Group S

Ignoring everyone's objections, I set off alone, spending a week traversing Dragonblight, my destination Borean Tundra, because Belmont had told me that the Alliance and Horde's progress seemed less than ideal. During my long journey, I saw many things: towering, mighty Magnataur, Storm Giant wielding lightning, and dragon bones buried beneath the snow. This land holds many secrets, and I was particularly curious: when the Scourge began excavating those bones, why didn't the dragons atop the Wyrmrest Temple stop them? Did they really just stand by and watch, as spectators? This aloofness... I grew increasingly disgusted with the guardians left behind by the Titans.

"Next!" Marshal Balthus dismissed one person who wanted to enlist, but to his annoyance, there was still a long line of people waiting for his approval. He had pressed his stamp on the application forms countless times already.

This job is tedious and boring, but it is very important. The Fortress of Courage needs many new recruits every day to make up for the personnel gaps caused by those who die on the battlefield.

Blather didn't look at the next applicant, but only glanced at the information of the current applicant: race and age. As long as both conditions were met, he would approve the applicant's enlistment. Every time he stamped the registration form with the Alliance's seal, his adjutant would repeat the same sentence, "Report to the recruit camp over there and collect your sword and shield!"

"Next!" Blather called out again, pinching the bridge of his nose as he spoke, preparing to look at the next registration form. But suddenly a commotion broke out among those waiting to register. Blather knew without a doubt that someone was cutting in line, and that person was approaching him, with no one else stopping him.

These new recruits lately have shown varying degrees of courage.

"Hey! Don't cut in line!" Blather raised a hand in a gesture of refusal to the approaching person. "You can wait like everyone else..." The strategist looked up and felt a chill run down his spine, even forgetting to breathe. None of the people who came to register were as armed and armored as the man before him, and he wasn't even human. He was dead, reborn as Death Knight, and had only recently gained the King's approval.

"... Hey, you... you... you're here to join the army?"

"Yes!" the Death Knight replied.

Blather coughed nervously. "Excuse me, may I ask... what kind of work did you do before?"

Wrinkles appeared between the Death Knight's eyes. Before? He stared intently at Blethor, who had once served under the Lich King, who had killed men, women, and children in New Avalon, and who had nearly destroyed the Argent Dawn's stronghold. Yet now, he simply said, "I was a farmer in my past life, and I also served in the army. My swordsmanship will be of great help to you."

"Of course, of course!" Blather pointed to a registration form, believing the Death Knight hadn't prepared one, so he had filled one out for him. "Please sign here. We'll take care of everything."

In Stormwind City, inside a clothing store in the Old Town, Lylessa is showing her wares to a Dwarf. "I think this garment would be perfect for you," she says. "It's very durable, with a very breathable outer layer and a wool lining, making it ideal for cold weather."

The Dwarf was pleased with what he heard, paid the money readily, and left. Lylessa was just about to go to the warehouse to find a new container to replace the old one when the postman happened to arrive.

"Good afternoon, here is a letter for you."

Lylessa looked at the postman in surprise. She had long since lost her family and friends, so no one should be sending her anything.

Who sent it?

Why don't you open it and take a look yourself?

The girl watched the postman leave, then opened the envelope and read the message.

Every word made her heart race, and it reminded her of the terrifying King.

"The Holy Light above! My brother!"

Saurfang pierced the head of a Ghoul lunging at him with his sword, then swept another Ghoul away with his other blade, day after day throwing himself into the battle against the Scourge. But what he wanted was not to see those monsters die...

"Saurfang?"

The Death Knight turned to look at the Fortress of Courage soldiers who had fought alongside him. "What is it?"

"Have you heard? News has come from the Horde that Naxxramas has returned, and Kel'Thuzad has returned too."

"It's a disaster," Saurfang said. "That floating fortress is a million times worse than Ebon Hold."

"I don't understand." The soldier removed his helmet, revealing small wounds on his face and disheveled hair. Looking at him, Saurfang was reminded of his own youth, so young and full of ambition, and now this similar face looked at him with bewildered eyes. "Kel'Thuzad's casket has always been in the hands of the Argent Dawn, how could it..."

"Listen to me, soldier." Saurfang turned his head. "There is no one you can always trust. I don't know how Kel'Thuzad escaped, but I believe it must be related to the Argent Dawn."

After the battle, the other soldiers lit campfires in the open, but Saurfang felt no warmth. He stood far away from the other soldiers, trying to keep his distance. Even receiving the King's orders didn't guarantee his acceptance by the living. He had joined the army to fight Arthas, not to kill a few lone Undead.

"Saurfang?" The shout was filled with worry and urgency. A messenger on horseback had already arrived beside the Death Knight.

"Why are you asking that? Who sent you?" Saurfang found his mouth terribly dry. He clenched his fists to keep his hands from trembling. He knew his shock didn't stem from the battle just now.

"Advisor Talbert summons you back," the messenger whispered. "You must return to Fortress of Courage, immediately, and alone."

The name was not unfamiliar to Saurfang; Talbert had always been by General Alos's side. He had seen him two or three times. But what was his purpose? Saurfang was somewhat puzzled and hurried back to Fortress of Courage with the messenger.

"Come in!"

The Death Knight stepped into Talbert's office. He was alone in the room.

"I'm dealing with some damn paperwork. After all, there are some people, like me... good at politics... but not good at fighting."

This statement greatly offended Saurfang. Northrend was not a tourist resort. Anyone who wanted to set foot in this icy land should at least know how to defend themselves. If the war were to turn against them, such a "politically astute" person would be a burden!

"Enough with the nonsense!" Saurfang didn't lower his voice just because the other person was of higher rank. "Tell me the truth, why do you want to see me?"

Talbert smiled, stood up, walked to the Death Knight's side, and waved for him to follow, "Because you are the person I'm looking for."

"I?"

"I've been watching your abilities closely. It's really inappropriate for someone with your leadership talent to remain unnoticed." Talbert walked ahead, and they passed through room after room, finally stopping at the warehouse door. "Answer me, Saurfang, what is your deepest desire?"

"I will seek revenge... Down with the Lich King!" Saurfang's contemptuous gaze could practically topple a wall. "For everything he did to my family, for everything he did to me."

"If I could give you such an opportunity... what would you think?"

Saurfang struggled to control himself, looking at Talbert and warning him inwardly that he had better not be joking, as the price of making fun of him was very high.

"I'm all ears, sir."

"Listen up. I'm assembling an elite unit. You can call it a strike force if you prefer. But it has an official name: Group S." Talbert pushed open the warehouse door, where the men inside, all handpicked soldiers, had been waiting for some time. "Come meet your teammates."

Saurfang saw courage and boldness in the soldiers' eyes, and thought to himself that these were the people who should fight the Scourge. "What is the mission?"

"You'll have to head north from Howling Soul Tower and fight your way to En'kilah Holy City. Then, there, you'll fight the Scourge using their own technology... You might even have the chance to attack the Lich King himself."

The hatred that had long been suppressed in Saurfang was completely awakened by Talbert's last words. He had gone to great lengths to come to Northrend to defeat Arthas. Although he hadn't expected to arrive so soon, he had no doubt about it; all he had to do was seize this opportunity.

"At your service, sir."

"I knew it, I didn't choose the wrong person." Talbert smiled with satisfaction.

"Please give me some time, I need to prepare."

"No need," Talbert stopped him. "I will provide you with everything you want. Saurfang, I only have one question for you: would you like to be the captain of this squad?"

The Death Knight gaped in astonishment. "... Me, in command?"