Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 510, Section 49: The essence of the art of survival lies in not letting any fly leg slip by.
A giant red dragon flew across the burning Hand of Tyr.

The noble Kel'Thuzad surveyed the battlefield below with a wary gaze, constantly on guard against a black dragon leaping out from Tyr's Hand's hideout to attack it.

As the son of the Red Dragon Queen, Kalecgos inherited his mother's formidable fighting prowess and the healing power of dragonfire. He could easily defeat the corrupted black dragons. However, the red and blue dragons who came to his aid in this battle received "strange" orders.

The order from the Dragon Rest Temple required them to capture as many black dragons as possible that were active in the northern frontier, and then hand them over to the humans in the southern frontier of the continent.

This sounds incredible, and it goes against the "eradicate evil completely" attitude that the guardian dragons have upheld for the past ten thousand years, but Kerestras knows the necessity of doing so.

It didn't want to discuss whether the order was right or wrong; it simply felt a deep sense of relief at the impending annihilation of the Black Dragon Legion.

Over the past ten thousand years, these creatures have caused far too much trouble for the world order. The corrupt black dragons are a mistake that must be corrected!
"Karen, head south to the Avalon County farm. A black dragon is hiding there! We've already cornered it!"

Just as the red dragon prince was using his scorching breath to help the advancing Ash Knights burn down the Dragonborn's city walls, a warning from the blue dragon Kalecgos caused it to accelerate and change direction in the air with a graceful spin, flying towards the land further south amidst the cheers of the paladins below who raised their weapons.

Tyr's Hand is not just a simple military fortress. Nearby lies the human county of Avalon, which was once a beautiful and peaceful military port town. However, after several crises in the northern frontier, Avalon became a garrison for the Dragonborn.

The Dragonborn train and live in Tyr's Hand Fortress, and their numerous servants cultivate the land in Avalon County to provide the Dragonborn with various supplies and services.

It's quite normal for the black dragon to be hiding here.

Given the current distorted power structure of the Kingdom of Lordaeron, places like Avalon County are essentially the Black Dragon's "backyard."

When Kelstraz arrived, several of its brethren and the three blue dragons were besieging a group of ferocious dragonkin. The black dragon that had tried to escape had been shot down into the woods, but it was still fighting back, with streaks of dark flame shooting into the sky to prevent the dragons from getting closer.

It highlights a cornered beast's desperate struggle.

“We damaged its wings, it can’t escape now! This guy has been hiding in Tyr’s Hand, spying on Light’s Hope Chapel, who knows what kind of conspiracy he’s plotting.”

Kalecgos flapped its beautiful wings and flew to Kalecgos' side, saying:
"There are far too many black dragons in Lordaeron. Even in this border region, there is a fully grown black dragon. I can hardly imagine how many corrupted beings are in Lordaeron City. Perhaps we should summon more of our people to witness the destruction of the black dragonflight."

"No, Kare, the Black Dragon Legion will not perish."

The Red Dragon Prince whispered:
"They will continue to exist, in ways we can hardly imagine, but I suppose the pain these black dragons will suffer as they walk into the Holy Light will surely appease the blue dragons' hatred."

"You mean 'lightforging'?"

Kalecgos blinked and whispered:

"Have you seen those strange Lightforged dragons led by 'Black Dragon Princess' Onyxia? It is said that their souls are torn apart and stitched back together, and their bodies are to be disassembled and reassembled in the Void's mysticism."

That was an experience worse than death.

"Yes, this black dragon also has to go through that process."

The Red Dragon Prince spun in the air, gathering his strength, and said:
"Make way, my fellow citizens! I will capture it myself. Tyr's Hand has no other black dragons left. Go and help the People of Light take over the entire city."

It was very authoritative, and at its command, the other dragons turned and flew away, while Kalecgos stayed behind to "protect" Kalecgos.

The Red Dragon Prince charged into the forest amidst the shadow flames, and the two giant beasts clashed. The battle caused the ground to tremble violently, but it did not last long before one of them stopped fighting.

"Stop! I am not one of those fallen ones!"

The black dragon with the injured wing retreated to the edge of the forest, and under the watchful eyes of the red and blue dragons, it used its Disguise ability to transform into a human dressed as an assassin.

It reached out a "stop" gesture, then clutched its chest and shouted:
"I am a follower of Lord Saberian! We are serving the will of Mother World. I am also Farad, the master assassin of Ravenholdt, and I am in charge of communication with Anduin Lothar."

I've been sending many messages to Light's Hope Chapel these days; you're all there, you should know this.

"That's why you're still alive, Black Dragon Farad!"

Kaldorei, now transformed into a red-robed elf, gripped a majestic dragon halberd. Beside him, Kalecgos, now a blue-haired human, watched warily. The red dragon prince shouted:
"The Temple of Dragons' Rest has ordered us to capture you alive. You either submit to Onyxia and be forged by the Lightforged, or you obediently remain in your cage and await the judgment of the Supreme Protoss."

This relieved the black dragon Farad, who had been driven to the brink of despair; it was good that he didn't have to die.

But it rolled its eyes and said:

"But my work isn't finished yet. Without my command, it would be difficult for Ravenholdt to pass on effective intelligence to Lothar. You may not know this, but the Lordaerons' 'dream raid' on Hillsbrad was the message I sent out. I'm in single-line contact with my informants."

Without that reminder, the Seventh Legion would have been defeated long ago!

"So, just how deeply are you hiding in the northern frontier?"

Kalecgos complained:

"You've already infiltrated the core of the human assassins. I bet you're not the only black dragon to have made it to the top?"

"Heh, this is our survival strategy, Blue Dragon. You wouldn't understand. All you need to know is that we have people all over the Northern Frontier, and Lord Saberian has already recruited a Black Dragon like me who is sincerely repenting."

Farad spread his hands and said in a tone that was both impassioned and pleading:

"I am only six thousand years old, Blue Dragon. I did not participate in the betrayal that destroyed you. The hatred in your eyes should not be directed at me. Many black dragons like me have suffered undeserved calamities. For so many years, you have refused to listen to our explanations."

Why should we, the innocent black dragons, bear the consequences of Deathwing's sins?
You see, now that we understand this principle, we have begun to resist the source of disaster.

We're still collaborators.

"By the way, I have some important news to tell you, which might repay your kindness in sparing my life. Prince Karen will surely be very interested in it."

"Say!"

The Red Dragon Prince looked at the cunning Black Dragon before him, who pointed to the north and said:

“A few days ago, a strange force landed on the coast of Avalon County. They were well disguised, but I could still smell the ‘smell of the dead’—the undead from Northrend!”

I don't know how those guys got in touch with the Lordaeron dragonborn, but they were invited to Stratholme.

The leader is very powerful.

I think that dead man could easily kill me. Right now, humans and elves are cooperating to besiege Stratholme, so it's really hard to say what those undead will do on the battlefield.

O red dragon who rides the flames of life, you'd better hurry and go check on Stratholme.

The northern frontier is already chaotic enough; let's not let the undead get involved.

This news caused the red and blue dragons to exchange a glance. Kalecgos transformed into a dragon and took to the air, instructing Kalecgos to keep an eye on the black dragon before flapping its wings and flying towards Stratholme.

That was the largest city in the region, with more than a million people living there. The Red Dragon Prince could not imagine what kind of disaster would be caused if the power of death were to erupt there.

Having witnessed the Scourge's undead marching through blizzards across Northrend, it knew all too well the terror of the Death Force once it entered a "snowball" mode, and that its source of eruption must be sealed off.

But shortly after the Red Dragon Prince left, something happened at Tyr's Hand.

"Mograine! The dead have risen!"

The loyal Ash Knight, Fairbanks, rode his holy steed to the Grand Duke's side. He pointed furiously at the castle's outer perimeter, which they had just recaptured, and shouted:

"The dragonborn who were burned to death by dragonfire have 'awakened'—they are undead! Those guys have become troublesome undead, and they're attacking our rear. This hellhole isn't just tainted by black dragons; death has taken root here too."

"Damn it, how did our country become like this?!"

Grand Duke Mograine was a native of Lordaeron, and the news of the desecration of the dead enraged him.

He stared intently at the heavily fortified castle before him, then glanced behind him. Just as he was about to issue the purification order, he saw several red dragons descend from the sky, spewing scorching dragonfire onto the heads of the undead.

Red dragons are dragons of life, and they strongly resist the spread of death's power. This scene made the Grand Duke sigh, shaking his head and saying:
"Continue the attack! Take this castle, and then have the priests wash the entire Tyr's Hand and Avalon County with holy water! This place must return to the embrace of the Holy Light."

Meanwhile, behind Tyr's Hand, on a high tower in Avalon County.

The wounded black dragon Falard pointed to the faintly visible coastline and said to the solemn-faced Kalecgos beside him:
"Look! Those elite dragonborn who died in the previous war have been resurrected as death knights, and they are heading towards the docks. There must be a ghost fleet there to meet them. Do you understand, Kalec?"

This is well prepared!

The undead have their eyes on the war in the Northlands, and they are eager to make a fortune from it. If I'm not mistaken, the same thing is happening in Hillsbrad Foothills, Arathi Highlands, and Wetlands.

The living are fighting, but every one of them who falls will become part of the dead.

The source of this necromantic power is in Northrend, the territory of your dragon guardians. Why would you allow such a thing to happen?

Kalecgos gritted his teeth and then said:
"Not long ago, some dragon graveyards in Dragonblight were also robbed. It's not that we don't want to take care of it, Black Dragon, but the guardian dragons are now facing a difficult choice."

But you're right.

The dead are no longer content to hide in the shadows and enjoy scraps; they're ready to be served!
Ah, these successive crises are truly exhausting; the world seems to have become unfamiliar overnight.

"Hmph, the world has always been dangerous; it's just that you're hiding in your own 'world' and don't want to face the crisis."

Black Dragon sneered:
"So what if the blue dragons are the dragons most closely connected to mortals? You only operate in Dalaran and Quel'Thalas, and you are completely unaware of the hidden dangers in this world. In that sense, the Dragon Aspects are nothing more than paperhangers."

You haven't tried to solve any problems; you've just been suppressing them to prevent them from erupting.

"But it's still much better than you choosing to be 'part of the problem'!"

Kalecgos scoffed and rebuked:
"You stay here and I'm going to destroy that ship!"

After saying this, Kalecgos transformed into a dragon and flew towards the coast of Avalon, launching an attack on the undead on the coast with the frost breath of a blue dragon.

But seconds later, to the astonishment of the black dragon Farad, the blue dragon let out a mournful cry as the undead struck its delicate wing with a giant crossbow wrapped in necromancy.

It crashed spectacularly onto the shore, giving the black dragon a taste of the blue dragons' traditional "crash king" skills.

The more mighty the charge, the more pathetic the fall.

"Damn it! You should have just said you were a newbie. If you're a newbie, what the hell are you trying to show off in front of me for?"

Farad stomped his feet in anger.

It wanted to turn around and leave, but these black dragon rebels were currently under the World Mother's "observation" phase. If it left the weak blue dragon here to die, and the dragon was transformed into a bone dragon by the undead, the blood debt would be on its own head again.

"Damn it, I, the injured one, have to save you? Can't you blue dragons be a little more reliable?!"

Farad cursed as he transformed into his black dragon form, flapping his injured wings and flying over, spewing shadow flames to dispel the undead along the way, and laboriously escorting Kalec back into the air.

As they struggled back to the walls of Tyr's Hand, Kalecgos, somewhat embarrassed, stubbornly retorted:

"That...it was their unsportsmanlike ambush on my delicate wings. I am not good at flying."

"Shut the hell up."

Farad cursed:
"Someone like you would be used for experiments on chromatic dragons in our Black Dragon Legion. Blue dragons are all a bunch of idiots! Hurry up and change back. Humans are coming to check. You don't want to embarrass the Spellweaver any longer, do you?"

------

What's going on with these undead?

Kael'thas stared in astonishment at the chaotic scene before him in Stratholme.

His Sin'dorei commanders also looked like they were still in a daze. They hadn't even started the siege yet, so how did Stratholme fall into chaos on its own?
Aren't the Dragonborn supposed to be very skilled in battle?

The Sun King's warriors even left their wills before setting out on their campaigns, but here you come and show us this?

"Your Majesty! Those undead are hunting down civilians who have fled the city! Are we just going to stand by and watch?"

Beyond the city's moat bridge, General Aurelia, having completed her reconnaissance, asked loudly:

“If we don’t intervene, the hunt will soon turn into a massacre. We should intervene! The people of Lordaeron are always innocent.”

"Let's take them in first, and find a few people to ask them what happened."

The Sun King frowned and said:
"It seems like the whole of Stratholme has fallen into chaos without a command structure? But there should be a whole well-trained Dragonborn here! Don't make any rash moves before you figure out the situation."

The Ranger General executed the order perfectly.

She personally led a group of rangers to repel the ferocious undead. Because the city was indeed in chaos, Alleria quickly took control of the gates of Stratholme. Subsequently, civilians who escaped were taken in by the Sin'dorei and settled in the Blackwood Forest outside the moat.

There was another important figure among these people.

Orix Rivendell, the only son of Baron Rivendell, Lord of Stratholme.

The child was young and had been escorted out of the city by his nanny and family guards. He was pale and clearly terrified. When he was brought before the Sun King, his eyes were still glazed over.

"poor child."

Archmage Gina Goldsword sighed and, at Kael'thas's instruction, stepped forward to treat the child. After a potion to soothe the mind was poured in, little Orix quickly recovered.

He looked around blankly, and then burst into tears after realizing he was safe.

"Father is dead. Father was killed by an elf, who wielded a blue magic sword. Father and the officers were all killed. They rose again and pledged allegiance to the Lich King."

Little Orix tearfully told those around him the truth of what he had seen.

Despite the incoherence, Kael'thas still managed to catch a crucial detail: an elf wielding a "magic sword" had swept through almost all of Stratholme's high command at a dinner hosted by Baron Rivendell.

No wonder the city is in such a chaotic state now.

However, the most terrifying thing is that, based on Orix's description of the appearance of the magic sword elf, Kael'thas believes that it should be Governor Thosedrin, who has been missing for more than half a year!

"He's still in the city, still converting the Lich King's undead army!"

Kael'thas stood up and called out to the commanders:
"The situation is critical. Change strategy and enter the city immediately! Aurelia, you take over the city's defenses. Hawksbil and the warriors build barricades to isolate the undead. Archmage Golden Sword, take in the civilians and send them out of the city first."

Salorian, bring the spellbreakers with me.

We will face Governor Tosedrin here, and if possible, we will give him his final resting place here!

"Your Majesty, this news must be shared with Archbishop Fao immediately!"

Archmage Moros stepped forward and reminded him:
“Only Archbishop Fao has enough prestige to quickly quell the chaos in the city. We can help, but this is, after all, a human affair.”

“Yes, you’re right. Then send the message to the Church of Light’s Hope.”

Kael'thas looked at the chaotic city before him and whispered:

"The Scourge is spreading in Stratholme, and the claws of death have reached into the civilized world. We have gained another enemy."

(End of this chapter)