Chapter 680: The Progress of Two Worlds

In the first and second Dark Portal Wars, the Horde's overwhelming might, seemingly with an inexhaustible force, was largely due to Draenor's increasingly dire natural environment.

Gul'dan was able to entice so many orcs to their doom for a simple reason: rather than fighting amongst themselves over a shrinking pie, it was better to band together and seize a larger piece from another world.

However, with the Horde's defeat and the strongest clans decimated in Azeroth, Draenor's scarce resources suddenly seemed less pressing.

The once-dominant Blackrock clan, at its peak, claimed half a million warriors—a likely exaggeration. Still, the 300,000 seasoned orc fighters, most having battled the Draenei, was undeniable. Regrettably, Duke's repeated schemes had weakened them, and the last of their seed fell off the cliffs facing the Sea of the Watch in the southeastern continent of Lordaeron. The only remnants were the Black Tooth clan, who, after chasing Gul'dan, had broken away from Orgrim's control.

With Blackrock's absence, space for at least three other first-rate clans opened up.

Then there was the Warsong clan, unlike their original history, which had been sent early into Azeroth in this war and, after repeated setbacks in Southshore and the Silverpine Forest, found their entire lineage trapped in Tirisfal Glades.

The Frostwolf clan, much like in the original timeline, had been exiled to the Alterac Mountains before the first Dark Portal War even began.

Following closely were the Stormreaver and Blackscar clans, the last of the first-rate clans, both fallen.

Lastly, the Bleeding Hollow, Shattered Hand, and Dragonmaw clans, despite significant losses, had returned to Draenor, now reduced to second-rate status due to their depleted numbers.

In a messy tally, nearly a million population slots were vacated by the first-rate clans, not to mention the losses of the second and third-rate ones.

Including the often-overlooked orc peons, the Horde's population loss exceeded two million across the two Dark Portal Wars.

If anyone paid close attention, they would find that over a third of the Horde's warriors drowned at sea. A silent nod to Duke's strategy was due.

In the Horde, population and warriors were synonymous with territory. Without them, there was no land.

More vacancies than history had ever seen led to a new round of power shuffling.

As long as Orgrim was believed to be alive, even in absence, the clans in Draenor dared not move. But once word of his capture spread, they pounced on the adjacent flesh.

Various clans fell for various reasons, like the Whiteclaw clan, who met with annihilation out of sympathy for Durotan and the Frostwolves.

The Thunderlord, Razorfen, Laughing Skull, and Redwalker clans, initially left behind in Draenor for various reasons and not yet dispatched to Azeroth, found themselves at an advantage in this reshuffle, having generally doubled their territories before winter.

If not for the harsh winter and a bit of foresight, they might have made Kilrogg Deadeye and Kargath Bladefist taste defeat upon their return.

While Draenor was embroiled in conflict, the Eastern Kingdoms of Azeroth were steadfast in their path to revival.

Clearly, the Southern Continent's recovery outpaced that of the North.

In the North, Terenas had no solution for the scorched Silverpine Forest or the Warsong orcs in Tirisfal Glades. He could only hope for the harvest near Stratholme this year, as the fields there, free from the forests, did not invite orcish courage against the dominant Lordaeron cavalry.

The infamous grain-producing regions of Banal, Fels Stone, and Marris were Lordaeron's last reliance.

He even harbored a wish that Deathwing, should he become king of Alterac, might at least offer Lordaeron the vast fertile lands of Hillsbrad for temporary use.

Nearby Dalaran and Stormgarde were finally on the track to recovery.

But none compared to the blazing prosperity of the South.

Even if Terenas hated to admit it, there was no second genius who could conjure an independent economic system like Duke, revitalizing the entire kingdom without spending a gold coin.

"Damnation, if only Calia were here, I'd shamelessly marry her off to Duke. The only consolation is... it seems Daelin didn't profit either."

Once, because of the lost honor of the Menethil royal family, Terenas considered imprisoning Calia for life. But now, with greater interests at stake, he wished his deceased daughter could climb out of her grave to be sold off once more.

Such was the vile nature of royal politics.

When all eyes turned to the Kingdom of Stormwind, in mid-May, Antonidas suddenly received a diplomatic request for a meeting from Duke. It wasn't urgent but rather carried out with full diplomatic procedure, personally delivered to the Kirin Tor's Foreign Affairs by the former Dalaran mage, Miss Ilusia Barov.

Antonidas, engrossed in magical experiments, met with Duke the following day.

"Ah, dear Duke, I almost thought your veins bore dwarf blood. Railroads? Trains? It seems you're better at dwarf-deeds than wizardry. Well then, what brings you to me?"

With a mix of displeasure and jest, Antonidas embraced Duke, his feelings complex.

"I'm truly glad to see you in good health, Master Antonidas," Duke said politely, then got straight to the point, "I'm here because I've received an unconfirmed report. But it's of such importance that I had to come in person."

"What kind of report?" Antonidas pondered.

He knew Duke well. Though the young man's schemes often seemed whimsical, they never failed.

From battling the Horde to leading the four great Dragon Aspects to Lordaeron's victory parade, Duke's actions always served a clear purpose. Ignore his methods, and you risk falling into a trap like Terenas, without prior warning.

"The Eye of Dalaran is being targeted by Gul'dan's master, the Warlock King Nezhoz!"