The Orc's Leap

The elven resistance, aided by various foreign races and demigods, had been cutting through the enemy like a hot knife through butter, and now stood at the gates of the capital, Eldarath.

But the blow that followed plunged the resistance into defensive positions and low morale: the oldest and most powerful demigod, the White Stag of the Moon, father of the Forest Demigod, Malorne, had been personally snapped at the neck on the battlefield by Archimonde the Defiler, and had fallen.

The grief-stricken Night Elves, joined by the seemingly even more grief-stricken Green Dragon Queen Ysera and her Green Dragonflight, pushed Archimonde and the Burning Legion back into the capital. But the resistance now lacked the strength to attack. The Dragon Soul had already been placed at the center of the Well of Eternity, charging the portal.

To this end, the Night Elf commander Garrith Shadowsong decided to dispatch an elite strike force of master mages and powerful warriors, with the aid of the dragons, to raid the capital, destroy the portal, and rescue the captured Moon Priestess Tyrande, while the Night Elf army and the Dragonflights provided cover.

Tyrande had been captured by Sargoth, once the queen's chief steward, now a fallen Satyr demon. Though Malfurion had barely managed to kill him and seal him within an oak tree, Tyrande was still taken by the Satyr demons back to the capital, Eldarath.

"Then the roster is set. Malfurion, you and the three masters—Krasus, Rhonin, and Elisande—will lead the main assault. The dragons will carry you to the Well of Eternity. Retrieve or destroy the Dragon Soul. Brox, you'll assist them. Any questions?"

"No questions. But we need one more: the Divine Envoy of our Suramar Council of Truth." Elisande smiled faintly. Just then, a magical array appeared in the hall, and after a blinding flash of light, Hu Feng stood before them.

Hu Feng had resumed his usual showy attire, the artifact staff "Origin of Divine Power, Azeroth Binder" in his hand and the runic disk floating behind him conspicuously.

Hu Feng walked over to the conference table with the ease of an old friend, squeezing between Krasus and Rhonin. "Count me in. I have more than enough reason to join the fight against the false god Sargeras."

Garrith Shadowsong and the Night Elf officers quickly bowed to Hu Feng. "Welcome, Divine Envoy of the God of Magic. We haven't had the chance to thank you in person. You successfully swayed the Highborne mages to our side, and we are all grateful for your efforts."

Hu Feng waved a hand. "You set the plan. I'll fully assist Malfurion and the other three. And of course, Elisande will stick with me—no problem there. By the way, Malfurion, those antlers on your head are quite striking. I can feel the dense natural energy. Truly worthy of the Forest Demigod's most accomplished disciple."

Malfurion was somewhat flattered. He had witnessed this one's power firsthand—even the mightiest of the Dragon Aspects, the Earth-Warder, Black Dragon King Neltharion, had been beaten into submission. Now, receiving praise from him stirred a sense of satisfaction and vanity within Malfurion.

"You flatter me, Divine Envoy. Allow me also to apologize. I once held prejudice and hatred toward the Highborne, but through your efforts, you've proven they are our kin, part of us, and just as valiant in war." He then bowed deeply.

Krasus and Rhonin, by now, were utterly numb to this Titan, who insisted on playing the role of his own divine envoy, being so keen on changing fate. It seemed the great druid Malfurion no longer harbored the same hatred for the Highborne and magic as in the original timeline. Perhaps the history of the Highborne's exile was about to be rewritten...

Hu Feng smiled warmly and patted Malfurion on the shoulder. "Don't let prejudice and hatred blind you. I can also sense your anxiety right now. It's clouding your judgment. Is it for the captured priestess Tyrande?"

"Yes... it is... Forgive my foolishness, Divine Envoy."

"There's nothing to be ashamed of, Malfurion. If it eases your mind, I can tell you this: the power of the Moon Goddess Elune is shielding her. She is in no danger for now."

Malfurion's spirits lifted instantly, excitement surging. "Really? Ah, I don't doubt you, Divine Envoy. Thank the Moon Goddess, praise the Titan—Tyrande is safe..."

Hu Feng looked at Malfurion with some helplessness. This lovestruck fool, once assured Tyrande was safe, could unleash extraordinary combat power...

"Alright, everyone, rest well tonight. We move at dawn." Garrith Shadowsong clapped his hands and called out.

That night, Krasus and Rhonin stood on the high watchtower, gazing at the distant capital, Eldarath. A rustle sounded, and Hu Feng climbed up as well.

"What's the matter, you two? If the battle goes smoothly, the war should end soon, and you can return to the future. Doesn't that make you happy?"

"Your... Your Divine Venerable... To answer you, I was just thinking about what happens after the war, so..."

"You mean the Great Sundering? The world shatters, the Kalimdor Continent splits into pieces?" Hu Feng leaned against the railing, looking into the distance.

"Yes. Countless lives lost, the continent sundered. The Night Elves retreated to a corner of the world, hiding ever since. And Suramar City... in the original history, it drifted south on a fragment called the Broken Isles, vanishing without a trace."

Hu Feng nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe the Great Sundering can't be stopped, but everything I've done should make the future a little better. At least, I saved Suramar."

Rhonin, curious, leaned in. "Uh, Divine Venerable, could you tell us how you plan to save Suramar City? It's a massive city, second only to the capital Eldarath."

"Fly it into the sky. Simple enough."

"Dalaran!" Rhonin exclaimed. "Uh, I mean, in the future, there's also a magic city floating in the sky, named Dalaran. But it's nowhere near as big as Suramar—just a small city."

Hu Feng shrugged. "Well, then it won't be the only sky city anymore."

The capital Eldarath at dawn no longer bore its former glory. The entire city was ruined, lifeless. Only Queen Azshara's palace still shimmered with magical light, spotless.

Outside the city, the Night Elf resistance, under Garrith Shadowsong's orders, launched an assault on the capital. The Dragon Aspects joined the battle.

The Burning Legion retaliated swiftly. Infernals rained from the sky, crashing into the elven lines. Felguards charged in a frenzy, while Eredar demons engaged the Highborne mages in a new round of magical duels.

Meanwhile, six red dragons, carrying six riders, flew into the capital's airspace with extreme stealth. The Well of Eternity was now visible. Its waters had turned dark green, churning violently. Above it, a massive fiery portal was being reinforced, with the Dragon Soul floating at its apex, powering it.

Malfurion squinted against the wind. "We're almost there! The dragons will throw themselves at the portal. We need to land by the Well and grab the Dragon Soul!" As he spoke, a swarm of black bats flew toward them from afar, each carrying a Night Elf rider.

"It's Varoon! Queen Azshara's captain of the guard! Engage!"

The dragons breathed fire, instantly downing countless bat riders, but their numbers were overwhelming, seemingly endless.

Just then, Captain Varoon leaped onto the back of the red dragon Malfurion was riding, his magic sword swinging viciously at Malfurion. The latter quickly pulled out a handful of green seeds and scattered them. Varoon paid them no mind at first, but soon realized his mistake—the seeds stuck to him, sprouting wildly and burrowing into his flesh.

The searing pain dizzied him. Malfurion seized the moment and kicked hard. Varoon screamed as he fell from the dragon's back, plunging headfirst into the violently shaking portal.

Hu Feng, meanwhile, raised his staff high. Countless Arcane Missiles shot from its tip, sweeping across the bat riders like a barrage. The others watched numbly as Hu Feng cleared the field, then nodded and dove toward the ground. The sky was now packed with dragons that had fought their way here, a sea of colors cleansing the surrounding demons. Archimonde the Defiler was bogged down outside the city. The only high-end combat power left by the Well of Eternity was the Abyssal Lord, Mannoroth the Destroyer.

A roar echoed from afar. A massive figure flew toward the Well at breakneck speed. Hu Feng smiled slightly. The Earth-Warder, Neltharion, had come after all. But now, he was Deathwing. The other four dragons stared in shock at Neltharion, whose eyes were wild, focused solely on the Dragon Soul. Several blue dragons blocked his path, trying to question him, but Neltharion grabbed them and tore them in two with a single pull.

"No one takes my treasure! The Dragon Soul belongs to me alone!"

Neltharion roared madly, glancing imperceptibly at Hu Feng below, who was watching him with a faint smile. Seeing no sign of interference, he felt reassured and threw himself against the magical barrier protecting the Dragon Soul with his massive body. His armor cracked, flames erupting from the wounds, a spectacle of sheer terror.

Neltharion had gone mad.

Just then, a wave of pressure emanated from the portal, accompanied by a furious roar.

"Worm! How dare you obstruct my arrival in this world?"

A jet of Fel Fire shot from the portal, striking Neltharion and sending him flying. But within seconds, he flew back in a rage, slamming into the barrier with even greater frenzy.

Below, Hu Feng and the others were relentlessly suppressing Mannoroth the Destroyer, slowly advancing toward the portal. The towering figure within the portal drew closer to this world with each passing moment. The orc Brox looked at the fierce battle, then at the mad black dragon in the sky, and seemed to make a decision. He ran to a dragon, swung onto its back, and shot into the sky.

"It's been an honor fighting alongside you! Farewell!" The orc's roar rang out.

"What are you doing? Brox? Come back!" Malfurion, having just reunited with his brother Illidan and the priestess Tyrande, ran toward the others, trying to join the fight.

Then the onlookers saw the orc leap, jumping straight into the portal—he entered the demon world.

The orc warrior saw a realm brimming with fel energy, where an endless army of demons was lining up, ready to enter Azeroth. Compared to this, the Burning Legion forces that had already reached Azeroth were utterly insignificant.

The orc laughed loudly, tightening his grip on his battle-axe. This was an axe blessed by the Forest Demigod Cenarius, unbreakable and unstoppable.

He cleaved through the first few demons charging at him, then roared:

"I am Broxigar Saurfang! Champion of Warchief Thrall! Blood brother of Warlord Saurfang! A warrior of the Stormwind Clan!"

"Feel the might of the Horde, demons!!!"

"Lok-tar ogar!!!"