Devourer Ramsden

"Arthas!" Nathanos roared with heart-wrenching fury at the name that had instantly filled him with unbearable hatred.

"You should thank me, Nathanos," Arthas chuckled, continuing to command the others in their attack on the surrounding Elf forces. He would make Nathanos the last to fall at the feet of the Scourge.

"Before I came here, I visited Marius Farm. It was a truly... memorable place. It's a shame I didn't see you there, but thankfully I found your mother." Arthas placed Frostmourne against Daphne's neck.

Nathanos stepped forward nervously. The Death Knight enjoyed his expression and could even guess what he was thinking.

"Don't worry, your mother just fainted! She's just as stubborn as you. She's been on a hunger strike for days, and I suspect she won't live to see you one last time."

"You beast! How could you stoop so low as to treat me like this? Where has your honor gone?"

This remark enraged Arthas, who began to grow impatient. He couldn't win an argument with Nathanos, and he was in the wrong on every front.

Thanks to that traitor, that mage named Dath'Remar Drasil, Arthas was able to obtain the key and quickly capture the South Wall gate that separated Quel'Thalas from Lordaeron. What if he had launched a direct assault? Could he have broken through the defenses held by Nathanos?

Arthas sat on horseback, stroking his sword in thought. He had never won a fair victory against Nathanos, but today everything would change. What annoyed him was the need to slowly deal with the Elf surrounding Nathanos. Why did this seemingly fragile race dare to resist his army? These Elf were not only exceptionally beautiful, but also unexpectedly tough, daring to challenge him.

The elimination of the remaining Elf surprisingly didn't take too long. Arthas instructed the mindless Undead not to harm Nathanos; he had other plans.

"Nathanos, I heard that you and Jaina Proudmoore once killed a Frankenstein's monster."

"I took down even more here, didn't you see?"

"Is that so? It seems you're an expert in this field. But that's enough for now. I intend to make you fail at the feet of your former defeated opponent."

Arthas gave a signal. From his army, a stitched monster rampaged towards the Death Knight. The ground trembled with its footsteps. Nathanos was right; he had slain many Abomination in Quel'Thalas, but he lacked the confidence to defeat this next enemy. This was the largest stitched creature he had ever seen, twice the size of a normal Abomination!

"Come and behold the Lich King's magnificent creation, Devourer Ramsden."

"You don't dare to face me in person?"

Arthas felt his confidence had been attacked, and he didn't understand why he didn't kill Nathanos himself and then resurrect him. The Death Knight simply told himself that the purpose of doing so was to humiliate Nathanos, that it was better for him to fall at Ramsden's feet than at his own.

'You're lying!'

"Kill him!"

Ramsden received the order, and his hook slammed down at Nathanos with incredible speed. No one wants to be smashed into a pulp, and Nathanos easily dodged the brutal blow, but he was still struck on the head by a flying stone.

"Ramsden wants to eat meat!"

'This guy can talk?' Thoughts are strange things, Nathanos thought with a touch of dark humor, but he didn't want to laugh; he was the "meat" the other party wanted to eat.

Arthas noticed that Nathanos wasn't just dodging; he was constantly collecting arrows from the ground by rolling and jumping, seemingly preparing to retaliate.

The man jumped back, creating distance between himself and Ramsden. He took a deep breath to calm himself, poured water from the water bag he had retrieved onto his face, and then took a large gulp. He then stood up and attacked; this would undoubtedly be his last battle.

Nathanos kept nocking and firing arrows at a dizzying pace. Ramsden charged forward with a speed completely disproportionate to his size, his shield-like body catching the dangerous arrows. This did not stop him.

When the Stitches was only 8 yards away, Nathanos decisively threw away Lo'gresh and drew his short sword. He spun and thrust, letting out a fierce battle cry.

In fact, he never expected to stop Arthas, not in the first place! The initial plan was to rescue Alleria on the battlefield, which he did, but he never imagined he would end up staying behind...

... Nathanos's face was covered in sweat, his muscles seeming to scream from exhaustion. He looked sadly at his unconscious mother, not even sure if she was still alive.

'I can't save her!'

Ramsden charged again. Nathanos, fed up with the creature, began to fight like a wild lynx in Eversong Forest, channeling his grief and rage into power. He wanted to take this terrifying fellow down with him before he died. As Ramsden's weapon swung towards him, Nathanos dodged to the side, then swiftly leaped onto Ramsden. The Stitches was furious at being toyed with by the agile human on its body.

Arthas saw Nathanos's movements clearly; he wanted to attack Ramsden's head, or even cut it off.

"He's going to win," Arthas murmured, a strange excitement welling up inside him. But things didn't go as he predicted. Nathanos was seized by Ramsden and slammed to the ground. The Stitches mercilessly stomped on the human's chest.

"What's going on?" The Death Knight was puzzled. Nathanos's weapon had almost sliced Ramsden's head open, but he glanced at them one last time. That one glance made Nathanos hesitate. He didn't deliver the fatal blow, nor did he react at all, standing there like a wooden puppet, caught by Ramsden.

What did he see?

Arthas glanced sideways and saw Dath'Remar, the Betrayer who had suddenly appeared there for some unknown reason. He held a ball of black energy towards Daphne, Nathanos's mother. Whatever that energy was, it was not a good thing for the frail woman.

"Stop, you damned reptile!" Arthas unleashed shadow chains, lifting the elf who had been causing Elf right under his nose into the air. Dath'Remar struggled, begging Arthas for mercy! But the Death Knight's grip tightened; he truly wanted to rid this useless piece of trash of the Scourge.

'That's enough, let him go.'

The Lich King whispered, this was the first time Arthas had refused to obey his orders, yet he ultimately did so. Dath'Remar's actions enraged him; this was truly unexpected, something neither Arthas nor Nathanos had anticipated. The Lich King also sensed the unusual emotions surfacing within Arthas.

'Ramsden, bring that man here.'

Arthas heard the Lich King's command, though it wasn't given to him, but he could hear it anyway; the Lich King had deliberately made him hear it.

Nathanos felt as if his internal organs were shattering, blood and foam gushing from his mouth, his vision blurring. For the first time, he realized how close death was to him.

It's almost over!

He lay motionless on the ground, Ramsden easily caught him, roughly throwing him in front of Arthas with just one hand—this was the Lich King's order!

Let's get started!

"He..." Arthas's voice trembled.

He will be your servant, your most powerful servant.

Will he give in?

Nathanos struggled to his feet; he was even able to rise, albeit kneeling, using his bent legs to support his swaying form. It was his memories that enabled him to do so.

Alleria! Never reject me, no matter what I become, please don't abandon me?

I won't, Nathanos. I never will.

This was Alleria's promise to him. And under the sunset in Hearthglen, he had sworn to stay by Alleria's side forever—a vow he would never regret.

In the golden glow, as soft lavender shadows unfurled their cloaks, the sweet scents of the sea and flowers drifted across the land. He and Alleria had promised to hold their wedding in such a setting. Suddenly, Nathanos was overjoyed that Alleria was no longer there, that she wouldn't have to witness this scene, wouldn't have to see his death.

'Fill the thirst of Frostmourne with fresh blood.'

The Death Knight shuddered. The Lich King's whispers and Nathanos coughing up blood mingled in his ears.

He was there, waiting on horseback. He gazed at Nathanos, letting the wind whip his long, pale hair.

'Obey orders!' The Lich King's weapon was so restless, angry, and extremely dissatisfied with Arthas's hesitation.

His grey lips twitched. "As you wish, Master."

He didn't dismount. Invincible roared and charged at Nathanos. Arthas held the reins in his left hand and raised his Greatsword in his right. Nathanos, with his last ounce of strength, met the deadly blade head-on, trying to parry with his own weapons, but they shattered upon impact. The Rune Sword pierced him. Cold, it was so cold, a chilling cold that penetrated to the bone.

Nathanos let out a sob. He never wept for fear or regret; this brief, hoarse cry was due to remorse for his inability to stop the evil enemy. He looked at his mother in anguish; he could not save her.

"Alleria... forgive me."

Arthas then drew Frostmourne, blood splattering onto his pale face. Was it an illusion? In the instant Nathanos's vision went black, a hint of regret flickered across the Prince's face.