Reunion

A month later, Nathanos returned to Marius Farm. His parents had both returned; since Bred and Jonathan had been knighted for their service in the war, the family had rarely had the opportunity to dine together. Of course, Nathanos didn't blame Stephan for betraying him; after all, Sylvanas had something important to tell him.

"Have you heard, Bred?"

"What?"

Jonathan glanced at Daphne and Nathanos in the kitchen, then whispered, "General Turalyon has ordered the regrouping of the Alliance forces."

"It's no secret, brother," Bred replied. He had received his notice from the military a few days earlier and would be serving again soon.

"Those Orcs deserve to die." Jonathan tapped the table lightly, blaming everything on the Orcs, on the Horde. "They even want to come back! Why hasn't the King executed the Horde chieftain?"

"That's not something we need to consider."...

Nathanos, listening absentmindedly to his father and uncle's conversation, leaned against the kitchen doorway, his mother Daphne stewing meat before him. The kingdom's announcement had already spread throughout Lordaeron. Nathanos wondered which idiot had suggested Terenas do this; it was utterly foolish. The war had finally ended—at least that's what most people thought—but this announcement told everyone it wasn't over yet. It stirred up another wave of rumors in the once peaceful human kingdom.

"Well!"

"Huh?" Nathanos snapped out of his reverie, thinking he'd misheard. Daphne had sounded like she'd sighed. Only then did Nathanos realize his mother seemed different; not just older, but noticeably more haggard. The aroma wafting from the pot couldn't hide the sorrow on her face; she'd clearly heard her husband's words. Nathanos wouldn't comfort his mother, much less say—"Father's not gone yet, he'll be gone in a few more days"—because nothing he said now would change the fact that his father was leaving again.

Furthermore, Nathanos disagreed with Jonathan's viewpoint. Even with the Dark Portal permanently closed, Lordaeron would not find Tranquility. On his return, he had heard rumors that more human villages had been attacked by the Red Dragon. Nathanos would never forget the terrifying power wielded by those flying creatures. He had witnessed the fires of Quel'Thalas, and whenever he recalled them, he felt as if Alleria, heartbroken after losing her loved ones, stood before him.

The Red Dragon didn't appear during the Battle of Blackrock Spire, Nathanos didn't know why, but this allowed the Alliance to easily defeat the Horde. However, why didn't the dragons, who were controlled by the Orcs at that time, show up, while now that the Horde had been defeated, they were active again? These questions had been bothering him, making him somewhat irritated.

"Child?"

"Hmm?... Mother?"

Daphne's worried tone left Nathanos somewhat flustered. He responded with an awkward smile, indicating that he was fine.

"It smells so delicious!"

"It'll be ready soon, just need to add some more seasonings."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Nathanos breathed a sigh of relief. He was actually keeping it a secret from his parents; in a few days, he would be heading north to Quel'Thalas as agreed, and his next task would also involve fighting the Horde.

Everything will be alright, he told himself.

Draenor

A faint sound? It was imperceptible unless you listened very carefully. It was fainter than the flapping of a bird's wings, or, to exaggerate a bit, the sound of a leaf falling to the ground, but Ner'zhul still heard it.

He held the head in his hands, staring at the hollowed-out eye sockets. Unbeknownst to the others, he heard Gul'dan's voice. That obsequious tone was all too familiar to him.

Although Gul'dan was dead, his remains still seemed intent on driving his mentor mad once more. Unfortunately for him, Ner'zhul would not be fooled a second time. He scoffed; his excessive trust in Gul'dan had led him to inadvertently betray the Horde.

"Gul'dan, you wretched creature! I am still alive, and who is dead?" he whispered to the head. Suddenly, a beam of light shone into Ner'zhul's tent. He ceased his conversation with the Skull of Gul'dan.

A burly figure stood at the tent entrance, backlit.

"When will you fulfill your promise?" Grom Grommash said. Ner'zhul was used to his rudeness; Grom was merely disrespectful, not yet defying orders.

Ner'zhul smiled. So far, everything was proceeding according to plan. He stroked the skull, which was imbued with a hint of Fel, as if admiring a precious treasure.

"Skull of Gul'dan can help us reopen that portal."

Grommash trembled, not from fear, but from excitement. "You'd better not be joking."

The old Shaman chuckled again and beckoned for Talon Blood Maw to enter. Grommash and Talon Bloodlord were now Ner'zhul's right-hand men. Blood Maw commanded all the Death Knight and Ogre, while Grom was responsible for relaying his commands to all Orcs clans—often through violence, of course!

The Horde has now reunited many clans. The Thunderlord Clan, Burning Blade Clan, Laughing Skull Clan, and Bonechewer Clan have all joined them, with only the Redwalker Clan yet to do so. The Horde's strength has increased considerably, but it is still not at the level it was when it first invaded Azeroth.

"I'm glad about that," he said. "And now—you," Ner'zhul pointed at Blood Maw, "You know what to do next."

"That's right!" Blood Maw nodded firmly. "But are you sure that the rift won't suddenly close after it opens?" Despite having the Skull of Gul'dan, Blood Maw still had some doubts about Ner'zhul's abilities. He believed that Ner'zhul could only fully expand the rift with the combined help of several Death Knights.

'How dare he doubt you! He should pay for offending you.'

"I can do it." Ner'zhul heard whispers; he knew who was speaking, but he chose to ignore them. He had now drawn enough energy from Skull of Gul'dan to control and open the rift. "Besides, the Dark Portal no longer needs our assistance to function. Now, prepare to do what you must, Talon!"

The Death Knight's eyes flickered slightly, then he nodded hastily, turned and walked out of the tent, his cloak billowing behind him.

Ner'zhul then turned to Grom. "You should hurry up too. The sooner you complete the mission, the sooner we can achieve our goal." Grom exhaled, raised his battle axe in salute, and followed the Blood Maw out.

'So, you've deceived them once again, how ridiculous. They don't know your true plan— the Horde no longer needs Azeroth.'

"Yes... but they will thank me!" Ner'zhul responded to the whispers. He walked toward the Dark Portal, watched by Grommash, Blood Maw, and many Orcs. Under the blood-red sky, as Ner'zhul faced the empty Dark Portal, it proclaimed that everything had begun anew!

Azeroth

Rumble!

Nathanos hurriedly ran into the inn in Stratholme. A torrential downpour was pouring outside, but thankfully he wasn't soaked to the bone.

"Boss, I need a room and some food."

"As you wish!" The innkeeper was overjoyed as he took the three silver coins that Nathanos had thrown on the counter and respectfully went to make the arrangements.

Nathanos sat down casually, patting his wet clothes.

"Nathanos!"

The human heard someone calling his name, and in two different voices at that, and immediately raised his head.

"Larein! Kasha!"