Chapter 605: Deathwing's Despair

With a few mighty beats of his wings, Deathwing plunged the entire Lordaeron palace into chaos and destruction.

It was only thanks to Malygos, who had heeded Duke's instructions to contain the battle's impact, creating a massive cyclonic barrier to restrict the conflict to the skies above the palace. Without Malygos's intervention, half of Lordaeron might have been consumed in an inferno.

"No! I didn't do this!" Terenas had completely broken down.

He could hardly fathom the scorn he would face from Lordaeron's citizens and the entire human world when dawn broke.

In his daze, he imagined countless voices ridiculing him: "Look! That blind old fool Terenas wanted to place the most evil of black dragons on the revered throne."

"No, no, no—"

Terenas's staff clattered to the ground. Frantically, he waved his arms about, oblivious to the falling debris from the shattered throne room ceiling above.

Suddenly, both Mograine and Abbendis were at his side, holding him up.

"Your Majesty, we must flee!"

Mograine's loyalty and valor shone through in this dire moment, warming Terenas's heart briefly. But when he realized he'd have to use Duke's icy escape slide, his emotions spiraled once again.

"No, I won't use anything from Duke!"

Indeed, he had grown to despise Duke.

It was Duke who had opposed him.

It was Duke who had belittled him.

And it was Duke who had failed to warn him that Prestor was Neltharion!

In some twisted sense, his suspicions were accurate.

But what did it matter now?

His Moon Mage Guards, rendered powerless due to Malygos's absolute control over surrounding magical elements, were useless. Except for Duke, whom Malygos had made an exception for, every mage within the palace's vicinity had been weakened.

Mograine and Abbendis weren't divine, nor were they shielded by the Light. Without Duke's escape route, there was no other way out.

Dare you not use it!

Without further ado, the two dragged the struggling king down the slide.

Perhaps due to someone's cruel humor, the slide was not entirely smooth. Just before reaching the gardens, there was a tear, and the great King Terenas Menethil's robe was ripped, leaving him to flee with his dignity in tatters.

Meanwhile, the four Dragon Aspects, who had risen into the sky following Neltharion, had grown immensely. Their colossal forms cast shadows that covered several city blocks.

Red, green, blue, and bronze—each dragon shimmered brilliantly under the sun, each enveloped in a halo, proclaiming their majesty as Azeroth's guardian dragons.

Alexstrasza, leading the charge, locked eyes with the trembling black dragon. The anger... and fear in Neltharion's eyes were evident.

Surrounded by his former kin, she took her time, gracefully spreading her wings, dispersing the dust and debris from the shattered palace roof.

Deathwing was in dire straits.

His injuries in human form were now evident in his dragon form. One eye was shut, a horn missing, and a massive wound gaped on his side, flames alien to him visible within.

It was the Life-Binder's flame. While a boon for most, for Deathwing, it was poison.

The once mighty Neltharion looked more like a cornered thief, terrified of the punishment awaiting him.

"Why? How did you sense my presence? My plan was flawless! My disguise impeccable! Why? Why!? Was it that Duke?" roared a desperate Neltharion.

"Ha! You've underestimated me, Neltharion!" Nozdormu laughed, his sandy maw opening wide, revealing the power of time swirling within.

"You!?"

"You really shouldn't have taken human form. It made seeing your future so much easier. I saw it all! Ha!" Nozdormu boasted, not mentioning Duke's involvement.

"Impossible! Such bad luck?" Deathwing knew the cost of Nozdormu's visions and couldn't believe he'd been spotted in one of those countless glimpses.

With Malygos now unrestrained, even using humans as shields wouldn't deter him. He would slay Deathwing and any in his path.

Deathwing was at a loss. Even at his peak, he couldn't best the four Dragon Aspects, especially now, injured and weakened.

Seeing the four dragons, perfectly poised for the kill, Deathwing felt utter despair.

What to do?

What to do!?