"Elsia, go north ahead and wait for us. The Horde has detected the disturbance; they'll definitely send soldiers." Alleria handed the Hinterlands map given to her by Kurdran to the ranger Elsia, temporarily appointing her as the leader to lead the elven squad away.
The young ranger took the map: "Understood, Captain."
No one raised any objections to the elves' orders. Just like in Quel'Thalas, the rangers and warriors never offered any further suggestions on their captain's commands.
The elven squad quickly retreated from the area where the Death Knight and the mage were fighting. Alleria drew her golden bow, searching for the best opportunity to attack.
Teron planted his sword in the meadow, the newly sprouted green shoots scorched by the purple shadows, emitting a pungent smell. The Death Knight was quite serious; he jumped off his heavily armored warhorse, gripping the greatsword, burning with lava, stuck upside down in the ground.
Tyr'ganal and Leylin exchanged a glance, simultaneously activating their magic. Tyr'ganal provided cover, Leylin dealt damage. This was the simplest, and most efficient, way for the two mages to fight.
As the ice surged, Tyr'ganal closed his hands, then slowly opened them. A blue-ice magic circle in his palms gradually formed dozens of ice spears. As cover for Leylin's spellcasting, Tyr'ganal hurled all the sharp [Ice Lance] at Talon.
Teron, carrying his greatsword, nimbly dodged the numerous ice spears and charged towards Leylin at incredible speed. As a death knight possessing the soul of a powerful warlock from the Shadow Council, he knew perfectly well who posed the real threat to him.
After the first volley of ice spears was dodged, Tyr'ganal's restrictive magic didn't stop there. He raised his hand, and a five-meter radius [Ring of Frost] slowly opened in front of Leylin.
The rapidly spreading frost element attempted to imprison Teron's movements. Teron's speed slowed. But this didn't mean Tyr'ganal had succeeded.
Two seconds later, Teron swung his lava greatsword and smashed it into the [Ring of Frost].
The frost array, floating with different magical patterns, quickly disintegrated, easily interrupting Tyr'ganal's casting. Tyr'ganal shook his head; this was far inferior to Aminel's [Ring of Frost]!
But this temporary restriction was enough. Teron's black hood let out a cold laugh: Too weak.
In Teron's understanding, these mages who controlled arcane and elemental magic were just as fragile as warlocks and shamans. Although the energy they could unleash was powerful, their bodies were utterly insignificant under such a huge and sharp longsword! Mage, you're doomed!
The blazing greatsword swung before Leylin, who seemed to smell the stench emanating from the death knight. A glint of light flashed in his eyes.
[Evocation] and [Arcane Surge] casted in order. Leylin immediately casted [Blast Wave] which pushed Teron back and slowed his charge.
[Arcane Orb], [Arcane Blast], [Arcane Missile], [Arcane Barrage]. Leylin simultaneously blast him with tons of arcane spells.
Intense blasts exploded before Teron, his black armor slowly destroyed. Scalding liquid slowly trickled down his body. He was blasted away, landing on a grassy mat ten meters away.
But the scorching heat and the explosion of arcane energy did not shatter Teron's soul. He rose again, his wide hood, sturdy armor, and cloak gone.
Now, only his pale body, slick with molten iron, and an even hotter greatsword remained. Tyr'ganal was stunned by the Death Knight's power. Magic that could destroy even steel hadn't killed him!
[Ice Cone]! A fan-shaped frost elemental froze the Death Knight's body; the cold frost melted the moment it touched him.
"Incredible power. No wonder Gul'dan came to this world seeking power." Teron looked at his mangled body, admiring the mage.
Leylin calmly watched Teron; he knew it wasn't over yet. Indeed, Teron was only now beginning his attack.
Darkness, death, decay, pain. The flaming greatsword in Teron's hand lost its heat and warmth. Teron's body slowly changed as well. Leylin watched the Death Knight's transformation; he was using the power he wielded.
Clumps of shadow rose around the mage under the cover of night. The shadows spread, and these eerie energies naturally seeped into Leylin's mind.
He could feel these shadows eroding his magic. Leylin remained calm; he knew how to resist the spells conjured by this energy.
Leylin bursted with even more arcane energy, which pushed back these shadows eroding his magic. But clearly, the arcane energy held the upper hand, because the mage who controlled them was manipulating it with precision.
Teron grew impatient; he grabbed the emerging shadows and, as if tearing apart an enemy's body, violently ripped them apart.
Soon, the black shadows surrounding the mage began to explode, forcing Tyr'ganal to use his [Ice Barrier] to avoid being harmed by the aura of the explosions.
Leylin, on the other hand, was different. In the midst of the death knight's attack, he broke through the shattered shadows. Then charged towards the death knight.
Teron was enraged; he reached out to grab the charging mage by the neck, only to find that Leylin had suddenly vanished before him. [Blink] was casted and he was already behind him.
The flesh on his back was torn apart, and Teron swiftly retaliated by swinging his sword behind him! But it was already too late.
A full blast still under the effect of [Arcane Surge] Leylin casted a full powered [Arcane Barrage]! Flesh was torn apart, revealing white bones before Leylin's eyes.
Found it, the soul suffering from arcane torment. The orc-like green shadow struggled painfully on the Death Knight's body!
This was the opportunity, Alleria had waited for it. He drew his longbow, aimed at the filthy, disgusting green soul, and fired a magical arrow.
It hit, but the target wasn't Teron. It was an ogre. Cho'gall!
"Trouble, trouble. These guys again." Cho'gall hoisted the Death Knight, tossed aside several huge shadow orbs, and fled in panic.
"What is that?" Alleria had never seen such a two-headed monster before.
"A cannibalistic magi from the ogres."
"Why didn't you chase after him, Leylin?" Tyr'ganal dispelled the ice barrier around him and came up to ask.
The presence of Cho'gall among them suggested that there were other powerful warlocks lurking in the shadows, their motives shrouded in mystery. Leylin's mind raced, considering the strange calm of the warlocks—they hadn't attacked them, not yet.
It was fortunate, he thought, that these warlocks hadn't launched an assault. But the question gnawed at him: why?
Even Gul'dan, notorious for his ruthlessness, had shown restraint—he hadn't killed Leylin and Khadgar, influential mages who could be valuable allies or dangerous enemies.
Why were these warlocks so focused on preserving their strength? Were they waiting for something?
Or perhaps they had a greater plan in motion, one that required patience and cunning rather than brute force?
Leylin's gaze flicked across the warlocks, trying to read their intentions. What were they really after? Power? Knowledge? Or something even darker?
Their silence and restraint suggested they were playing a long game—one that could change everything if they succeeded.