The range provided by Onyxia was relatively broad; the Blue Dragon suspected to be Malygos was not necessarily perched exactly in the Wetlands.
Possibilities included regions that were currently sparsely populated, such as Dun Morogh, Loch Modan, and the Badlands.
As for the area north of the Arathi Highlands, that was the territory of the Forest Trolls. Even if Malygos were out of his mind, he likely wouldn't go looking for Trolls to play wrestling matches for no reason.
The Forest Trolls of this era were not the weaklings they would become thousands of years later after being "neutered" by the alliance of Humans and High Elves. Large swaths of land in the northern Eastern Kingdoms had been their ancestral home for generations.
Aside from a small number of Vrykuls residing in Tirisfal Glades, following and watching over the Tomb of Tyr, the northern Eastern Kingdoms were almost entirely controlled by the Amani Empire.
Similarly, a vast territory centered around Zul'Gurub in the southern Eastern Kingdoms currently belonged to the Gurubashi Empire of the Jungle Trolls.
Until the emergence and rise of Humans—the degenerated descendants of the Vrykul—it was difficult for any mortal race to shake the Trolls' dominance in the Eastern Kingdoms, the former overlords of the world.
And it wasn't just the Eastern Kingdoms; even Kalimdor, the home of the Night Elves, had areas of Troll activity.
Since Eldre'Thalas was persuaded by Andreas to rejoin mainstream Night Elven society, the gradually opening Shen'dralar had accepted Andreas's commission to send scouts to survey the areas surrounding Feralas.
Aside from the Tauren, who bordered Feralas and maintained a certain degree of trade and cooperation with the Night Elves, the Shen'dralar first explored the Thousand Needles to the east, which was also directly accessible by land.
The Shen'dralar exploration team crossed the harsh stone needle terrain and headed south, entering the great Tanaris Desert from the Shimmering Flats, which were full of salt flats.
It was here that the Shen'dralar encountered the Night Elves' old rivals—the Trolls.
Zul'Farrak, the capital of the Sandfury Trolls, was once a branch of the Gurubashi Empire. Thousands of years ago, Tanaris had been a lush jungle region.
Several millennia ago, a large portion of the southern territory of ancient Kalimdor, including Pandaria, was ruled by a powerful and brutal Mogu Emperor named Lei Shen.
Even the Trolls, who held a dominant position across the continent at the time, did not dare ignore the might of the Mogu Empire. After multiple frictions and probings, both sides formed a surface alliance, each harboring their own hidden agendas.
In the late period of Lei Shen's reign, the Emperor, believing he had inherited the orthodox power of the Titan Keepers, grew increasingly arrogant and began to lay hands on the Forge of Origination built in the southern part of ancient Kalimdor.
The Titan Keepers had built the Forge of Origination to regulate the pulsations deep within Azeroth's earth and to strengthen and accelerate the shaping of the World-Soul.
But the Forge had another mission just as important as helping the Keepers shape the land and maintaining the healthy growth of the World-Soul.
When the Observer dispatched by the Titans deemed the dark forces on Azeroth to be excessive, such that the parasitic Old Gods could no longer be purged through self-purification, the Observer would send a report to the Titans. The Pantheon would then remotely activate the Forge of Origination's planetary re-origination function.
Once the Forge was run at full power, all life on the planet would be erased, and Azeroth would return to a primordial state without life.
However, unless absolutely necessary, the Titans of the Pantheon would not risk using this function, as it would inevitably harm the World-Soul and significantly delay its maturation.
Lei Shen's attempt to control the Forge and conquer the world did not succeed. The Tol'vir, ordered by High Keeper Ra to guard Uldum and watch over the Forge, crushed his ambition.
When the Tol'vir were being driven back by the Mogu Empire and the assisting Zandalari Empire, having retreated to the final defensive line of the Forge, they activated the re-origination function in a desperate gamble.
The Forge, running at low power, unleashed staggering destructive force, instantly annihilating all participants from both sides—including the invincible Lei Shen.
Uldum, once covered by vast jungles, was also destroyed under this world-ending power, leaving only a desolate desert with no sign of life.
The neighboring Tanaris and Silithus were also affected. The jungles surrounding Zul'Farrak were destroyed by the aftershocks of the Forge's eruption, giving birth to the vast Tanaris Desert.
Shortly after the Shen'dralar scouts entered this great desert, the Sandfury Trolls settled there discovered their tracks.
The Trolls had fought a war with the Night Empire long before the War of the Ancients. Under the leadership of Queen Azshara, the Night Elves achieved victory by relying on the powerful Arcane magic they gained from studying the Well of Eternity.
The Trolls had always brooded over this; the vast territories now occupied by the Night Elves used to be their hunting grounds.
Seeing that the Night Elves actually dared to intrude upon their last refuge, the Sandfury Trolls of Zul'Farrak were incensed, and the scouts sent by the Shen'dralar suffered a devastating blow.
Although infuriated by the Sandfury Trolls' unprovoked attack, the Shen'dralar calmed down under the persuasion of their scholars and abandoned the deep exploration of Tanaris.
After all, the territories of the two sides were separated by the barren buffer zone of the Thousand Needles. Neither the Shen'dralar nor the Sandfury Trolls intended to march into the Thousand Needles to further provoke the other, and the matter was left at that.
However, Andreas, who had crossed over to this world, was quite displeased with the attitude of these Trolls.
"Eat, sleep, and beat Trolls" was an Azerothian tradition. He intended to wait a few more years, until the Night Elves' influence had radiated from northern Kalimdor to the center, to launch a military campaign and completely wipe out these barbaric neighbors in one fell swoop.
Before that, Andreas planned to continue developing quietly.
The Silithus desert behind the mountain range south of Feralas was also no friendly place. After their desperate struggle with the great Troll empires years ago, the Qiraji of Ahn'Qiraj had suffered severe damage and had not yet recovered.
But these bugs would sooner or later continue their outward expansion at their master's urging. Before dealing with the Sandfury Trolls, Silithus and Ahn'Qiraj were the regions Andreas was most wary of on the Kalimdor continent.
Currently, the Night Elves' sphere of influence spanned across northern Kalimdor.
From Mount Hyjal and Moonglade to Darkshore, Winterspring, and Ashenvale—and even the Azshara region, where Arcane energy was gradually subsiding—traces of Night Elven habitation could be seen everywhere.
The Night Elves exploring the Azshara region belonged to Moonshadow's Rest. Tyrande and Malfurion had little interest in these ruins of the old era.
Andreas was different; the Bay of Storms in the Azshara region was a natural deep-water harbor. He could not allow this valuable area to remain desolate.
The Moonshadow's Rest pioneering team used the ruins of Elendilas in central Azshara and the remains of the Temple of Zin-Malor as a foundation to rebuild a brand new settlement, naming it the Town of Elendilas.
The coastal areas of the Bay of Storms were difficult for building deep-water ports; the numerous reefs were unsuitable for large ships with deep drafts. After an on-site inspection, Andreas ordered the construction of a large port—Port Storm—on a small island closest to the deep ocean of the Bay of Storms.
At this moment, Andreas was located at the docks of Port Storm, watching Nefarian use an illusion to transform into an adult Green Dragon.
Sintharia, who was wrapped tightly in her garments, remained in her mortal form. She elegantly lifted her black lace skirt and curtsied to Andreas.
"Lord Moonshadow, we shall depart first. Once we have news, we will immediately notify Onyxia."
Turning to look at her daughter, who stood behind Andreas with a reluctant expression, Sintharia gave a somewhat helpless smile.
"Because she lacked my care and guidance from a young age, Onyxia's personality is rather headstrong. I ask Lord Moonshadow to be patient with her."
Andreas turned his head to glance at the Black Dragon Princess, who was twirling a strand of hair with her finger, and sighed with some frustration.
"I understand. Dragon Queen and Prince Nefarian, please also stay safe. Communicating with a Malygos who has lost his sanity might not be easy."