Icecrown Citadel (Fifteen)

Battle raged across every inch of the Lich King's stronghold. As part of the Alliance's strategic plan, the Skybreaker was to await them atop the walls of Icecrown Citadel. The ship's commander was Muradin, Sylvanas had previously volunteered to participate in the deep penetration of the fortress, persuading the Dwarf to allow her to join the fight.

However, an unexpected event occurred. Near the Skybreaker, the Horde's airship Doomhammer suddenly appeared, catching the Alliance off guard. There had been no prior communication between the two sides, so the battle broke out without any warning, which also alerted the Scourge, and a chaotic battle ensued.

With Muradin temporarily absent, Sylvanas commanded her Silver Covenant Ranger in the battle.

"Hold the Skybreaker!" the Female Elf shouted, aiming her bow at the approaching enemies. She hadn't expected to face two enemies simultaneously: the Horde and the Scourge. She had assumed Arthas would deploy all his forces at the main gate, but the sudden appearance of the Undead minions was a slap in the face to the commanders involved in the troop deployment.

"They outnumber us," a soldier shouted. Sylvanas couldn't tell if he was referring to the Horde or the Scourge. Whoever they were, the Alliance couldn't possibly defeat them quickly, and the Skybreaker had a more important mission. Casualties here were unacceptable.

"Where is Muradin?" the Ranger-General shouted, but no one answered. Her eyes scanned the surroundings for the Dwarf. Sylvanas gritted her teeth, cursing Bronzebeard for hiding somewhere drunk. If he didn't appear soon, she would order the captain to take flight, and she would command the rest of the battle.

"Charge! Charge! Get out of my way, you Horde pigs!"

Sylvanas smiled upon hearing the voice. Muradin Bronzebeard and a squad of the Alliance soldiers appeared on the battlefield, wielding a one-handed hammer and battle axe, charging towards them without regard for the soldiers behind him.

"Cover him!" the Female Elf commanded the Ranger beside her, and dozens of arrows flew toward Muradin's location to help him take down the Horde and corpses blocking his way.

"I swear by my beard, no Horde dares to show up here."

Sylvanas shot an arrow through the head of Horde soldier following Muradin. "This is no coincidence. It seems Tirion Fordring has been keeping it from us."

"It's too late, young lady. We can't waste time here, immediately..."

"This is the Scourge's sacred ground!" The Lich King's voice suddenly interrupted the Dwarf. "All you will find here is death."

"What? Arthas can see us?" Sylvanas looked up and around, but couldn't find the Lich King.

Muradin frowned, his voice filled with hatred as he said, "No, listen!"

"You should have been my most powerful servant, Fordring. Your power would have shaken the very foundations of this world. But alas, that glory no longer belongs to you; I will soon have a new warrior."

Almost everyone heard Arthas's voice, especially the Forsaken troops in the upper levels of the fortress, who heard it even more clearly, along with another person's shrill scream.

"No! I will never... obey you!"

"It's Bolvar!" Belmont exclaimed in surprise. "He's still alive!"

"We must speed things up!" Nathanos warned, turning to look at the Forsaken were now ready. They had finally made it to the final battle. Now, they were the closest to the Lich King.

"Master, it seems the Alliance and the Horde are at war. Also, the Skybreaker and Doomhammer are approaching. Will they hinder us?"

Before answering the question, the Witherer shot down the Valkyr hovering in mid-air with an arrow. The corpse plummeted into the abyss below the fortress. "You said a powerful Undead guards the entrance to this hall?"

"Yes," Belmont nodded. "And I recognized him as Saurfang's son. Apparently, he was resurrected by the Lich King at the Lich Gate."

Nathanos closed his eyes, as if sighing, "Hopefully he can hold off the Alliance and Horde for a little longer. Now is the time for us to settle our scores with the Scourge." His gaze pierced through the upper part of the fortress, which was divided into three areas. The teleportation device in the middle connected to the areas, as if telling the invaders that in order to reach the Frozen Throne, they must defeat the Undead minions in the three areas.

"Time is running out, let's get started."

The group dispersed: Rassuvios led the Terror Guard in an attack on the Scourge Workshop in coordination with the apothecary Nathos; Veronalara and her Dark Ranger attacked Vampyr's territory; and Belmont went to find the Argent Crusade squad that had already arrived.

Only the Witherer remained in place; he needed no help, as more people would only hindrance him when facing Sindragosa. Nathanos chanted a spell, Shadowmourne instantly appeared in his hand. The weapon's chill emanated from the Frost Wyrm; through it, he should be able to track its movements and perhaps even resonate with Sindragosa.

With his eyes closed, he channeled the power of Shadowmourne, and soon a cold wind swept in. Nathanos felt as if he were not inside the fortress, but deep in a vast, icy wasteland.

"Sindragosa, I've come to destroy you!" The Witherer cried out, and received an immediate response.

"You fool, how dare you show your face here! The icy winds of Northrend will sweep away your soul."

"Stop bluffing, I've already seen you," Nathanos chuckled with his eyes closed. "I also saw your two little brats. I'll take care of them before you show up."

Sindragosa unleashed a piercing roar to express her fury at those who had provoked her. Nathanos wasn't threatening her; he hadn't expected the Frost Queen's lair to be a platform. The platform was filled with numerous whelps and two adult dragons. Nathanos didn't want them to interfere in his final battle with Sindragosa.

The Witherer swiftly transformed into black mist and began his journey to the lair. Along the way, he saw Belmont, where the Forsaken had found his companions. Surprisingly, Rupert was also among them, along with the Death Knight Grand Champion Korok the Undead Slayer. They encountered an ambush by the Vrykul. Time was limited, Nathanos could not waste his power to help them.

After breaking through the Vrykul's defenses from the air, the Witherer discovered a green dragon being corrupted in a dark room around the corner. He didn't stop there, but flew down the elevator, through a Spider Demon hatchery, and finally arrived at Sindragosa's lair.

When he appeared, the Frost Wyrm and two Vrykul had been lingering there rushed up.

"Is it about numbers?" Nathanos gripped Shadowmourne tightly and said loudly, "The souls within Frostmourne are constantly thinking of rebelling against the Lich King, while the souls within Shadowmourne... crave revenge."

The Witherer slammed his battle axe down with all his might, and the moment the blade struck the ground, hundreds of ghosts surged forth from it, rushing towards their enemies.