The situation was dire. The critical moment had arrived, and victory or defeat was close at hand.
Rex watched Archimonde's massive frame reach the foot of the World Tree, seize a vine hanging down from the sky, and begin climbing, hauling himself upward with both hands and feet.
The World Tree brimmed with life, faint green light radiating from it from time to time. Yet once Archimonde began climbing, black energy spread across the tree with him at its center. Wherever he passed, the trunk withered, all its moisture vanishing as though it had evaporated. No-necrosis was a better description.
Even the land could die, and so could the World Tree. The tree Archimonde was climbing was not the first World Tree in Azeroth's history. In the distant ancient past, there had been another, but that tree had met the misfortune of being destroyed.
"He still took the same old path." Rex dropped onto the ground, gasping for breath. His eyes remained fixed on Archimonde, relief showing on his face.
In the end, Archimonde had grown impatient. Rather than methodically killing Rex and the others to eliminate any threat before climbing the World Tree, he had begun his ascent as soon as they could no longer stop him.
There was nothing inherently wrong with Archimonde's decision. Rex, Malfurion, and Illidan were all in bad shape. Rex's godlike appearance in his golden helmet and armor was long gone. His armor was dented in several places, with a gash torn through it at his left arm. Its overall protection had been compromised.
Rex felt relieved because Archimonde had followed the same path as in the original history and climbed the World Tree. Now, as long as Malfurion could bring himself to sacrifice the tree, he could use its power and the countless