Aviana, the Mother of All Birds, was one of the Wild Gods residing on Mount Hyjal. She nested at the very peak of G'Hanir, the Mother Tree of the world of Azeroth.
Rumor had it that Aviana was a messenger dispatched to the physical world by Elune. During the War of the Ancients, she relied on her unparalleled flight speed to traverse between the demigods and the mortal armies to deliver intelligence.
Andreas did not know if this legend was true, and Elune had never mentioned it to him. However, in a world where true gods existed, he preferred to believe in such possibilities; using a respectful title would at least avoid causing offense.
Aviana slowly flapped her snow-white wings. Sensing Andreas' respectful attitude, she nodded pleasantly and asked, "Greetings, Andreas. Are you a reinforcement from the main camp in the rear? Why are you alone?"
Andreas, who was just about to ask for Malfurion's whereabouts, froze. For a moment, he couldn't grasp the meaning behind Aviana's words.
Seeing the bewildered expression on the Golden Eagle's face, Aviana's originally gentle expression gradually turned stern.
"Did you not receive the notification I sent via my children?"
"Notification? No."
Andreas seemed to sense something was wrong. While answering Aviana, he looked down toward the frontline camp below.
In his imagination, this vanguard camp—which gathered multiple demigods and their respective kin—should have been as lively as a safari park. But at this moment, the dense forest was quiet. It was unnervingly silent.
"Excuse me, please allow me to land first."
Apologizing to Aviana, the Golden Eagle descended into the woods, and Aviana followed closely behind with a pursed lip.
Upon landing and shifting back from his flight form to his Night Elf form, Andreas scanned the surroundings with a heavy heart.
There were only a small number of Night Elf logistics personnel and wounded soldiers remaining in the vanguard camp. High-level combatants like the demigods and Malfurion were nowhere to be seen.
Combining this with the information Aviana had just revealed, a bad premonition arose in Andreas' heart.
"What exactly is going on? Did the main camp truly receive no news at all?"
Andreas rubbed his brow in frustration. "Lady Aviana, I must trouble you to keep it brief and explain the situation. I suspect the Burning Legion has set a trap for the vanguard."
...
As Andreas reached the frontline camp to investigate, over a hundred kilometers to the west of the camp, clouds of dust rose as the earth shook.
Led by several massive leaders charging at the front, a large pack of "wild animals" howled as they launched an assault against the demonic battle lines ahead.
At the head of the charge, a male creature with a humanoid upper body and the lower body of a stag opened his arms and roared, "Defilers of the forest, filthy demons! Feel the wrath of nature!"
A vibrant emerald light surged from his hands. The surrounding forest seemed to answer his call.
Towering ancient trees pulled their thick roots from the earth one after another, transforming and rising amidst the rustling sound of friction between leaves.
These super-enhanced Ancient Protectors swung their newly formed wooden arms, smashing heavily down into the demonic ranks.
Boom!
The sheer force caused the ground to vibrate momentarily. Taking advantage of the Ancient Protectors drawing and disrupting the Burning Legion's rhythm, a giant boar covered in purple runes and thorny vines charged from the rear of the demigod line, letting out a world-shaking snort.
Using the two sharp tusks protruding from the corners of its mouth as weapons, the giant boar crashed into the Burning Legion's position like a heavy tank.
The powerful impact sent large groups of demons flying into the air along its path, followed by thick hooves that mercilessly trampled them into meat paste.
Under the command of several Eredar sorcerers, the Burning Legion focused their fire on this reckless boar. However, their attacks seemed to yield no results; those who attempted melee combat were even injured by the thorns entwined around the boar's body.
"Well done, Agamaggan!"
Two giant bears followed at a slightly slower pace. They burst into the enemy lines through the gap opened by the Boar God Agamaggan. Relying on their tough fur and sharp claws, they expanded the breach in the Burning Legion's formation from the left and right.
The catastrophic scene left the Burning Legion's vanguard in shambles, yet Archimonde, watching from afar by the Well of Eternity, still stood calmly with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Hmph... as expected, they have come."
"Mannoroth, you shall serve as the vanguard general. Magtheridon, Kazzlo'gal, Hakkar, and Kazzak shall assist you. Eliminate them!"
Archimonde reached out with a blue finger to scratch the fleshy tendrils on his chin, smiling sinisterly. "As long as we destroy this group of Azeroth's most powerful demigods, the remaining mortals will be of no concern."
A massive four-legged demon, similar in size to Agamaggan, beat its chest heavily, a proud expression appearing on its hideous and ugly face.
"Please leave it to me, Lord Archimonde!"
...
Although the demigod army was cutting through the enemy lines like a hot knife through butter, Malfurion, commanding from the rear, felt an inexplicable sense of irritability.
The mortal Archdruid, whose hair and beard were entirely green, had transformed into a purple Stormcrow, gazing at the battle ahead from high in the sky.
"Something is wrong. The Burning Legion's resistance is too weak. They seem to be intentionally luring us deeper into the battlefield."
Malfurion began to regret leaving Aviana behind at the frontline camp to meet the main army. Now, the demigods were leading their respective kin deep into the enemy lines, and the connection between them was growing weaker.
This was the greatest drawback of the demigods' coordinated operations. Each demigod was full of pride and self-confidence; they were unwilling to lower themselves to cooperate with others, mostly fighting their own battles.
Usually, when Jarod was in command at the front, he would use the demigod messenger Aviana to relay further orders to the charging demigods. But at this moment, Malfurion did not have that luxury.
"Damn it, has my concern for Tyrande blinded my calm and reason?"
The Stormcrow that Malfurion had become flapped its wings angrily. As the sound of breaking air echoed, he personally flew toward the front lines to deliver messages. His first target was his respected mentor, Cenarius.
Within the mortal ranks of the vanguard, a strange green-skinned creature and another short, red-haired man exchanged glances. Both saw worry in each other's eyes.
The green-skinned male, who wore his pale hair in a high ponytail, asked hesitantly, "Rhonin, could we have fallen into a Burning Legion trap?"
The red-haired man smiled bitterly and spread his hands. "Though I hate to admit it, it's likely the case. Broxigar, prepare yourself. This battle is going to be incredibly difficult."
"Hmph!"
The elderly man called Broxigar showed a fierce battle intent. He hoisted the oak battle-axe flowing with natural energy onto his shoulder and said excitedly, "That suits me perfectly. Perhaps today is the moment of glory I have long sought."
"No... I don't think this battle will be the final showdown. You should save your strength."