Sargeras, wielding Medivh's power, faced not four, but five opponents!
Besides Aegwynn, Gandalf, Kael'thas, and Rommath, Khadgar stubbornly continued to conjure Arcane Missiles!
Sargeras was a master of multitasking, launching Piercing Missiles with his left hand and conjuring Infernal Arrows with his right, casting seals with ease.
As a former bronze titan of the Pantheon and its strongest warrior, Sargeras had even trained Aggramar, the "second strongest Avenger."
For a being of his caliber, especially one specializing in combat, even when limited to Medivh's body and the Guardian's power, his battle prowess was unmatched!
With overwhelming strength, Sargeras held his own against five legendary mages, steadily gaining the upper hand against Gandalf, Aegwynn, and the others, all while maneuvering behind the Curator!
This was despite Medivh's Guardian power being incomplete, the immense energy Medivh had expended opening the Dark Portal, and his recent injury from killing the blue dragon!
Galen had believed their combined strength was sufficient, but Sargeras proved far more formidable than anticipated!
Sargeras focused his attention primarily on Aegwynn.
In the original timeline, Aegwynn had discovered her son's corruption before the Dark Portal opened. During her investigation, Medivh, possessed by Sargeras, injured her and forced her to flee Karazhan, where she hid in Kalimdor to recover.
Aegwynn's injuries had been severe, requiring extensive healing. However, Galen, unwilling to lose such a powerful ally, had used a large number of Life and Mana Potions to restore her arcane essence, combined with Aragorn's Holy Light, enabling her to recover sooner.
In Sargeras's eyes, Aegwynn, the previous Guardian, posed the greatest threat. Lothar was a secondary concern, and the rest were insignificant.
He casually waved his left hand, deflecting a Fireball, and allowed an Arcane Missile to strike his shield without effect!
"You foolish disciple, you are useless!"
"Hahaha! How pathetic!"
Sargeras ignored Khadgar's spells, his face filled with mockery. Only the legendary mages could harm him, and he intended to defeat them one by one, starting with Aegwynn!
He gathered energy in his right hand, and two red halos appeared around Khadgar and Gandalf!
"What is that?"
The halos shimmered with intense fiery energy.
Kael'thas, a skilled fire mage, immediately sensed their immense power!
"Danger!"
A mage's intuition warned Kael'thas that the halos were extremely dangerous!
"Don't move! Stay within the flames!"
Aegwynn reacted instantly, issuing a warning!
But it was too late!
Khadgar blinked, teleporting out of the halo!
"No! Scatter!"
Boom!
The halos erupted, and a ring of fire engulfed the mages, including the melee fighters battling the Curator.
Everyone scrambled for cover, activating defensive skills. Gandalf, trapped, activated Ice Barrier!
The flames crashed against the barrier, melting a layer of ice!
Khadgar blinked again, appearing behind a marble pillar near the stairs. The resulting shockwave stunned him, sending him tumbling down the stairwell!
Galen, having already used Divine Shield, sought refuge behind Durin's four-meter-tall Avatar!
Durin was blasted away, carrying Galen with him, as his Avatar form ended. Galen, half a head taller than the dwarf, was struck by the flames!
As Galen landed, a golden light flashed above him. Aragorn's timely Holy Light spell healed him. Galen quickly drank a Life Potion!
"Glug, glug, glug!"
He stabilized his injuries.
"Durin! Are you kidding me? Why did you shrink?"
"Your Highness, I was fighting that big guy for a long time. My Avatar expired!"
"Alright, enough talk, let's take him down!"
Durin and Salorean continued to engage the Curator, Garona repositioned for an assassination attempt, and Galen and Lothar readied their shields.
Galen didn't blame Khadgar. The young mage, with only two years of training, couldn't recognize the spell.
The fiery halos were deceptive. Those targeted needed to remain inside. Leaving the area triggered a powerful explosion.
"Mages are such schemers!" Galen thought. "Their hearts are truly dark!"
"None of you died? You are persistent insects!"
In response, Kael'thas launched a Fireball at Sargeras!
Sargeras caught the fireball and threw it at Aegwynn's Arcane Missiles.
Arcane energy and fire collided, neutralizing each other.
Sargeras then unleashed a barrage of spells at Aegwynn!
Dodging left and right, Aegwynn was then blocked by Infernal Arrows. With no other option, she activated Ice Barrier!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Infernal Arrows exploded, creating a fiery inferno. Aegwynn was in danger! She had used Blink multiple times and couldn't escape the flames!
Trapped within her Ice Barrier, Aegwynn watched helplessly. The intense heat threatened to consume her once the barrier fell!
Just as she despaired, a huge Water Elemental enveloped her Ice Barrier. The flames quickly destroyed the elemental, but its watery remains extinguished a portion of the fire!
Then, Gandalf began to conjure a Blizzard, dousing the flames with hailstones!
"Magic can be countered like that? Even an old dog has a few tricks!"
"Insects, you are courting death!"
Sargeras was enraged. His attacks on Aegwynn had been thwarted.
He launched a dozen Infernal Arrows at Gandalf. Faced with the new barrage, Gandalf continued to channel Blizzard and Blinked to the other side. Kael'thas and Rommath also helped Aegwynn, using Blizzard to extinguish the fire and lower the temperature!
Medivh fired another volley at Gandalf. Aegwynn's Ice Barrier was about to fail.
Gandalf's eyes hardened. He didn't stop casting Blizzard. A new Water Elemental stood before him as the Infernal Arrows arrived!
Boom boom boom!
The Water Elemental was destroyed, evaporating in the heat. Gandalf continued to cast! The Infernal Arrows shattered his Ice Shield. Even with Ice Armor, Gandalf was struck by the third arrow, falling into the flames!
"Gandalf!"
As her Ice Barrier finally shattered, Aegwynn activated a shield and ran through the sparse flames! She witnessed Gandalf being consumed by the inferno.
Aegwynn was stunned!
This mage had sacrificed himself for her!
"Grand Magus Gandalf has died! The Altar of Kings will begin soul retrieval!"
"Damn it, Old Gan! You were flirting with Aegwynn, and now you've gone for a heroic sacrifice? You're using your life to pick up girls!" Galen thought.
After using another Dispel on the Curator, Galen noticed its light dimming. He prepared to press his attack when the Heart of Origin issued a series of prompts. Then he saw Gandalf's aura disappear. He was distracted, and the Curator struck!
Boom!
Galen barely managed to shield his head. The Curator's immense power sent him crashing through the floor!
Durin and Garona jumped down after him!
Galen landed awkwardly, dodging falling debris.
"Old Gan is dead."
After three years of relative peace, Galen was shaken. While soldiers and knights had fallen, this was the first time a major figure like Gandalf had died!
"I hope the Altar of Kings can resurrect him, just like in the game!"
Durin and Garona landed beside him. Galen knew he couldn't afford to be distracted. They had to disable the Curator so they could all focus on Sargeras!
"Quick, the Curator is malfunctioning! Let's attack his weak points!"
The others acted immediately. Durin launched a Storm Hammer, staggering the Curator. Garona then moved in.
"Shadowstep!"
She reappeared behind the Curator's head, her daggers plunging into its neck and the dent created by Aegwynn's magic, disrupting its arcane circuits!
The Curator spasmed, and Garona was thrown back by a surge of energy.
Lothar leaped down from the hole he had created. Seeing the Curator momentarily still, he charged, his sword raised high.
"Strike!"
The golden runes on the Great Royal Sword glowed, striking the Curator's neck!
The Curator's head flew off, and its body ceased to move!
"Quick! Let's go help the others!"
With the Curator down, Galen urged everyone to return upstairs. Without Gandalf, the mages would struggle against Sargeras!
The warriors leaped back up. Garona retrieved her daggers and followed.
The mages were indeed struggling. Salorean, supporting the injured Rommath, was retreating under a barrage of spells!
Seeing this, Lothar charged at Sargeras. Durin threw his Storm Hammer, attempting to interrupt the titan. Garona concealed herself, seeking a chance for a killing blow.
"Kael'thas! Aegwynn! Cover us!"
"I'm trying!"
Kael'thas summoned Al'ar, merging with the phoenix. Phoenix Flames flew towards Sargeras like a volley of bullets.
Aegwynn, gathering her remaining mana, launched a barrage of Arcane Missiles!
Sargeras raised a shield, a green fel energy shield, deflecting the attacks!
"Not bad, but too slow!"
Sargeras seized the opportunity and used the same tactic as before: Infernal Arrow Lockdown!
Seeing no escape, Salorean looked down at the dying Rommath.
He threw the Grand Magister towards Galen!
The moment Rommath was released, the Infernal Arrows struck!
Kael'thas's eyes widened in horror!
"No!"