Chapter 20

(POV Ragnaros, "The Eternal Flame", Elemental Lord of Fire)

(Before the fight)

This "mallet" is very powerful. The power of fire runs through it intensely. Just by holding it I feel my power increase, by swinging it the power gushes out. This "weapon" is undoubtedly worthy of being called "The hand of Ragnaros! ".

I didn't believe much in that slave, but when I got "Sulfuras" I realized the potential he possessed. If I can arm all my servants, my army would be unstoppable!... but I know Therazane wouldn't allow it, and Neptulon wouldn't let such a thing happen either.

I wonder why he still possesses Neptulon's blessing ... If what he said about the visions is true, then it would explain how an alien minion still possesses it. But there must be other reasons for it. That insufferable fool thinks he can defeat me using his water, thinks he can match my power! ... yet he won't throw himself into battle against me. Neptulon must fear what might happen if the vision is true.

None of them are such fools. If Therazane allowed his minion to make these "kits" for Neptulon and me, it is because she believes in his visions and the approaching danger. Neptulon for his part must doubt just as I do, just as Al'Akir said. But why does Therazane trust her minion?.... Therazane must have her reasons for trusting a lava elemental, for they are under my command. But it surprises me even more, that one of them has decided to follow that stone head.

I want you to serve the fire, but I won't achieve anything if I win this 'friendly combat'. If I win, I won't be able to significantly improve my strength and that of my subordinates. I'll only get a slightly useful slave... I guess I'll have to restrain myself and test its power. And even if I don't want to believe him, if what he saw is true, I should prepare for it.

Still, that slave cannot deceive me. If he wants my help and power, he will have to prove himself worthy. If he can't at least do me a little harm, then that slave is not worth the time and attention he's been given. His visions may be true, and I don't understand why he wants to fight at the front so badly, but if his power is small he will have to see everything in the background, while we triumph!

(After the fight)

After "losing" to that slave, I thought deeply about the real purpose of this struggle. His need for my blessing and the blessing of others. His ability to resist so many blessings on him... I believe it is all due to that power he used to control my fire.

This slave is interesting. His attacks could extinguish my flame. This slave is worthy of my power, it is a pity that his fire serves someone so ineffective. But now he will arm my forces, and whatever is on its way to our world, IT WILL BE PURIFIED IN MY FLAME.

So far I don't understand why he wants to keep fighting against all of us either, but if he is fighting so hard to prove his strength to us, then I will accept his fighting by my side. His desire for power is genuine, now it only remains to observe how he will obtain Al'Akir's blessing. I hope that fool, who thinks he can plot against me, will resist. If the favor he wishes to ask of me is to help him fight Al'Akir, I do not intend to accept, I hope he will put it to better use in my favor. This little slave... What more can he prove to me? If he does well, I will make sure that when this is over, he will be under my command. If not... he will be consumed.

While I was thinking, Therazane spoke.

"RAGNAROS"

"WHAT DO YOU WANT?"

"YOUR OPINION. NOW YOU ARE PART OF THIS ALLIANCE".

That slave is no fool. By proving his ability and giving me this "weapon" he now has my attention. I'll play along with this game for now.

"SURE, THE BET OF THAT SLAVE OF YOURS. SO WHAT DO YOU WANT NOW?"

"WE WILL NOT ATTACK EACH OTHER IN PREPARATION FOR WHAT IS TO COME. WE MUST CONSERVE OUR STRENGTH. IF WHAT THE EARTHFORGE SAW IS AS POWERFUL AS HE SAYS IT IS, THEN WE WILL NEED ALL OUR STRENGTH."

"VERY WELL. I HOPE YOUR SLAVE FINISHES HIS PROMISE, OR ELSE..."

"SO WILL YOU DO IT"

"MORE IT'S WORTH"

I left thinking about the future and the power I will get from that slave.

(POV Al'Akir, "Lord of the Wind", Elemental Lord of the Air)

This "Earth Forge" has proven to be someone interesting. His power to withstand the fire of Ragnaros. His intelligence to be able to get the blessing of 3 of us, and his cunning to use it all to his advantage and try to plan with me, Hahaha. Someone very interesting has joined Therazane's side, so much so that it has forced her out of her mountains.

His visions are a great truth. The shadow that dances behind the corrupt fire is growing larger and larger. These beings called "Demons", corrupters of worlds, are powerful. Were it not that my subjects have warned me of their existence on other worlds I would also doubt their words, as would Ragnaros and Neptulon.

I also know that he is hiding something. I clearly felt the shock and doubt when I mentioned them. This "Earth Forge" knows better, and I think we are not talking about the same darkness.

Therazane's confidence in this minion of his makes me even more curious. It goes beyond Neptulon's fear of the unknown and Ragnaros' cowardice. I want to know what gives him such confidence in what this minion has seen.

But for now, I want to see what this Earthforge will do when it gets my blessing, will it succumb to the power of our united blessings, or will it prevail and grow beyond what it is now...? This "Earth Forge" has gained my attention and has proven itself worthy. That which he has told Neptulon, his lack of ambition in controlling our world... If his words are true, then he will pass all my tests. Still, I wish him to forge for me, so I will have to give in a little before this overly clever minion has a chance to increase his gains against me. A truly interesting character.

...

(Time after)

(POV A beaten and weary manipulator who still won't give up on his scheming)

I woke up a few days later. I felt more powerful than before, but I was also a little tired. I hadn't fully recovered, but I wasn't losing anything either. I just had to learn to truly use my will to gain control of the elements that entered my zone of control.

But for now, I will go extort Al'Akir's blessing. After I get everything I want from him, I will finish Ragnaros' equipment. Then I will start on the firelord's minion equipment, while I wait for Neptulon to bring the materials for his new weapon. One that he never had in history, but that might change his attack form in the future. I hope this doesn't truly change the entire history of WOW that I know of, though I know this shouldn't influence it to such an extent, after the arrival of the titans.

Leaving my "Forge Mountain" I went straight to meet Therazane and the other 4 elemental lords. Today I would begin the first alliance against the darkness in all of Azeroth's history and it would be a long time before their arrival. I have changed the story a bit, but I also know that the untold things, the narrative gaps of this era, can be very dangerous. Ignorance and ignorance are two similar things, they go hand in hand, and while both have solutions, the former requires awareness, and the latter requires a willingness to change it.

If I must sin in this world, I would rather err on the side of caution than err on the side of confidence. In war you can never be too prepared, I know this from all the experience I have accumulated in the 1000 years of my life. All the constant struggles for survival and power have taught me many lessons, and it is thanks to the practice of what I learned, that I am here today.

As I was thinking, I arrived at Therazane's side.

"Mother Stone"

I said with respect and reverence.

"Today is the day we will manage to unite all elemental lords. While this should be something to celebrate, the reason is no less troubling. But we have come this far, we must ensure that this marks the beginning of a possible change. A change that in the future can lay the groundwork for a more permanent union.

I told the stony mother what I sincerely hoped for. Maybe I can put an end to all the hatred between the elemental lords. All this hatred caused by the aggressive state they're in because of Azeroth.

"May it be so, Forge Earth."

None of the elemental lords are bad or good. They are the representation of their elements, therefore, their aggressive state is the representation of the most negative of their elemental personification. Otherwise, it would be possible for them to have a harmonious and peaceful state.

Ragnaros is the fiery passion of fire to consume everything in its path. Neptulon is the ambivalence of the sea, whose eagerness to challenge the other elemental lords is his "crazed" state, where he just pushes constantly. Al'Akir is in the more chaotic state of the wind and its currents, whose changes of temperament are rapid and uncontrolled. Therazane is the calmest of them all, but her vengeful aggression is as potent as earthquakes and mountain landslides. She takes her time before her anger explodes. And all this because of the lack of balance in the elements.

Still, none of them can be fools. They've lived too long and faced too many experiences. Even more so considering Al'Akir is constantly adding fuel to the fire... literally. His stratagems should be very obvious to all by now.

Anyway, it's time to "negotiate" with the lord of the air.

...

(Time after)

All the elemental lords gathered again.

Therazane was the first to speak.

"AL'AKIR, YOU KNOW WHAT'S COMING AND YOU'RE THE LAST. WILL YOU JOIN US?"

I waited patiently for them to talk to each other. I know I must "negotiate" before Al'Akir decides to join, so before that, I will talk to Ragnaros and ask him to help me by putting pressure on Al'Akir. This way I can "negotiate" to my advantage in what I can ask for and get.

When I was approaching the fire lord to talk about it. The lord of the air, he spoke.

"THERAZANE, I AM WILLING TO JOIN YOU ALL. BUT I WISH TO OBTAIN FROM YOUR SUBJECT, THE SAME AS ALL OF YOU HAVE OBTAINED. I AM ALSO WILLING TO GIVE YOU MY BLESSING AND ACCEPT 1 REQUEST THAT YOU POSSESS, IN EXCHANGE FOR DOING THE SAME WITH MY MINIONS AND THAT YOU SWEAR NEVER TO HAVE AMBITION OVER THE CONTROL OF THE WORLD. WHAT DO YOU THINK THERAZANE? DO YOU ACCEPT MY REQUESTS?".

His words instantly paralyzed me. He... he can't do this. No, no, no, no, no. Will Therazane accept, he will.

Turning to look at Therazane, I realized that she was smiling at me. After she thought for a bit, she said.

"VERY WELL, I ACCEPT. BUT YOU'LL HAVE TO FIND YOUR OWN MATERIALS.

"OK"

It can't be. They played with me... How could I not have foreseen it, I... I... I, was defeated. These old ancestors are playing with a poor outer ward disciple. FUCK, WHY THE FUCK?! FUCK!

As I was inwardly squirming at losing yet again to Al'Akir, I felt the mockery and joy in the feelings of the 4 elemental lords. They knew this would happen, and they allowed it. Therazane knew... and she did not tell me...

Turning my gaze to all the elemental lords, I could only see their smiles. They obviously enjoyed my torment.

*SIGH*

Without holding back my emotions, I looked into Al'Akir's "eyes" and said.

"You have my respect, Lord of the Wind. My request is to be able to fight you and your most powerful minions in 'friendly combat'. For your personal "equipment" please bring me the best materials your territory possesses. Preferably with a lot of air elemental energy. For your minions, choose the materials you prefer, but the better they are, the more power they will get".

"WELL, THEN HAVE MY BLESSING, FORGE EARTH."

A new power flowed into me. As I was trying to gain control of this new element I decided to withdraw.

Showing my respect to all elemental lords, I said.

"Thank you very much for your blessing, Lord of the Wind. Then I will retire and complete the fire lord's equipment."

Looking at Ragnaros, I said.

"I lack the materials to finish everything, and also to make your minions' equipment. When you can, just leave the materials where I am."

I finished speaking and walked away. But as I walked away I heard the laughter of Ragnaros and the other elemental lords.

My inner fire burned intensely, the stone in me creaked and trembled, the water flowed and its waves crashed violently, seeping its coldness. And the new element I now possessed, crackled and raged through my being tempestuously.

I know I'm not the best at planning. But this certainly deserves its revenge. Just wait, the day will come when my power will overcome you, and then I will have the last laugh. HAHAHAHA.

Author's Note: I apologize for the delay. (Read to the end, there is some information to read) My country is suffering from constant power outages. Two days ago the electricity went out in almost every state... It's hard to write without electricity, since I don't use the phone for it. But this is just an excuse and has nothing to do with unscheduled power cuts, nor the lack of planning with any specific schedule to do it...

Moving on to the novel. did you understand what is happening, if not, then write in this paragraph the word "Explanation" and I will gladly take my time in the next chapter to explain "why" everything is happening as it does (I will only take into account comments that only say "EXPLANATION", and nothing else). The amount of people required for me to explain everything will be about 5 people (This means, that only 5 comments are required for the next chapter, to explain what has happened so far with the elemental lords. And it will be written in an "Author's Note", as usual).

For Neptulon's weapon, give me ideas, please. I could create a Trident, but it would be boring to follow always the same. Use your imagination and tell me what other kind of weapon would be good for Neptulon, lord of the water. If you show me pictures, it would be better for the creation. If you still want it to be a trident, then please pass me some cool images of Tridents. I'll look for some, but I'll pick the one that looks the best or closest to the set Neptulon has.

You can also give me ideas for the weapons of Al'Akir, lord of the air and Therazane, lady of the earth. Only if you wish.

Now, what do you think of this chapter? I hope you like it. I want to thank "KrooMorn" for his help in correcting some mistakes in the chapters. I invite you to do the same, because this way those who read after you will be able to enjoy a better chapter. I invite you to comment and express yourselves, because I appreciate the time you take to communicate with me or your opinions. You can give ideas, advice and CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, freely and I will try to improve as much as I can and understand. I invite you to comment, as every comment is a motivation to continue writing. Finally, my "advice". Destroy we can all do, but guide, only the wise. I wish you a great day or a good night ^^. Until the next chapter. I may update later today.