Having lived in peace for nearly 3,000 years, Aurora had never seen her father look so decisive and lethal. She suddenly felt that this cold-faced version of her father was somewhat like a stranger.
Although Andreas repeatedly reminded himself that he couldn't raise his precious daughter in a greenhouse, as someone living his second life and raising an heir for the first time, he inevitably doted on Aurora.
While he hadn't raised her to be an arrogant or spoiled princess, both Andreas and Shandris would subconsciously keep Aurora away from danger and try to avoid discussing military topics in her presence.
Seeing the look of doubt and shock on his daughter's face, Andreas immediately guessed what she was thinking.
He suppressed the cold, hard expression on his face and replaced it with a soft smile.
"What are you dazing off for? Come on, it's time to go home."
"I know!"
Aurora trotted to keep up with her father's pace and asked somewhat hesitantly, "Dad, is Mom really going to stay in cold Northrend to command the war?"
"Hmm? How did you know?"
Andreas turned his head in surprise to look at Aurora. When he saw Onyxia behind her, pretending as if nothing had happened, he immediately understood the sequence of events.
After giving the Black Dragon Princess a sharp glare, Andreas rubbed Aurora's head to comfort her. "Don't worry. Your mother is an excellent commander and a veteran of many battlefields. Mere trolls won't cause her much trouble."
Although the Drakkari Trolls were stronger than the Sandfury Trolls the Night Elves had defeated in the past, the Night Elf Republic certainly hadn't stood still over the past few thousand years.
The repeatedly improved Arcane Golems had become genuine engines of war, and the weapons in the soldiers' hands had been upgraded through many generations.
Not to mention the Magitech Rifles that had been widely issued to various units, even the cold steel for close-quarters combat and traditional bows and crossbows had undergone modern magitech modifications. Their output was significantly greater than that of simple enchanted weapons.
To counter the heavy artillery bombardment of the Night Elves, the Drakkari Trolls had reinforced their walls countless times over these 2,000 years, and their Loa had infused a great deal of power into them.
Now, the fortifications of the Drakkari Empire were far beyond what they once were; even the Magitech Cannons of the Night Elf Republic couldn't breach the walls in a short amount of time.
However, that was a scenario for an offensive. Andreas wouldn't allow both fronts to advance simultaneously.
With Shandris leading the defensive on the Zul'Drak battlefield, the defensive lines the Night Elf Republic had constructed over the years were also rock-solid. Even if the Loa joined the fray, Andreas believed Shandris could hold them back.
"Don't worry about things that aren't your concern," Andreas said to Aurora with a chuckle. "We aren't so old that we need a junior like you to worry about us. Just live your life in peace; the war should be over within a few years."
...
While Andreas spoke lightly to Aurora, he actually placed great importance on this two-front war.
The Drakkari Empire was once one of the three great splinter empires of the Trolls, with a status and combat capability second only to the Zandalari Empire. With many Loa assisting them, their strength was not to be underestimated.
And the Dragonflayer Vrykul were direct subordinates of Loken, with equally fierce combat abilities. Facing two powerful enemies at once, even the well-equipped Night Elf Republic dared not be complacent.
After settling Aurora in Astranaar, Andreas and Shandris instructed the family's maids and housekeeper to take good care of her.
Subsequently, Andreas went to the Great Temple of Elune to inform the other two members of the Council—excluding Malfurion—of the crisis the Night Elves were facing.
Although Tyrande had many flaws and personality defects, she would never be ambiguous on matters concerning the safety of the entire race.
Temporarily handing over the management of Astranaar to Tyrande, Andreas deliberately left Onyxia behind to "assist" her, hoping to prevent Tyrande from issuing incorrect orders due to a lack of administrative capacity.
Taking Leticia and Celeste with them, Andreas and Shandris teleported back to Shandaral.
By the time they finished this round trip, war was already on the verge of breaking out.
Andreas, as usual, stayed in Shandaral to preside over matters. Celeste stayed to assist him in coordinating and handling various paperwork, while Leticia served as Shandris's adjutant and accompanied her to the Zul'Drak battlefield.
Summer Moon, the adjutant of the Sentinel forces, had gradually faded from the front lines after getting married and having children, returning to the rear as a member of the military staff. Her young daughter had taken over her mother's work and joined the Sentinels, though her military rank was currently low, only that of a Second Lieutenant.
Summer Moon's daughter, Daeleryn, were close friends. They had grown up together since childhood and were best friends who shared almost everything.
Upon reaching the Zul'Drak front, Shandris took command without any resistance.
As a highly decorated general who had participated in many major wars, Shandris had long since become a legend in the hearts of the new generation of Night Elves. Her prestige within the military system was staggering.
Although she had prepared herself mentally, Shandris was still somewhat surprised when she saw the Drakkari Trolls deploy a Loa to charge the lines.
"Sseratus the Serpent."
Standing behind the sturdy fortifications, Shandris looked intently at the massive serpent spewing venom.
The highly corrosive venom was difficult for even the magically reinforced concrete walls of the Night Elves to withstand. The areas hit by the venom spray were quickly corroded into large craters.
"Prepare the Radiance of Elune cannons. Target: Sseratus the Great Serpent."
Shandris was not intimidated by the Loa's fierce performance and calmly issued orders to her adjutant, Leticia.
"Prepare for bombardment!"
Leticia commanded the Radiance of Elune heavy Arcane Golems—which had been improved multiple times with enhanced armor and Magitech Cannon output—to adjust their aim.
Boom! Boom!
Shells trailing blue-purple energy flames landed in clusters within the attacking troll ranks.
The direct hit damage of the Magitech Cannons was excellent, but the radius of explosive lethality was not as good as gunpowder weapons. Andreas had specifically used fragmentation shells to increase their effectiveness. The spreading metal shards turned the trolls near the impact points into pincushions.
Sseratus was also made somewhat disheveled by the continuous bombardment of the Night Elves. Although the physical durability of a Loa far exceeded that of mortals, their endurance still had a limit.
"Hiss! Insolent mortals!"
Unable to endure the pain of the massive amounts of metal fragments hitting his body, Sseratus angrily spat one final stream of venom at the wall line before turning and darting back, evading the still-unrelenting magitech barrage.
"Cease fire!"
Seeing the troll attack repelled, Shandris calmly ordered, "Druids, move forward. Use tree seeds and nature spells to repair the walls. Prepare for the next wave."
The walls, riddled with corrosion, grew countless sturdy vines under the coordination of the Druids' nature spells, compensating to some extent for the damage Sseratus had caused.
The trolls' initial attack did not put too much pressure on the defensive line. While Leticia directed the Arcane Golems to recharge, Shandris turned her gaze toward the south.
The Dragonflayer Vrykul, direct subordinates of Loken... I hope it won't truly go as you predicted...