Faceless One Zakaz, Strom'kar, the Warbreaker

"Lord Uther! Just as you said, all of this was a revelation from the Holy Light. Now we have even more powerful allies. Come on! No time to waste. Let's destroy Zakaz. With these Holy Light creatures joining the battle, we'll be even stronger," Rod said.

Actually, according to the latest story settings, the Holy Light was not exactly a good thing either. Its appearance as a beautiful woman was probably meant to better deceive mortals.

"Rod, you're right. All of this is the Holy Light's guidance. Everyone, move out. We're going to destroy Zakaz," Uther said.

"That's right! The guidance of both the Holy Light and the Titan Keepers is clear. The core of that evil lies below, and Emperor Sthoradin's sword should be embedded in Zakaz as well. That weapon was what severely wounded it and delayed its awakening."

"For Emperor Sthoradin's sacrifice, for Tyr's glory, for Lordaeron's future!" The captain of Tyr's Guard raised his greatsword high, his voice ringing out. "Move out!"

Illuminated by the glow cast by the fire elementals, the party set off once more.

Sixteen towering fire elementals floated at the very front like moving torches, dispersing the thick darkness in the passage. The light and heat they emitted naturally suppressed shadow energy. Even the shadow creatures lurking restlessly in the corners seemed wary of that scorching power and did not dare approach carelessly.

Uther had been right. These fire elemental creatures had a great restraining effect on shadow monsters. After all, fire was also light and heat.

That might also have been why adding the power of the Holy Light during the summoning of fire elementals caused such a drastic transformation, giving birth to Holy Light Elementals.

The power displayed by the four Holy Light Elementals in this gloomy underground place could only be described as absurd. Holy Light radiated from their entire bodies, inflicting even more terrifying damage upon these shadow creatures.

Golden Holy Light burned the shadow creatures to ashes.

As the party ventured deeper into the underground passage, the air grew thick and cold. The shadows were no longer mist, but more like some kind of living creature. Shadow Whispers were no longer background noise; they became piercing hisses, twisted roars, and malicious murmurs that directly assaulted everyone's spiritual defenses.

Fortunately, with the paladins and Holy Light Elementals present, this little bit of shadow could not harm them.

The Holy Light around the paladins and Tyr's Guards grew ever more blazing, like beacons in the darkness. Rod also fully maintained Meditation and Blessing of Wisdom, keeping his mind clear.

Meanwhile, the Holy Light Elementals continuously cast Flash of Light on nearby allies, dispelling the mental corrosion.

The farther down they went, the wider the space became. Eventually, they arrived at a gigantic underground cavern beyond imagination.

At the center of the cavern was an enormous pit. At its bottom stood a terrifying existence so immense it was suffocating.

It was none other than the Faceless One general—Zakaz!

Its body was far larger than any Faceless One they had encountered before, standing over ten meters tall like a moving mountain of flesh.

Its dark purple skin was covered in a thick carapace. A gigantic mouth filled with spiraling fangs occupied almost its entire upper body, and dozens of thick tentacles grew around it, thrashing wildly through the air. It was a huge, disgusting creature.

Most striking of all, a greatsword of ancient design that radiated an unyielding will was deeply embedded in the center of its massive chest.

Emperor Sthoradin's sword! Strom'kar, the Warbreaker!

More than half the blade had sunk into Zakaz's body. Like a massive nail, this weapon had pinned Zakaz in place and prevented it from fully awakening.

This weapon had been forged by the greatest dwarven craftsmen working together with humans, then enchanted by the elves of Quel'Thalas. It was the strongest weapon ever created.

Over the more than 2,700 years since then, it had remained embedded in the Faceless One general's body, absorbing a vast amount of shadow power.

Now, even its owner, Emperor Sthoradin, probably would not have known what kind of power this weapon possessed.

"We've arrived. That is the legendary Faceless One general, Zakaz. He was the one who drove Tyr to his death back then. The sword embedded in his chest is Emperor Sthoradin's weapon," a Keeper of Tyr said with a sigh.

If not for the human emperor back then, this monster would likely have escaped thousands of years ago.

"What a disgustingly vile monster. We absolutely cannot allow it to reach the surface, or it will bring a disaster comparable to the Scourge." Uther tightened his grip on the Silver Hand Warhammer.

"We must pull the greatsword from its chest before we can kill it. It's just that this weapon..." The Tyr's Guard before them wore a troubled expression.

"This weapon has been tainted by a great deal of shadow power. Though it is still powerful, it is no longer holy," said a paladin of the Silver Hand.

This weapon had belonged to Emperor Sthoradin, but his bloodline had already ended. The current leader of humanity was the great Kingdom of Lordaeron.

The emperor's weapon could no longer represent anything, and besides, it had already been corrupted by shadow power. Uther nodded at those words, then looked at Rod.

"Rod, did the Keeper say how this weapon should be handled? It would be best not to bring such a troublesome item back to Lordaeron."

"Lord Uther, the Keeper instructed me to take this weapon back to him so that he can purify it," Rod said.

The people of Lordaeron did not think highly of this weapon. They believed the emperor's weapon had been corrupted and no longer possessed legitimacy, but Rod did not mind. This was an artifact weapon for a warrior.

Uther nodded. Having Rod take the weapon away and hand it to the Titan Keepers was the best choice.

"Then we'll follow the Keeper's instructions! I'll pull out the weapon. Get ready to attack this thing." After speaking, Uther leaped into the deep pit and pulled the greatsword from the Faceless One's chest.

As Emperor Sthoradin's sword was pulled free, the Faceless One general—Zakaz—awakened!

Even after being sealed for ten thousand years, even after being grievously wounded by Sthoradin, it remained one of the Old Gods' most terrifying servants!

Breaking free from its final restraints, it let out a horrifying roar at the insects who had dared disturb its slumber!

"Hmph! I've been waiting for you! Die, monster!" Uther roared, raising the Silver Hand Warhammer as he charged forward.

The four Holy Light Elementals and sixteen fire elementals also leaped into the deep pit, joining Uther in attacking the Faceless One.

The paladins, Tyr's Guards, and numerous Lordaeron soldiers remained above the pit, protecting Rod and Jaina.

Ordinary people were better off not facing that monster below. The elemental creatures and Uther would handle the main battle.

Rod raised his hand and cast two negative spells. "Greater Slow! Curse!"

The newly awakened Faceless One visibly became sluggish and cumbersome, as if it had fallen into a swamp of thick mud!

At the same time, its shadow energy seemed to have been afflicted by some sort of curse, becoming extremely unstable as its attack power plummeted!