Chapter 97: A Coward for Life?

The path against the wind.

As a passageway connecting the tranquil and dark Twilight Forest to the sorrowful Marsh of Sorrows overrun with reeds, the path against the wind was obviously a crucial chokepoint.

Unlike in later times.

In later times, if you wanted to find something here besides the barren soil, there were only the undead that wandered aimlessly and the simple-minded and brawny Windigo, who were the only ones that could breed on this dead land.

The path against the wind now is far from as gloomy and desolate as it will be in the future. On the contrary, it's still a valley filled with the sounds of birds and fragrant flowers. And Karazhan, radiating with strange blue arcane energy ripples, sits in the south of the path against the wind.

Surrounded by mountains, the massive and towering spire is still the focal point for anyone's gaze.

Karazhan is incredibly tall, at least twenty stories before Duke's crossing.

Because the slender and sharp mage tower is too high, there are six cylindrical sub-towers that guard the main tower in a hexagonal shape.

They are known as flying buttresses.

Flying buttresses, also known as arch buttresses, are auxiliary structures used to relieve the pressure on the main walls. They are used similarly to the Gothic architecture before Duke's crossing. They reveal the originally solid buttresses that were covered by the roof, hence the name "flying buttresses."

Karazhan's sub-towers use double-arched bridges to increase the carrying capacity of the flying buttresses. The sub-towers also have spires installed on them to improve balance.

In addition to making the Karazhan mage tower even taller, there are incredibly intricate engravings on it that are infused with magic. Besides making the tower look more elegant, lofty, and imposing, these engravings also have powerful defensive and counterattack capabilities. As long as Medivh, Karazhan's owner, wants it, he could teach the entire dragon race a lesson, even if they were to attack him en masse.

It's precisely this mage tower that gave Sargeras supreme confidence.

At the highest level of the mage tower, Medivh possessed by Sargeras sits on a throne formed by the materialization of arcane energy, wearing a playful expression.

"Unfortunately, most of my power can't enter this world...well, it doesn't matter. It's more fun when the power is close to even. It's only through the process of tormenting ants by giving them hope and then destroying their hope over and over again that is worth savoring in the future."

Medivh raised his hand lightly, and within a red crystal prism, a young soul was relentlessly beating against the crystal wall in loneliness.

Khadgar - Medivh's former and only student.

Who would have thought that Khadgar wasn't dead, and his soul was imprisoned here?

"Mentor! Mentor! Wake up!" Khadgar yelled hoarsely.

"Wake up?" Medivh smirked. "Fool, I've been awake the whole time. Let me tell you something. I discovered early on that you were a spy sent by the Kirin Tor Council. It was my decision that influenced Medivh's will, making him accept you and take you on as his disciple."

Khadgar's face turned pale in an instant.

"Why did I choose you? Do you think it's because you're alone? No, it's because I'm bored. In the days when I was eroding Medivh's soul, I didn't have much to do, so I just wanted something to occupy myself."

"..."

"Originally, in my script, when the time was ripe, I was going to send you back to Stormwind City, then persuade Lothar or Wrynn to come with their troops, and the three longtime friends would engage in the most brutal and ruthless battle here in Karazhan. Do you know why I changed my mind?" Sargeras lightly roasted Khadgar's soul flame with a handful of his fingers.

Khadgar, who existed in human soul form, had a painful and confused expression on his face.

"You're too boring. You didn't give me any surprises. But that little guy named Duke is different. He's not only talented but also full of possibilities. He surprised me very much, and I'm very happy about it. So I chose him as my challenger to assist Lothar or Wrynn, instead of you. Hahaha!"

Ignoring Khadgar's confusion and despair, Sargeras lightly tossed the crystal that imprisoned Khadgar's soul away, not knowing where it landed.

Sargeras lightly tapped his forehead, and Medivh, who was controlled by him, used the "Mage Eye" to observe the changes inside Karazhan.

Karazhan, which used to be full of books and mystery, was becoming evil and sinister. Those who used to serve Medivh, as well as many who tried to explore what happened in Karazhan, gathered there. They included Lothar's elite scouts, mercenaries, and even nobles.

They gathered in the lower hall of the Karazhan mage tower, looking dazed. Under the influence of the evil demonic power, their bodies were undergoing some strange changes...

In the Stormwind Keep in Stormwind City, King Llane was hesitating and in pain on a terrace facing the barracks. Anyone who saw Llane's handsome face would feel that he was about to cry.

His golden hair had lost its confident shine, replaced by a dull regret.

The queen walked lightly towards him and took his arm.

"Darling, didn't you tell me before? Instead of doing nothing and regretting it, why not do it and then regret it?"

Llane's voice choked: "But...but that might be the demon king Sargeras from the legends!!"

"Is Sargeras invincible? Has Sargeras never been defeated?" the queen asked, as if implying something.

Suddenly, stories of the great war from ten thousand years ago came rushing back. Though ten thousand years was a distant past for humans with their brief lifespans, the surviving Elves, who were like living fossils, bore witness to those events.

Many Elves were witnesses to that war and passed on their first hand accounts. And so, Llane felt a sense of relief. "Indeed, Sargeras has been defeated before."

The queen spoke with certainty, "If he can be defeated once, he can be defeated again."

"But, my queen..." Llane began, but he was met with the queen's piercing, hopeful gaze, as if reminding her to recall the scenes from the recent past. Yes, that's it!

It was after Llane had lost his will that Anduin and Duke jointly protested!

"Your Majesty! We have no other choice! Do we slowly succumb to our oppressor's cruel tyranny, or do we fight to the death?! You must choose, Your Majesty!" Duke nearly shouted.

"But if we fail in our rebellion, the people of Stormwind Kingdom..." Llane trailed off.

Anduin also realized what must be done. Stepping forward, he knelt on one knee, his resolute voice shaking them to their core. "Your Majesty, even if our rebellion ends in destruction, we can at least tell our people 'we did our best' before we walk through the gates of Hell. We cannot cower under our beds like cowards, trembling in fear, and become fodder for the demons to mock!"