With the continuous aerial crossfire, losses on both sides continued to mount.
The Fel warships, protected by shields, suffered fewer losses compared to the countless turrets on Hellfire Peninsula. After most of the turrets were destroyed, the Legion still had over thirty warships barely maintaining combat effectiveness.
Under Kil'jaeden's command, these Fel warships unleashed their remaining energy onto Hellfire Citadel.
The three Naaru, led by A'dal, lacked direct combat prowess, but their support and defensive capabilities were quite outstanding.
As the first layer of Fel shields was breached, Magtheridon, who had been continuously drained of blood and energy underground, finally met his end, freed from his torment.
The second layer of Holy Light barrier, set up by the Naaru, took over the defensive task. The main cannons of the Fel warships were firmly blocked by the barrier above the fortress. Although the entire fortress trembled amidst the clashing energies, it didn't seem likely to be easily broken through in a short time.
Rhonin, while conjuring large fireballs to kill enemies, reminded Andreas, "The anti-air turrets are almost completely destroyed, and the enemy still has remaining warships. Should we proceed with the next step of the plan?"
Andreas looked at the Legion warships suspended outside the atmosphere, nodded, and said, "Begin. Let Draenor unleash its final heat."
The Ethereal devices buried deep within the earth went into full operation, and the Elemental Throne in Nagrand began to experience destructive, violent tremors.
The commotion in Hellfire Peninsula was so obvious that even from far away in Nagrand, one could see the Legion warships continuously bombarding the sky. Many Mag'har shamans instinctively came to the Elemental Throne to seek guidance from the Elemental Lords like Gordun.
Draenor's elements had already suffered a heavy blow during Go'el's rise. Although they gradually recovered after the planet shattered, their strength was far inferior to the Elemental Lords of Azeroth.
The earthquake at the Elemental Throne originated from the further intensified planetary energy extraction. The four Elemental Lords successively lost their self-forms, and a familiar disaster once again descended upon Draenor.
The waters of Lake Telredor in northern Garadar surged, the long-dormant dead volcanoes erupted again, earthquakes followed, and storms raged in the sky.
Hellfire Peninsula was also affected by the harsh weather, with violent lightning striking indiscriminately from the sky.
As the defending side, the combined forces of Draenor and Azeroth had the defensive barrier maintained by the Naaru.
However, the attacking Burning Legion had no defenses and suffered heavy losses in the thunderstorms.
Terrified Mag'har Orcs fled in panic amidst the frequent natural disasters, and the rising waters of Lake Telredor began to submerge the lands of Garadar.
Draenosh protected Grandmother Geyah and sought refuge first, while Jorin commanded the Mag'har army to help civilians evacuate towns submerged by the floodwaters.
Ever since the Naga settled in Zangarmarsh, they had been drawing water from various parts of the marsh, gathering it into the central great lake to form the Coilfang Reservoir. Local residents believed that the Naga had destroyed the ecosystem of Zangarmarsh and had always harbored strong hostility towards them.
Ironically, the great floods across Draenor now left Zangarmarsh unaffected. The Naga's pumping stations throughout the marsh rendered the flood harmless.
In disaster-stricken Draenor, the Naga-occupied Zangarmarsh was ironically the calmest area. Jorin, left with no choice, could only lead the Mag'har to temporarily seek refuge in Zangarmarsh.
The heavily extracted elemental energy converged at Hellfire Citadel, and after energy conversion, it was injected into Illidan's spoils of war from Nathreza—an ultra-large caliber Fel cannon, a trump card.
Dreadlords often oversaw the forging of powerful weapons for the Burning Legion. This cannon was originally a deadly weapon intended for the Legion's assault on Azeroth, but it fell into enemy hands due to Illidan's sudden attack.
With sufficient energy infusion, the Fel cannon activated. Its raised barrel pierced through the castle ceiling above, exposing itself directly to the Burning Legion and Kil'jaeden.
Kil'jaeden was visibly stunned when he saw the cannon. "Is that...the Nathrezim-built Planet Destroyer?"
Feeling the energy gathering within the cannon's barrel, Kil'jaeden's expression changed, and he immediately ordered his adjutant, "Have the fleet scatter their formation! The enemy's bombardment is about to begin!"
However, it was clearly too late to issue a retreat order at this point. Kil'jaeden also hadn't expected Illidan to find this large-scale weapon of mass destruction, forged with the power of the planet's core and buried deep underground, before tearing apart Nathreza.
"Pfft~"
The bombardment from the Planet Destroyer wasn't a deafening roar; it sounded rather muffled. But the destructive Fel energy beam that erupted from the muzzle instantly swept across a large number of Fel warships suspended in space.
Even Kil'jaeden's flagship, the Xenedar, was affected. Although it avoided a direct hit, the Xenedar's shields began to flicker violently under the impact of the exploding Fel warship debris, on the verge of overloading and shattering.
What was done was done; it wasn't Kil'jaeden's style to be angry or regretful afterward. He grimly beckoned to an adjutant beside him.
"Talgath, it's your turn. Infiltrate Hellfire Citadel, disable the defensive barrier, and bring Velen to me."
The Eredar, covered in grotesque bone spikes, his eyes lit up. He respectfully bowed his head, concealing the cruel and excited smile on his face.
"As you command."
"Remember." Kil'jaeden knew Talgath well and understood what he was thinking, so he deliberately reminded him, "I want him alive. Suppress your murderous intent; there will be plenty of opportunities to torture him slowly later."
"Yes!"
After Talgath vanished, Kil'jaeden summoned another Eredar.
"Lakkari."
"Here!"
Towards this scar-covered Eredar, Kil'jaeden's expression softened considerably, as if looking at a nephew or niece.
"Your moment of destiny has finally arrived. Are you ready?"
"Of course!" Lakkari replied firmly. "I've been waiting for this moment, the moment to take revenge on that treacherous traitor!"
"Very good."
Kil'jaeden smiled with satisfaction, his smile imbued with a twisted sense of vengeful pleasure.
"Go. Coordinate with Talgath from inside and out. I want to personally witness the moment Velen's spirit breaks."
After sending Lakkari away, Kil'jaeden leaned back in his throne, closing his eyes to rest.
'Azeroth should be making their move around now, shouldn't they?'
'Sargeras, I hope you won't disappoint me this time.'
...Azeroth, Nordrassil's crown city, Astranaar.
Jarod, usually very composed, was uncharacteristically frowning, pacing anxiously in his office.
"Report!"
"Come in."
A military officer strode through the open door, reporting quickly, "Marshal Shadowsong, it's irreversible. The Dark Portal has entered an active state and could open a portal to Draenor at any moment."
"Is that so..."
When it came down to it, Jarod instead calmed down.
"How is the battle in the Blasted Lands? Can the Alliance break through the defenses of the Thunderlord and Blackrock Orcs?"
The officer shook his head. "Unfortunately, it's unlikely to happen in a short time. Those orcs are no longer in their previous weakened state; they're as hyped up as if they've had a shot of adrenaline, and their green skin shows a tendency to turn red."
Jarod rubbed his temples, a headache brewing. "Careless. I didn't expect Sargeras to have left a contingency plan with Garona."
Weighing the pros and cons, Jarod finally gave a firm order, "We can't worry about so much now. I'll go with the Second Flight Fleet! We'll reach the Blasted Lands and break through the enemy's defenses as quickly as possible!