Confrontation

At the highest point of Windrunner Tower, Nathanos aimed his bow at the jungle below, not escaping the slightest sound. The dead do not breathe; neither did he, nor the Banshee lurking around. Yet, suddenly, a chorus of breaths arose from the shadows below. What did this signify?

Meanwhile, Lor'themar was also pondering how they had been discovered. He was confident his chosen hiding place was correct. Halduron's voice hadn't been loud enough to carry to Windrunner Tower. So how had they been located?

Lor'themar's pointed ears twitched, and the rapid breathing of Halduron beside him suggested that he hadn't yet recovered from the shock.

"Breathing?" Lothar immediately understood, and in alarm, he covered his old friend's mouth and nose with his hand to quiet him down. Then, he carefully turned around, gesturing for the other Ranger to spread out, and slowed his own breathing.

The opponent was a lone individual, and a superb marksman at that. The two arrows in the tree already told them this; it was a clear warning.

Who exactly is this person? Their shooting skills surpass even Alleria's?

'His breathing has slowed down? And become more dispersed?' Nathanos thought to himself. The other party had actually detected the problem and taken countermeasures. This speed had caught him completely off guard. Without a doubt, a troublesome living person had arrived.

"Let's give it a try then." He sneered and immediately changed his firing position. He had lived in Windrunner Tower for a while and was very familiar with the area, so finding a better firing spot would be easy.

"How is the situation?" Halduron couldn't help but ask.

"Don't speak." Lor'themar warily stared at Windrunner Tower, trying to pinpoint the enemy's location, but to no avail. It was near the sea, and apart from the path outside the tower, there was no other way out. He was certain their attackers were still inside. But where were they hiding?

The situation reached a stalemate. Nathanos was unsure whether the people hiding in the jungle had left, but he knew that continuing to drag things out would only benefit him. He was determined to wait until nightfall to leave.

Lor'themar was also aware of the problem. As twilight fell, Windrunner Tower was gradually shrouded in shadow, resembling a castle and filling Lor'themar with awe. Besides the psychological pressure, there was also the physical strain; his vision was severely limited. But Lor'themar couldn't retreat, because he suspected the other party wasn't alive, but an Undead, like the Banshee. Letting such a dangerous being escape would undoubtedly pose a huge threat.

He must be eliminated here!

"Halduron!" Lor'themar called softly.

"What's up?"

"I need your cooperation. You try to make some noise to attract the enemy's attack, while I locate the enemy and take him out."

"It's quite risky for me," Halduron Brightwing chuckled. "But I'm willing to accept the plan. When shall I act?"

"Don't rush, let me find a perfect design location first, then you can follow my instructions."

Several hours had passed, and Nathanos had heard no further sound. He began to suspect that the enemy had indeed retreated.

"Who?" Nathanos, who was focused on the situation in the forest, turned around abruptly, and an unusual voice came from behind him.

"You?" He was shocked to see the two dogs. They had followed him here? When? Nathanos was filled with questions and was extremely surprised.

No, this isn't the time to be distracted! He reminded himself, focusing his attention back on the predicament before him. Finally, the creature couldn't hold back any longer; the bushes in the forest trembled and rustled as it moved rapidly.

Nathanos was growing weary of the game. He aimed an arrow at the easily moving object and fired. However, before he could determine whether the object was dead or alive, a sense of crisis drove him to react. He decisively caught the arrow that was flying from a 45-degree angle below.

'Luring me to attack, then finding my location? I really can't underestimate him.' Nathanos was amazed by his opponent's patience and cunning. Forced into a corner, he leaned back as he grabbed the bow, falling to the ground and hitting some objects to create a noise that would mislead his opponent into thinking he had been hit by an arrow.

"How's the situation?" Halduron ran back and asked Lor'themar in the tree.

"Didn't you hear him fall?" The Ranger jumped down, looking at Halduron with a mocking smile. His confident expression told the Ranger-Captain that he had taken down the enemy.

"Let's rush in and see who that guy is."

"No!" Lor'themar objected. "We're not sure what dangers lie ahead. Besides, it's getting late, and if we don't go back soon, General Vareesa will start to worry about us. Trust my archery skills."

Halduron frowned slightly, then nodded hesitantly.

"Retreat, Ranger! Let's go back and report our findings here."

After a long silence, Nathanos, lying on the ground, laughed. The fact that no one had approached after such a long wait meant that the others had already retreated.

He sat up, still clutching the arrow that had nearly pierced his head; the sun emblem on it wasn't the Windrunner family's mark. Nathanos had initially worried that his opponent was from the Windrunner family of Alleria. Now it seemed his worries were unfounded.

"Just a little bit more!" He stood up, snapped the arrow in two, clapped his hands, and muttered to himself. Then he felt something rubbing against his leg guards. Looking down, he saw nothing but the two dogs that had been following him.

"Why are you following me?" Nathanos asked curiously.

The Undead Hound circling at his feet wagged their tails, seemingly very obedient to him, but Nathanos did not want other Undead around him, especially after breaking free from the Lich King's control, his hatred for the dead had increased more than tenfold.

There was no one he wanted to see in Windrunner Tower, nor were there any clues left behind. Though abandoned, it stirred many memories within him. For example, the room he was in had once been extremely luxurious, adorned with countless items. Nathanos was unaccustomed to this style, whether in the current situation or under any other circumstance.

He reminded himself to be careful in his next move; the Elf' presence here indicated they hadn't completely abandoned their homeland. Moreover, many among them were exceptionally capable. Until he met Alleria and confessed everything to her, they would all consider him an enemy.