The Battle for Shadowmoon Temple, Part Two

Outside the city gates, a massive battle erupted. Illidan looked down and saw an army of Starcaller and Aldor Charge towards the demon defenders, and the two sides were locked in fierce combat.

Dust billowed across the battlefield, obscuring the sky and blurring the scene. But through the smoke, he could still glimpse what was happening. A Blood Elf Warrior lay dead before a Satyr, and an Aldor Priest blasted a Doomguard to pieces with a dazzling barrage of the Holy Light. A group of servants appeared to be surrounding a Naaru, along with a Broken leader who looked like Akama.

Rumors circulated that this guy had disappeared, that he had surrendered to the other side, and was even plotting with the Aldor and the leaders of the Starcaller to overthrow the Shadowmoon Temple. It seems the rumors have been confirmed.

Rage erupted from the demons within Illidan, and memories of his past imprisonment flashed through his mind, which he easily suppressed.

He was still somewhat angry when he saw the attacking forces gathering together. These fools, didn't they know what was happening here? They thought they were here to attack the demon rulers of Outland, but they knew nothing.

There's no time left, Illidan reminded himself. He turned to look at the Demon Hunter who were eager to fight. They were all handpicked, the cream of the crop, selected from among thousands of others.

"Illidari," he called, spreading his wings and taking flight, drawing all eyes to him. This organization was actually a mixed force, composed of several parts, but now only the Demon Hunter were focused on him. He had important matters to attend to, more important than their honing of their weapons. "My Demon Hunter, you answered the call to fight against the Burning Legion ravages the realms. But these ignorant mortals..." Illidan's gaze returned to the battlefield below, where a Fel Reaver had fallen. "Yet they want to destroy their saviors." The Betrayer took a deep breath, landed, and said viciously, "There's no time. I'll deal with these invaders myself. You must enter Mawdon and reclaim the Sargerite Key!" As Illidan spoke, he unleashed a pre-prepared spell with his left hand, opening a portal at the top of the temple. The Demon Hunter rushed in without hesitation. "Remember!" Illidan raised his voice, "If you fail, all realms will be reduced to ashes!"

Akama led a small group toward the Temple of Karabor.

All around him, demons and followers of the Holy Light clashed. Behind him, Akama felt the heartbreaking presence of the Naaru. It reminded him of everything he had lost since serving Illidan, everything he had betrayed, and everything he had longed to reclaim.

He looked at the fervent faces of his Azeroth allies and the trusting expressions of the Broken. He examined the emptiness within himself, the place where a part of his soul had once resided. He hadn't felt whole in a long time; he'd rather die than continue this wretched existence.

Magical guards protected the exit of the Sewers. This was the weakest point in the defenses; the situation ahead was far worse. Akama cast a spell to open the passage and walked in without looking back. Ahead lay the Sewers of the Shadowmoon Temple, leading to a long stone path and then into a large hall filled with elemental creatures and Naga— sent by Queen Coilfang. Somewhere deep inside, he heard the roar of Naga warrior High Overlord Nath'thall.

He hoped that the warriors of Azeroth were ready for battle.

Illidan knelt on the ground; the Demon Hunter had all left. He had done everything he could. The operation against Mawdon was crucial, and to ensure its success, he had prepared three reinforcements for the Demon Hunter, all elite troops, which meant the Shadowmoon Temple's defenses were weakened. The rest depended on him alone.

The enemy will come soon.

The Ashtongue Clan has betrayed him, and his servants are now attacking their master. They must have been plotting this for a long time.

Illidan probed with his sorcerous senses. In the Sewers, Nath'thall was dead. The spell he used to bind the Shadow of Akama had vanished. Akama had freed himself, and with him, his people. This old Broken was far more cunning than he had imagined.

Things seemed to be getting worse. Gul'tugg Bloodboil, the Fel Orcs on whom Illidan had placed his hopes, was dead. And Talon Blood Maw, he too had failed.

Illidan sensed the enemy approaching him, step by step, without stopping.

The only solace he could find was that his Demon Hunter were steadily advancing towards success. And just as he had anticipated, all he could do now was persevere. He would not surrender, nor would he allow his enemies to gloat. He would never be imprisoned again.

Illidan's consciousness descended to the council chamber below, where he found his council members gone. The four Blood Elf had fled, taking a portion of Blood Elf guard with them. The Betrayer wasn't enraged; he had anticipated this and had no intention of stopping them—it was pointless. He understood betrayal better than anyone and didn't care about their final choices.

The passage to the temple's summit stood before Akama, still sealed. They had just survived several fierce battles, each a matter of seconds. From the fragrant gardens to the opulent apartments, a trail of mangled corpses lay in their wake. And now, before Akama stood a massive Dark Portal, behind which Illidan cast dark magic.

The adventurers of Azeroth waited to see what he planned to do.

"This is the only door that stands between us and Illidan. Step back, friends." He studied the sealing spell that blocked their journey to the top of the temple, a spell composed of many interwoven magical forces.

He needs to break it.

Illidan realized the seal had broken, and the gates to the temple's summit were wide open. Akama had broken the seal so quickly; his power was indeed vastly different now. During his time serving Illidan, he had learned much, including how to use counterspells against his master's magic. Illidan's wings enveloped his body; the final battle of his life was approaching, and he used these last moments to meditate. Soon he would no longer be able to observe the Illidari's progress.

Trembling with fear, Akama reached the summit of the temple. Even now, victory was not certain. Although Akama's people had opened the temple gates for him, welcoming the heroes of Azeroth, the Betrayer might still have a way to turn the tide.

Akama carefully observed the Betrayer kneeling on the ground. He held a skull in his hand, seemingly unaware that his end was already upon him. But Illidan had been waiting for his enemy to enter, and he showed no fear of their numerical superiority. The power he wielded made his nonchalant demeanor quite plausible.

Illidan surveyed the army before him, Akama standing on their side. Illidan still couldn't believe that this aged, Broken had managed to defeat all his valiant servants and break free of all the shackles prepared for him.

A surge of rage welled up in Illidan's heart. He glared at Akama with a look of contempt. "Akama, your double-dealing doesn't surprise me at all. I should have killed you and all your deformed brethren long ago."

Hearing Illidan's malevolent voice, Akama hesitated for a moment, but then rallied and declared, "We will end your rule, Illidan! My people, and all of Outland, will be free!"

"Well said, but it's pointless."

"The time has come! We've finally waited for this moment!"

Illidan glared at the Broken and his pathetic allies. "You're all asking for death!" A burly Druids stepped forward from the crowd in bear form, letting out a defiant roar as he was enveloped in protective spells.

'An existence like my brother?' The Betrayer charged forward, brandishing the Warglaives of Azzinoth. 'He dares to mock me in this way?'

Illidan's first attack was swift and decisive; before the skilled healer could react, the Druids was swiftly felled. A wild joy flowed through Illidan's veins; each kill filled him with ecstasy, especially seeing a Druids fall, which brought him unparalleled pleasure.

Akama had to admit that the Betrayer had fought with incredible ferocity. These allies who had challenged the Lord of Outland were all among Azeroth's most elite warriors, and he had been supporting them with all his might, yet they fell one after another. Illidan was still fighting like a trapped beast, clearly wanting to take as many as possible down with him before he died. Worse still, his Bloodlust nature was taking over, and it was very likely that this would end in his victory.

"Come, my servants, make this traitor pay the price!" Illidan roared.

Akama discovers that reinforcements loyal to the Betrayer are approaching, and if they arrive, they will flank Illidan and his forces from the rear.

Akama shouted, "I'll deal with these scum! Attack, my friends! Charge at Illidan!"

He turned away from the battle to deal with the arriving Fel Orcs and Naga. His allies were now left to face Illidan alone.

A Paladin raised his gleaming warhammer high and brought it crashing down onto the ground in front of Illidan, scattering shards of stone. He leaped into the air, flapping his wings powerfully, and surveyed his attackers.

Lightning Bolt struck Illidan from the ground. A brave mage attempted to slow him with frost magic, and the air began to chill. Illidan unleashed a barrage of dark projectiles, which rained down upon the mage, ravaging his flesh and causing him to howl in agony.

It was time to show these scoundrels the true meaning of power. He hurled his twin blades at either end of the temple and began to summon the power within them. "You rabble, you won't lay a finger on me! Let the Warglaives of Azzinoth consume you!"

Two elementals wreathed in green flames answered his call, leaping from their battle blades. A Fel chain bound them to their respective weapons, and they surged toward the adventurers of Azeroth.

The attackers' attention was diverted, Illidan used this time to recover his strength. They attacked his fire elementals in every way possible. To overcome the raging fire elementals, another warrior of Azeroth fell.

Illidan gathered his last strength and plummeted to the center of his attackers, once again unleashing the power of Fel. Fel swirled around his body, enveloping him in dark protective spells and transforming him into Demon Form —tall, imposing, and unstoppable. His tattoos glowed with an eerie purple light. He launched a ferocious attack, reducing his enemies to ashes with flames, burning their bodies, blood, and souls.

A Warrior, concealed under a protective spell, Charge at him, weapon raised high. Illidan attacked, and the Warrior was immediately knocked down. More and more spells pounded against Illidan, who channeled a portion of his Will into the shadows surrounding him, unleashing a shadow blast that trapped the attackers in a shadow cage.

A moment of silence followed, as Illidan withstood the storm of attacks. He straightened up, staring intently at his opponents, and said, "Is this all you've got? Is this all you're capable of?"

Suddenly, a cold yet familiar voice echoed atop the temple, "Their anger is nothing compared to mine."

Illidan looked up. A familiar figure stood there, clad in armor and wielding a sharp blade. He recognized the armor, the round blade, and the arrogant voice that emanated from it. Without a doubt, it was Maiev Shadowsong. Rage surged within him. For so long, he had kept her under his control, yet he hadn't killed her, wanting Maiev to experience the agony of ten thousand years of imprisonment. And now she was here. Memories of her long captivity flooded back. "Maiev? How can this be!"

However, he already knew the answer. Akama, it was he who released Maiev. Why not? The Broken had betrayed him, so naturally he would use all his power to deal with him.

Maiev's face, hidden behind her helmet, broke into a cruel smile. "Ah! My long hunt is finally coming to an end. Today, justice will prevail!"

The Jailer lunged forward, her blade spinning rapidly. Illidan tried to block her, shadows flashing and waves of fire sweeping towards her. But her armor protected her, allowing her to approach safely. She launched a fierce attack on the Betrayer. Illidan raised his weapon to parry. They strained against each other, frozen in place for a moment. Maiev felt his burning rage and the hatred suppressed for millennia.

Akama's allies joined the battle, swords raised high, spells flying, the clang of weapons clashing echoing everywhere. Illidan fiercely swung his swords at them, dodging their attacks left and right, countering their spells. However, his strength was gradually waning, his steps becoming unsteady, and the champions of Azeroth relentlessly tried to capture him.

Maiev's eyes were only on her prey. She and he both knew this was their final confrontation, and one of them would not leave alive. She thought of Naisha, her lieutenant, buried by Illidan in Tomb of Sargeras, and of her own imprisonment, which fueled her yearning for justice.

Maiev and Illidan's weapons flashed in the blink of an eye, too fast for the eye to follow. With each of Maiev's attacks, she moved closer to victory. Illidan's demonic body was completely countered by her blades; she was about to win, and she could tell from his expression that he knew it too.

The end has come.

Her blade struck its target squarely, slicing through his ribs, piercing his flesh, and heading straight for his heart. His lips twisted in arrogant mockery, and he collapsed to his knees in agony.

"It's over. You've been defeated," Maiev said.

A sharp pain raged in his chest, threatening to burst him open. He knew she was right; his time was up. All his efforts, battles, and schemes over the years would come to an end.

Illidan gasped for breath, his vision blurring as it intertwined with his memories.

A battle blade slipped from his hand.

When he broke free from prison, he encountered his brother. Malfurion faced him and cruelly declared, "This is the price you pay for your many evil deeds; you deserve it!"

What kind of Defias Brotherhood imprison his own flesh and blood for ten thousand years? Malfurion believed that he was a demon, a puppet of the Burning Legion.

His other hand also lost the weight to grip the weapon.

In the dimly lit dungeon, Tyrande stood there, radiant as moonlight, her beauty undiminished. Time had left no trace on her. She remained tall, with pale violet skin and flowing blue-green hair. She met his gaze, her expression becoming inscrutable. Was it regret? Or remorse? He might never know the answer. Illidan felt a pang of anguish.

"The Burning Legion has returned, Illidan. Your people need you once again."

After wasting such a long ten thousand years, he was met with not a single apology, not a single word of remorse, only this one sentence: She had been his accomplice in his imprisonment, but now she needed his help.

Illidan slowly turned his head, his waning strength insufficient to show any pain. Maiev appeared in his sight again. The Wardens was pointing her battleblade at him.

Illidan looked at her, a fleeting pity crossing his face. This woman had hunted him for so long, just as he had for the Burning Legion. Illidan seemed to see himself standing before her, wondering how he would exist if the Legion were ever defeated. No one would accept him—his lover, his family. No matter what great achievements he made, they would not acknowledge him.

Perhaps dying now is not a bad thing; death can help him forget everything.

Thinking of this, a smile appeared on Illidan's lips. He had won this battle; he had won!

He managed to utter his last words with difficulty. "You won, Maiev. But... a hunter without a goal is nothing. Without me, you are nothing."

Darkness engulfed him. In that instant, he saw a vision of the past: he was arguing with Cenarius. Tyrande stood behind her, and then... let out a heavy sigh as she looked at him now.

Then the entire universe returned to darkness.

"Taelan ...De".