Among the guests who had come to offer congratulations, the adventurers watching the spectacle, and Ashran's elite soldiers, many cried out in surprise at Udir's introduction.
"Heavens, he's that legendary strongest Paladin."
"He's so handsome!"
"We finally get to see him in person?"
"A legendary figure! Is Azeroth about to change?"
"I heard he can smash the Frozen Throne with one hand."
Many people took photos to commemorate the occasion.
"If he's so powerful, why didn't we see him when they went after the Lich King?"
Some people also raised questions.
Tuyang Tusunpo smiled contemptuously, as if to say that a mere Lich King was not worth his trouble.
Was he someone who could solo Icecrown Citadel?
Back when the Alliance and the Horde launched their northern campaign against Northrend, Tirion Fordring held the Trial of the Grand Crusader. The first challenge was the Beasts of Northrend, followed by Lord Jaraxxus, the Doomguard summoned by the ridiculous Warlock Wilfred Fizzlebang.
At the third challenge, Tirion Fordring announced that the strongest Paladin of the Argent Crusade was about to appear. Because of the conflict between the Alliance and the Horde, that Paladin never showed up, leaving a mystery that was never resolved.
Was Tuyang Tusunpo that strongest Paladin?
Robbie watched it all coldly, feeling as though it were a farce.
What was wrong?
The best way was to find someone unafraid of death to test the man's strength. Knocking down a big tree proved nothing; many little tricks could accomplish that, making it look more like an attempt to mystify people.
Hogger was best suited for the job. Robbie looked up and discovered that Hogger was gone.
Sure enough, that cunning Gnoll couldn't be relied on.
No one knew when Hogger had disappeared. Tuyang Tusunpo looked around and laughed triumphantly.
"Back then, at the Argent Tournament grounds in Icecrown Glacier, during the Trial of the Grand Crusader, the cowards of the Alliance feared my strength. To avoid facing me, they had no choice but to provoke the Horde, leaving me quite helpless. The despicable Gnoll Hogger has fled. Who else in the Brotherhood dares defy me?"
Quite a few of the Brotherhood's officers had been peeking over. When they heard Tuyang Tusunpo's challenge, they all pulled their heads back.
"You lot, go see what's happening over there. I'll go make preparations."
The Tauren Mr. Smite pointed at Tuyang Tusunpo, only to be the first to run away himself.
The Ogre Mage Glubtok opened a portal and teleported away with Foreman Rakk'z. General Fangore vanished into a cloud of mist. Old Murk-Eye, Cookie, and several other Murlocs jumped into the pond like dumplings dropping into a pot, throwing up a great spray. The Gnolls collectively hid deep in the mine, while a group of timid Goblins had long since seen that things were going badly and fled without a trace.
A rabble, Robbie thought with a sigh.
Seeing that no one dared answer his challenge, Tuyang Tusunpo grew even more smug. "Since no one objects, tear this bastion down. I won't allow any two bricks to remain stacked together."
"Hold it. I'll challenge you!"
Robbie walked forward at an unhurried pace. Though nervous inside, he appeared calm. The Frostwolf Tuyang Tusunpo rode was so enormous that Robbie had to look up at him, which annoyed him.
"Lowly, contemptible human, you dare challenge me? Give me your name!" Tuyang Tusunpo roared.
"I am Robbie Capor, the defiler."
"Robbie Capor! I know you. My great, wise, brilliant, and mighty godfather Thrall spared your miserable life, yet you didn't appreciate it. Then don't blame me for showing no mercy." Tuyang Tusunpo's face twisted savagely.
"I'm sorry, you've got it wrong," Robbie said with a smile. "What happened was that a nobody like me beat your godfather Thrall's face into a pulp until he cried out for mercy."
"Impossible. Who would believe that?"
"I can vouch for it." Cordana Felsong gave a wicked smile, looking eager to stir up trouble. "I happened to be there. This young human fought Thrall one-on-one and beat him until his head was covered in lumps and he was at death's door. Of course I had to take photos of something that entertaining. I have the pictures as proof."
"Fake! The photos must be fake!" Tuyang Tusunpo's face twisted with rage. He raised a hand and aimed a Holy Light Finger at Robbie.
Robbie wasn't an ancient tree rooted to the spot. He had been prepared and dodged nimbly.
The Holy Light Finger struck the bastion wall, blasting a small hole in it. Its power was considerable, but nowhere near enough to compare with toppling an ancient tree with one finger.
Robbie looked at the hole and sensed the aura lingering on it. He nodded to himself. His guess had been confirmed once again, and he felt more confident.
Just then, the earth shook and the mountains trembled.
Was it an earthquake?
Robbie looked up and saw a black tower slowly rising above the Gnome workshop.
Atop the tower, thirteen enormous cannons arranged in a circle swiveled and aimed at Tuyang Tusunpo and his party.
Every one of the cannons was as thick as an adult's waist, and the main cannon at the very center was big enough to fit an Ogre inside.
"Hey, kid from the Argent Crusade, look over here. Tell me, are you scared or not?"
The two-headed Ogre Mage Glubtok stood beside a cannon barrel with an arrogant air. Foreman Rakk'z and General Fangore were drenched in sweat as they struggled to load a shell longer than a person was tall.
So these fellows hadn't run away; they had been preparing this deadly weapon.
I knew it.
Robbie muttered to himself. When he first saw the Gnome workshop, he had thought something was wrong: it was a whole size larger than the Dwarven bunker. Sure enough, there was something strange about it.
"Bastion cannons! You actually built bastion cannons." With the dark cannon muzzles aimed at him, Tuyang Tusunpo's face turned deathly pale, and his expression soured.
Bastion cannons—only Wrynn's Bastion and the Horde's Vol'jin's Pride in Talador were authorized to build them. This structure was clearly far beyond the permitted specifications.
Glubtok laughed heartily.
"Don't think Divine Shield can save you from the damage. I painstakingly designed these shells to break through Divine Shield, and they can track their targets too. You're dead, and no one can save you."
Tuyang Tusunpo's confidence immediately wilted, and he clutched the Frostwolf's reins tightly.
Andenani came closer and said in a low voice, "Don't be afraid. They wouldn't dare fire."
"They can break a mage's Ice Block too," Glubtok's other head reminded her.
Andenani raised her head and pursed her lips, then immediately blinked far away.
So that was it.
Robbie understood the situation.
Although Tuyang Tusunpo was the loudest and most arrogant person there, looking down on everyone and saying whatever he pleased,
he was actually the most insecure and least confident of them all.
Since the Lich King's fall, the Argent Crusade had failed to claim territory and gradually been pushed to the margins, losing its voice. Acherus: The Ebon Hold and the Shado-Pan Monastery could both send disciples to train in Draenor, while the Argent Crusade's young Paladins had only Northrend's cold winds for company.
A major undertaking like the assault on the Dark Portal had nothing to do with the Argent Crusade.
The Argent Crusade's position was so awkward that it could only become a weapon in someone else's hands.
On the surface, Prince Wrynn had entrusted Tuyang Tusunpo with an important task and granted him privileges akin to those of an imperial envoy. General Kash Baolu humbled himself, fawned over him, and willingly endured punches and kicks, suffering humiliation.
In reality, Stormwind City was the side sitting secure.
Andenani, needless to say, represented Dalaran and was there specifically to fan the flames and sow discord. The Worgen Priest Udir claimed to be from the Argent Crusade, but his race exposed his lie. After all, the Worgen king Genn Greymane was in league with House Wrynn.
Tuyang Tusunpo was just cannon fodder meant to draw hatred, a poor fool whose job was to get himself killed.
If he died in Vanessa's bastion, Tirion Fordring would surely have something to say, drawing attention to himself again and gaining a surge of reputation. He might even have a chance to get involved in Draenor.
Dalaran and Stormwind City would surely assist from the sidelines, fanning the flames and using the opportunity to cause trouble and suppress the Brotherhood.
The Horde could also fish in troubled waters. After all, he was Thrall's godson and Chief Vol'jin's cousin's son. Though Thrall had so many godsons that Orgrimmar couldn't hold them all.
Westfall was a juicy piece of meat, and everyone wanted a bite.
Tuyang Tusunpo couldn't die, at least not at the hands of the Brotherhood. Otherwise, they would give others grounds to act against them, and the bastion would be hard to preserve.
But they couldn't tolerate his antics either. The fellow had come to tear down the bastion.
It was a dilemma.
Robbie knew very well that the Brotherhood didn't lack muscle; every one of them was brave enough to charge into battle. Unfortunately, they lacked someone with a strategic mind. Vanessa couldn't easily step forward in a matter like this, so it fell to Robbie.
After a moment's thought, Robbie came up with a plan. He waved to the Ogre Mage Glubtok and shouted, "As the saying goes, every cannon blast costs ten thousand gold. Those are gold coins! This guy's nothing but a fly, a bedbug. There's no need to waste a shell on him. Watch me swat him to death."
Glubtok didn't want to make too big a fuss either. He nodded and put away the bastion cannons. Tuyang Tusunpo secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then said angrily, "Who are you calling a fly and a bedbug?"
This idiot probably still doesn't understand the situation he's in.
"Tuyang Tusunpo, that's all you're capable of. Hogger would only need one hand to deal with you. I'm a little worse than him, so two hands will be enough."
"Lowly human, you'll pay for your ignorance." Tuyang Tusunpo rode his Frostwolf forward a few steps. "How will you withstand this unstoppable power?"
"Fine. I've been wanting to test the strength of Tirion Fordring's disciple myself." Robbie smiled at his opponent. "Before we duel, get down first."
"What?" Tuyang Tusunpo was taken aback.
"Get off your mount!" Robbie said. "Whoever heard of dueling on a mount?"
Just as Robbie had expected, Tuyang Tusunpo hesitated uneasily.
On hearing that the cannons wouldn't fire, Andenani smoothed the hair over her forehead and calmly blinked back to Tuyang Tusunpo's side. With a light laugh, she said, "General Tuyang Tusunpo has reached the realm where rider and mount are one. He never parts from his mount, even to eat or sleep."
Rider and mount are one? What about when he goes to the toilet?
"All right, I understand."
Robbie stroked his chin. "So what if I let you have your mount? Come, come, little knight. Your cries of agony are proof of my boundless power."
When word of the duel spread, Lunarfall erupted with excitement.
Before long, a large crowd of idle adventurers had gathered at the bastion's arena, surrounding it several rows deep.
"Bets are open, bets are open!" Hogger appeared from who knew where.
"Place your bets! Tuyang Tusunpo, the Argent Crusade's strongest Paladin, pays ten to one. Robbie Capor, the defiler, pays one to ten. Don't miss this chance, place your bets!"
"Are you kidding?" someone protested. "Who is Robbie Capor? I've never heard of him. One to ten? Isn't that ridiculous?"
Hogger glared and shouted, "Robbie's my brother, and I've given him pointers myself. He's best at catching bare blades with his mouth, and he once beat Thrall until his teeth were all over the ground. So what if that guy's the Argent Crusade's strongest Paladin? Can he compare to even the little finger of Thrall, the savior?"
The adventurers weren't fools. Few believed Robbie could defeat Thrall.
Besides, Hogger's reputation stank. Back when adventurers had come to hunt him down, every last one of them had been sapped, stripped naked, and thrown into the river. Only a ghost would believe anything he said.
Some had originally wanted to gamble on high odds. What if Robbie won? They would make a fortune. But when they saw these odds, they abandoned the idea entirely and all bet on Tuyang Tusunpo.
One was the Argent Crusade's strongest Paladin.
The other was a nobody, the Deadmines' rare Elite, Capor the miser.
The adventurers could see the truth clearly.
The duel began.