With a muffled thud, Onyxia felt a sharp pain in her abdomen, and her body, which had just stabilized, uncontrollably shifted to one side again.
The Crypt Lord, using his control over the earth, had already dug a trap underground. As soon as Onyxia transformed into her true dragon form, she would fall into the crypt.
Onyxia's front claws were injured, making it difficult for her to maintain balance. Coupled with the powerful impact from the Crypt Lord, she plunged into the pit, just as Anub'rekhan had anticipated.
"Well done!"
Lothar plunged his runeblade into the ground in front of the crypt, and a pure death energy shot out from the blade, soaring towards the sky above Onyxia's head.
Ogrim and Thassarian also appeared on the other two sides of the crypt. The three Death Knights formed a triangle, and with the high-concentration energy provided by the Dark Sky, they began to suppress the injured Black Dragon Princess.
Surging dark and death energy engulfed Onyxia. She struggled to climb out of the trap, but countless icy arms formed by death energy pulled at her, preventing her escape.
Anub'rekhan shot out dozens of reinforced dark chains, piercing Onyxia's wing membranes or wrapping around her limbs and head. The giant dragon was firmly bound within the crypt, unable to move.
After confirming that Onyxia was restrained, Anub'rekhan's front claws firmly locked the chains, pulling them underground and magically solidifying them directly beneath Onyxia.
The sturdy chains clasped Onyxia's joints and extremities, making it impossible for the Black Dragon to exert force and break free. Her mouth was sealed by Lothar with death energy, preventing her from using breath attacks or magic.
Onyxia tried to use shapeshifting magic to transform into a human, hoping to escape the chains, but with the Dark Sky's enhancement, the combined suppression of the three Death Knights made it impossible for Onyxia to even get up.
Moreover, due to the disrupted magical communication, Onyxia's dragon blood amulet couldn't send normal messages. And given the Black Dragonflight's style, it was uncertain if they would seek revenge for her if they didn't immediately know she had been killed.
This Black Dragon realized she had entered a true dead end. She was neither in Stormwind, which she had managed for many years, nor in her own lair, and she had revealed her true form in a human kingdom.
And, most terrifyingly, she didn't even know whose subordinates these undead were.
After some thought, the imprisoned Onyxia suddenly realized that the two Death Knights from before were none other than Ogrim and Anduin Lothar, who had died long ago!
They had both been resurrected as Death Knights?
Although Onyxia didn't practice necromancy, as an adult dragon born in ancient times, she had some understanding of it. Furthermore, in current human beliefs, necromancy was an absolute taboo.
Yet, Lothar, who was enshrined in human history books for remembrance and veneration, had his grave desecrated and was transformed into a Death Knight without anyone knowing. What secret was hidden behind this?!
The Black Dragon Princess suddenly felt that she might have inadvertently threatened the plan of some more secretive existence, which was why she was ambushed with such careful design.
Lothar, who was currently suppressing Onyxia, suddenly felt a stir in his heart and said to Thassarian and Ogrim, "He's here."
Onyxia also heard Lothar's voice, and an ominous premonition surged in her heart. She began to struggle even more desperately, but she couldn't break the chains wrapped around her body.
The dark sky was parted by a quiet blue light, and a knight riding an undead warhorse entered. In his hand, he held a runic greatsword that made even dragons' souls tremble.
"A truly splendid victory, Sir Lothar."
Arthas smiled and greeted Lothar, then he looked at Onyxia, who was bound in the crypt.
"Ah~ Countess Katrana Prestor, I never expected our next meeting to be in such a setting."
Onyxia's draconic pupils almost narrowed into a thin line. She could hardly believe the person she was seeing.
After Arthas inherited the Lich King's legacy, his soul power underwent a qualitative sublimation. Even a full-strength Onyxia might have her mind affected by him, let alone her current bound state.
The Prince Arthas's clear voice echoed in Onyxia's mind. The new Lich King invaded Onyxia's soul effortlessly.
"How is this possible! How could it be you?! You knew all along—?!"
"You seem surprised, and frankly, so am I." Arthas, riding Invincible, leaped down from above the crypt and stood before Onyxia. "I didn't expect to capture such a great nuisance as you so easily."
Onyxia noticed Frostmourne clutched in Arthas's hand. She felt her soul instinctively fear the sword's power.
"You... you are the master of these undead?! Did those idiotic Paladins not notice that their Prince Arthas had fallen into a terrifying monster?!"
"Monster?" Arthas raised a hand, and warm Holy Light condensed in his palm. "Do you mean—like this?"
"This—?!"
Onyxia felt her worldview almost collapse. Two completely different powers manifested in Arthas. Now she understood: he had never fallen, but had always been able to wield both death and Holy Light.
Arthas picked up a shattered Black Dragon scale from the ground and held it, examining it. "Truly good material... too bad there's only one Black Dragon like you."
Onyxia suddenly recalled the fervent gaze Arthas had given her when she saw him in Stormwind years ago, and a chill ran through her body—this guy was indeed coveting her, but never for her human appearance, but for her value as a Black Dragon.
She couldn't imagine what a miserable end she would face if she fell into the hands of such a person. Arthas dared to resurrect even Lothar, a human hero, as a Death Knight, and their opponent, Ogrim, was also enslaved.
All of this indicated that this Prince Arthas of Lordaeron was a terrifying individual; he had deceived everyone.
While most people still thought he was the embodiment of justice, Arthas had already descended into the dark domain, becoming the Undead King.
Arthas gently tapped Onyxia's dragon head with Frostmourne's blade. The demonic sword unreservedly released its greed for dragon souls.
"It seems Frostmourne likes you very much, Onyxia."
Arthas paid no attention to Onyxia's fearful gaze, changing the subject and continuing, "However, I won't kill you, Onyxia, at least not until I find a replacement."
"Think about it, if I kill you and use your corpse as material and your soul as nourishment to resurrect you as a Bone Dragon, wouldn't that waste your immense vitality?"
"Black Dragons have strong regenerative abilities, and dragon blood, dragon scales, dragon sinews, dragon claws, dragon teeth—any one of them is a rare and valuable item."
"Also, my alchemists and necromancers are very interested in Deathwing's bloodline. Perhaps the benevolent Princess Onyxia would donate some dragon eggs for our research material?"
"Of course, there's no need to worry about how to lay eggs. The Red Dragon Queen Alexstrasza has provided us with an excellent example, and my scouts have detailed records."
"Do you have a Black Dragon you like? Perhaps we can help you find a good mate."
"Once your value has been completely exploited, then the Scourge will welcome your inclusion—"
Arthas's words hadn't even finished before Onyxia broke down: death seemed like the most beautiful thing in the world compared to everything Arthas described.
The only fate for the powerless Black Dragon Princess was to become Arthas's material-producing machine, suffering torment worse than death every day.
And even if all her value was drained, Arthas could continue to enslave her soul and corpse.
From the moment she fell into the trap, her tragic fate was completely sealed—but not without a glimmer of hope. Although Onyxia was terrified, she also understood that if Arthas truly only regarded her as a backup material repository, he wouldn't bother speaking to her.
This was a simple choice, and Onyxia, cherishing her life, answered without hesitation, "No... please, I don't want to become like that. I was forced into this... I... I can serve you..."
"You still think you have other options? You've committed countless atrocities in my friend's kingdom, even trying to harm his wife and son. I will not show you mercy."
Arthas's pronouncement, like that of the grim reaper, completely extinguished the last shred of hope in Onyxia's heart. The Black Dragon Princess said in despair, "I am willing to open my soul... willing to forever regard you as my master, please do not harm me."
...
Arthas put away Frostmourne, looking at Katrana, who was in human form as Onyxia, her eyes vacant, clothes ragged, and wrapped in chains. "You don't look very happy?"
"No! No! Master, please don't hurt Onyxia—"
Onyxia screamed in terror. During the contract process, she had personally felt the horror of Frostmourne and Arthas. Her aura was weak and dispirited, completely lacking the domineering presence she had as a Black Dragon.
Now she looked more like a bullied little girl, helplessly slumped on the ground.
"Alright, I won't do anything to you. At least you're still somewhat useful now." Arthas waved his hand, signaling Anub'rekhan to unlock the chains on Onyxia.
After the magically enchanted chains dissipated, Onyxia stumbled to her feet from the ground. She stood with her head bowed before Arthas, not daring to utter a sound.
However, her current state was not good. She had already been injured by the Death Knights and Anub'rekhan, and this was reflected in her human body: she had a bloodstain on her abdomen and a broken finger.
Coupled with Arthas violently restricting her soul's freedom and severing a part of her soul to store inside Frostmourne, Onyxia had gone through various nightmarish experiences before completing this one-sided contract.
The reason Arthas didn't directly kill Onyxia was simple, as he himself said: if Onyxia was merely captured alive and imprisoned, she would have little use beyond being a material reserve.
Once she was drained and replaced by other Black Dragons, Onyxia's fate would be simple: she would be killed and then resurrected as a Bone Dragon.
After all, for a Black Dragon whose essence and blood had been plundered, and even whose scales and muscles had been used as materials, there was basically no other way to preserve maximum combat power than to transform her into a Bone Dragon.
However, the method of killing a living dragon and turning it into a Bone Dragon, in Arthas's view, was a waste unless absolutely necessary.
Leaving aside the strength difference between Bone Dragons and normal dragons, a living dragon could provide far more benefits than a pile of animated bones.
Moreover, dragons could shapeshift into humans or other humanoid creatures, but Bone Dragons could not. Considering various aspects, perhaps the only advantage of a Bone Dragon was that it didn't need to be fed.
Arthas's original consideration was that only truly irredeemably corrupted dragons, or the skeletal remains of dragons themselves, warranted transformation into Bone Dragons. Otherwise, the value of living dragons was certainly much higher than that of Bone Dragons.
And as the first Black Dragon captured alive, Onyxia, compared to her brother and father, clearly belonged to the type less severely affected by the Old Gods' whispers of corruption.
Although Arthas noticed the darkness hidden deep within Onyxia's soul and bloodline when controlling her soul, Arthas's own energy level was not inferior to that darkness, perhaps even stronger. However, directly removing it without harming Onyxia was still not easy to do.
The culprits behind the Black Dragonflight's corruption, the sources of corruption on Azeroth—the Old Gods—would certainly become enemies of everyone on Azeroth one day. Arthas could seize this opportunity to conduct some research on their corruption.
He didn't hope to make ordinary people completely immune to the Old Gods' whispers, but at least he wanted to minimize the Old Gods' influence within the Scourge. Only then would he have the capital to contend with the Old Gods.
The undead themselves possessed a certain resistance to these corrupting whispers, but they couldn't completely ignore the Old Gods' direct gaze and erosion. Moreover, an Ancient God was sealed next to the Scourge's main base. Sooner or later, Arthas would clash with this "God of a Thousand Maws," Yogg-Saron.
Through Onyxia, Arthas would be able to better understand those hidden dark deities.