As the scouts hurried towards Hadrissa, she suddenly realized that she had just taken a nap on the back of her mount. Luckily, neither Dani nor the other officers noticed her embarrassment, and they were all attracted by the shocked expressions of the returning sentries.

Hadrisha quickly counted the heads and took two small steps forward. Despite the urgency of the scouts, it didn't look like a tribe was chasing them.

Unfortunately, the news they brought back wasn't much better.

The Silverwing Outpost has fallen.

The scouts only know a rough idea. But the bad news was soon better confirmed by the survivors who followed.

Only about a quarter of the once-proud Silver Wing Sentinels remained, and many of them were wounded. Surla, the acting commander among the survivors, recounted the horrific experience of the fall of the outpost.

Hadrisha listened with a serious expression, and at the moment there was only one thought in her mind, and that was that the end of the world had finally arrived. Even the cataclysm didn't make her so upset. But the Silverwing outpost fell.

The tribe is about to sweep through the valley of ash...... Led by Garrosh Hellroar himself.

"We're going to fight them now!" Dani shouted angrily. "They would never have thought we'd be so close!

Several other young sentinels also spoke out in support. Hadrisha noticed that Sulla, who wasn't a coward, wasn't among them. The "scout" beside her did not echo either, and the commander had expected that such a person would be the first to stand up and ask to go back to fighting.

"No," Hadrisha announced in a low voice. "We're not going. ”

Dani was dumbfounded. "But the purpose of our troops is entirely to rendezvous with the Silverwing outpost, so that we can form a more solid line of defense in front of the Horde—"

"It's not that simple. But the key question is...... The Silverwing Outpost no longer exists. This makes all the difference. We are not able to build a solid line of defense in this area. And attacking the horde immediately is exactly what they want. You've heard her report. Also aware of our own experiences. The Horde now has a new strategy, and if Garrosh Hellroar were on the front lines, they would have at their disposal far more forces than we had previously known. ”

"You're not going to want us to turn around and go back, are you?"

Dani's arguments bordered on disobedience to her superiors, but given the circumstances, Hadrissa forgave her.

"We retreated only to the west bank of the river. After crossing the river, we set up camp not far away. If the tribe had forced their way across the river, we would have been able to kill them more easily. ”

Dani and the other sentinels apparently preferred to move on and attack, believing that they would take the tribe by surprise. But they obeyed the order. Sulla and Etil organized the survivors and assigned mounts to those who were too weak.

They turned around and moved forward. Hadrisha and Dani lead a squad to cover the rear. Although he was contradictory before. But Hadrisha's lieutenant followed through to her orders, not leaving anyone in danger of being hunted by the tribal scouts.

One of the reasons the Night Elves moved quickly was that they had just come from that direction and were very familiar with the roads along the way. However, the Commander remembered the previous incident of the Orcs invading the Alliance's territory, so she sent scouts to reconnoitre. Don't be afraid of 10,000, just in case.

They reached the river without danger and crossed the river fairly smoothly. Hadrisha chose an ideal position, with an open area in front of them, so that any enemy who rushed at them would become a live target for the archers. Then, she began to deploy her soldiers along the area.

It's a new day as the day goes by. Despite the fact that the Night Elves are a nocturnal race. However, Hadrisha had been at war with the tribe around the clock during her war career, so she was also quite accustomed to operating during the day. She had already sent messengers to the two nearest outposts. And all paid off. In this way, the alliance laid a defensive line along the west bank of the river. There was no sign of tribal activity during this period. Despite Daini's repeated requests for permission from Hadrisha to send a team of scouts to spy on the enemy's location, the commander rejected her suggestion.

But they all wondered why the Horde hadn't taken advantage of the victory at the Silver Wing Outpost and continued to push forward to engage the Sentinels head-on. Sulla was unable to provide any useful details about the attack, and none of the staff officers' advice satisfied Hardrissa. Garrosh?Hellroar was waiting for something—it could be sometime—and the defenders wouldn't know until he finally acted.

A day or two passed. Hadrisha finally gave in to the adjutant's endless pleas, allowing her to lead a group of men to discreetly scout the Horde's front.

Before it got dark, Dani returned. To Hadrisha's relief, her team was unscathed. However, the confused expression on the young sentry's face was difficult for the commander to accept.

"They're ready to go," Dani said. "I've never seen such an army! Legions of irascible orc warriors with infantry and wolf knights in it. Rows of minotaurs armed with battle axes or spears, chanting for guidance from the spirits. There are more goblin lumberjacks than ever before, and troll warriors with skulls on their armor howl like ...... And there's more!" She took a deep breath and finally explained the reason for her confusion. But while most of their warriors were eager for bloody battles, their commanders did not move. ”

"Do you see their troops?"

"They have gathered a strong army," Dani replied reluctantly. "Enough to crush us. ”

"And they're waiting? Do you see anything else?"

"I saw goblins tinkering with their goddamn machines, some of which looked like they were used to create that foul-smelling fog. Other than that, nothing out of the ordinary. ”

Hadrisha remembered Sulla's report. "What about catapults?"

"There are several. Same as the models we've seen before. The accuracy is not too good. ”

The seasoned officer was not satisfied with Daini's contemptuous description, and she remembered what Sulla had said. The boulders that were thrown at the Silverwing Outpost hit their targets almost perfectly. If it were the same catapult, the orcs must have trained their operators well...... As a matter of fact. It's never been better.

Catapults may explain why the Horde has not yet attacked. This type of heavy equipment is often slow to move and difficult to transport to the front lines. But that still didn't satisfy Hadrisha. Either Garrosh expects more troops to come and reinforce it. Either he's waiting for the sentinels to make a move.

But which one would it be?" she asked herself again.

The growing number of the Horde army forced Hadrisha to make a reluctant decision. She sent messengers back to her outpost to mobilize all available forces to reinforce the front line. The coalition must hold its ground. If they allowed the orcs to continue westward, the entire region would be at risk of falling.

What she didn't expect was that the first to arrive was not the reinforcements she had summoned, but a herald who galloped like the wind. At first, Hadrisha feared that Garrosh had bypassed her line and attacked the outpost in the rear. But when the rider jumped off the panting Nightblade Leopard, the expression on his face didn't look like fear at all.

"Reinforcements are coming!" He shouted at her, not caring that the others had heard his gleeful cry as well. "The Horde will pay the price for the Battle of the Blades!"

"What are you talking about?" Dani and the others gathered around. Hadrisha asked. "Have reinforcements from those outposts to the west already left?"

"They're coming, and much more, Commander! Much more! Our fleet has landed this morning! The rest of the army has landed, and has triumphantly passed through the Horde fortress outpost of Zorhamga, and they have met little resistance!"

"What do you mean by 'landing'? Who? Where did these reinforcements come from?"

"Darnassus! Your messenger has successfully reached Darnassus!"

"Eladria?" Dani blurted out. "She's still alive?"

The joy on the rider's face faded slightly for a moment. "Just enough to tell everything she knew. Then her soul ascended to the Lady of the Moon. ”

"It's brave," Hadrisha commented. "We will remember her. ”

"I'll let ten orcs pay for her," Dani growled.

But the commander did not have time to bluff. Fighting degrades a warrior's desire to survive. She turned to the rider and asked, "Is it General Santis leading the way?"

"No, even though she's here too. The male Night Elf couldn't help but grin. "It's the High Priestess who personally presides over the expedition!"

"High Priestess?" The sentinels around them were all taken aback, and their expressions were in awe. Hadrisha couldn't believe her ears. "Tyrande?

"Yes...... And soon she will come to us. She's so sure!"

This shocking news could not help but reassure all the sentinels. The High Priestess is Elune's spokesperson in Azeroth. And now she not only knows the danger of her subordinates, but will also personally lead them to defeat the tribe.

"The orcs stupidly sit and wait. Dani said happily. "You made the right decision to stay put, Commander! now they're going to pay for the Silver Wing...... A hundredfold price!"

Hadrisha also felt confident again. Garrosh Hellroar is a formidable foe to be reckoned with, but Tyrande has nearly 10,000 years of war experience than him. Fighting her, that orc definitely doesn't have a chance at all. Hadrisha told herself that the final victory would go to the Alliance.

However...... She still couldn't help but glance in the direction of the enemy in confusion.

She should have reached the Grey Valley by now, Malfurion thought sourly. She's in the Gray Valley, and I'm chasing the wind......

This is not entirely the case. Most of the investigation was conducted by Mavi and her brother, and Malfurion spent most of her time trying to persuade the upper elves to correct their attitudes.

Due to the lack of progress, the upper elves are becoming more and more irritated. They have already begun their own investigations, with Valding being the most prominent. Unfortunately, this led to disputes between them and many of the citizens of Darnassus. At one point, it was even Malfurion's intervention that prevented bloodshed.

Even Mordant is no longer so patient. He and Malfurion stood on the outskirts of the Upper Elven camp and debated best practices for three hours before they broke up.

"Young people like Valdin, I've restrained them enough. Grand Druid. And I don't want to stop them anymore now. ”

Malfurion remembers it well. When Valding was surrounded by a group of angry Night Elves. He almost cast a spell on them. At the time, Varding was asking for clues about two murders, and his domineering attitude and subtle threats caused outrage. "We are doing everything possible to do it. Mavi—"

"It's better to talk about the results. I know she's famous, but I don't see anything to praise it. She would only come and bother us over and over again, saying that there were clues that the killer might be among us. If that's all she'd be able to do in this matter—"

"She's interrogated everyone, Mordant. No one could have done anything more thoroughly. Malfurion sighed. "I'll talk to her and see if there's anything else. ”

"At least her brother is going to be a little more round. Although he also achieved nothing, he at least showed the right amount of respect. ”

Malfurion resisted the urge to comment. Garrod is indeed a little more round-hearted. "We'll fix that. ”

"As you say," the upper elf said with suspicion in his tone. "Goodbye. ”

Malfurion nodded. Then walk in the direction of Darnassus. But he hadn't gone far before he sensed that someone else was nearby. He turned his head to look, but saw no one. Malfurion turned his attention back to the hike.

An armored figure stood in front of her, looking eerie in her cloak. It was evident that even Illidan was terrified from time to time.

"Grand Druid Malfurion," Mavi greeted him.

He looked back at the place where he had left the upper elves. The distance between Malfurion and Mavi was unsettlingly close. "What are you doing here?"

"I want Varding or his master to answer a question or two about the murder. That might help me clear my mind. ”

"Did you find anything?"

She sighed. "I don't want to say much until I find out the truth. ”

Malfurion accepted the reason, but was still unsure if what she was going to do now was wise. "Do you have to talk to them?"

Mavi laughed. "I'm annoying them, am I?"

"This is no joke. ”

Garrod's sister became serious. "No, at least not in the upper elves. You are right. ”

"Is this question necessary?"

"I don't do things that don't have a reason. And you don't have to worry that I'm going to make them angry with Dassus. I've heard about Valdin, and that guy is going to be a nuisance. ”

"If he can fix all this, he'll be fine. ”

She frowned, but replied anyway, "Yes, I think he would." ”

"Be cautious. Mavi. ”

"I will. ”

Garrod's sister bowed slightly, then moved on. Malfurion stared at her for a few seconds. But Mavi didn't look back.

He shook his head. The responsibility is not shirked, even if it is all risks.

Malfurion suddenly felt a pang of guilt. Mavi became so paranoid about the task had a lot to do with him. She guarded his brother for thousands of years, and that was because of Malfurion's kindness to Illidan. Malfurion felt that he was immensely responsible for the suffering that Mavi had endured throughout her life, and he did not want anything to happen to her.

And if she provoked them too much when she questioned the High Elves, Mavi would probably suffer greatly.

Now he's the only one left. Malfurion loved the silence of the forest and wanted a place to sit and meditate—or even wander into the Emerald Dream for a while

-- The thought became stronger and stronger.

But he couldn't stop there. The druids had to deal with many of the effects of the cataclysm, and they needed Malfurion's guidance. But more importantly, Tyrande is leading the Night Elves and their allies against the Horde at the moment. At the slightest chance to help her, Malfurion was willing to sacrifice her life if necessary.

The local trees welcome him. They were grateful for his presence, largely because the upper elves lived nearby. The mages wary the forest; Trees, in particular, can sense the dangers inherent in their magic.

The Great Druid did what he could to pacify the trees. However, he could only tell them that the upper elves did not cast spells on a large scale in the vicinity. Malfurion had promised to respect the people of Mordant, which included allowing them to practice their craft occasionally...... However, spells can only be cast in a limited way in a designated area near their camp that has been guarded by the druids. The Archmage has made most of the upper elves keep to themselves. But as far as Malfurion knew. An ambitious guy like Valding needs to be careful. Even here. Malfurion could also feel the traces of arcane magic. Once the murder is solved, the Grand Druid must have a good conversation with Mordant about Walding's understanding of the bottom line.

Malfurion talked to the trees and other forest creatures as he walked. He had to return to the temple to take care of some of the more tedious leadership tasks. Someone wants to request an audience, someone has to submit an application...... If he were an ordinary druid, he would not have dealt with such a problem anyway. Thinking when he ...... In his absence, Tyrande had been doing his duty for the well-being of his people for thousands of years, and Malfurion felt more and more guilty.

Someone else came up. Malfurion frowned at the sight of two sentries with grim expressions.

"Hats off, Grand Druid Malfurion. One of the higher-ranking ones greeted him.

"What's the matter?"

"Let's report another murder. ”

The news left Malfurion speechless for a moment. He was standing there. He wanted to hear them say he was mistaken, but soon realized that it was exactly what he was expecting.

"Where?"

"In the middle of the jungle to the north. The caretaker named Niva informed us, and she went to find Mavi. ”

Mavi. It was a matter of course to inform her...... But the Great Druid would not follow her. He had promised the High Elves that they would solve these horrific crimes, and that another murder would cause things to erupt beyond his control.

Niva will finally inform Mavi. I need to get to the scene as soon as possible...... Satisfied with the thought of informing Upper Garrod's sister, Malfurion motioned for two sentries to take him there.

The sentinels turned and moved forward. At first, out of respect for the Grand Druid, they kept a slow, even pace. Malfurion deliberately took a step or two ahead of them, causing the sentries to realize that he cared more about speed than etiquette.

Although Malfurion had a vague idea of where they were going, he was glad that the two guides knew exactly where they were. Malfurion could only guess that either the upper elf had been lured here, or it was just like what Garrod had discovered. The victim was moved here after his death.

Despite this, he grew impatient. When I saw another hill in front of me. He finally asked, "How far is it?"

"According to her, we should arrive after the mountain, Grand Druid. ”

"Good. He quickened his pace again and walked in front of the two sentinels.

The surrounding trees shook suddenly, warningly. The Grand Druid glanced at them and felt their fear. But it's not about themselves that they're worried about...... It's him.

He had already raised his arm and started casting. At the same time Malfurion shouted, "Stand back!

Even though he couldn't see, he felt like flames were exploding all around him. Malfurion heard the screams of the sentinels behind him. A terrible crackling sound exploded in his ears, and he not only felt like his whole body was burning, as if his skin had been peeled off alive.

Still, Malfurion managed to take a step forward. The pain grew stronger, but the Great Druid knew he had to keep going if he wanted to survive. He could vaguely feel the trees urging him.

The shouts of the two guards had died down. The Grand Druid could not do anything about it. He had to save himself before he could try to heal the two men. Otherwise, they will all die.

He took another step. The pain diminished slightly.

In the midst of his struggles, Malfurion heard an angry voice. Despite being someone he knew, Malfurion was unable to recognize the voice in great pain. The Great Druid only knew that the person who spoke was close to him.

Then, for a brief moment, the voice became very clear...... And closer.

"Why don't you die?"

Malfurion received a blow to the head. (To be continued......)