Scourge Tactics
After inspecting the front line in the Thalas Mountains and confirming that Naxxramas had withdrawn, Zul'ra did not immediately retreat to Battleaxe Ridge. Instead, he turned back and flew towards the northwestern front of the Sath Valley battlefield. 👻🐸 ♨🐯
The fighting on the front lines by the the Scourge was not particularly intense. They simply kept stockpiling troops or occasionally sending cannon Undead to harass the Amani from the front or outwards. This was likely a feint, drawing the main force of Zul'Aman to the front, while Naxxramas would break through from the south with aerial power, ultimately creating a pincer attack.
The thought of Zul'Aman being breached like Silvermoon City sent chills down Zul'ra's spine. However, after careful consideration, he realized that Zul'Aman shouldn't suffer such a fate. After all, there were still those Loa. They were usually worshipped, and even if they weren't expected to fight to the death in a critical moment, they would still contribute some strength.
Zul'ra thought of those Loa and couldn't help but glance at them slightly. To be honest, it seemed that after the war in the southeast of Sunscar Peak, they had no further contact with her, not even with the Ulathek had once interacted with. This must be the division between divine and royal power.
Theocracy, Zul'ra suddenly remembered, seemed to have some powerful figures above her. What role these guys would play in the future world seemed worth considering.
Zul'ra flew over the jungle and tea plantations, lost in thought. After years of the Scourge, the Ghostlands was filled with skeletal Ghost. All the trees and plants, even those that hadn't withered, were tinged with an indescribable grayness, but the tea trees were different.
This Ghostlands is shrouded in shadows and teeming with the Undead at night, but the tea trees planted by Zul'ra appear vibrant, their leaves emerald green and glossy, their branches graceful and upright.
Haimuxi once pointed out that tea trees have the power to combat the curse of the Scourge and plagues. Malacrass even used tea leaves to make medicines to counteract the biological weapons of the the Scourge, making tea, which was not very popular before, popular in Amani.
The vast tea plantations not only meet domestic demand but also bring huge trade profits to Amani. While this commodity remains largely unknown on the misty Pandaria and the wandering Wandering Isle, only Zul'Aman cultivates it on a large scale.
The tea-picking season has passed, and it is now the summer harvest season. Zul'ra flew over the tea garden and saw that some tea trees had already blossomed with white flowers and yellow stamens, emitting a fragrant aroma.
Zul'ra encountered no battles along the way, only saw the Giant Deer Army's guard posts on duty, but did not communicate with them further. Instead, he flew directly to Sath Valley to meet with Lostro and Maki, who were in command there.
Lostro and Maki also received news of Naxxramas's attack. They were initially quite shocked, one constantly smoking a cigar and the other with a dark expression. However, upon seeing Zul'ra arrive and confirming that Naxxramas had been defeated, they breathed a sigh of relief and inquired about the details.
"I drove Naxxramas away with magic," Zul'ra replied casually to Lostro and Maki.
"Magic?" Lostro held his cigar between his fingers, his wrinkled face momentarily stunned, then turned to look at Maki beside him, the foreman of craftsmen also looking puzzled.
"Yes, magic." Zul'ra didn't elaborate, only giving a vague concept. As for the specific details, let them find out or fill in the blanks themselves!
"What should we do next? Are you under a lot of pressure?" Zul'ra didn't give Lostro and Maki any room to immediately fill in the blanks, and now was not the time to do so.
"Fortunately, the the Scourge is still just sporadic harassment. They're probably trying to draw our main force away and then break through our defenses using the air fortress." Lostro pondered for a moment before quickly figuring out the the Scourge's tactics.
"Now that I've driven Naxxramas away with my spells, their attacks might intensify. You need to be prepared." Zul'ra nodded. He had already thought of this tactic, which was why he came here specifically to check.
"We'll be prepared, but if those guys' air fortresses return..." Maki's face was filled with worry. He didn't know how Zul'ra had driven Naxxramas away, but if that thing attacked frequently, it would be extremely troublesome.
"That's a problem, but I'll keep an eye on it." Zul'ra didn't dismiss Maki's concerns; they were indeed valid. Naxxramas had been melted through by his golden light, but the extent of the injury and whether he could fight again were completely unknown. Currently, Amani could only defend passively, which would be more difficult for him.
"Zul'ra Jin, you'd better... take care of yourself..." Maki would have been fine if he hadn't listened to Zul'ra, but upon hearing his words, he couldn't help but raise his gaze. He didn't know whether he should say it or not, Zul'ra's behavior of going it alone on the battlefield seemed even more worrying.
"Ahem, needless to say, I understand, but there's nothing we can do in these extraordinary times. I'll be careful, thank you, Maki." Zul'ra understood the worried foreman's mind. His actions this time were indeed a bit reckless, but there was no other way. Amani had nothing that could resist Naxxramas.
"... Yes." Faced with Zul'ra's gratitude, Maki was overwhelmed with mixed feelings and was speechless for a moment. After a long while, he finally nodded respectfully to Zul'ra.
"Then I'll leave this to you." Zul'ra looked at Maki, who had mixed feelings, patted him on the shoulder, and then spoke to him and Lostro.
"Don't worry! I won't let a the Scourge slip by." Lostro put the cigar in his mouth, took a puff, and then took it off, solemnly promising with his wrinkled face.
"Okay, I believe you. Once we get through the summer harvest, we'll teach those guys a lesson. Oh, by the way, have you sent anyone to Antalas for help?" Zul'ra nodded at Lostro's solemn promise, but then suddenly remembered something.
"I haven't thought about that." Lostro was slightly surprised by Zul'ra's sudden mention, but he really hadn't considered it. For him, the Scourge were just a source of harassment; as long as he had protection from behind, he could handle it without much difficulty.
"Then remember to send people over there. Don't let the Forsaken and the Sin'dorei just watch the show. Whether they help or not is their business, but whether they call on us or not, we need to show our stance." Zul'ra quickly reminded him. He hadn't thought of this before and only remembered it at the last minute.
"Alright." Lostro pondered for a moment. It didn't seem right to let the Forsaken and the Sin'dorei watch the show from the sidelines. He'd send someone over to see if they could get some help, even if it was just a little.
After exchanging a few more words with Lostro and Maki, Zul'ra flew away from Sath Valley, leaving the matter to them. He then went to the southern front to check if Naxxramas had launched a counterattack; such matters could not be taken lightly.
There was no more at night.