Vilebranch Trolls Fall into the Trap

Driven by the pride of a warrior, Dakkalai had no choice but to bite the bullet and lead a group toward Jintha'Alor, while Zul'ra Jin remained at Sea-Watch Cliff to make arrangements. He had the troops set up camp along the cliffside and ordered Smolderthorn Village to establish tight defenses, creating the appearance of an imminent battle.

To make the ruse more convincing, Zul'ra Jin ordered his subordinates to avoid any contact with the Viletooth Trolls. Meanwhile, to ensure the situation did not deteriorate, he kept Chieftain Broken-Tooth as a hostage. The female chieftain, whose face remained largely hidden beneath a wolf-pelt hood, agreed to this arrangement; she had her husband take over the tribe while she remained in the military camp.

Inside the Amani camp, the female chieftain approached Zul'ra Jin's followers. Observing their unusually upright posture and the steel weapons they wielded, and listening to the new ideas revealed in their speech, she gave them considerable approval and engaged in many conversations with Zul'ra Jin.

"Zul'ra Jin, do you truly believe that trolls only need to do as you say—reform and value knowledge—to find glory?" Broken-Tooth used the same address as his followers, acknowledging Zul'ra Jin's status, yet she harbored many doubts. Could trolls really achieve a successful rise simply by doing this?

"Valuing knowledge is a necessity. But to find glory, one must undergo transformation. What we are doing now can only be called change; it is far from a transformation." Zul'ra Jin looked at the sharp-witted female chieftain and explained the key differences to her.

"Then what is called a transformation?" Broken-Tooth asked, intrigued.

"Transformation is the act of breaking down an organization's old systems and traditions to establish new ones, allowing that organization to radiate a new, vigorous vitality. The difference between it and mere change is that transformation requires sacrifice, even bloodshed." Zul'ra Jin watched the curious female chieftain as he explained.

"We haven't sacrificed anything yet, so this cannot be called a transformation. It is merely a small change."

"..." Hearing these suggestive words, Broken-Tooth fell into deep thought.

"Enough. Do not walk around the camp anymore. Stay inside the Main Tent. I am about to make arrangements. According to the timeline, Hex should be arriving soon. I hope she comes in person!" Zul'ra Jin nodded with satisfaction as he watched the contemplative female troll. This chieftain was a talent who could absorb new ideas and think independently. If possible, he would give her, Haimuxi, Baki, and Barhan important roles in the future.

Leaving the female troll to her thoughts, Zul'ra Jin began his arrangements. He ordered all the upright trolls to stay inside their tents and not venture out, while the other hunched trolls were instructed to maintain a state of high alert, guarding the camp under martial law.

Just after Zul'ra Jin placed the camp under lockdown, one of Dakkalai's men rushed back to report that Hex had arrived with her people. This Evil Priestess would not join the Amani Empire, but she would never pass up an opportunity to wipe out the Viletooth.

Facing the impending arrival of Hex and her subordinates, Zul'ra Jin ordered the upright trolls to hide in their tents immediately and instructed the guards to lead Hex and her party to the Main Tent.

Beyond these various maneuvers, Zul'ra Jin had agreed upon a signal with the many trolls. Once he gave the order, not a single Vilebranch tribesman was to be left alive. However, they had to wait for his signal, as he needed to confirm that the person arriving was indeed Hex herself.

With everything arranged, Zul'ra Jin returned to the Main Tent to wait for Hex alongside Broken-Tooth. Although they were not friends, Broken-Tooth and Hex were old rivals; she could confirm whether the troll arriving was truly Hex!

Soon, chaotic sounds echoed outside the tent, and footsteps approached in a hurry. Broken-Tooth lifted a slit in the tent flap, watched the trolls walking into the camp, and then nodded her chin—hidden beneath the wolf-pelt hood—toward Zul'ra Jin.

"The red-haired female troll leading them outside, that is Hex. She isn't wearing a mask, she's wearing a purple skirt with red spots and bracers, and she's holding a staff. There is no mistake."

"Very well, then you shall welcome her here!" Zul'ra Jin took the spear leaning against the tent, rolled his shoulders, and tilted his head toward her, signaling her to stand by the tent entrance and wait for Hex.

Understanding the gesture, Broken-Tooth walked to the center of the Main Tent to wait. Zul'ra Jin stood by the tent flap, waiting for the footsteps outside to draw closer before lifting the curtain to step inside.

As the tent flap was lifted, the trolls outside filed in. Zul'ra Jin scanned the female troll who entered first, dressed in the red-spotted purple skirt and holding a staff, followed by four warriors. Those warriors carried battle-axes, sported red mohawks, and had backs hunched as if bearing mountains, their auras incredibly wild. Dakkalai followed behind these warriors.

As the master of Jintha'Alor, Hex had been disdainful of the news that the Amani were mobilizing to attack the Viletooth in an attempt to win her over. However, she decided to pay a visit. Although she would not join Zul'jin's illusory empire, she would not miss the chance to eliminate the Viletooth, those annoying neighbors.

Along the way, Hex saw the Amani camp under total lockdown and assumed the Amani had already clashed with the Viletooth. She completely let her guard down as she stepped into the main camp, even feeling a sense of smug triumph. These Amani trolls were helping her eliminate the Viletooth, and she couldn't wait to see the expressions on their faces when she refused to join their empire.

Carrying this smugness, Hex walked into the camp with ease and followed the guidance of the troll sentries into the Main Tent. But when she opened the flap and stepped inside, she froze, feeling as if her eyes were playing tricks on her.

"Hello, Hex." Broken-Tooth watched the red-haired female troll enter the tent, the corners of her mouth beneath the wolf-pelt hood curling upward. As an old rival, she took a wicked pleasure in imagining Hex's reaction upon seeing her.

"It's a trap!" Hex screamed as she saw the female troll waiting in the tent. But as she turned to flee, she saw two of her guards pierced through the neck by a single spear. The one holding the spear was a troll she had never seen before—a troll with a tall, upright frame and blue-white skin, who had been standing in the tent completely unnoticed.

"Taz'dingo!" Zul'ra Jin pulled the steel spear free and let out a roar. The sound erupted from the tent, instantly signaling the Forest Trolls outside to drop the facade. They hurled throwing axes at the visiting Vilebranch trolls, and as the tents were ripped open, the upright Forest Trolls emerged with shields and spears, charging at the caught-off-guard Vilebranch.

"Zandalar?" Hex looked at the troll who had pulled the spear from her guards' necks and roared, feeling a bit uncertain. She mistook Zul'ra Jin for a Zandalari Troll—a reasonable assumption, as only Zandalari Trolls stood with such straight backs and upright postures.

"Hex, I come to kill you in the name of honor." Zul'ra Jin looked at the priestess, who was now protected by her two remaining Vilebranch guards, and raised his right arm, pointing his blood-dripping spear directly at her.