Battle Rekindled

Luminas Sunmark teleported Tyrel and the other three directly back to Sunwell Plateau. The Dawnblade Magisters there had kept the teleportation array active, waiting for Prince Tyrel's return at any moment.

"Thank you." Tyrel spoke sincerely to the four High Elf Dawnblade Magisters who had been maintaining the teleportation array.

In the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas, the High Elves' predecessors had all been High Elves who had crossed the sea together and endured exile and hardship. Thus, even the Sunstrider royal family did not possess an exceptionally elevated status.

Yet Tyrel's words of gratitude, that casual gesture, still warmed the hearts of the four High Elf Magisters. They had previously been somewhat dissatisfied about leaving the Legion of Magisters to join the newly formed Dawnblade Legion, but a single sentence from Tyrel changed their minds. Following a Little Prince like this was absolutely worthwhile.

Since Magister Dath'Remar Sunstrider had already led the Dawnblade Magisters to Morningstar Tower to intercept the Forest Trolls from Torvasa, only ten thousand Dawnblade Paladins and four thousand Dawnblade Archers remained within Sunwell Citadel.

The intelligence Dakuro Warfang had revealed showed that the Forest Trolls would detach a force led by Dakara, pass through the Amani Crypt, circle around behind Pathfinder Camp, and launch an attack.

Tyrel immediately sought out King of Rangers Hoxbyr. "Hoxbyr, I have received intelligence that the Forest Trolls will cross Sunscar Peak and circle behind Pathfinder Camp to attack. Lead the Dawnblade Archers to Sun Village at once. Gather the guards there and intercept that Forest Troll force."

Tyrel did not directly mention the Amani Crypt, because he knew that given the hatred between the High Elves and the Forest Trolls, once the High Elves learned where the Amani Crypt was, they would destroy it outright.

Dakuro Warfang trusted him so deeply, telling him everything about the intelligence and the operation, even taking him to pay respects to his father. Tyrel already felt deeply indebted to Dakuro Warfang, so naturally he could not allow the High Elves to destroy the Amani Crypt.

The Forest Trolls had not yet acted. With the speed of the High Elf rangers, they could easily take the main road from Sunwell Citadel to Silvermoon City, then proceed to Sun Village.

With this division of forces, the Forest Trolls would certainly assign tens of thousands of troops to Forest Troll General Dakara. Four thousand Dawnblade Archers would be no match for them.

That was why Tyrel had King of Rangers Hoxbyr mobilize the guards of Sun Village.

Sun Village was a medium-sized village in the Southern Eversong Woods, home to tens of thousands of High Elves. Naturally, it also had several thousand defenders.

With the Dawnblade Archers and the several thousand guards from Sun Village, Hoxbyr's abilities should be enough to hold off the force led by Forest Troll General Dakara.

"Leave it to me, Prince Tyrel. I'll make these Forest Trolls pay a terrible price!" As a ranger himself, King of Rangers Hoxbyr was naturally filled with fury at the Forest Trolls' attempt to ambush Pathfinder Camp. Upon receiving the order, his eyes flashed sharply and his fists clenched.

King of Rangers Hoxbyr departed with the Dawnblade Archers, leaving the Dawnblade Legion with only ten thousand Dawnblade Paladins once again.

Tyrel's golden eyes turned eastward, toward the Forest Troll army.

It was not yet time for the Dawnblade Legion to strike. Only after the Forest Trolls attacking Pathfinder Camp had committed all their main forces to the assault would the Dawnblade Legion attack from behind them.

"Dakuro, hurry and lead your troops. We're about to depart. Stop worrying about those people—they must have deserted. What disgraceful wretches." Forest Troll General Dakara urged his younger brother, Dakuro Warfang.

Just before setting out, Dakuro Warfang had discovered that Tyrel and the other three had vanished. He hurriedly searched for them, but could not find them anywhere.

Hearing his brother Dakara's words, Dakuro Warfang lowered his head in frustration. He did not believe Barkan was the kind of troll who would flee before battle, but where had they gone?

Forest Troll General Dakara led twenty thousand Forest Trolls into the Amani Crypt, using the vast crypt built throughout Sunscar Peak to circle around behind Pathfinder Camp.

At the same time, An'she once again illuminated the land, spilling sunlight across the Southern Eversong Woods.

A Forest Troll with only one right arm and one eye arrived among the Forest Troll army.

His arrival instantly silenced the previously disorderly Forest Trolls. Every Forest Troll looked upon him with worship in their eyes.

This disabled Forest Troll was none other than the leader of the Amani Empire, the troll hero Zul'jin.

Zul'jin looked over the tens of thousands of assembled Forest Troll troops and raised his remaining right arm. In a booming voice, he shouted:

"This land belongs to us!

The Amani Trolls have never given up, never forgotten, and never died.

The elves took my right eye. I cut off my own left arm to escape with my life.

Now I have returned! Amani Trolls, attack! With your blood and your lives, reclaim the land that belongs to us!"

Zul'jin's appearance instantly ignited the blood of every Forest Troll. They welcomed the return of their leader and hero with madness and bloodlust. Even having lost his left arm and right eye, Zul'jin remained their eternal leader and hero in the Forest Trolls' eyes.

"For Zul'jin!"

"For the Amani Empire!"

"Kill every elf!"

The Forest Trolls' morale soared as they launched a frenzied assault on Pathfinder Camp.

From the elevated platform at Pathfinder Camp, Ranger-General Sylvanas Windrunner of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas used her extraordinary vision to spot the one-armed Forest Troll. She murmured, "Zul'jin..."

Then Ranger-General Sylvanas Windrunner leaped directly from the platform and arrived at the archer platform at the forefront of Pathfinder Camp.

"Farstriders, hold your heads high!

The Forest Trolls are attacking once more. In the name of daylight, hold this ground!

Glory to the Quel'dorei!"

Ever since the High Elves conquered the Southern Eversong Woods, the Windrunner Family had protected this land. It could be said that the Windrunner Family were the guardians of the Southern Eversong Woods.

Ever since the former Ranger-General Alleria Windrunner joined the Allied Expeditionary Force and entered the Dark Portal, the position of Ranger-General had passed to Sylvanas Windrunner.

Sylvanas Windrunner was in no way inferior to her elder sister, Alleria Windrunner. Her decisive manner and exceptional military talent quickly made her the pillar of the Ranger-Expeditionaries, as well as the goddess of all High Elves.

Under her leadership, the High Elf rangers of Pathfinder Camp faced Forest Trolls several times their number without a trace of fear.