Liadrin exclaimed, "What? He is Emperor Thoradin? Didn't he die long ago? Why is he here?"
Sylvanas was also very surprised.
Emperor Thoradin was the first emperor of the human empire, a figure equivalent to King Dath'Remar, who established Quel'Thalas back then.
2800 years ago, it was Emperor Thoradin who, despite much opposition, allied with the High Elves to defeat the troll armies of the Amani Empire.
It could be said that Thoradin is an eternal legend shared by both humans and High Elves.
Shouldn't such a person be buried in Stromgarde's underground mausoleum? How could he appear in such a remote place?
"Could the legend be true?" Sylvanas murmured to herself.
Legend has it that Emperor Thoradin enjoyed traveling in his later years and disappeared after his last journey, with no one knowing where he went.
Could his disappearance be related to Thoradin's Tomb?
"Anasterian's son?"
Emperor Thoradin was startled by the words, then glanced at the Flame Strike on Kael'thas's waist and nodded, "It truly is. How is he doing now? Let me see—he must be over three thousand years old by now, is he still alive?"
Kael'thas respectfully replied, "Thank you for your concern, Thoradin. Father King is in good health; living another tens of thousands of years is no problem."
Thoradin laughed heartily, "Tens of thousands of years? You High Elves aren't Night Elves; you can't live that long! But over three thousand years is truly enviable. We humans can only live a little over a hundred years at most."
He sighed wistfully, "With a short lifespan, there's no way to properly enjoy life, no way to travel the entire world. I really want to live another three thousand years!"
You also want to traverse thousands of miles of rivers and mountains, don't you... Kael'thas thought to himself.
"Tirisfal Guardians Tavad, greet the Emperor!" Tavad and the others quickly knelt, their expressions complex.
As humans, they grew up listening to the legendary stories of Emperor Thoradin; it could be said that this Emperor was a common idol for all humans.
Which man wouldn't want to become Emperor Thoradin?
Which woman wouldn't want to marry Emperor Thoradin?
Yet, as Tirisfal Guardians, they also harbored deep resentment towards Thoradin.
The decline of the Tirisfal Guardians and the transformation of this valley into a forbidden zone were all due to Emperor Thoradin.
You were doing so well as a king, why did you wander around everywhere?
You wandered, fine, but why did you wander to this godforsaken place?
You wandered here, fine, but why were you so curious, wanting to break into any tomb you saw and dismantle any seal you found? Are you a warrior or a rogue?
If it weren't for your meddling, you wouldn't be in this wretched state now!
"Alright, alright, everyone stand up. I don't like these formalities," Emperor Thoradin quickly waved his hand.
He wasn't particularly interested in being the Human Emperor or a king.
The reason he unified humanity back then was purely because he couldn't stand the various tribes constantly warring with each other.
Everyone belonged to the same race; what was the point of all the fighting and killing? They should unite against external threats!
Essentially, he was a warrior, an adventurer who loved to travel and explore scenic places.
So, once the situation stabilized and a qualified successor was chosen, he took like-minded subordinates and went around exploring and feasting.
Without the elaborate rituals and the headache-inducing state affairs, he felt like he was experiencing a second spring.
As for what happened afterward—an accident, purely an accident!
Who the hell would have thought that this godforsaken place, not only Tirisfal's burial ground, also sealed an ancient monster as powerful as Tirisfal!
"Oh? You are a Vrykul, aren't you? The ancestors of human ancestors? Tens of thousands of years have passed, are there still living Vrykul in this world?"
"Come, let me feel if your skin is made of steel. I've always wanted to know how something as hard as steel can be skin and allow movement. It's incredible!"
Emperor Thoradin looked at Igrim, rubbed his hands, eager to try.
But he didn't actually try, because Igrim's gaze at him was quite unfriendly.
If he were to actually touch him, he might just get cleaved in half by a sword and have his soul scattered.
Kael'thas asked curiously, "Thoradin, you still know about the Vrykul?"
Emperor Thoradin's face was full of pride, "Of course! Let me tell you, I am the first human explorer and archaeologist!"
"We traveled all over the continent of Lordaeron, and even went to the southern continent, exploring many ancient ruins and unearthing many artifacts and histories. A lot of the knowledge in your history books might even have been written by me!"
He laughed, "History is a good thing, a mirror of reality, a preview of the future. You must learn it!"
"You must study history well to live well in the present and embrace the future!"
Igrim stared at Emperor Thoradin, "You have Zakajz's aura on you. Is the broken seal related to you?"
Emperor Thoradin's face immediately fell, "I really don't want to mention that matter… Alright, alright, it was just a beautiful accident. Back then, we just wanted to go in to pay our respects to Tirisfal, to offer sacrifices…"
Tavad interrupted faintly, "There's a statue of Tirisfal outside the tomb; couldn't you have just offered your respects there? The ancestors didn't allow you to enter, but your people insisted on forcing their way in and even destroyed the seal!"
"History really isn't a good thing; it records all sorts of rubbish!"
Emperor Thoradin secretly thought, "Miscalculation," and stammered, "Can you blame me? Who made them—who made them insist on stopping us! And at that time, we sensed dark energy and suspected that something was wrong below! Yes, something was wrong!"
The more he spoke, the more confident he became, "If we hadn't gone in, how would we have known Zakajz wasn't dead? If we hadn't known, and it kept getting stronger down there, sooner or later it would have returned to its full power, and all humans would suffer!"
He looked at Kael'thas, "And you, High Elves, would also suffer! Dwarves and Gnomes would also suffer! All living beings would suffer! We saved the world!"
Kael'thas ignored him.
Tavad's mouth twitched, "Zakajz died, perishing with Lord Tirisfal back then! It was you who broke the seal, causing its resurrection! If the seal had been intact, nothing would have happened!"
Emperor Thoradin sneered, "How can you be so sure? Besides, the seal was already broken, just not as extensively, otherwise how would Zakajz's aura have leaked out?"
Tavad said in a deep voice, "Zakajz's seal was broken, but only because the Well of Eternity explosion ten thousand years ago created a small crack, a crack as small as a fingertip!"
"The bit of shadow energy that leaked out was constantly suppressed by Lord Tirisfal's Holy Light power and would not have had any effect on nearby living beings!"
"For tens of thousands of years after Lord Tirisfal's demise, no one in the entire Tirisfal Glades embraced the shadows!"
"But after you broke the seal, professions that use shadow energy appeared!"
Tavad said with bitter regret, "If the seal had been intact, there would be no rogues or Shadow Priests among humans!"
"Nor would there be Holy Priests; Tirisfal's Holy Light power was also released on a large scale because I broke the seal. The human Priest profession appeared because of me!" Emperor Thoradin retorted, refusing to yield.
"These two are still arguing…" Kael'thas really wanted to ask, how old are you two?
Especially you, Emperor Thoradin, you're over 2700 years old, yet you're still acting like a child. Did you unleash your true nature and return to childlike innocence after abdicating, perhaps?
"Gentlemen, let's resolve the problem below first," Kael'thas said.
"Alright, for Anasterian's sake, I'll give you face and won't bicker with a junior!"
Emperor Thoradin went with the flow, his old face slightly flushed.
Bickering with someone two thousand years his junior, and in front of so many people, was too embarrassing. He was quite pleased with the High Elf 's great-nephew for providing such a good exit.
Igrim asked, "What's the situation down there now?"
Tavad quickly replied, "Sir, I don't know! After the Emperor broke the seal, we were strictly forbidden from approaching this place, for fear that someone might be corrupted by the shadow energy and revive Zakajz. We know nothing about what's below."
If it weren't for outsiders intruding, he wouldn't have come here at all.
Igrim looked at Emperor Thoradin: "What about you? You've been down there all this time, you should know a lot, right?"
"Quite the opposite, I know even less."
Emperor Thoradin spread his hands helplessly: "As you can see, I'm currently filled with Zakajz's power, so I can't get too close to Zakajz. Otherwise, I'll be controlled by it, and I don't want to become a servant of darkness."
He had been struggling with Zakajz's will all this time, living a very difficult life, constantly oscillating between Light and shadow, walking on the edge of the abyss, where one misstep could lead him to fall into darkness.
Kael'thas asked curiously, "Thoradin, why don't you leave here and find a priest for help? They can cleanse the shadow from your body with Light."
"Because I can't leave!"
Thoradin sighed: "Here, I can still suppress the shadow with the abundant Light power of Thoradin's Tomb. Once I leave, I'll be devoured by shadow and become Zakajz's slave!"
He couldn't go in, nor could he leave!
For over two thousand years, he had been stuck here, without anyone to talk to.
Every day he hoped someone would come here to relieve his boredom and help him find a priest.
But the Tirisfal Guardians, not only did they not approach themselves, they also blockaded the entire valley, preventing outsiders from getting close!
Why did he argue with Tavad, regardless of his status?
Because he had been holding it in for over two thousand years, and now he just wanted to talk.
Because he had accumulated over two thousand years of resentment, and Tavad just happened to walk right into it!
Igrim said, "It seems we'll have to go down and see. Tavad, immediately gather all Tirisfal Guardians and follow me into Thoradin's Tomb to eliminate Zakajz and re-seal its body!"
Tavad stood motionless and whispered, "Sir, all Tirisfal Guardians are here."
Being a Tirisfal Guardian was too tough!
How many people could stand staying in this desolate place for their entire lives?
Over tens of thousands of years, whether it was the early Iron Vrykul, the mid-period Flesh Vrykul, or the later Humans, they all left, just like Emperor Thoradin, to explore the vast lands and enjoy life.
The Tirisfal Guardians' lineage had dwindled to just these dozen or so!
And he couldn't even blame them.
They also had a point: 'My ancestors have been Tirisfal Guardians for generations, guarding this tomb for hundreds of lifetimes. Can't I enjoy myself a little?'
Faith and steadfastness, if present, are certainly commendable; if absent, they should not be condemned!
Igrim was speechless.
With so few people, perhaps they could defeat Zakajz, but there was no way to seal the massive Thoradin's Tomb; it was such a huge place!
"Let's find some help."
Kael'thas said, "There's no need to fight alone. As long as there are enough Light users, there's no need to seal Thoradin's Tomb at all. We can completely purify Zakajz's power and turn this place into a land of Light!"
Zakajz was, after all, a Faceless One General, an entity on the same level as the Titan Guardians. Its status and power far surpassed that of the Blood God Hakkar and Igrim.
Although it had died once and its power was far from its peak, so many years had passed. Who knew to what extent it had recovered, and who knew if they could deal with it.
He certainly didn't want to risk his life!
Igrim glanced at Kael'thas, feeling that he was subtly mocking his past self, but he had no evidence.
Naturally, no one objected.
Kael'thas teleported to Lordaeron, arriving at the Light Cathedral, where he found High Priest Alonsus Faol and Quel'Thalas High Priest Vandellor, who were discussing the Path of Light.
"What? Thoradin's Tomb?"
"Zakajz? A servant of the Ancient Gods? It's still alive?"
Both were shocked, not expecting such a terrifying entity to be lurking so close to home.
It was too dangerous; it had to be eliminated!
"Your Highness, I will immediately dispatch the elites of the Light Cathedral and the Silver Hand Knights to accompany you to Thoradin's Tomb, to pay respects to Lord Tyr, and to eliminate Zakajz!" Alonsus Faol immediately pledged.
Vandellor also said, "Lordaeron has many priests, and also Sun Knights Paladins currently in training. I will gather them now, awaiting Your Highness's command."
Kael'thas smiled: "With High Elves and Humans working together, eliminating Zakajz won't be a problem."
He left the Light Cathedral and found Anduin Lothar, who was training Varian Wrynn.
"What, the ancestor is still alive?" Lothar was both surprised and delighted.
He was a direct descendant of Emperor Thoradin and knew that his ancestor had disappeared in his later years. Many people had been sent to search for him back then, but they couldn't find him. He never expected him to have gone to such a remote and desolate place.
His old ancestor could really run!
"I'll gather all the priests right away!" Lothar couldn't wait a second, acting decisively.
"I'll go too, I want to meet Emperor Thoradin!" Varian shouted. Afterwards, Kael'thas successively visited King Thoras, Admiral Daelin, King Genn, and Archmage Antonidas.
Two hours later, the leaders of the Seven Human Kingdoms gathered, and over a thousand priests and paladins from various nations all arrived at the plaza in front of the Light Cathedral.
Kael'thas opened a portal, and the grand army arrived in the valley, where they met Emperor Thoradin.
"Ancestor!"
"I am your descendant, Lothar!"
Lothar bowed down, introducing himself, his eyes welling up with tears of excitement.
"Good child, rise."
Emperor Thoradin looked at his descendant from over two thousand years later: "Are you the current King of Arathor? Good, very good, excellent! Strong physique, full of spirit, you have my demeanor from back then!"
He was very pleased with Lothar, because Lothar looked very much like him, almost identical!
This was the power of the Arathi bloodline, powerful atavism!
"Are these people behind you the high-ranking officials of the kingdom? Come, introduce them to me!"
Emperor Thoradin's gaze fell upon the leaders of the various nations, filled with anticipation.
However, as soon as he spoke, the atmosphere immediately became strange. Everyone was at a loss for words, so awkward that they could have dug out a castle with their toes.
Lothar cleared his throat and said, "Ancestor, the Arathor Empire ceased to exist long ago. It split into the current Seven Human Kingdoms."
Emperor Thoradin was stunned: "The Arathor Empire—it's gone?"
The leaders either bowed their heads or turned away, no one daring to meet Emperor Thoradin's gaze.
After all, it was their ancestors who split the Arathor Empire.
"Thoradin, actually the Arathor Empire didn't fall; rather, it... expanded! Its territory became the territory of the Seven Kingdoms, several times larger than it was back then. This is a good thing!"
"The foundation you laid has been greatly developed, and the footsteps of the humans you led have spread across the entire Eastern Continent. You should be happy!" Kael'thas comforted him.
"Alright, alright, I'm not a child. There's nothing I can't accept."
Emperor Thoradin waved his hand, "Human lifespans are short, so the dynasties they establish are naturally short-lived. This is normal. I'm a student of history, and I'm very clear about this pattern!"
The ancient Night Elf Empire had a long reign because the Night Elves themselves had long lifespans, living for tens of thousands of years was not an issue.
Quel'Thalas has been established for seven thousand years because its people can live for several millennia, and even now, there have only been a few generations.
An empire established by short-lived races like humans is doing quite well if it can last a few hundred years.
At these words, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, Thoradin was open-minded, otherwise, it would have been very troublesome.
If this Human Emperor were to rally the people, coupled with Anduin Lothar's influence, it wouldn't be impossible to reunite humanity. Anduin Lothar's influence in the Stormwind Kingdom was far greater than that of the young King Varian!
With the prestige and ability of these two, using the Stormwind Kingdom's exiled government as a base, conquering the Six Kingdoms would truly be no challenge.
Back then, Emperor Thoradin only took six years, and with just one clan, he unified humanity. He could do the same now.
Emperor Thoradin asked, "So now, who can tell me the history after my death? I know nothing about the current world."
He was still thinking of continuing his great dream of traveling and exploring after eliminating Zakajz, so understanding the current situation was definitely the right move.
And he really wanted to know how those unfilial descendants managed to lose the empire!
Everyone looked down, pretending not to hear.
How else could the empire have fallen?
Of course, it was their ancestors who did it!
"Thoradin, let me tell you." Kael'thas recounted the knowledge from the textbooks.
Thoradin's expression constantly changed. Many times he wanted to say something, but in the end, he remained silent, only letting out a long sigh.
What could he say?
After humans defeated the Forest Trolls, they lost their greatest enemy, and their territory continuously expanded. The royal family's control naturally weakened, which was inevitable.
It wouldn't be swayed by human will!
The kingdom's sailors sailed across the ocean and discovered the island of Kul Tiras. They only managed to establish a foothold after repeated efforts of reclamation and battles, and they rightfully deserved ownership of that territory.
Moreover, Kul Tiras had never truly established itself as a nation; it had always been the territory of four major families. Even the nominal ruler, the head of the Proudmoore family, had never called himself King, but rather Grand Admiral.
The head of the Proudmoore family had always been the Grand Admiral of the Arathor Empire!
Dalaran was an independent city belonging to mages from the very beginning. Even now, it remains a city-state, operating under a council system, and successive Speakers have never called themselves King!
Stromgarde was located in the Arathi Highlands, a resource-poor area, far inferior to other regions. Nobles flocked to Lordaeron in the north, which was originally their territory. What did they do wrong?
As Stromgarde gradually declined, the Arathi bloodline voluntarily abandoned Stromgarde and traveled thousands of miles south to establish the Stormwind Kingdom.
This was their own choice; what did it have to do with others?
After the Arathi bloodline and many nobles left, it was the Thoras family who took on the important task of revitalizing Stromgarde. It was they who prevented that ancient human capital from falling into ruin. They only had merit, not fault!
In fact, it was the Arathi bloodline who first established the Stormwind Kingdom, and only then did Lordaeron, Alterac, Stromgarde, and other nations declare independence.
The various families never betrayed the Arathi bloodline!
Even when the Arathi bloodline lost the throne of the Stormwind Kingdom, leading to the Uryen family's ascension, it was because a certain king was truly incompetent.
The Uryen family, on the other hand, took on the responsibility in a crisis, preserving the kingdom during an enemy invasion. The throne should rightfully be theirs!
In short, the fall of Arathor was nobody's fault; it could only be blamed on his descendants being too weak!
"Forget it, forget it. It's all in the past, let's not talk about it anymore."
Emperor Thoradin forcefully changed the subject, "Kael'thas, what did you just say? An Orc invasion? They killed many people and occupied almost half of the human territory? And they formed the Horde by uniting with the Forest Trolls and Goblins? Tell me the details of what happened!"
Kael'thas nodded, "That's right."
An hour later, Emperor Thoradin was furious: "The Stormwind Kingdom was invaded by Orcs, and the other nations actually didn't send troops to help? The Horde invaded the Arathi Highlands, and Lordaeron didn't go to their rescue? Where is the King of Lordaeron?"
"He didn't come," Kael'thas said.
He had indeed invited Terenas, but Terenas refused, citing old age and infirmity.
Of course, that was an excuse. The real reason was: the old king disliked Kael'thas and flatly refused to follow his arrangements!
Moreover, as the overlord of the Eastern Continent and the leader of the Alliance, Terenas really didn't want to meet Emperor Thoradin, otherwise, would he bow or not bow?
"Hmph, only concerned with political maneuvering and balance, completely disregarding the bigger picture. What kind of king is that?" Emperor Thoradin angrily rebuked.
He also engaged in political maneuvering, otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to unify humanity and establish the Arathor Empire.
But he knew even more what the bigger picture was. Back then, it was he who, against all opposition, allied with the High Elves, defeated the Forest Trolls, and laid the foundation for a thousand years of human prosperity.
Compared to him, that… Terenas Menethil was far inferior!
Everyone secretly chuckled, feeling a thrill.
Lordaeron had dominated the Eastern Continent for a thousand years, and they had long been displeased. They were happy whenever anyone cursed Terenas.
To hear Emperor Thoradin's scolding, this trip was not in vain!
Alonsus Faol, Uther, and others were different; they were all restless, as they hailed from Lordaeron.
"Forget it, forget it, let's not talk about him, it's a mood killer."
"Fortunately, the High Elves honored their ancient alliance and won several battles. The overall situation is still good now," Emperor Thoradin said.
Even though the Arathor Empire had fallen, the High Elves still honored their alliance, which was truly remarkable. Who would normally do that?
Kael'thas was beaming. His efforts these past days had finally been praised, and by Emperor Thoradin no less. He felt incredibly good inside.
Not only did he feel good, but he would also gain practical benefits:
The reason he specifically called Lothar, who was neither a Paladin nor a Priest, to meet Emperor Thoradin and acknowledge their kinship, was for a purpose.
Showing favor to Lothar was equivalent to showing favor to the Stormwind Kingdom, which would greatly benefit his future plans in the South!
"Thoradin, everyone is here now, let's begin," Kael'thas said.
Emperor Thoradin said, "Although I have been to Thoradin's Tomb, I don't know much about it. Furthermore, there were no Priests or Paladins back then, and I knew nothing about the Holy Light, so I didn't know how to use it against Zakajz."
He had desperately stabbed Zakajz with a sword back then, but only managed to severely wound it, not kill it.
Thoradin looked at Igrim: "Thoradin's Tomb was built by you and your people, and Zakajz was sealed by you. Please take command."
Alonsus Faol placed his hand over his heart and bowed respectfully: "Esteemed Igrim, you are a champion of Thoradin. All Priests and I are your juniors, and we will all follow your command!"
Uther also quickly bowed: "The Silver Hand Knights obey your will!"
Leaders from various nations and major powers also offered their pledges.
Igrim nodded: "Good."
He carefully observed the surrounding situation, diligently sensed the power of the Holy Light and the Shadow, and gained a general understanding of the current situation:
"Thoradin's Tomb has been occupied by the Ancient Gods' minions. We must go in and eliminate them, retrieve Thoradin's weapon, and only then can we purify this area."
Thoradin's weapon?
Alonsus Faol quickly asked: "Are you referring to the legendary Silver Hand War Hammer?"
Igrim nodded: "In ancient times, Thoradin and the five Dragon Aspects, who were not yet Dragon Aspects then, joined forces to kill the Progenitor Dragon Galakrond. One of Thoradin's hands was bitten off, and his war hammer was also damaged.
"After the war, the Titan Jotun forged a Silver Hand for Thoradin and reforged his war hammer. That war hammer was also called the Silver Hand."
Uther and the others were thrilled: "Thoradin's war hammer is in the tomb?"
Igrim said: "After Thoradin passed away, we built his mausoleum here, set up a seal, and sealed Thoradin and Zakajz together inside. The core of the seal is the Silver Hand."
The Silver Hand contains a portion of Thoradin's protective power.
In terms of Holy Light power alone, it is far above the defender of truth and the oathbinder!
Of course, this does not mean that the Silver Hand is more powerful than Liadrin's sword and shield; their functions are somewhat different.
Liadrin's sword and shield are suitable for combat and protection, while the Silver Hand is suitable for purification and healing.
Kael'thas asked: "The entrance to Thoradin's Tomb is at the bottom of the lake, isn't it?"
Igrim said: "That's right. The internal space of Thoradin's Tomb is limited and cannot accommodate so many people, so I can only take a select group of elites inside. These individuals must be powerful enough, preferably masters of the Holy Light, and no more than ten people."
Too many people would hinder their movements.
Liadrin quickly volunteered: "I'll go!"
Carrying the weapon bestowed by Thoradin, she had a responsibility to protect his tomb and purify the evil and darkness within.
High Priest Vandellor said: "Igrim, I'll go too."
Among everyone present, he had the deepest understanding of the Holy Light and had walked the furthest on the path of the Holy Light.
Alonsus Faol said: "Uther, Turalyon, Tirion, Saidan, Gavinrad, the five of you will accompany me."
As the Grand Archbishop of Lordaeron and even the entire human race, he had to participate in such an important matter.
He had many high-ranking Priests under him, but Priests were not good at combat after all; the five Paladins were more suitable.
Lothar said: "Zakajz was released by my ancestors. As a descendant, I certainly cannot shrink back."
If he didn't go in, Emperor Thoradin probably wouldn't agree, and there was an artifact inside that he needed to inherit.
Kael'thas smiled: "Then count me in. That makes exactly ten people."
He was the one who sponsored this situation, so there was no reason for him not to go. Moreover, among everyone, he had the strongest raw power.
Igrim instructed: "The others will gather around the great lake to summon the Holy Light, suppress the Shadow power, and weaken Zakajz's strength. This will help our operation."
Everyone quickly agreed.
Igrim led the way, and the group of ten, plus the ghost of Emperor Thoradin, all dived to the bottom of the lake, where they indeed saw a passage.
They passed through the passage and arrived at Thoradin's Tomb, seeing the tomb door wide open, with a large number of Shadow creatures occupying the inside and outside.
Writhing flesh, swaying tentacles, pulsating eyeballs—each one more unsettling than the last; ordinary people would lose their minds at a single glance.
Seeing people approach, all these creatures charged forward.
Kael'thas's gaze passed over these small fry, falling on a massive creature in front of the tomb door.
It was a bipedal fleshy creature with octopus tentacles, standing over four meters tall, with an indescribable face, emitting legendary-level Shadow energy fluctuations.
"En'laraki, a Faceless One!"
Igrim's eyes blazed with brilliant Holy Light: "The minions of the Ancient Gods have indeed defiled Thoradin's Tomb! Strange, where did it come from?"
Tirisfal Glades was neither Northrend nor Silithus, let alone Pandaria and the Great Sea. It was thousands of kilometers away from the prisons of the four Ancient Gods, so how could a Faceless One appear?
The Titan prisons were still intact; the Ancient Gods' reach couldn't extend this far!
"It should have split off from Zakajz, and all the other Shadow creatures are the same," Kael'thas guessed.
Liadrin asked curiously: "En'laraki? Your Highness, are these Faceless One En'laraki? What is En'laraki?"
"During the ancient Dark Empire era, the bodies of the Ancient Gods split into two major races: one was the cunning and agile En'laraki, and the other was the Aki Insect Race with astonishing strength and adaptability."
"Most of the Aki Insect Race were the lower class, equivalent to farmers, laborers, and soldiers, responsible for construction, expansion, and war, with extremely strong reproductive capabilities."
"En'laraki, also known as Faceless One, belonged to the management class. They were few in number, with massive bodies and formidable minds. Even the weakest Faceless One was a legendary creature, extremely difficult to deal with."
"The strongest among the Faceless One were called Klaxxi, generally serving as high-ranking military officers, all of them at the demigod level."
Kael'thas explained: "Zakajz is a Klaxxi. If the Ancient Gods can split off Klaxxi, then Klaxxi might also be able to split off ordinary Faceless One, and Faceless One might then split off those weaker Shadow creatures."
"A demigod? The demigod we ultimately have to deal with?" Liadrin was greatly surprised.
I'm fighting a demigod? Really?
The most standard demigods were the Wild Gods close to the Night Elves.
And the demigods they had dealt with were the loa gods.
Of course, not all loa gods were demigod-level; only the most powerful among them were, such as the four in Zul'Aman, and the spider god Shadra and the blood god Hakkar.
However, they had only encountered loa avatars, not true demigods, and those were already very difficult to deal with.
How powerful would a true demigod be?
"Klaxxi also vary in strength. Weaker Klaxxi are equivalent to ordinary Wild Gods or loa gods, while powerful Klaxxi possess the strength of high-tier demigods, on par with Malorne the White Stag, Dragon Aspects, and Elemental Lords."
Kael'thas said: "Zakajz is one of the most powerful Klaxxi. He and another Klaxxi, Kihixes, jointly hunted Thoradin, forcing Thoradin to self-destruct. They only managed to kill Zakajz, who was specifically targeted at the time, but Kihixes escaped."
After Kihixes escaped, it went to the distant Zandalar Mountains, where it recuperated and found and controlled a group of Aki Insect Race, establishing the vast Azj'Aqir Empire and going to war with the "Zul Empire," which had unified the Trolls at the time.
The Trolls, who were already one of the world's dominant powers, gathered all their forces, summoned all the loa gods, and paid an extremely heavy price to severely wound Kihixes again.
The once mighty Zul Empire never recovered, subsequently fractured, and lost its dominant position.
The Amani Tribe, one of the three most powerful tribes at the time, was responsible for pursuing Kihixes, chasing it all the way to the distant northeast,
only finally killing it there. They then built a city at its death site, which later became Zul'Aman.
Zakajz and Kihixes were equivalent.
The strength of either of them far surpassed that of an ordinary demigod!
Liadrin was stunned: "We're not just fighting a demigod, we're fighting a high-tier demigod comparable to a Dragon Aspect?"
Kael'thas comforted her: "Don't worry, Zakajz wasn't as lucky as Kihixes. It was killed once by Thoradin, then severely wounded by Thoradin, and it has also split off so many Shadow creatures. Its strength is definitely far from what it once was, probably only equivalent to an ordinary demigod now."
Zakajz was trapped deep underground, unable to move, which is why it split off these Shadow creatures, sending them to destroy the seal of Thoradin's Tomb and thus escape.
If left unchecked, in another ten or twenty years, when the seal was completely destroyed, Zakajz would surely break free.
Liadrin: "....—"
A demigod is still very difficult to deal with, okay? None of us here are demigods!
As the two conversed, the battle had already begun.