"Still the same. Why won't you let me pursue Illidan?"
Maiev really wanted to hear Arthas explain why himself. She wasn't necessarily insistent, but she didn't want to be confused, and she also wanted to take a step further, hear what he had to say, and have a little more time to chat.
Arthas made no attempt to hide his gaze, sizing up the famous Night Elf. He even had a terrifying thought: would Maiev, now with a child, still be that madwoman blinded by hatred?
"Illidan is very cunning. Where is he now?"
"The Broken Isles."
Maiev didn't hide anything, directly revealing the fugitive's whereabouts. According to regulations, she should have kept it secret to ensure the mission wasn't disturbed. But the man in front of her was different; she harbored a hidden, unspeakable admiration for him deep in her heart.
Arthas picked up his wine glass, swirled it, and drained the specially provided fine wine.
"If you continue the pursuit, it will lead to your entire army being wiped out. The place he's going is likely the Tomb of Sargeras. Although Sargeras's avatar was defeated and destroyed, many demons still remain inside because of him. It's very dangerous for you, but for the demonized Illidan, it's like a fish in water."
"He must have allied with the Burning Legion this time."
"What!"
Maiev stood up in shock, her pretty face first showing complete disbelief, which quickly turned into anger. This was a betrayal of the entire race! How could he side with the Burning Legion?
Arthas then moved over, pulled Maiev down, placed a hand on her shoulder, and, leaning against the soft sofa, handed her the fine wine.
"Alright, don't be so surprised. I'll meet with him personally to talk. His cooperation with the Burning Legion isn't necessarily a bad thing; at least he'll be a chess piece inserted deep within the Burning Legion. Our world won't be peaceful until the Burning Legion is eliminated. Trust me, I can resolve this matter, but I need your help. Are you willing to assist me in protecting this world?"
This wasn't just talk. He didn't have many tasks to do now, only one: to awaken the world soul of Azeroth. As long as the world soul awakens, everything will get better.
However, there were still many things to do to awaken the world soul, and dealing with the Burning Legion was just one of them. Moreover, he also had to eliminate the remaining two Old Gods and heal and repair the damage to the earth.
N'Zoth had been directly uprooted by Sargeras ten thousand years ago; before the Fallen Titan, the Old God had no power to resist and was directly crushed.
But even so, many regions still awaited his repair.
The Barrens in Kalimdor, the Old God N'Zoth in the Southern Desert, and his minions, the Aquir, all had to be eliminated, every last one of them.
Yogg-Saron in Northern Northrend also needed to be purged and eliminated.
The lingering Sha energy in the Southern Continent of Pandaria also needed to be cleared and eliminated.
Here on the Eastern Kingdoms continent, the devastation also needed to be repaired, disputes resolved, and there was also the portal connecting to the Outlands in the south, which was a threat of no small measure.
Besides these, there were also the Elemental Lords who had pledged allegiance to the Old Gods, who also needed to be purged and replaced with obedient Elemental Lords to pacify and tame the four elements.
There were too many things; he needed to do them one by one. And now, the Lich King, barely clinging to life in Northrend, was the first one to be brought to justice. The atrocities he committed in the human kingdoms—if his soul wasn't tortured until it was scattered, without even a chance at reincarnation—that wouldn't be punishment, but a reward.
Maiev's delicate body was a bit stiff. She was unaccustomed to such intimacy; she wanted to refuse, but the words caught in her throat. Her neck began to flush crimson, extending all the way to her pretty face, and even her two pointed, long ears turned pink.
"How do you need me to help you?"
"Bring the Warden Force and fight with me at all times. You must learn to use machinery. Use ancient glaive throwers, these powerful machines, more often. Do not engage in close combat yourselves unless absolutely necessary."
"The main objective of leading an army is to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy with minimal losses to yourselves. Don't worry about temporary gains or losses. If a territory is given up, but the people remain, there's a chance to reclaim it. If the people die, then everything is over."
"Rest here for a few days. After that, stay by my side, understand?"
Arthas held her tighter, proclaiming his command in the most domineering tone. To deal with strong women, one must be even stronger than them. Winning Maiev over wasn't the most important thing. What was important was that he needed to integrate all racial powers and make them serve him.
It was true that he was a formidable fighter; he had no fear when it came to eliminating enemies.
But besides fighting, what about other logistics? Farming requires people, animal husbandry requires people, and planting trees in the desert also requires people.
He couldn't do it alone even if he worked for ten thousand years. This was the advantage of having subordinates.
Feeling his breath on her face, Maiev's eyes darted away, and she stammered, unable to speak. This was how a fangirl reacted when she saw her idol; her mind went blank, she couldn't say anything, even though she had so much she wanted to say, it all got stuck in her throat, and her hands and feet wouldn't obey her.
"I, I, I don't know."
"Not knowing means you agree, hehe. Maiev, I look forward to your performance. If your performance is satisfactory, as the world soul's spokesperson, I can bestow upon you unimaginable power to maintain the peace of Azeroth with me. Furthermore, you will also be qualified to bear my offspring, become a hero's spouse, and raise children for me. This is your honor! Haha!"
Arthas quickly gave her a fleeting kiss, pinched her cheek, and left with a laugh. It wasn't that he dared not stay, but he needed to give Maiev some time to adapt. Constant pressure could easily cause emotional backlash.
Conversely, a balance of push and pull, with gradual progress, was how he could keep her in the palm of his hand.
Maiev sat in the reception room for a long time, her heart still beating rapidly. She wasn't angry about Arthas's abrupt forwardness; instead, she felt the satisfaction of a fan girl whose wish had been fulfilled.
She gently caressed her lips, closing her eyes to savor the feeling from earlier. The accelerated heartbeat felt wonderful, making her feel alive for the first time in ten thousand years, not living under the haze of anger and hatred.
Her pursuit of power wasn't strong, one could even say non-existent. She wasn't interested in Arthas's promises; she was just thinking about what kind of child they would have if she had the opportunity to bear one for Arthas in the future.
Would it be like Shandris? A half-elf, a child perfectly blending the genes of both parents? Possessing both Arcane talent and unique energy, and favored by the Moon Goddess!
After a long while of fanciful thoughts, Maiev finally pulled her mind back, and her face immediately flushed with embarrassment. What was wrong with her, to be fantasizing to such an extent?
Was it because she didn't want to lose to Tyrande? Or was it that she truly couldn't give up her feelings for the hero?
Perhaps both.
She had this thought after her brother died and was resurrected, and when she herself was rescued from near-death.
Perhaps to Arthas, it was an insignificant matter, but to them, it was a life-saving grace, like a rebirth. No Kaldorei, unless utterly shameless, would forget this kindness.
Broken Isles, Broken Shore.
A squad of Nightborne guards was stationed here. On the vast beach, only a single temple emitting Fel Energy stood tall.
The surroundings were covered with numerous magical outposts and array traps, ensuring no demon could escape.
On a nearby hillside, a demon with wings but the appearance of a Night Elf was stealthily observing. This elf was Illidan, who had escaped from the Warden's Vault to participate in the Second War against the Burning Legion.
According to the agreement, he should have returned to the dungeon to continue serving his sentence after the war ended.
But after being imprisoned for ten thousand years, he absolutely did not want to return to that dark and damp place. Now, the opportunity to thwart the Burning Legion was at hand, and he couldn't give it up.
Unlike Tyrande, who advocated a passive defense strategy, Illidan advocated active offense. Learning the powerful Fel Energy of demons, fighting fire with fire, invading the Burning Legion's base camp and destroying them in one fell swoop was the most correct choice.
Otherwise, given the demons' characteristic of infinitely resurrecting if not killed in the Void, they could pay a heavy price without hesitation, as they could always revive.
What about the Azerothian Alliance? One less person with each death, they would eventually be worn down and defeated by the opponent's unscrupulous methods.
"It looks heavily guarded, but I wonder if it's easy to get out? Damn Kil'jaeden, not giving any benefits! Damn Maiev!"
Illidan couldn't help but complain. He didn't have many bargaining chips now, only a few Night Elf tribesmen he had tricked into joining the Demon Hunters. These were elites, but they hadn't truly formed a fighting force yet.
These valuable resources should not be wasted here, nor should they die here.
At this moment, a magical outpost noticed him. The next second, a graceful, plump Nightborne mage appeared before him in a projected form.
The lifelike magical projection perfectly replicated the person's expression. After scanning Illidan up and down, the female mage spoke.
"You are Illidan?"
"Indeed. Are you First Arcanist Thalyssra?"
Illidan had been more inclined to study Arcane magic back then. His exceptional talent allowed him to successfully enter the Highborne class, even appearing as a backup when the Queen chose her spouse, though he was ultimately rejected.
Even after ten thousand years, he still remembered the names of some important figures, such as this attendant who served the Archmage.
Thalyssra nodded slightly in acknowledgment. She was responsible for guarding the Tomb of Sargeras, capturing the demons within, beating them into a near-death state, and sending them to the Eastern Kingdoms.
Elisande hadn't explained why, but her unwavering dedication to fighting the Burning Legion was an act worthy of worship and trust in the hearts of many Nightborne. No one knew why; she simply believed in the prophecy and believed that Arthas would ultimately triumph.
Sargeras was powerful, but Arthas was not weak. He had forcefully cut off one of the Fallen Titan's arms, which was enough to prove his strength. This was far from his limit. Following such a powerful native demigod was much more reliable than following the Burning Legion.
"You want to enter the Tomb of Sargeras, don't you?"
Upon hearing this, Illidan's body tensed. His blind eyes flashed with Fel Energy, seeing more clearly and perceiving more intensely than before he was blinded. His hands were already gripping his Warglaives, ready to launch the fiercest attack at any moment.
"You mean to stop me?"
He had finally shaken off the Wardens' pursuit, and now he encountered the Highborne again. What terrible luck.
Thalyssra sneered. As long as the Archmage didn't side with the Burning Legion, she wouldn't be the leader of the resistance.
"The Archmage foresaw your movements long ago. You can enter, and you can take the treasures inside, but there's one condition."
"Please tell me."
Illidan breathed a sigh of relief, uncharacteristically using polite language. He was strong, but definitely not a match for the Archmage, even with Fel Energy. That one was an Archmage who had fought Queen Azshara against a prime Kil'jaeden without falling behind; it was wise not to provoke her.
Strength was the basis of dialogue. If it were anyone else, Illidan wouldn't care about conditions and would just enter the Tomb of Sargeras first.
"Drive all the demons inside out. You'll be inspected when you leave. We've already communicated with the Wardens, and they won't pursue you for now."
Thalyssra had just thought of a way to utilize waste: fighting demons with demons. This was an old trick. It had been shelved because there hadn't been a trustworthy demon until now.
Illidan had expected some outrageous demand, but it was just this simple? He couldn't understand what the other party wanted to do. Were they just bored?
Perhaps they could further cooperate! Everyone wanted to fight the Burning Legion.
"Perhaps we can cooperate further!"
Thalyssra raised an eyebrow, clearly not very interested in such matters, and waved her hand impatiently.
"Since you understand, go in. We can talk about cooperation after you prove your worth. Do you really think you can accomplish great things with just a few followers? The Archmage isn't in Suramar City; she's visiting her friend. As for you, hehe, let's see if you can even survive first."
As soon as her voice fell, Thalyssra vanished.
The magic array in front of him also opened. It was then that Illidan was momentarily surprised; with his magical attainments, he couldn't even discern that a magic array existed here!
Cold sweat immediately streamed down his back. He was straightforward, even reckless, but not a fool. The opponent's strength far surpassed his; trying to use force would be a dead end.
With a dubious mind, he gradually walked towards the Tomb of Sargeras. Along the way, he could see many sentinels watching him, yawning, and even brewing tea and playing chess, completely ignoring him.
Was he being ignored?
This was an insult!
The sharp-eyed Illidan also perceived a Naga unit stationed in the distance through his Fel Energy. He had heard of these Naga.
These were Night Elves who had followed Queen Azshara into the deep sea and transformed. In the Queen's words, she had failed to protect Azeroth and the Kaldorei Empire, which was a form of self-punishment.
A self-condemning edict, World of Warcraft style!
This instantly won the favor of all her people, and those who followed her to become Naga were even more fanatical.
A beautiful and noble Queen, with strength and responsibility. The invasion of the Burning Legion was merely due to the Queen being misled by scoundrels; it was not the Queen's fault at all!