The Final Chapter: Tide of Darkness

War...

Destruction...

Endless rage churned within his heart...

This was a world that stood out conspicuously in the universe. This massive planet presented an abnormal green hue, an ocean of green fel flames, and land corrupted by fel energy.

This was Argus, the core location of the Burning Legion.

A giant with fiery red skin sat in a dark hall, deep in thought, his eyes flashing with endless cunning.

Kil'jaeden the Deceiver, one of the two titans of the Burning Legion. Together with Archimonde the Defiler, he commanded the endless Burning Legion, destroying world after world for their great master, Sargeras. This universe would one day burn to ashes.

While pursuing their former brethren, the Draenei, Kil'jaeden unexpectedly discovered a race with potential: the Orcs.

These Orcs, if utilized properly, were simply killing machines. He incited an Orc named Gul'dan, bestowed upon him immense power, and gave him demonic blood. After drinking the demonic blood, the Orcs became ferocious, mad, and incredibly powerful. They would slaughter those Draenei, his former kin.

But then, another surprise descended from the heavens!

The great master had already entered Azeroth, the world that had once caused the Burning Legion's failure! The master had controlled that world's most powerful Guardian, and he would create a permanent portal, linking the Orcs' world of Draenor!

Very well! Let these Orcs serve as cannon fodder, to scout the way first!

As for the Orc named Ner'zhul, Kil'jaeden had already conceived a plan: to transform Ner'zhul, cast him into Azeroth, and use necromancy to plunge Azeroth into terror. When the corpses of his own companions rose to attack them, those pathetic mortals would surely wail in despair! As the Deceiver, his greatest pleasure was to witness schemes and suspicion, and the resulting internal strife and infighting, leading to self-destruction step by step.

Before long... the Burning Legion's armies would be ready, and the Legion would descend upon Draenor, cross the Dark Portal, and enter the world of Azeroth! The previous failure would never happen again!

Under the Burning Crusade, Azeroth too would burn to ashes!

***

Draenor, the former Tanaan Jungle, now Hellfire Peninsula.

A colossal gate, tens of meters high, stood on the scarlet, cracked wasteland of Hellfire Peninsula. Construction was nearing completion.

Gul'dan stood before the Dark Portal, gazing down, his heart filled with immense joy.

All the Orc clans had gathered here, seemingly filling the entire Hellfire Peninsula. Banners of various clans fluttered in the somewhat chaotic, boundless encampment. Squadrons of wolf riders shuttled back and forth, conveying various orders.

In the distance, a dozen creatures as tall as mountains stood silently. They were covered in chains inscribed with fel energy, obeying the Orcs' commands. These Gronn giants were the Horde's secret weapon. Gul'dan and his warlocks had spent a great deal of effort to capture these dozen or so.

As for the Gronn demigod, Gruul... there was no time to waste with him.

At this moment, the Dark Portal began to stir. Gul'dan sensed the aura of another world, a world that also possessed a Dark Portal. Now, the entity on the other side had begun to cast spells, opening the Dark Portal.

Gul'dan raised his staff and chanted an incantation, releasing dense fel energy. The Dark Portal before him began to change: a starry sky appeared within the portal, with countless planets shining, and then they began to shift rapidly. The Dark Portals on both sides synchronized their positions. Soon, after the synchronization was successful, the Orcs could instantly reach that distant, unfamiliar, brand-new world by simply crossing this gate.

Warchief Blackhand glanced at Gul'dan's progress and ordered the guards beside him to blow the horn.

Woooo~~~ Woo-woo~~

A commotion erupted below, and the Orcs quickly rushed out of their tents, assembling clan by clan.

"Draka! Draka! Listen carefully, protect our children! If we get separated, go find Orgrim!" Durotan instructed his wife, then paused and added, "Remember, stay away from Gul'dan! As far as possible!"

With that, Durotan strode out and leaped onto a large rock.

"Frostwolf Clan! Assemble!!!"

***

Azeroth, Duskwood Fortress Defense Zone.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Human soldiers in the fortress rushed to their positions nervously. Messengers ran everywhere, relaying orders from the command center.

"The Orcs are coming! Level One Alert! Enter War Readiness! Dispatch scouts!"

Gryphon Riders began to ascend, flying towards Karazhan and The Black Morass.

The Arcane Crystal Megaphone in the fortress was incessantly shouting the mobilization: "Those Orcs will slaughter us! Annihilate our cities! We must rise and fight to the death! Until we repel them! Annihilate them! For the Alliance!"

Arrows and firearm ammunition were being moved to the city walls in crates. Cannons had their covers removed, and cannonballs were piled nearby.

Officers were constantly patrolling the city walls, conducting final readiness checks.

"Sharpen your eyes! Keep a close watch on the front! Lookout Tower! I expect you on duty twenty-four hours a day! Report any disturbance immediately by sounding the alarm! Do you understand!"

"Yes, sir!"

***

Azeroth, Westfall, Golden Sands region.

Two colossal humanoid golems stood silently. These were the latest creations of the Alchemist Association of Suramar, the Retribution Golems.

These constructs, which the Divine Venerable called Anti-Gronn Golems, stood over ten meters tall. Their hands held two sharp long blades, imbued with various enchantments targeting large creatures. The single eye on their heads was a massive purple crystal. This crystal, usable only a few times, could unleash a highly concentrated arcane ray, similar to a laser from a previous life.

Due to their exorbitant cost, only two such golems were produced. The specialized crystals used solely for power could only drive the Retribution Golems in high-intensity combat for a maximum of one hour. Coupled with the cost of a single specialized disposable crystal, which was ten thousand gold coins, and the construction cost of a Retribution Golem being five hundred thousand gold coins.

Therefore, these money-burning machines, which cost hundreds of gold coins for a single movement, were incredibly painful even for wealthy Night Elves. Furthermore, a Goblin named Heklar under the Divine Venerable seemed to have created something cheaper yet equally effective. As a result, the production of Retribution Golems was halted after only two were made.

***

The starry sky within the Dark Portal spun faster and faster, and the synchronization of positions between the two sides was nearing completion.

War was coming.

Volume One officially concludes!

Volume Two, "Tide of Darkness," officially begins!

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