Peace and War
After some negotiation, Zul'ra traded forty grain-threshing and milling machines, a coal-fired power plant, and corresponding agricultural technical support in exchange for Jaina's assistance in planning and constructing the railway for the Horde, provided by the Bronzebeard Dwarves who had experience building subways. 🐍♠ 🍓👺
"That's fantastic, Zul'ra." Jaina was extremely satisfied with the deal she had negotiated with Zul'ra, because in her view, such a transaction was of great significance. It could stabilize the situation between the Alliance and the Horde, and with such intertwined interests, peace would be incredibly secure.
"There's still a long way to go." Zul'ra also had a smile on his face. Although this transaction didn't yield enough profit—he gave things away for free—there was a corresponding return. At the same time, he also opened up sales channels for the Horde, which was a good sign for stabilizing the Alliance.
"Yes, that's right, there's still a long way to go, but I want to raise a toast to the Alliance and the Horde right now, would you like to?" Jaina couldn't contain her joy, praising the Alliance and the Horde, and hoping to toast them together.
"Of course, but while we're toasting, we still need to rack our brains and think about what we can do for the people on the front lines!" Zul'ra looked at the happy Jaina and nodded without hesitation, while also worrying about the front lines of the Dark Portal, after all, they were facing the Legion.
"Why don't we go to the front lines and take a look?" Jaina felt a little uneasy when Zul'ra mentioned the front lines. Although she didn't have Zul'ra's perspective on the overall story, she had faced the Legion directly on Mount Hyjal and knew how terrifying those guys were.
The Battle of Mount Hyjal and the reopening of the Dark Portal today are two completely different situations. Back then, both the Horde and the Alliance arrived in the new continent weary from their journey and were able to boldly take on any challenge.
Back then, the Allied Forces, though powerless against the Legion and Archimonde, still had Nordrassil as their trump card. Today, however, the Alliance and Horde lack Nordrassil to exploit their weaknesses, and facing the six Legion portals behind the Dark Portal, everyone is uncertain.
"Let's save the wine for victory!" Zul'ra was very tempted by Jaina's suggestion to go to the front lines, and she even forgot about drinking the wine.
"Alright, keep it to celebrate the victory!" Jaina seemed exceptionally generous.
Without hesitation, Zul'ra first sent a telegram from Theramore to Orgrimmar and Silvermoon City, instructing Cairne Bloodhoof to take charge of the situation. He also asked Quel'Thalas to send some skilled technicians to the front lines, as he was not comfortable relying Goblins.
On the other hand, Jaina entrusted the affairs of Theramore to Modera and Rhonin. Well, Dalaran being strongly interfered with by Kul Tiras, so the existence of the Magic Federation was meaningless, and even the Archmage were going their separate ways.
After entrusting his affairs—no, I should say, his rear to someone he could trust— Zul'ra and Jaina used a teleportation spell to travel to the Eastern Kingdoms. This was Zul'ra's first time making a long-distance intercontinental teleport, but fortunately Jaina was experienced and took care of him without any incident. The two of them traveled together from Theramore to Nethergarde Keep in the Blasted Lands.
Nethergarde Keep is a military fortress built by the Alliance of Lordaeron on the edge of the Blasted Lands after World War II. It was used to monitor the Dark Portal and prevent a second Old Horde counterattack. It was previously under the control of the humans of Dalaran, but has now been fully taken over by the Alliance army.
The arrival of Zul'ra and Jaina made the mage guarding the teleportation spell particularly vigilant. After carefully verifying their identities, the two were allowed to leave the teleportation array and then, under the teleportation of a Gnomes mage, headed to the front-line camp of the Dark Portal.
Upon entering the camp, Zul'ra was immediately drawn to the colossal gate on the desolate landscape. This massive stone gate, built at the very center of a three-tiered, two-step altar, was nearly two hundred yards high (one hundred and eighty meters) and ninety yards wide (eighty-two meters).
Above the massive gate, a dragon's head looked down. Inside the gate, a green light rippled, beyond which lay a pitch-black starry sky. On either side of this green light and starry sky, two tall, humanoid stone statues, hooded and holding swords, stood. The statues had no faces under their hoods, only two points of golden light shimmering.
As Zul'ra and Jaina approached, the altar of the black stone gate was stained with green and red blood. At that moment, many humans and Goblins were working, carrying supplies to the other side of the gate, including food, bullets, armor, and machinery. Of course, many seriously wounded people were also being carried back from the other side of the gate.
Because the situation was so chaotic, Zul'ra and Jaina's arrival didn't cause much of a stir, and hardly anyone even noticed them. The two of them simply followed the crowd into the Dark Portal.
Stepping through the Dark Portal, the first thing you see is a sky so low it seems about to collapse, followed by a world filled with red light and condensing green mist, as if it were on fire. Even the land radiates invisible heat, and popping sounds like beans are heard from afar. Looking into the distance, you can see firelight, green light, and countless figures intertwined.
"This place is simply..." Jaina stared, her mouth agape as she looked at the world that seemed to be on fire.
"It's like hell, a burning hell." Zul'ra gazed into the distance, where the undulating horizon was filled with figures.
"Who are you? Don't stand here blocking the way, get out of the way, get out of the way!" The screams from behind forced Zul'ra and Jaina to step back, letting several goblins carrying half-machine Goblins run past.
"To be honest, I'm really afraid they'll suddenly fall over and accidentally explode." Zul'ra looked at the Goblins were carrying on their bodies, and her eyebrows twitched. These machines resembled Shredder or exoskeletons, but only had large upper bodies, standing exaggeratedly behind the Goblins, looking quite comical.
The comical Shredder, lacking lower bodies, rely on Goblins for their lower bodies, using their short legs for mobility. Each Goblins holds a handle with different buttons in each hand, the handles connected to mechanical arms on their upper bodies that are equipped with chainsaws and spray guns.
"I've always believed that these things are only good for logging." Jaina looked at the Goblins ' short legs with the same skepticism. Although they looked powerful, their actual combat ability was such that even a Warrior with normal mobility could easily handle them.
"It's still lethal, but it just looks a little out of place in their hands." Zul'ra shook her head. Judging from the speed at which the Goblins were running, the thing wasn't very heavy. Plus, with the mechanical arm wielding the chainsaw and spray gun, its lethality wasn't an issue; it was just that its protection and mobility were too poor.
"Are we just going to watch like this?" Jaina withdrew her gaze.
"Zul'ra Jin..."
Zul'ra was about to refute Jaina's words when she was interrupted by a cry of surprise. Turning around, she saw a group of Trolls approaching from behind, and the one who had called out to her was one of them, Amani'lai.