Dar'Khan's Soul

Wisps of cloud, like serpentine snakes, rose from the embroidered snake banner, invisible to the naked eye. But once they moved away from the banner, they became visible, causing the onlookers to widen their eyes in astonishment.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the serpentine cloud of energy swam into the Light barrier, passing through the envelopment of icy blue frost and fire without hindrance. It hovered around Dar'Khan, whose body was melting like a candle. Then, the wisps of energy tightened, and a transparent Dar'Khan was pulled out from his molten, skeletal body and dragged back into the long banner in Zul'ra's hand without any resistance.

"It's over, we've won." Zul'ra used the Snake God Banner to successfully capture Dar'Khan's soul, then opened his gaze and solemnly announced the victory.

"... Victory!" The scene fell silent for a moment. After a long while, everyone came to their senses and looked at their companions, belatedly cheering. This was the first time they had cheered for victory since the the Scourge began. Previous victories had always been accompanied by indescribable devastation, and the world had no hope whatsoever. But this time was different.

Amidst the gradually spreading cheers, the Archmage, including Candiris, extinguished the demonic fire and their own frostfire. Looking at Dar'Khan, who had been completely melted, they felt a mix of emotions. After a long while, Candiris reassured his companions and turned to find Zul'ra Jin.

After Zul'ra announced his victory, he smiled and pushed his way through the crowd to meet Bovan and Trag, whom he and Kamozi had captured.

"Trag, we meet again." Zul'ra looked at the Tauren, stripped of his armor and guarded by someone wielding a mace. The last time she saw him, he was alive, but not anymore.

"Yes! However, from what you've said, it seems you're not surprised by our reunion." Trag was slightly taken aback.

"It should have been unexpected, until my crystal sphere projected your image here. By the way, where is your friend Valima?" Zul'ra, carrying the long banner, remembered that Trag had a human friend—no, an Undead friend.

"He's dead. Dar'Khan killed him." Trag lowered his head, making no attempt to hide anything. After Zul'ra left Modis Manor, they encountered Dar'Khan, who was passing by. Dar'Khan was attracted by a mysterious item in Valima Modis's possession, and after failing to obtain it, he killed him. Trag was then transformed into Death Knight by Mordis.

"And what about you now?" Zul'ra looked at Trag, who was hanging his head and seemed dejected, and couldn't help but glance at the Sunbearers were keeping a close watch on him. Trag's condition seemed to be a little off.

"Let me explain this!" Fearing that Trag might utter suicidal words again, Bovan spoke first, explaining that Trag was unable to escape the Lich King's influence and asking Zul'ra for help.

"I can't offer him any better advice on psychic abilities, but in my opinion, the key to this matter lies with Trag himself." Zul'ra listened to Bovan's account and shook her head. Trag's experiences were probably difficult to recall. Although he maintained his individuality, he couldn't control himself, which might stem from his depression over the past.

"Trag should indeed have died, but I think that after all he's been through, the fact that he's still here is perhaps Earth Mother's will, and I hope he can stay strong." Bovan insisted on his opinion; he didn't want Trag to give up his life so easily, even though he had already died once.

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"Go ask Shalindra!" Zul'ra looked at Trag, who was hanging his head and remaining silent, and had nothing to say either; he couldn't do anything about it either.

"Well, thank you, Sanrakin. Also, could you perhaps have your valiant warrior, Kamoz, help me for a moment?" Bowan thanked him and asked Sanrakin for Kamoz's help. Faced with the white-skinned minotaur's words, the Sunbearer puffed out his chest and looked at Sanrakin with a hint of expectation.

"Okay, do your best, Kamozi, you guys go ahead!" Zul'ra looked at the energetic Sunbearers, smiled and nodded at him, then turned her head to look at Candiris was walking over.

"Then I'll go first." Bovan looked at Candiris approaching, smiled and nodded to him, then had Kamozi escort Trag away with him to find the Banshee Shalindra for help.

"Zul'ra Jin, thank you for your words." Candiris also greeted the gentle Tauren and thanked Zul'ra, Zul'ra had greatly appreciated Sin'dorei Quel'dorei's support.

"I'm just stating some historical facts." Zul'ra maintained his seriousness. Letting others criticize Silvermoon City and Quel'dorei was slapping Amani in the face. Quel'Thalas was trash, so what was Amani, who had been suppressed by it for thousands of years?

"But even we ourselves didn't realize what you were saying." Candiris felt inexplicably ashamed; the glory of the Quel'dorei belonged to yesterday.

"Remember what I just said? Your situation is unfortunate, but don't become an incompetent person," Zul'ra said with a serious expression.

"Thank you for your guidance," Candiris used a respectful form of address.

"You came here for the soul of Dar'Khan, didn't you?" Zul'ra looked at the respectful Candiris and steered the conversation back to the main topic.

"Yes, Dar'Khan has been killed by us more than once, and the reason for that..." Candiris, somewhat puzzled.

"It's actually quite simple. By some coincidence, he was transformed into a Lich. The circumstances might be a bit special, but in short, unless we find a way to control his soul, he will resurrect indefinitely," Zul'ra explained to Candiris.

"So that's how it is." Candiris suddenly realized. Lich are a high-level Undead in the the Scourge. They have little contact with them and only exist in hearsay, so they don't have much information about them. So that's what Lich are like.

"As for Dar'Khan's soul, I'll keep it for a while. He attacked Battleaxe Ridge, and I'm quite interested in his magical flames." Zul'ra spoke frankly; he didn't want to return Dar'Khan's soul for the time being because it involved Anveena's identity.

"Can the Lich be completely killed?" Candiris had indeed wanted to demand Dar'Khan's soul, but after hearing the Lich's message, he couldn't help but feel doubtful. Surely such a thing wasn't completely immortal!

"Yes, we can find their life caskets. Once the life caskets are destroyed, they can no longer be resurrected. However, Dar'Khan's situation is rather special." Zul'ra knew about the Lich from Banehollow and was quite clear about the relevant details. Moreover, she had gained some insight during the recent soul-collecting operation.

There's only one chapter today.