Blade

"That's the Nexus-Stinger! Heavens, what is Malygos trying to do!"

After following Rhonin out of the Red Dragon Shrine, Korialstrasz personally witnessed a disc-shaped arcane artifact absorbing the energies of the ley lines. Extreme disbelief filled her eyes, as if she had seen something that terrified her beyond measure.

Rhonin heard the name of the artifact from the red dragon, and he asked, "It's called the Nexus-Stinger? I can feel it drawing energy from the ley lines without limit. If this continues, it will eventually cause the world to collapse. What exactly is the Blue Dragonflight trying to do?"

Korialstrasz looked at the human mage with an extremely serious expression. "You're right, Malygos, he's trying to destroy the world!"

She explained, "As guardians of magic, the blue dragons possess two magical artifacts that control magic: the Nexus-Stinger and the Focusing Iris. The former can draw energy from the ley lines without limit, while the latter can absorb this energy without limit. Once Malygos absorbs enough energy with the Focusing Iris, he can completely destroy the world!"

"It seems he's trying to do just that now." Rhonin frowned deeply. He knew about the Focusing Iris; Anna possessed such a magical artifact. It could indeed absorb magical energy, convert it into pure arcane energy, and amplify it. When he left, the incident of Anna being attacked by the blue dragons had not yet occurred. If he had known about this, he would have been even more vigilant.

Heaven knows what kind of crazy things Malygos, with two Focusing Irises, would do?

"Quickly tell the Queen about this; we need her help." Rhonin looked at Korialstrasz, who deeply agreed with his suggestion.

—

"My Lady, Tyrande and the others have returned!" A Warden reported the scouted information to Maiev Shadowsong, their leader.

Maiev looked down at her subordinate, "Where is Malfurion?"

"He is not in their group."

Maiev fell into silence, her eyes flickering, her heart deeply conflicted. She knew what this news meant. Malfurion was the last hope for saving the World Tree. If he had not been awakened or had encountered other accidents, then according to the previous plan, Tyrande would order the destruction of the World Tree!

Should she stop them?

Maiev was torn by this question.

She was strongly unwilling to watch Nordrassil be destroyed, but in the time that Tyrande had been away, thousands more of her people had fallen into slumber. This was already a rather frightening number for the sparsely populated night elves.

"Hmph!" Maiev snorted coldly, "Have the sisters assemble!"

"As you command, My Lady!" The Warden retreated.

Sena Stormrunner asked, "My Lady, our target—"

She thought Maiev was going to stop Tyrande and those humans who had broken into Mount Hyjal from destroying the World Tree. Most others probably thought the same.

The discord between Maiev and Tyrande had lasted for over ten thousand years and was already well known. Emotionally, no night elf could agree with the decision to destroy Nordrassil, so it was normal for Maiev to make things difficult.

"To Ashenvale!" Maiev grunted. "I just received intelligence that the Nightmare Lord's claws are fiercely attacking our camp. We must let these crawling monsters taste our strength!"

Hearing her say this, Sena immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Although she was infinitely loyal to Maiev and, like her mistress, disliked High Priestess Tyrande, she was not a woman who couldn't distinguish right from wrong. In the current situation, there was no other way but to destroy the World Tree. If her mistress stubbornly resisted for the sake of opposing, even if she stopped Tyrande, it would only worsen the situation.

At that time, all the accusations would shift from Tyrande to Maiev, which was obviously not a wise move.

Maiev could certainly understand this. She could neither stop Tyrande nor bear to watch Nordrassil be destroyed, so she simply turned a blind eye and left. Moreover, the attack on Ashenvale was not a fabrication. According to the urgent intelligence from the warriors there, the one commanding the Nightmare's claws was an unusually large, twisted monster with many thick tentacles.

The naga and Nightmare minions all regarded it as their master, calling it "The Lurker" Soggoth.

The intelligence also mentioned that this Soggoth's appearance was very similar to the monster that had been stabbed to death by the Sword of Sargeras at the southern end of Darkshore.

Whatever it was, it certainly wasn't a monster that ordinary warriors could contend with. Maiev's support was clearly necessary.

—

After the Wardens withdrew, besides a small number of radical druids, no one on Mount Hyjal could stop Tyrande.

Tyrande gently placed her hand on the trunk of Nordrassil. The rough bark already appeared very coarse and dry, as if it were nearing death. Its enormous canopy originally covered most of the sky above Mount Hyjal, so that even during the day, night elves who didn't like sunlight didn't have to worry about being directly exposed. But since being parasitized by the Nightmare, it had shed countless leaves, and almost all of those remaining on the branches were withered and yellow. A thick layer of yellow leaves had accumulated on the ground, making it feel like walking on a carpet.

Tyrande bowed her head and offered a prayer. Although she was not a druid, she could now feel the pain and wails coming from Nordrassil's soul.

After doing all this, Tyrande turned to Aiden and said, "Let's begin!"

Not far from them, the radical druids and ordinary night elves who did not understand this decision, who were being held back by the guards, immediately became agitated. Their faces twisted, they shouted with ferocious expressions:

"Tyrande, you will become a sinner of the night elves!"

"Nordrassil's power is endless; the Nightmare cannot drain it all!"

"The Crown of the Heavens can definitely recover; please, don't destroy it!"

"This is the glory that our night elves have inherited for ten thousand years; you have no right to make such a decision!"

"Traitor, traitor! Tyrande, you are a traitor!"

"Let High Priest Malfurion come out!"

"Mortals, get back to your lands! This is Mount Hyjal!"

"I swear, if you destroy Nordrassil, I will definitely kill you!"

All kinds of abuse, threats, and curses filled Aiden's ears.

"I'm sorry." Aiden said in a low voice.

"No, it is I who have implicated you." Tyrande shook her head and smiled bitterly. Her complexion was abnormally pale, and her body was almost swaying.

At this time, Hamuul Runetotem said, "No race can enjoy glory forever. The night elves have already received ten thousand years; they should be content."

Tyrande looked at this tauren archdruid, her lips moved, but she made no sound.

Ten thousand years ago, the night elves received the blessing of immortality, and now it was turning into a vicious curse. The gap between the two was enough to make any night elf mentally unbalanced.

The fact that Tyrande could insist on making such a decision already showed considerable courage.

Aiden very much agreed with Hamuul's words. At the same time, he was also somewhat emotional. In the original history, Mount Hyjal faced the crisis of annihilation under Archimonde's mad attack. Malfurion still had the courage to detonate the energy of the World Tree in exchange for Nordrassil and Archimonde perishing together.

According to the timeline, the night elves had now enjoyed more than half a year of health and immortality than in the normal history. Aiden didn't think there was anything wrong with destroying the World Tree at this time.

Fate had determined that the blessing bestowed upon the night elves by the dragon aspects ten thousand years ago had been exhausted, and this year they were destined to lose immortality and health.

Aiden strode forward, and he also gently placed his hand on the trunk of Nordrassil, trying to inject a portion of natural energy into it, but he sensed that most of his power was absorbed by the destructive and predatory Nightmare essence, and only a small portion nourished Nordrassil.

"I am dying... mortal."

"End my suffering."

"Quick, this Nightmare energy is corroding me."

Nordrassil's will was transmitted to his consciousness through Aiden's hand. The World Tree was in pain and weak, like a prisoner who had undergone eighteen kinds of torture.

"I'm sorry." Aiden conveyed his will.

"Quickly release me."

At this moment, another voice came from within the tree trunk: "You won't stop my plan, mortal!"

"No one can stop my return!"

This was a twisted and crazy voice.

"Xavius," Aiden knew the owner of this voice, "You will not succeed. I will kill your soul and your body, and let you completely perish!"

Xavius showed no fear, instead laughing wildly: "Hahaha, then come! I'll be waiting for you in the Dream! I need some powerful claws and fangs, and you can satisfy my needs! As for now—I'm afraid you don't know, Nordrassil is protected by the power of the Dragon Aspects, and mortals can't even break its bark!"

"I'm looking forward to seeing what you're going to use to destroy the World Tree! That burning sword you had before? Haha, I bet you won't be able to cut through Nordrassil's trunk in a thousand years!"

"Use the Horn of Cenarius!" Nordrassil roared, "The power of the horn can awaken the ancient souls in the forest, and they can detonate the power within me!"

Xavius snorted: "That's a good idea. Unfortunately, Cenarius and Malfurion, the only other one who can use the horn, are both asleep in the Dream. I have a suggestion, mortal. Didn't you awaken Remulos? Why not let him try to blow that horn? Hehe, I'm looking forward to you subverting my understanding of that horn."

He seemed confident, not at all worried that Nordrassil's method would truly threaten him.

"No, no!" Nordrassil roared in despair. Clearly, it also knew very well who could use the power of the horn.

At this time, Aiden said in a deep voice: "I never intended to use the Horn of Cenarius in the first place."

Xavius praised: "You have self-awareness, mortal. If you take the initiative to join me, I might consider leaving the position of second-in-command for you."

"Provided you can survive." Aiden slowly drew a huge sword from the void. Its hilt was longer than the blade of an ordinary sword, and the blade was as long as seven or eight meters.

In order to use this weapon more conveniently, Aiden used the method he learned in the Twisting Nether, and his body instantly swelled and grew taller, until his height increased to twelve or thirteen meters, so that the sword could match his size.

Broll Bearmantle looked at this scene in surprise, and stammered to Hamuul: "Lord Aiden, is he, is he a mortal?" The doubt in his tone was obvious.

"You should ask Kayle." Hamuul had only been in contact with Aiden for a few days, and in the past, he only knew that he was the head of the Valoran Federation, and knew nothing else.

Broll, Tyrande, and the others all looked at Kayle.

The Judicator slowly shook her head.

Although they didn't get a more in-depth answer, everyone clearly knew the basic facts.

When Aiden drew the giant sword, the two wills within the tree trunk became extremely shocked at the same time:

"This, this is…"

"The power of the Dragon Aspects!"

Nordrassil was blessed by the three Dragon Aspects, so of course it knew what kind of power the giant sword in Aiden's hand possessed. Divine power can only be countered by divine power. Under the power of this sword, the blessing of the Dragon Aspects would no longer be an obstacle.

Since being cursed, the World Tree felt a sense of joy for the first time, knowing that it was about to be freed.

And Nordrassil's joy meant Xavius's fear.

In order to completely extract the power of the World Tree to strengthen himself, Xavius had planned for thousands of years. Now, he finally took advantage of the Burning Legion's invasion to realize his plan step by step. Now that success was in sight, a variable appeared!

He trapped the only two people who could affect his plan: Malfurion and Cenarius; his master also helped him solve the problem of the Dragon Aspects' possible interference. Other than that, the plan should have been foolproof!

But the appearance of Aiden, wielding the Dragon King's Blade, shattered everything.

"I've only absorbed half of the World Tree's power… there's still a possibility of failure."

"Damn it, give me one more day, one day!"

Various thoughts flooded Xavius's mind.

But Aiden couldn't give him any more time.

He poured his power into the Dragon King's Blade, and this artifact, soaked with the power of the five Dragon Aspects, began to shine brightly and exude a terrifying power. Aiden raised the sword high and slashed down.

"Clang!"

The sword was deeply embedded in Nordrassil's trunk, and the divine power within it exploded, creating a huge wound.

"Ah! Pain!"

"No! Stop!"

Nordrassil's and Xavius's voices came out separately. The former, although in pain, was more eager to be freed; the latter was because the plan had not yet been achieved. If Xavius failed, not only would he be unable to avenge the night elves, but his master N'Zoth would definitely not spare him.

Aiden pulled out the sword and slashed down again after pouring power into it.

"Clang, clang, clang…"

The entire Mount Hyjal echoed with the sound of a giant sword chopping wood. Every sword he struck was so heart-wrenching, not only for Nordrassil and Xavius in the tree trunk, but also for the thousands of night elves on Mount Hyjal.

Those who agreed with Tyrande's decision cried bitterly, and those who disagreed with her decision wailed and cursed. Each and every one of these swords seemed to be cutting into their hearts, making them suffer.

After more than a dozen swords were struck, a third of the World Tree's main trunk had been cut off.

"Look, Nordrassil is bleeding!" A sharp-eyed night elf suddenly shouted.

"It really is bleeding!" Others also saw this scene.

In the gap, black-purple turbid liquid flowed out of the heart of the tree.

Nocturne, who was waiting nearby, immediately became excited, his eyes glowing: "It's Nightmare Essence!"

He immediately pounced on it and frantically absorbed the power.

Xavius immediately wailed loudly.

Although his main body was in Azshara, the Nightmare Essence that Fandral Staghelm brought here was taken from his original power, and its loss would also affect his main body.

Especially in the original plan, when he finished extracting the power of the World Tree, he could completely enslave Nordrassil's will and turn it into another clone of himself. But now, the coming result would be a huge difference from the expected effect.

"Get out, get out!"

"No, don't!"

Xavius shouted unconsciously, scolding Nocturne who was frantically absorbing his Nightmare Essence, and thinking wildly in his mind: Why is there another nightmare in this world besides him, with the same nature of power as him?

He would not know that this nightmare did not come from Azeroth, but from another completely different world.

Aiden would not stop chopping because of Xavius's wailing and scolding. When he cut more than half of the World Tree's thick main trunk, Nocturne, who was still enjoying himself, floated to the side.

His size became larger, the color of his body became darker and deeper, and his power obviously improved greatly. Nightmare Essence was still flowing out of Nordrassil's heart, but Nocturne had already absorbed enough. Although he had not reached the most powerful level in Valoran, he still had to digest these essences before he could continue to absorb them.

"What a pity, what a pity." Nocturne felt a little regretful. How good would it be if he could store the Nightmare Essence and absorb it slowly?

The Nightmare Essence splashed with the sawdust. Without Nocturne's absorption, they would turn into four-legged crawling Nightmare Claws when they touched the ground. Nocturne wanted to try his newly acquired power, so without waiting for others to come to support him, he began to slaughter wildly among the Nightmare Claws. These little things could not contend with the power of the Eternal Nightmare at all, and the speed of transformation was almost equal to the speed of being eliminated.

When only one-third of Nordrassil's trunk remained uncut, its huge canopy and unimaginable weight had already caused it to shake slightly, and the roots on the ground were also stretched tight. For a time, the soil near the roots was flying, and there were earthquakes of increasing intensity.

"That's enough, that's enough, my friend!" Nordrassil's painful voice carried a different kind of joy. "Leave this sword, then step back, step back as far as possible! Leave the rest to me!"

Aiden used all his strength to insert the Dragon King's Blade into Nordrassil's trunk, the sharp blade completely submerged, leaving only the hilt outside.

After doing this, his figure also returned to normal size.

He wanted to say something to Nordrassil, but he couldn't think of any specific words. Finally, he bowed to Nordrassil, expressing his respect for this ancient tree that dared to sacrifice itself.