Before he died, the Dreadlord finally recognized who the Orc before him was. They had met ten thousand years ago.
He was the mortal who dared to challenge Sargeras—the warrior who fundamentally altered the Burning Legion's first invasion. It was precisely because of this warrior's appearance that Sargeras had taken an interest in the Orc race.
Damn it, he thought, how could I not have recognized him? But how has this warrior lived for ten thousand years? Filled with questions, the Dreadlord's soul returned to the Twisting Nether.
"Lord Rhodes, brilliant work! We've successfully slain that Dreadlord!" Thrall shouted to Rhodes while finding a moment to smash a Felhunter into pulp with his hammer, his voice full of admiration.
To be able to so quickly counter and kill a powerful Dreadlord earned Rhodes the respect of every Horde warrior. Having finished the task, Broxigar immediately threw himself back into the fray on the western flank.
"It was nothing, Warchief Thrall! Watch the left flank—those Infernals are pushing up again!" Rhodes warned. He simultaneously raised his hand to refresh Shielding Stone Skin, Haste, and Air Shield on the heavily pressured warriors on the left.
"Haha, they wouldn't dare! For the Horde, warriors—push them back!" Thrall roared.
"Horde warriors, you heard the Warchief! Drive these demons back!" an Orc Overlord bellowed.
"FOR THE HORDE! PUSH THEM BACK!" Countless Orc warriors, Tauren, and even Trolls of the Darkspear tribe raised their weapons high and roared in unison.
"KILL! KILL!"
The green-skinned Orcs, the brown-furred Tauren, and the strangely dressed Darkspear Trolls actually pushed the defensive line forward, right against the demonic onslaught.
The Tide of Battle
The fighting on the second line of defense remained brutal. The demons of the Burning Legion seemed endless: Felguards, Felhunters, Succubi, Imps, Eyeballs... wave after wave of demons charged forward. From time to time, green Fel fire rained from the sky, or the ground cracked open to spew searing lava, causing continuous casualties to the Horde army.
Horde losses began to mount, and the line teetered on the brink of collapse several times, but it stubbornly stabilized each time under Thrall's command and Rhodes' support.
The explosions of Goblin landmines echoed one after another, clearing small pockets of demons with every blast. Shamanistic Chain Lightning and Healing Waves, poisoned spears from Troll Headhunters, the earth-shaking War Stomp of the Tauren... between the healing totems and the warriors' roars, the Horde was giving everything they had.
Thrall even allowed some of the Horde's Warlocks to take the field right in front of Rhodes. They used Fel magic to directly seize control of nearby demons, forcing them to turn and attack their own kind.
It must be said that while Gul'dan brought a curse to the Orcs, he also brought a new profession—or rather, a new discipline to all of Azeroth. Warlocks would prove highly useful to the world in the future; they were not mere Fel lackeys, but experts at enslaving and countering demons, much like the Demon Hunters to come.
The Ascent of the Commanders
Rhodes acted like a precise, heartless turret. His Magic Arrows continuously picked off demon officers, Eredar Warlocks, and powerful lone demons attempting to organize an effective offense. For this battle, Rhodes had prepared a massive supply of mana potions, including some premium stock from the Night Elves.
As time ticked by, the Horde line had held for over five hours. Not only had they not lost ground, but they had pushed the demons back. Some Orc youngsters charged so fiercely that they actually managed to tear holes in the Burning Legion's formation. This far exceeded Thrall's original expectations; the assistance provided by Rhodes' auxiliary magic was simply too great.
While credit was due to Goblin munitions and the desperate bravery of the warriors, Thrall knew that Rhodes' terrifying mass-buff magic and surgical strikes had played a decisive role.
However, the Burning Legion's offensive escalated again. The Legion's commander, Archimonde the Defiler, was now enraged. He used his terrifying mana to sustain the portals and summon even more Legion soldiers. Even for the mighty Defiler, the current situation was becoming taxing. Damn these mortals! Their resistance is so fierce that the Legion is taking massive losses!
With a deafening roar, the Pit Lord Azgalor and the Felguard Commander Kaz'rogal finally joined the fray personally!
Azgalor's massive body was like a moving mountain of flesh. Every step made the earth tremble as his dragon-sized frame charged toward the Orc positions. With a swing of his massive spear, a dozen Orc warriors were sent flying. Pit Lords were the premier melee units of the Legion—true biological tanks.
Meanwhile, Kaz'rogal raised his battle standard and let out a roar. A dark red aura radiated from him—the Mark of Kaz'rogal! All demons within the aura saw their attack speed vastly increased, becoming even more frenzied. His sword, the Cleaver of Sorrow, unleashed waves of Fel energy, blasting away Darkspear Trolls and Orc Shamans.
This time, the Legion had sent out two great generals simultaneously: a Doomguard and a Pit Lord.
"Warchief, we have to kill those two big ones, or things are going to get ugly," an Orc Overlord said.
"I know. I'll find a way. Overlord, return to your post and hold the line! We must not let the demons break through—we still have three hours to go!" Thrall turned to Rhodes after giving the order. "Lord Rhodes, I am sending warriors to attack those two behemoths. Your magic might be needed."
"Understood. I'll aim for that big guy's mouth to interrupt his Fel Breath!" Rhodes nodded to Thrall, simultaneously firing a Magic Arrow at Azgalor's eye to draw his attention.
Stung by the pain, Azgalor paused his breath and glared furiously at Rhodes: "Mortal insect! You have provoked me!" He ignored the Orc warriors around him and charged straight for Rhodes, his massive double-headed spear whistling through the air.
At the same time, Kaz'rogal led a squad of elite Felguards in a charge toward a weak point in the line! The demons had realized they needed to take Rhodes' head first.
Thrall's expression was grim. He knew the final test had arrived. "Stop them! For the Horde!" He personally moved to intercept Kaz'rogal, Doomhammer crackling with lightning as he clashed with the Felguard commander.
Facing the charging Azgalor, Rhodes' gaze was icy. Today, I take your life.
Rhodes directly summoned his Tier 7 unit: the Titan. The twenty-meter-tall Titan slammed into the massive Pit Lord. The collision of these two giants sent a massive shockwave across the battlefield. Both demons and Orc warriors were sent flying, with only the Tauren managed to stand their ground against the force of the impact.
As the two behemoths traded blows, the Orcs and demons instinctively cleared a central arena. Some Orcs even raised their axes high, roaring and cheering for the Titan.
"Hey big guy, try this!" Rhodes had no intention of letting the Titan duel alone. He fired a series of Magic Arrows at Azgalor's joints, eyes, and other vulnerable spots.
The Titan's lightning sword hacked mercilessly at the Pit Lord. Titans were units with high attack, high defense, and massive health pools—the most troublesome of all Tier 7 units. In a one-on-one fight, even an Archangel would struggle against a Titan.
While a single Magic Arrow couldn't kill the thick-skinned Pit Lord, the constant bombardment greatly harassed and enraged him. Azgalor swung his spear wildly at Rhodes, but the Titan blocked every move. The Titan's lightning strikes made the Pit Lord writhe in agony, and a follow-up heavy punch and a kick finally sent the Pit Lord crashing to the ground.
"Now! Focus fire!" Rhodes saw his opening. The moment Azgalor was floored by the Titan, he bellowed the order.
The Horde's ranged units, having already received their orders, concentrated all their firepower: Shamanistic lightning bolts, Headhunter spears, catapult stones, and even a few massive totem poles thrown by Tauren—everything poured down on Azgalor like a rainstorm!
Of course, the "Titan Dad's" lightning sword also hacked into the Pit Lord. Elsewhere, Kaz'rogal tried to help, but Thrall blocked his path. "Your opponent is me, demon! You aren't going anywhere—stay right here!" The plate-armored Shaman raised Doomhammer, becoming a whirlwind of destruction. Before he was a Farseer, Thrall was a champion of the arena.
"AAAAAAGH!" Azgalor let out a harrowing cry of pain as countless wounds opened across his body.
Rhodes didn't miss the chance. He focused his mana and unleashed a massive Magic Arrow that roared through the air and slammed directly into the cracked chest armor where the Titan had previously struck!
BOOM!
A massive explosion erupted from within Azgalor. His gargantuan body stiffened and then collapsed like a falling mountain. Green blood flowed out like a stream; he was clearly finished.
Knowing that a Pit Lord's death usually triggers a massive Fel explosion, the Titan immediately stepped forward. Using his immense strength, he hoisted Azgalor's dying body and hurled it deep into the demonic ranks.
The terrifying Fel explosion went off right in the middle of the demon swarm. Countless Burning Legion soldiers were instantly vaporized by their own commander's self-destruction.