Cooperating with a Demon

"Arrogant bastard!" Nathanos cursed from a hillside not far from the Undead base. He wanted nothing more than to twist the demon's head off, and he knew he would have the chance.

"We've brought back the message you requested, sir!"

"Well done, little shadow." Nathanos nodded with satisfaction. "Now I'm looking forward to hearing some good news."

"As you think, there really is a second route to Nakroth's base, and it can even take you directly to his rear. It's just that I'm afraid we can't take that route."

"Why?"

"That's a waterway, sir. And there's a group of Troll guarding the dam on the river."

River? Dam? Nathanos squinted and thought for a moment, then a smile crept onto his face. "We can't take this route, but that doesn't mean others can't."

A group of serpent-like creatures, their bodies writhing, built a camp in the shallow water below. Unlike the structures of humans and Elf, the serpent-like creatures seemed completely unconcerned about the river's erosion affecting their foundations. Among these monsters, only one stood with its feet firmly on the ground, chest puffed out. Nathanos smiled. This was the person he was looking for.

Illidan had changed drastically since their last meeting. If it weren't for the familiar battle blades and the pale purple skin adorned with swirling tattoos, Nathanos wouldn't have recognized him. His eyes were covered by a black cloth, but it couldn't conceal the pair of sinister green eyes behind it. This guy was definitely saturated with demonic energy now.

Nathanos observed for a moment. The Night Elf, now a demon, was angrily accusing the snake woman speaking to him, as if she were burdened with countless crimes.

Nathanos laughed.

"You're trying to persuade me to abandon the operation!" Illidan roared. "Tyrande's life is in danger, I cannot stand idly by, the Scourge will kill her!"

"Are you sure, Lord Illidan?" The Lady Vashj's voice rang out, only to provoke Illidan's wrath. Nevertheless, she continued to persuade her master, "The Undead outnumber us many times over, and we are at a disadvantage in ground combat, moreover..."

What else? Illidan was waiting for her to continue, and he swore that once she finished speaking, the Warglaives of Azzinoth would turn her to ashes.

But he was met with a different voice.

"Besides, Nakroth has an overwhelming air force. Are you sure you can rescue your beloved woman with the rabble around you?"

While it was generally unwise for Nathanos to come alone and provoke so many serpents, he believed Illidan wouldn't attack him immediately. He should still remember him.

The Naga in the camp quickly went on alert, watching Nathanos warily. Illidan suddenly turned his head, snorted, and roared, "A human reeking of death? You dare to come alone! Wait a minute!! You look familiar."

"Looks like you still remember me, Illidan." Nathanos called out his name directly, then added jokingly, "Although I once doubted whether you could actually see me."

"Of course I can." The demon sneered. "I remember now, you're the one who tried to take me away in the dungeon. Who... are you?"

"That's not important, demon. What's important is that I can help you rescue the priestess Tyrande. Although I don't have any affection for her, we should cooperate for our own benefit."

"Cooperation?" Illidan read aloud with interest, the word sounding like a joke to him, yet his tone suggested he wanted Nathanos to continue, or perhaps he simply wanted to get the Undead's attention.

"It seems you are even more cunning Gul'dan." Nathanos fired an arrow to his right rear with lightning speed, without glancing back once. He sensed the snake-men preparing to ambush him from behind solely through his hearing. Undoubtedly, this was Illidan's order. However, Nathanos did not kill the attacker.

The arrow only struck a tree next to the Naga. Illidan quickly noticed that the tree was withering and dying at a visible rate, and he then realized how dangerous the arrow in the Undead's hand was.

"This arrow could have hit your man in the head, but to show my sincerity in cooperating, I had no intention of taking his life."

"My Naga are not picky eaters, not even a talking corpse. The problem is, why should I believe you? After all, your kind are trying to kill my Tyrande." Illidan said, arms crossed, but the look of disgust on Fashki's face towards the Undead before her showed that she and her kin were not as indiscriminate in their eating as her master claimed.

"The same kind?" Nathanos clenched his fist, then immediately released it. He wanted to bring the demon to his senses; his beloved woman loved his brother, but Illidan should know that, and to avoid him going berserk, Nathanos swallowed the words that were on his throat and focused on answering his question.

"Why don't you believe me? It's not like this is the first time you've worked with the Undead."

These words silenced Illidan. Indeed, his previous collaboration with Arthas had granted him the power of the Skull of Gul'dan, making him stronger.

"Then let's get straight to the point. What exactly do you mean by cooperation?"

Finally willing to talk properly? Nathanos sheathed his bow and told Illidan everything he had learned, including that his men would help him kill the Troll and destroy the dam blocking his way. In return, Illidan would not only rescue Tyrande but also kill the Demon Lord Nakroth.

"That arrogant Demon Lord didn't leave many troops with him. If you launch a sudden attack, he'll never expect to die at the hands of anyone."

"This plan sounds great, so... I agree."

"A wise choice." Nathanos's red eyes lit up. He had to persuade Illidan more than he had expected, but the result was as expected, and even better than he had anticipated.

"I have another question. Back in Dalaran ..." Nathanos could almost see the upward curve of Illidan's lips. "Was it you?"

"It's a pity I failed, otherwise your master would have been wiped out long ago."

So that's what Medivh meant, but Illidan saying he failed, does that also mean...?

"However, I believe my magic has severely injured your master. He won't live much longer. You'd better find a place to hide quickly. The Scourge's doom is near."

The Lich King was severely wounded? This news almost made Nathanos ecstatic, but he restrained himself and carefully concealed his thoughts from the Lich King. He knew, however, that it wouldn't be long before he no longer heard those maddening whispers.

"Then good luck, demon." Nathanos turned and left quickly; what happened next was none of his concern. He had something far more enjoyable to do than kill Nakroth —wait for the Lich King's power to wane.