Siege

Boom! The scarlet beam struck the floating fortress head-on, obliterating an entire wall. Black stone shattered, sending countless fragments plummeting into En'Kilah below. The beam then pierced straight through the fortress.

"Damn that Kel'Thuzad! The unrighteous cur! How dare he withdraw so suddenly!" In the fortress's core command center, the Scourge Lord Kirwinter erupted in furious indignation.

"Lord Kirwinter! Talramas's power core is destroyed! I fear it's about to crash!" As his deputy, Dr. Zoglin, delivered the grim news, the undead within the floating fortress experienced a sickening lurch of weightlessness, followed by a deafening crash. Boom! The Talramas Fortress careened westward, slamming into the foothills west of En'Kilah.

"This Breath of Rukhmar truly deserves its reputation as the pinnacle of Arakkoa civilization!" In the Violet Citadel, the Kirin Tor councilors murmured in awe as they witnessed the floating fortress's demise.

Currently, Gandalf held the position of Speaker of the Kirin Tor Council. His fellow councilors included the human Archmage Modera, Drenden, Ansirem, as well as the red dragon Krasus and the high elf Aethas Sunreaver, who had taken Kael'thas's place. Aside from Krasus and Aethas, the two human mages, Modera and Drenden, had become staunch supporters of Gandalf after receiving his favor during the Orcish Wars. Ansirem had also become a follower of Galen. With Dalaran's city now essentially under the Crusade's control and most of its mages serving Galen, the magical city could be considered to have changed allegiance.

"This is a treasure the Grand Commander retrieved from the world of Draenor," Gandalf explained, briefly outlining the artifact's history. "The Arakkoa once used it to destroy a demigod-level spore creature, but ironically, they later used it to bring about the destruction of their own empire!"

"It seems Draenor, despite harboring the hated orcs, also holds many fascinating things!" Archmage Modera exclaimed, her interest piqued by this alien world.

"When the time is right, the Grand Commander will undoubtedly open the passage between Azeroth and Draenor," Gandalf assured them. "You will all have the opportunity to witness the front lines where the Crusade confronts the Burning Legion!" While opening Draenor was indeed part of Galen's long-term plans, Azeroth still faced numerous unresolved threats – the Old Gods, the four Elemental Lords, the corrupted Titan Keepers, and the immediate danger of the Lich King. Only with internal stability could Galen safely lead Azeroth's races to the stars.

"The Breath of Rukhmar requires recharging, but two floating cities remain," Gandalf stated, glancing at the four airships docked on the platform. "Deploy the gnome gunships and goblin zeppelins! Modera and Drenden, you will proceed to the Skybreaker and Skyfire. Master Krasus and Master Aethas, please assist in protecting the Wealthbringer and Treasure Seeker!"

"Uh…" Aethas's expression was conflicted. He genuinely disliked dealing with the sharp-tongued and avaricious goblins.

"Master Aethas, if you prefer, I can switch assignments with you!" Drenden offered kindly.

"No need. Goblins it is!" Aethas sighed, resigning himself to his task.

As the four airships ascended, the ground forces reached their optimal staging positions. "Order the Tuskarr and Yaungol allies to deal with the crashed Scourge floating city," Galen commanded. "Instruct them to attempt to salvage the city's facilities and leave no undead alive!"

"Yes, Grand Commander!" An orderly departed to relay the instructions.

Five knight orders lined up, their polished armor gleaming, ready for the assault. Galen drew the Ashbringer, holding the artifact aloft, and galloped from the eastern flank of the knights' formation to the west, the Ashbringer ringing against the knights' lances as he passed.

"Warriors of the Crusade, soldiers of the Alliance! Today is a glorious day! We shall cleanse the evil before us! Facing the Scourge, let your courage make your souls brighter than a thousand suns! The enemy will crumble before you, and the light of justice will utterly destroy them!" With Galen's final, resounding roar, three red flares shot into the sky!

"For the Alliance! For Azeroth! Charge!"

"For Azeroth! For Lordaeron!"

Tens of thousands of knights tightened their reins. Their armored warhorses began to move, hooves pounding the snow-covered ground. As the paladins activated the Crusader Aura, the warhorses' iron-shod hooves churned the thick snow, and a deep, earth-shaking rumble filled the air. Across the plains southeast of En'Kilah, ten thousand horses thundered forward, a palpable wave of killing intent rolling ahead of them like a fierce lion pouncing upon En'Kilah's outer walls.

A multitude of crypt fiends burrowed from beneath the frozen earth, attempting to halt the heavy armored knights' charge. But in the steel torrent, they were either impaled by the knights in the front ranks or trampled into gruesome fragments by the iron hooves.

With only a few hundred meters remaining to the city walls, Galen was about to signal the air fleet to bombard the fortifications when, suddenly, a massive mammoth, easily exceeding six meters in height, materialized from behind and accelerated its charge! Blink Dagger followed by a tusk charge! What in the blazes is this guy doing? Galen was utterly perplexed by his newly recruited magnataur chieftain's actions.

Boom! The mammoth slammed into En'Kilah's walls, creating a breach large enough for perhaps three knights to pass through abreast. This oaf… he's trying to show off. His courage is admirable, but his brain clearly isn't functioning. What use is this paltry gap? Galen inwardly grumbled, wondering if Magnus's millennia-long icy slumber with the Dragonflayer Clan had permanently addled his wits.

Patting his warhorse, which surged forward imbued with Holy Light, Galen raised the Ashbringer high, channeling all his Holy Light into the greatsword, and then brought it down in a fierce arc. Judgment! A colossal blade of light, seemingly cleaving the heavens and earth, descended from the sky, striking the gate of En'Kilah with devastating force.

Boom! A violent collapse ripped through the gate, creating a gaping breach over ten meters wide. Furthermore, the Judgment's searing Holy Light utterly annihilated and purified the undead thronging behind the gate. Galen spurred his warhorse forward, leading the charge into the walls of En'Kilah.