The mages overseeing the teleportation of the fallen warriors were a veritable who's who of Azeroth's magical elite. Archmage Modera of Dalaran, her presence radiating quiet authority; the Millhouse couple from the Scarlet Crusade, their eccentricities overshadowed by their raw power; Grand Magister Rommath of Quel'Thalas, his regal bearing and mastery of arcane arts a sight to behold; and First Arcanist Thalyssra of Suramar, her ancient magic a force of subtle and potent energy. Such a gathering of magical might ensured that no participant would meet their end within the arena.
"Grand Marshal," a nearby aide reported, his voice slightly strained, "Half of the beast horde has been released!"
Galen nodded, his gaze sweeping across the arena. The initial wave of Northrend beasts had taken its toll. Under the relentless assault, those participants below the highest tiers of skill and experience were being eliminated one after another. Even the strongest of teammates could not fully protect their weaker companions from the onslaught of thousands of ravenous creatures.
"Cease the release of the beasts," Galen commanded, his voice firm and decisive. "Deploy the magnataur!"
He surveyed the remaining participants. The arena floor was littered with the fallen, but a surprising number still stood. Only twenty percent of the original contestants had been eliminated, a far cry from Galen's expectations. According to his plan, he only needed a small, elite team of twenty-five individuals to lead the charge against the Lich King. Now, a staggering eighty warriors remained!
As the second wave approached, Galen's attention sharpened, focusing on the teams that had demonstrated exceptional skill and resilience. He observed his own contingents with a critical eye. Two teams represented the Scarlet Crusade: one led by the disciplined and strategic Alexi Barov, the other by his more impetuous but equally talented brother, Wilton Barov. These two young scions of the Barov family had initially desired to become rogues, embracing the shadows and subterfuge. However, Galen, recognizing their potential for leadership and righteousness, had intervened, firmly guiding them towards the path of the paladin.
He also noted the presence of two teams composed of representatives from the vassal races under his banner. One team consisted of the unlikely trio of Vol'jin, the cunning shadow hunter of the Darkspear trolls; Chen Stormstout, the jovial and unpredictable pandaren brewmaster; and Rexxar, the stoic and powerful half-orc beastmaster. The other team was an even more unconventional gathering: the gnoll chieftain Hogg, his ferocity matched only by his surprising cunning; the kobold inventor Nibnob Flintocke, his brilliance tempered by his inherent cowardice; and the savage quilboar warrior Fangtooth, his spiky hide and bloodthirsty nature making him a formidable opponent.
The arena floor, once a relatively open space, was now a chaotic battlefield, teeming with the remnants of the beast horde and the surviving participants, divided and scattered by the relentless onslaught.
In this crucible of chaos, the strengths and weaknesses of the various team compositions became starkly apparent. Galen observed that many of the three-mage teams, prevalent among the forces of Dalaran and Quel'Thalas, had been eliminated. Their potent arcane attacks, while devastating against individual foes, lacked the resilience and staying power needed to withstand a sustained assault from a horde of ravenous beasts. Some of the surviving high-tier mages, recognizing their limitations, had wisely chosen to join forces with front-line fighters, forming more balanced and adaptable teams.
This was well within the permitted rules of the trial, Galen noted with satisfaction. He had anticipated such adjustments, allowing participants to reform teams and adapt their strategies in the face of adversity, provided that their original teams had suffered losses.
Rumble!
Rumble!
A more intense tremor shook the arena, the ground trembling beneath the feet of the remaining warriors. The commotion was deafening, a cacophony of guttural roars and the pounding of heavy footsteps. The participants knew, with a sinking feeling, that the second wave of the trial would be even more brutal and devastating than the first!
From the same gate that had unleashed the beast horde, a new wave of monstrous creatures charged into the arena: over two hundred Magnataur warriors! These colossal giants, standing a towering four meters tall, possessed thick, bristling hides and massive tusks that protruded from their mouths like sharpened spears. Their eyes burned with primal fury as they raised their crude but effective weapons - massive spears and poleaxes - and charged towards the eighty remaining participants, their advance a thunderous wave of muscle and fury!
The visual impact of this massed charge of giant creatures was staggering. It rivaled, and in some ways surpassed, the terrifying spectacle of a Tauren Kodo Beast Rider charge, or even the grotesque advance of the giant abominations of the Scourge. The Magnataur warriors, their massive forms shaking the ground with each stride, were a force of nature unleashed upon the arena!
These Magnataur were not mindless brutes. They were the descendants of two powerful Magnataur clans from Northrend: the brutal Gamorreah the Torturer and the savage Maggocmos Regar. After Galen, wielding his legendary blade Magnus Doomblade, had slain the chieftains of these two clans and asserted his dominance over all the female Magnataur, these surviving offspring of the former chieftains were deemed... expendable. They were sent to serve as cannon fodder, their strength and ferocity harnessed for the Alliance's purposes.
"Quickly! We must unite! Form a defensive line, or we will all be eliminated!" a young Tauren bellowed, his voice carrying over the din of the approaching giants.
Auburne Brightmane, a fierce and determined female Tauren, was one of the most outstanding members of the new generation of Sunwalkers, second only to the esteemed Dezco, the leader of the Sunwalker Order, in her mastery of An'she's divine power.
As a Tauren who had fled from the relentless pursuers of the centaur since childhood, she possessed an innate understanding of the power of a large-scale heavy cavalry charge, and the devastating impact it could have on a disorganized force.
The surviving Tauren warriors, recognizing her experience and leadership, quickly gathered around Auburne, their massive forms moving with surprising speed and agility. Together with a seasoned Sunwalker and a powerful Tauren warrior, the three towering Tauren raised their massive tower shields, forming an unyielding wall of muscle and steel!
The Scarlet Crusade team, their discipline honed by years of fighting against the undead Scourge, followed suit, positioning themselves directly behind the Tauren line, their holy warriors ready to lend their strength to the defense.