Chapter 676: The Trial's Conclusion

The resonant, powerful words echoed in the once again silent skies, sharp as knives and swords, etching into everyone's hearts.

Duke had long recognized that the orc was a centurion.

In the past, when the Warsong clan boasted tens of thousands of warriors, a centurion's rank was insignificant. Now, after the Horde's crushing defeat and the majority of the orcs' retreat through the Dark Portal, the loss of a thousand-strong unit was a painful blow to Grom.

Duke didn't lack the desire to eradicate the Warsong orcs, but regrettably, the orcs had found a method to counter the Alliance—digging tunnels.

Their main base was located in what would later be known as Hearthglen, an area mostly comprised of mountains. The strangely talented Warsong orcs had nearly hollowed out the mountain bellies there.

If Duke faced Grom Hell scream on plain or forest ground, he was at least seventy percent confident of slaying him. With the Windrunner sisters' cooperation, the odds would rise to ninety percent!

But in the tunnels, where the brave thrive in close quarters, without resorting to corpse-dragging tactics for consecutive battles, Duke's chances of victory were less than twenty percent.

His only consolation was that orcs weren't a self-sustaining race. Their massive demand for meat meant they had to frequently emerge from the tunnels to forage.

Either to hunt or to raid human villages.

Duke indeed had the capability to wipe out this band of Warsong orcs, but it would require at least thirty thousand dwarves and an additional fifty thousand human soldiers. Committing to nothing else but besieging Grom for a year and a half, the Warsong clan would undoubtedly kneel.

However, such a cost was too steep and not in the interests of Stormwind or Ironforge.

This is why Duke could allow the Windrunner forces to continue bleeding the Warsong orcs here but couldn't exterminate the clan.

Duke knew very well that releasing this orc, now missing both arms, could very well result in another Kargath Bladefist.

But Duke didn't care.

Applying sufficient psychological pressure on the future core soul of the Horde was enough for him.

Sure enough...

The orc was on the brink of collapse!

"Ah, damn it! Duke Marcus! One day, the Horde will make you pay!" The orc centurion bellowed like a wounded beast.

"Ha ha ha ha!" Duke laughed wildly in response: "Your first Warchief, Blackhand, was no good! Your second Warchief, no good either! When you elect a third Warchief to come to his death, I will again use your blood to tell you who is the eternal nightmare of the Horde! Ha ha ha ha!"

Duke's laughter was arrogant and unrestrained!

To the orcs' ears, it was the laughter of a demon lord perched at the pinnacle of evil.

To the humans, it stirred an indescribable pride!

Unbeknownst to them, every Lordaeron knight straightened their backs, and even though some were wounded, even though the pain from their severed arms was agonizing, their spirits were filled with valor.

Yes! Duke Marcus!

Only such a bold man could be considered a hero of the Alliance!

And only such a brave and wise man could reduce the terrifying million-strong orc horde to ashes!

Indeed, Duke was the banner of the Alliance!

Unknowingly, tears filled the eyes of the Lordaeron knights, overwhelmed with emotion—

Jaina was a bit lost in thought. She hated this feeling, knowing it was Duke, that scoundrel, who had pushed her to this desolate northern land. She was well aware that the town attacked by the Horde was likely lured by Duke himself, in what could be considered a trap he had cunningly set.

The terrifying commander who toyed with a million orcs, if he couldn't even manage this, would be too fake.

And this man, showing no remorse on his face, seemed not to deny it.

She should hate him because he had ruined her first Valentine's Day and the 14th birthday that should have been perfect.

After realizing this, she had an epiphany—Duke was telling her this was the Horde her father and the entire kingdom of Kul Tiras had been battling for the past two years. This was the battlefield where her brother Derek had sacrificed himself!

And her... perhaps this also aligned with a dream of hers. Duke seemed not to treat her as a political tool or even as a woman, but as an important mage of the Alliance to nurture.

Jaina couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.

However, Duke's majestic presence, as he effortlessly shattered an enemy formation, made Jaina's heart flutter.

Because at that moment, Duke overlapped with the legendary hero of the tales. More tangible, more vivid...

"Ah, ah, ah—" The orc centurion walked away, in a very manly fashion. He pressed his bleeding arms against a hammer that Jaina had just heated red-hot. The high temperature quickly cauterized the wounds, staunching the blood flow. Clearly, this was something he had learned on the fiery battlefield of the Silverpine Forest.

The leading paladin captain approached and bowed respectfully to Duke: "Greetings, sir, I am Thoralen Cassian, acting Baron and captain of the Third Guard of Tirisfal. May I ask, are you Duke Marcus?"

"It is I."

"Uh, thank you for your help. Without you, we might have been utterly defeated." Then he glanced at Jaina, smeared with blood: "I apologize for the interruption, but may I ask what happened here?"

"Due to a teleportation mishap, Princess Jaina Proudmoore arrived in the Tirisfal Glades unintentionally. It was your men who valiantly protected Princess Proudmoore against a thousand orcs until Duke Marcus arrived. Brave warriors, you not only fought back the evil orcs but also safeguarded our beautiful princess. You have done well and deserve a reward."

Duke casually pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill, leaning against the wall, and scribbled down the account, then affixed his seal.

"Take this to your superiors, even to King Menethil if you must. You will receive your reward, from both Lordaeron and Kul Tiras. And this is my personal token of appreciation." Duke handed a bag of gold coins to the paladin, and a pair of paladin gloves crafted by the dwarves of Ironforge.

Cassian and his men were moved to tears.

Jaina... the little princess of Kul Tiras was itching with annoyance. Clearly, Duke had deliberately dug a hole for her to fall into, even calculating this troop of knights into his scheme. They had risked their lives for him, yet he acted as if it was Jaina's magical mishap that had caused their heavy losses.

But as clever as she was, she naturally would not expose Duke on the spot.

After politely thanking him, she quietly teleported back to Karazhan with Duke.