Loss

Since the Lich King's defeat, he had not suffered such a crushing defeat. Aside from anger and pain, Nathanos could find no suitable words to describe his current state of mind. Three Valkyr were dead, the Witherer could no longer sense their presence. This was a great loss for the Forsaken, but not the only one. He wanted to stand up, and instinctively reached out to support the bodies lying flat on the ground. His right hand responded, but his left arm brought only excruciating pain and a sense of emptiness. Nathanos was startled. He gritted his teeth and turned his head to the side. No matter how much he hoped his guess was wrong, what had happened could not be undone. His left arm was gone, along with its armor, shattered by the explosion.

"This... is impossible!" His eyes widened, and he mumbled incoherent words, trying to vent his anger.

"You are badly injured, Master." The remaining Valkyr quickly gathered around Nathanos, and it was Kira who spoke.

"And her?" The Witherer was asking Alexstrasza or Deathwing. So she replied, "The female Orcs is dead, but the Lifebinder is fine."

As they were speaking, Alexstrasza, in the guise of Female Elf, staggered over, her arm dripping crimson blood. As the blood fell to the ground, lush green plants sprouted from the earth. The presence of the Queen of Dragons brought a brief moment of calm back to the Witherer. This strange change surprised even him, making him seem as if he cared deeply for Alexstrasza and was worried about her safety. Nathanos told himself that he simply didn't want anything to happen to the Queen of Dragons in the Forsaken's territory.

"You are badly wounded." The Lifebinder couldn't believe she was speaking so gently to an Undead, who had just saved her life. She bent down, her fingers lightly tracing the spot where Nathanos's arm had been.

Nathanos did not accuse Alexstrasza of luring Deathwing here; who could have foreseen the Black Dragon Aspect's scheme? He merely lamented the gap between himself and the Guardian Dragons. The Black Dragon Aspect himself had not arrived, but merely possessed the body of a pitiful creature, and yet that alone had severely wounded the leader of the Forsaken.

He vowed that the Forsaken must never again face such an enemy.

"All of you step back and stand guard around the perimeter," Nathanos said to the remaining Valkyr, struggling to his feet. Alexstrasza realized that Nathanos had something to say to her, even if it wasn't something she wanted to hear.

"The Red Dragon does not kill life, but it also watches life disappear."

Alexstrasza was taken aback, bewildered and even angered by Nathanos's words. The Witherer's dark power, which had eased his pain upon arrival, then explained his words: "Where were you when the Old Horde invaded this world with Fel, attempting to destroy the civilization that once stood on this land?" A strange expression flickered across the Queen of Dragons's face. "When the Scourge Undead swept through Lordaeron, destroyed Dalaran, and corrupted Quel'Thalas, you did not stand up against evil. You merely stood by, fearing and regretting the mistakes of the past. When someone begged for your help, your excuse was: Dragons never interfere in the affairs of mortals."

"That's not how it is." Alexstrasza shook her head, but Nathanos's words made her momentarily question the duties of the Guardian Dragons. "We all have our own difficulties. Every Guardian is fighting an unseen enemy. In fact... one has already fallen, and another has gone mad."

"An unseen enemy." Nathanos agreed. At this moment, he thought of Nozdormu, the Bronze Dragon Aspect's unseen enemy—a figure who walked beyond everyone's sight, causing immense changes in the history of this world. "Then do you want to take on the responsibility of Guardian Dragons?"

This question reminded Alexstrasza of the face of the Titan Eonar, a being Nathanos had never seen. "Of course," the Red Dragon Queen nodded. "The Titans believe I am capable of shouldering this responsibility; they trust me."

"So you also trust in life? Unfortunately, life has played a cruel joke on some people." Nathanos's only remaining hand hadn't touched the Frostmourne wound on his body for years. "And not everyone chooses to believe. One of your kin has been hunting me down through time, attempting to destroy me and change the already out-of-control history."

The Lifebinder realized that Nathanos was referring to Nozdormu. Lately, the Time Lord had been frequently absent, even missing some meetings. He always said that he could no longer see the past or the future; everything he once clearly saw had become chaotic.

Was this man the cause? Alexstrasza was caught in a dilemma. Guarding time was not the mission of the Red Dragon, but now the Wyrmrest Accord was no longer fighting alone; they faced any difficulties together. If Nozdormu was truly troubled by this mortal, should she help him solve this problem? Nathanos the Witherer was very weak at the moment.

The Life-Binder had pondered for a long time, and finally, she came to a difficult realization: to protect this world, any enormous price must be paid.

"To protect life, sometimes you have to sacrifice others..."

Nathanos seemed to see right through her, and one sentence sent a chill down the Queen of Dragons's spine. She stared into Nathanos's eyes, as if he were saying, "Make your move, I'm right here."

Alexstrasza extinguished that absurd thought in her mind; the sacred duty bestowed upon her by the Titans should not involve the word "sacrifice." No one is worthy of sacrifice; all are equal.

"I hope you will reconsider my advice, the Witherer."

A hint of surprise flashed across Nathanos's face, but he quickly concealed it. "My answer will not change. Go, leave my territory."

The Life-Binder sighed heavily. Her wounds had healed without her noticing. "I regret that you would say that." A majestic Guardian Dragons, its body covered in crimson scales, appeared before Nathanos in an instant, its outstretched wings completely obscuring Nathanos vision. When Alexstrasza spoke again, she had already transformed into a dot on the horizon.

"The Dragonmaw Clan thanks you for your help."

Nathanos watched her walk further and further away, disappearing into the dark clouds. These clouds stretched endlessly, completely enveloping Arathi.

Valkyr slowly landed beside the Witherer. Kira asked in a puzzled tone, "We've been waiting for your signal, Master, but you... haven't given any orders."

"It doesn't matter anymore." Nathanos stared in the direction Alexstrasza had disappeared. "The way to deal with a threat is not to make it disappear, but to make it cease to be a threat."