Recaps

The Forsaken defeated the Night Elf team, revealing the strength of their undead champions and prompting spectators to question Jiang Jie's intentions. The Kirin Tor then beat Quel'Thalas, and Sylvanas vowed to make regular arena competition mandatory across Silvermoon.

• Master Onias, Thassarian, Koltira, a Lich, and an undead mage overwhelmed the Night Elf team and secured victory for the Forsaken.
• Spectators recognized the Forsaken's formidable independent strength and repeatedly watched Jiang Jie with suspicion.
• The Kirin Tor team defeated the stronger Quel'Thalas lineup through its mages' broader and more daring magical expertise.
• Sylvanas announced plans to require Silvermoon's mages and soldiers to compete regularly in arena matches, with results affecting their evaluations.
• Sylvanas told Rommath that he would have to compete too, leaving him silently dismayed.

The final six squads were set, and the Alliance commanders questioned Jiang Jie about the Forsaken. Jiang Jie argued that the living could accept the undead as they had accepted the Orcs, leaving Sylvanas to consider whether undeath offered a path to immortality.

• The Silver Hand, Tauren, and Kor'kron squads won their matches, while the Stromgarde squad advanced to the final six after drawing a bye.
• Uther announced that the Forsaken, Kirin Tor, Silver Hand, Tauren, Kor'kron, and Stromgarde squads had reached the final six, then held a drawing for the afternoon matches.
• Uther, Admiral Daelin, Bolvar, Sylvanas, Jaina, Muradin, Highlord Falstad, Master Modera, and other commanders stayed behind to question Jiang Jie about the Forsaken.
• Jiang Jie argued that people could grow accustomed to the Forsaken just as they had accepted the Orcs, and said the undead retained their souls, intelligence, and memories.
• Sylvanas considered how High Elf lifespans had dwindled across generations and wondered whether undeath could preserve life indefinitely.

Jiang Jie proposed creating a confined kingdom for the Forsaken, where undead could live under a Lich King who controlled their kind. The Alliance leaders agreed to establish the kingdom only with strict limits on the Lich King and oversight by the major powers.

• Jiang Jie explained the Shadowlands and argued that people facing death might choose to become Forsaken, while Uther and Admiral Daelin warned of the risks.
• Jiang Jie proposed that the Forsaken destroy mindless undead and live in a kingdom confined to Icecrown Glacier and nearby lands, with death's emissaries guiding willing dead there.
• Jiang Jie revealed the Lich King's armor and said its wearer could control all undead, but the leaders worried about granting one person that power.
• The leaders agreed that the Lich King must be replaceable, weaker than potential challengers, and monitored by powerful Forsaken and agents from other nations.
• The leaders established three restrictions as prerequisites for a new Forsaken faction and kingdom.

The Forsaken, Kor'kron, and Stromgarde teams won their matches, with White Gorilla overwhelming the Tauren team before Jiang Jie removed him from the competition. The Stromgarde team then faced the Tauren again with a replacement disciple, leaving Baine Bloodhoof in despair.

• Thassarian, Koltira, the Lich, and Master Onias led the Forsaken team to defeat the Silver Hand team in under two minutes.
• The Kor'kron team defeated the Kirin Tor team after previously winning a narrow battle against Theramore's Seventh Legion.
• White Gorilla defeated the Tauren team in less than a minute, and Jiang Jie intervened to prevent him from killing them.
• Jiang Jie removed White Gorilla from the Stromgarde team after the Alliance and Horde protested, then replaced him with a disciple who had not qualified.
• The Stromgarde team faced the Tauren team again after a brief rest, and Baine Bloodhoof fell into despair.

Baine lost to Sven, and Cairne arranged for Grom to train him as a blademaster. As the Forsaken and Kor'kron squads prepared to compete with Stromgarde, Jiang Jie revealed that an attack had begun and the arena collapsed beneath all three squads.

• Lilian, Ivan, and Darion quickly defeated or restrained their Tauren opponents, leaving Baine to face Sven alone.
• Baine charged Sven but lost, and Cairne encouraged his son before arranging for Grom to train him.
• Grom agreed to make Baine a blademaster and promised he would duel Sven in a year.
• Uther announced that the Forsaken and Kor'kron squads would fight next, but Jiang Jie said their trial had already begun.
• The ground cracked and collapsed beneath the three squads as attacks by Arthas's forces, Frost Wyrms, Vrykul dragon riders, Faceless Ones, and Nerubians were announced.
• Jiang Jie told the others to handle the enemies outside while he faced those underground.

Anub'arak's collapse plan failed when Jiang Jie rescued the Northrend Expedition's commanders, then led three squads and White Gorilla into the Nerubian tunnels for a final combat trial. The squads fought through the Nerubians as Jiang Jie urged them to cooperate, while White Gorilla charged toward Anub'arak.

• Anub'arak's Nerubian army collapsed the arena, intending to kill the Northrend Expedition's leaders in a deep cavern.
• Jiang Jie used Thousand Buddha Hands to catch and send the commanders outside, leaving three five-person squads and White Gorilla underground.
• Jiang Jie lowered the squads to the frozen Titan ruins, where over a thousand Nerubians awaited them.
• Jiang Jie declared that the squads' final trial was to kill as many Nerubians as possible, with each legendary Nerubian counting as a hundred.
• Thassarian and Koltira's squad and the Kor'kron squad formed defensive positions, while Darion led his martial-artist squad into battle.
• As Nerubians attacked with coordinated strikes and mental spells, Jiang Jie urged the squads to work together and ordered Tsul'Kalu to charge at Anub'arak.

Darion organized the mixed Alliance, Forsaken, and Kor'kron fighters into a wedge to protect their casters and attack the Nerubian army. Jiang Jie confronted Anub'arak with White Gorilla, whose first charge revealed that Anub'arak's new frost-armored defenses were formidable.

• Darion ordered the fighters into a wedge, and Thassarian, Koltira, and the others took positions to support it.
• A Kor'kron captain named Nazgolin ordered four warriors to join the wedge and took the rear position beside Sven.
• Darion led the wedge toward a Nerubian elder while Jiang Jie turned to confront Anub'arak.
• White Gorilla charged through the Nerubians and used Yang Crossing to clear a path to Anub'arak.
• White Gorilla collided with Anub'arak, then struck his back with an Arcanite greatsword, cracking only the thick layer of ice over Anub'arak's carapace.

Jiang Jie used his Holy Light and shadow powers to overpower the Nerubian forces and focus on killing Anub'arak. With Anveena and White Gorilla helping him expose and pin down Anub'arak's vulnerable abdomen, Jiang Jie destroyed the Nerubian king's organs and killed him.

• Jiang Jie killed two Nerubian lords with his swords of Holy Light and shadow while the third burrowed underground.
• Jiang Jie fought through the Nerubians and charged Anub'arak, aiming to kill him before the army could wear him down.
• Anveena emerged from Jiang Jie and used earthen spikes to flip Anub'arak onto his back, exposing his abdomen.
• Jiang Jie and White Gorilla wounded Anub'arak, then White Gorilla and Anveena pinned him beneath a huge rock.
• Jiang Jie battered Anub'arak's exposed abdomen with his fists and used Chi sword Qi to destroy his organs, killing him.

Jiang Jie watched Darion's team adapt their tactics and defeat a legendary Nerubian by exposing its weaker abdomen. He teleported the team away and flew off to face Arthas, while the others continued fighting.

• Jiang Jie dragged Anub'arak back through the Nerubians and went to check on the teams.
• Darion led his team through the Nerubians, and Lilian, Ivan, and Master Onias killed a Nerubian elder before rejoining the formation.
• Thassarian, Koltira, and a Kor'kron champion failed to pierce the legendary Nerubian's carapace, but Sven severed its foreleg with a powerful strike.
• Darion changed the team into a defensive circle while Sven cut off another leg and attacked the Nerubian as it tried to burrow.
• Sven and Darion overturned the legendary Nerubian, and Darion, Sven, and Nazgolin killed it by attacking its less-protected abdomen.
• Jiang Jie ordered Anveena to teleport the team up, then flew off to face Arthas.

The Scourge encircled the Crusaders' Coliseum with a hundred thousand undead and blocked teleportation, leaving the Northrend Expedition trapped and badly outnumbered. As Uther led a desperate retreat, Faol moved to confront the Val'kyr Twins, whose resurrection powers were strengthening the Scourge.

• Arthas arrived atop Sindragosa with the Ebon Hold and a massive undead army, while a barrier cut off the Crusaders' Coliseum from reinforcements.
• Uther ordered the Northrend Expedition to fight and then lead a retreat toward the Storm Peaks as Naxxramas and Dalaran were still two hours away.
• Uther, Tirion Fordring, and Old Mograine led the charge while mages and other fighters tried to hold back the Scourge's aerial and ground forces.
• Over a hundred Val'kyr resurrected fallen undead and Northrend Expedition warriors, including the legendary Val'kyr Twins Eydis Darkbane and Fjola Lightbane.
• Faol raised his staff and unleashed Light's Wrath, declaring that he would deal with the Val'kyr Twins.

Jaina wielded Ebonchill to unleash her Frost Domain and help defend Faol while Sylvanas and the Kirin Tor mages fought the Scourge. Faol used the Lich King Armor to amplify his mind and control the Val'kyr Twins, leaving Arthas unable to command them.

• Jaina wielded Ebonchill and used her Frost Domain to kill five Liches while suppressing the rest.
• Modera and the Kirin Tor mages helped protect Faol, while Sylvanas's rangers shot down Scourge flyers and Sylvanas killed a Proto-Dragon.
• Faol used Light's Wrath to try to control the Val'kyr Twins but lacked sufficient mental power.
• Faol put on the Lich King Armor, explaining that he had only the armor and not the helm.
• The armor amplified Faol's mental power enough to control the Val'kyr Twins, and Arthas lost control of them.

Arthas discovered that Faol wore the Lich King's Armor and attacked the Northrend Expedition to seize it. Sindragosa devastated the expedition while Uther fought Arthas, and Old Mograine joined the battle as Jaina and Sylvanas were sent to help against the Frost Wyrm Queen.

• Arthas realized the Lich King's Armor amplified mental power and ordered the undead to attack so he could take it from Faol.
• Uther ordered everyone below Legendary strength to scatter as Sindragosa landed and froze expedition warriors with her Frost Breath.
• Sindragosa and the other Frost Wyrms broke the Northrend Expedition's defensive line and caused its warriors to flee in disarray.
• Arthas charged Faol, but Uther intercepted him and fought him with the Holy Hammer of the Silver Hand.
• Uther struggled against Arthas's strength on Icecrown Glacier, and Old Mograine joined the fight with Ashbringer while directing Jaina and Sylvanas to aid Thrall, Grom, and the others against Sindragosa.

The heroes fought Arthas and Sindragosa as legendary Paladins suppressed Arthas while five fighters broke two of Sindragosa’s legs. When Sindragosa took to the air, Jiang Jie arrived and struck at her with dragons of Holy Light and shadow.

• Tirion Fordring and Old Mograine joined Alexandros Mograine to suppress Arthas with their Holy Light.
• Jaina, Modera, the rangers, Sentinels, Thrall, Druids, and Alliance and Horde champions fought the Scourge’s air and ground forces.
• Grom, Vol'jin, Cairne, Orgrim Doomhammer, and Broll Bearmantle attacked Sindragosa and broke her forelegs.
• Sindragosa began to take flight, leaving Grom and Vol'jin unable to reach her.
• Jiang Jie flew in and unleashed the twentieth form of the Dragon-Subduing Palm, Yin-Yang Union, with dragons of Holy Light and shadow.

Jiang Jie destroyed Sindragosa and pursued Arthas to Acherus: The Ebon Hold, where Arthas escaped and activated the flying fortress’s self-destruct sequence. Trapped by a teleportation-blocking barrier, Jiang Jie prepared to test his strongest defense against the blast.

• Jiang Jie struck Sindragosa with the Light and Shadow Dragon Shears, then beat back the Frost Wyrms that tried to intercept him.
• Jiang Jie smashed Sindragosa’s head, wings, chest, and soul fire, killing her as she crashed into the undead army.
• Arthas vanished from the battlefield after threatening to turn Jiang Jie into a Death Knight, and Jaina sensed that he had teleported to Acherus: The Ebon Hold.
• Jiang Jie flew to Acherus: The Ebon Hold, smashed through its gates, fought through its undead defenders, and found Arthas.
• Arthas teleported away again and triggered Acherus: The Ebon Hold’s self-destruct sequence, while Anveena warned Jiang Jie that a barrier prevented them from escaping.

After Arthas detonated Acherus: The Ebon Hold in an attempt to kill Nicholas, the survivors feared the Grand Duke could not have survived the blast. Nicholas emerged unharmed and transformed into powerful creatures, destroying the undead forces around him as he hovered in the sky.

• Vol'jin, Jaina, Thrall, and the others realized Arthas had activated Acherus: The Ebon Hold's self-destruct, killing many undead and allies in the explosion.
• Broll and Uther admitted they could not have survived a blast of that magnitude, leaving the group to fear Nicholas was dead.
• Sylvanas spotted a giant energy turtle in the explosion, with Nicholas sitting inside its shell.
• Nicholas transformed into an eagle and killed a Vrykul rider and Proto-Dragon before unleashing a vast prison of lightning against the airborne undead.
• Nicholas changed into a Dragonhawk and burned more enemies with heavenly fire, then became human and struck down waves of foes with dragons of Holy Light and shadow.

Jiang Jie survived Acherus: The Ebon Hold’s destruction, and Uther ordered the Northrend Expedition to regroup and attack the Wrathgate. As the decisive battle began, Jiang Jie reclaimed the Lich King’s Armor and discussed the dangers of choosing a new Lich King and destroying Frostmourne.

• Jiang Jie endured Acherus: The Ebon Hold’s self-destruction by using Tortolla’s True Form, then resumed attacking the Scourge’s flying forces.
• Archmage Modera confirmed that Acherus: The Ebon Hold’s destruction had ended the teleportation barrier, and Uther ordered the expedition to retreat south and attack the Wrathgate.
• Uther requested support from Dalaran, the Red Dragonflight, and Naxxramas, while Faol revealed that he and Nicholas had chosen Thoradin as the new Lich King candidate.
• Arthas withdrew his forces toward Icecrown Citadel and the Wrathgate as the expedition used portals to regroup for the decisive battle.
• Faol returned the Lich King’s Armor to Jiang Jie, who warned that a new Lich King could not control Arthas’s undead and said Frostmourne should be destroyed after Arthas was defeated.

Jiang Jie presented the reforged Lich King Armor and established rules to prevent any one ruler from controlling the Forsaken forever. The leaders accepted a system of limited terms and divided authority as Naxxramas approached the assembled forces at the Wrathgate.

• The Scourge, Nerubian forces, red dragons, gryphon riders, and nearly twenty thousand elite troops gathered around the Wrathgate as Dalaran stopped above it.
• Jiang Jie brought the Lich King Armor before Thoradin and the Forsaken leaders, declaring that the armor belonged to the Forsaken rather than any individual.
• Jiang Jie set a maximum thirty-year term for each Lich King and declared that Faol and Meryl would never wear the armor.
• Jiang Jie made Faol and Meryl overseers of the Lich King and restricted Forsaken expansion to Icecrown Glacier, Wintergrasp, and Crystalsong Forest.
• Jiang Jie assigned the Val'kyr and Soul Ferrymen to Faol and Meryl, respectively, while Death Knights were placed under both Meryl and the Lich King.

King Thoradin became the first Lich King and tested the vast mental power granted by the Lich King Armor. After encountering powerful beings across Northrend, he realized the Forsaken had few safe places to expand.

• Jiang Jie named King Thoradin the first Lich King, warned him to resist the armor’s power, and Thoradin put it on.
• Thoradin’s mental power spread across Northrend, and he discovered it could reach farther if he formed a thread, though he could not encompass all of Azeroth.
• Thoradin sensed Krasus and the Red Dragon Queen, Alexstrasza, and quickly withdrew after Alexstrasza’s aura nearly crushed his mind.
• Thoradin probed Coldarra, encountered the King of the Blue Dragons, and retreated after nearly losing his mind.
• Thoradin sensed two powerful bears in Grizzly Hills and multiple demigod-level presences in the Storm Peaks, then vowed to avoid both regions.
• Thoradin reviewed the dangers of Northrend and worried that only a few territories allotted to the Forsaken were safe to occupy.

Thoradin scanned Azeroth and found powerful beings across nearly every region, then accepted that he should focus on being the Lich King and guard his kingdom. Jiang Jie sent Thoradin and Meryl to resurrect Sindragosa as Naxxramas continued toward the Wrathgate, where the final battle was about to begin.

• Thoradin scanned Kalimdor, the Eastern Kingdoms, and the Great Sea, repeatedly withdrawing after encountering beings far more powerful than himself.
• A female naga shattered Thoradin’s mental projection in the Abyssal Maw, forcing him back to Naxxramas.
• Thoradin told Jiang Jie he would properly serve as the Lich King, and Jiang Jie warned him not to seek expansion.
• Jiang Jie ordered Meryl to take Thoradin to resurrect Sindragosa before returning to the Wrathgate.
• Faol asked whether Thoradin might harbor ambitions, and Jiang Jie said his reckless scan had likely crushed them.

The Northrend Expedition was overwhelmed at the Wrathgate until Grand Duke Nicholas ordered everyone to retreat, positioning a captured flying fortress above the gate. The chapter ended as the fortress came crashing down toward the Wrathgate.

• The new Lich King resurrected Sindragosa, and Thoradin and Meryl left for Icecrown Citadel on her back.
• The Red Dragonflight and Dalaran overwhelmed the Scourge's weakened aerial defenses, but the allied ground forces could not breach the Wrathgate.
• Uther asked Modera how many mages Dalaran would need to break through, and she said the Scourge's counterspells made it impossible.
• Nicholas arrived and directed a flying fortress over the Wrathgate, then sent Uther a message ordering everyone to retreat at least a thousand meters.
• Jaina, Sylvanas, Thrall, and the other leaders ordered their forces to withdraw, and Uther eventually sent the Order of the Silver Hand after them.
• After the Northrend Expedition had retreated, the flying fortress came crashing down above the Wrathgate.

Jiang Jie used the four Nerubian flying fortresses to destroy the Wrathgate and Icecrown Citadel, killing about a hundred thousand undead and securing the Forsaken’s claim to Icecrown Glacier, Wintergrasp, and Crystalsong Forest. As the allied armies withdrew to watch the Forsaken honor their agreement, King Thoradin began awakening the region’s remaining undead into Forsaken citizens.

• Jiang Jie and Meryl crashed a Nerubian flying fortress into the Wrathgate, destroying much of the wall and more than half the undead gathered there.
• Jiang Jie and Meryl took control of the other three flying fortresses and dropped them on Icecrown Citadel, burying more undead and bringing the total destroyed to about a hundred thousand.
• Uther ordered the Order of the Silver Hand to retreat and form a defensive line, while Jaina, Sylvanas, and other commanders issued matching orders for their forces.
• The allied leaders held their armies back as Forsaken territory, including Icecrown Glacier, Wintergrasp, and Crystalsong Forest, came under the Forsaken’s control.
• Meryl told King Thoradin that the Northrend Expedition had honored the agreement, and Thoradin began awakening the undead who still had souls so they could join the Forsaken nation.

Arthas realized the Scourge had fallen under King Thoradin’s control and challenged Jiang Jie to a final duel. Jiang Jie defeated him and broke Frostmourne, releasing the souls trapped inside it.

• Arthas sensed King Thoradin taking control of most of the undead across Icecrown Glacier as his own forces dwindled.
• Arthas rejected Yogg-Saron’s whispers and summoned Jiang Jie to fight him rather than flee or submit.
• Jiang Jie arrived, and Arthas learned that he and Calia were expecting a son named Thoradin Menethil.
• Jiang Jie and Arthas clashed with their swords, and Jiang Jie broke Frostmourne.
• The released souls poured into Arthas, who accepted their punishment and welcomed his release.

After Arthas’s death, Jiang Jie returned from Northrend to acclaim, while the Forsaken began establishing their own nation. He devoted himself to cultivation as Fenna and Calia’s births approached, until Duke Jorach arrived with news.

• Arthas died, his freed younger self thanked Jiang Jie and merged with his soul, and Jiang Jie resisted Frostmourne before taking the blade.
• Jiang Jie left the Forsaken to unite their people and prepare for a future fight against Loken and Yogg-Saron, then returned to Fenna and his unborn child.
• The Northrend Expedition returned in triumph, and Jiang Jie received widespread acclaim for killing Arthas and helping defeat the Scourge.
• As rumors about Jiang Jie and Calia spread, Fenna chose not to confront him, while Jiang Jie grew anxious about the two approaching births and immersed himself in cultivation.
• Jiang Jie advanced his animal forms and raised his true essence to six drops, then Duke Jorach visited in December with news.

Jiang Jie learned that Onyxia had seized control of Stormwind City and that the other half of Varian, known as Lo'Gosh, was fighting in Dire Maul Arena. He left to help Varian, while Fenna secretly traveled to Lordaeron to meet maid Daphne.

• Duke Jorach told Jiang Jie that Onyxia ruled Stormwind City and that Lo'Gosh had become one of Rehgar Earthfury's gladiators.
• Jiang Jie agreed to go help Varian after Fenna urged him to leave, and he entrusted Strom'kar to her before teleporting to Dalaran with Duke Jorach.
• After Jiang Jie departed, Fenna summoned Angela and ordered her to open a portal to Lordaeron.
• Fenna traveled to Lordaeron with Strom'kar and paid the portal mage to keep her arrival secret, then ordered the mage to take her to maid Daphne.

Jiang Jie visited Dire Maul and learned how the High Elves had developed its arena while keeping the peace with the Night Elves. He discovered that Lo'Gosh was competing in the 3v3 championship with Valeera and Rehgar, and decided to meet the team.

• Jiang Jie surveyed Dire Maul, which the High Elves had reclaimed as Eldre'Thalas and developed into their second city.
• Duke Jorach explained that the High Elves had agreed to protect Feralas's environment and allowed Feathermoon Sentinels and Druids to help oversee Dire Maul.
• Duke Jorach described the arena's growing popularity, its many visiting factions, and the demons the High Elves made fight for a chance at freedom.
• Jiang Jie asked about Lo'Gosh's championship bid, and Duke Jorach said Rehgar had formed a 3v3 team with Valeera and himself.
• Jiang Jie asked to meet Rehgar, the former gladiator champion.