Learning of the Operation

"Compatriots, the great Zul'jin has recovered! He will lead us into battle against the elves once more!" Forest Troll Dakara raised his arm and shouted, his tone incomparably impassioned. At the mention of elves, his eyes filled with hatred.

Upon hearing that Zul'jin had recovered, the Forest Trolls all raised their arms in response.

"Long live Zul'jin!"

"Kill all those elves!"

Zul'jin was a hero and legend among the trolls, the pillar of every Forest Troll's soul. Through the power of the Loa Spirits, Zul'jin had gained a lifespan far beyond that of ordinary trolls. He had lived for thousands of years and was an old rival from the same era as Sun King Anasterian Sunstrider of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas.

Several defeats had not disappointed the Forest Trolls in their leader. They worshipped Zul'jin with near-blind devotion, believing that under his leadership, they would one day defeat the High Elves of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas and reclaim the land that had once belonged to them.

To the High Elves, however, Zul'jin was the most vicious of demons. Many High Elves even used him to frighten disobedient children, telling them that if they misbehaved, Zul'jin would come and eat them.

Seeing the Forest Trolls' reaction, Tyrel quickly raised his own arm and shouted in Trollish, while signaling Rilas Windrunner with his eyes.

Having spent many years with Tyrel, Rilas understood his meaning with a single glance and joined in the shouting.

Luminas Sunmark, meanwhile, was deeply disdainful. Arthas beside her quickly gave her a light jab with his elbow, reminding her to restrain herself.

As mentioned before, if any Forest Troll showed disrespect toward Zul'jin, he would surely be an impostor. To avoid being exposed, Tyrel and the others had to shout such insincere words as well and put on equally fervent expressions.

Forest Troll General Dakara looked with satisfaction at the impassioned young and middle-aged Forest Trolls, then issued his order. "The great Zul'jin has learned from the gods that the High Elves at Morningstar Tower have disappeared. We will join our kin at Torvasa and besiege the High Elves' Pathfinder Camp! Once we wipe out those High Elf rangers, we can reclaim the eastern lands!"

Torvasa, located at the southeastern corner of North Eversong Woods, was an ancient Forest Troll city and the only remaining Forest Troll territory in North Eversong Woods.

A thousand years ago, the High Elves of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas, led by Sacred Blade Wielder Salorian Sunseeker and Ranger-General Alleria Windrunner, won that arduous war and pushed the front line from Pathfinder Dwelling in North Eversong Woods down into Southern Eversong Woods.

Pathfinder Camp had been established to sever the land connection between Torvasa, the Forest Troll city in North Eversong Woods, and Zul'Aman, the Forest Troll stronghold in Southern Eversong Woods.

On that narrow stretch of land stood another family-established territory: Morningstar Tower. The family that had built it was the Draksil Family, to which Magister Dalkhan Draksil belonged.

Morningstar Tower possessed complete facilities and a powerful mage tower. Combined with the Draksil Family's skill at creating puppet creatures such as Arcane Guardians, it had long kept the Forest Trolls of Torvasa in North Eversong Woods at bay.

But as the Draksil Family declined, Morningstar Tower had become almost deserted and utterly quiet. Aside from occasionally returning there, Magister Dalkhan Draksil spent virtually all his time in Dalsom.

Because of this, Morningstar Tower could no longer stop the Forest Trolls of Torvasa. Once the Forest Trolls of Torvasa and Zul'Aman completed their encirclement of Pathfinder Camp, the camp would be in grave danger.

This was the Forest Trolls' unusual movement. They had secretly planned an offensive against Pathfinder Camp.

After completing the mobilization, Forest Troll General Dakara ordered all the young and middle-aged Forest Trolls to return and prepare food and weapons for the expedition.

This also gave Tyrel an opportunity to send the news out.

"Valeera, you must bring this news back to Ranger-General Sylvanas Windrunner. Tell the Dawnblade Legion to be ready to reinforce Pathfinder Camp at any time. If possible, have Dalkhan take the Dawnblade Magisters to Morningstar Tower and reactivate it, so they can stop the Forest Trolls of Torvasa." Valeera Sangunar, as a rogue, was undoubtedly the fastest at delivering information and could come and go without being discovered. Tyrel therefore entrusted the task to her.

Valeera Sangunar nodded, then asked, "What about you, Tyrel?"

"We'll continue blending into Dakara's troops. That way, we can obtain intelligence on the Forest Trolls as quickly as possible." Tyrel did not want to let this opportunity slip away. They had only managed to infiltrate the Forest Troll army with great difficulty. As long as they remained among them, every Forest Troll action would be laid bare to them.

Captain of the Guard Arthas voiced his objection. "Prince Tyrel, you are a prince of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas. This is far too dangerous. You should return and command the Dawnblade Legion. I can handle things here."

As Tyrel's captain of the guard, Arthas naturally could not stand by and watch Tyrel risk himself. If their cover was blown, thousands of years of accumulated hatred would ensure that the Forest Trolls killed Tyrel Sunstrider on the spot.

Tyrel gave a bitter smile. Naturally, he understood Arthas's good intentions, so he explained, "My Trollish is more fluent than yours. Only if I speak with the Forest Trolls will we avoid exposure. Besides, that Forest Troll Warrior named Dakuro Warfang already knows us. If he notices that one of us is missing, he will inevitably grow suspicious. Only by staying together can we remain safe."

As he spoke, Tyrel shifted his gaze to Luminas Sunmark and said with a smile, "Luminas, I'm sure that if we're exposed, you can teleport us away, right?"

The Luminas Sunmark chosen for him by Tyrel's elder brother, Kael'thas Sunstrider, was no ordinary person. Like Kael'thas Sunstrider, she was a disciple of Magister Taelestia. Besides being a powerful frost Mage, Luminas Sunmark was also proficient in spatial magic.

"Yes." Luminas remained as aloof as ever, replying to Tyrel with just one word.

With Luminas as a safeguard, Valeera felt much more at ease and vanished into the shadows once again.

After Valeera left, Tyrel continued questioning Luminas. "Luminas, can you use Forest Troll magic? If you use frost spells, you'll be exposed easily."

Among the four of them, Tyrel and Arthas could disguise themselves as troll Warriors, while Rilas was a troll hunter. But once Luminas Sunmark, a frost Mage, used powerful ice magic, it would disrupt the Deception Orb's magical effect.

Luminas rolled her eyes at Tyrel, then directly took out a longbow.