Enraged by the pain, Sargeras threw a punch, which was dodged with profound skill. The force of his blow struck a distant mountain, shattering the entire peak!
Several Night Elves hiding there to heal were also flung away. Fortunately, it was just a glancing blow, but it still left them in agony, almost dead.
The next second, Healing Wave and Holy Light descended, raising their health.
Arthas glanced at the priestess, feeling a sense of familiarity, and summoned a Void Portal to send them to Mount Hyjal.
Turning back to the enraged Sargeras, a disdainful smile still played on his lips.
"Just you? Titans are nothing but ants in my eyes. This world doesn't need the Burning Legion, nor the Pantheon, nor the Army of the Light. All of you, get out of Azeroth!"
He didn't believe in the help of any external forces, nor any aliens. He didn't even trust the natives. The only person he believed in was himself!
These words greatly surprised Sargeras. He had always thought the other party was a lackey of the Pantheon, but it turned out he wasn't!
Since he wasn't a lackey of the Pantheon, why wouldn't he cooperate with him?
"Ant, I can allow you to join The Legion again! Ah!"
Sargeras hadn't finished speaking when a sharp pain shot through his finger again. And whether it was an illusion or not, the opponent's strength had become even more ferocious, and his speed even faster. The 'scratching' damage was gradually escalating to 'bone-scraping' level.
Though it was still just 'scraping,' it was much faster and much more painful.
Far away, on the Anti-Legion front line.
Azshara had regained her strength. She knew that continuing like this was not an option; the only way was to destroy the Well of Eternity!
Doing so would cause the Kaldorei Empire to crumble, but if they continued to resist now, it would likely lead to one outcome: Sargeras would eventually enter Azeroth and destroy their world.
She recalled the days when she was favored; a higher-tier being seemed to be watching her, and a pair of golden eyes was the best proof.
She knew she had to do something, at least as the spokesperson favored by the Heavenly Lord, she had to step forward in the most perilous moment.
Why did the Burning Legion come to Azeroth? Besides Xavius's betrayal, it was largely due to the unchecked abuse of Arcane energy, which attracted the attention of Void Demons.
Even if it couldn't be controlled, then destroy it!
Without the Well of Eternity, no one could summon the Burning Legion, at least Sargeras couldn't come!
"Elisande, you return to Suramar City and use the eye of aman'thul to protect the city. Protect it at all costs, until I or my spouse arrive."
"Vashj, you take the Tide Stone and act with me."
"Ravencrest, you are responsible for leading the civilians to retreat to Mount Hyjal. The Highborne will stay behind to cover the retreat."
"The Sisterhood of Elune will also go to Mount Hyjal. Preserve all the kindling; the Empire will no longer exist. If I do not return, then let Tyrande manage all matters concerning our people."
"Now, go and act."
Despite their confusion about what Her Majesty the Queen intended to do, they all bowed in unison, their right hands placed over their chests, bidding farewell to the Queen with the highest reverence.
Perhaps this time it was a certainty of death? Or perhaps a slim chance of survival?
It didn't matter. The problems they caused, they would solve themselves.
As the others departed, the allied forces quickly became busy, using magic circles for rapid evacuation.
And besides the Highborne, many Night Elves civilians were willing to stay behind and contribute their meager strength to the Queen.
This was a spontaneous act; they couldn't bear to see Her Majesty the Queen bear all the burdens alone. They also wanted to share some of the pressure, even if just a tiny bit, it would be worth it.
Tyrande had never expected the heavy responsibility of leading her people to fall on her shoulders. Her expression was utterly surprised, and she couldn't understand why.
Azshara had once wanted her to be a handmaiden to serve her, but she refused Azshara out of devout faith in elune.
This greatly displeased the Queen; though it wouldn't go so far as to kill her, she didn't give her a good look either.
She had originally thought this had offended the Queen irrevocably, and they would basically never see each other again.
But unexpectedly, they had reconciled in the end?
This left her extremely surprised; it was completely impossible.
Azshara also seemed to sense her surprise, only leaving behind a cryptic remark.
"Take good care of his children."
These words made Tyrande blush; she had never expected such a turn of events.
Was the success rate that high? She didn't believe it, but she wouldn't prevent the birth of new life; this was fate.
If there were children, it was elune's favor. If not, it meant elune didn't want her to have children yet.
Whether there were children or not, it would all be attributed to elune. Her worship of the Moon Goddess was almost blind; she could always tie anything back to the Moon Goddess.
Kil'jaeden had just finished resting and was about to step forward to assist, to prevent Arthas from focusing on Sargeras, when an Arcane energy locked onto him.
The sixth sense of life and death, chilling to the bone, activated. He abruptly formed a Fel Energy shield to block the incoming Arcane missile.
The Arcane missile, which had a great suppressive effect on Fel Energy, still shattered his shield, and the missile directly struck his body. His armor began to crack with intricate spiderweb patterns, and he couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood.
How dare that woman!
Had she not used her full power just now?
No wonder Archimonde had warned him to be careful of her, but he hadn't expected her strength to already surpass him. Was the evenly matched fight just now an act?
Even without the Well of Eternity, Azshara had still broken through, becoming a High-tier Demigod. She was still far from becoming a god, but now, saying she was invincible below the Titans was not an exaggeration.
Kil'jaeden was known as the Deceiver, which showed that his mind was still very intelligent, at least as cunning as a fox.
But no matter how he thought, he couldn't understand how such a thing as breaking through in the middle of a battle could happen. Mortal races were ants in his eyes. He had annihilated too many ants, leading him to develop a disdainful contempt, which caused him to make a huge mistake.
Though mortals were weak, their talent was very strong, even stronger than the Eredar.
The Eredar's home world also had a world soul gestating within it. The energy feedback from the world soul would make any creature on its surface intelligent.
But even so, the gap between world souls was visible to the naked eye.
If Argus's world soul was just a kindergarten student, then Azeroth's world soul was a full-fledged Ph.D., strong and robust, easily crushing kindergarten children.
The energy feedback to its people would also be more advanced, and their potential would be infinitely elevated.
And whether it was a kindergarten child or an adult Ph.D. student, both could easily step on an ant. An ant could never single-handedly defeat a human.
"Are you Archimonde?"
Azshara's voice came from far to near; a moment ago, she was nowhere to be seen, and the next second, she appeared before him, floating. Only ten slender, smooth, neat, crescent-like toes were visible.
Kil'jaeden had no mind to look, nor was he interested in such parts. What he wanted was to destroy world after world; women would only hinder him from achieving great things, so begone!
After hearing Azshara's words, his red skin, which had turned red due to Fel Energy corruption, rapidly changed to purple. This was out of anger.
"My name is Kil'jaeden, not Archimonde!"
"It doesn't matter. Anyway, you and Archimonde will both die here!"
Azshara truly didn't care. Her gaze at Kil'jaeden was no different from looking at a stray dog on the street; both were just dogs, and though they bared their teeth, they could be kicked to death at any moment.
Her slender fingers began to condense Arcane power, and she chanted incantations. The golden magical patterns etched on her violet skin began to glow, indicating her intent to kill!
Slaying a demigod was not difficult for her. And her first time slaying an extraterrestrial demigod, an invader at that, seemed to pique the interest of that mysterious entity.
Perhaps this was what she was meant to do after receiving favor. Extraordinary talent combined with the world soul's favor—didn't that make her a super genius, Azeroth's most powerful mage?
"How dare you! Impudent! Ant, do you really think you are a queen! You are nothing but a fool who desperately wants to be Sargeras's spouse but doesn't realize she's unworthy, you ignorant idiot, a simpleton whose mind is only on her spouse, trash who doesn't even know she's been betrayed by her subordinates!"
"A tiny, insignificant native ant, how dare you say you will kill me in front of Lord Sargeras? You cannot do it, and you are not worthy to do it. Your world will ultimately be destroyed, The Legion will bring flame and death to your world, and your soul will be tormented by me day and night, becoming a tool to serve The Legion!"
Kil'jaeden wanted to retaliate, but every time he tried to cast a spell, he was brutally interrupted. That inexplicable attack left him completely paralyzed, unable to move a single finger.
His spell, which was accumulating energy, was interrupted, and the backlash from the spell caused him to groan in pain. When the interruptions accumulated to a sufficient number, he could no longer hold it in and vomited a mouthful of blood.
Arthas, amidst his busy schedule, flung his runeblade. The ability to attack from a distance while enjoying melee bonuses was a closely guarded secret.
Archimonde never realized this even until his death, because he never had the chance to test the truth. It was just a brutal exchange of blows, punch for sword, fighting until both sides were utterly frenzied.
Azshara's long-brewing spell was just forming. It was still a light, floating orb that flew out, soft like cotton candy, without any destructive power, and no advantages except for its colorful appearance.
But when Kil'jaeden saw it, he felt a spine-chilling terror. He couldn't move, couldn't even lift a finger.
Was this Azshara's spell? Could it make him stand obediently in place and wait for death?
When did the opponent become so powerful? Just now, they were clearly evenly matched, a balanced fight. Even if she had some reserves, it was impossible for her to have hidden so much strength.
Such power was enough to crush him directly to death; there was no need to use spells to blast each other, exchanging blows to gain combat experience.
The moment the colorful orb touched Kil'jaeden, the Fel Energy gushing out was devoured by the orb. The Fel Energy, which was supposed to counter Arcane, was instead consumed and assimilated in a completely unexpected reversal, seeming incredibly bizarre.
A raging fire burned fiercely and wildly. At this point, pouring cold water, which was supposed to extinguish it, not only failed to put out the flames but was instead burned into steam.
This was the scene of Arcane countering Fel Energy. Although it was a reversal of the natural order, the other side was stronger and more profound.
Brilliant Arcane energy began to spread upwards along his arm. The parts it spread to began to crystallize, becoming part of the Arcane energy.
The gushing Fel Energy not only failed to extinguish the colorful Arcane but grew stronger after being devoured.
Kil'jaeden first felt his right arm go numb. Filled with shock and rage, he fully unleashed his Fel Energy, wanting to rush towards the portal.
As long as he crossed the portal, he would have hope of survival!
Returning to the Twisting Nether, that was The Legion's stronghold, filled with surging Fel Energy, enough for him to suppress this damned Arcane power.
But every time he prepared to move, that attack, coming from who knew where, would strike him, leaving his body rigid.
Under the pressure of dying, his mind frantically churned. Before his head crystallized and stopped turning, his eyes looked behind him—it was Arthas's figure.
There was no mistake, it couldn't be wrong, it must be the other party causing trouble!
Archimonde had been struck in such a stop-and-go manner, appearing utterly defenseless, clearly stronger but suppressed in the fight.
Kil'jaeden had thought Archimonde was deliberately holding back, or perhaps he had betrayed The Legion?
But when he himself experienced this treatment, he finally understood everything. It wasn't that Archimonde was incompetent, but that the enemy was too strong, the opponent was too powerful!
Indeed, a guy who could forcefully cut off Sargeras's finger right in front of him—this probably wasn't a demigod anymore, was it?
Even if he still had the aura of a demigod, he had already reached an unattainable height. Perhaps given a little more time, he might break through the barrier of biological potential and become a being of the same dimension as Sargeras?
He shook his head with a bitter smile. If he had known there was such a powerful being here, Kil'jaeden would have made thorough preparations before attacking, instead of rushing over halfway through his preparations. Although Sargeras's urging was a reason, and it was a once-in-a-thousand-year opportunity, he was ultimately not ready!
He believed that if he had been given a little more time, instead of fearing that the portal to Azeroth would never open again, he could certainly have found a suitable method to crush Arthas, preventing him from interfering.
It was just a pity; these were all just fantasies before death. Although he wasn't afraid of death, he had a feeling that his soul might not be able to easily return to the Twisting Nether.
He hadn't yet avenged himself against Velen, that traitor. He hadn't yet proven to him that his choice of Fel Energy, his path with The Legion, was the correct one!
Is this how it ends?
All I see before me is darkness!
"Enough! Ant, die!"
Sargeras was furious. He punched, forcing the portal open. Even with his strength, he couldn't completely break it, and his remaining left hand was directly severed by two-thirds due to his disregard for the portal's sharpness.
Even with only one-third, it was enough for him to send Arthas flying.
It was in that fleeting gap in control that he punched the opponent away.
After Kil'jaeden was crystallized, Sargeras's shattered finger grabbed Kil'jaeden's soul in the void and pulled him back through the portal.
He knew this invasion had failed, but it didn't matter. He still had a chance, so Kil'jaeden couldn't die!