novelhk Page 134
Page 134
Using fel energy is certainly not a good cooperative goal.
Rhodes could only shrug helplessly at everyone's explanations, repeatedly assuring them that Illidan would be perfectly fine before they finally dispelled their concerns and continued on their way.
After a long march of most of the day, the team arrived at a secluded valley near the coastline.
The scene in the valley was quite bizarre, with a large number of Naga troops entrenched there: Naga thugs wielding tridents and covered in scales, sea witches writhing with snake bodies, and Lady Vashj, Illidan's lieutenant.
Surrounded by these Naga, a tall figure stood out—Illidan Stormrage. He carried the massive Twin Blades of Azzinoth on his back, his eyes burned with eerie green flames, his enormous demonic wings were folded behind him, and a huge demonic horn protruded from his forehead.
Upon seeing Illidan's appearance, Mograine drew Ashbringer from his back, Dathorhan drew his sword, and Archmage Rhonin raised his staff.
"Marshal Rhodes, this is a demon. Don't be fooled by him." This guy named Illidan doesn't seem to have much to do with night elves, but he seems to have a lot to do with demons.
Look at its demon hooves, huge demon horns, and demon wings on its back; it looks exactly like a demon from the Burning Legion.
"Ahem, everyone, calm down. I told you Illidan meant no harm," Rhodes quickly said, stepping in front of the crowd.
Honestly, if it weren't for wanting the Alliance soldiers of the Watchtower to believe him, he wouldn't even have wanted to bring two paladins. This situation was exactly what Rhodes expected.
"It seems your men aren't very welcoming of me, Rhodes. Shall we continue with our plan?" Illidan seemed quite used to this situation, and asked with a cold snort.
“Of course, Illidan, give me a little time.”
"Gentlemen, Illidan and I have cooperated many times. We even killed a dreadlord together during the Battle of Mount Hyjal, and we attacked the Frozen Throne before that," Rhodes said.
Chapter 216 Arrival in the Outer Realms
To be honest, Rhodes felt somewhat helpless. This is a society that judges by appearances, and the current reactions of Mograine and the others were exactly what Rhodes expected.
With Illidan's demonic appearance, anyone would think he's a lackey of the Burning Legion.
As for whether there are other demons in the Twisting Nether that are not from the Burning Legion, or whether other races can be transformed into demons, that is not within their consideration.
Since demons are evil anyway, let's eliminate them first.
And who is Illidan? The true chosen one of Azeroth, the one destined to destroy the Burning Legion according to the prophecy of the Naaru, the representatives of the Holy Light.
The problem is that even Xerath, the Mother of Light, didn't know how Illidan would destroy the Burning Legion, and in the eyes of the Holy Light, only the Holy Light could defeat fel energy. Coincidentally, Illidan was born with golden light shining in his eyes, unlike Queen Azshara, whose golden light was Holy Light. (Official sources confirm this; the golden light shining in Illidan's eyes is indeed Holy Light.)
Maiev, standing next to Rhodes, looked on with schadenfreude. This was exactly what you wanted to see. Rhodes Illidan was unpopular everywhere he went.
"Lord Rhodes, are you sure we should believe this demon? What if he's trying to frame us? Can you guarantee his portal is safe?"
"Perhaps this is a plot by the Burning Legion. They want to use this method to exile you to another plane, or all of us together," Archmage Rhonin said.
The Burning Legion is always cunning and treacherous; they exploit various human weaknesses, and their greatest skill is deception.
"Wait a minute, everyone, calm down. I assure you in the honor of Quel'Thalas that Mr. Illidan had absolutely no such intention. He has always been fighting against the Burning Legion."
According to our ancient texts, 1 years ago, it was Illidan who infiltrated the Burning Legion and gained their trust, which allowed him to close the portal at the last moment.
"If Mr. Illidan were truly a lackey of the Burning Legion, he wouldn't have closed the portal 1 years ago. The Burning Legion would have already won 1 years ago, and there would have been no Battle of Mount Kegal 1 years later." Kael'thas also stepped forward to speak in support of Rhodes.
"Gentlemen, not long ago, Illidan attacked the Frozen Throne with a fel artifact, and that fel artifact contained the will of Zabrath."
But after attacking the Frozen Throne, Mr. Illidan and I immediately destroyed that fel artifact, if Mr. Illidan really had any malicious intent.
He could have attacked me much earlier, instead of waiting until now to believe me that Illidan became like this to fight the Burning Legion.”
"Regent Rhodes, you are the one chosen by the Titans, the one trusted by Lord Uther, and the one trusted by the Holy Light."
My reason tells me I should draw Ashbringer and purify this demon, but my faith in the Holy Light tells me I should trust you. Ultimately, it was old Mograine who intervened and stopped the tense standoff.
He was willing to trust Rhodes, the man who brought hope to the Kingdom of Lordaeron and was trying to rebuild it.
“Thank you for your trust, Ashbringer,” Rhodes said, nodding.
"Everyone, put down your weapons. If this demon really intends to attack us, I will purify him with Ashbringer immediately." Old Mograine nodded to his paladins, priests, and old buddy Dathrohan.
The group then laid down their weapons and temporarily eased their hostility towards Illidan, but remained on guard.
“Alright, Illidan, let’s get started. Once we recall the Alliance forces from the expedition to Azeroth, we will unconditionally believe that you are here to fight the Burning Legion.” Rhodes breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Illidan.
"Hmph! Then get ready, we'll use a teleportation spell to leave. You might feel a little dizzy, that's normal." Illidan let out an ambiguous snort.
Then, turning to Lady Vashj beside him, he nodded and immediately directed several Naga Sea Wizards to begin casting a spell together with Illidan, where powerful arcane energy and fel energy collided.
Arcane and fel energy in the air began to fluctuate violently, and an unstable energy vortex gradually formed in the center of the valley.
At the center of the vortex, space was forcibly torn apart, light was distorted, and gradually stabilized into a portal with a ghostly purple and fel-green light, large enough for several people to pass through side by side.
On the other side of the door, the scene was blurry and distorted, but one could vaguely see a desolate, shattered land with a dark red hue, and the huge, grotesque remnants of a planet hanging in the sky.
"The portal to the Shattered Sun—Outland—has been opened. Let's move quickly and pass through the portal," Illidan said, turning to face the crowd.
"For the Alliance! For the return of our heroes!" Old Mograine raised Ashbringer high, his booming voice echoing through the valley.
He then rushed into the portal first, intending to investigate its authenticity and ensure its safety before allowing Rhodes and the remaining paladins to pass through.
As Ashbringer, he must protect Grand Marshal Rhodes of the Alliance and ensure the safety of the army. Even if there is danger, Ashbringer will bear it all alone.
Amidst the expectant gazes of the crowd, Mograine the Elder was the first to pass through the portal and land safely on the red scorched earth. Illidan smiled slightly and then stepped into the portal second, followed by Lady Vashj.
After confirming that it was safe, the members of the alliance nodded to each other and then entered the portal under Rhode's guidance.
The other troops also marched through the portal in a grand procession. After the last Naga disappeared in the light, the portal slowly contracted, eventually turning into a point of light and vanishing completely from Azeroth.
On the other side of the gate, the scorching, barren, and dangerous lands of Outland once again welcomed guests from Azeroth after more than a decade.
Outland looks completely different from Azeroth; it's a shattered planet filled with twisted storms.
The land here is arid and barren, the entire earth is crimson, and in the distance wander some demons, such as hellfire, some imps, and even some other demons whose names I don't know.
“My God, look at the ground beneath our feet! There are bones everywhere!” a female priest screamed.
She hadn't noticed when she first set foot on this land, but now she realized that what she was standing on wasn't red soil at all; the red soil contained the remains of skeletons.
“By the Holy Light, this place is a cursed land, like the legendary hell,” a paladin from the Alliance exclaimed.
"Unfortunately, the legendary Hell doesn't exist. The remains here are the result of the old Horde's mistakes, the sins of Gul'dan," Rhodes said with a smile. There really is no Hell in the world of Azeroth, but there is a Shadowlands.
"This place is like a demon's lair, teeming with roaming demonic creatures. Grand Marshal Rhodes, are you sure the expeditionary force is still alive?" Old Mograine asked, carrying Ashbringer as he approached Rhodes.
"Rest assured, Ashbringer, I am absolutely certain, for under the revelation of the Holy Light, I have already seen some future scenes on this crimson land."
"The brave warriors of the expeditionary force built a fortress, and though they are old now, they still stand firm at their posts," Rhodes said.
At the same time, after observing the surrounding terrain, the first thing I saw was a huge, pitch-black gate, which was the closed Dark Gate. This should be Hell Peninsula.
Directly in front of the gate is a road paved with countless white bones, which are the remains of the Draenei who were slaughtered by the old tribe.
This place is called the Road of Glory by the tribe, but it is actually a road to death.
Following the Path of Glory will lead you to Hellfire Citadel, where you'll find the walls of Hellfire and Matheridon, who will later be imprisoned there.
However, Hellfire Citadel is still under the control of the orcs, while Magtheridon rules the entire Outland from within the Black Temple.
“The Holy Light guides us, Grand Marshal Rhodes, let us lead you to retrieve those heroes!” Dathrohan said.
It's no secret within the Knights of the Silver Hand that Rhodes receives guidance from the Holy Light, as the Silver Hand artifacts were previously traversed precisely because Rhodes received this guidance.
Lord Uther and Rhodes traveled to Kalimdor together because of the guidance of the Holy Light. They are gathered here today because of the guidance of the Holy Light, not because of the demon Illidan.
"Follow me, everyone." As a veteran player, even though the game world is different, Rhodes can still identify the exact location. If you walk left along the Path of Glory, you will reach Glory Castle.
“Let’s part ways here. I need to go to another area to scout things out. Come find me after you’ve dealt with things here. I’ll have Vaski go with you.”
She could also open a portal. Illidan nodded to Rhodes, then left Vashj behind, and departed with the remaining Naga army and a dozen or so night elves who had followed him.
Next, to cast the portal spell, all that's needed is for the human mage and the elven mage inside to cooperate with Vaschi in casting the spell.
Rhodes nodded to Illidan and watched him leave.
Next, Illidan will likely gather intelligence on Outland before trying to establish a foothold there.
Rhodes was also pondering whether, now that he was in Outland, he should make contact with the Draenei, perhaps even meet with the prophet Velen, or rather, the three Naaru.