The Reforged Warrior Woman

The Val'kyr's body was simply too weak to support her full power, so a ritual was needed to help her overcome this problem. Nathanos summoned the Valkyr loyal to him. In the Forsaken's operations, he didn't allow these fearsome Valkyries to appear on the battlefield, as that would only invite more suspicion and resentment. After all, only a minority believed they were fundamentally different from the Scourge, and the Witherer valued this group.

"What are you still hesitating for? Have you forgotten your vows?"

Vagri'a Gaza, Kira, and Bougarin spread their wings and hovered in mid-air, looking down at Nathanos, but daring not to show the slightest contempt.

"We believe such a ritual should be performed on you." Agatha's voice was hollow and calm. Sometimes Nathanos really didn't know what the Valkyr were thinking.

"Such opportunities are rare," Kira emphasized. "They will consume our essence."

"I've already said it, I don't need any help." Nathanos's words were full of warning. In fact, he had just wanted to yell at the Valkyr, but they were vital to the Forsaken; their ability to bring the Forsaken back to life alone proved their worth. "Don't waste any more time, do it now!" Nathanos finally said.

Before the ceremony began, Nathanos spoke with the Val'kyr.

"What do you think?"

"I'm not used to it!" The words flowed smoothly, but sounded like they were coming out of nowhere. Not only the Val'kyr, but even Nathanos was somewhat... disgusted with her current appearance, which was far inferior to the Val'kyr in the illusion of the past.

"I will give you a more complete... durable body, but the price is that you will serve me forever."

"Then hurry up," the Val'kyr growled. "I can't wait to get my weapons back."

The Val'kyr's eyes were fixed on her new master. The Valkyr slid silently in front of Val'kyr, and she stared back at the Valkyrie, her cold expression proving she was ready for anything.

"Will this ritual be painful?"

The Witherer's sudden question plunged the room into a deathly silence. The Valkyries did not answer; they awaited the Val'kyr's final decision.

"Nothing... is more painful than death!" she said, and for a fleeting moment, the crimson fire in Nathanos's eyes dimmed. The agonizing feeling was as if he were enduring a side effect of the ritual.

Let's begin!

The Valkyr spread her wings, her arms raised high as if to embrace the entire sky. She chanted incantations from the depths of her throat in an ancient tone, sounding like a mournful dirge. The sound made Nathanos uneasy; he remembered the incantations he had heard when he was resurrected by the Demon King, his soul torn apart, the Tranquility of the afterlife shattered in flames and agonizing roars. Now he was about to witness a similar process, though not as personally, it would be no easier than experiencing it himself.

The Val'kyr may have been prepared for agony, but the pain exceeded her expectations. Even without a scream, the groans and grimaces couldn't be masked by the crackling of magical power. A strange emotion flickered in Nathanos's mind. Had he done the right thing? Perhaps resurrecting the Val'kyr was a mistake! No, he knew he wasn't wrong. The Val'kyr's soul couldn't find peace; she wanted to unleash her fury, in any form. Nathanos was happy for her, because her dream was about to come true.

Alleria had sensed this day would come, but it came without warning. Belorell ... she had underestimated her son from the very beginning.

Who is Nathanos Marius?

He spoke to his mother almost interrogatingly. Alleria was completely stunned. Vareesa tried to explain that it was just a deceased Alliance hero. But Belorell's follow-up questions shattered all the pretense.

Who is my father? What is his name?

The earlier question directly answered the later one. Why would he ask both questions at the same time? There's only one reason: he already knew the truth. That map, that arrow, and that name he spoke of... everything Alleria least wanted to see had happened.

Your father... is Nathanos Marius.

The Regent could not recall how much courage it had taken to utter those words. She didn't even dare to look Belorell in the eye.

He died in the battle to defend Quel'Thalas, Lich King later resurrected him as Undead... To let his soul rest in peace, I... went to Marius Farm.

A deathly silence fell. Alleria didn't see any expression on Belorell's face; the boy reacted by turning and running frantically out of the Sunfury Tower, ignoring all calls and attempts to stop him. Vareesa told her that she only saw Belorell leave in shock and fear.

This is a long process.

How are you feeling?

She realized the ritual was over when the Witherer's hoarse voice rang out. The Val'kyr opened her eyes. The Valkyr who had helped reshape her body knelt on the ground, breathing silently; the burden of the ritual had been far too heavy for them.

"I don't feel anything," the Val'kyr said indifferently, looking down at her hands, full of flesh and blood. "I lived in the cold, dark seabed before I died, and it was always cold. Now... it's just a little dry."

"Take it!"

The Quivering Venom Spear inexplicably appeared in Nathanos's hands. This weapon brought back a flood of heavy memories. At first, she instinctively wanted to refuse, but her hand moved faster than her thoughts. The moment she took it, the Val'kyr remembered Nathanos's words. "I will give you a more complete and durable body, but the price is that you will serve me forever."

"What is my first task?" The Val'kyr felt she lacked respect for Nathanos, and her voice sounded as such.

"This gun has been modified by my most powerful engineers, and it is imbued with my power." Nathanos did not answer her question immediately. "With it, you can resurrect the remains of the fallen."

"So, what is my first task?"

"You're really impatient, Val'kyr," Nathanos teased. "Whether in life or in death, your greatest strength will always be the sea. But the ocean is capricious, which means you have to adapt to the changing tides at any time; you are passive."

"You said it yourself, I can adapt."

"That's not enough! I want you to be able to control the tides." Nathanos made no attempt to hide his ambition. "Go to Kul Tiras, find the Tidespeaker, and learn their abilities."