Ignoring the four Spellblades standing stunned in place and the surrounding guards closing in, the trio, Andreas, crossed over a dozen steps at top speed and entered the lower level of the Plaza of Destiny.
The spacious hall had multiple exits. This transfer station, which connected various parts of Suramar, held a crucial position.
As soon as they entered the hall, the trio felt an invisible pressure enveloping them; the Restriction Magic Array inside the hall had taken effect.
"Uncle..."
"Don't stop! You and Prisim go first. The target is the central teleportation platform."
Because the trio's movements were slowed, the Spellblades and puppets guarding the outside had already caught up. The Spellblade wielding a double-bladed sword reacted first, swiftly firing an Arcane Barrage at the three, attempting to prevent their escape.
Inside this hall, which limited spellcasting against external enemies, Andreas found that mobilizing the Shadow Power within him was much slower than usual.
But he still managed to activate a small-scale Shadow Barrier before the large number of ranged spells hit him, blocking all the magic outside.
Under the astonished and enraged gaze of the Spellblades, Andreas was the last to step onto the teleportation platform, and a pillar of light sent him to the upper level of the Plaza of Destiny.
Having arrived here, only a straight path remained to the Nightborne Citadel, but this path was the most troublesome bottleneck, a narrow passage; fighting their way through would take an unknown amount of time.
As Andreas swung the sword of the dark empire, which had lost its special effects, to destroy the teleportation platform's orb, guards who had heard the commotion at the Plaza of Destiny surged toward them from two directions: the Grand Avenue behind them and the Fortress Path ahead.
"Prisim, send the signal."
"Yes."
"Whoosh~"
A bright signal flare shot up from the Plaza of Destiny; the sharp sound could be clearly heard throughout the entire city of Suramar.
Guards approaching the Plaza of Destiny from the direction of the Grand Avenue were suddenly attacked by unknown individuals. A dozen stealthy Rogues simultaneously ambushed the mid-to-low-ranking officers of this garrison unit, causing the entire force to lose command within a short time.
Having succeeded in their strike, these Rogues did not linger in the fight, immediately throwing smoke bombs and fleeing the scene.
At the same time, fires began breaking out sequentially in various areas of the city, including the Twilight Vineyard.
The city guards, already overwhelmed by the earthquake, felt their headaches worsen considerably. The guards who had originally planned to converge on the Plaza of Destiny to hunt down the intruders were forced to stop and, under the command of their officers, extinguish the fires within the city first.
The areas set alight were critical facilities meticulously selected by the Scouts, such as the Twilight Vineyard's cellar. If the fires were not extinguished, the city's supply of arcane wine would face a severe disruption for a long time, inevitably jeopardizing Suramar's urban order.
No one could guarantee what addicts deprived of Arcane supply might do.
Having cut off the pursuers from behind, the trio, Andreas, did not pause for a moment, continuing their rapid advance toward the Nightborne Citadel.
Andreas transformed into a white stag etched with numerous purple Arcane markings.
"Get on, I'm going to accelerate our breakthrough."
The stag, carrying two passengers, began accelerating down the smooth avenue. Enveloped in deep purple light, the stag gradually dematerialized as it ran, entering a Semi-Plane that could not be touched by others.
Seeing this strange phenomenon for the first time, the Spellblades were momentarily unable to react. Andreas brushed past the guards protecting the Nightborne Citadel gate; those he passed felt only a refreshing breeze, with no sensation of contacting a solid object.
Receiving the warning signal, the Nightborne Citadel was urgently closing its main gate. Seeing that there were few guards left ahead, Andreas exited his Shadow Walk state, using the energy to increase his running speed.
The stag, having accelerated once more, left purple afterimages as it ran, squeezing into the Nightborne Citadel like a streak of light just before the gates slammed shut.
"Phew~ We finally made it inside."
Facing the elite guards standing ready, Andreas felt considerably more relaxed now.
After the gates of the Nightborne Citadel closed, the area became completely sealed. Andreas used Mind Control to make the Magisters guarding the gate mindlessly activate the Nightborne Citadel Defensive Barrier.
People outside could not enter, and those inside could not leave until they captured the city gate.
Andreas did not know exactly how many people within Suramar were opposed to joining the Night Elf Republic. Considering that most soldiers might not fully support the decisions of the upper echelon, Andreas had refrained from killing anyone along the way, except for the Arcane Golems.
After all, these people might all become citizens of the Night Elf Republic in the future, so it was best to avoid casualties whenever possible.
The Nightborne Citadel had its own standing garrison, which, although more elite than the guards outside the city, was significantly smaller in number.
Suramar's decision-makers were currently discussing how to deal with the continuous earthquake coming from the southeast inside the central Nightborne Tower.
Due to the sudden nature of the event, the Nightborne Citadel did not have time to summon outside reinforcements to help with the defense inside the fortress. This massive citadel only had about 2,000 defenders, who were scattered across various areas of the fortress.
"Commotion? Intruders?"
Inside the Nightborne Tower, the advisors discussing countermeasures looked in surprise at the Spellblade who had come to report.
"Yes."
Netara Moonshadow had some guesses about the intruders' identity, but having already made his decision, he said nothing, merely bowing respectfully and formally reporting the situation to the advisors.
A female mage wearing a high-collared mage robe frowned and asked, "We have already ordered the evacuation of the populace, so why is there a commotion? Where did these intruders come from?"
Intense Arcane light flickered in the female mage's eyes. Her appearance was not considered exceptionally beautiful by Night Elves' standards, but even in this sudden situation, her demeanor remained composed, possessing a dignified and refined temperament.
This person was the nominal leader of the Archmage Advisory Council, Chief Arcanist Thalyssra.
Netara replied, "We cannot confirm yet, but it is highly likely to be the families of the Moon Guard who were previously brought into the city."
Stealthily glancing at Fandos, whose expression had changed, Netara kept his head bowed and continued, "The Night Elves who came from Moon Guard Fortress a few days ago have already caused several disturbances, reportedly because we failed to fulfill the promises we originally made to them."
A sharp light flashed in Thalyssra's eyes, and she shifted her gaze to Fandos, whose face looked somewhat grim.
Fandos' attire was different from Thalyssra's; his upper body was bare, wearing no robes, but rather a set of close-fitting, interwoven metal armor brimming with powerful Arcane energy. Oddly, his lower body was clad in a purple long skirt.
Fandos, whose silver hair was pulled back in a long ponytail, glared fiercely at Netara. The Spellblade's report had failed to omit him, which greatly displeased Fandos, who was accustomed to a life of luxury and maintaining a noble facade.
Thalyssra was very familiar with her colleague's conduct. She questioned him with evident dissatisfaction, "Fandos, what exactly is going on?"
"It was your proposal to win over the Night Elves from Moon Guard Fortress. You assured us you would handle this matter properly. Why is there a disturbance?"
"Well..."
Fandos quickly began searching for an excuse in his mind: "It's because those commoners..."
"What commoners?"
Auriel interrupted him with displeasure and retorted, "Even the Highborne from Moon Guard Fortress are being called commoners by you now? advisor Fandos, by what authority do you speak like this?"
"You..."
"Report!"
A Magister guard rushed in from outside the citadel, interrupting the argument that was about to break out between the two advisors at the perfect moment.
"Lady Thalyssra, the intruders have infiltrated the Nightborne Citadel and sealed the main gate exit leading to the outside. How should we set up our defenses?"
"What?"
"So fast?"
Hearing the Magister's report, every advisor's face paled.
A male warrior in full enchanted armor set his helm on his head. "I'll go; this is my job."
Thalyssra nodded gravely. "I'm counting on you, Melandus. Don't let the intruders breach the Nightborne Tower and disturb the Archmage's meditation."
"I know."
Thalyssra glanced around. Fandos and Auriel were locked in a staring contest; the two were clearly at loggerheads for the moment.
TelAn, looking less human by the day, muttered incantations no one else could understand. Aethaus stared blankly into space, indifferent to everything around him.
'Archmage, the advisory council is getting harder to rein in…'
To Thalyssra, only Spellblade Commander Auriel and sword-master Melandus—utterly loyal to Elisande—still qualified as sane.
Fandos was busy purging rivals and grabbing power, his methods ever more underhanded.
TelAn, thanks to crazed self-modifications, now resembled a plant more than a person. Aethaus… his mental state worried her; the astrologer had apparently suffered some shock and now ignored everything, eyes fixed on the stars.
"Back to business."
Thalyssra composed herself, deliberately separating Auriel and Fandos before their clash escalated.
"Fandos, investigate the quakes outside the city. Stay alert—I've a bad feeling."
"Tch—"
At the order, Fandos' eyes flashed annoyance; he covertly clicked his tongue.
But he yielded. "Fine. I'll set out at once."
Swish—
One could only teleport out of the Nighthold; Fandos would have to re-enter through the main gate on return—another reason for his foul mood.
"Hmph!"
Watching Fandos vanish, Auriel snorted. "He grows worse—promised the Moon Guard one thing, then played dirty behind their backs."
Thalyssra said nothing; she had never favored the decision against the Night Elf Republic, yet to ease the council's rising tensions she had abstained along with the others.
Handled well, the Moon Guard Fortress could indeed feed Suramar steady intelligence on the Night Elf Republic.
After nearly ten millennia sealed away, Suramar was woefully out of touch; they needed a channel to learn how the world had changed. That was one reason she and the other advisors quietly allowed Fandos' scheme.
But now it had all backfired. Fandos—who never lost a copper yet always claimed nobility—had stirred up needless trouble.
In truth, Fandos' house had been unremarkable before Elisande sealed Suramar; his seat on the council was a exceptional price promotion. Elisande prized his Arcane talent.
Perhaps for that very reason, Fandos strove to gild his pedigree and entrench his authority.
'Troubled times…'
Thalyssra gazed worriedly at Elisande suspended in a violet column of light, meditating at the tower's heart.
'Let it not come to the worst. If Fandos' antics anger the Night Elf Republic, Suramar's days will grow even harder.'
"...Uncle, why don't we just lead the main force and tear through Suramar's defenses? Don't tell me you can't handle the city's barrier."
By now Andreas' trio had cleared most guards near the fountain plaza before the Nightborne Tower. Niana studied the last defenders at the tower gate and voiced her doubt.
Hundreds of fortress guards lay on the ground—not dead, merely stripped of consciousness by Andreas' mental sorceries.
Catching his breath after channeling so much power, Andreas answered, "The barrier is tough, yes, but not unbreakable. I can shatter it."
"Yet doing so would leave our kin here with a bad taste of brute force, likely complicating later administration."
Elisande holds the eye of amanthul. If the Archmage, lost in her timelines, chooses to resist, she could inflict heavy losses on the Night Elf Republic's forces.
Because Elisande saved Suramar from the Burning Legion during the War of the Ancients, her prestige among its people is enormous. Open war—win or lose—would tarnish the Republic's image in their eyes.
They are, after all, past and future kin; a peaceful reunion is best, minimizing public resistance and smoothing the transfer of power.
A private duel with Elisande would be fine—few would ever know the outcome.
In fact, Andreas rather wished a single fight could settle things; it would save breath and brain-cells.
Elisande has a Pillar of Creation; so does he. If it came to blows, he was confident he would not lose.
What worried him was that, with Elisande aloof, her advisors might jump in—first among them the slightly clever but utterly shortsighted Fandos.
While Andreas stormed the fountain plaza, Prisim near the city gate had not been idle.
Before departure, Celeste—out of habit—had stuffed Andreas with a sack of comic magical traps, every one of which he now handed to Prisim.
The twisted traps of the mischievous Celeste—plus Leticia, that calamity-loving imp—had bred true chaos.
A squad of elite Nightborne Spellblades had fallen victim: faces grief-stricken, they danced a "seductive" jig, hips swaying as they peeled off armor piece by piece.
Prisim: "..."
The taciturn Rogue leader studied the spherical trigger-trap in her hand; years with Andreas' family told her exactly whose handiwork this was.
The sight of hairy-legged brutes twisting and twerking was blinding; Prisim simply meditated while awaiting her prey.
Nightborne Spellblades, mostly Highborne, prized face—none wished such disgrace before comrades.
They looked left and right, yet no hero stepped forward; all stood frozen, watching.
Boom—
A thunderous blast from the Nighthold gate diverted everyone's attention; many Spellblades exhaled in relief and turned to observe the square.
'That is...'
Prisim's expression stayed flat, but her eyes sharpened.
Andreas was locked in melee with a double-headed-sword wielder who relied not on brute strength but on agility and reflex.
Prisim wasn't the only one worried; Niana, watching from close range, nervously gripped the staff Andreas had given her as a graduation gift.
The leader of the Suramar swordsmen, calling himself Melandrus, had completely defied Niana's expectations. She'd assumed the tin can in full plate was a bull, but he turned out to be a nimble leopard.
Andreas felt equally awkward. Years spent in the arena had exposed him to every odd fighting style imaginable, and agile warriors like Melandrus weren't new to him.
Yet every agile fighter he'd faced before paled beside the one now in front of him; the man's movement and reaction speed had surpassed Mortal limits.
Even Andreas' instant spells required a hand gesture, and the moment he raised his arm Melandrus reacted, driving the double-headed sword toward vitals Andreas had no choice but to defend, forcing him to change tactics at lightning speed.
'Troublesome.'
Melandrus' armor looked light, but its defense was formidable.
The surface shimmered with dense Arcane auras, visible Arcane energy spilling out and forming gorgeous ribbons of blue light.
His double-headed sword was fundamentally different from the standard-issue blades of Spellblades; after clashing repeatedly with the shadow blades conjured by the tear of Elune it hadn't broken—proof of its exceptional strength.
Clang!
Against an enemy this fast, Andreas had to stay razor-sharp.
Once more he barely parried Melandrus' strike with the sword of the dark empire. Before he could cast Psychic Scream, Melandrus—like he'd sensed danger—kicked off the ground and retreated ten metres.
'Damn, this guy's sixth sense is practically a spirit!'
Melandrus' real strength was far below the ceiling Andreas had seen, but this fighting style was brutally effective in single combat.
Against a Pit Lord's massive bulk, Melandrus' limited attacks would amount to little more than a pedicure.
But against a similarly sized Mortal, anyone who faced him would feel the same frustration Andreas now endured.
Spells couldn't lock on, melee strikes were answered with blinding speed—this cheap style was draining Andreas' patience.
Clash!
After driving Melandrus back with a chain of instant spells, Andreas plunged the sword of the dark empire into the ground and, scowling, pulled a square, grey-green stone from his Magic Satchel.
Thalyssra: "!!!"
Inside the Nightborne Tower, Thalyssra's face paled as she watched through the crystal ball, eyes fixed on the unremarkable stone.
"It couldn't be…"
Before the stunned Thalyssra could gather her thoughts, Andreas channeled the stone while Melandrus watched, wary and bewildered.
The fountain plaza in front of the Nightborne Tower had been spraying five-coloured water under Arcane influence; now, as the stone defied physics and hovered, the jet surged, every stream racing toward Andreas.
Within seconds the sea off Suramar's Astravar Harbour began to ripple, highly compressed seawater rushing toward him.
"…No way?"
Melandrus saw Andreas' intent: use a spell so vast it would erase any room to dodge.
"Heh-heh~" Andreas gave a gloomy chuckle at the bristling Melandrus. "Let's see how you dodge this."
Splash!
Under the Tidestone's power the compressed sphere of water suddenly ballooned, torrents spraying outward.
Yes, spraying.
After countless pressure boosts the water literally shot out; the wide plaza was cloaked in mist in the blink of an eye.
Before Melandrus could turn and run, the main target was swallowed by the roaring current.
Boom!
The wave struck the Nightborne Tower's outer wall, shaking the entire structure.
Thalyssra and the others grabbed whatever was fixed to stay upright, none noticing that Archmage Elisande, suspended in the tower's beam, suddenly opened her eyes.
The seawater rushing through the fortress froze as if someone had hit pause, then—defying reason—flowed backward, returning in moments to Astravar Harbour.
Ignoring the unconscious Melandrus plastered to the wall by the wave, Andreas narrowed his eyes toward the tower's upper tiers.
'Time reversal? Then…'
A woman in tall crown and two mystic halos behind her head flashed onto the plaza.
Andreas' lips curved. "Archmage Elisande? Finally decided to show yourself?"
Elisande's features were only average among Night Elves, but her presence commanded attention—an unwavering determination, and with Arcane might at her back she radiated authority.
Her pale-blue eyes fixed on Andreas as she asked, "Who are you? Why hold the Tidestone, and why sneak into Suramar to assault my fortress?"
Andreas raised an eyebrow; her questions had already leaked information.
'She doesn't know me? So… Elisande can't see me in the timelines through the eye of amanthul? I get it…'
Understanding dawned, and he regarded the Archmage with pity.
'Another poor soul the Titans have ruined.'
Elisande, puzzled by the intruder's gaze, frowned. "Answer, or I'll remove the threat with lethal force."
Andreas spread his hands with a smile. "You can't see me in the timelines? I'm fairly well-known on Azeroth; why would the timelines you spy through the eye of amanthul exclude me?"
"You…"
Elisande's pupils shrank; Andreas knowing the Eye was in her possession wasn't surprising—it wasn't truly secret.
But few understood the Eye's power; a Pillars of Creation wasn't easily wielded.
A weight settled on Elisande as she sensed something amiss.
"Intruder, state your name."
Andreas bowed with a smile. "Andreas Moonshadow, current Helmsman of the Night Elves. Pleased to meet you, Archmage Elisande."
"What?"
Shock flashed across Elisande's face. "Impossible! The Night Elves' leader should be…"
Andreas' eyes glinted. "Malfurion and Tyrande?"
'As expected…'
Elisande opened her mouth, but Andreas' quick answer completely threw off her rhythm; the Archmage's mind was in a state of chaos.
Her instinct was to suspect Andreas was lying, but when she looked back at Thalyssra, her trusted subordinate solemnly nodded to confirm Andreas' identity, making the sense of absurdity in Elisande's heart grow stronger.
"What exactly do you know? How do you know it? Why has your existence never appeared in the timelines shown by the eye of amanthul?"
For nearly ten thousand years, Elisande had placed absolute trust in the future shown to her by the eye of amanthul. Guided by the artifact, she had led the Nightborne through many crises, which only solidified her obsession with exploring timelines as the key to the Nightborne's future.
Agitated, Elisande's emotions became unstable. She felt the principles she had believed in and practiced for years were suffering a devastating blow.
Andreas stopped smiling and spoke seriously to the Archmage, "With your intelligence, you should have guessed it by now, shouldn't you?"
"The eye of amanthul is indeed a Titan artifact of immense power, but its primary function isn't to modify timelines. Rather, it uses specific rules to control the flow and direction of time within a certain range."
"Then where does that time come from?"
Andreas answered his own question, "It's simple: from the countless parallel worlds of Azeroth."
Long ago, Andreas had found it strange. Out of all the Pillars of Creation, why was it only the eye of amanthul that could sustain the massive mana source required for a city?
Through the information Elisande had inadvertently revealed, Andreas finally understood.
All that energy was being siphoned by the eye of amanthul from parallel versions of Azeroth.
Azeroth is a world with countless branching timelines, a fact known through the Bronze Dragonflight, the Keepers of Time.
But just as Andreas had always believed, even the leader of the Titans, Amanthul—known as the Highfather—could not fully grasp the mysteries of time. The Bronze Dragonflight's understanding of time was even more superficial.
The eye of amanthul was crafted by Amanthul himself, containing his understanding of time and his deductions regarding Azeroth's future.
However, in none of those parallel timelines did Andreas, a transmigrator from outside the 'box,' exist.
Elisande firmly believed that the future she saw was likely to happen, but Andreas' existence served as a painfully ironic slap to her face.
Hey, hey, wake up. Your Suramar is gone.
What happens when a person with fanatical convictions sees those beliefs shattered? One only had to look at Elisande's current state to find out.
Mana overflowed from her body out of control, forming a localized mana storm. Elisande's gaze was vacant and frantic.
"Impossible! How could the Titans be wrong? They are the great beings who shaped the world!"
'If the Titans are wrong, then what have the convictions I've held onto all this time been for?'
Andreas shrugged and said, "I don't deny the Titans are great, but they are not omnipotent. As it turns out, no one who blindly trusted Amanthul's predictions has ever met a good end—including Nozdormu, the Bronze Aspect."
'And of course, that includes you.'
In the original history, it was precisely because Elisande blindly trusted the future shown by the eye of amanthul that she decisively surrendered when the Burning Legion returned to Azeroth.
She hadn't stopped to consider that the Pillars of Creation were made by Titans. Wouldn't it be simple for Sargeras, a fellow Titan, to interfere?
Even if he wasn't a master of time himself, Sargeras only needed to make slight modifications to the details of the timeline to completely deceive Elisande. This obsessed Archmage believed until her death that the future she saw was the only way forward for Suramar.
"Archmage!"
Thalyssra led the other advisors to the front of the Nightborne Tower. Andreas took a moment to glance at them.
'Hmm?'
That one look allowed Andreas to spot some issues.
Though TelAn looked crazed, Andreas had expected this and wasn't surprised.
Auriel's behavior was also relatively normal, but Aethaus... the Star Augur's eyes flickered as he looked at Elisande, revealing a very complex expression.
'What's going on? This person with the planetary projections floating behind his head should be Aethaus, right?'
Compared to Fandos, who only relied on petty tricks, Andreas was more wary of Aethaus, who always stayed in the background and only offered opinions at critical moments.
Azeroth's astrologers and Astromancers can explore the starry sky with their spirits. It's not impossible for a powerful one to find planets with intelligent life.
A classic example is the Guardian Medivh; the worlds he explored certainly weren't limited to just Draenor.
The universe of Azeroth is called the Dark Void by the Titans. With the Pantheon fallen and the Army of the Light suppressed, the order of the Dark Void has begun to shift over the last tens of thousands of years.
The forces of the Burning Legion and the Void are growing larger, and their struggle for the Dark Void has reached a fever pitch.
Countless once-vibrant planets have been destroyed by the Burning Legion and converted into demonic forward bases, while many others have been tainted by Void Power, becoming pawns for the void lords.
The more powerful an astrologer is, the easier it is for them to come into contact with these dark sides of the universe. Aethaus' strange reaction now caused Andreas to heighten his vigilance toward him.
'By the way, where did Fandos go? Was he sent away to investigate the earthquake?'
The earthquake had already subsided by now; Aegwynn must have successfully raised all of Saldanas.
If nothing went wrong, another earthquake would surely follow later. After all, once the Avatar of Sargeras was sealed, this contaminated Moon Temple would have to be sent back to the seabed.
Seeing Elisande's aura and emotions becoming increasingly unstable, Andreas said solemnly to Niana, "Go hide in the shadows. I'm afraid a big battle is unavoidable now."
"Okay, Uncle, you have to win."
"Heh~"
Andreas waved Niana off casually, "I don't need a little girl like you worrying about me. Go on."
By now, the mana in Elisande's body was nearly completely out of control. At her level, one could guess how much damage haywire mana could cause just by looking at the pale faces of Thalyssra and the others.
Andreas used Shadowmeld to teleport in front of Thalyssra and the others. Spellblade Auriel reacted the fastest, drawing her weapon and shielding the three advisors in a combat stance.
"Don't get excited. I'm sure none of you want Elisande to completely lose control here."
Andreas said seriously, "I can suppress Elisande's rampage, but I know nothing about Arcane magic. Sorting out her mana will have to be up to you."
Thalyssra reached out to stop Auriel, who was about to attack, and said in a low voice, "I understand. We cannot let the Archmage destroy the city she has spent her life protecting because she lost control."
"Very good."
Andreas looked at Thalyssra with appreciation. "Of all the advisors, you have the best sense of the big picture."
Auriel and Melandus were typical martial types; they were more accustomed to following orders.
TelAn was mentally unstable; Andreas felt he needed a 'flaming red lip' from Professor Ma to snap back to normal.
Fandos acted only for his own interests, and only Aethaus remained somewhat unreadable to Andreas.
Thalyssra replied with a composed face, "Save the talk for after the battle. If Speaker Moonshadow can help us suppress the Archmage's mana outburst and save Suramar, I am willing to personally support Suramar's return to mainstream Night Elf society."
Auriel quickly followed suit, "Me too."
With his back to Thalyssra as he looked at Elisande, the corners of Andreas' mouth curled up slightly. 'That's exactly what I wanted to hear.'
At the same time, on the sea surface southeast of Suramar.
When Fandos led the reconnaissance team, riding Flying Mana Sabers, to the epicenter predicted by the Geological Exploration Scholars, a remarkably well-preserved abandoned palace first came into their view.
"This is..." Fandos opened his mouth in surprise. "The Moon Temple Saldanas? Why is it here?"
As a native resident of Suramar, Fandos stayed inside the safe Barrier with the rest of the Suramar populace during The Sundering, witnessing the world's dramatic transformation firsthand.
Saldanas was also torn apart by the terrifying power of The Maelstrom at that time, separated from the map of Suramar, and eventually swept into the surging ocean.
Saldanas was currently surrounded by desolation; sickly green seaweed covered the ruined buildings, starfish and various shellfish were everywhere, and some Deep-sea Monstrous Fish that hadn't yet expired were struggling helplessly on the damp beach.
A follower speculated uncertainly, "Lord Fandos, it seems someone lifted Saldanas up from the seabed."
Fandos also considered this possibility based on the clues at the scene, but he still found it hard to accept. "Can Mortals truly accomplish something like this?"
What was lifted from the seabed was not just the Moon Temple Saldanas, but the entire landmass where the abandoned Moon Temple stood; the beach, having only recently surfaced, could definitely be considered a small island.
Lifting an island from the depths of the ocean was something Fandos had never heard of.
An accompanying Arcanist, who was sensitive to magical perception, suddenly frowned. "Lord Fandos, I sense a dense aura of Fel Energy, which seems to be coming from inside Saldanas."
Fandos took a deep breath. He was, after all, one of the advisors appointed by Elisande through special exception. Although his strategic view was poor, that didn't mean he was a complete idiot.
"Our reconnaissance mission has reached a conclusion: this earthquake was not natural; it was caused by someone."
"Anyone capable of this must be extremely powerful. Everyone, raise your vigilance and proceed cautiously into the Moon Temple to explore."
"Yes!"
...Just as Fandos led his people through the main gate of Saldanas, deep beneath the Moon Temple, Aegwynn and two humanoid Blue Dragons were jointly casting spells to seal the indestructible shell of the Avatar of Sargeras.
Solid Arcane Chains, condensed as if real, hoisted the Avatar of Sargeras' arms high. His upper body was completely trapped by a Chain-Seal Platform, and his torso bore several conspicuous Binding Runes.
Ensuring the seal was foolproof, Aegwynn let out a small sigh of relief.
"It should be fine now. As long as the Moon Temple is submerged into the sea again, we can guarantee that no one enters this Sealing Hall."
With the main task complete, the bored Kalecgos started chatting with Aegwynn, but Arygos' expression suddenly changed.
"You two, hold off on relaxing. The Reconnaissance Spell I placed at the main gate of Saldanas has been triggered."
Aegwynn immediately sobered her expression. "An intruder?"
The three strode out of the Sealing Hall. Aegwynn, who left last, turned around and waved her hands, tracing a circle in the air.
As her Arcane Power surged out, three layers of heavy Metal Doors slammed shut one after another, locking the Avatar of Sargeras in the deepest part of the hall.
A flash of teleportation light passed. When the three arrived in the main hall just inside Saldanas' entrance, they ran straight into Fandos and his group, who were cautiously exploring the area.
Fandos was startled by the three people who suddenly appeared before him, and he reflexively threw out an Arcane Barrage.
Aegwynn was not someone known for her good temper. Seeing the opponent initiate the attack, she immediately countered with an Arcane Barrage that looked virtually identical, simultaneously neutralizing the incoming spell.
The spells collided in the air. Aegwynn's Arcane Barrage was more condensed, breaking Fandos' spell and continuing onward toward the astonished Fandos, striking before his own spell could land.
Fandos hastily raised a Defensive Shield to block the opponent's spell. The immense pressure transmitted through the shield made his heart sink.
'As expected, she is powerful.'
After this probing exchange, neither side attacked again. They stood distinctly separated in two groups, confronting each other in the main hall of Saldanas.
Without Malygos' suppression, Kalecgos started acting recklessly again. He looked at the strange-looking Elves opposite him and brazenly asked, "You Night Elves, you freaks over there, who are you? What is your intention in coming here?"
"Freaks?!"
Fandos and his group showed angry expressions, with Fandos' face looking the worst.
Most Suramar residents were proud of their current form, which was better suited for manipulating Magical Power. They even changed their name, no longer calling themselves Kaldorei Night Elves, but referring to themselves as Nightborne—Shal'dorei.
The Nightborne's form was changed by the nourishment of the Nightwell. Although the Nightborne were trapped in Suramar for many years, they at least knew about the explosion of the Well of Eternity and The Sundering disaster.
Without the Well of Eternity, in the minds of Fandos and the other Nightborne of the Nobility Faction, the Shal'dorei, who possessed a brand new Source of Magical Power, were the Chosen Ones, the legitimate successors of the Night Elf Empire, far superior to the Night Elf Republic led by commoners.
Their pride was insulted by this strange, never-before-seen species (Humans) who called them freaks, and Fandos and his group's anger naturally flared up.
"Intruders, how dare you call the noble Shal'dorei freaks! Accept the Nightborne's punishment!"
Fandos waved his staff, constructing a Magic Array that enveloped Aegwynn and the two others.
This unfamiliar Magic Array piqued Arygos' curiosity. Aegwynn, looking speechless, muttered, "I didn't say that... go talk to whoever did."
"Tick-tock~"
As the sound of a clock mechanism emanated from the Magic Array on the ground, Aegwynn and the two others simultaneously felt an unnatural pause in their bodies.
Aegwynn and Arygos were powerful. Although Kalecgos was relatively weak, as a Blue Dragon he possessed considerable Magic Resistance, and all three quickly recovered from the spell's effect.
Arygos frowned. "Time Magic? This is the domain of the Bronze Dragonflight. How can Mortals use it?"
With his carefully prepared array easily broken by the opponents, the confidence in Fandos' heart rapidly faded, but he still sneered defiantly, "The Bronze Dragonflight? Those large lizards merely gained the Power of Time through the grace of the Titans. We are different."
"The Shal'dorei's Time Magic was developed through our own hard work and research, fundamentally different from those Brownish-yellow Large Lizards."
Having someone call a bald man a baldy to his face, even the usually frivolous Kalecgos' face darkened.
"Mortal, who did you call a large lizard?"
Fandos saw the rage in the eyes of the two Blue Dragons who had suddenly shifted forms before him, and he moved his lips but couldn't speak.
"Uh... what if I said this was just a misunderstanding?"
"Too late!"
"ROAR!"
As the battle within Saldanas broke out, a new change occurred in the situation before the Nightborne Tower in Suramar.
Archmage Elisande had lost her composure under the sudden blow of the truth, allowing her violent and uncontrolled magic to leak out; all it needed was a single spark to ignite it completely.
After settling things with Thalyssra and the other advisors, Andreas took a deep breath to calm his emotions, clearing his mind of all distractions like his previous calculations and schemes.
Floating in mid-air, Elisande's eyes had lost their luster, and her body was taken over entirely by subconscious instinct.
Because of the chaotic and violent magic within her, Elisande's instinct first sought to vent, discharging the excessive uncontrollable energy from her body.
Snap!
"Hey~ over here."
Andreas hit Elisande with a Shadow Bolt. Although the spell's effect was blocked by the Mana Shield on her body's surface, it undoubtedly succeeded in attracting the Archmage's attention.
The eye of amanthul, acting as an energy core, was suspended within the Nightborne Tower to power the Nightwell. As the current master of this artifact, Elisande could mobilize a portion of its power even from outside the tower.
Whoosh!
Grinning to reveal two pairs of canines, Elisande struck back with a fierce expression at Andreas, who had dared to take the initiative to provoke her.
Several small rotating magic circles appeared behind Elisande, and a multi-shot volley of Arcane Missiles vanished the moment they left the circles.
The hair all over Andreas' body suddenly stood on end. At the critical moment, he followed the instructions of his survival instinct and used Shadowmeld to move backward, shifting his entire person over a dozen meters in the Blink of an eye.
Boom! Boom!
Elisande's magic quality was extremely pure. The very basic Arcane Missiles hit the square's ground one after another, causing a massive commotion.
After regaining his footing, Andreas' expression became very solemn. 'The blessing of Time Magic? I can't track the flight paths of these Arcane Missiles at all, as if they were accelerated to the limit the moment they were fired.'
Even Fandos could use Time Magic; as the creator of Suramar-style Time Magic, Elisande's attainment far exceeded that of all the mages in Suramar.
Just as he was preparing to use Shadow mental magic to counterattack, Andreas' face suddenly changed as his body was unknowingly frozen.
'No! It's not just my body—this is a Time Stasis!'
In many fantasy literatures, time and space magic are both very rogue-like when used in combat. Andreas was now personally experiencing the trouble of Time Magic.
The Bronze Dragonflight mostly relied on their talent to use the gift they received from Amanthul, but the Elisande before him had a deeper understanding of Time Magic. Andreas had fallen into the trap completely without realizing it.
Using the power of the eye of amanthul as an aid and driver, Elisande's Time Magic was impossible to guard against.
"Aaah!!"
Elisande, who had only her conscious instinct left, had not forgotten the spells she used in the past. She screamed and launched an Arcane Barrage to carpet the area toward Andreas, drowning the temporarily immobilized Andreas in an overwhelming blue-purple curtain of light.
Niana, who was watching from the shadows, felt her heart tighten. Although she already had a deep understanding of her mentor's strength, facing an opponent with such an eerie and unpredictable fighting style for the first time, Niana couldn't help but feel a bit of uncertainty.
'Can he really win?'
Cough, cough~
Coughing sounds came from the dust kicked up by the spell, and Andreas' figure was finally visible again at the center of the expanding black wind.
The tear of Elune was now flashing with an elegant purple light, and there was a thin purple shield around Andreas' body protecting him from harm.
Aside from Andreas himself being unscathed, the ground around him had been blasted into a terrible state by the Arcane Barrage, leaving the originally smooth square pockmarked with craters.
Looking at the surrounding terrain speechlessly, Andreas sighed and said, "It seems I need to settle this quickly, otherwise post-war reconstruction will be a headache."
Seeing Elisande's left hand lift slightly again, the prepared Andreas did not give Elisande another chance to restrict him, using Shadowmeld to move behind her.
"Devouring Plague."
Just as the Shadow Magic that pollutes the mind was cast, a momentary time distortion appeared at Elisande's location.
Elisande, who had clearly been hit, acted as if nothing had happened, turning around to use an area-of-effect spell to slow down the flow of time around Andreas.
The decrease in the flow of time indirectly slowed Andreas' movements as well, but Andreas, who had succeeded in his strike, did not stay in place; he had already shifted his position again the moment Elisande acted.
About twenty meters above Elisande, Andreas, supported by a black breeze, extended the Staff of Ganir in his hand, and the purple light emitted by the tear of Elune at the tip of the staff grew stronger and stronger.
The sky of Suramar was stirred into a churning mess by the leaking magic from Elisande. Fortunately, most Suramar residents had retreated into shelters by now; otherwise, this apocalyptic scene alone would have incited city-wide panic.
Thalyssra and the others watching on the ground saw a blur, as Andreas in the air and Elisande, who was rushing straight toward him, suddenly vanished together.
In the pitch-black Shadow Plane, Elisande's body looked blankly at the suddenly changed scenery around her; even her night vision could not see through this sub-plane shrouded in layers of mist.
"Elune, I am the spokesperson for your fury. In the name of the moon goddess, I grant the enemy relentless punishment!"
"Wrath of the Moon Goddess!"
Following Andreas' rapid chanting, countless deep purple Shadow Energy spheres suddenly appeared in the pitch-black space.
These highly compressed dark meteors covered the entire area around Elisande. The Archmage's outermost Mana Shield was eroded by Shadow Energy the moment it was hit.
Elisande immediately used Blink to leave her position, but the already released spell followed her like a shadow.
In the Shadow Plane, all other types of magic were suppressed to a certain extent, while only Shadow Energy was amplified.
With one side gaining and the other losing, the multiple magic shields Elisande constructed gradually could not keep up with the speed at which they were pierced by the purple meteors.
If it were a single spell, Elisande could use time to stagnate or even reverse it, but this continuous meteor shower left her struggling to cope.
Although the Time Magic shield around her body slowed the speed of the descent, the continuous attacks that never ceased finally broke through Elisande's final defenses.
Andreas, who had been hiding in the shadows observing, had his eyes light up. 'Opportunity.'
The long-prepared, enhanced version of Mind Blast hit the enemy through the gap the moment Elisande's magical defense collapsed. Even though she had lost her conscious will, Elisande's instinct was still subconsciously controlled by her soul.
The moment she was directly hit by Mind Blast, all her movements stopped, and her entire person slumped softly toward the ground.
"Withdraw!"
The dark meteor shower filling the sky vanished immediately as Andreas retracted them. The pitch-black Shadow Plane also dissipated after the battle ended, and Suramar, filled with dense Arcane magic, reappeared before Andreas' eyes.
The Shadow Realm does not have the function of time deceleration or stagnation; whatever time passes inside, the same amount of time passes outside.
Elisande and Andreas disappeared from the sight of Niana, Thalyssra, and the others who were watching for about 5 minutes. When the anxiously waiting crowd finally saw them again, the battle seemed to have ended.
"Hoo~"
Andreas, who was holding Elisande in his arms as he landed, let out a sigh of relief.
Because Elisande had lost her sanity and couldn't utilize her rich experience and combat wisdom to combine various spells more effectively, this battle was not particularly difficult to win.
The Wrath of the Moon Goddess, which once required the aid of Elune's divine power to use, Andreas can now cast independently. Although it still requires some help from the tear of Elune, it is ultimately a significant step forward.
Although the Wrath of the Moon Goddess appears very similar to Tyrande's Prayer to the Moon Goddess on the surface, the power contained within them is fundamentally different.
The Prayer to the Moon Goddess that Tyrande usually uses is a weakened version of divine magic taught by Elune to the Sisterhood of Elune after being 'castrated,' and it does not exceed the limits that Mortals can use.
The upper limit of this spell is also quite high. The large-scale clearing spell unleashed by the former High Priestess Dichana, by channeling the tear of Elune with her life, only approached its original power.
Simply put, the complete versions of these two complementary divine spells are simply not for ordinary Mortals to use. Forcibly wielding them carries a high probability of having a large amount of life force drained, just like High Priestess Dihana.
Andreas also underwent nearly ten thousand years of repeated experimentation and attempts to finally basically restore this divine magic, which was used against Queen Azshara at the time. With the blessing of the tear of Elune, its power is now no different from the complete version.
Niana and the advisory group did not see the final battle scene; it was a battle that surpassed the limits of Mortals. The power Elisande displayed with the help of the eye of amanthul was definitely not something ordinary people could handle.
Regardless, Elisande's uncontrolled destruction of Suramar City was finally prevented. All the Nightborne advisors, including Thalyssra and Auriel, breathed a sigh of relief.
No matter their positions and starting points, these advisors had deep affection for their hometown city, where they had lived for tens of thousands of years, and did not wish to see it destroyed due to the Archmage's momentary lapse.
"Uncle!"
Seeing the battle end, Niana excitedly ran out from her hidden corner.
"You won?"
"Mm." Andreas ruffled Niana's hair, responding to her anticipation with a smile, "The opponent wasn't in her best state, so there's nothing to be proud of in winning."
The advisory group, led by Thalyssra, quickly gathered around the unconscious Elisande. TelAn, who worked as a court gardener and healer out of personal interest, checked Elisande's condition.
This eccentric man, who looked more like a Dryad than an Elf, showed a simple and honest smile, "Her body is fine, only her soul has suffered some shock. With the Archmage's mental strength, she should wake up soon."
This was the first time Andreas had seen TelAn seriously perform his duties. Before, this fellow had been standing there foolishly, muttering to himself, his expression constantly changing.
If it weren't for his performance this time, Andreas would have almost thought he had completely lost his humanity and sanity.
"No need for such trouble."
Andreas gently tapped his staff on the ground, and an invisible mental wave swept over everyone present. Except for Niana, who had experienced it before, everyone's heart simultaneously tightened.
Thalyssra vigilantly glanced at Andreas, 'An attack directly targeting the mind and soul? How rare.'
Precisely because it was rare, even Archmage Elisande was not deeply guarded against soul-related attacks. Otherwise, Andreas would have needed to exert more effort to win today.
Of course, by then, the Archmage's body would also not be as intact as it was now.
Astrologer Aethaus looked at Andreas meaningfully; he felt a familiar power from this gentle mental impact.
'The Void?'
"Ugh~"
Just then, Elisande let out a soft groan. Thalyssra quickly helped the Archmage sit up from the ground.
"I am..."
Elisande, who had just woken up, still had a somewhat dazed look in her eyes. Seeing the extensively damaged bluestone ground in the plaza, her pupils suddenly contracted.
"That's right, my magic went out of control... Thalyssra! Is Suramar alright?"
Thalyssra breathed a sigh of relief and shook her head reassuringly, "Archmage, Suramar was not destroyed. The marks you see before you are the most damaged areas."
Elisande looked around incredulously. She was very confident in her own strength; if left unchecked, she might indeed have rampaged enough to destroy all of Suramar.
Upon seeing Andreas, who was leaning on his staff and smiling calmly, Elisande paused, then revealed a somewhat complex, wry smile.
"So that's it, you made a move."
Elisande had only lost control of her magic; her body had not suffered much damage. With Thalyssra's support, she quickly stood up from the ground.
Looking intently at Andreas, who was calm and composed, Elisande sighed softly, "Andreas Moonshadow, right? I think we need to have a good talk."
Andreas smiled politely and bowed, "The honor is mine."
..."Rumble!"
A violent earthquake once again swept through Suramar and even the entire Broken Isles. Saldanas, which had just risen to the surface, was submerged back into the sea by Aegwynn's spell.
Kalecgos looked at the net hanging from his front left claw; a dozen Nightborne were squeezed into the narrow space like piglets bundled together.
Arygos, on the other hand, held the most lavishly dressed Nightborne in his hand—it was Fandos, who had spoken disrespectfully earlier.
"Prince, what should we do next?"
Kalecgos pointed at the unconscious Nightborne with his free claw, "Where should we throw these guys? By the way, what race are they? A subspecies of Night Elves?"
Arygos' eyes also held a look of doubt, "I don't know. Let's send them to the nearest beach in Suramar first. I guess these people are residents of that large barrier."
Just as the two Blue Dragons were discussing how to deal with this group of loose-lipped Mortals, the colossal barrier covering Suramar began to dissipate from the top outwards, revealing a beautiful coastal city with Night Elf architectural style before the two dragons and one person.
Aegwynn looked at this scene in surprise, "Is that... Suramar City?"
"Why would the barrier be lifted at this time?"
Arygos pondered with a solemn expression, "Regardless, let's go over and try to pay a visit. After all, we used someone else's abandoned district, so it's better to say hello."
The still-young Aegwynn was very curious, and she readily agreed to Arygos' suggestion. The three companions proceeded toward the city of Suramar.
As the earthquake gradually subsided, Elisande issued a safety announcement to the entire city in her own name, and the citizens emerged from their respective shelters.
The people of Suramar, who had lived under the Artificial Sky Dome for nearly ten thousand years, uniformly looked up at the sky immediately after leaving their shelters.
Outside the dissipating barrier, the beautiful night sky, dotted with countless stars, gradually appeared before everyone.
"How long has it been? I never thought I would see this beautiful starry sky again."
"Grandpa, is this the real sky?"
"Yes, it is. But... why did the barrier suddenly drop? Has the Archmage decided to resume contact with the outside world?"
Not only were the citizens marveling and discussing the sky in the streets, but the city guards and officials also looked utterly confused.
Spellblade Commander Auriel quickly led her subordinates to various districts to soothe the citizens' anxiety.
"Archmage Elisande has ordered that, following multiple confirmations by the Scouts, the crisis outside our city has long since passed. Starting today, Suramar will resume contact with the world."
Suramar, having just reopened to the outside world, quickly welcomed its first batch of guests.
They were not the Night Elves stationed in Falanaar, nor were they the Moon Guard from Moon Guard Fortress, but two Blue Dragons approaching from above... When Aegwynn, Arygos, and the third person were led by Auriel into the upper administration hall of the Nightborne Tower, Arygos' gaze first fell upon the Night Elf smiling at him.
Seeing Andreas here immediately resolved most of the confusion in Arygos' heart. He smiled and lightly embraced Andreas as he stepped forward.
"I was wondering why you hadn't gone to Northrend. Logically, such a major event shouldn't happen without your involvement. So, you came here to persuade Suramar."
Kalecgos' expression was slightly unnatural. He still remembered the person who had "bullied" him in his youth.
Symbolically shaking hands with Andreas, Kalecgos stopped paying attention to him and turned his gaze toward the surrounding Nightborne.
Fandos, who had awakened, looked somewhat disheveled. He glumly walked back to the Advisor Council's position, glaring intensely at Aegwynn.
There was nothing he could do; he couldn't provoke the Dragon race, so he could only find a "soft persimmon" (an easy target) to vent his frustration and anger.
Elisande didn't know what had transpired between Fandos, who had been scouting outside, and the three guests, but she ultimately knew what kind of character her own advisor possessed.
Since becoming obsessed with exploring the timeline, Elisande had not personally governed for a long time. Reflecting on the past few millennia after being awakened by Andreas, she felt as if she had been separated from the world by an age.
Andreas politely extended his hand to Aegwynn. "You must be the current Guardian of Tirisfal. It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Andreas Moonshadow, Speaker of the Night Elf Republic."
"I am Magna Aegwynn, and I have heard many legends about you."
Aegwynn gripped Andreas' hand with interest. "It is said that you possess great personal strength. I hope to have the opportunity to spar with Speaker Moonshadow sometime."
Andreas laughed lightly and replied perfunctorily, "Perhaps another time. I have important business to attend to right now."
Aegwynn nodded understandingly. "It's a shame that the Avatar of Sargeras we defeated this time only possessed less than one-tenth of his true power. I wonder how strong he is in person."
"One-tenth?" Andreas' expression went blank for a moment, then he asked with a strange look, "Who told you the Avatar possessed one-tenth of Sargeras' actual strength?"
"High Priestess Tyrande."
'That idiotic woman... Isn't she just recklessly misleading people?'
Andreas smacked his forehead speechlessly. "Aegwynn, I apologize to you on Tyrande's behalf."
"Huh?"
Aegwynn looked utterly confused.
Andreas shook his head and gave a wry smile. "The Avatar of Sargeras you defeated probably possesses only a few thousandths of Sargeras' true power. Tyrande's estimate was far too optimistic."
"What?!"
Not only did Aegwynn's expression change, but Kalecgos and Arygos also looked at Andreas in shock.
Arygos asked solemnly, "Andreas, is Sargeras really that powerful?"
"Yes."
Andreas spread his hands helplessly. "Tyrande probably used the Sargeras who entered Azeroth during the War of the Ancients as a reference point."
"Unfortunately, at that time, Sargeras performed an extreme compression of his own energy level in order to pass through the Well of Eternity's portal and enter Azeroth. His true strength is far more terrifying than we imagine."
As a Transmigrator, Andreas only needed to make lateral comparisons to find the answer.
Although it is unknown who is stronger between Sargeras and Amanthul, they should at least be beings of the same caliber. Moreover, Sargeras, as the Pantheon's chief warrior, could potentially unleash even greater power under extreme conditions.
Amanthul was able to rip YShaarj, the most powerful of the Old Gods, out of Azeroth and crush him. There is no reason Sargeras couldn't do the same.
C'Thun, who was slain during the War of the Shifting Sands, ranked in the middle among the four Old Gods. Even in his state of extreme sealing, he still placed considerable pressure on Andreas, Malygos, and the other Dragonkin.
Among the Five Aspects, Deathwing was the strongest, followed by Malygos, King of the Blue Dragons.
As one of Azeroth's few recognized powerhouses, Malygos' strength, at its absolute peak, was only comparable to Odyn and Loken at their height, and perhaps even slightly less.
During the War of the Dark Empire, Loken and Odyn still needed the assistance of their fellow Keepers just to barely hold off the Old Gods in their prime.
In the end, it was Amanthul's intervention that intimidated the Old Gods, finally allowing the Keepers to successfully seal them away.
Comparing them this way, Sargeras' strength is absolutely unmatched by the beings of Azeroth. If he truly descended upon Azeroth in his complete form and resolved to destroy this world, everyone might as well stop struggling and just wait for death, since Sargeras could cleave the entire planet with a casual swipe of his sword.
Fortunately, Azeroth is unique. The Pantheon established a powerful defensive barrier around this highly anticipated planet, preventing outsiders whose strength exceeds a certain level from easily entering Azeroth. Even Sargeras cannot forcefully breach the defensive mechanisms set up by the Pantheon.
Andreas looked at the stunned Aegwynn and reminded her, "It's good for a newborn calf to have drive, but you must also calmly recognize the gap between yourself and your enemy."
"Aegwynn, possessing the legacy of the Keepers' power, you have already surpassed most Mortals on Azeroth at the starting line. But please remember, you are not invincible because of this. There are still many people on Azeroth whose strength surpasses yours."
Even the weakened Four Aspects should be able to defeat the current, headstrong Aegwynn. After all, her character flaws are quite apparent, and experienced Aspects only need to apply the right pressure to trigger the unstable elements within her.
Furthermore, there are the Titan Keepers in Ulduar and scattered across the world, and the Four Elemental Lords also possess great strength. Aegwynn has no hundred percent guarantee of defeating any of these individuals.
Aegwynn showed a look of unwillingness, but Andreas was, after all, an elder who had existed for nearly ten thousand years. Aegwynn humbly expressed acceptance of his kind warning, though whether she would actually heed it was known only to herself.
Aegwynn's personality was rather aloof; she was accustomed to acting alone and held a disdainful attitude towards all authority.
Her respect for Andreas was solely due to the old senior's powerful personal strength; she completely disregarded Andreas' position and authority.
Suramar had only recently lifted its barrier after nearly ten thousand years of isolation, and Elisande still had many tasks ahead to reconnect with the world.
Facing Aegwynn's blunt challenge, she could only maintain a polite attitude, smiling and gently declining.
Aegwynn, free as the wind, didn't take it to heart. After finishing her business, she was the first to depart, reportedly to return to the Tirisifal Council to report to "those boring old men"... those were Aegwynn's exact words.
The interaction between dragons and Mortals has always been a matter of stopping at the right point; except for major crises concerning Azeroth, they always maintain a certain distance from the normal development of Mortals.
After returning Fandos and the others to Suramar, Arygos quickly said goodbye to Andreas and the others, taking the weaklings with him.
Watching the two Blue Dragons teleport away, Suramar began to officially handle its internal affairs.
Elisande decided to first reorganize her advisory Council.
Having learned that the timeline shown by the eye of amanthul was problematic, Elisande, with great resolve, immediately put it aside, using it only as an energy source for the Nightwell.
Elisande's decision to rule personally was approved by Andreas. This Archmage had been Suramar's leader for ten thousand years, and no one understood the city better than she did.
Even considering the wishes of the people of Suramar, Andreas could not immediately remove Elisande from her position.
However, her advisory Council indeed needed to be reorganized.
Fandos became the chicken killed to warn the monkeys; who told him to have the most scandalous history? Elisande merely conducted a casual investigation and uncovered a large number of illegal cases related to Fandos, which he had previously suppressed using his authority.
With irrefutable evidence, there was nothing more to say. Fandos, with a ashen face, was stripped of his advisory powers, had his property confiscated, and was thrown into a magical prison to await further detailed investigation and final judgment.
As expected and within reason, Aethaus' record was spotless. Although his political stance was the same as Fandos', and he was very arrogant, this Astrologer had not participated in Fandos' various illegal activities.
Auriel, Melandus, and Thalyssra received commendations from Elisande for their diligent service, indirectly raising their status within the advisory Council.
TelAn, whose mind was sometimes clear and sometimes not, was ordered by Elisande to be temporarily suspended for review. Andreas was to take this half-vegetable, strange creature to Moonglade for examination and treatment by Druids.
The six-person advisory Council was streamlined to four, and three of them were completely loyal confidantes of Elisande. An Aethaus with an unclear stance should not cause any trouble.
Before leaving, Andreas privately cautioned Elisande to be more vigilant. He always felt there was something strange about Aethaus, but because Aethaus was very good at hiding his thoughts and protecting himself, Andreas couldn't pinpoint exactly what the problem was for a while.
The re-opened Suramar needed considerable time to adapt to this new world. The Night Elves outpost in Falanaar received Andreas' order to initiate contact with Suramar City.
As for the Moon Guard of Moon Guard Fortress, their families were released after Fandos' arrest and soon returned to Moon Guard Fortress to recount their experiences in Suramar.
Due to Prisim's very strict intelligence control, most people in Moon Guard Fortress were unaware that their high-ranking officials had been executed.
After the dealings between Fandos and these high-ranking officials were exposed, most Moon Guard immediately reacted with strong public backlash, expressing intense dissatisfaction with the unauthorized dark dealings of their superiors.
Andreas seized this opportunity to announce that the Moon Guard leaders, led by Augustine Moon-mark, were involved in treason and had been executed on the spot by special envoys. Moon Guard Fortress returned to the control of the Night Elf Republic with little upheaval... After this trip to Suramar, Niana's nerves had toughened considerably, having experienced several heart-stopping changes. She began to calmly think of countermeasures when facing sudden events.
Andreas was very pleased with her growth; young people indeed need to experience various changes to grow rapidly.
Niana also performed quite well when she later accompanied Andreas in political work, occasionally offering insights that even caught the eye of the High Council members.
Andreas, who had infiltrated Suramar alone, was mocked by Tyrande. The High Priestess believed that, given his high position, he should not personally infiltrate Suramar and put himself in danger.
Andreas let it go in one ear and out the other; after all, Tyrande finding various reasons to criticize him was nothing new, and the Council members also treated it as a daily amusement.
After conquering Suramar, the Night Elf Republic not only expanded its territory and influence once again but also gained a very good harvest.
Spellblade
This unique combat profession, a specialty of Suramar, greatly interested Andreas.
It wasn't that individuals who simultaneously used swordsmanship and magic hadn't appeared before, but their fighting styles were usually self-developed, with strong personal flair, making them unsuitable for widespread adoption.
The Spellblade profession founded by Auriel already had Suramar's mature experience. This diversified combat style profession not only gradually began to enter the army but also attracted the interest of many adventurers and mercenaries. From time to time, people would travel to Suramar to seek instruction, indirectly promoting Suramar's speed of opening to the outside world.
As the former Night Elf Pearl, Suramar was originally an inland city, but The Sundering changed the environment around the city. Nowadays, Suramar boasts impressive naval warships and an excellent deep-water port—Astavar Port.
However, the term 'impressive' is used when excluding the Night Elf Republic's navy from the calculation.
Currently, the naval power distribution in Azeroth, from highest to lowest, is the Night Elf Republic's First, Second, and Third Fleets, followed by Zandalar and Kul Tiras in fourth and fifth place.
Frankly, even after nearly ten thousand years of isolation, Suramar's naval warships could still be considered on par with the current naval powers of Kul Tiras and Zandalar, each having their own strengths.
Although their numbers were far inferior, their warships had very advanced design concepts, reportedly drawing inspiration from the Magical Battleships of the Night Elf Empire era.
Andreas was different from Tyrande; he would not view all legacies from the Night Elf Empire era as dangerous monsters.
As long as these technological legacies remained within controllable limits, he would have the Artisans and technicians of the Night Elf Republic thoroughly understand any useful magical technology and attempt to imitate and improve upon it.
After Suramar reopened to the outside world, Andreas relocated the Third Fleet's station on the coast of Azsuna to Astavar Port.
This was partly to move the Third Fleet's base from the barren Azsuna, and partly as a form of supervision and warning to Suramar, preventing certain individuals from harboring inappropriate thoughts.
As a port city, driven by the Night Elf Republic's highly developed maritime industry chain, Suramar quickly integrated into the world.
When Andreas simultaneously received news of Aegwynn's break with the Tirisifal Council, her departure with the Keepers' power to establish Karazhan, and the accidental discovery of the Wandering Isle by a sea fleet, Suramar, as a transit hub between the eastern and western continents, already showed signs of becoming the Night Elf Pearl once again.