Chapter Summaries

Jiang Jie and Vaelastrasz reached Nefarian’s Crimson Laboratories, where Chromaggus and the Blackwing Lair’s remaining forces awaited them. Jiang Jie confronted Chromaggus while Vaelastrasz and Old Chen prepared to hold off the other enemies.

• Vaelastrasz recognized General Lashlayer and killed him with a single blow.
• Vaelastrasz urged the group to hurry toward Nefarian, and Jiang Jie and Old Chen followed him into the Crimson Laboratories.
• The group discovered Nefarian’s corrupted dragon experiments and the powerful two-headed Chromaggus among Blackwing Lair’s assembled defenders.
• Vaelastrasz offered to fight Chromaggus, but Jiang Jie assigned him and Old Chen to face the three black dragons and the other enemies.
• Jiang Jie rushed toward Chromaggus and planted his palm against one of the monster’s heads.

Jiang Jie faced Chromaggus, whose extreme spell resistance made it immune to his ordinary energy attacks. After protecting himself with Black Tortoise Armor, Jiang Jie stunned the two-headed monster and injured it, then prepared a more powerful attack.

• Jiang Jie’s palm strike failed to harm Chromaggus because the monster’s spell resistance was greater than anything he had encountered before.
• Vaelastrasz revealed that Chromaggus contained some of his stolen power, and Jiang Jie donned Black Tortoise Armor to withstand its spells.
• Jiang Jie evaded Chromaggus’s time spell and struck both heads with Holy Light and shadow energy, stunning the monster and injuring nearby dragonkin and Blackrock Orcs.
• Jiang Jie followed up with Eastern Peak Sword, Sword Splits Mount Tai, forming a giant energy hand and sword to attack Chromaggus.

Jiang Jie killed Chromaggus and helped rout the Blackrock forces, but Kalecgos’s attack on Nefarian revealed that the Focusing Iris had been stolen. Jiang Jie realized a more terrifying being in Blackwing Descent was waiting for enough energy to revive.

• Jiang Jie used the Blade of Cataclysm to kill Chromaggus with two strikes.
• Vaelastrasz and Old Chen defeated black dragons and scattered the Black Dragonflight and Blackrock Orcs.
• Kalecgos attacked Nefarian with immense Ley Line energy, and Jiang Jie suspected he was using the Focusing Iris.
• A dragon revealed that Kalecgos had stolen the Focusing Iris, but Kalecgos then accused Nefarian of stealing it from him.
• Jiang Jie realized a powerful being in Blackwing Descent was waiting for energy to revive and hurried upward.

Jiang Jie rushed into Nefarian's lair and found the dragons fighting four Vajras, Magmaw, Atramedes, and Maloriak outside the secret laboratory. The defenders remained formidable, and the battle had not yet opened a way inside.

• Jiang Jie arrived at the secret laboratory entrance, where four Dark Iron Vajras blocked the way.
• Krasus fought Atramedes while Chromie supported him with time magic, and Kalecgos struggled against Arcanotron.
• Eranikus held off the other three Vajras and Magmaw, using the spellcasting power of his ancient green dragon form.
• Maloriak rode Atramedes and attacked with sonic fireballs and a variety of potions.
• The dragons continued fighting, but they had not yet broken into the secret laboratory.

Jiang Jie warned the dragons that Nefarian could use the Focusing Iris to resurrect an existence more powerful than the Dragon Aspects, forcing them to call for reinforcements. While the dragons held off Nefarian’s forces, Jiang Jie and Old Chen broke through to the Shadowflame Vault.

• Kalecgos admitted that Nefarian could use the Focusing Iris to gather enough ley line energy to devastate the surrounding regions.
• Jiang Jie revealed that Nefarian was trying to resurrect an entity stronger than the Dragon Aspects, and that the Focusing Iris could provide the energy he needed.
• Krasus ordered Eranikus and Kalecgos to summon Ysera, Alexstrasza, Anachronos, and other possible allies while the dragons held back Nefarian’s forces.
• Jiang Jie and Old Chen broke through the four Vajras’ defense, dragged Magmaw out of the passage, and reached the Shadowflame Vault without further obstacles.

Jiang Jie found Nefarian charging the newly awakened Chromatus, a gigantic five-headed dragon empowered by the five dragonflights, and realized he could not fight it alone. Nefarian dismissed the approaching Aspects as powerless to stop his creation, but Ysera emerged from a Dreamway at the chapter’s end.

• Jiang Jie entered the laboratory’s central chamber and saw Nefarian channeling Ley Line energy into the awakened Chromatus.
• Jiang Jie judged Chromatus too powerful for him to defeat and decided to hold his ground while waiting for the Aspects.
• Nefarian boasted that Chromatus was his perfect creation, while Jiang Jie warned that the dragon would turn against him and his father.
• Nefarian insisted the Aspects could not arrive in time and continued charging Chromatus.
• Ysera stepped through the Dreamway opened by Jiang Jie’s Dragon’s Call.

Ysera, Alexstrasza, Anachronos, and Senegos confronted Chromatus at Blackrock Mountain while Nefarian fled with the Focusing Iris. Ysera sent Jiang Jie after Nefarian as the dragon Aspects began their battle against Chromatus.

• Ysera arrived at Nefarian’s secret laboratory with the Emerald Dream and identified Chromatus as the Dawn of the Aspects.
• Anachronos explained that the Bronze Dragons had foreseen the threat but could not determine how Chromatus had been created, and he brought the Hourglass of Time.
• Alexstrasza arrived, and she and Ysera agreed to fight Chromatus alongside Anachronos.
• Nefarian opened a gap in the Shadowflame dome, escaped in his black dragon form with the Focusing Iris, and left Chromatus to fight the others.
• Ysera ordered Jiang Jie to pursue Nefarian and recover the Focusing Iris as the battle with Chromatus collapsed Blackrock Mountain’s summit.
• Jiang Jie saw that the dragon Aspects and Senegos were fighting Chromatus, then flew off after Nefarian because he was too weak to join the battle.

Jiang Jie intercepted Nefarian over the western mountains and unleashed his full power in a battle against the ancient dragon. He blinded Nefarian in both eyes, leaving their fight ongoing.

• Nefarian flew toward the Great Sea, hoping to reach Deathwing in Deepholm, but Jiang Jie caught up with him.
• Jiang Jie summoned three elemental stone dragons and a protective water dragon, reinforced his defenses, and challenged Nefarian.
• Nefarian attacked Jiang Jie with a Shadow Bolt Volley, but the shadowflame stone dragon blocked the spells.
• Jiang Jie closed in on Nefarian and pierced his left eye with Xal'atath.
• Jiang Jie used Midair Transposition to stab Nefarian's right eye, blinding him completely.

Jiang Jie defeated Nefarian with help from the stone dragons, Anveena’s teleportation barrier, and Xal'atath, then recovered the Focusing Iris and claimed Nefarian’s valuable collection. He planned to return the artifact rather than risk opposing the Blue Dragonflight.

• Nefarian used Death Grip and dragonfire against Jiang Jie, but the Black Tortoise Armor protected him and he broke free to wound Nefarian.
• Nefarian stunned and hurled Jiang Jie away, while three stone dragons kept the black dragon occupied and Jiang Jie continued attacking.
• Xal'atath drained Nefarian’s shadow power through the dagger’s wounds, and Anveena’s barrier prevented him from teleporting away.
• Nefarian fell from the sky and died, and Jiang Jie took the Focusing Iris from his claws.
• Jiang Jie decided to return the Focusing Iris to the Blue Dragonflight and found Nefarian’s extensive collection, including a ring with a large storage space.

Jiang Jie claimed Nefarian’s treasures, including Ashkandi and the Red Shard, while the dragons decided to imprison the indestructible Chromatus in Karazhan. With the war against the Black Dragonflight over, Jiang Jie gave Anachronos the shards needed to repair the Scepter of the Shifting Sands and turned his attention to Ahn’Qiraj.

• Jiang Jie identified Nefarian’s treasures and decided Ashkandi was best suited to Marshal Reginald, while the Dark Iron Dwarves would have to pay for Nefarian’s corpse.
• The Dragon Aspects defeated Chromatus but could not destroy him, so Jiang Jie proposed imprisoning him in Karazhan.
• Jiang Jie returned the Focusing Iris to Kalecgos, who was relieved to recover the blue dragons’ artifact.
• The Red Dragon Queen agreed that Karazhan was the best place to guard Chromatus.
• Jiang Jie gave the Red Shard and Blue Shard to Anachronos and prepared to attack Ahn’Qiraj.

Jiang Jie and the Dragon Aspects restored the Scepter of the Shifting Sands and sealed Chromatus on Karazhan’s rooftop. After returning to Grim Batol, Jiang Jie learned the Dragonmaw had joined the Horde and reported the outcome of the Blackrock Mountain battle before preparing to confront Erudax and Cho'gall.

• Anachronos fused the four fragments into the Scepter of the Shifting Sands and gave it to Jiang Jie, while the Dragon leaders pledged forces for the battle at Ahn'Qiraj.
• Anveena, Kalecgos, and the Dragon leaders spent two days transporting Chromatus to Karazhan and sealing him behind a powerful magical barrier, keeping his location secret.
• Jiang Jie returned to Grim Batol and learned that the Dragonmaw Clan had joined the Horde, but he told Falstad he expected them to leave the Twilight Highlands voluntarily.
• Jiang Jie told Tirion Fordring that Nefarian and Rend Blackhand were dead, while the remaining Blackrock forces had fled and the armies of Stormwind City and Ironforge had withdrawn to prepare for Ahn'Qiraj.
• Jiang Jie said he would deal with Erudax, the Nightmare monstrosity in the Maw of Madness, and Cho'gall before leaving the others to face the coming war.

Jiang Jie entered the Maw of Madness to confront the Nightmare Behemoth Erudax, a colossal Old God servant whose power threatened the Twilight Highlands. He reached the beast’s heart, where its corrosive Blood of Erudax surrounded him, and prepared to rely on Xal'atath to face the danger.

• Jiang Jie assessed Erudax’s size and power, judging it less dangerous than Zakajz because its immense body dispersed its strength and its main body was trapped underground.
• Jiang Jie transformed into a lightning-commanding eagle and flew into Erudax’s throat, evading its tentacles and grinding teeth.
• Jiang Jie reached the bottom of the Maw of Madness and saw Erudax’s eyes, bodily fluids, and heart hidden beneath layers of flesh.
• Erudax’s Blood of Erudax formed into corrosive monsters that attacked Jiang Jie and carried the beast’s mental power.
• The Shadow energy inside Erudax interfered with teleportation, making escape difficult as Jiang Jie faced the demigod-level creature.

Jiang Jie and Xal'atath began forcing Erudax's brain out of the Nightmare Behemoth when Cho'gall arrived with Halfus Wyrmbreaker and hundreds of Twilight's Hammer elites. Cho'gall revealed the ambush and attacked, but Jiang Jie gathered Xal'atath and the Elemental Spirits, ready to fight them all.

• Jiang Jie had Xal'atath begin forcing Erudax's brain out while the four Elemental Spirits guarded her.
• Jiang Jie recognized the Nightmare Behemoth's weak defenses and watched as it failed to trap him with its nightmare powers.
• Cho'gall arrived with Halfus Wyrmbreaker and hundreds of Twilight's Hammer members, including elite ascendants.
• Cho'gall revealed that he had become a Demigod and declared that he wanted Xal'atath for an Old Gods ritual.
• Cho'gall's forces attacked Jiang Jie, who recalled Xal'atath and the Elemental Spirits and prepared to settle the fight.

Jiang Jie overwhelmed Cho'gall's forces and killed Halfus before the four Ascendant Council elders merged into an Elementium Monstrosity. He absorbed the four elemental dragons to empower Xal'atath and charged Cho'gall, leaving their battle underway.

• Jiang Jie summoned four elemental dragons that suppressed the elementals and shattered the Ascendant Council's defenses, while the Nightmare Behemoth's attacks failed to harm him.
• Jiang Jie killed Halfus and his Proto-Dragon with Xal'atath.
• Jiang Jie wiped out most of the Twilight's Hammer elites Cho'gall had brought, leaving Cho'gall as his main opponent.
• The four ascendant elders merged into an Elementium Monstrosity, which Cho'gall presented as the Twilight's Hammer's new creation.
• Jiang Jie drew the four elemental dragons into himself to suppress Xal'atath, then attacked Cho'gall and used the dagger to break his shadow spells.

Jiang Jie and Xal'atath overwhelmed Cho'gall by destroying the Shadow-filled eyes on his body, despite attacks from Cho'gall, Erudax, and the elementium monstrosity. Cho'gall lost more than half his Shadow energy, leaving him vulnerable to Jiang Jie as the fight continued.

• Erudax trembled before Xal'atath, but Jiang Jie rejected her offer to control the Nightmare Behemoth.
• Xal'atath's dagger cut through Cho'gall's defenses and pierced his C'Thun-blessed eyes, releasing explosive bursts of Shadow energy.
• Cho'gall summoned Erudax's power, causing flesh tendrils and the elementium monstrosity to attack Jiang Jie.
• Jiang Jie destroyed Cho'gall's remaining eyes while enduring a blow from the Twilight's Hammer that injured him.
• Cho'gall lost more than half his Shadow energy, and Jiang Jie remained ready to exploit his weakened state.

Jiang Jie defeated Cho'gall and the Nightmare Behemoth Erudax, absorbing Shadow energy to strengthen the Light and Shadow Taiji and collecting elemental essence. With both Twilight's Hammer leaders dead, he left the remaining forces to the red dragons, the Order of the Silver Hand, and the Wildhammer Dwarves.

• Jiang Jie competed with Cho'gall for Shadow energy, absorbing half of it while Erudax took a third and Cho'gall received only a sixth.
• Jiang Jie killed Cho'gall and the Elementium Monstrosity, gaining four pieces of elemental essence and enough additional essence to raise his wind elemental avatar and Dafeng to the Legendary level.
• Jiang Jie let Xal'atath absorb Shadow energy equivalent to the High-tier Legendary level before returning her to the Light and Shadow Taiji.
• Jiang Jie destroyed Erudax's brain despite its Mind Flay attacks and stomach acid, killing the Nightmare Behemoth.
• Jiang Jie left Erudax's lingering Shadow power and the remaining Twilight's Hammer forces for others to deal with, since he had achieved his goal.

Jiang Jie spent time with Fenna and their daughter in Stratholme before entering seclusion to master a new Black Tortoise True Form. After a year of study and practice, he completed the form, strengthened his True Essence, and left Miss Xal'atath lamenting his growing power.

• Jiang Jie stayed in Stratholme with Fenna and their daughter while continuing to cultivate and plan how to complete the remaining Animal Forms.
• Xiao Feng finished calculating the True Dragon Form and Turtle True Form, and Jiang Jie entered seclusion to create the new Black Tortoise True Form.
• Jiang Jie spent half a year comprehending the form and another half year exploring its mysteries in the ocean, strengthening his soul and mental power.
• Jiang Jie practiced the revised Black Tortoise Longevity Art for three days, regained his former cultivation realm, and condensed his sixteenth drop of True Essence.
• Jiang Jie completed the new Black Tortoise True Form, while Miss Xal'atath complained that he had grown stronger again.

Jiang Jie crossed Crystal Vale, where air elementals surrounded him, and confronted Demitrian, a Twilight Lord bound to serve Prince Thunderaan. When Demitrian lunged for the Bindings of the Windseeker, Jiang Jie struck him down and took a crystal vial.

• Jiang Jie flew over Hive'Ashi and saw the Night Elf dead preserved by Druid magic after the insects had been cleared.
• Jiang Jie entered Crystal Vale and sensed the air elementals watching and surrounding him.
• Jiang Jie found Demitrian, the Twilight Lord who had become a servant of Prince Thunderaan.
• Demitrian demanded Jiang Jie's belongings, and Jiang Jie revealed the Bindings of the Windseeker.
• Demitrian lunged for the Bindings, but Jiang Jie knocked him down and withdrew a small crystal vial.

Jiang Jie confronted Aishir, a wind elemental Demigod, after taking the Vessel of Rebirth from Demitrian. He offered to help resurrect Prince Thunderaan and overthrow Al'Akir in exchange for Aishir's alliance, leaving her to choose whether to negotiate or fight.

• Jiang Jie took the Vessel of Rebirth from Demitrian and knocked him unconscious with the pressure of Black Tortoise.
• Jiang Jie called on the wind elemental leader to meet him, and Aishir summoned a colossal tornado around his camp.
• Aishir demanded the vessel and threatened Jiang Jie and the people he loved, but Jiang Jie held his ground by drawing on earth elemental power.
• Jiang Jie proposed helping Aishir resurrect Prince Thunderaan and defeat Al'Akir if she allied with him.

Jiang Jie persuaded Aishir and the exiled wind elementals that Al'Akir had joined Ragnaros under the Old Gods' control. The wind elementals swore an ancient pact with Jiang Jie and agreed to support Thunderaan, leaving Jiang Jie to begin his resurrection.

• Jiang Jie argued that elementals had joined forces before and that Al'Akir might have abandoned Thunderaan's loyalists for more than political reasons.
• Aishir ordered the wind elementals to gather news, and three hours later they confirmed that the Old Gods had returned and Al'Akir and Ragnaros had joined forces.
• The wind elementals debated whether to resist, then followed Aishir's call to oppose Al'Akir and support Thunderaan as the next Elemental Lord of Air.
• Aishir forged an ancient pact with Jiang Jie, promising the wind's aid in exchange for his opposition to Ragnaros and Al'Akir.
• Jiang Jie pledged not to betray the pact, threatened to imprison the wind elementals if they broke it, and raised the Bindings of the Windseeker to begin Thunderaan's resurrection.