With most of the soldiers having deserted, morale was low. King Varian worried that things might get worse if he waited too long, and that the remaining soldiers might also join the desertion. He had to act swiftly and decisively to achieve his goal as soon as possible.
"Initiate the attack and rescue Thrall," Varian ordered.
Upon hearing this, the aides around him, whose faces were no longer young, showed expressions of regret:
"King Majesty, your most important task now is to lead your troops back to Stormwind City, prevent the rumors from becoming true, uphold the reputation of House Wrynn, and remember that the decision to save Thrall was a mistake from the very beginning. We can resume negotiations with Cho'gall."
"Do you dare disobey my orders?" Varian demanded bluntly. "Do you intend to destroy Azeroth?"
Those who dare to stay now are either truly fearless warriors or the House Wrynn's private army, loyal to Varian.
Of course, there were also a few cowardly soldiers who were at a loss, couldn't see the situation clearly, and didn't have the courage to run away.
This aide was a fearless warrior; he laughed nonchalantly:
"Your King, if we were afraid of death, we would have left long ago. We only want to accompany you in your final gamble. If you can change your mind, there is still a chance to salvage the situation."
"My mind is made up. Don't try to persuade me. I will fight to save Azeroth, even if it means sacrificing my life." Varian summoned the remaining generals in the camp and prepared to launch an attack.
The advisor could only smile bitterly. He clearly saw the ending and even knew His Majesty the King's schemes, but he was still willing to accompany the King on the last leg of his life's journey.
When Varian led his troops toward the Vulgol Ogre Mound, Cho'gall gritted his teeth, his heart pounding with fear.
Upon learning that most of Varian's soldiers had deserted, Cho'gall was initially overjoyed, feeling that there was new hope. Under such circumstances, Varian, if he had any sense, would have chosen to retreat.
If that's the case, Cho'gall would be very willing to renegotiate with the Kingdom of Stormwind, and the previous misunderstandings could be wiped clean.
The Ogre convention will proceed as scheduled, Cho'gall will marry the Ogre bride, rightfully becoming the Imperator of the Ogre Empire.
However, Varian surprisingly chose to attack, completely catching Cho'gall guard.
Cho'gall was in a bind. He hadn't expected Varian to be such a reckless man, disregarding even the reputation of the House Wrynn. His behavior was truly unpredictable.
At this time, most of Cho'gall's men had also fled, and even his most relied-upon Ogre guard had lost many of them. Most alarmingly, their morale was low, and they had no will to fight.
Although more than half of the soldiers on the Alliance's side deserted, those who remained were elite troops, and their morale was generally not a problem.
Varian led a squad of elite soldiers in the Charge, while Jaina's Ogre allies were equally determined, advancing almost in tandem with the King. The followers of the Twilight's Hammer had no will to resist and were virtually unstoppable.
Cho'gall hastily organized a resistance, and his remaining loyal followers activated the traps inside the cave, causing considerable casualties to the Alliance.
Garona simply observed from the sidelines; she knew the location of most of the traps and how to dismantle them.
Soon, Cho'gall's most loyal Personal Guard joined the war.
There were about fifty Ogres, who had been corrupted by the power of the Old Gods for a long time. They had almost all lost their minds, felt no pain, and felt no fatigue. They were practically a bunch of madmen, howling as they charged toward the Alliance.
"Victory belongs to us, advance!"
Varian roared, his anger needing to be vented as he recalled the frustrations of the past few days, and he faced an Ogre- on.
The raging Ogre swung its axe, Varian quickly dodged, slashing at the Ogre's left leg with his sword. The sharp imitation Elf sword sank deep into the knee joint, only to see countless tentacles emerge and firmly grasp his own sword.
Varian was taken aback. He tried to pull his weapon back, but couldn't. The Ogre let out a smug laugh. Varian sensed something and, for some reason, looked up, suddenly meeting the Ogre's gaze.
A dizzying sensation washed over him, and countless whispers rang in his ears. Varian felt a jolt in his head, and he instinctively covered his head with his hands, almost collapsing to his knees.
The Ogre raised its Battle Axe and swung it at Varian's back, but fortunately, loyal soldiers saved the King. Several elite Warriors surrounded the Ogre, and after losing three soldiers, they successfully cut it down to the ground.
Varian, clinging to the cave wall, could barely stand as soldiers retrieved the King's weapons.
Varian, wielding a replica of the Elf sword, watched as his soldiers charged forward, battling the bizarre-looking Ogres. One soldier after another fell, lives were lost.
"You're just a child King, what's the point of everything you do?"
Why would my Curse of Flesh give birth to such a stupid creature?
"Submit to me. All you desire is power, and I can grant your wish."
Varian gazed at the cave Curse of Flesh, covered in a flesh-like tissue, with mushroom-shaped eye stalks rising up and looking at King Varian, conveying whispers from the Old Gods.
"Is it the Old Gods C'Thun?"
Varian felt his head spinning, and those whispering voices returned once more.
"Don't go any further, that's your death."
"Life is hard-won; what you need is longevity and great strength."
"Cho'gall has disappointed me. I thought he would help me wipe out the Orcs, but he has colluded with Thrall. Why can't my representative be a human King? You are my children! Help me, kill those savage green-skinned Orcs, and you will gain everything. I will command Cho'gall to become your lowly servant."
Varian's consciousness gradually faded. He was convinced. Yes, all he needed was power. Why not pledge allegiance to the Old Gods? The Old Gods' power must be stronger than that of the Wild God.
A cool sensation spread from the center of his scalp, like ice water on his head. The strange whisper disappeared, and Varian quickly regained consciousness. He saw Jaina, holding an empty potion in her hand.
"Varian, you have been misled by the Old Gods. There's no need to thank me; it's what I should do."
With that, Jaina charged forward and joined the battle.
Why is this happening?
Varian missed the feeling of being bewitched by the Old Gods, when he seemed to have nothing to think about or do, and the Old Gods would arrange everything for him. He felt he had missed a golden opportunity.
When he touched the flesh-covered cave again, the feeling was gone, and he could no longer hear the whispers of the Old Gods.
"Jaina!"
Varian, burning with rage, charged at the Ogre with his weapon in hand.
When the last Ogre fell, the ground was already stained red with blood. It was a fierce battle, and more than three hundred soldiers had been sacrificed to kill these fifty ferocious Ogres.
Almost every soldier was wounded after the bloody battle. The advisor who had once advised him to retreat had fallen in the fight against the Ogres, and Varian didn't even remember his name.
"We have won, Thrall, I have come to save you, for Azeroth."
Varian strode towards the deepest part of the cave, the place where Thrall was imprisoned.
The air here was thick with the power of the Old Gods. Thrall lay unconscious to one side, and standing on the Altar where Thrall had been imprisoned was Cho'gall, the leader of the Twilight's Hammer.
"Varian, you've finally come. I heard your master's voice convey your message, but you refused this kindness. This was your last chance, and you sowed the Destiny of your own misfortune."
"Now, your Destiny is in Thrall's hands. Let's see if this beast will treat you mercifully. I suspect he'll tear you to pieces and devour you, poor child, King. You will pay with your life for your naiveté."
Cho'gall laughed loudly. The Altar opened into a huge mouth full of sharp teeth, a dark abyss leading to an unknown destination. Cho'gall jumped into the mouth and disappeared, leaving only bursts of maniacal laughter behind him.
At the same time, the Magic Circles that had been prepared all around began to operate, flashing with light, and squads of fully armed Orcs soldiers appeared behind the Alliance soldiers.
They are Thrall's most loyal Personal Guard, led by Eitrigg, and have been waiting in Stranglethorn Vale for a long time.
With their escape route blocked, the remaining soldiers of the Alliance were all looking towards His Majesty the King.
Jaina, Garona, and more than a dozen Ogre allies naturally stood beside Eitrigg.
Jaina looked at Varian and his remaining forces, a smug smile spreading across her face as she revealed the success of her scheme.
Unexpectedly, Varian made a surprising move: he broke away from his subordinates and sided with the Orcs.
Eitrigg glanced at King Varian, who had voluntarily pledged allegiance, unsure of his meaning. Suddenly Thrall jumped up, pointed at the bewildered Alliance soldiers, and shouted:
"You dare to destroy Azeroth! They are the Destroyer! Kill them all, leave no one alive!"
It was a simple massacre. Exhausted and wounded, the Alliance soldiers had no chance to resist. They simply watched the King silently, a bitter smile on their faces, as they walked towards their end.
Varian didn't feel sad. He thought of his favorite hunting sport in Elwynn Forest, and how the hounds, rendered useless by injury, looked so pitiful when they were killed.
"Varian!" Thrall grinned, revealing a sinister smile.
"Thank you so much for saving me, but for the sake of the great Savior's reputation, I must borrow your head. This is all for the sake of Azeroth. You wouldn't refuse such a great honor, would you?"
Varian was prepared; he took a step forward.
Eitrigg was extremely nervous as a squad of elite soldiers surrounded Thrall.
"Thrall, your ingratitude doesn't surprise me. I'm happy to honor your reputation, which is why I sent these lowly soldiers to their deaths. This world has no kindness or Justice, only the exchange of interests. I've already thought it through. For the sake of the Horde, we need to cooperate."
"What do you have to trade with me, King Varian?" Thrall asked with a mocking tone.
"Don't think you've saved me; that's just your foolishness and naivety. I'll laugh at you loudly and won't remember any of your kindness."
"You need my help, the Orcs need my help, Thrall."
Varian raised his voice:
"The Orcs are no match for the Scourge. Even with our Alliance, they are still far inferior to the Scourge. Our only hope lies in Arthas's humanity. I know Arthas; as long as our human soldiers are at the forefront, he won't kill his own kind. This is your only way to defeat Arthas."
Thrall fell into deep thought after hearing this.
"Therefore, only I can help you defeat Arthas, using innocent humans as cannon fodder," Varian said, feeling he had seized the initiative. "What I need is power, and what you need is to destroy the Lich King. What a perfect deal! Someone as intelligent as you wouldn't refuse, would you, my Savior?"