Whale Shark

"It's a real shame that the Val'kyr fought for me until her death."

Nathanos sneered at Azshara, "As a queen, your vanity has completely blinded you. As a leader, you only ask your people to do whatever pleases you. Just like you did with the Val'kyr, you have no idea about the rage deep within Val'kyr heart. That rage makes the world tremble, and all I have to do is unleash it."

"Your courage is admirable. I'll enjoy the moment my pet eats you."

Almost no sound came from the surroundings. Something caused all the small creatures around Nathanos to scatter in panic. However, being underwater, his vision was limited, and his senses were less accurate due to the interference of the seawater. But at least the area he could see was safe, and when the chilling intent to kill descended, he immediately knew from where his enemy intended to attack him.

The approaching threat from beneath the ground nearly killed him. Fortunately, Nathanos managed to dodge it in time, but this exposed a major disadvantage for him. The buoyancy of the seawater slowed his movements, rendering him unable to use his bow and arrows. Meanwhile, his enemy remained completely undisturbed.

It was an insect, but at this moment, Nathanos looked more like an "insect." Only its head and half its body were visible above the ground, yet it already blocked out all the light around the Witherer. Sparks of lightning occasionally flashed from its antennae. Its enormous, eerie blue maw was poised to strike Nathanos, which it had already deemed its prey.

Like Azshara and other Naga, this monster also bears the marks of a biological entity. It is a modified being controlled by the Queen, which happens to indicate the power Azshara gained over ten thousand years.

How many evil secrets does she hold in the abyss, yet remain undiscovered by the world? Nathanos gazed at the giant worm before him, lost in thought.

"Vik'marra's appetite is never satisfied, and... it's not picky about food."

"You actually named an insect?" Nathanos looked at Azshara curiously. "Your taste is truly... questionable."

Perhaps understanding that the Undead were humiliating their master, the monster known as "Vik'marra" lunged at Nathanos. In that instant, various possible scenarios flashed through the Witherer's mind.

The simplest way is to retreat, but even if you can dodge, you can't avoid being hit by the electric sparks. Using dark power to resist Vik'marra might work, but if you get stuck in a stalemate, attracting other Naga would be disastrous.

'Unable to achieve a quick victory, unable to sustain a prolonged stalemate? Then the only option is for Azshara and her pets to retreat on their own.' Nathanos barely hesitated. His transformation into black mist, while retaining his human upper body, astonished Azshara. She believed this Undead might possess the power to contend with Vik'marra, but the Naga queen quickly realized he couldn't maintain this state for long.

Vik'marra bared its teeth, and lightning erupted. A bolt of lightning struck between it and Nathanos. Cracks appeared in the ground.

The two clashing forces collided, the surrounding water crackling and splashing with the force of the impact, the resulting light dispelling the shadows on the seabed. Almost as if a storm had just passed, the two figures were thrown apart in the chaos.

Nathanos could no longer maintain his strongest form. As the black mist dissipated, he could feel the stinging sensation of the seawater again. Vik'marra was not faring any better; its roar was filled with rage and danger. After collapsing onto a boulder, it straightened up again, gazing at the swirling dust and sand rising from the seabed.

"Do you know?" Nathanos's voice came from all directions. Vik'marra's agile body looked around, and it was worth noting that Azshara could no longer detect Nathanos's presence. "Unnatural light in the ocean is extremely dangerous. Not only because it may be a means for some predators to lure prey, but more dangerously, it can attract some terrifying things."

Vik'marra grunted. The smell of the seawater was off. Its tentacles sensed something approaching, like a low growl from the darkness above the seabed. It roared in response; yet another uninvited guest had appeared.

This time, however, Azshara's attitude changed. Upon hearing that voice, the queen frowned. Having lurked in the ocean for tens of thousands of years, she knew better than almost anyone what lay hidden beneath the azure surface. Even as a powerful ruler, she had enemies she didn't want to provoke.

"You're something else, Forsaken. You've won this time. Take the Val'kyr and go. I have a feeling... we'll meet again someday."

She chanted a spell over Vik'marra and vanished, the obedient giant worm shrinking back to the ground with unimaginable speed. In that instant, a colossal creature crashed down, kicking up dust that filled the seabed. Seemingly having missed its target, the hunter let out a disappointed growl and hovered in the air.

Sailors who have worked on ships for years know what kind of creature Whale Shark is. The common saying is that when it opens its mouth, it seems capable of crushing everything.

"What a huge creature," Nathanos nodded in admiration. He had been worried that Vik'marra might be afraid of this natural predator of the ocean. Now, he thought, "An insect is still an insect, it just happens to have a loving owner; otherwise, the Whale Shark would be having a delicious meal today."

Finding nothing, the Whale Shark lingered for a moment before turning back into the darkness. The Vrykul ruins returned to Tranquility, a world apart from the chaos of battle just moments before.

As the soft light shone into the room again, like the breaking of dawn, Nathanos finally relaxed, collapsing like a ship with a broken rope, slowly adjusting to the pain in his body.

What he needed to do was not yet finished.

There were so many skeletons here, mostly Naga, the Val'kyr's remains mixed in with them. However, as long as he held a fragment of the Quivering Venom Spear, Nathanos could accurately sense her soul.

"Val'kyr. Your new master summons you! Rise!" Nathanos roared, his power a torrent of rage. This rage stemmed from the pain he had suffered when Arthas resurrected him, the agony of his soul being torn apart.

Some of the bone fragments scattered in the soil trembled slightly, slowly gathering and combining, until they vaguely resembled a human form. The body was completely dead, but when the empty eyes of the skull blazed with intense fire, Nathanos realized he had underestimated this soul.

The Val'kyr moved stiffly, and said without any emotional fluctuation, "I am willing... to obey orders."

The Witherer simply nodded to her; he had much more to do.