Silver Arena (9)

Below the arena? Fordring was bewildered by this sudden question. He stood there, staring at Nathanos, speechless for a long time.

The question seemed rather absurd, but Nathanos couldn't help but worry as he recalled the words echoing in his mind. How could he explain it? The voice had warned him to pay attention to the arena, and then he discovered the Black Knight —this was no coincidence, but a hint.

It sounded somewhat ridiculous, but only Nathanos knew the truth. He quickly waved his hand. "It's nothing, I'm just a little worried."

"The battle may have exhausted you."

The Witherer gave a bitter smile; he wished he was tired enough to stop.

Just then, a soldier knocked on the door.

"What is it?" Tirion asked.

"Highlord, the Death Knight have sent a messenger who wants to see you."

Nathanos and Tirion exchanged a glance, and the latter gave a signal for the Forsaken to return behind the screen.

"Let the messenger in." Fordring returned to his desk, wondering if Darian Mograine had changed his mind about participating in the competition; if so, all the better.

The door was pushed open, and an Orcs strode in. The blue light in his eyes told Tirion that he was a Death Knight.

"I salute you, Highlord," the Orcs said.

Fordring nodded slowly. He noticed that the Orcs's salute was the same as that of ordinary Orcs; it seemed death couldn't completely change them. "Is there anything you want to tell me, messenger?"

The Death Knight shook his head, a gesture that made Fordring frown. "I'm delivering a message for Mograine, but not to you, but to the master of the Forsaken. The Highlord says he's in your arena."

"I wonder what business Darion has with the Witherer?" Tirion knew he had overstepped his bounds by asking such a question, but the Death Knight's sudden visit and request was indeed unsettling, especially since he hadn't heard from Mograine for some time.

"I don't know, I'm just a messenger."

Ashbringer stroked his chin. If another race had said this to him, it might have aroused his suspicion, but the other party was an Orcs always acted straightforwardly.

"It seems you must respond in person," Tirion said in the direction of the screen.

Under the watchful gaze of the Orcs Death Knight, the Witherer stepped forward. His steps were still somewhat unsteady; he needed some time to recover from the battle with the Black Knight.

"Speak, Orcs. What message did Darion bring me?"

The Death Knight saluted him and said, "The Highlord invites you to the Shadow Vault."

"The stronghold you captured?"

When Nathanos said this, the Orcs's cracked lips curved into a smile, and he nodded in response. "Yes, the Highlord awaits you at Shadow Vault."

"When?"

"Tomorrow!"

The urgency surprised the Witherer; a meeting the day after the messenger's arrival? But this also meant that Mograine must have something important to discuss with him.

"I understand, I will go."

After the messenger left, Tirion spoke, "To be honest, I have always underestimated Darion's intelligence work."

The Witherer nodded in agreement. Not only Tirion, but even he himself had underestimated the Death Knight. Nathanos's presence here was top secret; even Fordring had only just learned of it. The arrival of the Death Knight's messenger indicated that the Witherer had been under their surveillance long before, perhaps from the very beginning. This showed that the Knights of the Ebon Blade's intelligence work was far more effective than imagined.

"Have you been to Shadow Vault?" Tirion asked.

"That place is near my camp. It was originally the Forsaken's next target as they ventured into Icecrown Glacier, but the Death Knight took it first."

"If you see Darion, please persuade him to join the competition here as well."

Although he had heard descriptions of it before, Nathanos was still awestruck by the magnificent appearance of Shadow Vault. The palace, perched atop a mountain peak, was topped with a spire of Saronite, as imposing as Icecrown Citadel. The Knights of the Ebon Blade had only recently seized this stronghold from the Scourge. Nathanos couldn't help but wonder how long the Scourge's influence would linger here.

He spotted Darion among a group of Death Knight leaders, who seemed to be plotting something beside their strange Rune Forge. Darion had donned his armor again, looking imposing. The message was clear: Darion was the Highlord of this place, and no one else.

Upon seeing Nathanos appear, the leader of the Death Knight immediately ordered his men to withdraw, then waved for the guest to meet him in a secluded corner of the hall.

"I happen to have some new business to attend to," Nathanos said. "The Lich King's spies have infiltrated the Argent Tournament Grounds, and perhaps more."

Death did not take away Darion's unrestrained mockery. "I thought you would boast that a premeditated duel showed the Alliance and the Horde the importance of cooperation."

Nathanos frowned; this question had been troubling him for a long time. "Varian doesn't believe the Horde can be trusted. Thrall saw Grom's shadow in Garrosh, but he was incredibly foolish; he forgot what Grommash did in his lifetime, only remembering his heroic death."

"A father can never truly see what his son is like," Darion said, his tone enigmatic. Nathanos found himself really wanting to see Darion's expression hidden beneath his helmet at that moment. Death Knight might show sadness when he said that. And of course... the Witherer himself.

"Yes."

A Death Knight approached, silently handed a parchment scroll to Darion, saluted, and returned to his post. Nathanos was surprised to find that Darion hadn't given his men any instructions or gestures, which made him begin to suspect whether the entire Knights of the Ebon Blade operated in the same way Arthas controlled the Scourge.

"Do you remember what I said to you when we were on the Argent Vanguard?" Darion asked, his tone as casual as when he was spreading out a parchment scroll.

"You say that Ashbringer alone cannot defeat the Lich King," Nathanos said. "And I support your plan. I remember I have already entrusted you with the Light's Vengeance."

"It's good that you remember this, but I didn't make the point clear at the time."

The Witherer raised an eyebrow, waiting for the Death Knight to deliver his so-called "key point".

"The battle reports from all over Northrend indicate that the Lich King has appeared in many places: Drak'Tharon Keep, Zul'Drak, Utgarde Keep, Naxxramas, and Naxxramas."

Nathanos and Mograine stared at each other. The Witherer had always considered themselves the ones most concerned about the Lich King's whereabouts, but now an even more "fanatic" one was standing in front of them.

"Every time he appears, he displays immense power, and his power only grows stronger. Therefore, I've come to the conclusion that the Lich King's power has no limits." Darion turned the parchment scroll over and placed it in Nathanos's hand. "Therefore, if we are to defeat him, we must also surpass our own limits. Behold!"

The Shadowmourne?

Nathanos was initially unsure what the envisioned weapon would look like. The scroll was covered in arcane Arcane, but as he read the forging formulas carefully, he suddenly felt his blood boil.

"Darion," he said, his voice filled with surprise and disbelief. "I never imagined this weapon would be so complex."

"Before the Knights of the Ebon Blade marched to Northrend, I gathered all the skilled craftsmen under my command. This is the result of their months of tireless work," the Death Knight replied, Nathanos could hear the sickly laughter emanating from his lips. "Using the most primal Saronite as the material, and forging it with the weapon of the Light's Vengeance. It feels fitting to use his weapon against him, doesn't it?"

Nathanos's gaze remained fixed on the parchment. "This will consume a vast amount of primal Saronite. Where are you going to find so much material? And how will you imbue this weapon with such power?"

Darion continued ruthlessly, "We'll address the first question later. Once this weapon is forged, we will bathe it in the blood of the Lich King's most powerful minions, and then let it feast on the souls of hundreds and thousands of enemies."

Terrible weapon!

Nathanos could sense the evil intent simply by holding the parchment. "In that case, no one can control this weapon. Ashbringer, for example. I heard that you were unable to unleash your power in the battle at Light's Hope Chapel because of the soul hidden within the sword. Souls generally have their own Will."

Darion didn't pause to ponder the question Nathanos had raised; he seemed to have already found the answer, his voice filled with excitement. "If we strengthen it with fragments of the Frozen Throne, we can solve this problem!"

"What did you say!"

Nathanos's explosive voice echoed throughout the hall. Many of the Death Knight were surprised by his voice, stopping their work and turning to watch the conversation. Darion remained standing in his place, motionless.

"That's why I need your help."

"A fragment of the Frozen Throne?" The Witherer uttered these words in a cursed tone. If anyone else heard these words, they would surely think the speaker was insane. Forging a weapon that would devour the souls of enemies with pure Saronite? And strengthening it with fragments of the Frozen Throne? That was the Lich King's current throne, the throne that controlled the Scourge.

Nathanos rolled up the parchment and returned it to Darion. "If we could obtain a fragment of the Frozen Throne, the Lich King would surely be destroyed by then. What use would this weapon be?"

Darion remained silent for a long time, staring at the scroll in his hand. When he finally spoke, the enthusiasm in his voice had been replaced by the coldest ruthlessness. "Without Shadowmourne, it's impossible to defeat the Lich King. Even if Tirion could reach Arthas, he would be exhausted, while Arthas would be ready for battle."

Nathanos felt unprecedented pressure. He looked at the leader of the Death Knight with a solemn expression. "Large amounts of Saronite and fragments of the Frozen Throne. You seem to have been avoiding the source of these two things. Is this related to your summons to me?"

"You are indeed a clever man. I can probably understand why the Forsaken have survived until now." Darion took a step forward, now only inches away from the Witherer. "I have a dangerous plan to obtain both of these things at the same time, and you must carry out the most dangerous part of the plan."

"Will we encounter the Lich King himself?" The Witherer guessed.

"Yes." Mograine was somewhat surprised, but he didn't show it in his tone. He thought Nathanos would hesitate or back down, but he got a reply the next second.

"Find the quietest place and tell me your plans."