The Dark Portal Opens

Kazzak channeled the energy of the Dark Portal, sacrificing thousands of souls to reconnect the magical matrices of the two worlds. While the rest of the Blasted Lands basked in sunshine, the sky above the Dark Portal was turbulent, filled with lightning and thunder.

Inside the Dark Portal, a flurry of activity unfolded. Thanks to Kazzak's efforts, the Dark Portal finally stirred, but opening it still required immense magical power. The demon lord didn't expend his own energy, and under his watchful eye, the sorcerers of the Blasted Lands, who had pledged allegiance to demons, worked frantically, each one drenched in sweat and emaciated. Mages, Warlock, and several Demon Lord desperately cast spells. They were already under immense pressure, but Kazzak still walked straight to one of the Ogre Warlock and roared at him. The man was slacking off, thinking Kazzak wasn't paying attention to him; clearly, he was wrong.

"Get to work, you piece of trash!" Kazzak raised his Greatsword high and slammed it down onto the dry, red ground, leaving a clear crack.

This terrified the spellcasters, who continued working with trepidation, hoping to complete the task as soon as possible so they could rest.

"For Lord Kil'jaeden's sake," Kazzak said to the slacking Ogre, who clutched his head and trembled, "I'll spare your life, but I'll take all your mana." He pointed to the Dark Portal, where a dazzling array of colors appeared in the center: a crimson red like that of the Blasted Lands on either side, and a Fel green in the center. Kazzak wanted to rush forward and forcefully tear away the green, normal magic with his bare hands, but he couldn't; he would be blasted to smithereens by the magic.

Soon... it won't be long...

Kazzak was completely focused on the portal, and the demon didn't even notice when someone approached him.

"Lord Kazzak," a voice said coldly, "Aren't you afraid the fools of Tower of Observation will notice your blatant actions?"

He turned sharply to her, his face filled with shock at the person who had disturbed him, so Recklessness, and yet one of his own kind. "Kurul, you'd better get lost right now! How dare you bother me at this critical moment."

"I'm just worried."

Kazzak hissed, "Worried? You mean Tower of Observation? I already sent Orcs and Ogre from the Blasted Lands to launch a major attack on their fortress. Now those humans and Dwarf are too busy to take care of themselves."

"But the Alliance will receive the news soon."

"The Dark Portal was already open then," Kazzak replied sternly.

Kurul glanced at the leader, Kazzak was considerably taller than him, and asked, "So, what mission do you need me to carry out?"

"Indeed." Kazzak turned to look at the Dark Portal. "The Legion's invasion of this world will begin soon. This time, we must ensure it is foolproof. We must also seize all the power we can obtain. Go and find a weapon: the Dragon King's Battle Blade!"

"The Dragon King's Battle Blade?" Kurul exclaimed in surprise. It was a powerful artifact imbued with the power of five-colored dragons. But Kurul remembered that when Archimonde was defeated at Mount Hyjal, the weapon shattered, and the fragments of the blade were secretly hidden by the Legion resistance forces.

"Yes, the Dragon King's Battle Blade," Kazzak repeated. "I need you to find the magical fragments and reforge this weapon. With the Dragon King's Battle Blade and the Legion's determination to cleanse this world, we will be unstoppable."

"Yes, Master. I'll go right now." Kurul took a step back, but then, as if remembering something, he continued, even though he knew Kazzak was already focused on the Dark Portal and it wouldn't be wise to bother him again. But this matter was too important for him to ignore. He said, "Lord Kazzak, Kathra'natir is missing. I can't find him."

"Those useless Demon Lord should be wiped out along with their planet!" Kazzak roared. The Demon Lord Kathra'natir had been assigned to Azeroth with him on a secret mission to open the Dark Portal, but in the end, the guy suddenly disappeared. Kazzak had done all the preparations. The leader of the Doomguard hoped that after this incident, Kil'jaeden would see who his most loyal servant was.

The Demon Lord who were casting spells looked grim upon hearing this, but due to Kazzak's immense power, they dared not utter a word of anger.

"I understand!" Kazzak regained his composure. He glanced at Kurul, indicating that he could leave, and also told his subordinates that he would not care about Kathra'natir; whether that guy was dead or alive was no longer important.

Zul'Gurub

Nathanos stepped into this land. Belmont had once said that this place was the kingdom of the Gurubashi Troll, with a history spanning thousands of years and countless treasures buried within. However, the Witherer wasn't there for sightseeing or exploration. Following him were carefully chosen Deathstalker and the Orcs Xirezege Firefang—his Outland guide. And there was Meryl Eastwind, now known as Xie Feng; the Witherer wondered why he had changed his surname, and what the point was.

Nathanos looked around; the traces of battle were gradually being concealed by newly grown vines. In the center of Zul'Gurub stood a high platform. As Nathanos climbed it, a massive skeleton appeared before him. It was the skeleton of a snake. The Witherer found this strange; snakes should have no bones, and this snake was not only enormous, but it also seemed to have scythe-like hands, and strange structures on its back resembled wings.

"Loa in the form of Wind Serpent?" Nathanos smirked. "The Alliance and the Horde have the strength to take it down. Do you think they can handle Kazzak?" He looked up at a raven perched on a treetop, which let out a few sharp cries before flapping its wings and landing beside him. Meryl Xie Feng, now fully recovered, looked at the skeleton before him with disgust and said in a low voice, "Compared to the Burning Legion, a self-important Loa is nothing."

"I heard that the adventurers who participated in the fight against Haka all died not long afterward."

"Haka is cunning. His blood, even the air he breathes, is full of toxins. Anyone who comes into contact with him will be infected." Xie Feng knelt before the Wind Serpent's corpse. "This guy deserved to die."

"I've heard that the ancient half-gods worshipped by the Night Elf have their souls enter the Emerald Dream after death. So what about the Troll Loa Spirits? Where do their souls go?"

"I don't know, but Haka's influence hasn't disappeared yet; I can feel it."

Nathanos nodded slowly. Just then, a Deathstalker ran over, hurriedly bowed to his leader, and said excitedly, "Master, over in the Blasted Lands..."

"I understand," Nathanos interrupted him, then looked at Meryl, who nodded in agreement. "Go tell everyone to prepare for action."