"Stop! That's the end of the road. You can't get through."
Beside the railing of the corridor, a slender figure appeared and disappeared, its shape resembling that of a human woman.
"You think you can stop the Burning Legion with your meager magic?" Rakeesh's lips curled into a slight smile.
The Eredar Mage shook his head, indicating that he was no match for the woman. Rakeesh didn't seem to care and nodded to those behind him.
A small Fel Reaver stepped forward and, with a metallic scraping sound, transformed into a metal bridge spanning the chains and railings.
"Mage, your magic has failed." Rakeesh said smugly.
Several heavily armored Felguard led the way onto the bridge, their armor shimmering with seven-colored light.
The magical armor created by the Burning Legion possesses strong magic resistance.
The human woman's figure flickered erratically, as if she didn't exist in this world, and she gently flipped her right wrist.
The stone-built ground and walls cracked open, extending countless black tendrils that blocked the metal bridge.
The Felguard at the front raised his sword and slashed at the vines, sending sparks flying. The vines were unharmed and instead entangled the Felguard tightly.
Other Felguard came to their rescue, but they were all entangled in the vines.
"I have no intention of harming you," the human woman said coldly. "My agreement with Thrall was to stop him here; someone else was to kill Illidan."
"What kind of strange magic is this?" Rakeesh asked, puzzled.
The Dreadlord, in charge of the Legion's intelligence, replied in a low voice, "This is the Titans Relic, the Heart of Zangar, possessing terrifying natural power."
Just as he was about to accomplish the feat of killing Illidan, he was blocked here. Rakeesh was furious. His eyes darted around and he said:
"Humans, why not join the Burning Legion and serve me? Whatever Thrall has given you, I will repay tenfold."
"Ha, I'm afraid you can't afford the price," the human woman laughed. "Thrall, give me the entire Zangarmarsh, and a million Orcs as sacrifices."
Rakeesh was taken aback; he couldn't afford that price. He said helplessly, "Thrall never keeps his word. Aren't you afraid he'll go back on his word?"
"I have a way to make him keep his promise," the human woman said.
Rakeesh and his subordinates discussed the matter for a long time, concluding that with Heart of Zangar, a forced breakthrough was virtually impossible.
"Human, you've won. I'd like to see how Thrall kills Illidan."
The human woman raised her hand, and a Portal opened not far away.
A dazzling light shone forth—the light of exquisite, Epic- grade armor.
Rakeesh covered his eyes; even the Burning Legion's elite troops were not qualified to wear Epic gear.
The first to cross the Portal were three tall, muscular orc Orcs Warriors with ferocious faces, who let out piercing roars.
Following behind the Orcs was a Tauren Druid, whose transformed Juxiong was as large as a small mountain.
The group filed out, numbering around thirty people, mainly Orcs, with one or two representatives each from Undead, Tauren, Trolls, and Blood Elves.
Most of them were wearing Epic- level equipment, although they were all replicas. The total price of these replicas was enough to bankrupt any Goblin Trade Prince.
The human woman said calmly, "They are the true elite of Horde, top-tier warriors secretly trained by Thrall. The weakest of them could take on thirty Saurfang the Great in one go."
"What is Saurfang?" Rakeesh retorted indignantly. "I could send out any one of you and wipe you all out."
"It's a pity you can't come," the human woman said earnestly.
Rakeesh snorted and waved his hand. The Legion's generals sat on their chains to rest, watching helplessly as the Horde's elite entered the Council Chamber.
In Shadowmoon Village, Talon Bloodfiend awoke from his unconsciousness and opened his eyes warily.
Surrounded by Orcs, who were pointing at Talon Bloodlord and discussing amongst themselves, Talon Bloodlord breathed a sigh of relief as he saw that the "Illidan" head was still in his right hand.
Eitrigg parted the Orcs and approached Talon Bloodseeker, smiling broadly as he said, "The great Savior Thrall requests your presence."
Talon Bloodlord was dizzy and felt incredulous. He only remembered falling down the corridor of the Council Chamber. How did he end up here?
In the largest tent in Shadowmoon Village, Talon Bloodlord surrendered his weapons.
Thrall was eating a Pandaren, while Eitrigg served him cautiously, barely daring to breathe.
Seeing this, Talon Blood Demon also stood obediently to the side.
The Black Temple has many rules, but Illidan is easygoing, can joke around freely, and gets along well with his subordinates.
Inside Thrall's Tent, Talon Bloodlord felt a sense of oppression, as if he were in the deep sea, surrounded by countless terrifying sea creatures.
Thrall ate slowly and deliberately, taking more than an hour to finish, only putting down his knife and fork when the Pandaren breathed his last.
"So you are Talon Bloodseeker. I've heard Eitrigg you," Thrall said slowly. "Very well, you may leave now."
Talon Bloodlord stared blankly for a long while, then raised the severed head in his hand and boasted, "I killed Illidan."
Thrall nodded. "Not bad. I'll award you a Horde badge later."
"What did you say?" Talon Bloodlord roared, nearly screaming, "I betrayed Illidan, risked my life to kill him, and you're offering me a Horde badge?"
"How dare you be so disrespectful to the great Savior Thrall! Do you want to destroy Azeroth?" Eitrigg shouted.
Upon hearing Talon Bloodlord's roar, Thrall's personal guards, who were waiting outside the tent, rushed in and surrounded Talon Bloodlord.
Thrall yawned wearily. "I can forgive your rudeness, just this once, and never again. Kill Illidan, what do you want?"
"You promised me, Lord of Shadowmoon Valley." Talon Bloodfiend's voice trailed off, sounding much softer.
Thrall raised an eyebrow and said with dramatic emphasis, " In the Black Temple, millions of Orcs fought to the death, selflessly Consecration their lives. What did they ask for? You're Veteran of the Horde, a member of the Shadow Council who followed Gul'dan. How can your awareness be lower than that of an ordinary soldier? You've disappointed me greatly."
Talon Bloodseeker looked as aggrieved as a child. "Thrall, you broke your promise."
Thrall declared firmly, "We Orcs have a long way to go. If everyone makes demands like you, how can the Orcs rise to power? I've eaten half of this Pandaren, so I'm giving it to you as a reward for killing Illidan."
Eitrigg shouted, "Talon Bloodlord, kneel down and thank the great Savior!"
"No, no!" Talon Blood Demon trembled with rage. "I gave everything and received nothing in return, just scraps. You all deserve to die!"
Talon Bloodseeker revealed his ferocious nature, but found himself powerless; the Warglaives of Azzinoth had wounded his very core.
Orcs guards surrounded him and berated him, knocking Talon Bloodlord to the ground, howling and begging for mercy.
"Stop hitting me! Spare me! I surrender! I was wrong! Please forgive me!"
Thrall smiled and said to Eitrigg, "They say Talon Bloodlord has killed countless people, a ruthless executioner, for whom life and death are merely a cycle. Eitrigg, I'm entrusting him to you; I want to know if he's a warrior or a coward."