exchange power for Demons. The Demons devoured the Orcs and ignored Gul'dan, so he used me in his place and escaped alone."
Krasus nodded. "So, the tearing apart of Northrend has nothing to do with you?"
Ner'zhul's greatest mistake was tearing Draenor World, turning Northrend, the Orcs' homeland, into the shattered Outland.
The skull immediately denied it. "It has nothing to do with me, I've been here the whole time."
Krasus asked with a cold laugh, "Since you've been here the whole time, how did you know Northrend had fallen?"
Ner'zhul's Soul Fire flashed violently in his eye sockets, and after a long while, he said:
"Okay, to be honest, I actually had a body back then. It was eight years after the Dark Portal. A mysterious person brought me to Northrend, and I was imprisoned in the Black Temple. That person gave me a world coordinate and ordered me to find that New World, which I did."
Krasus stepped forward and said, "So you tore Northrend apart."
"That wasn't my fault!" Ner'zhul shouted. "I found that New World and established the perfect portal. It was the mysterious figure who destroyed the portal, tearing Draenor apart with energy."
Neither Robbie nor Krasus would trust a cunning fellow like Ner'zhul.
"Then how did you end up back here?" Krasus continued to ask.
Ner'zhul, "The mysterious man originally intended to kill me to silence me. However, a Demons in the Demon Inquisition of the Tomb of Sargeras gave me a Teleportation Rune. Using it allows me to travel through space back to the Tomb of Sargeras, but the price is that I become what I am now."
"How much do you know about that New World?" Robbie asked.
Ner'zhul hesitated for a moment, then said, "That world is called Mardum, and it's a beautiful planet."
"Mardum?" Krasus was completely unfamiliar with the name.
Robbie knew that Mardum was a dimensional prison established by Sargeras, a bridge between the Demons world and the real world.
In Felwood, Illidan holds the Skull of Gul'dan, absorbing its power.
As his strength gradually returned, suddenly his eyes snapped open, and he grabbed a handful of dirt from the ground, grinning wickedly:
"Felwood, the land Corruption by the Burning Legion's power. I once fought a Dreadlord and a Demons Lord here. Ah, I see. I remember now."
Jaina looked at him in surprise. "What did you remember?"
"Time!" Illidan's eyes flashed as he stared at Jaina. "Time isn't a single linear path; it's composed of multiple Parallel Timeline. In one of those universes, I experienced all of this. I was blocked at the Tomb of Sargeras, so I know it's a dangerous place, and I also know the truth about the Skull of Gul'dan."
"I single-handedly built Dalaran, defeated Magtheridon, ruled Outland, ventured deep into the icy wilderness of Northrend, met with the Scourge, and warned them. Some told me I would be ended by Thrall."
Jaina suddenly stood up, something from her memory surfacing.
"Wait, what are you doing here? I remember you participated in the Battle of Mount Hyjal."
Illidan coldly replied, "My future self made some plans, which led to your arrival. I wandered through multiple Timelines, trying different things. This is just one possibility. Haha, I'm finally standing on the same starting line as you."
Jaina gasped in surprise, covering her mouth and regretting following Anachronos to this wrong Timeline.
"Come out, all of you." Illidan looked behind him.
Anachronos and four others appeared, and the young Bronze Dragonflight vigorously pounded its head:
"Look what I've done! If my father were still alive, he would never have made such a mistake."
Illidan laughed heartily, "This isn't your fault, Bronze Dragonflight. My understanding of time far surpasses yours. Are you satisfied with the gift I gave you?"
The five looked at each other, realizing that Skull of Gul'dan was also part of the enemy's scheme.
Illidan smiled and said, "Are you willing to part with Skull of Gul'dan? It's a bond; once you take it, I, from the Black Temple, will know just as much as you do."
Anachronos said dejectedly, "You're quite the schemer. I'd like to know, now that you know your fate, do you have any way to change it?"
Illidan didn't answer, but instead asked, "What are your views on the Azeroth?"
The five were confused, and Jaina also wore a bewildered expression.
Illidan explained, "Azeroth is a cradle for nurturing World Souls, with multiple Timelines. When all Timelines align, that's when the World Soul hatches. The same person can be good or evil differently in each Timeline. You all know Thrall's character."
Jaina asked in surprise, "Could it be that Thrall in a certain Timeline was benevolent?"
Illidan shook his head. "He's just a better disguiser. The Orcs are from another world, and the Burning Legion uses a toxin to interfere with the growth of the World Soul. If I defeat Thrall in the Orcs' homeland, then Azeroth will be saved, and the future will be in your hands."
Anachronos was taken aback. "You want us to help you defeat Thrall?"
Illidan nodded. "The Timeline of Azeroth is controlled by Elune, and is difficult to change. But Outland different. As long as Thrall dies in the Black Temple, Azeroth will usher in a glorious future. I don't know which point in the future you come from, but it must be better than what you have experienced."
The Age of Holy Light brought a crisis to Azeroth, leaving the five of them deeply troubled and uneasy.
Jaina pursed her lips, seemingly lost in thought.
"The future of Azeroth rests in your hands," Illidan declared Justice.
Not far away, Robbie used a crystal ball to monitor the conversation between "Illidan" and the others.
"Don't believe him," Ner'zhul's head warned. "He's lying; he's a big liar."