Cairne Sunfury, Illidan's most loyal follower, insisted on his judgment and angrily declared:
"We are stronger than the Legion's Demons, and this is the price we pay. Lord Illidan has given us the opportunity to burn our lives."
Altruis wavered slightly and whispered:
"If we Pain Suppression our own strength, we might have lived for tens of thousands of years like the Demons of the Legion. Unfortunately, Illidan didn't give us a choice."
Vandel shook his head. "You all believe that losing your mind is the price of power. Fine, I'll show you some more evidence."
Vandel pulled a list from his pocket. "This is a list of all the Demon Hunter have gone mad so far. Except for Cynthia, they have all been killed by the captains. I have carefully examined this list and found that they all have one thing in common: they either offended Lord Illidan, or are suspected of betrayal, and some, like Cynthia, have begun to doubt the path of the Demon Hunter."
Altruis snatched the list and looked at each name one by one, his brows furrowed deeply, remaining silent.
Cairne Sunfury took the list, looked it over carefully, and sneered:
"What does that prove? It's just a coincidence."
"I don't believe this is a coincidence," Altruis calmly analyzed. "Or perhaps, Illidan can manipulate us into madness?"
"Absurd! This is a betrayal of Lord Illidan!" Cairne Sunfury could not control his rage and grabbed his Warglaive, eager to unleash his fury.
The Demon Hunters murmured amongst themselves, while Jess Weaver shook his head:
"Perhaps this is just a coincidence, and doesn't really count as evidence."
Vandel laughed heartily, "Gentlemen, it's truly remarkable that you've managed to generate doubt. All progress begins with skepticism. I'll pose one final question: why do Demon Hunters lose their eyesight, while the Eredar, Dreadlords, Pit Lords who have absorbed Fel retain their sight?"
"Lord Illidan also lost his sight." Cairne Sunfury felt he made a lot of sense.
Vandel smiled slightly, removed his blindfold, revealing his bright eyes.
"Use your Spectral Sight to see; my eyes are perfectly intact."
"You"
"That's impossible."
This is a betrayal of Lord Illidan!
"You are a traitor to the Black Temple."
A powerful Fel erupted from Vandel's body as he proclaimed, "I am stronger than ever before, yet I do not have to pay the price of blindness. The evidence is before you; why are you still so stubbornly unrepentant?"
"A terrible conspiracy! It's a trick, a trap! Don't fall for it!" Cairne Sunfury roared furiously.
Altruis used Spectral Sight to carefully examine Vandel, and said:
"I sensed the Fel within you, more stable than ours, but this may be a gift from some powerful being, Vandel. We need more evidence."
"I was prepared long ago." Vandel pointed to Cynthia Shadowweaver in the bag. "Today, in front of my brothers and sisters, I helped her regain her sanity."
Cairne Sunfury, unable to contain himself any longer, roared, "Demon Hunter's sanity is irreversible, Vandel! What schemes are you plotting now?"
Vandel surveyed the Demon Hunters. "It's not a trick or a trap, just a simple ritual to replace the Fel within her."
Altruis asked suspiciously, "Our Fel all comes from Lord Illidan. Do you mean he uses it to control us?"
Vandel stood tall and said, "I'm simply presenting all the evidence for you to judge for yourselves. For us Demon Hunters, free will is the most precious thing."
Vandel took out several Magic Gems and set up a simple Magic Circle.
This Magic Circle has only two functions: to extract the Fel from the body and then to infuse it with new Fel.
Cynthia Shadowweaver lay in the center of the Magic Circle, Vandel presided over the ceremony.
The process of extracting the Fel was extremely painful. Cynthia's body twisted as she struggled desperately and screamed in agony.
Once the Fel was completely drained, Cynthia's mangled body collapsed within the Magic Circle, having lost the strength to struggle.
Altruis noticed with keen insight that Cynthia seemed to have regained some of her senses at that moment.
Vandel explained, "Fel has become an indispensable part of our energy supply; if we don't infuse her with new Fel, she will soon die."
A green vortex formed above the Magic Circle, and the pure Fel energy existing in the New World continuously poured into Cynthia's body.
As the Fel was infused, Cynthia's skin gradually regained its luster, her emaciated body became fuller, and her empty eyes regained their pupils.
When Cynthia opened her eyes, she looked at the world with the pure innocence of a newborn baby.
After a long while, Cynthia stood up. "Where am I? What happened to me?"
The Demon Hunters were stunned. Cynthia, who had regained her senses, stood before them, proving that the Fel Illidan had infused into them was problematic.
Altruis stepped forward. "Do you remember me?"
Cynthia nodded. "Altruis, ten thousand years have passed, and your appearance has never changed. But compared to when we last met, you seem to have aged somewhat."
Altruis touched his face and smiled wryly:
"Illidan's Fel is devouring our sanity and ravaging our appearance, Vandel, you are right."
Cairne the Sunfury roared like a wild beast:
"Lies! You've all been acting, very well. Unfortunately, you underestimated the Demon Hunters ' loyalty to Lord Illidan. Vandel, you traitor, your life is forfeit!"
Cairne Sunfury, wielding his Warglaive, lunged at Vandel.
With just one hand, Vandel easily blocked Cairne Sunfury's attack; his Fel- infused palm was as hard as steel, and it made a crisp sound as it clashed with the Warglaive.
"Don't you understand? When we have free will, we become much stronger than before. Don't be so stubborn."
Cairne Sunfury refused to give up, and his attacks became increasingly ruthless. Vandel used his left hand to snatch Sunfury's Warglaive and plant it in the ground.
Vandel said solemnly, "I've said before that I respect your choices. Those who wish to stay will have their Fel replaced. Those who remain loyal to Lord Illidan will not be stopped. The Portal is just ahead; it will take you directly to the Black Temple."
Faced with overwhelming evidence, most Demon Hunters were willing to stay.
Cairne Sunfury knelt on the ground, chuckling coldly, "I am a Blood Elf. Lor'themar's perverse actions turned me into a wandering, Mindless Mana Addiction Sufferers. It was Lord Illidan who helped me regain my sanity. Everything I have was given to me by Lord Illidan. If he wants to take my life back, let him take it."
Another captain said, "The Orcs burned Ashenvale, and my home was destroyed. It's a pity that Tyrande and Malfurion were incompetent and foolish. It was Lord Illidan who gave us hope. I will never betray them."
Led by Cairne Sunfury, a small number of Demon Hunters remained loyal to Illidan.
Vandel looked at Altruis across from him and asked, puzzled, "Why don't you stay, my old friend?"
Altruis said painfully, "I once trusted Illidan, but he has fallen so low. I must confront him and ask him why he did this, even if it costs me my life."
Vandel patted him on the shoulder. "Take care, my friend."
On the vast grassland, several deer-like creatures curiously observed the unfamiliar visitors.
Cairne Sunfury and Altruis, along with a small number of Demon Hunters, headed towards the Portal leading to the Black Temple.