Upon hearing Velen's account, everyone was slightly taken aback.
Mar'gok asked in surprise, "So the Gorian Empire was destroyed because we Ogres ate the Draenei?"
Velen scratched his head and said, "Actually, we Draenei don't understand the Plague at all; we only have a superficial understanding. It's true that a large number of Draenei have been eaten by Ogres."
After entering Draenor, many Draenei were ostracized and expelled by the Velen.
Having lost their heritage and stripped of the Power of the Holy Light, the Draenei found it difficult to survive in the perilous Draenor, and most became food for other races.
Durotan asked in confusion, "Why haven't the Orcs been infected with the Plague?"
Before the Dark Portal opened, the Orcs slaughtered a large number of Draenei, turning their flesh into Tough Jerky for use as military rations.
Velen shook his head. "I suspect the Orcs have some kind of connection to the Shadowlands; they won't be infected by the Plague, they'll only be carriers."
Having learned the whole story, Durotan grabbed Gorkan Bloodfist's hair and asked:
"Do you understand now? The fall of the Gorian Empire had nothing to do with the Warsong Clan; it was because of the Great Plague."
Gerkan was indignant. "I only heard your side of the story; I haven't seen any evidence."
"You scoundrel, you shameless rogue!" Durotan was furious. "Velen, do you have any evidence?"
Velen hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Come with me."
An illusory door opened, and the four entered the Auchenai Crypts.
The first thing we saw was a tomb robber's tunnel and hundreds of skeletons. Judging from their varying degrees of decay, some of them were over ten years old, while others were entered recently.
Without exception, these skeletons all carried an ominous aura, their bodies extremely twisted, clearly indicating that they had been tortured before death.
Durotan pointed at the skeletons. "See these? These skeletons belong to adventurers infected with the Plague. With such crucial evidence right before your eyes, you still won't admit it?"
Gerkan glared defiantly, his eyes wide with dissatisfaction; clearly, this level of evidence was insufficient.
Velen led the way; much of the road was broken, and there were collapses everywhere.
Auchindoun was the site of a massive explosion, and the collapse was a consequence of that disaster.
Fortunately, Velen knew all the secret doors, and the group used them to venture deep into the Auchenai Crypts.
Deep within the cavern, the wandering souls of the Draenei gradually emerged. Their condition was somewhat abnormal; their bodies were withered, their eye sockets were sunken, and their skin resembled the bark of an old tree.
"The Holy Light is not omnipotent."
Velen said regretfully, "Some of my people have mutated from the Plague, and the Holy Light cannot Pain Suppression. I can only imprison them in Auchindoun, hoping to find a way to stop it."
These gaunt Draenei are reminiscent of the Scourge Undead.
As they walked further in, the four saw rows of laboratories, where many Draenei ghosts were bustling about.
In reality, these Draenei were already dead; they were merely repeating the activities they had in life.
The laboratory houses all sorts of bizarre and unusual creatures, none of which belong to Outland or Azeroth.
Velen explained, "The Arcatraz holds a large number of extraterrestrial beings. Draenei scholars initially tried to find a way to cure the Plague from them, but progress was slow."
Deep within Auchenai Crypts, bones piled up like mountains, and the number of ghosts gradually decreased, replaced by true Undead.
Upon noticing the arrival of outsiders, the skeletal Draenei raised their heads and stared warily at the intruders.
Velen's gaze swept over them indifferently, and the Draenei Undead were struck dumb, immediately turning away to attend to their own business.
"Although they have all become Undead, the research on the Plague has never stopped." Velen stopped in his tracks. "I think this evidence is sufficient."
Durotan sneered, staring at Velen: "The Draenei's research into the Plague wasn't for the sake of saving their people, was it?"
Velen paused, then admitted, "Indeed, it was the Army of the Light that prompted us to do this; several civilizations were indeed destroyed by the Plague."
"You Draenei are truly killers of the stars," Mar'gok questioned with great dissatisfaction. "Then the decline of the Gorian Empire was also a conspiracy of the Holy Light?"
"The Holy Light dislikes Ogres very much," Velen whispered.
"How pathetic!" Mar'gok a helpless, cold laugh.
A robust Draenei approached Velen, with blue skin, wearing blood-red armor, and carrying a longsword.
"Velen, is that you?" The Draenei looked at Velen in surprise, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Pride as you are, never daring to enter the Auchenai Crypts. What a rare guest indeed."
In the Auchenai Crypts, teeming with ghosts and the Undead, there was a living Draenei.
Velen raised his head slightly, looking imposing, and said:
"Archbishop Maladaar, what's wrong? After all these years, you're still dissatisfied with me?"
Maladaar gave a wry smile:
"As the only one with natural immunity, it is my duty to conduct research on the Plague. After all these years, I still oppose your plan to unleash the Plague upon the Ogre."
"A Plague?" Mar'gok glared angrily at Velen. "Velen, you've deceived me."
Velen remained unmoved, saying, "I've already explained; the Holy Light dislikes Ogres."
Maladaar looked at the four people and warned them loudly:
"Do not attempt to uncover the secrets of the Auchenai Crypts. The secrets hidden by this Plague far exceed your imagination. What a pity for the Tatobo people of that time."
Durotan asked in a low voice, "What's wrong with the Tatobo people?"
Compared to Velen, who downplayed the issue and was full of lies, the people trusted Archbishop Maladaar more.
Maladaar said regretfully, "The Dreadlord's betrayal enraged the Tatobo people, and they deliberately spread the Plague."
"They all died of the Plague?" Durotan was stunned.
Maladaar shook his head. "The Tatobo people have transcended the realm of flesh and blood; the Plague cannot kill them. However, once Plague, they can locate the Shadowlands, and in the battle against the Shadowlands, the Tatobo people were completely wiped out."
"That's a real shame!" Durotan said with deep regret.
"Only one Tatobo people is still alive." Maladaar stared at Velen. "He wants to see you."
Velen looked wary, hesitated for a moment, and then said in a strong voice, "With the protection of the Holy Light, what is there to fear!"
Maladaar smiled mysteriously, then led the way. Velen hesitated for a moment before finally following.
Inside the oval-shaped room, an eyeball-shaped monster floats in the air.
The eyeball monster spoke in a hoarse voice, "The power of death has infected me, turning me into this form. Velen, we finally meet again."
Velen's face was contorted, his expression extremely ugly. Although he was the leader of the Draenei, he knew nothing about the Auchenai Crypts.
"Shirrak, it's you!" Velen was so surprised he almost jumped up.
Shirrak was one of the strongest among the Tatobo people.
"I am now called Shirrak the Dead Watcher." A blood-red light shot from Shirrak's single eye, enveloping Velen.
"Velen, when the Draenei were abandoned by the Army of the Light and in their despair, I defied all opposition and accepted you. But what have you done in return?"
Velen flailed his arms and legs, struggling in vain, and cried out, "Please let me explain! I had no choice!"
Shirrak roared angrily, "The Shadowlands showed me everything! You accepted the Dreadlord's gift and planned to turn the Draenei into Undead creatures!"