Galen vividly recalled his initial foray into Nagrand in Outland, where Nesingwary's Safari had tasked him with the relentless slaughter of countless Wind Rocs, Tabby Sheep, and Clefthoof. Now, with the Dark Portal to Draenor under Galen's control and inaccessible to the public, the Nesingwary Safari's disruptive activities were largely confined to Stranglethorn Vale and Winterspring. Even in the Borean Tundra, their impact was diminished by the presence of the Ebon Blade and Thorngrin, making their threat less significant than in the original timeline.
However, Galen's words seemed to have little effect on Nesingwary's demeanor.
"Highlord, please do not hold the transgressions of Harold against me! His actions are entirely his own!" Nesingwary pleaded.
Galen was taken aback. Did this dwarf even realize the extent of the damage being done under his banner? The druids of the Templars were a radical faction. Galen even suspected that his own "tough love" approach had cured Fandral, and these Templar druids might just be the next generation of Flame Druids… According to Thorngrin's reports, after dealing with the fanatical poachers in the Borean Tundra, they firmly believed that only Hemet Nesingwary's demise would end the suffering of the innocent wildlife.
"So, Hemet, what drives your hunting?" Galen decided to delve into the philosophy of this renowned hunter. If he could reason with him, he might consider sparing him.
Hemet paused, then spoke with earnestness. "Highlord, every hunter is, in truth, a solitary soul. Our hearts harbor a void that only the thrill of the hunt can momentarily fill."
"Each successful hunt brings a surge of excitement and joy, briefly dispelling this emptiness. But the void inevitably returns, compelling us to embark on the next pursuit of that singular sensation. When facing formidable prey, even with three hundred pounds of fangs and claws poised to tear you apart, it is in that moment that you truly feel alive. In that instant, the world fades away, leaving only you, the beast, your honed skills, and a fleeting opportunity. And when the hunt concludes, standing over the fallen prey, sweat dripping, ears echoing with the thunder of your own heartbeat, the feeling is akin to a newborn infant opening its eyes to the world for the first time. Every hunt is a rebirth!"
Listening to this passionate declaration, Galen mused, Isn't this guy following the protagonist's script? His sole motivation seemed to be the adrenaline rush of confronting deadly beasts, with little regard for bounties or pelts. If he survives, as the prey grows stronger, will he eventually hunt demigods and the like? If he's allowed to hunt demons…
"Hemet, I understand your philosophy," Galen responded, "but focusing solely on beasts of brute force and fangs, lacking true wisdom, is a pursuit of the lesser ranks. I have an idea, though I hesitate to voice it?" Familiar feeling, familiar rhetoric.
However, Hemet's eyes lit up, Galen's words striking a chord within him. Lately, hunting massive Magnataurs had failed to satisfy his inner void. Even the rare glimpses of blue dragons in the sky ignited a nascent desire to become a dragon slayer! Were it not for a request from the mages of Dalaran to collect rare and exotic animals for research, he would have already returned to the Eastern Kingdoms to reunite with his gnome friend and upgrade his Nesingwary 3000 to the advanced 4000 model! He had already gathered the necessary materials: Titan Iron Ingot, Frozen Orb, Eternal Flame, Eternal Shadow, and a Ten Thousand Year Peach Tree Trunk! Northrend had proven to be a treasure trove, promising a fully stocked return. But now, the Grand Marshal was hinting at even greater, more challenging prey, igniting Hemet's excitement.
"Grand Marshal, what is this prey!" Hemet eagerly inquired.
"Demons! High-ranking Imp Lords, Legendary Doomguards, Demigod-level Pit Lords, the whole spectrum!" Galen declared.
"But Grand Marshal," Hemet countered, a hint of despair in his voice, "the demons in our Eastern Kingdoms have been hunted to near extinction, and my relationship with the night elves of Kalimdor is… strained, making demon hunting in Azeroth exceedingly difficult!" Hemet was acutely aware of his tarnished reputation, a consequence of the unsavory individuals he had carelessly recruited into his team. He now bore unpleasant titles such as "Animal Killer," "Badlands Butcher," "Stranglethorn Murderer," "Old Grim Reaper," and "Species Extinction Butcher."
"Who said we would be hunting in Azeroth?" Galen offered a mysterious smile. "You know nothing of the Crusade, Hemet. Pledge your service to me, and I will lead you to experience a new world, new creatures!"
"Willing to serve you, Grand Marshal!" Hemet pledged without hesitation.
Draenor had become Galen's strategic asset, a magnet for ambitious individuals from Azeroth. Illidan, Maiev, Vashj, and now Hemet – these elites had all been thrust into this arena of great battles against demons. At times, Galen felt like he was overseeing a grand experiment, the ultimate outcome being either the rise of Azeroth's elites as the dominant force, or Draenor's utter annihilation… However, with A'dal's Light Fleet stationed in Draenor's outer space, Galen felt confident in his long-term prospects. Even if Kil'jaeden himself descended, A'dal would provide crucial support, allowing Galen to act boldly and without restraint!
Just as the Crusade secured its control over Sholazar Basin, the Dalaran floating city drifted over Crystalsong Forest. Thorngrin, representing the night elves, forged an alliance with the bear men of Grizzly Hills and Amberpine Hold. At this point, seven of the ten regions in Northrend were under the control of the Azeroth Allied Forces. The remaining strongholds were the undead Scourge of Icecrown Glacier, Ulduar in the Storm Peaks, and the ice trolls of Zul'Drak. The momentum of conquest was undeniable, and nothing seemed capable of halting Galen's growing military power!
Within Dalaran's Violet Citadel, envoys from various Alliance nations gathered. Despite its name, the Violet Citadel was not located in the center of the sky city. The heart of this aerial metropolis was an absolute forbidden zone, housing Galen's upgraded level-five imperial capital and core military installations. While officially named Dalaran, everyone in the Alliance understood that Galen was the true master of this city. The Kirin Tor merely resided within, possessing the right to use it but not ownership.
Galen stood at the gate of the Violet Citadel, flanked by six members of the Kirin Tor on his left, and the princes and generals of Kul Tiras, Stormwind Kingdom, and Gilneas, Queen Calia of Lordaeron and her trusted generals Turalyon and Uther, and the governor couple of Stromgarde on his right. To his right also stood Kael'thas of the High Elf Kingdom and his advisory group, the Nightborne of Suramar, the dwarven Council of Three Hammers, and the gnome High Tinker. Galen was about to deliver a public speech, a grand oath-taking ceremony!