The Second Empire of Azeroth

Outside Quel'Thalas, the troll army stood in neat formation. At the very center of the troll ranks was a phalanx of death knights. The death energy of nearly two thousand death knights coalesced, gathering into a cloud of death that loomed over the forest. Beneath this cloud, trees withered, flowers and plants rapidly decayed, and small animals unable to escape were transformed into undead by inhaling the death energy.

Wherever the death knights passed, everything withered. The path of their advance formed a veritable road of death.

The Amani trolls kept their distance, for they, who loved living in the forest, greatly detested the aura of death. However, their great chieftain Zul'jin was overjoyed; this was the army he desired. As long as they could slaughter the high elves and reclaim Silvermoon City, the death of a few trees, or even the sacrifice of most of the trolls, was an acceptable price to pay.

"Orgrim, my friend, these elves actually dare to use their mortal bodies to resist the advance of death. They truly overestimate themselves."

Orgrim twitched the corner of his mouth, displeased with Zul'jin's presumption. However, with the orcish strength diminished, he needed the trolls' power. Thus, he could only flatteringly reply, "Indeed, these long-ears have no idea that disaster has befallen them."

Zul'jin nodded in satisfaction, turning his gaze towards Tharon'ja, who commanded the death knights. "Big man, begin the attack! I can hardly wait to see the corpses of the elves."

"As you wish, Chieftain!" Tharon'ja responded with equal respect, raising his staff to command the death knights to advance.

On the city wall, Alleria Windrunner frowned. "Death knights?"

The elves knew little about death knights, their limited knowledge gleaned from human intelligence.

Witnessing firsthand the road of death created by the death knights, the elves felt both fear and intense anger. These desecrators of the dead dared to pollute their beloved forest; such an act was unforgivable.

However, Ranger-General Roger seemed to ignore the death knights. Aside from the ogre death knight, the other troll death knights were not particularly strong. He was more concerned about the whereabouts of Gul'dan, whose cunning and warlock abilities possessed immeasurable destructive power. If he were to hide and cause trouble, the situation would become dire.

"Send out scouts to see if the enemy has attempted to attack elsewhere."

Alleria nodded, and soon, squads of dragonhawk riders took to the sky, scouting the surrounding area.

Despite sending out troops, Alleria remained doubtful. "The troll army is all here. What are you worried about?"

"It's precisely because the trolls are so stupid that I'm worried," Roger said. "Remember the orc who shattered the ice in the Hinterlands?"

"His name is Gul'dan, a very powerful warlock. I've had contact with some orcs and learned from them that Gul'dan is exceptionally powerful. In the orcish world, Gul'dan single-handedly used fel energy to corrupt a mountain. To this day, that mountain continues to emit fel energy."

Alleria stared at Roger in astonishment, almost unable to believe his words.

Roger said in a deep voice, "I didn't see Gul'dan among the troll forces just now. If he's hiding and plotting destruction, Eversong Woods may cease to exist."

Alleria shuddered involuntarily. If what Roger said was true, they absolutely could not let Gul'dan succeed. "We must find him."

"Ballistae, prepare!"

Below the city walls, a tall, slender female elf was issuing commands. At her direction, countless large bolts were fired towards the death knights.

"Defense!" Tharon'ja commanded, and all the death knights immediately raised shadow shields to protect themselves. However, the troll death knights were much weaker; the enchanted large bolts easily tore through the shadow shields and pierced the death knights' bodies.

A few unlucky death knights were struck in vital spots and killed outright. But most of the death knights paid no attention to the large bolts' attacks, not even bothering to glance at their wounds, continuing to advance towards Quel'Thalas' defenses under Tharon'ja's command.

The female elf frowned, seemingly not expecting these death knights to be so difficult to deal with. The ballistae continued to fire, but with little success.

Soon, the death knights approached Quel'Thalas' first line of defense. Behind the line, human recruits nervously crouched behind cover, awaiting orders.

"Don't be nervous, follow orders!" The B Company soldiers, mixed among the recruits, constantly reassured them. "Remember the training…"

Alleria sighed helplessly. "She's just too wary."

"That's a good thing!" Roger joked. "I wonder what she'll think when she realizes her preparations were completely unnecessary."

Alleria glared at him, thinking, 'You're childish enough yourself.'

Amidst the elven arrow rain, the death knights continued to approach Quel'Thalas. Magic arrows landed on the shadow shields, only stirring up ripples, unable to harm the death knights.

"Hahaha—" Zul'jin, watching the death knights disregard the elves' attacks, couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Orgrim, my friend, do you see? How powerful my death knights are! Those damned elves are about to meet their doom!"

He had never seen such a powerful army, practically clad in steel armor. No, wait, the death knights' performance seemed comparable to dwarven tanks.

They were like an iron torrent, unafraid of the enemy's attacks. Zul'jin believed this iron torrent could easily crush the elven defenses, breach Quel'Thalas, and storm into Silvermoon City—

"Attack! Attack! Attack!" Zul'jin shouted, "Amani trolls, the time for revenge has come! Slaughter all the elves and reclaim our sacred land!"

"Reclaim our sacred land!" The trolls shouted in response. For thousands of years, they finally had the opportunity to fulfill their long-cherished desire. So, despite their dislike for the death knights, they still followed them into the charge.

Sylvanas Windrunner's expression changed drastically. "Lor'themar, prepare to retreat!"

"Yes!" Lor'themar Theron immediately ran to Quel'Thalas' city gate, instructing the soldiers inside to open it. "Retreat! Retreat into the city quickly!"

The elves could not contend with thousands of death knights and tens of thousands of trolls on the meager defensive line.

Just as the elves were about to retreat, a figure leaped from the city wall, disappearing into the air. When he reappeared, he was already on the death knights' path, raising his hand to unleash a barrage of arcane missiles.

"What?" Sylvanas turned back in astonishment…