On the other side.
Tyrande finally arrived at the end of the passage with a dozen priestesses and night sentinels. It was an ancient prison, its doors and walls imbued with the most powerful Druid and Arcane Magic, for imprisoned within was a most terrifying "traitor."
" Priestess of the Moon? Please leave! Illidan cannot be released!" A female Night Elf, completely concealed in a green cloak and dark armor, held a moon disc covered in thorny blades and sternly refused Tyrande's request.
She is a member of the Watchers, an organization founded by the the Jailer Legendary Maiev, and one of Maiev's most valued sisters.
The Watchers ' mission is not just to guard this small prison. Maiev spends most of her time leading the Watchers around the world to eliminate the remnants of the Burning Legion and any enemies who try to disrupt or overthrow the Night Elf. She is specifically in charge of guarding Illidan's prison. Several Watchers stand behind her; they are her sisters.
" Elune guided me; she told me Illidan was innocent and should be released!" Tyrande said.
"If that's really the case, then your goddess is wrong, she is guilty too!" An Moonkin walked up to the Watchers.
He wasn't actually a true Moonkin, but rather Druid in Moonkin Form. As Malfurion's student, a Archdruid who had lived for over ten thousand years, he was ordered by Malfurion to personally guard this prison.
Two high-ranking professionals and more than ten other high-level professionals were specifically assigned to guard him, which shows how much Maiev and Malfurion valued Illidan.
Not only them, but a Keeper of the Grove also emerged from the darkness.
" Illidan cannot be released, no one can release him, not even someone of your status. Unless Cenarius and Malfurion personally order it, unless Maiev grants permission, Illidan must remain imprisoned forever!"
He was Cenarius's son, a being no less than the Keeper Ordanus, and obeyed Cenarius's orders to guard Illidan along with others.
Even Illidan, the Lord of the Forest Illidan's former Druid teacher, held Illidan in high regard.
" Illidan was once the greatest Night Elf hero, and I believe he will become a hero again." Tyrande took out her staff, from which a rich, Moon Goddess power gathered. "I'm sorry, everyone, I must release Illidan. We need him!"
A milky white light shone brightly, illuminating the entire darkness.
When the light faded, all the guardians were rendered immobile, revealing the Legendary Priestess of the Moon's power in its entirety!
Of course, even with her strength, it would be impossible for her to defeat so many people easily. However, the Druid and the Keeper of the Grove did not stop Tyrande, so they could not attack Tyrande.
Someone can.
The moon spun rapidly as several Watchers launched an attack on Tyrande!
These Watchers only obey Maiev's orders; they listen to neither the Wild God nor the Moon Goddess.
" Illidan must be released, even... at the cost of your lives!" Tyrande's voice was unusually cold.
Two minutes later, several corpses lay nearby. The Druid and Keeper of the Grove left one after another; they had to inform Malfurion and Cenarius, as Tyrande's actions made them feel threatened.
Tyrande has slaughtered her own people!
" Illidan, I've come to save you!" Tyrande walked through the crowd and continued forward until she reached the prison.
" Tyrande? Is that you? I heard your voice! Even after ten thousand years, your voice still illuminates my heart like clear moonlight! Just thinking of you makes ten thousand years of imprisonment seem nothing!" A slightly hoarse voice rang out, and the Demon Hunter in the cell picked up a small flower. It was a wildflower that Tyrande had picked for him by hand, and it was the only gift Tyrande had given him.
Ten thousand years! He used magic to preserve it for ten thousand years!
In his view,
"This little flower, which can be found everywhere, is more important than his Warglaives of Azzinoth!" Illidan... how can I save you? This prison contains extremely powerful magical energy; I might... be unable to break through it." Tyrande was somewhat frustrated.
The magic in the prison was cast by Malfurion and Maiev themselves. She didn't understand Druid or Arcane Magic, so she could only break the barrier with brute force. But her own strength was far inferior to Malfurion's, and even to Maiev's. To break the barrier, she had to pray to the goddess.
But she didn't know if the goddess would grant her enough power. In fact, she lied; the goddess hadn't instructed her to release Illidan; that was her own idea...
"It's alright. It wasn't this prison that imprisoned me, but myself. This prison can't stop me; I just don't want to get out." Illidan suddenly attacked, his sharp blade slicing through the prison's iron gate, unleashing a burst of lightning. A chilling energy emanated from Illidan's body—a truly High-tier Legendary energy fluctuation—even Tyrande was somewhat alarmed.
Ten thousand years have passed, and this Demon Hunter, imprisoned and deprived of energy, seems to have grown even stronger than before...
How did he do it?
The prison had its own defense mechanisms, but the burst of magical power could not stop Illidan. He was once the most promising Night Elf mage to catch up with, or even surpass, Queen Azshara, and his talent was once considered to be much higher than Malfurion's, a fact that even Cenarius acknowledged.
But before he could ascend to legendary status, he was personally endowed with demonic power by the Dark Titan Sargeras, thus ascending to legendary status.
" The Burning Legion has returned, and your people need your strength, Illidan." Tyrande looked at Illidan, noticing his blind eyes and slightly haggard face, and felt a pang of heartache.
"My people? No, those are Malfurion's people. Whether they need me or not is unimportant; all I care about is you, Tyrande." Illidan looked at Tyrande and said softly, "Because of you, I will hunt demons, but only because of you, not my people."
"Let's hurry back to the surface. Tichondrius is corrupting this land, and I think only you are capable of dealing with him," Tyrande said.
They walked toward the ground, but Illidan stopped not far away.
A group of Druid blocked his way, led by his brother, Malfurion.
" Illidan! I thought you would be imprisoned forever!" Malfurion's voice was filled with... rage?
"I have gained eternity, in the dark prison, my brother. Don't forget, it was you who personally bestowed upon me eternal pain and torment, making my will even stronger. I should thank you, Malfurion." Illidan's face was calm, but his voice was full of sarcasm, which made Malfurion somewhat uncomfortable.
"You are imprisoned because you betrayed your people," Malfurion explained.
"But I remember, before I was imprisoned, we fought side by side," Illidan sneered.
"Enough! Stop arguing! Illidan, show some respect to your brother! Malfurion, I've already released Illidan, are you going to imprison him again? Only by fighting side by side can we fight the Burning Legion, just like ten thousand years ago!" Tyrande shouted.
" Tyrande, perhaps we will face not only the Burning Legion, but also Illidan! You have released him, and he may Devastation the Night Elf Devastation this land!" Malfurion roared, natural energy gathering in his staff.
"Want a fight, my brother? Before me, you wouldn't even have time to summon the power of nature before I defeat you ten times over! Since you don't welcome me, then I will hunt demons in my own way. This is what I promised Tyrande, and I will keep it. As for you, I think we will meet, and you will eventually know what I have done for the Night Elf!" Illidan gave Tyrande one last look before disappearing.
He sensed the demonic energy; no demon could escape his eyes.
Although he lost his amber eyes, which represented the highest talent of the Night Elf, Sargeras granted him even greater abilities: he could track demons with ease, any demon!
"We should go too, Malfurion. There are too many demons gathering on the ground. Illidan can't handle so many by himself. We must help him!" Tyrande said.
"No, our battlefield isn't here. I heard Cenarius's message: a large number of demons have gathered on the southern slopes of Mount Hyjal. They've discovered traces of the Pit Lord, Dreadlord, and Doomguard. Archimonde is about to launch a full-scale attack!" Malfurion shook his head. "We must immediately head to Mount Hyjal to establish defenses!"
"But Illidan... Fine, let's go to Mount Hyjal!" Tyrande said helplessly.