Void Dragon

The Void Dragon Mother, Karinaku, was trapped, darkness pressing down on her from the sky. She could breathe, but she couldn't move. How could this be? How could those tiny insects that had ensnared her have managed to seize a dragon?! This couldn't be!

But this actually happened...

She wanted to roar, but dared not utter a sound. The Dragonmaw Orc had warned her that if she dared to resist, a Void Dragon would be beheaded. Such treatment was driving her mad. She needed freedom! There must be a way to escape...

Karinaku tried to move her right foot, and as before, pain washed over her whenever the chains on her foot sensed her slightest movement. Although she appeared to be half-real, she was undeniably real, which meant she felt pain.

She spread her magnificent, shimmering wings, her enormous body dominating most of the platform. Huge, crystalline horns, jagged and prominent, stood atop her head like a helmet. Her pearly white eyes gleamed as she surveyed the open area before her: below, the fortress was heavily guarded, and the rugged ground was strewn with jagged, sharp objects.

Karinaku watched her offspring being enslaved, just like her, with at least ten pairs of eyes watching her. Her hateful gaze fell on the tiny insects, the very creatures that dared to hold her captive.

"Filthy worms! You have no idea what you're doing!" With Karinaku's roar, her already ethereal body became even more transparent. She glared at the swarm of creatures that had captured her. These hideous things resembled mutated Orcs, with protruding spikes along their spines. Their sinister mouths were filled with sharp teeth, and their eyes were as red as flames from a furnace.

From the chains binding her feet, a silver energy chain suddenly leaped up, wrapped around her neck, and tightened rapidly. The strong rope caused her a suffocating pain. At the same time, her other forepaw was also bound. Karinaku futilely tugged at the second silver rope, but this slender magical cord was incredibly strong. Finally, exhausted, she collapsed forward with a painful roar, crashing heavily onto the cold, rocky ground. Countless cracks appeared in the ground.

"Let me go!" the void dragon roared. The magical shackles flashed with light, causing her body to ache once more. "Let me go!" Karinaku could only cling to the ground, struggling with all her might, but the magical restraints rendered her powerless.

The Orcs continued with their tasks. Clearly, they paid no heed to the Void Dragon Mother's cries. Only one Orcs, riding behind her offspring, let out a triumphant laugh as she suffered.

Karinaku unleashed a torrent of dragon breath at the insect. A pale green energy enveloped the monster, causing it to let out a screech that satisfied Karinaku. But her magic also harmed the Void Dragon Whelp. The Orcs and his mount were reduced to charred remains. She cared nothing, for the offspring was now utterly enslaved by the Orcs; if it had any dignity left, it would not have allowed these beasts to ride on its neck.

A chain immediately flew out from the shackles, wrapped around Karinaku's jawbone, and slammed her head down. The dragon, whose entire body was covered in the luster of emerald, struggled desperately, though to no avail.

Just then, the door at the back of the platform opened, and the surrounding braziers were lit. Karinaku couldn't see what was happening behind him, but he could sense two creatures appearing; one was extremely powerful, and the other was the true culprit who had captured him.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw all the Orcs around her kneeling on the ground. Zzeraku heard a faint sound; a breeze was blowing.

"The Dragonmaw Orc are indeed skilled at capturing dragons," a voice rang out. This female voice pierced the soul of the Void Dragon Mother, sending a chilling dread through her.

"I care more about your bargaining chips than your evaluation," a hoarse, aged male voice replied.

"There's absolutely no need to worry. As long as she's here, our deal can continue. But I still have one more question: when exactly are you going to capture Nelsaraku?"

The woman's voice grew closer... Suddenly, a tiny figure appeared before Karinaku. It was a beautiful, graceful Elf, clad in light leather armor. She began to scrutinize the Void Dragon Mother. Karinaku, in turn, stared intently at her, for she had just mentioned her mate, the leader of the Void Dragon.

"He can't escape. My Dragon Knight are already searching for him."

"I hope so." A smile appeared on the Elf's face. She looked up at the back of the dragon. "One more thing, you'd better not tell your Demonic Master about our dealings, or he won't let you off the hook."

"Illidan's attention is now entirely focused on Hellfire Peninsula. I've heard that the armies from Azeroth have already advanced."

The Elf nodded. Karinaku was surprised to notice a scent similar to hers emanating from the creature before her. Long, black hair cascaded over the woman's shoulders. She turned her face away, seemingly unconcerned about the captured behemoth. But Karinaku knew her entire attention was still on him. The chilling aura emanating from those slanted eyes sent a shiver down Karinaku's massive frame.

The woman's red lips curled slightly. "You don't need to make things difficult for yourself, my little darling. You can make yourself more comfortable. Don't rush, once I get more Dragon Egg, I'll take you home and take you to find your true destiny."

On the other side

What immense power could have sculpted that mountain? If Nathanos hadn't witnessed it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that Xirezege was telling the truth.

"Gul'dan!" The Witherer murmured, the name of the dead man still echoing in Outland, especially in Shadowmoon Valley. The mountain named after him— Gul'dan's Hand —was ablaze with Fel flames. It was said to be the place where the Orcs' corruption began, the place where they drank Demon Blood.

At the foot of the mountain lay a vast lake formed from Fel magma. Because time and space in Outland were severely distorted, glimpses of the past could still be seen on its shores, just as Nathanos saw at this moment. A group of Orcs knelt in neat rows on the ground, with an altar before them. Kneeling before the altar was another Orcs, concealed beneath a large black cloak, his face obscured. However, through the shouts of the other Orcs, Nathanos already knew this man was Gul'dan.

He was probably performing some kind of ceremony, while his tribesmen beside him were accusing him of destroying everything. Even so, Gul'dan did not stop; the changes here said it all.

Nathanos did not try to stop Gul'dan; all he saw were fragments of the land's past. History cannot be changed, and what has happened cannot be stopped.

"I'm back." Meryl appeared behind the Witherer.

"Faster than I expected, Meryl. What have you discovered?"

"That Dark Ranger went to the crystal-covered area south of the Shadowmoon Temple in Shadowmoon Valley."

"She's quick," Nathanos sneered, his gaze never leaving the mountain peak of Gul'dan's Hand. Was green lava still spewing from its summit? "Are our troops in position?"

"They're all in Warhammer Mountain in Nagrand. We've lost quite a few men fighting the Ogre," Meryl reported, approaching Nathanos from behind. "Rassuvios hasn't done anything unusual."

"The person who seduced him is in Shadowmoon Valley, so of course he won't do anything."

"So what are you going to do next?"

"You keep an eye on that Dark Ranger and see what she does. As for me... I'll stay behind." Nathanos stepped forward, crossing the path through the Orcs to stand beside the remnant of Gul'dan. He looked at the Warlock, especially at his head. "To obtain the forbidden power of the Curse Cipher, we must delve into Gul'dan's world."