Azeroth: Starting with Eagle Eye in the Necropolis

Page 131

"Aren't you going to introduce me, Stronker? Who is this archmage?" Sylvanas asked the necromancer in front of her.

With the aid of advanced magic and the use of disguise, there are very few beings who can see through Rhodes' disguise. Now, in front of Sylvanas, Rhodes appears to be a complete undead, both in aura and in appearance.

"This is Sandru, the necromancer. He is a powerful necromancer whose strength is no less than mine," Stank introduced Rhodes briefly.

Just two days ago, Rhodes chose his third hero, an exceptional hero, who is one of the protagonists of the Heroes of Might and Magic III series, the protagonist of the entire Shadow of Death version, the mastermind behind the scenes, the necromancer Sandro.

After Sandru was summoned, Rhodes immediately sent him to a special building and had him begin learning some of Azeroth's death magic and frost magic using spells.

Sandro excels in magic and, like Thor, is a powerful magic hero. In the early game, he is not as strong as the Skeleton Prince, but in the later game, once his level increases, his terrifying magical destructive power will become apparent.

Sandro's true identity is currently hidden in Black Edge Fortress. This time, Rhodes will impersonate him, and after Rhodes leaves, the real Sandro will appear to assist Stanker in playing a game of power with the Queen. To be honest, although Stanker is very confident, Rhodes still feels that a top-tier intelligence hero is needed to take the lead.

After Sandru appeared in the tavern, Rhodes hired the powerful hero for 2500 units of gold without much hesitation.

Sandru is also a top-notch researcher. If the next plan succeeds, he can quickly uncover Kel'Thuzad's secrets and learn everything he knows.

Then this traitor will be unnecessary. Rhodes will deal with Kel'Thuzad directly and let Sandru take over as the most powerful lich to research new undead forces for himself.

“Sandru? I’ve never heard of you before, not even among human mages, but I can sense the powerful magical energy emanating from you.”

"So you're one of Stronk's men?" the Banshee Queen asked.

Originally, he and the top four were two tigers vying for supremacy, but now it seems to have become a three-way standoff. This necromancer's strength is no less than his and Sciark's, and as a mage, he is more skilled than the two of them in manipulating magic.

"Currently, we're in a cooperative relationship, right? I'm not a member of the Scourge. A thousand years ago, I was transformed into an undead through death magic. I research powerful necromancy, and my willpower is even capable of naturally resisting the Lich King. The reason I've come out of seclusion this time is to establish a kingdom for the undead, which is why I've come here." Rhodes introduced Sandru's background.

Sandru is not an undead of the Scourge, but a top-tier necromancer who was transformed a thousand years ago.

Sylvanas nodded thoughtfully. She was also a thousand years old, but she didn't seem to have heard of the name Sandru in her time.

A mage with such power should be known to the elves of Quel'Thalas. Could it be that this person is also a primordial undead created by the Titans?

“Then welcome to join us. We happen to be lacking a top-tier mage. Among the awakened undead, there are quite a few mages. Perhaps you could gather them together and train some suitable necromancers for our Forsaken,” Sylvanas said.

“It’s my pleasure. I’m here to make all of this possible,” Sandru said with a smile.

"Then let's continue our previous topic, Lord Sandru. Tell me about the Dreadlord."

"No problem, madam. Simply put, all creatures that have been transformed into demons are immortal in the material universe and cannot be completely killed."

Even if their physical bodies are destroyed, they can return to the Twisting Nether and rebuild their bodies.

So after we defeat that dreadlord, no matter how much he begs for mercy, what we need to do is simple: kill him.

"Let him return to the Twisting Nether; at least he won't be able to appear in Azeroth for a long time." Rhodes gave Sylvanas a brief introduction to the demons of the Burning Legion.

“Thank you for your guidance, Master Sandru. Next, let’s go and destroy that dreadlord, and while we’re at it, let me see your powerful magical abilities,” Sylvanas said.

“It’s my pleasure, madam,” Rod said with a smile.

I just got the Dreadlord's head, let's see if it drops any new wilderness resources or special buildings.

Chapter 211 Master Sandru Takes the Banshee Queen's Attention

The threat of Varimathras loomed over the two newly allied undead leaders like a dark cloud. Sylvanas knew that the Dreadlords were not just making empty threats; they controlled a large number of undead in and around Lordaeron, making them a force to be reckoned with.

We must strike first to avoid being caught in a pincer movement. We must first eliminate Varimathras's forces before dealing with the remaining two Dreadlords.

“There’s no time to lose, you two.” Sylvanas sheathed her longbow and glanced at Stronk and Sandru.

“We must act immediately and wipe out Varimathras and his brothers’ stronghold in Tirisfal Glades before they can react. Master Sandro, the intelligence you provided is crucial. We must show the Burning Legion our strength and our might in this battle.”

“That’s right. The Banshee Queen and the Dreadlord’s magic is cunning, but they rely too much on enslavement and control; their actual combat strength isn’t that great,” Rhodes said.

Stank let out a cold laugh, the blood-red light flashing on the Soul Drinker's Greatsword: "My death knights have long craved to drink the blood of demons."

After a brief discussion, a mixed force consisting of Dark Rangers, Banshees, Stanker's Blood Terror Death Knights, Abominations, some Wraith Banshees, Zombies, and Skeletons quickly assembled and headed towards the area occupied by the Varimathras Party.

During the march, Sylvanas deliberately approached the necromancer "Sandru" in an attempt to learn more.

“Master Sandru, you say you have long since become an undead and have been studying necromancy. So, what are your thoughts on this current… ‘free’ undead form?”

Are we merely another form of slavery, driven by the desire for revenge and survival?

"Freedom is always relative, madam. The living are bound by desires, morality, and social rules, while the dead are bound by their obsessions from life, their confusion about existence, and... a more powerful force."

The key is not whether one is bound by rules, but what one chooses to fight for.

"The Lich King seeks to rule all things, the Burning Legion craves destruction, and we... perhaps we can try to build an order that belongs only to the undead, a resting place undisturbed by the living and not controlled by demons. Isn't that more meaningful than simple revenge?" said Sandru, who was Rhodes in disguise.

The Banshee Queen has actually started thinking about these issues. Logically speaking, Sylvanas should be preoccupied with how to kill Arthas and how to take revenge on the Scourge right now.

As for these questions, they only changed after the Banshee Queen leaped off Icecrown Glacier and entered the Shadowlands. Under Zova's guidance, she witnessed the so-called truth of this world and began to reflect on her own life.

“Master Sandru, you talk about building order? That’s easier said than done.”

"The living see us as monsters, demons see us as tools, and even among ourselves, we are not necessarily of one mind." After saying this, Siylvanas glanced meaningfully at Stronk, who was clearing the way ahead.

This powerful death knight was consumed by the desire for power and the pursuit of dominion over the undead. But did these people, enslaved for so long, truly need a king?

"That depends on your personal understanding, madam. All I can say is to live on as a ghost first, and then slowly think about other things!"

"We're just living in a different state, there's no need to overthink it," Rod said.

When I get back, I might be able to discuss life with Her Majesty the Queen. Of course, it will just be a simple conversation, since I'm not so desperate as to be obsessed with a dead person.

Back home, there was a beautiful and soft high elf girl! Sylvanas nodded thoughtfully, and the two chatted for a long time during the march.

There were even some discussions about magic and the modification of undead creatures, which could only be conducted remotely with the real Sandru and then talk to Sylvanas.

Sandro's research on the undead surpassed Sylvanas's understanding, especially his research on death. He truly impressed the Banshee Queen with just a conversation, even to the point of admiration.

He even proposed modifications to some special undead units. As the most powerful necromancer in the Heroes of Might and Magic world, without exception, Sandro's knowledge and understanding of death far exceeded Sylvanas's imagination and even shocked Rhodes.

"Your ideas are truly imaginative. Compared to you, the so-called Lich King or Kel'Thuzad are simply idiots. I can hardly describe your wisdom," Sylvanas exclaimed in admiration.

With just a few simple conversations, some of her doubts were answered, especially regarding the undead and even her understanding of her banshee form.

Humans are truly a peculiar race. Humans living for 1000 years are on a completely different level from highly evolved beings living for 1000 years. The latter's knowledge can even be equivalent to that of an entire civilization.

Several hours passed in the blink of an eye, and soon the troops arrived at a manor corrupted by demonic energy. This place had once been the territory of a nobleman from Lordaeron, but had now become the lair of the Dreadlord.

The air was thick with the stench of fel energy, and hordes of low-ranking demons and enslaved undead roamed the ruins.

"Attack!" Without further ado, Stanker gave the order, and the Blood Terror Death Knights charged like a red torrent of steel, instantly tearing apart the outer defenses.

The dreadlord Varimathras never expected that Scythe and Sylvanas would fight so quickly. He was attacked almost immediately after returning and finishing a meeting with his two brothers using illusions.

Sylvanas's Dark Rangers occupied the high ground, precisely firing to clear out the demon guards and necromancers who were attempting to cast spells.

The banshees let out mournful howls, disrupting the enemy's mind. The wraith banshees, on the other hand, used their special abilities to steal mana from some necromancers and the Burning Legion's magic-based units.

The battle began, and Rhodes, disguised as Sandru, started his performance. This time, Rhodes could not use any holy light or life magic, but could only use shadow or frost spells, or even fel magic.

During his previous battle with Kel'Thuzad, Rhodes' Eagle Eye had already learned many of the necromancer's skills, including powerful frost and shadow spells.

Varimathras was indeed caught off guard. He had just finished an emergency meeting with Deselok and Balnazzar using illusions to discuss how to deal with these undead traitors who had suddenly gained their freedom and were showing a surprising threat when their real lair was attacked.

"These damned scum! How dare they!" Varimathras was furious. He spread his enormous demonic wings and soared into the sky from the decaying main building of the manor.

He saw his defenses crumble like paper under the onslaught of those blood-red death knights, the Dark Ranger's arrows precisely striking his spellcasting units, and the Banshee's howl further unsettling him.

What happened next shocked him even more: the magical power within him was absorbed by some strange and special banshee, which greatly alarmed the Lord of Dread.

"Hold on! Minions, for the Burning Legion, crush them!" Varimathras roared, attempting to stabilize the situation, and began chanting powerful shadow magic, aimed directly at Scythe, who was charging at the front. A shadow arrow shot towards the Death Knight Highlord like a meteor.

Stanker snorted coldly, slashing horizontally with his Soul Drinker's Greatsword. Blood splattered, shattering the concentrated shadow energy! But his charge was momentarily halted. The Dreadlord was, after all, a powerful demon lord, and his strength should not be underestimated.

"Your opponent is me, demon!" Sylvanas's cold voice rang out. She stood on a broken wall, her bowstring fully drawn, an arrow imbued with intense dark energy already locked onto Varimathras.

Varimathras dared not be careless and immediately cast a fel spell, creating a fel shield in front of him. The arrow struck the shield, exploding into a ball of corrosive dark energy that caused the shield to fluctuate violently.

Just then, Rhodes, playing Sandru, made his move. He didn't use any fancy moves; he simply raised his staff without even chanting.

The biting cold in the air intensified instantly, and even the pervasive fel energy seemed to freeze. It was the frost magic he had "stole" from Kel'Thuzad—the Chains of Frost.

The magic in the world of Heroes of Might and Magic, or rather the magic recorded in the spellbooks, has the only advantage that it doesn't require chanting any spells; everything is instantaneous.

Several blue-white chains formed from extreme cold appeared out of thin air, coiling around Varimathras in the air like living venomous snakes. These chains exuded a terrifying frosty aura, instantly binding the Dreadlord tightly.

Varimathras, not to be outdone, rapidly exploded into countless bats, which then reformed elsewhere.

"That wretched necromancer!" Varimathras glared at Sandru with hatred, realizing that this newly emerged mage was a huge problem.

The Dreadlord unleashed his most proficient sleeping magic, and the invisible mental impact seemed to hit an invisible wall as it approached Sandru, dissipating into nothingness.

This level of hypnotic spell is currently completely ineffective against Rhodes.

“Your tricks have no effect on me, Nathrezim.” Rhodes, disguised as Sandru, spoke in a hoarse voice with a hint of mockery. He swung his staff again, this time unleashing pure shadow power—Shadow Lash, a spell stolen from the Faceless Ones.

A twisted, dark whip lashed across Varimathras's bald head, the soul-piercing lash causing him to groan in pain.

Chapter 212 Slaying Varimathras

Taking advantage of the lull in Rhodes' attack, Sylvanas, the Banshee Queen, launched her own attack, unleashing a barrage of shadow arrows imbued with the power of corruption and death towards Varimathras, the Dreadlord.

The combined attack of the two caused Varimathras to appear instantly, frozen in the sky.

Stronker seized the opportunity. His bone dragon roared and carried him into the air once more. Taking advantage of Varimathras being distracted by Sandro's magic and restrained by Sylvanas's arrows, he broke through the defenses. The Soul Drinker's Greatsword, with its blood-red light that tore everything apart, slashed fiercely at the Dreadlord's head.

"No!!" Varimathras roared in despair. He desperately tried to turn to the side, but the greatsword failed to cut off his head, instead severing one of his wings by the roots!

Green demon blood sprayed out, and Varimathras fell from the sky like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground.

Sylvanas was not about to let this opportunity slip by. She leaped down from the broken wall like a ghost, drew her bow and arrow mid-air, and a long-charged Silence Arrow struck Varimathras precisely as he struggled to get up, interrupting his attempt to escape by casting a spell.

Meanwhile, Rhodes unleashed powerful frost magic, freezing the Dreadlord's body with icy power and binding it with icy chains, thus restricting the Dreadlord's movements.

Scythe landed on his bone dragon, its massive bone claws pressing down on Varimathras's chest, while the tip of the Soul Drinker's sword was pressed against his throat.

"It seems your new order can't save you, you demon. This morning you were swaggering in front of me, and now you're a prisoner." Stanker's voice was icy cold.

Varimathras looked at the three undead leaders who had surrounded him, his eyes filled with resentment and fear. "No, please don't kill me. I can help you, help you fight my brothers, as long as you promise not to kill me."

Who would have thought that the Dreadlord, once a high-ranking commander of the Burning Legion, would beg for mercy from three undead?

Sylvanas smiled slightly upon hearing this. If Sandru hadn't already explained the rules of the Twisting Nether's resurrection to her, she might have actually let this dreadlord go and used him to deal with his brother.

But the situation is different now. Dreadlords are not afraid of death at all. Even if they are killed in Azeroth, they will not truly die. They will simply return to the Twisting Nether to be resurrected.

Sylvanas understood that the dreadlords were trying to use her by begging for mercy in this situation. She even suspected that the dreadlords' true purpose was to pretend to be defeated and then hide away to infiltrate the human or other Horde alliances.

"Are you really that afraid of death?" Sandru, played by Rhodes, asked with a perfect smile.