Chapter 205: Capturing Barov (Part 2)

In this era, there were no video recorders, and even the most advanced magic mirror imaging could only transmit current events, like a live magical broadcast. Furthermore, these broadcasts were highly unstable due to factors like distance and elemental fluctuations.

In theory, the ability to record certain events was within the scope of the Bronze Dragonflight, who controlled time and space. Among humans, even the most famous mage, Medivh, had only a profound understanding of space.

What Duke was doing now was something completely beyond Lord Barov's imagination.

Three-dimensional holography.

Before Duke's time-travel, true holography hadn't been fully developed. However, ingenious humans had managed to create a large tetrahedron made of four triangular glass panels, which combined projections from four directions into a genuine three-dimensional hologram.

Duke's system sprite drew upon his knowledge in this area, and replayed the memory imprinted in his mind in the most vivid and realistic manner.

It was the Battle of Redridge Mountains.

Lord Barov only saw in the projection a sudden green wave surging from the other side of the mountain, with over ten thousand orc warriors rushing towards the human line from the narrow pass and ridge.

He saw a massive orc, bellowing with his head raised, his braided hair flying in the wind, accompanied by a powerful roar, full of imposing presence.

The orcs split into two groups amidst the thunderous rumble of the earth. This terrifying green tide engulfed the entire mountainside in the blink of an eye. The orcs' charge was met with arrows and sniper fire from the human fortifications, but it meant nothing, only provoking the orcs' ferocity.

They transformed into the most terrifying destructive berserkers, easily assaulting one fortress after another, smashing through the thick earthen walls with brute force, dragging the humans hiding inside and tearing them to pieces.

The scene shifted to the orc tide crashing against the eastern and northern walls of Stormwind City, their green tide flooding the walls as they fearlessly sacrificed their lives to withstand the barrage of spears and crossbow bolts.

Unbeknownst to him, Lord Barov's spine was soaked in cold sweat.

"Is this real? Can you show it again? Can I have my wife come and watch?" Lord Barov asked three questions in a row.

Duke had only one answer: "Yes."

In fact, after Duke replayed the scene, Lady Barov, who had hurried over, was even more shocked by the sight of the orcs and the display of magic.

However, Lady Illucia managed to suppress her curiosity in the field of magic.

"My dear, I have to say, this must be true."

Duke spoke calmly, "As a matter of fact, I've prepared a captive orc warrior as well. I put him to sleep, but you can have your guards test the orc's strength. Of course, you should be prepared for the potential sacrifice of your men."

Lord Barov nodded heavily.

Half an hour later, the pale-faced Barov couple returned to the negotiation table.

The result was too shocking.

Despite Duke's repeated emphasis on the orcs' ferocity, Lord Barov sent five fully-armed elite guards against one unarmed orc. However, at the cost of one dead and two seriously injured, they managed to kill the orc.

"But those damned orcs couldn't possibly cross the Thandol Span!" Lord Barov stubbornly argued.

The Thandol Span was indeed a great natural barrier, a massive stone bridge connecting the two continents.

Duke was baffled by this enormous rope bridge, which shouldn't have existed in a world equivalent to Earth's medieval times, with magic and swords at its core.

Don't forget that Azeroth is a planet where the titans conducted experiments, so there are many remnants of advanced technology. At least, the dwarves already have steam-powered tanks while humans still wield swords. Of course, those enormous tanks have their own issues, such as poor endurance—able to travel only one or two kilometers before breaking down.

This did not prevent the people here from having various miraculous beliefs.

Duke did not directly argue. Instead, he quietly took out a rough map of the Eastern Kingdom's northern continent and drew a line from east to west, from right to left, with a single finger.

Barov Duke's heart had already begun to waver, but he was still persistent, asking one final question, "Are you sure those green beasts can sail?"

Duke nodded silently.

Although the Horde's ships looked like a heap of gigantic floating trash and he couldn't accept the orcs' terrible, rugged aesthetics, there was no doubt that the Horde's vessels could indeed traverse the sea.

The faces of Lord and Lady Barov had become quite grim.

The area Duke had just pointed to was the Hinterlands in the eastern part of the northern continent.

If the Horde were to land on the coast below the cliffs in the easternmost part of the Hinterlands and sweep across the entire region from east to west, they would reach the Barov family's territory. The Barov family's land was indeed vast, but geographically it was shaped like a long strip, stretching from Southshore in the southwest to Caer Darrow County in the northeast. In a way, if the Horde invaded through the route Duke had suggested, the Barov family would act as a barrier for the Kingdom of Alterac.

Preemptive strikes or defenses would also be difficult.

Keep in mind that most of the Hinterlands were dense primeval forests, and it was the domain of trolls who had fought humans for a full thousand years. Humans spent a thousand years unable to completely eradicate the trolls from the Hinterlands.

The most terrifying thing was that Duke also said, "I'd bet that when the Horde can't pass through the Thandol Span, they'll search for other passages. The Hinterlands would be their top choice. The Horde's Warchief will do everything in his power to bring the trolls into the Horde's ranks. So, by next year at the latest, the Barov family will likely face a Horde coalition army with a large number of trolls."

This time, Lord and Lady Barov were utterly dispirited.

The Barov family was indeed wealthy, but military affairs were never their strong suit. They had always had a complementary relationship with the Alterac royal family. However, after seeing the Horde's strong performance in mountain warfare, Barov Duke no longer had faith in the Kingdom of Alterac's ability to withstand the Horde's assault.

You should know that before the Kingdom of Alterac entered a state of total war, its standing army consisted of a mere 4,000 troops, with only 500 cavalry. If the footage Duke provided was true, the Kingdom of Alterac would have no chance of withstanding the fierce Horde onslaught, even if only a small Horde division came from the Hinterlands.

At this point, Duke threw more fuel on the fire.

"If the Horde comes through the Hinterlands, who can the Barov family rely on? Stromgarde, busy defending the bridge? The isolationist Dalaran? Lordaeron, far away in the distance?Or the Stormwind City, which has fifty thousand well-trained soldiers experienced in fighting against orcs, right in Southshore?"