Though he hadn't taken part in the battle himself, Lostro still won a resounding victory thanks to the home-field advantage, catching the Alliance army completely off guard.
The Alliance had made a tremendous show of force with a burst of fire magic. Even though strange phenomena in the sky had extinguished the flames, they hadn't noticed what was happening. They assumed the Trolls would either suffer heavy casualties or be left so terrified they couldn't fight back, just as they had been more than 2,800 years ago at the foot of Alterac.
The Alliance had gone into battle overconfident, facing Trolls whose morale was soaring. The heavy cavalry was hemmed in by the terrain, while the Trolls attacked from high ground on both sides. The Alliance forces collapsed along the Amani Path, shrouded in ash and steam.
Leaving countless dead and wounded behind, the Alliance army retreated in disarray to Darkwood. The great victory not only encouraged the Forest Trolls but also earned Ulathek the great deal of faith she had hoped for, along with the souls of many who had died in battle.
"Little Zul'ra, I'm very pleased. Tell me, what kind of reward do you want?" Having made a huge windfall from the many worshippers flocking to her temple, Ulathek was extremely satisfied. She eagerly contacted Tian Sang, who had been resting, to tell him how pleased she was.
"It's my honor to serve you..." Tian Sang had just been about to rest, but when the great deity suddenly appeared, he couldn't help perking up. There was a reward for completing the task—that was great. What might it be?
"Is that so? Since it's your honor to serve me, then I'll simply reward you by making you my servant. From now on, you can manage my temple full-time." Hearing Tian Sang's modest words, tinged with excitement and anticipation, Ulathek spoke with a hint of amusement.
"..." Hearing the playful tone, Tian Sang felt his heart sink. Was he going to become Ulathek's exclusive priest?
"You don't seem very willing." Ulathek's voice carried a faint hiss. With his eyes closed, Tian Sang vaguely imagined the sharp fangs peeking out from the corners of a serpent's mouth. Cold sweat instantly rolled down his forehead.
"Ulathek, Serpent Goddess, Lord of Wind and Rain..." Hearing the faintly hissing words, Tian Sang's heart leaped into his throat. As he carefully chose his tone, countless thoughts raced through his mind. Should he go against his wishes and give in to the great deity?
"I can hear the reluctance and hesitation in your voice." Her voice sounded beside his ear, a lover's soft murmur. Tian Sang felt goose bumps rise all over his body.
"You haven't said no out loud. Are you afraid I'll retaliate?"
"Really, you don't need to be so afraid. You did me such a huge favor, and I'll have to repay you eventually. Ulathek is a good person." Ulathek spoke with leisurely confidence.
"Merciful Lord of Wind and Rain, if you forcibly pluck an unripe melon from the vine, it won't taste good. An excellent priest could spread your radiance far and wide, whereas I'm only an insignificant little witch doctor." Hearing Ulathek's easygoing tone did nothing to put Tian Sang at ease, but he had no choice but to steel himself and explain.
"You're not insignificant, little Zul'ra. I see a different kind of wisdom in you. Become my priest and help me become the Supreme Loa. I'll reward you generously." Ulathek's voice was gentle and encouraging as she made her promise.
"Ulathek, I'm grateful for your esteem, but even the King of Zandalar might not be able to make a Loa become Supreme in one fell swoop. I don't think I have that kind of ability!" Hearing Ulathek's promise and enticement, Tian Sang could only smile wryly. The great deity thought so highly of him—should he be happy, or what?
The Supreme Loa was exactly what the name implied: the one who stood above all the Loa. Preparing to take that position would require far more than a little effort. It would be no easier than making the Alliance and the Horde live together in harmony.
"That's because you haven't seen your own potential yet. Besides, even if you can't become the Supreme Loa, you can still help me gain more faith." Ulathek tried to encourage him, then added nonchalantly that he only needed to do his best to help her.
"Lord of Wind and Rain, with that attitude of yours, I don't know what I can do. To you, this seems like a gamble, like a game. You're treating me like a promising card and placing a bet as if it doesn't matter whether you win or lose." Hearing what Ulathek meant, Tian Sang felt a pang of frustration.
"Actually, you can't quite put it that way..." Ulathek sounded a little embarrassed.
"But to me, if I decide to do this, I'll have to devote my whole life to it, and I might not even succeed." Tian Sang was both frustrated and indignant. He would have to make an enormous effort, and yet for her, it was just a trial gamble. How unfair was that?
"Fine, fine. If you don't want to, then forget it. There's no need to be so resentful. Even if we can't reach an agreement, we don't have to ruin our relationship." Hearing the hint of indignation in Tian Sang's voice, Ulathek stopped the conversation.
"If I've offended you, please forgive me." Tian Sang put aside the resentment rising in his heart and cleared his mind, showing no emotion. Although the relationship between the Loa and the Trolls was like a business arrangement between buyer and seller, the Loa held far too many cards and advantages. He couldn't resist her.
"All right! We've strayed off topic. I came here to reward you." Seeing that Tian Sang had cleared his mind and that she could no longer catch any of his thoughts, Ulathek brought the conversation back around.
"You possess unfathomable power. I hope you can make my hands more dexterous." Hearing Ulathek, Tian Sang quickly considered what he needed and asked for a reward. If he turned one down, his relationship with her would grow strained.
"What kind of dexterity?"
"My hands have six fingers each, and they're very strong. I can grip things firmly, but the movements always feel stiff. I want hands that are strong, nimble, and deft." Tian Sang made his request. Well, he really wasn't used to having six fingers on each hand.
"Hmm, let me think. Strong, nimble, and deft... I've got it. I can give each of your hands two more fingers. With ten fingers on each hand, you'll be able to balance them freely, and your grip won't feel stiff anymore." Ulathek readily granted his request.
"Thank you for your gift, Lord of Wind and Rain, Serpent Goddess." Hearing Ulathek's words, Tian Sang felt a strange current pass through his arms. He moved his hands, and though he still had six fingers, it felt as if all ten would soon grow in. Perhaps next time he could ask her to remove his tusks too, so he wouldn't look quite so ugly.
"You deserve it, clever little Zul'ra. Oh, there's something else I need your help with!" Ulathek's voice was full of delight, and she suddenly seemed to remember another request.
"Please, give your orders." Tian Sang listened respectfully, but inside he grimaced. Sure enough, there was no such thing as a free lunch.
"I need you to find me a suitable High Priest. Also, I really like the new title you gave me: Lord of Wind and Rain. After a while, I may be able to command the wind element directly."
"That's only what you deserve. Your rain helped us a great deal," Tian Sang said respectfully.
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