"Aside from bringing me good news, does Her Highness the Princess have any tasks for me to perform?"
Empress Shek'zeer looked like a giant mantis, though her body was covered in many unknown runic tattoos that emitted a unique Arcane aura. When speaking with the Princess, she was always direct; the Mantid did not play at schemes or intrigue.
Shandris didn't feel any embarrassment; they were old acquaintances, and she had even ridden a Mantid mount before, though they were a bit noisy.
"We intend to help our allies clear out some disobedient Troggs. Since it involves underground combat, we need your help. Dispatch an army of ten thousand; we will take care of the logistics."
"Your Highness, the swarm currently has five hundred thousand soldiers ready for battle. Would dispatching one hundred thousand warriors be sufficient?"
"Isn't that a bit too many? Aunt Maiev, what do you think?"
[Remember this site's domain name. To read Taiwan novels, come to twkan.com. Excellent site!]
Maiev clicked her tongue in amazement upon hearing that. She hadn't expected a place like Thousand Needles to support so many Mantid. If they were given more territory—say, occupying the nearby Un'Goro Crater and Feralas—wouldn't they number in the millions?
"One hundred thousand it is. It just so happens the Southern Wetlands also need work to begin. Send fifty thousand warriors and fifty thousand laborers."
She was thinking of doing Onyxia a favor. Wasn't the other woman planning to excavate a new trade zone? With so many Mantid helping, she wouldn't be able to complain about a lack of manpower anymore!
Shek'zeer didn't reply, simply staring at Shandris with her huge eyes. She didn't care about Maiev's status; until her master acknowledged her, allowing her into the Royal Court was already showing great face.
Only the master's direct relatives had the authority to mobilize their troops; everyone else was out of the question, even if Azshara herself arrived. She could come as a guest, but she could not command them.
The five hundred thousand soldiers here were all elites, and a portion of them had already reached the strength of Paragons, sealed and preserved within Amber. Only when they were needed would the Council unseal them.
Unlike their distant southern cousins, the Qiraji, who followed a strategy of infinite swarming, the Mantid followed the path of the elite.
Firstly, it was due to territorial limitations, and secondly, there was no need for unlimited expansion. They were simply responsible for standing by and waiting for their master's return. If they wanted to surge their numbers, they could do so at any time, but there was currently no need.
"Then it's settled. You get ready, and I'll go notify Aunt Jaina to send people to open a portal."
Shandris didn't act like a stranger at all. In her mind, it would be best to take half of them; twenty thousand elite Mantid would be enough to steamroll those so-called Troggs.
Such extravagance and overwhelming force—Maiev had never fought such a 'wealthy' war in her life. The Mantid reproduced quickly and matured fast, though their lifespans were somewhat short, not much longer than a human's.
Jaina also hadn't expected an agreement to be reached so quickly. These were likely the private soldiers her husband had arranged, right?
If they weren't personal property, there wouldn't be such efficiency. They probably hadn't even negotiated terms; the troops were dispatched with a single command. This mode of operation was a bit cold, but it was certainly effective.
A day later, Jaina personally led the Lordaeron Royal Mage Corps to New Tinkertown, the camp outside Gnomeregan, to begin setting up a large-scale portal to bring the Mantid forces over.
As an Archmage herself, she was joined by the mother-daughter duo of Jandice and Ilucia, as well as Amora. A total of four Archmages took the field personally. The other mages acted as assistants; some were trained by Lordaeron, others were refugees from Dalaran, and some were Blood Elves.
As mana was injected, a portal began to open. The twisting fluctuations stabilized after the initial tremors, and at that moment, Maiev and Shandris could be seen on the other side, along with the terrifying Mantid warriors behind them.
"My goodness, what kind of monsters are these?"
"Shh, Mothrad, please take back those words. This is the Lordaeron Allied Force; they are our allies, not monsters!"
"Everyone move aside and let the allied forces through. The Alliance has expressed understanding of our plight and has sent a large force to help us reclaim our home. Please do not cause trouble. If you encounter any problems, report back to me, and I will ensure a satisfactory answer for everyone!"
High Tinker Mekkatorque was still explaining the precautions to his displaced compatriots. The arrival of the allied forces would inevitably break some things, but they could be rebuilt; there was no need for conflict.
With streamlined torsos, arms ending in sharp scythe-like appendages, and mantis heads, they had a bipedal humanoid appearance. One wasn't much, but as the numbers grew, the sight of these dense, terrifying insects was enough to make one's skin crawl.
Mekkatorque also watched with a racing heart; this was far too frightening! Fortunately, they were allies. Otherwise, if he had to lead his people to eliminate these Mantid, he was certain he would have nightmares at night!
Transporting the army alone would take a full day, but fortunately, the vanguard didn't just stand around waiting. After tasting the local captive cattle, sheep, and pigs, these Mantid began their work.
Despite the Gnomes being only half the height of a person, the height of the underground city they built was somewhat exaggerated, often exceeding ten meters. Logically, their height didn't require it.
After the High Tinker explained, it became clear that the reason for such large tunnels was entirely due to the need for transporting materials. Mechanical transport required such height and width; not a fraction less would do.
In addition to train transport, they also needed to allow flying machines to pass. These flying machines were primitive propeller planes, very similar to early modern aircraft. Rather than relying on other primordial forces for power, Gnomes preferred to trust their own hands.
Through Engineering, they could create powerful machines to help them with all kinds of labor, easily lifting objects hundreds or thousands of times their own weight.
The wide passages were perfect for large numbers of Mantid troops to pass through. In the Upper City, the defensive barriers set up by the Gnomes were still visible. On the periphery were Troggs, who were about the same height and strength as Dwarves, though compared to the ruggedness of Dwarves, these Troggs looked more like defective products.
They possessed twice the strength of a dwarf and were quite hideous, their faces covered in many pockmarks and spots that were quite nauseating to look at.
Their hands were not five-fingered but sharp claws, a design more convenient for digging underground tunnels. Their bodies were also covered in a layer of rock armor, which could effectively resist the firearms and bombs the Gnomes specialized in.
As soon as the two forces made contact, the Mantid warriors, under the screeching commands of their captains, emitted bone-chilling cries that made one's skin crawl. The stationed Gnomish guards were startled; had they not been notified in advance, they likely would have opened fire on them immediately.
Cross Slash!
Scythe-like arms swung out rapidly. Utilizing the momentum of their flight, they easily sliced through the layer of rock armor, cutting the Troggs in half!
Even as they lay on the ground, bisected, the Troggs still hissed at the Mantid, struggling to crawl up and desperate to tear apart any living creature. If they didn't still have life signs, one would have thought they were undead rather than living beings.
The Troggs were fearless in the face of death, but the Mantid were no pushovers either; they were natural-born warriors. Having undergone training and slaughter, facing these Troggs who relied only on brute force was not exactly easy, but at least there wasn't much pressure.
"Please be careful. The Troggs in the upper layers aren't that strong; the further down you go, the stronger they become."
"And once they realize they can't win, they will immediately flee further down."
Mekkatorque watched the Mantid slaughtering in all directions, his joy and excitement visible on his face. He sent people to lead the way while explaining his experience in fighting the Troggs.
Vereesa had just brought the ranger units in when she saw the corridors piled high with the bisected corpses of Troggs. It was a gruesome sight, with nowhere even to step.
"This is a bit too much. We'll have to clear a path."
They truly were Old God Creations, born for battle. While the upper levels were still being cleared of corpses, the Mantid vanguard had already reached the middle levels and begun a fierce battle with the Troggs there.
Many Troggs died, but Mantid losses also began to appear. Just as High Tinker Mekkatorque had said, the Troggs further down were stronger. It was unknown if the weaklings on the upper levels were bullied and pushed up by their kin; did the stronger Troggs prefer living deeper underground?
"Let the Gnolls and Kobolds go in; they're experts at clearing roads. Grommash, you lead the vanguard. Make sure to protect the Priests. I'll take the rangers and mages to support you from the rear. Remember to act with caution; don't mess up here. If my brother-in-law returns and sees his trusted general injured, he'll surely give me trouble!"
Vereesa deliberately mentioned Arthas to the Orc Chieftain of the Warsong Clan so that he would follow orders. Only by bringing up her brother-in-law could she keep him in check; otherwise, he was truly difficult to talk to.
However, she was overthinking it. Grommash was single-minded, not stubborn, and certainly not a fool. Knowing the identity of the beautiful Elf before him, he would have to be truly stupid to act out.
"We will fight however the General commands. Whoever blocks Lordaeron's path, I will split them in two with my axe!"
Grommash even brandished the battle-axe in his hand. Who would have thought this thick-browed, big-eyed fellow had also learned to flatter? Where was the arrogance he had when first invading Azeroth? He had been almost completely domesticated.
As could be seen from his refusal to follow Thrall's New Horde, the living conditions in Lordaeron were too good. No matter where he went, he was working; why not work for a good boss?
Moreover, there were things he hadn't said to Thrall, and Thrall likely knew them but simply hadn't faced the facts. That was, Orcs were not easily accepted. Wanting to form an alliance with other races to build a new capital was not that simple; before long, they would leave in disgrace.
"Boys, show those shorties the power of the Warsong Clan!"
"Roar! For Lordaeron! For the Alliance!"
Watching a group of Orcs raising their weapons and shouting 'For the Alliance' felt somewhat surreal.
Speaking of Arthas, Vereesa also felt it had been a long time since they last met, and she wondered how her brother-in-law was doing. When she hadn't seen him for a while, she missed him dearly, but when they actually met face-to-face, she didn't know what to say.
Perhaps this was the hazy feeling of an awakening affection; missing him when he was gone, but not knowing what to do when they met. It was quite a dilemma.
The front lines advanced in an orderly fashion. After seeing that there were no issues, Jaina prepared to return to the City of Hope. She had many administrative affairs to handle and had to plan her husband's coronation ceremony; she couldn't be like some people who neglected their duties to wander around.
One month later.
Arthas emerged from the Aelin Rift, officially becoming a demigod rather than a pseudo-god who only had half a foot in the demigod ranks.
As soon as he came out, he encountered the Raven Goddess Aviana, who was still wearing the same revealing bikini set. She circled him twice and reached out to pat his shoulder.
"Not bad. Congratulations. I thought you might get lost in the nightmare, but fortunately, you're fine."
"Were you worried about me?"
"Of course. Once I'm resurrected, I'll invite you to my domain as a guest and treat you well."
The two talked and laughed. It was normal for demigods to have mutual goodwill; it didn't mean they wanted to jump into bed immediately. It was more an eye of appreciation—more than friends, but not quite lovers. It could develop toward friendship or toward love; it was ambiguous.
"No problem. I'll remember your affairs once I'm out. Don't worry."
Arthas smiled. Getting to know these demigods again was a very good harvest from this trip. As they returned to the physical plane, they would more or less have descendants, and building good relations was not a bad thing for him.
He left the Emerald Dream and returned once more to the physical plane.
Looking at the unpolluted blue sky and white clouds, Arthas felt as if a lifetime had passed. He had spent less than two months in the Emerald Dream, yet he already felt this way. It was hard to imagine how those Wild Gods felt after staying there for ten thousand years; would their mental state have issues?
A horn appeared in his hand. He infused it with mana and blew it hard. Ripples spread out through the Ley Lines across Azeroth, reaching far and wide—from the sky to the deep sea, descending thousands of meters to a massive city surrounded by coral.
On a soft bed of white jade and magical ice crystals, Queen Azshara was leaning against a thick shark-skin cushion, lazily reading archaeological books. These were various accounts written by dwarf adventurers keen on exploring ruins.
When the magical ripples reached the Eternal Palace, her originally lazy eyes immediately became crystal clear, and her tall frame trembled slightly.
Since accompanying Shandris to Lordaeron, she had returned to the Eternal Palace the next day, her form becoming increasingly unstable. The Old God Power she had been granted was already at its limit; if she didn't find a way soon, she might truly turn into a Naga.
With a wave of her jade hand, an exquisite and magnificent staff inlaid with Arcane pearls began to float.
Closing her eyes, her eyelashes still fluttering, the long-awaited excitement caused even her spellcasting to fluctuate. She bit the tip of her tongue, letting the pain stimulate her mind into calmness. She began casting to open a specific portal, and as the portal slowly took shape, she saw the figure of her long-lost lover.
Arthas stepped through the portal. Looking at that beautiful face, identical to how it was ten thousand years ago, ripples rose in his heart. He raised his hand and shared his divine power with Azshara to help stabilize her form. Her body, which had been flickering between Elf and Naga, gradually became stable.
"I'm back, wife."
"I know, husband."