Power Restored

The dragons are locked in battle.

"It's impossible to win," Nathanos muttered, finding it hard to accept the fact that such a powerful dragon was so weak before Deathwing. So far, Nathanos hadn't seen even a single piece of steel break off from the black dragon's body.

"How much longer?"

He turned to look at Rhonin and Falstad, who were busy fussing over the Demon Soul. At the Dwarf's feet were many chipped axes, salvaged from the battlefield. Nathanos was outright skeptical of his method; if physical methods like hacking and striking could destroy the Demon Soul, the dragon guardians would have done so long ago. However, Nathanos didn't stop him; after all, perhaps it really would work? Compared to Falstad, Rhonin was slightly more astute; he tried many different spells, but still to no avail.

"No. Nothing works on it."

Alleria looked at the golden disc on the ground, and, on a whim, took a magical arrow from her quiver. Sathoryl's arrows were blessed by the Sunwell. She gently traced the arrowhead across the smooth surface of the Demon Soul, but left no mark.

Falstad scratched his head. "If we don't destroy it, we can't return the power inside to the dragons."

"There must be some kind of magic protecting it," Sylvanas murmured. "Perhaps some special magic could destroy it?"

"Then it would have to be a powerful spell. But my mana is simply not enough, unless I have another item with magical power..." Rhonin wiped his sweat. His words reminded Nathanos.

A magical item? He remembered Grot, or more precisely, the insignia that Orcs had given him. It was still with him.

"Try this!" Nathanos said, reaching into his pocket and showing the little gadget to everyone.

"What is this?" Falstad asked.

That unassuming gem successfully drew everyone's attention. Alleria looked at her lover with mixed feelings. When Nathanos took out this thing, she felt a surge of hope. As always, he always stood up for her in crucial moments.

"This is what Ner'zhul used when he communicated with Deathwing. I suspect it must belong to Deathwing, and it must contain immense power!"

Under their watchful eyes, Rhonin took the gem and brought it close to the disc. Nathanos was right; the gem in this emblem possessed powerful magical energy, and if it truly was related to Deathwing ... He hesitated, unsure how to use it.

Falstad, seeing his impatient expression, reminded him with displeasure, "Mage, if you don't know what to do, use the simplest method." He glanced at the discarded battle axe on the ground. "We've already tried many times."

Rhonin nodded, the black gem seemingly gleaming in his hand. He turned the gem to its sharpest point. Rhonin knew perfectly well that this method might not work, but he had no other choice.

Carefully, he ran the gem across the center of the Demon Soul.

Deathwing's weapon sliced through the Demon Soul's hard, golden surface as easily as a razor blade cutting through butter.

"Watch out!" Falstad pushed Rhonin away just in time, and a beam of bright light suddenly shot out from the cut.

Nathanos's eyes widened as he felt the immense energy surging from the cracked artifact, nearly losing his footing. He had never felt such a powerful energy fluctuation before. Was this the power of the Titans? This scene taught Nathanos a lesson. His voice trembling, he shouted to the mage, "Quick!"

Rhonin knew he had to act quickly, or the energy would vanish forever. He chanted the incantation, constantly adjusting the spell, completely focused, not wanting or daring to make a mistake at such a crucial moment. This spell had to work.

A strange rainbow flashed and rose higher, soaring into the sky. Rhonin repeated the incantation, emphasizing the result he desired...

The dazzling light had now risen a hundred feet into the air, where it hovered and coiled before splitting into four beams that flew toward the dragons who were locked in fierce combat.

"Did it work?" Rhonin asked, panting.

Naza gazed into the distance at Alexstrasza, Deathwing, and the silhouettes of other dragons. "I hope so..."

"Haven't you been through enough? Do you still intend to continue fighting against an invincible force?" Deathwing looked at his opponents with utter disdain. These fools continued to bang their heads against the wall in vain, even though they knew that even combined, their strength was still insufficient.

"Deathwing, you have brought too much pain, too much tragedy," Alexstrasza retorted. "Not just to us dragons, but to all the mortal races of this world!"

"It's all meaningless, Alexstrasza. Life will inevitably lead to death, and I am death!"

The Queen of Dragons shook her head helplessly. "No... you'll never understand..."

"I've had enough of you, and all of you! I should have wiped you out ten thousand years ago."

"But you didn't succeed! Creating the Demon Soul also weakened you for a long time..." Ysera pointed out.

Deathwing scoffed. "That was before! My plans for this world are progressing rapidly... After I kill you all, I'll torture these mortals."

In response, the red dragon attacked again. Deathwing laughed, knowing that her spells, like before, would do no harm to him. Protected by his own strength and the plate armor embedded in his body, no one could hurt him...

"Ah!" Suddenly, Alexstrasza's Deathwing slammed down with unexpected force. Even his adamantite armor couldn't mitigate the terrifying impact of the attack. Deathwing immediately conjured a powerful shield to resist, but he had already been injured. His body endured pain he hadn't felt in centuries.

"What?"

Alexstrasza was initially quite surprised, but then a knowing smile appeared on her face. "What I just did is exactly what I've dreamed of doing for years!"

She now appears larger and more powerful. In fact, all four dragons have undergone the same change.

"Do you feel it? Do you feel it?" Malygos kept repeating. "I've returned to myself! A long-lost feeling."

"It's time...!" Nozdormu replied, his jewel-like eyes shining with an unusually bright light.

"That's right, it's time!"

Ysera opened her captivating eyes, so striking that Deathwing could only desperately avoid her gaze. "The nightmare is over," she murmured. "Our dream is finally about to become a reality!"