After going berserk, Durotan's strength surged, and he cut down the Shadow Council assassins as if empowered by an invincible force.
As the assassins fell, the intense bloodlust on Durotan began to fade. Taking advantage of this moment, Teron Gorefiend cast Life Siphon!
A thick green beam of energy connected Teron Gorefiend's right hand to Durotan. Durotan's remaining life force was violently drained, and he let out a tortured scream.
Before long, Durotan, who had been as strong as a giant bear, was reduced to a desiccated corpse!
"What powerful life steal!"
"What evil magic!" Chromie muttered, her eyes filled with disgust. It reminded her of the Burning Legion's invasion of Azeroth ten thousand years ago and the foul stench of fel energy emanating from those demons.
"One day, I will purify him with the Holy Light!" Galen thought, a shiver running down his spine. The sight of Durotan being drained was repulsive, especially by a green-skinned orc. "If only it had been a banshee," he mused.
As soon as the Life Siphon ended, Teron Gorefiend turned and looked directly at Galen and the others' hiding place! He must have heard them. How could he detect them from so far away?
"He's incredibly vigilant. No wonder he escaped last time!"
Teron Gorefiend quickly checked Durotan's body, confirming his death. He pulled out one of Durotan's tusks, then opened a Demon Portal and jumped through. The portal slowly closed and vanished.
Silence returned, broken only by the faint firelight from the cave.
"Did he leave?" Galen asked Gandalf, who had claimed to be sensitive to such dark magic.
"He ran away, very fast!"
Teron Gorefiend was known for his speed, though Orgrim would eventually kill him.
"If I get the chance, I'll collect his soul," Galen vowed, "so he can't even become a death knight."
Once he confirmed no other orcs were nearby, Galen approached. He intended to collect Durotan's heroic soul.
The scene at the cave entrance was gruesome. Besides Durotan, over a dozen Shadow Council assassins lay mutilated, beheaded or bisected, their limbs and blood scattered.
"Tsk tsk, so miserable!" Galen remarked.
Chromie, he noticed, was a constant commentator, speaking regardless of whether anyone replied. "She's like a stand-up comedian," Galen thought.
"It's quite tragic. Guts are out, blood is everywhere!" Galen replied dryly.
"Detected a large number of heroic souls. Collect?"
Galen glanced at Chromie, then silently commanded, "Collect!"
He had long known that only he and the heroes summoned by the Altar of Kings could see the flying souls. Chromie, focused on time magic, couldn't detect the souls within the corpses.
"If there were high-level shamans or warlocks around, I wouldn't dare to be so obvious," he thought.
White light emanated from Durotan and the assassins, and their souls slowly ascended and disappeared.
"The Shadow Council is making a big move, sending at least five level 9 assassins after Durotan and his wife, and two more after Draka.
That's right, Draka, and Go'el. My Durotan gift pack isn't complete yet!"
Galen took Durotan's body and his massive axe, then led the others in pursuit of Draka. The giant footprints of the Frost Wolf were easy to follow in the soft ground near the swamp.
They tracked until dawn and found the Frost Wolf that had carried Draka. It was dead and cold, with an orc assassin lying nearby.
"It seems they traded blows," Galen observed.
However, there were no further tracks. Galen and Gandalf were not skilled trackers; that was a hunter's expertise.
He looked at Chromie, who was examining the scene of the fight.
"Can't count on her," he thought.
Fortunately, Gandalf located a new mechanical animal deployed by the Dark Division, allowing them to continue their pursuit.
They reached the source of the Elwynn River. The Dark Division's seventh team was waiting by the river, one member carrying a basket.
"Duke!"
"What's the situation?"
"Two orcs caught up with the female orc. The Frost Wolf stayed behind to cover her retreat. She reached the river, placed the baby in a basket, and set it adrift, then turned back and died with the last assassin!"
"What a strong personality!"
"A true heroine!" Chromie added, and Galen agreed.
Galen took the basket from the Dark Division member. The small orc inside opened his eyes and gazed at Galen, his sky-blue eyes filled with innocence.
"This is the future World Shaman," Galen thought. "He's so vulnerable now. If I wanted to kill him, would that bronze dragon suddenly attack me? Would portals open, and Eternal Dragons emerge?"
"Should I follow Blackmoore's path? Adopt him, raise him, give him love, and use family and friendship to control him? Make him a pillar of the Scarlet Crusade, the World Shaman, fighting for Azeroth?
No. Stay true to my goals. Don't forget the mission.
For Azeroth, for Stromgarde, for the Scarlet Crusade!"
Galen silently recited his core beliefs to dispel any conflicting thoughts.
"What do you intend to do with this orc, Prince Galen?" Chromie asked.
"I want to adopt him and raise him to be a righteous warrior! I sense a great destiny within him!"
Galen was testing Chromie's reaction. He had already significantly altered Kalimdor's history. The tauren had arrived in Mulgore twenty years early, occupied the Barrens, and denied the orcs their future foothold.
Chromie's presence made him uncertain of her intentions, so he decided to gauge her reaction to adopting Thrall.
"What an amazing idea!" Chromie muttered. "I'm rooting for you, Galen."
Then she fell silent, leaving Galen unsure of her thoughts. However, her lack of opposition seemed like tacit approval.
Carrying the basket, Galen went to where Draka had died, collected her and the orc assassin's souls, and placed their bodies with Durotan's. "Since I've decided to adopt Thrall, the first thing I should do is honor his parents with a proper burial and tombstone," he thought.
"Chromie, I'm going to Stormwind to see Lord Lothar. Would you like to come with us?" Galen asked, though he inwardly hoped she would decline.
"Yes, let's go together."
Galen was speechless. Chromie was proving to be inseparable. He couldn't simply abandon her without appearing suspicious.
"Your Seventh Squad did well. I'll note their contribution, and we'll reward them later. For now, help the new Dark Division members relocate their families to Minas Tirith!"
After giving these orders, Galen and the others headed east, soon arriving at the Tower of the Mountain Top, where Lothar's army was stationed.
As Galen approached from the east, surrounded by Stormwind soldiers, he presented the token Lothar had given him and was quickly brought to Lord Lothar, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.
"Long time no see, Galen!"
"Long time no see, Uncle Lothar. How are things at the border?"
Galen had been in Kalimdor for over half a year, paying little attention to Stormwind. If the Dark Division hadn't discovered Durotan and his wife, he would likely still be conquering the Brambleblade Ridge in the Northern Barrens.
"The orcs have shrouded the Swamp of Sorrows in mist, and we can't locate their main force. There have only been minor skirmishes. Otherwise, things are quiet."
Lothar was pleased to see Galen again. He admired the young man's talent, strength, and peaceful nature.
He noticed that Galen was on the verge of becoming a Legendary-rank warrior, a feat Lothar himself hadn't achieved until much later in life.
"Galen, you've grown even stronger. You're a remarkable warrior!"
"Thank you, Uncle Lothar. I'm here to report some important information!"
Lothar's expression turned serious. The two quickly shifted from pleasantries to military matters, a transition both were accustomed to.
Galen briefly introduced Gandalf and Chromie, then recounted the meeting between Durotan and Orgrim and Gul'dan's assassination attempt on the Frostwolf Clan chieftains.
Galen didn't elaborate on their identities; he assumed Stormwind's intelligence network could handle that.
Lothar listened intently, considering the implications. The orcs were clearly fracturing, and a rebellion seemed inevitable. He wondered if Stormwind could exploit the situation.
The war had been dragging on, straining Stormwind's resources. The nobles were complaining, and the people were growing weary.
Only King Llane's unwavering trust and Lothar's personal prestige prevented a withdrawal.
"Thank you for the information, Galen. Is this child the Frostwolf chieftain's son?"
"Yes, Uncle Lothar."
"Do you need assistance? Medivh has a half-orc acquaintance who is close to Llane. She might be able to help raise him."
"Thank you, but I have other plans for him."
Galen declined. It was best for Go'el to stay with him. He couldn't risk the child falling into the care of Garona, who would soon betray King Llane.
After their discussion, Lothar, citing his absence from Varian and Gavinrad, invited Galen to stay the night. The Tower of the Mountain Top served as the command post and had ample room.
Thus, a reunion dinner began. Varian, Lothar, Gavinrad, Bolvar Fordragon, and several members of the Brotherhood of the Horse, including Reginald Windsor and Greian Stoutmantle, gathered in the tower.
(I don't know half these people xd)
********************
Chromie, who disliked human social gatherings, excused herself early and retired to her room, leaving the young human heroes to celebrate.
The next morning, as Chromie came down for breakfast, a guard handed her a letter from Galen.
"Dear Chromie, my friend,
Though we have only known each other for a day, I feel a strong connection with you. Urgent matters in Stromgarde require my immediate return to the Arathi Highlands. I regret that I cannot continue our journey. I sincerely invite you to visit my city, Minas Tirith. I eagerly await your arrival.
Your new friend,
Galen"
Chromie clutched the letter, lamenting his departure.
Chromie was currently the only bronze dragon active in the mortal world. The others guarded the Caverns of Time.
A mysterious energy was corrupting the Caverns, forcing Chromie to take on the duties of the entire bronze dragonflight.
Her decades of near-constant work had changed her perspective on the bronze dragons' role. They were guardians of time, not masters.
Chromie and her alternate selves, existing across countless timelines, communicated and shared information.
She understood that different timelines were essentially different worlds, similar to the concept of parallel universes. Her duty was to protect the current timeline from external manipulation. The actions of those within the timeline were their own concern, as long as they didn't try to change the past.
Chromie had redefined her purpose: to guide her timeline towards the best possible future.
Disasters like the Old God's awakening and the Burning Legion's invasion were inevitable. Chromie aimed to mitigate these threats and ensure the best outcome for Azeroth.