Novos is a Drakkari Troll with ideals and ambitions, and he is willing to do his best to save his people if it is within his power.
Robbie handed over a small bottle of green liquid, just enough for one person. Novos took the bottle with trembling hands and asked in a low voice:
"Is this Plague?"
"In layman's terms, this is a special potion that can turn you into Lich. If you accidentally fail to absorb the power of the Loa, take it. In a sense, Lich is also a life form, and this will give you the ability to stop the Orcs from invading Drak'Tharon Keep," Robbie explained.
Novos gripped the small vial containing the Plague tightly and nodded solemnly.
Back at Drak'Tharon Keep, Novos, now calm, was filled with mixed emotions and hesitated.
After all, his family had served the Prophet Saronite for generations. From a very young age, his father instilled in him the importance of loyalty to the Loa and serving them wholeheartedly. It would be a lie to say that he had no feelings for them.
"Are we really going to absorb the power of the Prophet Saronite? This is betrayal!"
Novos was struggling internally, recalling the details of serving this Loa, and was plunged into distress.
Three days passed quickly, and the day agreed upon with Vol'jin arrived.
The thunderous war drums resounded as Vol'jin commanded the Orcs army, in coordination with the Argent Crusade, to launch an attack on Drak'Tharon Keep.
Novos observed the battle from a nearby high platform. He saw that the Warlord Himbo, was wearing full armor and a terrifying skull mask helmet. He was leading a large group of elite soldiers up the city wall, with a sense of fearlessness in the face of death.
"Something's not right with Warlord Himbo today!"
Novos shook his head and smiled self-deprecatingly. He hadn't expected that at this crucial moment, Warlord Himbo would act so bravely, while he himself was plotting against the Loa.
Vol'jin oversaw the battle from the front lines. Just like Garrosh, with the help of several siege towers, the large group of Orcs easily scaled the city walls.
Concerned about the losses of the Dragonblood Orcs, the first force sent out were ordinary Orcs, all clad in thick armor and wielding sharp Battle Axes, far superior in equipment to the garrison.
This time, the Drakkari Trolls did not hold back their strength. The battle raged from the very beginning, with Orcs soldiers falling one after another. Of course, the Drakkari Trolls, with their extremely poor equipment, suffered even greater losses. But they fought bravely and became more courageous with each battle, seemingly forgetting the pain and sacrifice.
Vol'jin became increasingly uneasy. The sounds of battle cries echoed from the city walls, with Orcs constantly entering a berserk state, while the Drakkari Trolls seemed to be unleashing Bloodlust, showing no fear of death whatsoever.
"We Trolls possess all sorts of voodoo potions," Vol'jin thought, having found his answer.
As soldiers from both sides fell one after another, blood gradually stained the city walls, and severed limbs piled up on the top of the walls, the Orcs soldiers who first stormed the city walls were annihilated.
"Although it was due to the use of a secret potion, the bravery of the Drakkari Trolls is truly admirable."
The failure to draw out the Blood Siphon of Prophet Saronite proved that the pressure on the defenders was not enough, and more soldiers had to be sent. Vol'jin frowned, hesitated for a moment, and felt sorry for the Orcs' losses. This time, he sent the Argent Crusade.
When the banners of the Argent Crusade appeared, Novos immediately showed a look of horror, and the defenders on the city walls began to tremble and their morale plummeted.
They had not forgotten Tirion Fordring's Frost Trolls with a single sword strike, nor the Legendary of Tirion Fordring's victory over the Lich King Arthas at Light's Hope Chapel.
Only the Warlord Himbo, wearing a skull mask, remained unconcerned, loudly commanding his soldiers to prepare for battle, while the exhausted defenders took their secret medicine for the second time.
The Argent Crusade finally scaled the city walls, but in the very first battle, a large number of its soldiers fell. The legendary, Invincible Legion, the nemesis of the Scourge, Legendary to be utterly vulnerable.
After achieving an unexpected victory, the morale of the defenders of Drak'Tharon Keep soared, and cheers erupted.
Vol'jin was furious. He knew the Argent Crusade was useless, but he hadn't expected them to be defeated so quickly. It seemed they were only good for serving as rations.
Left with no other option, Vol'jin had to send out Orcs soldiers again.
Orcs soldiers roared as they scaled the city walls, and the two sides clashed once more. This time, the exhausted defenders could no longer hold their line, and their formation gradually crumbled. Several sections of the walls were captured by the Orcs. Novos knew it was time to act and secretly sent a message to the Prophet Saronite.
At the top of Drak'Tharon Keep, endless clouds churned, and the Prophet Saronite, with its vibrant scales, flapped its wings. Green poisonous clouds enveloped the city walls, and under the watchful eyes of both commanders, the Prophet Saronite unleashed Blood Siphon, reaping the lives of the Orcs atop the walls.
Novos entered Saronya's lair within the fortress to prepare. The Prophet Saronite did need some time to digest the information, but the digestion time was very short, less than fifteen minutes, leaving Novos with little time.
Just as preparations were completed, the enormous Saronya returned. This terrifying Wind Serpent god had doubled in size, and countless red lines flowed beneath its skin—the blood it had just absorbed.
Saronya lay in his nest, glanced at Novos, and fell into a brief slumber.
A crimson mist enveloped the entire lair. Saronya was digesting the blood it had absorbed. Novos held a Rune in his hand. By crushing the Rune, he could activate the Magic Circle hidden in the lair and unleash the power of the Blood Trolls essence.
But Novos hesitated. The days he spent with the Prophet Saronite flashed through his mind, sweet memories tinged with emotion, making it impossible for him to act.
Time passed quickly, Prophet Saronite opened its eyes, signifying that it had completed digestion. Looking at Novos's struggling figure, the Prophet Saronite asked in a shrill voice:
You're wondering, aren't you?
Novos was taken aback and secretly regretted his hesitation, which cost him an opportunity. But he was more worried about the Prophet Saronite seeing through the truth.
Fortunately, Saronya didn't guess what Novos was thinking and continued to ask:
"You're worried that Drak'Tharon Keep won't hold? Hah, don't worry, I am the greatest Loa of the Zul'Drak Empire. Damn it, they have Tirion Fordring, Arthas is no match for him."
After a moment of silence, Saronya, now lacking confidence, spread its wings, its piercing voice echoing in Novos's ears. "Go, gather all the Priests. Once I have enough power from Blood Siphon again, I will cast Dark Praise."
Novos was taken aback, and at the same time, a surge of anger welled up inside him.
The Dark Praise, a celebration of the power of darkness, is a method of escape; it seems even the Prophet Saronite felt that Drak'Tharon Keep could not be defended.
However, casting the Dark Praise requires the sacrifice of all the Priests.
Novos prostrated himself on the ground and asked with feigned fervor, "Great God, is there any chance for me to become your faithful Servant and serve you forever and ever?"
Saronya, slightly displeased, said sharply:
"Novos, remember this: never doubt your God. To die for God is merely to lose a useless body; your soul will receive eternal glory in my divine kingdom."
Novos's heart sank; his last shred of hope in the Prophet Saronite was shattered.