Anyone whose strength reached a certain level could tell that Andreas was starting to fall into a disadvantage, but he was still a long way from being completely defeated.
Andreas showed no panic despite being suppressed, calmly dealing with Azshara's endless spells, trying to extract as many of Azshara's spell patterns and attack routines as possible.
Azshara keenly saw through Andreas' intention to deliberately adopt a defensive stance. A strange light flashed in her eyes, and she suddenly withdrew her attack and retreated.
"Azshara! What are you doing? Get rid of him while the opponent can't fight back!"
Azshara's delicate silver eyebrows furrowed slightly. "N'Zoth, I don't need you to tell me how to fight."
"Andreas clearly has a hidden move, and he is consciously trying to extract my spell routines and battle rhythm."
"Setting aside whether I can win this battle in the end, I certainly don't have the confidence to take his life. Why don't you try it yourself?"
"You!"
Azshara ignored N'Zoth's anger and continued to explain, "In summary, I believe continuing this fight is detrimental to the future decisive battle. It's better to save some trump cards for next time."
"Hmph!"
Although N'Zoth was somewhat dissatisfied, he still trusted Azshara's analytical abilities.
Considering that C'Thun and Yogg-Saron had both been tricked and killed by Andreas, N'Zoth felt uneasy and ultimately chose to trust Azshara's judgment.
"Hoo~"
Seeing Azshara withdraw from the combat zone, Andreas let out a soft breath of relief.
'Good, it seems just as I expected.'
Azshara retracted her battle attire, appearing once again in a very revealing outfit. This fabric-saving, semi-bikini attire was reportedly quite popular during the Night Elf Empire era.
"Let's stop here for today. At least you allowed me to stretch my body thoroughly."
Azshara's almond-shaped eyes held a smile. As she slowly sank into the ocean, she waved goodbye to Andreas.
"The next time we meet should be the decisive battle, little Andreas. I hope you manage to withstand the upcoming attacks and don't disappoint me."
Watching Azshara lead Faelithris into the sea, Andreas' eyes flickered slightly. Only after composing himself did he turn and return to the coast.
Leticia was the first to rush up, looking hesitantly at Andreas and asking, "Was that person... really Mom?"
Andreas remained silent for a moment before answering, "If someone hasn't taken over her body, then it should be Lady Faelithris. Celeste confirmed it too."
The usually cheerful Leticia rarely showed such distress. Andreas rubbed her head and sighed, "You've held out long enough on the front lines. Go back to the rear, adjust your body and mind, and then return."
"Mm..."
Leticia also knew that her current state was unsuitable for continuing to lead troops. She worried she might lose control of her emotions and make impulsive decisions.
"I will have Daelin take over your work. Come, return with me."
...The Demigod War ended prematurely without a clear winner. After a brief adjustment, the Naga resumed their assault, and the two sides began another month-long war of attrition.
After returning to Astranaar, Leticia predictably fell into hesitation and melancholy. Celeste, whose feelings were equally complicated, often huddled with Leticia recently, whispering about certain topics.
Sirius, who was just over a year old, was growing much faster than other infants. He could already walk steadily on his own two feet and had learned many common words, allowing him to express himself simply.
"Dada~ Where's Mama?"
Andreas, who was buried in overtime work in his study, looked up and saw the door pushed open by Sirius. The little fellow's face held a hint of unease.
The maid who rushed in immediately after bowed apologetically to Andreas. Andreas smiled dismissively at her and waved for her to withdraw.
Putting down his pen and documents, Andreas walked over to his son, squatted down, picked up the significantly heavier Sirius, and placed him on his shoulders.
"Mama is chatting with Sister Leticia. Did you miss Mama?"
"Yes."
Being lifted high restored Sirius's mood somewhat, but his little mouth was still pouting, clearly unhappy that his mother had left him to chat with someone else for so long.
"Dada is busy too. Bad bad."
"Haha~"
Andreas carried the little fellow around the study in circles. "I can't help it. Adults always have many things to deal with. Once this busy period is over, Dada promises to take the whole family out for a spring outing and sightseeing."
After finally coaxing the little ancestor of the house, the sleepy Sirius was groggily carried away by the maid.
After advancing to Demigod, Andreas didn't need to sleep for hours like a normal person; a mere thirty minutes of meditation was enough to restore his energy.
Long-term overtime made the usually energetic Andreas feel a rare sense of fatigue. State affairs and family matters piling up had consumed a lot of his mental energy.
Fortunately, most of the previously opened multi-front battlefields had reached a conclusion. Now, the only things left to focus on were the Naga offensive and the crisis within the Emerald Dream.
After Deathwing vanished, large numbers of Green Dragons, led by Eranikus, entered the Emerald Dream, temporarily holding the precarious defensive line.
The succession ceremony for the new Black Dragon King prevented Ysera from returning to the Emerald Dream. The emotionally depressed Black Dragons needed this good news to mitigate the passing of Dragon Queen Sinestra.
Judging by Azshara's attitude, she showed no emotional change regarding the sharp decrease in the Naga population.
It was unclear whether she never considered the later-born Naga as her people, or if the Queen still maintained the arrogance and disregard for commoners typical of the ancient era.
The reduction in Naga numbers had the greatest impact not on the various coastal defenses of Kalimdor, but on the Abyssal Maw, deep within Vashjir.
News came from the Deep Sea Elite Squad leading the assault on the Throne of the Tides: they had finally broken through the Naga defenses and helped the Water Elementals regain control of the Throne of the Tides.
Neptulon, just as Andreas had guessed, was entangled by the Sea Monster Ozumat. With the help of the Night Elves' Deep Sea Squad, Neptulon finally found an opening, killed Ozumat in one fell swoop, and completely regained control of the Water Elemental Planes.
Thus, the Four Great Elements formed a united front to jointly resist the Old God forces. Under Neptulon's command, the Water Elementals launched a major offensive from the Throne of the Tides, with their primary targets being the various underwater fortresses and strongholds of the Naga in Vashjir.
With fewer enemies and more reinforcements, the coastal defense weapons, which had undergone urgent repairs, were back online, and the situation along the coast was gradually improving.
Azshara had not appeared since that battle. It seemed she had retreated to her palace located in Nazjatar, waiting, as she said, for the moment of the final decisive battle.
Just as Andreas was contemplating various matters and preparing for meditation and rest, a knock suddenly sounded outside the study door.
Andreas gave a wry smile and sighed, "Ah~ Come in."
The person who opened the door was Shandris, who had just returned to the Capital. Seeing the dark circles under Andreas' eyes, she said worriedly, "Shouldn't you take a proper rest soon?"
"I'm fine." Rubbing his brow, Andreas braced himself and asked, "Let's get down to business. Tell me some good news to lift my spirits."
Shandris nodded helplessly. "There is indeed good news. Archdruid Stormrage has finally emerged from seclusion."
#737Seven hundred and thirtieth seven out of chapter dog not house
Chapter 737: Chapter Seven Hundred Thirty-Seven: Cliffhangers Don't Get a House
Moonglade, Stormrage Den.
This den, named after Malfurion's surname, was specially prepared by Cenarius for Malfurion's secluded training. The den's exterior is personally guarded by Cenarius' son, Keeper of the Grove Remulos.
When Andreas forced himself to rush to Moonglade, a dense Nature Power was sweeping across this sacred woodland.
The flowers, grass, and trees in the grove were growing rapidly, as if they had skipped winter and entered spring and summer early. The fragrant environment revitalized the weary Andreas.
"Is that so? As expected, Master was the first to break through the bottleneck."
"Hmph~" Elune's reluctant voice timely entered Andreas' mind. "Tyrande is progressing quickly, but her strength is ultimately not as stable as that gained by her partner through step-by-step improvement. Before taking the final step, she must first solidify her unstable foundation."
Andreas used to be startled by Elune's sudden vocalizations, but now he was completely used to this method of conversation.
"My Goddess, approximately how much longer until the High Priestess emerges from seclusion?"
"About three months. I'm afraid she won't make it in time for your decisive battle against N'Zoth."
Andreas nodded. "Tell her not to worry. After N'Zoth is dealt with, there will still be some minor issues on Azeroth that need resolving, and she can handle all of them then."
"I will inform her, and also..."
Elune hesitated before continuing, "Be careful of Azshara. That child's pride is unparalleled among all the Mortals I have ever seen."
"She isn't a bad person; she only ended up where she is today because of a momentary wrong choice. You..."
Elune fell silent for a moment, then finally sighed and dropped the subject. "Forget it. You should handle it. I won't interfere beforehand, lest I cause uncontrollable changes."
Andreas: "???"
"...Either don't spoil it, or just clearly explain it! What's the point of leaving me hanging like this?!"
"Cliffhangers don't get a house!"
Elune said with a chuckle, "In short, good luck to you. Just as you speculated, Azshara is indeed not sincerely obeying N'Zoth, but if you think you can easily persuade her to defect, you are sorely mistaken."
Elune's voice gradually faded. "Prepare yourself mentally and physically. This matter might still involve some complications. Remember one thing: that child's eyes have never been set upon Mortals."
"Her gaze isn't set upon Mortals...?"
Andreas blinked his eyes, seemingly realizing something. "Don't tell me..."
"Andreas."
Malfurion's voice interrupted Andreas' thoughts. The Archdruid, who had just been promoted to Demigod, was exuding a dense Nature Power that he couldn't yet contain.
Andreas withdrew his attention and smiled, bowing to Malfurion. "Master, congratulations on finally breaking through the limits of Mortals."
Malfurion's demeanor remained gentle, unchanged by his ascension to Demigod status.
"You can skip the unnecessary formalities. I heard from Remulos that N'Zoth launched a full-scale attack? What's the situation now?"
Andreas straightened his expression and said, "That is exactly what I was going to say. The battlefields, except for the Naga front, have been largely settled. Now we need to eliminate the last remaining concern."
Malfurion immediately understood. "I see. Should we launch the plan now?"
"No rush."
Andreas waved his hand. "Master, you should first return home and rest. Try to contain the excessively overflowing Nature Power. If you enter the Emerald Dream like this, you'll be too conspicuous, like a firefly in the dark."
"Uh..."
Malfurion awkwardly scratched his head. "You're right. Let's head back then. I heard you have a new addition to your family?"
Andreas, who had been a little listless, immediately puffed out his chest proudly. "Haha~ If you want to talk about that, I'm wide awake."
...Andreas felt like he could keep going, but his body clearly gave a negative answer.
"No, you can't."
After returning to Astranaar, Andreas fell asleep while chatting and bragging about his son to Malfurion. When he woke up again, the date had changed.
The long-term accumulated fatigue caused Andreas to sleep for two full days and one night. Fortunately, Malfurion, who had just returned and was full of energy, took over the work Andreas had left behind and organized the state affairs perfectly.
When Andreas woke up, he felt something pressing on his stomach. He pulled back the quilt and saw little Sirius, drooling at the corner of his mouth, clinging tightly to his body like an octopus.
"...What is going on here?"
"You have the nerve to ask."
Celeste, who was guarding the bedside, rolled her eyes irritably. "You slept for two whole days, and it terrified Sirius."
Celeste poked the little guy's chubby cheek with some resentment. "I usually spend more time taking care of him, but this little ungrateful thing is closer to you."
"You didn't see how panicked he was before. Your inability to wake up felt like the sky was falling to him. This boy held onto you tightly and refused to let go, so Sister Shandris and I had no choice but to let him sleep with you."
Andreas shook his head and laughed softly, gently stroking Sirius's still sparse hair.
Leaning against the headboard, Andreas closed his eyes and remained silent for a moment, then sighed, "After this busy period is over, I really should rest for a while. I promise I will temporarily put down my work and spend quality time with you all."
Celeste wrinkled her nose. "Hmph~ That's more like it."
"Knock, knock~"
Shandris, who had just entered the bedroom, knocked on the open door and asked teasingly, "May I come in?"
...After Sirius was woken up, there was another bout of chaos. When Andreas ate, the little guy clung to his father, unwilling to leave. Clearly, Andreas' sudden collapse into sleep had terrified him greatly.
Sirius, only a little over one year old, didn't understand the concept of life and death, but his father being unable to respond for such a long time was a situation he had never encountered before, making him inevitably panic.
Although he really wanted to stay and spend more time with his family, now was not the time to relax.
Great Moon Temple Council Hall
"I have already asked Fandral."
Malfurion stated solemnly, "Although Xavius has recently been charging into battle with the Nightmare Army, his true body has been hiding somewhere in the Dream World and has not appeared. Those in the army are merely his Clones, or shadows."
Andreas nodded. "In other words, as long as we devise a plan to lure out Xavius' true body and kill him, the threat of the Nightmare Army will be contained?"
"Yes."
Malfurion clenched his fist firmly. "Although the Nightmare Army is directed by N'Zoth from behind the scenes, it requires the lord of nightmares Xavius to act as a medium for guidance within the dream."
"Once Xavius dies, the souls of the Faceless Ones, having lost their medium, will be ejected from the dream by Ysera as foreign objects. The remaining residual Nightmares will then be easy to deal with."
Andreas hesitated slightly, then decisively declared, "Then let's launch it! I just had direct contact with Azshara. I guarantee the Illusion constructed within the dream will be extremely realistic."
It seemed like a long time ago since Andreas last entered the Emerald Dream; he couldn't quite recall the exact year.
As the mirror world of Azeroth, the safety of the Emerald Dream is intrinsically linked to the Material World. If the Emerald Dream were to be overrun by the nightmare, those living in the Material World could unknowingly be dragged into an abyss of corruption by the decay seeping from their sleep.
When Andreas and Malfurion entered the Dream World, the scene presented before them was one of war.
Countless nightmare monsters charged relentlessly toward the central Pillar of the Sky Peak, where a defensive line composed of Green Dragons, Druids, Faerie Dragons, Chimeras, and other creatures was fighting desperately to hold them back.
Ysera was still busy at the Wyrmrest Temple presiding over the succession ceremony for the new Black Dragon King, Ebysian. The Green Dragons in the dream were led by Ysera's most important consort, the Green Dragon Champion Eranikus.
The breath of the Green Dragons in the Material World possesses the special effects of hypnosis and venomous corrosion. The so-called hypnosis relies on the connection between the Green Dragon race and the Emerald Dream to forcibly sink the soul of the breath's target into the Emerald Dream.
While inside the dream, the hypnotic effect cannot take hold. Compared to other dragon breeds, the Green Dragon's venomous breath lacks instant destructive power, but excels in its lasting effect.
The nightmare army commanded by Xavius had undergone soul modification by N'Zoth, making them almost completely immune to Green Dragon venom in the Dream World.
Faced with the attacks of countless grotesque nightmare monsters, the Green Dragons could only use their claws, tails, and other body parts to inflict physical damage upon the enemy.
"Roar!"
The largest Green Dragon in the sky was engaging several clearly corrupted dragons.
These dragons, whose bodies were still oozing thick, disgusting green slime, must have also been Green Dragons previously. Under the nightmare's frantic assault, they were corrupted by Xavius and transformed into this grotesque and terrifying appearance.
Although they outnumbered him, these Nightmare Dragons were absolutely no match for the powerful Green Dragon.
Even if his breath attacks were ineffective, the Green Dragon could easily suppress his multiple opponents just by relying on powerful tail sweeps and heavy, ripping claw attacks.
"That is Eranikus."
Malfurion recognized the Green Dragon by his distinctively outward-curving horns.
As they spoke, Eranikus had already shattered the Nightmare Dragons' encirclement, knocking them down from the sky one by one.
He let out an encouraging roar toward the sky, motivating his comrades to fight hard and repel the enemy's attack.
The Druid Guards in the dream, led by Fandral and Laynella, coordinated seamlessly with the Green Dragons. The versatile Druids were able to maximize their effectiveness on a battlefield where they had powerful allies.
The Druids of the Claw led by Laynella and Vastann were elusive, often appearing suddenly from the enemy's rear or flank for surprise attacks, disrupting their formations and throwing off their rhythm of assault.
Fandral was performing a task unsuited to his temperament; he had rarely managed to suppress his fiery temper, sitting in the center command post to direct the Restoration Druids in providing effective healing and support to the soldiers fighting on the front lines.
As Malfurion transformed into a massive green bear wrapped in thorns and charged into the battlefield, Andreas cast various Holy Light Auxiliary Spells on him while observing the composition of the nightmare army.
The nightmare monsters were bizarre and varied, many of them being the twisted, corrupted forms of souls that originally resided in the Dream World, and many others being primal, grotesque creatures created by N'Zoth.
These nightmare creatures shared a common characteristic: their forms looked extremely blurry, as if countless mosaics had been deliberately placed over them, making it impossible even for Andreas to discern their true shape through the mist.
"So that's it. Is this the function of the so-called medium, Xavius?"
Xavius' true body was nowhere to be found for the moment, but the projection he created was commanding the army from the center.
Malfurion's appearance immediately caught Xavius' attention. He excitedly mobilized his forces at once, attempting to completely surround the green giant bear.
"Roar!"
The giant bear was unafraid of the swarming nightmares, allowing them to attack his tough body. The layer of thorns and thick fur on his surface nullified most of the nightmare creatures' attacks.
He slapped the ground heavily, causing massive creeping plants to sprout along the long straight path leading toward the Shadow of Xavius.
Xavius was well aware of Malfurion's strength. His projection remained calmly standing in place, arms crossed.
Just as he predicted, when the vines reached him, they were blocked by a tall Faceless One, preventing them from harming Xavius further.
"Hmph! No improvement at all."
The Satyr-form Shadow of Xavius sneered, "Fine, this time I will finish you off completely, Malfurion. Prepare yourself for your final moments."
"Hahaha!"
The Shadow of Xavius gradually dissipated, and the frantic laughter of the lord of nightmares still echoed above the battlefield. The nightmare army finally began to retreat, leaving the exhausted defenders watching their departure with vigilance.
Malfurion shifted back to his human form and frowned, looking in the direction the nightmare army had retreated. "It seems Xavius intends to temporarily accumulate strength so he can rally all nightmare forces for the next general offensive."
Andreas patted Malfurion's shoulder and pointed his staff toward Fandral, who was waving at them.
"Let's go, let's first go over and understand the specific situation. There should still be a little time before Xavius' final attack. We need to finalize our plan quickly and completely resolve the threat posed by the lord of nightmares."
...The news of Malfurion successfully emerging from seclusion had already spread throughout the dream, but in the Archdruid's attack against Xavius, no one seemed to notice any difference compared to before his seclusion.
This was actually Andreas' instruction; he had Malfurion deliberately restrain his power to mislead Xavius' perception, allowing him to continue viewing Malfurion through his old, fixed notions.
As the temporary leader of the Dream Druids, Fandral reported the current situation facing the dream defenders to Andreas and Malfurion.
"The nightmares are everywhere. They swarm out from the deepest parts of the Emerald Dream, sweeping across every corner of the Dream World."
Malfurion asked gravely, "How could it have developed so quickly? Before I went into seclusion, Xavius' power was definitely not this formidable."
Eranikus explained with a wry smile, "Under N'Zoth's arrangement, Xavius was prepared long ago. He took advantage of the Green Dragons being in the Material World to suppress Deathwing and the Twilight Dragons, massively expanding the nightmare's sphere of influence and numbers."
"We were caught off guard, but the total number of nightmares isn't actually so exaggerated that they are completely irresistible."
"With N'Zoth's help, Xavius used the nightmares to affect the reaction speed and strength of the Wild Gods, trapping them in their own terrible dreams."
"Although these nightmares cannot hold them back for too long, Xavius is seizing this perfect opportunity to concentrate his superior forces and besiege the Pillar of the Sky Peak."
Laynella shrugged helplessly. "If Eranikus hadn't returned in time, the situation would have been much worse. It's thanks to you defeating Deathwing promptly that the Green Dragons were able to pull out many personnel to return to the dream for reinforcement."
Andreas stroked his chin and mused, "All or nothing? Snatching chestnuts from the fire?"
"It seems Xavius' next attack won't be far off. He must be rushing against time, as once the Wild Gods break free from the nightmare's control, all his plans will vanish into thin air."
Malfurion declared resolutely, "Then let us begin our action as well. This time, we must truly destroy Xavius' soul, ensuring he never has another chance to resurrect!"
Logically speaking, since the opponent was in a hurry to seize time, Malfurion, as the defending party and usually a steady individual, should have adopted a delaying, defensive tactic, making things as difficult as possible for the enemy.
However, circumstances had changed.
With the decisive battle against Azshara and the Naga about to begin, the troublesome Nightmare was undoubtedly a nuisance to the Night Elves, and the Night Elves could not afford to waste time either.
Anduin intended to use this opportunity to completely eliminate Xavius, who was ambushing and conducting guerrilla warfare from behind, and Malfurion, who had been preparing for a long time, also agreed to his proposal.
To completely destroy Xavius, the key was how to lure his true body out from the depths of the Nightmare forces.
The cunning Xavius would not be easily fooled; having suffered two losses, the Nightmare Lord had learned the art of survival and would never leave his lair unless absolutely necessary.
To entice a reclusive shut-in from their home, one must cater to their preferences.
Before heading to Draenor to ambush Kil'jaeden, Anduin had discussed with Malfurion and others what Xavius most urgently desired.
Now, it was time for the plan to be put into action... At the foot of Mount Hyjal, as a shimmering light indicating entry into and exit from the Emerald Dream flashed, a Naga with three tails and a graceful figure gradually materialized.
Curiously looking around, the Naga's face revealed a meaningful smile. "Heh~ Is this the Emerald Dream, the only place Elune can manifest her true form?"
This dignified Naga tried to move her body across the grass.
Unlike in water, the Naga's body was quite inconvenient for movement on land. The female Naga frowned slightly and transformed herself into the Night Elf form most familiar to a certain observer in the shadows.
Xavius, hidden deep within the Nightmare, had burning eyes. Due to his caution from being solo-killed twice by Malfurion, he moved his corpulent and hideous body and first inquired with his master behind the scenes.
"Great Old God N'Zoth, your humble servant Xavius has a matter to consult you about."
N'Zoth was currently striving to repair his soul, which had been damaged by Deathwing's demise. Xavius' call briefly awoke him from his dormant state.
"Speak."
Xavius hastily lowered his head and respectfully asked, "Yes, I wish to inquire about Queen Azshara's whereabouts. Has she received your command to come to the Emerald Dream?"
N'Zoth was also somewhat unclear about Azshara's whereabouts. He extended his mental power to investigate and found that Azshara had indeed entered the Emerald Dream.
"It was not my command, but she is indeed in the Dream now. Do you have a matter?"
With the final battle imminent, N'Zoth hoped to quickly return to his optimal state and was somewhat impatient with Xavius' meaningless interruption.
Although N'Zoth regarded Azshara as his subordinate, he was well aware that the proud Naga Queen was not entirely under his control, and often Azshara would take actions independently.
After tens of thousands of years of observation, N'Zoth concluded that Azshara desired certain things from him and would likely not betray him easily. Over time, he had come to treat her independent actions as a privilege.
"No, no!"
Xavius suppressed the surging emotions within him and respectfully replied, "I am merely concerned about a potential conflict of authority with Queen Azshara..."
"Hmph! You don't need to ask me about such a minor issue. Azshara will know what to do. You should focus on your own work and conquer the Emerald Dream as quickly as possible."
"Yes!"
In N'Zoth's mind, there was a hierarchy among his important subordinates.
Compared to Azshara, who commanded the vast Naga forces, and the utterly devoted Deathwing, the turncoat Xavius always made him feel uneasy, and he unconsciously kept a certain distance from him.
During his lifetime, Xavius was Queen Azshara's chief advisor in the Night Elf Empire. While serving Azshara, he harbored dark desires for the Queen and preemptively pledged allegiance to Sargeras, seeking immense power.
During the process of being killed by Malfurion and receiving power from Sargeras, fel energy transformed Xavius, turning him into a hideous half-man, half-demon Satyr. Xavius was subsequently cast out of the court by Azshara, who found him repulsive.
The second time he fell at Malfurion's hands, Xavius' Satyr body was trapped within a large tree, unable to escape for eternity.
With the explosion of the Well of Eternity, the Burning Legion was repelled, and the tree trapping Xavius sank into the sea.
To survive and seek revenge on Malfurion, who had killed him twice, Xavius once again pledged allegiance to a third master, the Old God N'Zoth.
Such fickle individuals could be used when circumstances allowed, but no superior would completely trust them. The Nightmare Faceless Ones beside Xavius were, to some extent, N'Zoth's means of monitoring him.
Ending the direct communication with Xavius, N'Zoth once again fell into a shallow slumber to mend his soul.
Confirming that N'Zoth was not interested in Azshara's whereabouts, Xavius' mind instantly became active.
Azshara had once rejected Xavius due to his unsightly appearance. Now, they were both in similar predicaments, neither being "human," and both served the same master, so the difference in status no longer existed.
Xavius pondered that perhaps there was an opportunity to fulfill his long-unrealized wish.
The reclusive shut-in Xavius was self-aware of his current bloated and hideous physique. He did not rashly move his true body to meet Azshara but instead created a well-proportioned Satyr projection and headed to the foot of Mount Hyjal to make contact with Azshara... Azshara's appearance in the Emerald Dream was not accidental, but rather in response to Anduin's invitation during their battle, the timing of which was precisely the moment Azshara was controlled by a mind spell.
Since it had long been decided to eliminate Xavius, the relevant preparations had naturally been made in advance.
Anduin's reason for the invitation was that Elune wished to speak with her in the Emerald Dream. Azshara, who had always harbored an obsession with Elune, agreed without hesitation.
Of course, Anduin had no intention of deceiving Azshara; Elune indeed intended to converse with the Naga Queen, though Anduin was not entirely clear about the Moon Goddess' specific intentions.
With Azshara's demigod-level power, it was incredibly easy to bypass the guards along the way.
The meeting coordinates given by Elune were still the old place: the Green Dragon Queen Ysera's lair.
As Azshara stealthily moved towards the peak of Mount Hyjal, Xavius' shadow also formally met with "Azshara."
Through the projection's eyes, Xavius gazed infatuatedly at Azshara's seemingly unchanged, exquisite beauty. He barely managed to control the fervor in his heart and greeted Azshara with the courtly etiquette he had performed countless times.
"Queen Azshara, it has been many years, and your grace is indeed as radiant as ever."
"Azshara" heard the implication in Xavius' words and mockingly curved her lips. "Xavius, you no longer use honorifics when addressing me? And..."
Azshara's proud and noble majestic aura fully unleashed, "You dare to meet me with a mere projection? Who gave you such audacity, N'Zoth?"
"Hmph!"
A demigod-level, non-elemental energy wave swept across, and Xavius' projection instantly dissipated like a reflection in water.
"If you wish to have an audience with the Queen, then drag your true body over here. I'll give you five minutes to explain your purpose."
Xavius, hidden deep within the Nightmare, clicked his tongue. "Tsk! This woman is still so arrogant, even though we are both in dire straits."
"Very well."
Xavius moved his body, which had become corpulent and hideous from absorbing too much Nightmare power, and walked out.
"It's good to see for myself. Perhaps Azshara's aesthetic sense has also gone astray after she ceased to be human?"
Xavius had always found Azshara's taste in partners difficult to understand.
When he was a Night Elf, he considered himself handsome and capable, but Azshara never once looked him in the eye, only treating him as a useful tool to be commanded at will.
Sargeras' arrival piqued Azshara's interest, and Xavius once thought that Azshara wasn't interested in males weaker than herself. This was also why Xavius defected to Sargeras, seeking greater power.
Compared to the majestic Bronze Titan form Sargeras used to tempt Azshara, Azshara, who seemed to value appearance, completely disdained the ugly and deformed Satyr. Xavius' courtship plans suffered a major defeat.
The harder something is to obtain, the more intelligent beings cherish and pursue it.
Xavius' mindset was like a Beta Male pursuing a goddess.
Perhaps after obtaining her, driven by novelty and a sense of accomplishment, he might dote on her. But the'seven-year itch' is more than just a saying; it might not even take seven years.
More fresh stimulation can lead some people who can't control their lower half to stray, casting aside their once-solemn vows.
Currently, Xavius was precisely in the stage of mad pursuit for what he couldn't obtain, the period when desire was most rampant. His fevered brain saw only the graceful Azshara.
But in reality, the 'Azshara' in his eyes was merely a fake meticulously disguised and imitated by someone. The true Naga Queen had already hidden her tracks and begun to ascend the Pillar of the Sky Peak.
Using illusion magic to disguise a woman's appearance and voice for the first time, Andreas felt extremely disgusted, but to lure Xavius out of his hiding place and kill him in one fell swoop, he could only endure the discomfort and continue to play Azshara.
About fifteen minutes later, as the ground at the foot of the Pillar of the Sky Peak violently shook, a giant, obese Satyr over five meters tall finally appeared before 'Azshara', surrounded by a large number of Nightmare creatures.
"Stop!"
'Azshara' coldly and haughtily scanned the Nightmare creatures beside Xavius. "If these ugly monsters dare to enter within thirty meters of me, don't blame me for being merciless."
A flicker of hesitation crossed Xavius' eyes, but in the end, he waved his hand, ordering the Nightmare army to stay put. He then slowly waddled his fat body towards 'Azshara'.
With burning eyes, Xavius put on what he thought was a dashing 'evil smile'.
"Queen Azshara, you were once so unattainable, but now both you and I are merely twisted non-human beings whose forms have been altered."
Spreading his hands and stretching the tentacles on his back, Xavius smiled and proposed his long-brewing suggestion.
"Since that's the case, why don't you agree to my previous request? As long as we join forces, even N'Zoth..."
'Azshara' didn't listen to Xavius' nonsense at all. His attention remained fixed on the distance between the ugly Satyr and his Nightmare army.
'50 meters, time to act!'
"Whoosh!"
The 'Azshara' that Xavius was staring at intently suddenly emitted a brilliant golden light. Xavius, whose eyes were blinded by the flash, didn't react for a moment.
"Light Prison!"
It wasn't until his clumsy limbs and tentacles were bound by chains of light, and Light Energy began to burn his body, which was enveloped in Void Energy, that the pain from his soul made Xavius recoil in terror.
"You! You're not Azshara!"
Temporarily blinded, Xavius roared in anger and shock, "Nightmare army, come quickly... Ugh!"
Thick thorn vines emerged from the ground as a second restraint, binding Xavius from head to mouth, completely sealing him.
As his vision gradually returned, Xavius finally saw the true appearance of the two figures standing before him. One of them, he would never forget, even if turned to ash.
'Malfurion!'
Although Xavius' current form was very ugly, by absorbing a large amount of Void Energy and Nightmare power, his strength had, to some extent, become comparable to a demigod.
The Light chains set by Andreas rattled 'clankingly' with Xavius' struggles. As long as he could break free from Malfurion's vine blockade, Xavius could chant spells and try to escape his current predicament.
But no matter how Xavius struggled, the thorn vines that should have been easily broken remained tightly bound to him.
'How is this possible!'
Malfurion was not one to engage in idle chatter. He had no interest in explaining the details of this ambush plan to Xavius.
The Archdruid tightened his right fist with a serious expression, and the thorn vines binding Xavius also intensified their grip, their barbs digging deep into Xavius' body.
"Wuwuwu!!!"
Nature Power entered Xavius' body through the wounds. The intense pain of the foreign matter entering him made Xavius struggle violently.
'Great Master! Your humble servant begs for your help!'
Xavius' desperate soul cry was like a stone sinking into the sea, receiving no response from N'Zoth.
Andreas mockingly delivered a final blow to Xavius' increasingly despairing mind. "Don't bother trying. The Light Prison has cut off all your soul waves. Let alone N'Zoth, even the Nightmare army right in front of you can't receive any of your commands."
"Wuwu!"
In fact, N'Zoth had already been informed of Xavius' predicament, not from Xavius himself, but through the Faceless Ones who were monitoring him.
But N'Zoth, far away in Nyalotha, was powerless to help Xavius in his desperate situation. Andreas' Light Prison had completely severed the connection between him and Xavius.
N'Zoth, beyond reach, could only watch through the Faceless Ones' vision as Xavius, in his despairing muffled cries, was purified into a pile of black ash by the brilliant Light Energy that illuminated the entire Emerald Dream.
After the long-prepared Transcendent spell was completed, Xavius' bloated and ugly fat form completely disappeared. Around his Satyr body remained a large amount of residue produced by the Light Energy's scorching.
"You... a despicable person... who exploits others' feelings..."
Xavius, having regained his gaunt Satyr body, trembled as he stretched out his hand, pointing at Andreas and uttering his last words.
"Whoosh!"
Another Transcendent Light spell completely purified Xavius' exhausted Satyr soul form. Andreas clapped his hands and said without changing his expression, "Haven't you heard of all's fair in war? You fool, controlled by desire and obsession."
...The golden light illuminating the entire Emerald Dream made Azshara, who was climbing the mountain, turn back in surprise.
"...N'Zoth, what's going on?"
"You..."
N'Zoth was furious, but this matter didn't seem to be Azshara's fault.
From beginning to end, Azshara was merely a tool used indirectly, not directly involved in Xavius' death, and was even completely unaware of it.
"Forget it."
N'Zoth sighed dejectedly. "Finish your business and leave the Emerald Dream as soon as possible. We can't afford any more losses."
Although the intelligent Azshara didn't know exactly what had happened, she guessed some clues from N'Zoth's tone.
Thinking that the haunting ugly ghost Xavius was finally completely dead, a smile unconsciously appeared at the corner of Azshara's mouth, but her tone in the soul communication remained very indifferent.
"Understood. I will try to finish my personal affairs within fifteen minutes."
The downfall of Xavius triggered a series of chain reactions.
Losing the lord of nightmares who served as their medium, the Faceless Ones sent by N'Zoth into the Emerald Dream began to be rejected by the dream world.
Their souls were ejected one by one, and the remaining nightmare creatures, losing their command and empowerment, saw their strength drastically weakened.
Having prepared long ago, Fandral, Eranikus, and the others received the signal and immediately led their armies in a counter-offensive from Pillar of the Sky Peak.
Simultaneously, the souls of the demi-gods trapped in nightmares regained consciousness due to the dissipation of Xavius, and they likewise began to strike back against the nightmare forces besieging their dens.
Busy with official business, Andreas did not know what Elune and Azshara had actually discussed; afterward, he asked Elune multiple times but failed to receive a direct answer.
"Stop asking. You only need to know one thing."
Annoyed by the questioning, Elune finally gave some hints. "My conversation with Azshara has no impact on your upcoming battles. The Azeroth Allied Forces still need to defeat Azshara's Naga and open the passage to Nyalotha."
Nyalotha is the location of N'Zoth's prison, and to this day, no one knows its specific location after it fell into the deep sea.
Judging by Elune's statement, Azshara's Eternal Palace should be the final gate guarding Nyalotha, and this last prison of the Old Gods should be near the Naga capital, Nazjatar... The weakened nightmare monsters were much easier to deal with than when they were led by someone, and their numbers were greatly reduced as the Void Forces were forced out of the dream.
Eranikus remained behind in the Emerald Dream to clear out the remaining nightmare forces, while the druids were placed under the command of Shaun and Koda.
Laynella, Fandral, Vastann, and others followed Andreas and Malfurion back to the Material World.
Eastern Kingdoms
While the Kingdom of Stormwind was sorting out the chaos of domestic cultists, the major news of millions of Naga attacking Kalimdor finally spread completely through the Eastern Kingdoms.
Although some nations in the Eastern Kingdoms adopted an attitude of indifference and planned to remain bystanders, the Kingdom of Stormwind, as the core of the Alliance, issued a call to arms at this time.
"When the Night Elves are clashing with the subordinates of the Old God N'Zoth, will the honorable Alliance just stand by and watch?"
Varian slammed the table and roared at the Alliance assembly, "Where is your sense of honor? Are you even worse than the beasts of the Horde when it comes to the big picture?!"
For the various nations of the Alliance in the Eastern Kingdoms, the Orcs of the Horde were an unavoidable topic.
In this Naga war, the Horde deployed reinforcements to Kalimdor through the gate connecting Sholazar Basin and UnGoro Crater.
Led by High Overlord Saurfang, they provided support to the coastlines of Dustwallow Marsh and Tanaris.
Go'el himself also led the Earthen Ring to repair the World Pillar in Deepholm, winning the aid of the Earth Elementals for Azeroth.
In contrast, among the Alliance member states, only Gilneas, Kul Tiras, and Dalaran had sent reinforcements. Together with various international neutral organizations and the reinforcements from Quel'Thalas and the Kingdom of Gilneas, they repelled the Naga invading the Azsuna coast; other nations had shown almost no response to this war.
The elderly King Thoras already had one foot in the grave, and the domestic struggle for succession was giving him a massive headache.
The conflict between the faction supporting Danath and the faction supporting Galen grew increasingly fierce. Danath kept a low profile and wanted to cease hostilities, but his foolish son Galen, instead of stopping while he was ahead, intensified the internal contradictions, pushing Stromgarde step by step toward the brink of civil war.
Looking at the heroic Varian with a sigh, Thoras made a painful decision in his heart.
'Perhaps it is time to end this chaotic succession struggle. Galen, forgive me...'
The Gnomes and Bronzebeard Dwarves didn't have any issues with the Night Elves; both sides still maintained close trade relations.
Magni was distressed over the matter of his daughter Moira, as the conflict between the Dark Iron Dwarves and the Bronzebeard Dwarves in The Barrens risked escalating into a larger war.
With the death of Ragnaros, Moira had purged the old nobility who worshipped the Fire Elementals one by one, finally grasping full power in her hands.
She intended to ease the tense relationship with the Bronzebeard Dwarves and took the initiative to send an envoy to Ironforge, expressing the Dark Iron Dwarves' desire to break free from the control of the Fire Elementals and re-establish friendly relations with the various races of the continent.
To avoid letting his emotions cloud his judgment, Magni temporarily handed over state affairs to his second brother, Muradin.
He himself went into seclusion to investigate a strange voice that had become increasingly clear after the appearance of Deathwing. His third brother, Brann, worried that his brother might be deceived by the Old Gods, had been accompanying Magni lately to look through records.
The Bronzebeard Dwarves had many problems, and the Gnomes were no better off.
The Leper Gnomes, led by the great traitor Mekgineer Thermaplugg, still occupied a portion of Gnomeregan. Once the Gnomes recovered from the war against the Troggs, High Tinker Mekkatorque finally made up his mind.
With the help of the Bronzebeard Dwarves, Mekkatorque eliminated the Leper Gnomes and the mad Thermaplugg in one fell swoop, finally liberating the entirety of Gnomeregan.
Alterac and Lordaeron were recently busy preparing for the wedding of Princess Jandice and the Lord of Hearthglen, Taelan Fordring. Jaina and Alex themselves had little interest in crossing the sea to support the Night Elves.
Varian used the Horde as a target, finally rousing the spirits of the Alliance nations that had once suffered from the Orcish chaos.
Learning of the Orcs' support for Kalimdor and Go'el's activity, without Varian needing to push further, the Alliance nations—having basically sorted out their domestic affairs—agreed to send reinforcements for the final battle against the Naga.
The Eastern Kingdoms were not far from the Naga stronghold of Vashjir. The gathered forces of various nations converged at the Stormwind City port. With Gnomes providing underwater combat equipment and submarines, a large number of Alliance troops worked together with Water Elementals to launch a fierce offensive against the Naga in Vashjir.
With the Alliance joining the war, the massive Naga army finally fell into decline and was pushed back into the sea from the coastline by the Azeroth Allied Forces.
Andreas ordered the expansion of the underwater combat units to engage the Naga deep in the ocean, forcing the remaining Naga remnants back to their lair, Nazjatar, in the southeast of the Broken Isles... "It is time."
Holding the sword of the dark empire in his hands, Andreas could feel the revival of Xal'atath.
The previously lifeless sword of the dark empire regained its vitality; a dark red light covered the surface of the blade, and the blood-red eye at the hilt reopened.
As soon as Xal'atath woke up, she let out an excited, eerie laugh. "Hehe! N'Zoth, it's finally your turn. Wash your neck and wait for me!"
Andreas couldn't help but retort, "Do Old Gods even have necks? Why do I feel like every one of you looks so bizarre?"
"...None of your business, it's just a metaphor."
Speaking of which, Andreas had never seen what Xal'atath's true form looked like. He didn't know what her former title was—it couldn't be the Demon of a Thousand Breasts, could it?
"Cough~"
Pulling back his straying thoughts, Andreas sheathed the sword of the dark empire back into his weapon belt.
"Shandris, is the Tidestone ready?"
Shandris nodded solemnly. "It has been mounted on the altar and can be operated at full power by drawing energy from the Well of Eternity at any time."
"Very well. Establish close contact with the allied forces of all nations and prepare for the counter-attack on Nazjatar. The moment of the final battle is approaching!"
N'Zoth, busy healing his soul wounds, hasn't caused any trouble recently, and the Naga offensive has gradually become procedural.
According to Daelin's report from Sen'jin Beach, she felt no emotion whatsoever from these Naga attacks, as if they were arcane golems mechanically executing a mission.
Night Elves are a race with extremely low fertility, but the Naga are the opposite; under N'Zoth's "blessing," the Naga have violated the rules of life, possessing both immense longevity and powerful reproductive capabilities.
Andreas didn't know what Azshara thought of her oviparous subjects, but at least Andreas absolutely did not recognize the Naga as an offshoot of the Elves.
Unlike the Nightborne and High Elves, the Naga fundamentally differ from the Night Elves in their most basic life form; the differences in customs between the two are trivial in comparison.
Azshara was completely indifferent to the mass deaths of her subordinate Naga. Perhaps, in her eyes, apart from the initial core members who were transformed from Night Elves, the other Naga were not considered her subjects or kin at all.
A temporary altar was erected at Astranaar' Arcane Network Hub, with the Tidestone of golganneth floating above it, radiating an endless stream of aqua-blue light around the Tidestone.
The main forces of the Night Elves and the reinforcements from various allied races of Kalimdor were neatly assembled along the southern coast of Suramar.
The residents of Astranaar gathered outside the cordon surrounding the altar, watching Speaker Moonshadow slowly ascend the altar and reach out to grasp the Tidestone floating in mid-air.
The Well of Eternity at the root of Nordrassil began to flash with ethereal blue Arcane energy. Countless streams of Arcane light dispersed, gradually converging at the top of the World Tree and integrating into the Tidestone in Andreas' hand.
The Tidestone, which had been shrunk to the size of a fist, expanded rapidly under the infusion of pure Arcane energy, quickly growing to the height of a person.
Andreas did not stop the energy injection. As the Tidestone gradually became saturated with absorbed energy, the spherical gem at the center of the Pillars of Creation began to spin rapidly, shooting an aqua-blue beam of light toward the sea in the east.
"Swoosh!"
The beam submerged into the distant ocean, causing no immediate change. The Azeroth Allied Forces, standing ready, had been informed and maintained strict military discipline while staring intently at the unchanging sea.
About a minute later, centered on the area where the beam entered the sea, monstrous waves suddenly surged, and the seawater in the middle of the ocean was drained by the power of the Pillars of Creation.
Sentinels patrolling high in the sky atop Hippogryphs gradually saw the scene in the deep sea. The underwater city of Nazjatar, now exposed to the air, appeared before land creatures for the first time.
Allowing the Well of Eternity to continue supplying energy to the Tidestone, Andreas turned around to face the loudly cheering citizens of the Night Elf Republic, who had also witnessed the changes occurring in the deep sea via Arcane Water Mirrors.
"Fellow citizens of the Night Elf Republic, the battle against the Naga and N'Zoth is finally coming to an end!"
"For more than three months, not only we Night Elves, but also the various races of Kalimdor and even Azeroth have endured heavy pressure and made enormous sacrifices under the Naga's attacks."
"Today! We shall shift from defense to offense, officially invading Nazjatar, the Naga capital, and Nyalotha, N'Zoth's lair, to completely end the Old Gods' corruption of Azeroth!"
Andreas' mobilization and speech were not only visible live in Astranaar; the ambassadors of various nations, assisted by Highborne Arcanists, simultaneously broadcast this scene back to their respective capitals.
In the capitals of different races and nations, local residents looked up at the massive water mirror in the sky, where the sight of Nazjatar, the Naga city, was presented directly before them.
"Residents of the Night Elf Republic, all living beings of Azeroth, please remember this historic moment! The great achievement that the Pantheon Titans failed to realize will be forged in the hands of the Mortals of Azeroth!"
Raising his right hand, Andreas passionately shouted, "Let us unite as one to accomplish unprecedented feats! Glory to Azeroth!"
"Glory to Azeroth!!"
...In the new Draenei capital on the Lost Isles, Velen stood on the terrace of the Archbishop's Hall, watching the image in the water mirror alongside the Archbishops, smiling as he stroked his snowy white beard. Inside the city, jubilant cheers and calls for battle were incessant.
After settling down on Azeroth, the Draenei finally began to recover the passion they had long lost. Velen, who had witnessed the entire tragic history of the Eredar and Draenei, showed a look of relief.
"Heh heh~ It's rare to see the usually calm and composed Andreas give such an inspiring speech."
Adal excitedly clenched his fist and said, "This is the responsibility that a leading race of Azeroth should demonstrate! Prophet, let us also send troops, clear the last internal threat to Azeroth, and the counterattack on Argus will be just around the corner!"
Velen withdrew the smile from his face and nodded solemnly.
"Thump!"
The Prophet's staff struck the ground heavily, drawing the attention of all residents in the city.
"Draenei warriors! Show your courage and strength to our allies!"
"It is time to end the Draenei's tens of thousands of years of history as fugitives. Now, we shall advance and retreat together with Azeroth's powerful allies!"
"Victory shall belong to Azeroth!"
...Coincidentally, Varian, stationed at Stormwind Keep, was boiling with excitement amidst the passionate shouts echoing throughout the city.
Ignoring Bolvar's distressed pleas, he put on the complete set of Lion Armor left by Llane, with the help of the Royal Attendants.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. Let me handle this battle..."
"Say no more!"
Allowing the Attendant to finally drape the blue cloak bearing the Kingdom of Stormwind's insignia over him, Varian said decisively, "This battle, which determines the fate of Azeroth, must be led and participated in by me personally!"
Bolvar turned to look at Queen Tiffin, who was smiling silently. "Your Highness the Queen, perhaps you can try persuading His Majesty."
The graceful Tiffin shook her head with a smile. "Duke Fordragon, once Varian has made up his mind, no one can change it. Let him go."
Bolvar questioned with a constipated expression, "Forgive my presumption, but what if His Majesty encounters danger on the battlefield..."
Varian impatiently slapped Bolvar heavily on the back. "Are you cursing me?"
"I wouldn't dare!"
Pulling the Golden Lion-Faced Helmet onto his head, Varian's slightly muffled voice came out from beneath the helmet.
"If something truly happens to me, Anduin will inherit the Throne, and Bolvar, your young daughter Taelia will be Anduin's Queen."
Bolvar's previously distressed expression instantly sharpened. "...When did Prince Anduin and Taelia have that kind of relationship? How old is he?"
"Heh heh~"
Queen Tiffin covered her mouth and chuckled softly. "Don't be alarmed, Duke Fordragon. Varian is speaking of the future, not the present."
Varian grumbled, "Look at you, being so protective of your cub. Pathetic."
"Let's go! Bolvar, you will be my Adjutant this time."
"Pray your jinx doesn't come true, or you'll die sooner than I, the King."
...As the nations of Azeroth led their respective armies toward Nazjatar via various means of transport, Andreas was the first to arrive above the great void in the middle of the sea.
He seemed able to see directly through the countless coral reefs and obstacles in the sea to the Eternal Palace, catching sight of Azshara's captivating golden eyes from her Throne.
The conversation between Elune and Azshara, the contents of which Andreas did not know, greatly concerned him. But since Elune had given the instruction that Azshara and her Naga Army must be defeated, Andreas would not hesitate until the goal was achieved.
"First, Third, and Fourth Flying Fleets, advance! Deploy the troops at maximum speed and establish a Forward Base outside Nazjatar!"
"Yes, sir!"