Battle of Shadowmoon Temple (Part One)

Molten green lava erupted from the massive summit of Gul'dan's Hand, filling the scorching air with Fel. With each breath, Illidan felt a slight tingling sensation on his skin. He looked around; there was no one there. As always, the very top of the Shadowmoon Temple was his solitary place of meditation.

Years ago, they had driven away the Burning Legion's guards from the temple; the demons wouldn't bother him. However, the Alliance, the Horde, and the people of Shattrath had already gathered outside the temple, and what he was about to do would most likely attract their attention and lead to an attack. He was extremely vulnerable in his astral state, unable to fight or escape. He was facing immense risks here, but it was absolutely necessary.

Surging magical energy flowed everywhere. He took Skull of Gul'dan from his palm, absorbing the Orc Warlock's memories, which told him this was the place to cast the spell. Years ago, Ner'zhul had opened a portal here, sending himself before Kil'jaeden, and now, a massive rift in the cosmic structure still existed here, connecting to the Deceiver's lair.

This night, the flow of energy from the Twisted Void would be the most intense in years. Illidan inscribed characters with flames on the surrounding black pillars, forming a massive barrier, and paced along its edge. He chanted an incantation, a continuous, repetitive chant. All around, vast, multicolored energies swirled, awaiting release. This incantation had taken weeks to craft; it could only be used once, and its release required a specific location, with all signs perfectly meeting the conditions.

He stared at the dark, cloud-covered sky above the temple, where lightning flashed and thunder roared, a stark reminder that time was running out and enemies could appear at any moment to thwart his plans. He retrieved the Sigil of Argus, which he had stolen from Nazriza, the mother planet of the Demon Lord, and gathered all the power he sensed into it.

Illidan stroked the Sigil of Argus, the claws on his thumbs tracing the indentations of the runes until the cold metal creaked. It was truly astonishing that it remained so cold even under such magical influence.

He paced along the edge of the magical circle he had created, inspecting the various guardians to ensure that the energy could pass through correctly and without fail.

Now is not the time to make mistakes.

He lingered at the edge of the circle, examining the tiny traces of magical energy, feeling a pang of gratitude towards Ner'zhul. His attempt and his fate served as a warning; this Shaman had betrayed his Demonic Master and paid the ultimate price for his betrayal.

Illidan took a deep breath, inhaling the strong sulfurous odor in the air of Silvermoon City. It felt like breathing in smoke amidst a raging inferno, causing a sharp, burning pain in his lungs. Time was running out.

In an instant, he began chanting the last few lines of the incantation, with no time to hesitate or stop, and a tidal wave of power was released. His soul was torn from his body, but unlike Akama, he did not let out a mournful howl; instead, he enjoyed the process, letting his soul be thrown into the distorted void.

A passage opened before him, and his soul finally reached its destination. Illidan gazed down at Argus. This world hovered on the edge of the Twisted Void and the material world, completely imbued with the Fel of the Burning Legion.

He plunged headlong into the surface of this world, a place that must have once been picturesque, with lush green forests and shimmering seas. Now, it was desolate and cruel, shrouded in darkness, filled with corruption, decadence, and an endless sense of loss. It was a hundred times worse than the Outland.

The Sigil of Argus throbbed in his claws, pulling him downwards and towards what he sought. The drag was almost irresistible, yet he resisted, studying the sky, marking the positions of stars and constellations, memorizing them. He strained to find familiar markers in the heavens to determine his place in the universe.

He once again felt that cold, merciless distance between his soul and body, a sudden, sharp pain stimulating his sorcery instincts. For a moment, he sensed something observing him. He looked around, but found nothing.

Was this truly the place he was searching for? He quickly circled Argus, observing his surroundings and searching, but still found nothing. Was the fraudster not here?

A thought suddenly popped into his head: if he could sense Kil'jaeden, was it possible that Kil'jaeden could sense him in the same way? Although he had considered the possibility that the Legion Sorcerer would not be able to detect him when he created this spell, Kil'jaeden was different from the others after all.

Worrying about it now was pointless; having burned his bridges, there was no turning back. He let his soul plunge down towards the jagged crystal mountains below, discovering that the Fel had corrupted these mountains, leaving them fragmented.

A city lay before him, faintly visible above the Broken Crystal Gorge. Within the city resided many powerful beings, any one of whom could easily destroy his soul.

As he crossed the city's borders, he felt a surge of energy. This city must have once been incredibly beautiful. Its layout followed a complex set of rules, and its arched structures reminded him of the Draenei architecture of Outland, though compared to the unparalleled architecture he saw here, they were merely dilapidated shacks. This place was far more intricate, and the crystals surrounding the buildings were not a peaceful pale purple, but a terrifying green.

There are also colossal machines used to focus magical energy: Fel Reaver roaming the wilderness, Fel Battleship that haven't taken off, and spires that occasionally flash with lightning...

In the heart of this magnificent city stood a grand palace. Hidden there was a colossal and ominous presence, surrounded by a group of slightly weaker beings. The Sigil of Argus was here to lead Illidan. The Demon Hunter thought to himself, this was the place he was looking for.

His soul raced through the streets like thoughts, and he tried to slow himself down to keep everything under control, lest he stagger from moving too fast.

But then he sensed another presence, something lurking nearby, studying him. He stretched his senses to their limit; there was something there, but he wasn't entirely sure. That thing, like him, was hidden in its protective defenses. A Legion's sentinel? Impossible; if he had been discovered, the demons would have already captured him. He forced himself to observe and wait patiently, but nothing happened. It was time to move on.

He turned his gaze to the projection of the Sigil of Argus, beginning the final stage of his spell. The artifact danced in his hands, drawing energy from its surroundings. Dark energy began to seep into his Astral Form, drawing him deeper into the palace. He drew closer to the heart of this dark labyrinth, sensing the increasing presence of the deceivers. He slowed his pace, his Astral Form floating lower and lower. Despite his numerous precautions, he was caught in a terrifying web of energy. The labyrinth of spells surrounded him, pouring malevolent energy into his soul.

The presence he had sensed earlier had reappeared. He struggled, trying to find it, but to no avail. He cursed. And now it seemed his soul was drifting toward the Deceiver, whom he had originally intended to find Kil'jaeden, but instead of going to confront the demon lord from afar.

If he gets too close, Kil'jaeden will definitely spot him.

It seemed only a matter of time before he faced enslavement or destruction. He desperately tried to break free of the spell, yet he continued to drift relentlessly towards the vast throne room. Kil'jaeden sat there, surrounded by his demonic minions. The Eredar Lord's massive figure was already faintly visible, his entire body glowing crimson and ablaze. Huge, bat-like wings protruded from his back. His face resembled that of a mutated Draenei, with burning eyes, and an aura of terrifying power surrounded him.

There is no doubt that Illidan has found the lost world of Argus, and the way to Kil'jaeden's palace. Unfortunately, the torch-like eyes had already turned to where he was. A twisted smile flashed across the deceiver's ferocious face, and he had already smelled the scent of prey.

Illidan once again felt the presence that had been watching him, surrounding him. Even when Kil'jaeden's eyes were fixed intently on him, he could still feel it, right behind him, or around him.

The deceiver's gaze lingered on him, filled with a destructive threat. Then it swept elsewhere, something drawing his attention away from Illidan, something Illidan didn't realize for a moment. That which had concealed his presence now pulled him out of the throne room. Only for a split second did he sense it—something like the Holy Light, so bright. Just as he perceived it, he heard Kil'jaeden's Titans roar echo from the throne room, as if the Eredar Lord had also noticed it, or perhaps Illidan had slipped away right under his nose.

The Ethereal Shackles binding him were released.

'Get out of here, don't get caught.' The voice in his mind said this and then disappeared. A teleportation spell abruptly sent him back to the Shadowmoon Temple.

Illidan's soul stumbled back into his body, managing to maintain his balance before nearly falling. It took him a while to realize that he had only been gone from this world for a fleeting moment, yet it felt like ten thousand years of imprisonment.

He did it. He survived, and he found what he needed. He confirmed Argus's existence and found the beating heart of the Burning Legion.

"So now it's about how to destroy it." Illidan couldn't hide his excitement; he blurted it out. His excitement was as evident as the smile on his face.

First, we need an army.

Illidan was certain he had the necessary conditions, and he commanded a vast army.

Secondly, there's the question of how to reach Argus, since the Sigil of Argus doesn't have the ability to teleport large armies.

The Betrayer pondered carefully, and a plan took shape in his mind. He chanted a spell and began to summon Demon Hunter.