Chapter Summaries

The Night Empire's council split over whether to admit the Satyr demons, while the Eredar sisters looked down on them as impure hybrids. On Earth, Stanley served the pureblood demons' plan to guard a human girl but secretly hoped to lead the Human demons to freedom.

• Cenarius and Fandral Staghelm opposed admitting the Satyr demons, while Queen Azshara and her allies supported their entry into the Night Empire.
• The Satyr demons waited at Immol'thar's Shadow Fortress in Felwood Forest as the council argued over their fate.
• The Eredar sisters dismissed the Satyr demons as inferior hybrids and showed no concern for whether they joined the empire.
• Pureblood demons ordered the Fel-corrupted Human demons in Bavaria to disguise themselves and protect the only normal human in town.
• Stanley worked as a coffee-shop waiter serving the human girl, while secretly planning to become king of the Human demons and build a Fel Energy hell.

Lordaeron and Stromgarde secured the northern region after reclaiming Stromgarde, while Lordaeron used Gilneas rebels to pressure the Southern Alliance. The chapter described the deep divide between the northern and southern human blocs and ended with Lordaeron's nobles insisting that only Emperor Thoradin could revoke the Menethil family's claim to rule.

• Lordaeron and Stromgarde captured the ruined capital of Stromgarde, and the Restoration Army began planning to rebuild it.
• Lordaeron supported Lord Godfrey and the Gilneas rebels at Shadowfang Keep, turning Gilneas's civil war into a proxy conflict against the Southern Alliance.
• The Northern and Southern Alliances remained locked in a Cold War as their political traditions and ruling dynasties diverged.
• Lordaeron's undead nobles returned to human society under Queen Calia and served as a formidable force protecting the royal court.
• The Lordaeronians declared that only Emperor Thoradin could take the land's right to rule from the Menethil royal court.

The first Iron Maiden awakened in the Tower of Slumber, accepted command of the Silver Fleet, and demonstrated her destructive power on the way to the Death Star. The chapter ended with the Nightborne beginning construction of Iron Maiden Number Two, Joan of Arc, a powerful single-target fighter designed to wield a longsword.

• The Iron Maiden awakened in the shattered hall and demanded to know the Titan Lord's location, while the Firstborn of the Gods questioned her identity.
• After receiving Sarodar's orders and a vision of the fleet she would command, the Iron Maiden left the Tower of Slumber and flew toward the Death Star.
• The Iron Maiden destroyed space debris with her cannons and unleashed a torrent of divine power before arriving at the Death Star, where the soldiers saluted her.
• The Iron Maiden ordered the troops to resume training and construction, while work began on a core that could let her repair herself and unleash the Death Star's energy.
• The Nightborne prepared to build Iron Maiden Number Two, codenamed Joan of Arc, as a wingless longsword-wielding unit with immense strength and powerful abilities.

The Pandaren launched an effort to reclaim the Temple of the Jade Serpent as Yu'lon sensed a powerful presence stirring beyond the Great Wall, while the victory at the Temple of the Red Crane drove the Confusion of Sha away. Interrogation records from the captured Salles revealed the Isle of Giants and the Heart of Y'Shaarj, leaving General Nazgrel uneasy about what Warchief Garrosh would do with the information.

• Yu'lon watched the Pandaren break into the Temple of the Jade Serpent and confront Liu *Flameheart and the Doubt of Sha as a foreboding presence gathered beyond the Great Wall.
• The Red Crane, paladins, and Dawn Knights defeated the Confusion of Sha at the Temple of the Red Crane, though Sha could return while people still harbored negative emotions.
• Titan Divine Lord Sarodar urged Emperor Shaohao to devise a way to rid Pandaria of the Heart of Y'Shaarj without destroying it and unleashing its Sha energy.
• Elite Kor'kron guards brought the tortured Lizardmen bandit leader Salles to General Nazgrel, whose interrogation records described the Isle of Giants and the sealed Heart of Y'Shaarj beneath the Vale of Eternal Blossoms.
• General Nazgrel ordered the records sent to Warchief Garrosh and privately wondered whether Garrosh's leadership was right for the Horde.

After the Cao Dynasty secured territory in the Valley of the Mantid, it gained recognition and attracted Mogu and Pandaren supporters. Meanwhile, Zandalari Trolls delivered a lightning-wreathed coffin to the Isle of Thunder, where Lei Shen was to be awakened.

• Cao Fei and the Cao Mogu repelled the Mantid counterattack and brought roughly one-third of the Valley of the Mantid under their control.
• The Shaohao Dynasty and other major powers recognized the restored Cao Dynasty, while the Pandaren opened trade and military borders with it.
• Cao Fei called on peaceful Mogu to join the Cao Dynasty, and many Mogu and Pandaren Monks traveled to its territory.
• A Zandalari Troll transport convoy reached a hidden bay in the Valley of the Mantid and loaded a huge coffin marked with blue lightning onto a ship bound for the Isle of Thunder.
• The convoy carried the coffin toward Lei Shen's palace, where the Zandalari planned to awaken him.

Garrosh planned to claim the Heart of Y'Shaarj and Salathas, Blade of the Dark Empire, believing his will could withstand the Old God power. He ordered a secret operation to capture Natalie Sailin and extract the dagger’s location while the Horde, Lordaeron, and the Night Empire all sought it.

• Garrosh studied reports about the Heart of Y'Shaarj and the history of Salathas, Blade of the Dark Empire, and decided to obtain both.
• Garrosh learned that Salathas was sealed in an underground palace in the Tirisfal Glades, where Natalie Sailin knew its location.
• Garrosh ordered the Horde to secretly capture Natalie Sailin, force the location from her, and eliminate her to keep the secret.
• The Lordaeron royal court and the Night Empire also sought information about Salathas, while Natalie Sailin refused to reveal what she knew.

Zhou Zhuo led adventurers to a Mogu vault, where they stumbled upon Zandalari Trolls exploring the ruins. After the trolls removed Lei Shen’s coffin, the Pandaren realized he might be resurrected and began preparing for war.

• Zhou Zhuo opened the Mogu vault, and the adventurers encountered Zandalari Trolls inside before fleeing.
• The Prophet faction’s Zandalari forces continued exploring the Mogu’shan Vault for technology while Lei Shen’s coffin was transported to the Isle of Thunder.
• Zhou Zhuo reported the trolls’ presence to the Shadow-Pan, prompting Taran Zhu to investigate the vault.
• Taran Zhu’s Monks found the vault emptied of clues and discovered that Lei Shen’s coffin was missing.
• The Shaohao Dynasty searched for the coffin transport team, but the coffin had already reached the Isle of Thunder, leaving them to await war.

The Alliance, Horde, and Shaohao Dynasty launched a three-pronged offensive into the Terrace of Endless Spring as Mantid forces weakened and the Karakal Council rebelled against Empress Shaok'sil. The Horde also sent Wyvern Riders to contact the council and investigate the Heart of Y'Shaarj.

• The Karakal Council opposed Empress Shaok'sil's rule and awakened Mantid ancient heroes in an effort to stop her descent into madness.
• The Alliance, Horde, and Shaohao Dynasty joined forces at the Great Wall and began their advance into Mantid territory.
• Great Wall Guards supported the allied armies with artillery as they attacked along three routes and encountered little organized resistance.
• The armies planned to converge on the Heart of Fear and encircle Empress Shaok'sil.
• Under Warchief Garrosh's orders, a Horde squadron of Wyvern Riders broke away to contact the Karakal Council and learn about the Heart of Y'Shaarj.

On Pandaria, Vivianka and the Eternal Chosen Legion devastated the sha demons and battled the Rage of Sha, while the Golden Lotus Monks defended locals corrupted by sha energy. At the Tower of Slumber, Nightborne scholars planned to study a captured sha demon and added the Black Joan of Arc project to Joan of Arc’s cultivation plan.

• Golden Lotus Monks knocked out and restrained sha-corrupted Pandaren, while killing the affected yaungol and Mogu.
• The Eternal Chosen Legion slaughtered the sha demons around the Rage of Sha, using guns and energy warhammers to overwhelm them.
• Vivianka wounded the Rage of Sha with her greatsword and pistols as demonic aura consumed his sha energy and shrank his body.
• Boss Hu ordered Vivianka to capture the Rage of Sha alive for the Tower of Slumber’s researchers, and she agreed.
• Nightborne scholars discussed using sha energy for war machines and artificial lifeforms, and formally added the Black Joan of Arc project to Joan of Arc’s cultivation plan.

Natalie Sailin considered the growing pressure over Salathas, Blade of the Dark Empire, as she headed to the Holy Light Cathedral in Lordaeron. A Horde strike team ambushed and captured her, intending to use her to find and open the underground palace where the artifact was hidden.

• Natalie Sailin left her home for the Holy Light Cathedral while weighing pressure from Lordaeron’s court, the Night Empire, and its Crusaders over Salathas, Blade of the Dark Empire.
• A disguised Horde team followed Natalie Sailin in two carriages and blocked both ends of an alley.
• The disguised attackers revealed themselves as an elite Horde strike team and demanded that Natalie Sailin help them find and open the underground palace.
• Natalie Sailin warned the Horde team that Salathas was too dangerous to fall into mortal hands.
• A Kor'kron War Shaman ordered the team to retreat, and the Horde members teleported away with Natalie Sailin as their captive.

After Garrosh’s forces captured Natalie Sailin and forced her to reveal the underground palace in Tirisfal Glades, the Kor'kron retrieved Salathas, an ancient dagger that began whispering to the Sword Saint who carried it. Natalie left as the artifact chose its new master, while Garrosh awaited its arrival in Orgrimmar.

• Natalie Sailin’s disappearance triggered accusations and searches, while Garrosh concealed his role in the secret operation.
• The Kor'kron defeated a group of Twilight's Hammer cultists serving Salathas and interrogated Natalie about the underground palace.
• Natalie revealed the palace entrance beneath a lake at Tyr's Fall, and the Kor'kron forced her to open its gate.
• The Kor'kron found Salathas, a dagger with a closed eye, and the Sword Saint took it from its stone platform without resistance.
• Natalie warned the Kor'kron to put down the dagger, but the Sword Saint dismissed her and carried it away.
• Salathas opened its eye and told Natalie it had chosen a new master as she hurried away.

Garrosh tried to force Salathas to lend him her power, insisting that everything was for the Horde, while she struggled to escape his control. That night, the Firstborn of the Gods and Night Warrior thieves stole the dagger and took Salathas to the Tower of Slumber.

• Natalie Sailin returned unharmed and said the dark artifact had been taken, but refused to identify who had taken it.
• Garrosh tried to awaken the Blade of Darkness and demanded that Salathas give him power for the Horde.
• Salathas failed to corrupt Garrosh and prepared to flee while he set the dagger aside to eat.
• The Firstborn of the Gods led Night Warrior thieves in a raid on the Warchief's Hall, where they killed the guards and found Salathas.
• The Firstborn of the Gods bound Salathas with divine chains and carried her to the Tower of Slumber.

After a devastating series of attacks in Orgrimmar, Garrosh investigated the theft of Salathas, Blade of the Dark Empire, and concluded that the Alliance was responsible. The Horde accused the Alliance publicly, leaving both factions trading insults while the artifact remained missing.

• A criminal gang bombed a building, attacked Warchief's Hall and other targets across the city, and stole Salathas, Blade of the Dark Empire.
• Garrosh examined the planted clues pointing toward Saurfang's faction, the Frostwolves, the Night Empire, and Lordaeron, then ruled them out.
• Garrosh decided that the Alliance had orchestrated the attacks to weaken the Horde and take the artifact.
• Days later, the Horde condemned the Alliance for the attacks, while the Alliance denied responsibility and blamed Garrosh for making baseless accusations.
• Garrosh rejected the Alliance's denials and continued demanding the return of his artifact as the factions exchanged insults.

While the Horde blamed the Alliance for the Orgrimmar raid, the Night Empire concealed its role and prepared to study the captured Sha demon. Meanwhile, the Empire completed the Death Star’s main structure and advanced its plans for space defense and planetary landings.

• The Night Empire publicly offered to cooperate with the Horde’s investigation while Garrosh and King Varian traded accusations.
• The raiding team crossed the Azshara border and headed back to the Tower of Slumber with the dark divine artifact for the Nightborne scholars.
• The Nightborne scholars imprisoned brother Rage of Sha and forced him to provide Sha energy for their research.
• The Death Star’s main structure was completed, giving Azeroth preliminary defenses against threats from space.
• The Night Empire continued testing Moonlight Arc fighters and mass-producing crystal drop pods for future planetary landing operations.

The Empire celebrated the completion of the Death Star Fortress, and its leaders toured the weapon while discussing how warfare and the Night Elves’ place in the universe were changing. Sarodar planned to name the next Death Star Light of Lights, then decided to test the fortress by firing its planet-killing cannon.

• Boss Hu led the Empire’s dignitaries in a review of the Silver Fleet and declared that the Empire would expand beyond Azeroth into the universe.
• Cenarius admired the Death Star Fortress, while Elune examined its equipment and Sarodar joked about his relationship with Cenarius.
• Elisande, Alleria, and Vereesa discussed how cosmic warfare would reduce mages and Rangers to more specialized roles, while Malfurion and Fandral welcomed new spacefaring equipment for Druids.
• Azshara celebrated Sarodar’s plan to name the next Death Star Light of Lights, and Fandral objected before Sarodar defended confronting the Night Elves’ history.
• After boasting about his own remarks, Sarodar decided to take the Death Star out for a test by destroying a planet.

Boss Hu watched the Death Star destroy a planet during its first main-cannon test, then ordered the empire to prioritize warp technology. The Death Star returned to its docking position as the Night Empire’s space-war development continued.

• Boss Hu chose an ochre-colored planet as the Death Star’s test target while Turalyon wondered whether other planets near Azeroth held life.
• The Death Star’s main cannon fired a beam that shattered the planet into an asteroid belt, impressing the assembled observers.
• Boss Hu declared the test successful and ordered Nightborne scholars and Mechagnomes to prioritize warp technology over research into the Naaru’s coexistence of light and darkness.
• The Death Star returned to its docking position on the far side of Planet Sarodar, while the empire’s research divisions continued developing planetary and space war machines.

The chapter recounts Lei Shen’s ancient rise, his war against the Tol’vir, and his defeat after they activated the Azeroth Restart Device. In the present, the resurrected Lei Shen and his restored dynasty join the war in Pandaria, leaving Ancestor Zul unsure whether Lei Shen will renew the old alliance with the Zandalari Trolls.

• Lei Shen allied with the Zandalari Trolls in ancient times but held back from aiding them when the Night Elves destroyed the Troll Empire.
• Lei Shen invaded Uldum to seize the Azeroth Restart Device, dismissing the Tol’vir as no threat.
• The Tol’vir activated the device, turning Uldum into a desert and severely wounding Lei Shen, whose army retreated to Pandaria.
• Lei Shen died of his wounds and was buried in Kun-Lai Snow Mountain, while the Mogu Empire later fell to the Pandaren.
• The resurrected Lei Shen restored his dynasty on the Isle of Thunder and entered the ongoing war in Pandaria with the Zandalari Trolls’ support.
• Ancestor Zul wondered whether Lei Shen would restore the ancient alliance with the Zandalari Trolls.

After restoring his dynasty, Lei Shen expanded into the Valley of the Mantid while using diplomacy to keep stronger factions at bay. His armies pressed toward the Cao Dynasty, and Prophet Zul remained frustrated by Lei Shen’s refusal to discuss Zandalar.

• Titan Sarodar revealed that Ra-den was imprisoned beneath Lei Shen’s lair on the Isle of Thunder and was being drained of blood.
• Lei Shen’s restored dynasty occupied the Isle of Giants, while Zandalari Trolls supplied trained dinosaurs for its war effort.
• The Cao Dynasty condemned Lei Shen, but its forces and Lei Shen’s armies both attacked the Mantid, rapidly shrinking their territory.
• Lei Shen assessed the major powers and sent envoys to the Night Empire and Shaohao Dynasty to avert an all-out war.
• Lei Shen advanced toward the Cao Dynasty and the Terrace of Endless Spring while delaying Prophet Zul’s request for support in Zandalar.

The restored Lei Shen Dynasty faced mounting pressure over the deadly Death God Snails scattered across Pandaria and began retrieving them while seeking normal relations with the Night Empire. Lei Shen also weakened his alliance with Prophet Zul by absorbing most of Zul’s Zandalari Trolls and arranging for the remaining loyalists to die in battle.

• The Night Empire condemned Lei Shen for the Death God Snails, which had killed people across Pandaria, including a newly awakened Mantid ancient hero.
• Lei Shen agreed to retrieve the snails and sent the Night Empire a diplomatic note to establish normal relations.
• Most of Zul’s Zandalari Trolls became devoted to Lei Shen after receiving power and training from the Mogu systems.
• Lei Shen made promises to the Zandalari Trolls who remained loyal to Zul, then sent them into battles where they died or were made to die.
• With Zul’s loyal expeditionary force destroyed and Lei Shen distancing himself from their alliance, Zul’s plan to gain an ally in Pandaria failed.

Boss Hu offered to discuss relations with the Lei Shen Dynasty only if Lei Shen released Great Guardian Loken, while Lei Shen’s envoys failed to secure agreements with the Shaohao Dynasty, Alliance, or Horde. As Lei Shen weighed the Night Empire’s demand, Cao Fei urgently sought Shaohao’s continued support against the stronger Mogu ruler.

• Boss Hu refused to meet Lei Shen’s envoys until they returned the Death God Snails, then demanded that Lei Shen release Great Guardian Loken as a condition for talks.
• Lei Shen’s envoys returned from the Shaohao Dynasty after Emperor Shaohao warned that an attack on the Cao Dynasty would mean war.
• General Turalyon angrily rejected the Mogu envoys’ insult toward King Varian, while General Nazgrim demanded the Isle of Giants before the Horde would consider friendly ties.
• The Mogu envoys’ talks with the Alliance and Horde collapsed, and Lei Shen’s Dynasty treated the Horde as an irreconcilable opponent.
• Cao Fei sent envoys to the Vale of Eternal Blossoms to secure Shaohao’s continued aid, fearing Lei Shen would persuade the emperor to abandon the Cao Dynasty.