Battle

In the camp, Nathanos looked up at the weather. He had been here for months, but sadly, not a drop of rain had fallen. The corruption from Draenor had had an extraordinary effect on this place, and he was beginning to accept Khadgar's words: this land was cursed!

"The Alliance is planning an attack!" Alleria walked over and shared the contents of the meeting with him.

Nathanos withdrew his gaze. He had expected Turalyon to do this, so he wasn't surprised. The defenses of Tower of Observation had been reinforced recently, and more and more supplies were being transported there.

"When?"

"The day after tomorrow at dawn."

"The day after tomorrow!" Nathanos was quite surprised, then laughed and said, "Turalyon is really impatient. This free day is probably not even enough for a soldier to think about how to write a will to his family."

"He was worried that the Horde's plans would threaten this place, or even other worlds, so he decided to act as soon as possible, and the others agreed." Alleria glanced worriedly at the Alliance soldiers training not far away; these people preparing to go to another world might all die. Alleria had even considered that she might be one of them, but this human in front of her had changed her mind.

"But this is indeed a bit too hasty. How could Turalyon possibly recruit enough volunteers in such a short period of time?"

"That's exactly what I told you." Alleria brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. "I originally planned to return to Quel'Thalas after we captured the Dark Portal, but Turalyon wanted us to remain stationed outside the Dark Portal at that time to provide the Alliance Expedition with continuous supplies and support, so..."

"You agree?"

The Female Elf nodded, her eyes also seeking Nathanos's opinion. He quickly responded, and her hand was taken.

"Then let's stay together."

"They're here!"

The Beastmaster Rexxar's deep voice remained as calm as ever. Grom looked in the direction he was pointing and nodded.

"I can't wait any longer!" Grommash gripped Gorehowl tightly, his eyes gleaming with a predatory glint. The Warsong Clan and some Orcs remained. Today, the Alliance would face these terrifying enemies head-on.

Grom watched as countless Alliance soldiers surged across the deadly land toward the valley. His red-glowing eyes narrowed. The Alliance had practically turned out in full force.

Beside Rexxar, Howling Wolf Hals was also howling excitedly. Rexxar smiled at his companion.

"Come forth, Warrior of the Warsong Clan!" Grom roared, raising his weapon. "The time for glory has come!" He heard the Orcs' cries and eagerly awaited the Alliance's charge to their deaths!

Turalyon pulled on the reins. Their soldiers had cleared the surrounding hills. If the Orcs were truly retreating, their numbers remaining in Azeroth were considerable. The road to the Dark Portal would be difficult. They would need to fight their way through, clearing away the vile green-skinned Orcs, and the tall, pale creatures fighting alongside them.

Two Warrior caught Turalyon's attention. He wasn't even entirely sure if one of them was Orcs. He looked like one, but his skin was tan instead of green, and he was much taller than the other Orcs. His physique also seemed different from the others. A wolf stood beside him. Turalyon thought it must be as intimidating as its master. He was indeed a powerful Warrior, but he wasn't a leader.

Another Orcs, taller than Orcs, had black hair tied in a topknot, a black chin, and eyes that gleamed red. He wore heavy bracers adorned with strange symbols. He surveyed the numerous Alliance troops, but remained unmoved.

Their eyes met. Turalyon saw the Orcs raise an enormous battle axe in salute. His eyes were bright; it was clear he was eagerly anticipating the battle.

"Alliance! Charge!" Turalyon shouted. Each soldier yelled their own slogan and Charge down from all directions. The war drums began to beat.

Their plan was very simple: head straight for the Dark Portal and kill as many Orcs as possible along the way. Turalyon bravely threw himself into the battle, swinging his warhammer left and right, knocking down every Orcs who yelled and charged in his way.

The first two cavalrymen charging towards the Dark Portal were struck in the necks by two flying battle axes, their necks exposed and falling from their horses. Rexxar shoved aside an Alliance soldier with his strong arms and easily retrieved his weapon from the corpse. When he looked up, a human was already standing before him. Rexxar scrutinized him; the human wasn't physically imposing, but his eyes held no fear. He carried a serrated longsword, still stained with Orcs blood, and a magnificent, azure longbow slung across his back. This human wasn't a commander, but a powerful Warrior, just like himself—though one thing remained constant: he was an enemy!

Rexxar leaped over the fallen corpses and charged forward. Nathanos also noticed that this guy was unusual; he resembled an Orcs, yet wasn't. The man gripped his weapon tightly in both hands, leaped into the air, raised his right-hand battle axe, and prepared to decapitate him.

Nathanos didn't raise his Nightblade to defend. Firstly, he wasn't sure of his opponent's strength; secondly, if he chose to block, he wouldn't be able to dodge the axe attack from Nathanos's other hand. Nathanos jumped backward to avoid the attack. But to his utter surprise, Rexxar, upon landing, used the momentum to swing his battle axe with lightning speed, aiming for Nathanos's left arm.

"Damn it!" The human barely managed to block the attack, inwardly exclaiming how close they had come to disaster. They were locked in a stalemate.

"Is that all you've got, human?"

"You haven't won yet!" Nathanos mocked without any politeness. Rexxar gave a strange smile. "Indeed, but I'm not alone!"

"What!" Nathanos was startled and turned his head to find a wolf charging towards him from the right! In a moment of panic, Nathanos forcefully broke free from Rexxar and kicked him in the stomach, creating distance between the two. The howling wolf Hals missed its target, almost injuring Nathanos, but only grazed his clothes, leaving three claw marks.

"Nathanos!" Alleria noticed him fighting a tall guy in the crowd and immediately ran to his side, taking down anything that stood in his way.

"Would you 'play' with wolves, my lady?" He smiled and glanced at Alleria, the Female Elf understood his meaning and kept her eyes fixed on the howling wolf beside Rexxar.

"This isn't fun, but I won't lose to a beast!"

Hals seemed to understand Alleria's words, grinding his teeth and glaring at her fiercely.

Two against two, a battle of skill!

Turalyon rode his horse across the battlefield, hammering and thrusting, employing all the combat skills he had learned, while chanting prayers and healing and blessing his Warrior with the Holy Light. Until he looked again at the Orcs leader he had noticed earlier. The Orcs seemed to be dancing a death dance among the Alliance army, the sound of his battle axe hacking and slashing echoing the screams of his soldiers falling.

"That's a troublesome guy," he said to himself.

Nathanos noticed Grom during his fight with Rexxar, but he also noticed something Turalyon hadn't—the Orcs had stopped and begun issuing commands to the Orcs around him, seemingly having made a decision. He turned and shouted something to a cloaked figure standing beside the portal, who nodded. The Orcs chieftain then roared something else. All the Orcs in the valley responded to his call and began to gradually move away from the Alliance army, retreating towards the Dark Portal.

Although Nathanos knew he couldn't afford to be distracted while facing Rexxar, a strange feeling compelled him to remain vigilant. He noticed the cloaked figure approaching the right side of the Dark Portal, pulling on something near a pillar. Nathanos immediately recognized the object—metal, reflecting the sunlight. The way the figure handled it made Nathanos tense. The movement was familiar; he had studied mechanics with Great Craftsman Gelbin Mekkatorque in Stormwind City some time ago! He also remembered his conversation with the King of Gnomes:

How safe is the subway you designed?

"Uh... okay, well! You see, this is cutting-edge technology, so we can't completely guarantee its safety. But I bet you we'll perfect it. Its safety will eventually rival our most secure inventions."

Suddenly, the Orcs before them all began to exert all their strength to pass through the Dark Portal.

"Fine!" Nathanos shouted as soon as the words suddenly flashed into his mind for some reason.

"Alleria! Go and notify everyone else immediately, everyone!"

"What?" Alleria dodged a pounce from Hals, a wolf that seemed tireless.

After Nathanos parried Rexxar's attack once again, he shouted to Alleria, "The Horde is going to destroy the portal!"

The Female Elf was shocked. Although she didn't know how Nathanos had deduced this information, she was willing to believe him. Sathoryl fired another arrow, which Hals dodged, but Alleria was only trying to distract him and immediately turned and rushed towards Turalyon's location.

"It's Goblins, isn't it?" Nathanos cursed. He knew the Gnome had always sided with the Alliance, unlike the Goblins who had only recently appeared. As long as there was money to be made, Goblins would sell their creations to both factions.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Rexxar was also shocked by what Nathanos had just shouted. At the same time, he was thinking, if what this human said was true, what would happen to the Orcs who were fighting desperately here? He had to ask Grommash for clarification! Rexxar whistled, and Howling Wolf Hals immediately pounced on Nathanos, forcing him to retreat.

By the time Nathanos came to his senses, Rexxar had already run into the crowd and was unable to aim. "Damn it!" He swung his sword violently and immediately ran towards the Dark Portal! He nocked an arrow at Lo'gresh and fired a fatal shot at the cloaked enemy. The man cried out in pain, threw down his device, and reached for his neck.

Nathanos ran over and grabbed the strange instrument. It was about the size of a small shield, clearly some kind of machinery, and was emitting a strange ticking sound. He tried to analyze the object as quickly as possible, but its structure was completely foreign to Nathanos. At the same time, Mekkatorque's voice interrupted him:

'The construction on these blueprints is a complete mess, why doesn't anyone realize the rat's...'

Nathanos slapped himself in frustration, his forehead beaded with dust-soaked sweat. He couldn't stop it. Whatever it was for, it looked like it was about to start operating.

"Nathanos!"

He heard someone call his name; it was Khadgar. Fortunately, Alleria was also beside the Archmage. He waved in their direction, while simultaneously holding a massive Arcane Energy orb in his other hand! Nathanos immediately understood.

"I hope your aim isn't bad!" Nathanos hurled the device into the air! Khadgar released an energy ball, sending the thing soaring higher, cutting through the sky and seemingly grazing the opposite cliff.

The explosion shook the entire valley.

Grom cursed under his breath and quickly crouched down to protect his head. Countless shards of broken stone pelted his back and shoulders, sending sharp pains through him. Before the commotion subsided, he looked up and walked towards a Warlock, his heart filled with rage. Grom's fist slammed into him. The Warlock's eyes widened in terror, and he fell backward to the ground!

"Traitor! You almost killed us all!"

"No! No, I swear, they told me it was a shield, a shield that could protect us! I know nothing! I know nothing!"

Grom grabbed the Warlock with one hand and shook him, his vision turning bloodshot. He desperately wanted to sever the Warlock's trachea.

"Who told you? Where is he? I'm going to kill him!" Grom continued to shake the Warlock, trying his best to control his Bloodlust.

"I don't know... he told me it was a shield..."

Grom cursed, threw the poor Warlock to the ground, and returned to the battle.

He had been told it was a shield. With it, the Warsong Clan could escape safely at the last moment. But he had been deceived. Blood Maw? Ner'zhul? Deliberately wanting these rearguard Warrior to die here!

Grom vowed to survive this war, only then would someone stand up and condemn this shameful betrayal!

The explosion severely impacted both the Alliance and the Orcs, but the Alliance recovered much faster than the Orcs Horde. Grom watched helplessly as his people were driven to the southwest like wild beasts, a situation he could do nothing about. A squad of the Alliance soldiers charged in from one side, while another blocked the exit, forcing the Orcs to retreat to a valley entrance far from the Dark Portal and their home.

"Very well!" Grom roared. The Alliance might win, but they would pay a heavy price. Grom raised his head, opened his mouth wide, and let out a deafening scream that froze two Alliance soldiers in place. "Fight, Warsong Clan! Fight like true Orcs! Let the fervor of battle drive your blood! Tear them all to shreds! For the Horde!"