Opportunity

"You might be interested in this news," Meryl joked, handing a letter to Nathanos. The Witherer One recognized the emblem on it as news from Theramore immediately. He unfolded the letter, and its contents surprised him.

"The Silver Covenant?"

"I heard it's a force composed of High Elf mages and Ranger, specifically tasked with fighting against the Blood Elf of the Horde. They're currently stationed in Theramore and are an organization that operates outside the Alliance," Meryl said, not forgetting to tease Nathanos. "I also heard that Sylvanas leads this organization."

"So what?" Nathanos sensed something was off about the mage's tone. He glared at Meryl, wanting the mage to finish speaking quickly.

"I always felt that the Female Elf's appearance in Kalimdor was not a coincidence; something must have attracted her."

Nathanos suppressed his anger and said calmly, "Only Theramore would accept them."

"I'm afraid that's not the only reason. I remember your father was also in Theramore."

"I advise you not to play with fire," The Witherer warned, raising his head. Meryl then calmed down a bit.

After a brief silence, the mage recalled the past and saw Nathanos fuming over the Razor Ridge problem. He couldn't help but warn him, "You'd better be careful of Sylvanas. That Female Elf is much more powerful Alleria. She's the first person to see you like this."

Nathanos looked up abruptly in surprise, thinking, "How could this be? It must be a lie Meryl made up to tease me." "She... was the first person to see me?"

"So Medivh didn't tell you the truth." Meryl stroked his chin, realizing he had stumbled upon something terrible.

"Then how do you know?"

"Before joining the Forsaken, I asked Aegwynn about everything concerning you. I must say, I'm quite interested in your romantic history."

"Damn it!" Nathanos roared, leaping to his feet and shoving aside the documents in front of him, completely disregarding the possibility of them hitting Meryl. A dark shadow enveloped him, an effect that only appeared when he was enraged.

The Female Elf's voice was so sweet that Nathanos firmly believed it was Alleria who came to his side and whispered in his ear, sweeping away his pain.

"It's her?" Nathanos looked up, his tears long since dried, leaving only dew. Death hadn't taken his soul, but it had taken his body. People always emphasize that the soul is more important than the body, yet in their eyes, appearance is always the first impression, even Alleria thought so. When he thought that after Alleria rejected him, no living person in the world would accept him, but...

"Sylvanas." Nathanos recalled the Female Elf who always teased him. She was exceptionally capable, and just as stubborn as he was.

"She has always cared about you," Meryl said. "She came to Theramore to take care of your father."

These words amplified the already stretching time even further in Nathanos's mind.

"With her around, I believe my father will not be lonely in his later years."

"Have you rekindled your hope?" Meryl asked, a question that pierced Nathanos's heart like a sharp thorn. Nathanos couldn't help but take a deep breath, remaining silent before the mage. He couldn't speak. "Sylvanas's actions have proven her feelings for you. You two could very well... be a spiritual couple."

"That will only cause pain for both sides," Nathanos replied, turning his back and ordering in an extremely cold and stern tone, "Get out. I need to think about the future of the Forsaken on my own now."

Blasted Lands

His colossal form descended into the chasm before the Dark Portal. As the Legion's foremost representative, Kazzak possessed the power of Mannoroth and the cunning of Tichondrius. When he realized the Third War was beyond saving, the rational demon lord chose to retreat, heading to the Blasted Lands to seek Kil'jaeden's guidance.

Kazzak stared at the Dark Portal before him, the coiled snakes above seeming to warn any who dared approach: danger lurks here, leave at once. But demons know nothing of danger.

Kazzak walked over, his footsteps leaving indentations in the red earth. After a brief preparation, the demon lord began chanting incantations, and the runes he had carved into the ground began to glow. The eyes of the serpent statues on the Dark Portal also glowed green, and then, within the empty gate, eerie energy gradually revealed itself in a kaleidoscope of colors, like a vast universe or an endless void.

Soon, a figure no less imposing than Kazzak appeared in the Dark Portal. Although it was just an image, Kazzak immediately knelt down on one knee in respect.

"Lord Kil'jaeden."

"You've done well, Kazzak. But it's not enough. I need to know when you'll be able to open this door."

The demon lord looked up and said humbly, "Kurul and I have made substantial progress, my lord. Soon, the Dark Portal will be opened once more."

"I hope what you're saying is true, and I also want you to understand the gravity of the situation." Kil'jaeden's image pointed at Kazzak's forehead. Instantly, a powerful force surged through Kazzak's mind, overwhelming Kazzak for a moment, but he had already seen it clearly, and was terrified. Nazriza, the planet in the void and the homeworld of the Demon Lord, now lay shattered before Kazzak, the light from the explosion illuminating the surrounding void...

The image quickly disappeared, and he knelt on the ground, breathing heavily, clearly stunned by the scene, taking a long time to recover. Although he knew Kil'jaeden was known as "The Deceiver," Sargeras's lieutenant wouldn't joke about something like this.

"What... what despicable act led to this, sir?"

"It's Illidan!" Kil'jaeden's voice soared to the heavens, filled with uncontainable rage. "That blind traitor, he dared to personally lead the attack on Nazriza, and at the last moment tore open his own portal, just like Ner'zhul did, causing the entire planet to be ripped to pieces by the energy of the void."

Upon hearing this, Kazzak hurriedly asked, "Lord Kil'jaeden, Nazriza is located in the void. If the planet is destroyed, doesn't that mean..."

"It means that the demons of the entire planet will be unable to be resurrected! This is undoubtedly a huge blow to the Legion. I don't need you to remind me." Kil'jaeden's eyes burned fiercely, and for a moment Kazzak mistakenly thought that he had really appeared in front of him.

The fraudster calmed his anger slightly and continued, "But this is not the worst loss. In the Archive on Nazriza, there is a key that leads directly to Argus — the Sigil of Argus. Illidan has obtained it and will launch an attack soon."

"Illidan will fail, my master. He doesn't understand our power at all."

"No, he knows very well, he is a huge threat!" Kil'jaeden corrected. "Immediately open the Dark Portal and let the creatures of Azeroth deal with Illidan for us. This is also an opportunity, a chance for the Legion to destroy Azeroth once again."