The messenger rushed back to the Alliance's stronghold, where General Xiboli hurriedly came out to greet him.
Xiboli's 10,000-strong army had run out of food the day before, and most of the soldiers were so hungry that they were staggering, only managing to stay upright thanks to sheer willpower.
Upon seeing the messenger's expression, Xiboli knew he had failed; this was entirely expected.
A messenger delivered a letter. "General, someone gave me a letter on the way, instructing me to deliver it to you personally."
Xiboli opened the envelope, took out the letter, and read the back with a delighted expression.
"Duke Bolvar hasn't forgotten us; we're saved."
His subordinates were puzzled and asked, "General, Duke Bolvar's fortress is in Dragonblight. We need to break through Garrosh's blockade, which we cannot do."
Xiboli's eyes narrowed slightly, he shook his head, and said seriously, "Duke Bolvar's suggestion is that we enter Drak'Tharon Keep."
Drak'Tharon Keep, that's the territory of the Scourge Undead.
If there hadn't been absolutely no other way, and the army wasn't on the verge of starvation, they would never have taken this risk.
After some time, Garrosh suddenly realized that the Alliance stronghold opposite was completely deserted.
The Orcs army easily entered the stronghold, not seeing a single person. Garrosh was baffled; how had these ten thousand Alliance troops vanished?
Garrosh left a portion of his army to Guards the rear, while he personally led the main force into the Zul'Drak Empire.
Hunger always comes suddenly.
Kites had been eating very well these past few days, consuming both Tauren meat and Pandaren meat, which had made him gain some weight. He never imagined that hunger would suddenly strike.
That morning, Kites awoke to the cold. The brazier beside him had long since gone out, and a cold wind blew in through the crack in the door, bringing with it a chill.
"Damn Royal Guards, they're being negligent!"
Looking at the extinguished embers, Kites was furious. This was clearly the guards' negligence. He got up, put on his clothes, and found that his personal guards who had been standing by his side were gone.
What happened?
Kites looked puzzled.
For King, getting dressed is a troublesome matter. Fortunately, Kites had been Night Watch and had experienced hardship. After a flurry of activity, he finally managed to get dressed properly.
When Kites came out of the bedroom, he didn't see anyone. The Zul'Drak Royal Palace, which was usually bustling with people, was suddenly empty. His familiar advisors and Royal Guards were nowhere to be seen.
Accustomed to being surrounded by entourage, Kites suddenly felt panicked, and coupled with unbearable hunger, he shouted and yelled in desperation.
Finally, a Veteran walked in, carrying two moldy flatbreads.
"Your King, please eat, this is today's breakfast."
Kites took the flatbread, but the musty smell almost made him vomit. He angrily threw it on the ground. "I am the great King Varian! Is this what I eat?"
The Veteran squatted on the ground, laboriously picking up the flatbread, muttering to himself:
"King Majesty, the army has been without food for over half a month. These two flatbreads were saved by our brothers from the last drop of their teeth. Eat them, eat them, Your King, you must become a wise ruler for all time."
"Impossible," Kites categorically rejected. "Don't we still have six months' worth of food reserves?"
The Veteran simply stood by, holding the flatbread, without saying a word.
Kites frowned and asked, "Where are my guards and advisors?"
The Veteran lowered his head and said in a low voice:
"Your Majesty, the Orcs are the Saviors of Azeroth. Garrosh's army has already entered the Zul'Drak Empire. Have your guards and advisors all gone to join Garrosh?"
Kites was struck dumb, and in a fit of rage, he grabbed the Veteran by the collar. "Damn it, you're lying to me! I have an army of fifty thousand!"
The Veteran said with a wry smile:
"Your Majesty, the Scourge has built a large cemetery in the northwest of Zul'Drak and openly recruited workers, offering food and lodging. In just one night, all your soldiers have defected to the Scourge."
Kites flew into a rage, roaring, "Damn traitors, they've betrayed me!"
The vast Alliance camp was now deserted, with the Alliance flag lying forlornly to one side.
Looking at the empty camp, Kites swayed and knew that all was lost. Only the Veteran were still by his side. After only half a day without food, Kites was already feeling dizzy with hunger.
"What did I do wrong? Why is God treating me like this? My advisors, my guards, and my soldiers, you have all betrayed me."
Kites, who had been yelling and shouting, had exhausted himself. He hurriedly grabbed the flatbread from the Veteran's hand, ignored the musty smell, and put it in his mouth. He found it incredibly sweet.
"Eat up, eat up!"
The Veteran said in a trembling voice:
"King Majesty, this is likely your last meal in Northrend. The army has been without food for many days, and they have exhausted all the grass roots and tree bark around here."
I haven't lost yet.
Kites clenched his fists in frustration and roared, "As long as I return to Kingdom of Stormwind, I will still be the leader of the Alliance, the King of Stormwind City, and I can regroup and achieve great things again!"
The Veteran shook his head and said:
"King Majesty, your vision is limited, your wisdom insufficient, you are easily swayed by others, and you are ambitious. Facts have proven that you are truly unfit to be a King. The Goldrinn's choice was wrong. Perhaps you should continue to be the Night Watch; that would be a blessing for the Alliance."
Kites was furious. The only thing he had grown since King was his temper. He glared fiercely at the Veteran: "You dare to criticize me, a King destined to be great?"
Drawing his sword, Kites slashed at the Veteran. The sword sliced through the Veteran's body as if passing through a phantom. The Veteran was unharmed, simply staring silently at Kites.
Kites suddenly felt a dizzying sensation; this single movement had exhausted him greatly. Only then did Kites realize that the power of the Goldrinn had completely left him.
Leaning on his sword, Kites gasped for breath, and fear finally showed in his eyes.
"What exactly are you?" Kites asked.
The Veteran chuckled, a haughty air about him emanating from his eyes, as if he were a god looking down upon all living beings.
"I came, I saw it. A King of the Alliance cannot change the Destiny of the Alliance. Kites, you are destined not to die. You are still the King of Stormwind City, and you will continue to make the same mistakes until the end of your life. The blood and tears of countless Alliance soldiers have forged your greatness."
After saying that, the Veteran transformed into a black stream of air, whooshing into the sky and disappearing from sight.
The wind was biting cold as Kites trudged along, a map in his hand pointing out a shortcut that would lead to Grizzly Hills.
Unfortunately, Kites soon got lost. Exhausted and hungry, Kites finally collapsed on the snow, panting heavily.
Oversized leather boots appeared before Kites; these were definitely not human.
Kites managed to lift his head and saw Garrosh's hideous face.
"King of the Night Watch, we meet again." Garrosh grabbed Kites and roared, "Where have you hidden my fifty thousand rations?"
In an ancient tomb within the Zul'Drak Empire.
The large tomb, buried beneath the permafrost, had its coffin suddenly pushed open.
A figure crawled out of the coffin; it was the Corpse of a Troll, by the light of the eternal lamp in the tomb, disguised himself as an Orcs.
"Garrosh is a brute. Kites cannot die. If the royal lineage of Stormwind City is severed, the Horde will be in danger. For the sake of Azeroth, I must save Kites."