Who exactly is M'uru?
He is a key general under A'dal, one of his most trusted naaru, and he serves as the guardian of their flagship, the Tempest Keep!
In the original timeline, after Kael'thas Sunstrider launched his assault on Tempest Keep, he captured M'uru, who was defending the fortress at the time. Kael'thas took M'uru to Silvermoon City, where the blood elves drained his Holy Light to satiate their magical addiction.
This practice of extracting Holy Light to alleviate their magical dependence inadvertently led to the emergence of the paladin class among the blood elves, who learned to wield the Light.
Later, after his defeat at Tempest Keep, Kael'thas stole M'uru from Silvermoon City as he fled to the Sunwell.
Due to the prolonged siphoning of his Holy Light by the blood elves, M'uru's radiance dimmed, and he became tainted with shadow energy.
Ultimately, M'uru succumbed to the darkness, but in his final act, he sacrificed his life to purify the corrupted Sunwell!
From that moment onward, the Sunwell became a source of both arcane power and Holy Light energy!
In truth, A'dal and all the naaru, including M'uru himself, had foreseen M'uru's fall and death.
This prophecy had been revealed long ago by Velen, the leader of the draenei.
However, for the naaru, beings of pure energy and light, the concepts of life and death hold a different significance.
Furthermore, the death of a naaru is not an end, but a transformation; the seed of Holy Light left behind by M'uru served as a beacon of hope for the future!
Therefore, M'uru's declaration that he would "save a race" was not inaccurate. However, in this altered timeline, the high elves, aided by Galen's intervention, successfully repelled the Scourge's assault on Silvermoon City.
They not only preserved the Sunwell's purity but also saved their kingdom from annihilation.
Moreover, the existence of the Argent training grounds allowed the high elves to embrace the path of the paladin nearly a decade earlier than they otherwise would have.
With these significant deviations from the original timeline, it is understandable that M'uru would perceive his destiny as being intertwined with Galen.
After all, Galen had indirectly saved this naaru's life, preventing the tragic fate he had foreseen.
"Brother M'uru," Galen said, his voice warm and welcoming, "The Scarlet Crusade embraces all like-minded individuals, regardless of their origin, so long as they adhere to our tenets!
However, we are already allies, and with our combined strength, we can surely turn the tide and ultimately vanquish the Burning Legion!"
Galen had no intention of poaching a key general from A'dal, especially with the looming confrontation against Yogg-Saron.
"Brother A'dal, Brother Galen," M'uru said, his voice filled with newfound purpose, "Since my destiny now lies on Azeroth, I wish to remain here permanently!"
"That is a most agreeable arrangement, Brother M'uru," Galen replied, his mind already formulating a plan. "You can discuss the details with Prophet Velen. They have established a new city on Azeroth, where you can continue to spread the teachings of the Holy Light!"
Galen knew he could not outright claim M'uru. Instead, he would ensure the naaru's presence remained on Azeroth, readily available to aid him whenever needed.
"Very well!" M'uru agreed, his form radiating with renewed determination.
"Brother A'dal," Galen said, turning to the naaru leader, "Let us now turn our attention to the task at hand: purifying the evil that festers within this prison!"
...
This time, the Storm King Thorim, the Ice King Hodir, the Earth King Archaedas, the Life-Binder Freya, and Mimiron, armed with a Titan-engineered battle rifle, descended into the depths of Yogg-Saron's prison, the five guardians forming a protective circle around Galen.
They were accompanied by the seven naaru, led by A'dal, along with Galen and Prophet Velen.
A'dal was a naaru of immense power and ancient lineage, a leader among his kind.
He had been chosen to lead this crusade of the Holy Light, uniting a diverse group of naaru in their mission to combat the forces of darkness.
Galen was also aware of another naaru of similar power to A'dal: Xe'ra, the legendary Mother of Light.
She, too, led a crusade of the Holy Light, commanding a vast army in their fight against the Burning Legion.
Galen wondered if Xe'ra had lost her capable lieutenant, Turalyon, in this altered timeline, and what the current state of her Holy Light army was.
Galen led the assembled forces into the lower levels of Yogg-Saron's prison.
"This place is known as the Edge of Madness, also called the Shattered Realm," Galen explained, drawing upon the knowledge gleaned from the memories of the Titan Watchers. "It is the deepest level of this prison, the final barrier sealing the Old God.
Beyond this ancient guardian wall lies the source of the evil we seek to vanquish!"
"I can feel the oppressive aura of darkness," A'dal said, his voice resonating telepathically. "This land is saturated with its foul presence... the presence of a truly malevolent entity."
"His name is Yogg-Saron," Galen said, his voice grim. "An ancient evil, known as the 'Light-Dark Parasite,' cast into the physical universe by the Void Lords in the distant past.
He wandered for countless ages, eventually reaching our world. He and his kin ruled this planet, until the Titans arrived."
"The Titans discovered that forcibly removing these beings would inflict irreparable damage upon Azeroth itself," Galen continued.
"They dared not destroy them outright, so they defeated them and imprisoned them instead!"
"It is... almost incomprehensible to imagine that five such monstrous entities exist on your world!" A younger naaru, named Volos, exclaimed. Galen recognized him as the naaru who would eventually remain in the Exodar, protecting the draenei after their arrival on Azuremyst Isle.
Hmm, this naaru is a descendant of Xe'ra, Galen mused.
Among the seven naaru present, besides A'dal, M'uru, Volos, K'ure, and D'ore, there were also two younger naaru, A'dal's "younger brothers": Ke'lyria and F'ero.
These two were currently assisting Thorim and Hodir in clearing away the remaining chaotic, deformed creatures that infested the prison.
To be honest, Galen felt confident in their chances. Seven naaru, six Titan Watchers, and two Holy Light paragons (himself and Velen) were more than enough to overwhelm Yogg-Saron.
Galen had even entertained the thought of Yogg-Saron cowering in terror in the depths of his prison.
As they passed through the final guardian wall, they beheld the Old God's prison.
Yogg-Saron!
The chamber was a confined space, bathed in an eerie blue light. Thick, black chains, embedded deep within the walls, converged upon a pool of water in the center of the cavern.
The water itself appeared deceptively clear, and a shimmering green mist hung above its surface.
An unsettling aura permeated the air, and Galen felt a strange thrill, a perverse excitement. He recognized it as Yogg-Saron's mental corruption, his attempt to ensnare their minds.
But Galen chose to indulge in the sensation, to confront the Old God on his own terms.
"Hey, Yogg-Saron!" Galen called out, his voice echoing in the confined space. "Are you in there?"
He stepped forward, his voice laced with a mocking bravado. "Visiting hours are now in session! I've brought a rather... distinguished group of friends to meet you!
Come out and greet your guests!"
The prison remained silent, and Yogg-Saron did not seem inclined to extend a warm welcome to Galen and his allies.
"Yogg-Saron! Buddy! This is an intervention!"