Black Temple.
Akama carefully opened the stone door, listening intently to the sounds inside.
His hands trembled violently, and he made several mistakes with the Runes. His long ears stood up like those of a startled rabbit.
Maiev watched coldly from the sidelines, and said with a faint sneer:
Are all the Broken Imp? What are you afraid of?
"We are facing Illidan, a monster," Akama said, his voice trembling.
"I don't think so." Maiev's face was obscured by the Watchers's armor, making her expression unreadable. "I've spent ten thousand years with Illidan; no one knows him better than me."
"Do you know anything about his incredible abilities?" Akama asked nervously.
"Just some petty tricks, worthless to the core," Maiev said easily. "Illidan once taught us Watchers that mixing several herbs from Azeroth creates an almost imperceptible aroma that can induce a silly, drowsy sleep in people, which can be controlled using Puppet Technique."
Akama thought of those adventurers from Azeroth and felt a chill run down his spine.
Runes flashed, and the stone gate leading to the top of the temple opened.
The terrace was so Anjing that you could hear each other's heartbeats.
The adventurers of Azeroth stood motionless like statues. Some raised their weapons to attack, while others bent down to prepare for a sneak attack. A mage's Ice Barrier spell was not yet finished, and a Tauren Warrior was sitting on the ground dozing off.
The transparent bubbles enveloped the adventurers, freezing their movements for a moment.
Illidan crouched on the ground, his right hand gripping Skull of Gul'dan tightly, seemingly unable to bear the weight of his body.
Hearing the sound of the stone door opening, Illidan turned around and stared at the visitor. His movements were slow, as if he were carrying two mountains on his shoulders.
"Akama, you haven't disappointed me. Look who you've brought, my the Jailer, Maiev."
Illidan wore a relaxed smile and breathed a sigh of relief.
Maiev said sadly, "Ten thousand years, Illidan, I have never seen you so wretched. It seems the Orcs have indeed inflicted great harm upon you."
Illidan's expression turned solemn. "Yes, I did underestimate Thrall. I considered all possibilities, but I didn't expect him to actually mobilize tens of millions of Orcs. In this era, who can pull off such a feat? I'm beginning to understand why Malfurion and Tyrande are no match for Thrall."
"Is the Night Elf civilization, which has lasted for ten thousand years, really going to be destroyed by the Orcs?" For a moment, Maiev was lost in thought, but this was not the time for sorrow. She immediately became stern. "Illidan, the day has finally come for us to settle this. Today, Justice will be served."
Maiev charged at Illidan, her blade wheel spinning rapidly in her hand.
The Watchers's Blade Wheel is an extremely difficult weapon to control; the slightest mistake can injure the user, and it requires hundreds of years of practice to master its use.
Illidan raised his Warglaives of Azzinoth to parry, and their weapons clashed.
The blade wheel made an unpleasant scraping sound against the Warglaive, and Illidan staggered, taking a few steps back.
"You look so weak, like Kobold."
Maiev seized the opportunity to taunt, then used Watchers's Blink to appear behind Illidan.
The blade wheel slashed fiercely at Illidan's nape, the spinning teeth seemingly about to sever his head.
Illidan hurriedly dodged to the side, the blade wheel slicing across Illidan shoulder, leaving a trail of blood.
Although Fel energy flowed through his veins, Illidan's blood remained red.
"Lord Illidan is injured." Akama was shocked, but secretly delighted at the same time.
For a long time, no one had ever been able to injure Illidan, not even the Pit Lord Magtheridon.
The pain enraged Illidan, and the Warglaive Sinnos flashed rapidly, raining down on Maiev like Gale.
Maiev calmly responded, her Warglaive clashing repeatedly with the blade wheel. The two attacked at speeds that were difficult for ordinary people to see, leaving only a series of afterimages.
Akama, who was standing nearby, tried to take advantage of the situation to launch a sneak attack on Illidan, but she couldn't catch a glimpse of her opponent.
The frequent battles were draining Illidan's stamina, Maiev gradually gained the upper hand, while Illidan was full of openings.
The two separated once again, Illidan had a huge wound on his chest, with several broken ribs, almost exposing his heart.
Illidan looked at the wound with disgust. "The mortal body is too fragile. I need the power of Demons."
Fel flowed rapidly within Illidan's body, pale green mist evaporated from his wounds, and his body swelled rapidly as he prepared to transform.
However, nothing happened. Illidan knelt on the ground, panting heavily. The failed Metamorphosis had exhausted the last of his strength.
"It's all over, Illidan. You've been defeated."
Maiev Blink to Illidan's side, her blade wheel slashing through the wound towards Illidan's Demons heart, the rapidly spinning teeth tearing up bits of flesh and blood.
"You win, Maiev." Illidan looked up at the dim sky over Shadowmoon Valley. "It's a pity we can't see the moonlight over Azeroth."
Darkness swept across his pupils, a small flower fell from his arms, and Illidan fell face down to the ground.
Akama clearly felt that a mountain had collapsed.
Maiev stood there Anjing, her gaze fixed on the small golden flower, Tyrande's Memory, which Illidan had carried with him for ten thousand years.
Akama drew his Battle Axe, laughing as he prepared to behead Illidan.
The spinning blade wheel blocked Akama's path.
"Illidan's body must be brought back to the Vault of the Wardens intact." Maiev's voice was icy, leaving no room for negotiation.
Akama reluctantly sheathed his weapon, and shortly after Illidan fell, the Watchers arrived from the Treasure Hall.
Maiev opened Portal to the Vault of the Wardens, and the Watchers lifted Illidan's corpse. Suddenly, another Portal opened.
A green Portal, and a group of Demon Hunters rushed out.
"Demon Hunter."
Akama was terrified and quickly hid behind Maiev.
Cairne Sunfury, at the very front, spotted Illidan's corpse and screamed in terror:
"Lord Illidan, what's wrong?"
Maiev gasped. The battle with Illidan had drained her of too much energy, and the Demon Hunter had many formidable opponents among its ranks.
"Damn it, this isn't what Illidan agreed to. Did he leave behind an ambush to steal his own corpse and find a corner to respawn?"
Maiev came to this conclusion.
Something astonishing happened: Cairne Sunfury had only charged halfway when the Fel within his body vanished in an instant, leaving him completely empty.
Suddenly losing his strength, Cairne Sunfury was unable to complete the Charge, collapsing to the ground and struggling to get up.
Looking at the other companions, they were the same, lying on the ground, powerless, like infants.
Altruis laughed bitterly, "As expected, Illidan was the source of our power. With his death, we have become weak and powerless."
Maiev couldn't understand what was going on.
What she saw before her was only a small part of the Demon Hunters, and especially since their leader Vandel, was not here, Maiev was wary and dared not kill them.
"Demon Hunters, the Vault of the Wardens has prepared cages for you. I will seal you away, to forever accompany the corpse of your master."