Disaster had finally descended.
Capital Eldorei, the magnificent and splendid capital of the Night Elves, was now shrouded in an oppressive atmosphere of fear.
The once-bright sky was now buried beneath dark clouds, with no light able to penetrate them. Streaks of dark green Fel Energy lightning occasionally flashed within the clouds.
The bustling streets had become desolate. Every household had shut its doors tight, trembling inside their pitifully fragile shelters.
The palace's grand gates stood wide open as squads of Demon Guards marched out in formation. Everywhere they passed was left as Fel-corrupted wasteland.
Over the Felguard formations, more than a dozen Doom Guards circled continuously. These cruel Legion overseers swung whips burning with Fel Flame, lashing the Demon Guards below them viciously and maintaining the order of the frenzied demons' march through violence.
"Move! Kill everything! The master's will must not be thwarted!"
The elven soldiers guarding the palace gates remained utterly indifferent. Ever since they had accepted the infusion of Fel Energy, their corrupted hearts had become incomparably cold and cruel. They turned a blind eye as the demons slaughtered their own kin.
Beside the Felguard formations, packs of Felhounds came rushing out and surged toward the outskirts of the city.
Their orders were simple: form vanguard raiding parties and strike the elves' resistance forces in advance, especially the mages.
The slaughter began.
The Demon Guards brutally smashed open every door along their path, grinning savagely as they raised their enormous Fel Flame axes and chopped down amid the elves' screams.
Eldorei was burning. The temporarily surviving elves fled in every direction. Some tried to escape the city, but most ran desperately toward the palace, hoping that Her Majesty the Queen might save them.
But what awaited them was an even larger demon army. They had walked straight into the jaws of the tiger.
Even until their deaths, these elves could not understand why those cruel demons had emerged from the Queen's court.
On the palace's uppermost terrace, Queen Azshara still reclined lazily on her side. Watching the burning capital, she lightly furrowed her exquisite brows.
"Varone, my dear captain of the guard, I require an explanation. Varone?"
"Greetings, great Light of Lights. Captain Varone is currently at the Well of Eternity, supervising the mages' work." A hoarse voice came from behind the Queen.
Hearing this, Queen Azshara rose gracefully and slowly. The Head Maid Vashj, waiting nearby, immediately supported the Queen's arm.
"Very well. Then you will answer me instead. Why are the Titan Soldiers attacking the people of my capital? Sargoth, my dear court steward, give me an explanation."
Sargoth stepped out from the shadows. The Queen's grand court steward no longer resembled a Night Elf in the slightest.
He had been the first to receive the gods' gift of ascension, gaining a new form and strength beyond imagination.
Now, he was a Satyr.
His feet had become hooves, his hands Fel Claws. His fur was incomparably hard, while Fel Flame burned in his eyes and upon the demonic horns on his forehead.
"Those foolish commoners refused to accept the gods' gift, Light of Lights. To the gods' plan and your eternal rule, they are useless insects that must be purged... Ah, speaking of which, I have specially brought you a group of the finest Titan Soldiers. They shall become your most loyal servants, ready for your command at any time."
With that, Sargoth clapped his claws. A squad of elite Demon Guards entered, gripping their Fel Flame axes and lining up neatly in the Queen's private reception hall, utterly silent.
Queen Azshara's attention was immediately drawn to the Titan Soldiers. She gracefully paced over to the lined-up demons, raised her right hand, and curiously tapped the breastplate of one Felguard before nodding in satisfaction.
"Mm... I am pleased with these new servants. Fight for my glory, warriors of the heavens."
Queen Azshara had countless ways to tame these Demon Guards. Perhaps she could never control the Burning Legion itself, but her control over small groups of loyal servants remained immensely strong, especially as she was an extraordinarily powerful mage.
Thus, the slaughter continued. Queen Azshara did not care in the slightest about those ignorant "rejecters of the gods' gift."
Anyone who threatened her eternal rule, anyone who dared interfere with her meeting the gods, would be reduced to ashes beneath her glory.
Several days later, Val'sharah, Black Rook Hold.
The lord's hall was now filled with grim tension and oppression. Every elf wore an expression of shocked disbelief.
Border scouts and surviving spies from the capital had reported at the same time that the elven populace of Capital Eldorei was suffering the merciless slaughter of the Demon Legion. The entire city was covered by dim Fel Energy clouds, while more demon troops continued pouring endlessly from the portal at the Well of Eternity.
What exactly had happened?
Lord Ravencrest rapidly tapped the armrest of his throne, considering urgent countermeasures.
"Send the order. Seal off the borders of Val'sharah immediately and stop all enemy incursions."
"Dispatch scouts at once. Give them the fastest Night Sabers and send them to notify the lords of the other regions of the current situation."
"Put the entire army on war footing and wait for developments. If the situation worsens further, I will call upon all lords to form a Resistance Army and march into Eldorei..." Ravencrest fell silent for a moment.
"Rescue Queen Azshara!"
Yes, the excuse and justification had been found: rescue Queen Azshara.
That was right. The lords were unwilling to bear the charge of rebellion. Ravencrest knew full well that Queen Azshara had undoubtedly orchestrated the appearance of the demon army, but he could not resist under that banner, at least not yet.
Unfortunately, his two newly appointed court mages had gone to Suramar. Otherwise, they could have...
Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives. Krasus and Rhonin, who had gone to Suramar, suddenly returned midway, both looking exceedingly bedraggled. Behind them, the orc Brox was covered in blood, with bits of flesh still clinging to his shoulders and the blades of the two axes in his hands.
"We encountered the Burning Legion's vanguard—several hundred Felhounds. My lord, immediately order all the mages of Black Rook Hold to withdraw. Do not let them act alone!"
Krasus looked exhausted. He had clearly been drained badly by the Felhounds.
"But didn't we kill them all?" Brox asked dully.
"It is not that simple. More will arrive soon. Lord Ravencrest, disaster has descended. The elves must unite, along with all other races, even the Demi-gods. Only by forming a Resistance Army will we have any hope of victory!"
Ravencrest gave a bitter laugh.
A Resistance Army of all races, including Demi-gods?
What an impossible undertaking.
"Urgent military report!"
At that moment, an elven scout rushed inside.
"Prince Farondis's region of Azsuna has been swept by an unknown energy. All the local elven brethren have been forcibly transformed into spirit forms! They have collapsed!"
Ravencrest abruptly rose to his feet, unconsciously clenching his fists.
That was right. Disaster had truly descended.
Welcome, new and old readers. Please send some recommendation votes~~
Before you continue