"You can go to Northrend. There's the Nexus, the habitat of the Blue Dragonflight. You can observe from there, and no one will bother you."
Arthas skillfully diverted the trouble eastward. Go play in Northrend, where there are Blue Dragons, Titan constructs, Magnataur,
Tuskarr, Trolls, and Undead, among others.
If he guessed correctly, Illidan actually wanted to cast spells in the ruins of Dalaran. Dalaran was directly destroyed by Archimonde using magic, and the original site became a ruin.
However, the geographical ley lines remained unchanged, serving as a nexus of the magical network. It's somewhat similar to a busy intersection with heavy traffic; more magic can be mobilized there, and its quality will be better.
Long-range attack spells also cause some damage to the local area. Moreover, launching an attack from such a distance would undoubtedly consume an enormous amount of magic, potentially damaging the ley line nexus.
The best solution is to let Illidan go to Northrend to play with the Lich King. The Alliance can take this opportunity to recuperate and prepare thoroughly for the next major war.
Northrend can be ignored for now, but the Old God C'Thun in the south must be dealt with. As the first Old God to break free, it naturally attracted a lot of attention.
Illidan actually didn't want to go to Northrend, as that would mean facing the Lich King directly. With not many troops at hand, going there now would be extremely dangerous.
Looking up at Arthas and the Archmage behind him, Illidan knew he had no choice. If he agreed to go, he could do so with some dignity. If he refused, it might mean being helped to his dignity.
Don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!
"You also want to deal with the Lich King? I remember Lordaeron was ravaged by the Undead Scourge, leading to massive population deaths and conversion into Undead, and even the land was polluted. Don't you want revenge?"
Illidan instigated, and it was clear that after becoming a Demon Hunter, his methods were also developing towards demonization.
Unfortunately, Arthas was unmoved. Cooperating with Illidan was fatal and offered no benefits. This guy's actions were extremely aggressive and he didn't consider the consequences. He was the type to just throw brute force at a problem, completely disregarding whether his hand would break from the strain.
"I need to focus my energy on the kingdom and appeasing my subjects. Currently, the Alliance faces many other threats and is temporarily unable to crusade against the Lich King. His location is Icecrown Glacier; he can't escape. We can go anytime, but not now."
Arthas didn't fall for it. He wasn't in a hurry to deal with the Lich King. What he needed to do now was to purge the Undead within Lordaeron and, using the Undead, eliminate the nobles who resisted the king's centralized power.
He didn't need to waste words negotiating anymore. With that time and energy, it would be better to let them know that fists are the basis of negotiation.
Why should these parasites occupy the foundation he worked so hard to build?
Need to win people's hearts?
No, as long as he was given time to restore to the second stage of a demigod, he would comprehend the demigod laws, similar to a deity listening to the voices of his believers, and remotely infuse energy through them, casting his skills and spells.
In addition, he could bestow power upon believers, helping them improve their strength and providing unexpected benefits. Increasing strength, casting spells with power, or even extending life were all possible.
A demigod is also a god. The definition of a god is hard to pin down; it's just known to be mysterious and wondrous. If it looks confusing at first glance, then that's right!
By then, not only would he be immortal, but his spouse Jaina and Sylvanas would also enjoy long lives.
Democracy in Azeroth is a joke. In a world where power reigns supreme, some rules just aren't suitable.
Religion, however, has great potential, even more market than the fake singing and dancing in Shaolin Soccer.
Illidan didn't know he had been played again. Due to the Burning Legion's orders, to infiltrate The Legion, he needed to gain trust, and that trust was earned by eliminating the Lich King.
Dragging the Alliance into it would naturally be the best option, but if not, it didn't matter; he could still complete the mission.
"In that case, can you let me leave now?"
"Of course. Although the Alliance cannot send troops to assist, out of consideration for our past camaraderie, I can offer you some help."
Arthas finished speaking and clapped his hands. Another human walked out from behind him.
This human was somewhat special: blue fur, eyebrows, and clothes were all blue. A creature with such distinct features could only be a dragon, or rather, a dragon.
"This is Kalecgos, a member of the Blue Dragonflight, the Spell-weaver, one of the sons of the Blue Dragon King. This time, he will go with you to Northrend to deal with the Lich King."
"There's an old saying in Azeroth: 'Do a good deed to the end, escort a guest to the west.' The Nightborne mages have already opened a portal to the Nexus in Northrend for you. Please, go ahead."
How is this help? It's probably more about surveillance!
Kalecgos was a menace. Packing him and Illidan off to Northrend to play hide-and-seek with the Lich King was perfect. Get them far away, shaking off this troublesome character like a Husky.
"Thank you."
Illidan also knew this was a threat, but they probably wouldn't attack him, especially in front of Maiev. That was enough. As long as he didn't return to that damned cage, he could pay any other price.
As the two disappeared into the portal, Arthas finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Now it was the Lich King's turn to have a headache. Icecrown Glacier's location was excellent, easy to defend and hard to attack, with no other drawbacks besides being barren, cold, and unsuitable for living creatures.
To the right is the Storm Peaks, home to Titan constructs forged from steel, and an Old God that could crush the Lich King at any moment, not to mention the four Keepers.
To the left is Sholazar Basin, a Titan laboratory for life evolution. Any Undead Scourge invasion of this place would be met with counterattacks from life forces opposed to the Undead. Furthermore, the laboratory has powerful energy weapons to eliminate threats, and the avatar of Keeper Freya is stationed there.
Unless the Lich King's head was filled with laxatives, he basically wouldn't come here looking for trouble.
To the south are Grizzly Hills, Crystalsong Forest, and Dragonblight. One is the territory of the Magnataur; these primitive behemoths can stomp a tier-three Abomination, a flesh giant, to death with one foot, and they themselves have strong resistance to mind control.
As for Dragonblight, it goes without saying that the Chromatic Dragons are resting here, waiting for the coordinates of the Dragon Isles to open.
At this point, no matter how many Undead there were, the Dragon Alliance wouldn't be afraid. Most dragons could use magic. With continuous spellcasting and small teams sent to behead the Lich King, it was entirely feasible.
At this time, Icecrown Glacier didn't even have basic defenses, let alone a castle. There was only a thin, circular mountaintop cap, barely adequate for sheltering from wind and snow.
What a joke, does the Lich King, sealed in deep space ice, need this meager cover from wind and snow?
After sending Illidan away, Arthas finally led his team into the Tomb of Sargeras to regularly clear out the demons inside.
Each time, after they were beaten to near death, he would deliver the finishing blow, siphoning their attribute points.
Due to the temple's many obstructions, he couldn't fully utilize Life Drain, as it was difficult to perform in areas without clear sight.
The demons here were also unlucky old fellows. They finally endured until the seal weakened, rushed out en masse, only to encounter the allied forces coming to clear them out.
The construct was sealed in the final secret chamber, which also contained a portal. If one couldn't escape the construct guards, they were definitely trash, trash whose attributes couldn't be absorbed. If they could get out, they were quality food, filtered and safe for attribute point siphoning.
What a great arrangement! The guards continued to fulfill their duty from before their corruption. Arthas also gained filtered demons. It was truly a win-win!
Watching Arthas skillfully kill demons, Maiev's eyes never left him. His methods were exactly the same as they were ten thousand years ago.
There weren't many demons in the tomb. After a reconstruction, other areas were blocked off, leaving only the front passage. This way, any future demons would have only one path to take, straight to the main gate, where they would be apprehended upon exit, beaten half to death, and sent away. Even capitalists would shake their heads at this.
Having resolved the issue at the Tomb of Sargeras, Arthas then paid a visit to Suramar City, bringing them the effects of the Brilliance Aura.
It proved one thing: the aura had become a response to devout belief.
Worshiping and believing in Arthas as something, and achieving the aura effect through a mysterious connection—wasn't this another kind of miracle?
Brilliance Aura can accelerate mana recovery, and Arcane addiction is essentially a craving for mana. When mana recovery is in an adaptive state, Arcane addiction will not manifest, or if it does, it will be within an acceptable range.
This was clearly demonstrated by the High Elves suffering from Arcane addiction, proving that Brilliance Aura indeed has sufficient suppressive effects on Arcane addiction.
Whether the belief is genuine can be felt with the heart. Elves who can connect are believers, and those who cannot are non-believers. It's easy to discern.
"For ten thousand years, we have continuously drawn energy from it, not only for our own use but also to maintain the barrier. The eye of aman'thul's power is almost exhausted. If you hadn't arrived, I wouldn't know what to do next."
Archmage Elisande said ingratiatingly from the side, shrinking her form slightly to avoid an overbearing aura.
Walking on the exquisite flagstone streets, even the bricks on the ground were carved with beautiful patterns, showing how idle these Nightborne had become to the point of madness.
The streets were separated by lush green plants on both sides, and the paths on the other side resembled sidewalks, giving off a modern city vibe.
Magic brooms automatically swept the streets, followed by trash cans, all unmanned, showcasing the integration of Arcane magic into daily life.
While accompanying and introducing, Elisande occasionally glanced at the two queens, Jaina and Sylvanas.
It was said that another one remained in Lordaeron, precisely to incite the already discontented nobles to rebel in his absence, overthrow Arthas in one fell swoop, and install a lord who favored the noble gentry and landlords.
Arthas's business trip was also ostentatious, even dispersing military forces to eliminate Undead and reclaim land, creating the impression of an empty capital, practically inviting rebellion.
This time, he was waiting for the treacherous officials to reveal themselves, and after rounding them all up, it would be time for the coronation ceremony. He couldn't always bear the title of prince; a kingdom cannot be without a monarch for a day, and a king was necessary.
Only by becoming king would he have the legitimacy to implement his policies. He was fed up with the bickering and evasiveness of the parliamentary system. From now on, Lordaeron would only need the king's voice, and the rest would merely be tools to execute orders.
Opinions could be given, but whether they were listened to depended on the king's mood.
Jaina toured with great interest. As a mage, she was quite fascinated by this Arcane city and had more topics to discuss.
Integrating magic into life? Serving life, making life more convenient, that's what creates happiness!
"As expected of Suramar City, the jewel of the empire. The magical aura here is very rich, and the application of magic has reached its pinnacle. Lordaeron has much to learn from you!"
Elisande's face lit up with a smile, an arc at the corner of her mouth that even a Fel Energy cannon couldn't suppress. These were the words of the Lord's spouse, carrying significant weight.
Although she didn't know why the hero who saved the world in ancient times had become like this, with an unstable aura. But the future was promising! One day, it wouldn't be long before he surpassed her.
It's common knowledge that demigods can resurrect; she knew about it, but the cost was unknown.
"If Queen Jaina has a need, Suramar City can dispatch a team of mages to Lordaeron to assist with magical work."
"Ahead is the Withered Star Winery, which produces Shadowberry Wine, unique in all of Azeroth."
.
"Later this evening, a banquet has been arranged in the Nighthold. Please, Lord and two Queens, grace us with your presence. The nobles of Suramar City are very eager to witness your splendor; their admiration for you rivals their devotion to the Moon Goddess!"
Elisande quipped. For the Highborne who revered Arcane magic, they typically worshipped Queen Azshara. Now, with the addition of Arthas, setting aside religious devotion, the tangible benefits of the Brilliance Aura made their belief understandable.
Sylvanas wasn't very interested in magic, or rather, as a Ranger, she rarely used magic herself, acting more like a warrior, with magic merely as an aid.
"What is the success rate of Illidan's proposed long-range magical strike on Icecrown Glacier?"
Her question was abrupt and sharp.
Elisande calculated for a moment and then delivered the answer, a smile gracing her lips.
"The Eye of Sargeras is merely an Arcane artifact. While it can cast immensely powerful spells, its energy consumption is severe. A spell launched from here to Northrend might consume ten years' worth of Suramar City's entire energy supply."
"If everything goes smoothly, Illidan can indeed launch an attack on Icecrown Glacier from the Nexus, and directly eliminating the Lich King is not impossible. Even if he cannot eliminate him, he will certainly heavily wound him."
Arthas knew what Sylvanas was worried about. He took her delicate hand, squeezed it firmly, and smiled at her.
"Once the spell is cast, even if the Lich King doesn't die, the icy shell surrounding him will be shattered, creating cracks. His power will continuously drain away, and the Undead bound to him will regain their free will. Before long, those Undead can be gathered, which would absolutely be the Lich King's nightmare! Hehe!"