In the middle of the night, a loud bang echoed, and the ground trembled, perceptible even a thousand miles away.
A brilliant light could be seen dissipating in the distance, and the arcane energy permeating the air suddenly dropped significantly.
The flow of mana within Quel'Thalas became negligible; casting a Fireball, which previously took only one second, now required three or four, and its power was less than half of what it used to be!
As a mage, Jaina was most sensitive to fluctuations in arcane energy, and she was startled awake from her sleep.
Seeing her beloved next to her, the anxiousness in her heart gradually subsided.
"It seems something has happened!"
Arthas looked up, utilizing the arcane Owl Reconnaissance he had learned from Sylvanas just tonight.
It allowed him to scout over extremely long distances, transmitting the reconnaissance footage, sounds, and images directly to the caster's mind, creating an immersive experience.
He saw that a small portion of the undead outside Silvermoon City, about thirty to forty thousand, had been annihilated, but the gates of Silvermoon City had already been breached.
Behind Silvermoon City, on an island detached from the main continent.
Kel'Thuzad had been reborn!
That Lich had revived again!
His body was destroyed, so why could he still revive?
Moreover, the dreadlord Banehollow had used the remaining corrupted energy of the Sunwell to summon demons of The Legion: a large number of Felhounds, Felguards, Imps, and six-armed, three-meter-tall female demons!
After lingering for three seconds on her perky assets, Arthas finally focused his gaze on Mannoroth, the most powerful Pit Lord, who was using the last of his energy!
His upper body was humanoid but with demonic horns, ferocious fangs, a gaping maw, and a pair of wings on his back. His lower body resembled a dinosaur, with four thick hooves and a tail covered in scales and sharp barbs.
What was most talked about regarding this Pit Lord was that he had been cleaved to death twice by Grom, the orc!
He was cleaved to death once during the Battle of Mount Hyjal and again in Warlords of Draenor, dying twice at the hands of the same person, a native mortal they looked down upon.
His blood, when mixed with water, emitted an endless stench and was known as demon Blood. Creatures who drank it would go mad, burning their life potential and overdrawing their lifespan in exchange for immense power, along with an uncontrollable urge to kill.
Just a glance from afar, and Arthas felt his heart pound with a thrill.
As a warrior, he felt the excitement of encountering a worthy opponent, wanting to fiercely battle an equally matched foe to prove his strength!
Jaina immediately sensed his excited state and couldn't help but inwardly curse.
"Stop it!"
"Mmm!"
And then there was no 'then.'
Half an hour later, the troops assembled urgently.
The magical barrier of Silvermoon City had shattered, and the news had been transmitted.
The Sunwell's barrier was deactivated by a traitor, leading to the undead invasion. Banehollow placed a Lich phylactery into it, using the abundant arcane energy to resurrect him as an even greater Lich!
The waters of the Sunwell were polluted, and the free-floating arcane energy carried a corrosive aura, causing mages who drew on the Sunwell's energy for battle to collapse after inhaling the corrosive magic.
The nobles of the Silvermoon Council fell in battle, and King Anasterian also died in the Sunwell Grove.
Now, with demons pouring out of the Sunwell and Silvermoon City's barrier broken, defending it was impossible. The only option was to break out.
With undead surrounding them, only the Windrunner Spire in Silvermoon Woods was suitable for evacuation.
They had to avoid the vanguard of the undead and The Legion, and then devise a plan later.
This was not a retreat, but a strategic withdrawal to preserve their forces. There was no shame in it!
Liadrin was stunned when she heard the news.
Just earlier tonight, she was arguing to have Arthas unleash his Divine Form to strike the undead, and now in the middle of the night, the terrible news arrived: the King was dead, and Silvermoon City had fallen!
"How is this possible? Did the Light abandon us? Otherwise, why would undead and demons appear?"
Her dazed expression was understandable; as a priest loyal to the royal family, hearing such a tragedy, she couldn't accept the facts and fell into doubt.
Arthas spread out the map; this scene had still come to pass.
Originally, this should have happened after he returned from Northrend, became a dutiful son, turned Lordaeron into scorched earth, and led the undead army to attack Quel'Thalas.
Now he hadn't fallen for the trap, yet it still happened. Was this the Lich King's backup plan?
Indeed, it was. Tempting Arthas to become a death knight was merely because he valued his abilities, seeing him as a spokesman and a tool.
With a spokesman, the Lich King would have more leverage in betraying The Legion.
Without a spokesman, the Lich King would simply have to find other ways to break free; it was essentially a matter of time.
"Medivh, that bastard, was right. The Burning Legion really has arrived."
Arthas slammed the table. It was too sudden; he wasn't ready for battle.
At this point, the raven nearby, hearing this, couldn't help but retort, transforming into human form after a magical distortion.
"Prince Arthas, speaking ill of others behind their backs is not something a paladin should do."
Medivh's sudden appearance didn't cause panic; Jaina and Sylvanas had both seen him and knew he was an eccentric mystic.
Vereesa, on the other hand, knew Medivh's name from her time working in Dalaran and with the dragonflights; one couldn't say he was renowned, but rather infamous and notorious.
"Now that demons have arrived in our world, their ultimate destination is the continent of Kalimdor to the west, where the Well of Eternity can be used to summon the entire Legion."
"Please take your army and people to Kalimdor; only then can there be a glimmer of hope for the world!"
Medivh continued to earnestly persuade him. The Eastern Kingdoms were just an appetizer; the real main course was on the other continent.
Arthas shook his head, not agreeing.
"I haven't fought to the end yet; I cannot leave. Lordaeron has been passed down for a thousand years; its foundation is all here. Without that foundation, will we survive if we go to the other side?"
"The most urgent task is to preserve as many forces as possible. I promise you, when the time is right, I will naturally go to that continent."
"But it won't be to flee, but to lead an army to conquer the demons, arriving as victors, not as desperate, defeated dogs."
"If you truly want to help, why not stay and assist me? The sooner we deal with these matters, the sooner we can organize an army to cross the Great Sea to the west."
He extended an invitation in return; a knowledgeable old man was still very useful.
Aside from anything else, population was the most important thing.
Once the high elf matters were settled, it would be time for Sylvanas to truly become his woman.
Shallow?
Apologies, the prince was just such a shallow commoner!