Azeroth: Starting with Eagle Eye in the Necropolis

Page 125

“I understand. I’ll wait for him here, but we’d better hurry, we don’t have much time,” Sylvanas nodded and said.

Sylvanas Windrunner, formerly the Ranger-General of Silvermoon City and now the Banshee Queen, scrutinized the floating fortress belonging to the Death Knight Scythe with a critical eye.

The cold, Saronite walls flickered with eerie blue runic fire, and the air was filled with the eternal aura of death and frost, yet it was unusually "clean," lacking the stench and chaos typical of the Scourge she had anticipated, making it stand out from the other floating cities.

The undead soldiers here are disciplined and silently carry out orders, their eyes seem to hold something more than just empty emptiness from enslavement.

A smile crept across the Banshee Queen's lips. It seemed that this man, who had been vying with Arthas for the title of the first Death Knight, had also broken free from the Lich King's control, along with his warriors.

“Stronk… a rapidly rising but elusive fellow,” Sylvanas thought to herself.

She had never heard of this Death Knight before. He seemed to have no outstanding achievements in life, and all his accomplishments came after his death when he joined the Scourge.

He "luckily" avoided the main battlefield before and after the Battle of Mount Hyjal, but repeatedly made "miraculous contributions" in the cleanup campaign in the Eastern Kingdoms, especially when fighting against himself.

Deeply trusted by the Lich King, Scythe now senses that the Lich King's power is waning and the constraints are weakening. She has keenly observed that Scythe seems to be breaking free from control as well. He may be a potential ally, but he could also be a dangerous rival.

Just then, a powerful pressure descended from the sky, accompanied by a teeth-grinding sound of bones grinding together. Sylvanas looked up sharply and saw an enormous skeletal beast pierce through the magical barrier above the fortress and slowly descend into the fortress's vast courtyard.

The creature's outstretched bone wings blotted out the sky, and its eye sockets burned with cold soul fire. Its enormous size and the deathly chill it exuded far surpassed any gargoyle she had ever seen. It was a dragon, an undead dragon, but not the frost dragon from the Scourge she knew.

What made her pupils shrink even more was the figure sitting atop the bone dragon's skull—Stronk.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, ma'am."

Stank, clad in heavy Saronite armor and wielding a runic greatsword that radiated an ominous blood-red light, descended on the terrifying bone dragon, his posture commanding.

The Banshee Queen narrowed her eyes; clearly, this Death Knight wanted to give her a hard time!

Stank leaped down from the dragon's head, landing on the ground with a booming sound. The bone dragon behind him raised its head, exuding a menacing aura. However, the undead creatures were immune to this effect, so it was useless. Nevertheless, the Dark Rangers could still sense the terrifying creature's combat power.

Such a massive undead monster, is this a new product from the Scourge?

"I never expected you to have such a mount. It looks quite impressive, but you don't need to show off in front of me," Sylvanas said with a light snort.

Such powerful undead creatures—the Lich King is actually too kind to death. Would he really betray them, even after gaining free will?

If he doesn't betray the Lich King, then I'll have to find a way to leave this place alive.

Sylvanas quickly suppressed her shock and regained her usual coldness: "Sch'k, your welcoming ceremony... is quite unique. This... undead dragon is indeed quite impressive."

"It seems the Lich King has bestowed quite a bit upon you." She deliberately mentioned the Lich King to test his attitude and the source of his power.

"Haha, you flatter me, Banshee Queen. This guy only looks cool; his actual combat strength is very weak. Any Death Knight could defeat him," Stank said, patting the bone dragon beside him.

That's right. The strongest level 6 unit can't even beat a Dread Knight in a one-on-one fight, let alone a Death Knight.

However, Sylvanas interpreted those words differently. "A dead dragon like this can't beat a death knight? Are you kidding me?"

"Hehe, really? If it's that weak, I wouldn't mind. Could you give me one? I'm quite interested in it." Sylvanas turned to look at Scythe and said.

Stanker's lips curled into a slight smile. Nobody believed him when he told the truth! This guy's fighting ability was truly lacking.

“Giving it to you is not out of the question, but I only give my things to my allies. Are you my ally, madam?” Stang asked.

"It seems I guessed correctly; you've also broken free from the Lich King's control. Of course, we'll be allies. We'll avenge Arthas together, avenge the Scourge, and avenge the Lich King," Sylvanas said.

"Taking revenge on the Lich King and Arthas is no problem. I've disliked Arthas from the very beginning, and I've wanted to grind his head into the ground for a long time."

"Let's be frank. You didn't come to see me just to admire my new mount, did you? You must have noticed those Dreadlords' little tricks." Stanker cut to the chase, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest of the throne.

Sylvanas's eyes sharpened: "It seems you know more than I thought. That's right, Arthas's power is waning, and this is our opportunity."

We need to unite and completely break free from the control of that patricide, making him pay for everything he has done to us!

"Didn't you say you wanted to teach Arthas a lesson? This time you can even get a chance to duel him one-on-one and force him to use Frostmourne," Sylvanas said.

“That’s certainly good news. We can ambush this guy on the way. But before that, I want to confirm one thing, Banshee Queen. Do you have me as your target for revenge?” Stank asked meaningfully.

During the attack on Quel'Thalas, he was Arthas's top general, cutting down many high elves as easily as chopping vegetables. Even today, many of the dark rangers that Sylvanas brought were killed by him.

The atmosphere immediately became tense upon hearing this, and the dark rangers following Sylvanas glared at Scythe with hostility.

After a moment of silence, Sylvanas spoke: "The culprits are the Burning Legion, Arthas, and the Lich King. You are no different from those undead who attacked our homeland, or even from those high elves who fell and were resurrected. We are all victims."

If you continue to serve the Lich King, then you will naturally be my target for revenge. But right now, Scythe and his zombie army, along with his elite death knights, will be indispensable to me.

"Then there's one last question. Tell me, Banshee Queen, after we unite, who's in charge? You, or me?"

Sylvanas's expression darkened: "I don't think this is the time to discuss these things... The most important thing right now is to deal with Arthas."

Only by eliminating this guy can we feel at ease, and only then can we truly betray the Lich King.

Humans are truly a race that loves to fight for power and profit. They've only just begun to have a preliminary intention to cooperate, and this guy is already thinking about how to divide the spoils after the war.

They were just a bunch of undead, their only goal in life being to take revenge on the Lich King and the Scourge, nothing more.

"Perhaps you are right, Sylvanas, now is not the time to discuss these things. Let's talk about it after we are completely free from the Lich King's control!"

"But I must state beforehand that I will not submit to a woman," Sciark said, his attitude extremely arrogant. The bone dragon behind him roared in perfect unison and then spread its enormous bone wings.

"Hmph! That depends on whether you have the strength. We'll see what you're capable of then." The Banshee Queen didn't say these words aloud, but thought them to herself.

If you're unwilling to be subservient to others, then am I willing to be subservient to others?

After becoming undead, her mindset changed a lot, and now she wants to become a true queen.

"Tell me my plan! The dreadlords are plotting to kill Arthas in the capital city of Lordaeron, and Arthas will break out."

On the way, I will send some banshees to help him, and then after leading him out of the capital city of Lordaeron, I will trick him into coming to see me, actually luring him into a trap.

"Then you can fight him one-on-one, and I believe you can win," Sylvanas said.

She originally planned to weaken Arthas with poison, but now she'll let Scythe and Arthas fight one-on-one. It would be best if they both died from exhaustion.

Then your bone dragon, along with your death knights and zombie army, will be mine.

Chapter 202 Queen Sylvanas: I'm on the 5th level. Rhodes: I'm in the atmosphere.

Both of them had their own agendas and were trying to take advantage of each other. However, Sylvanas was unaware that Scythe was not fighting alone; he had an extremely powerful backer, Rhodes.

All of Sylvanas's methods and special abilities have been fully understood by her master, Rhodes, through Stronk.

Sylvanas smiled slightly. "That idiot, Stang!"

You actually revealed all your cards to me to intimidate me, not realizing that powerful weapons should be hidden, not exposed to your enemy.

The Queen of the Banshees possesses a very special ability: she can seize control of others. She and her banshees can temporarily relinquish their current bodies through this special means.

Then, control enemy units to fight. In addition to retaining the skills he already has, the Dark Ranger also gains the ability to use Shadow Bolt and life steal.

Shadow Bolt can instantly transform killed units into skeletons, but these skeletons cannot exist permanently. They lack death energy and can only exist for a short time, but that's enough for combat.

As for the life-stealing ability, Sylvanas has barely revealed it; it's a killer move of the Queen.

In addition, Sylvanas also gathered a group of evil undead apothecaries who concocted an extremely potent poison.

This poison can even work on undead creatures; she originally intended to use it against Arthas.

According to the royal apothecaries, Arthas's combat power would plummet if he were poisoned, and any Dark Ranger could easily kill him.

But Sylvanas plans to keep this poison for now, and perhaps use it against Scythe after Arthas is eliminated.

"Hahaha! Good, very good, Sylvanas, you've made a wise choice to put personal grudges aside for now." Stank strode forward, his massive rune sword slung over his shoulder, his gaze sweeping over the dark rangers glaring at him before finally settling on the Banshee Queen.

"As for the issue of leadership... you're right, it's indeed too early to discuss it now."

Do you think I don't have any trump cards that you haven't revealed? The master's eyes are always watching this place, and he will even personally intervene at crucial moments.

You have no chance against Sylvanas. As for Arthas, his master specifically requested that he be spared because he is a key reputation card, and his master wants to keep him for himself.

Sciark changed the subject, but his tone remained as forceful as ever, "After I defeat Arthas with overwhelming force, we will celebrate this great victory together!"

As if to confirm her master's words, the bone dragon behind her let out another silent roar, its huge jaws opening and closing, bringing with it a cold wind that stirred up Sylvanas's long silver hair.

The Banshee Queen frowned. Although Stank claimed that the bone dragon was all bark and no bite, its enormous size and tangible aura of death still brought immense psychological pressure.

Sylvanas's face remained impassive, but her inward sneer deepened: 'You claim to care, yet you repeatedly allow this skeletal undead dragon to flex its muscles… Hypocritical and arrogant man, you are destined to fall to me.'

Sylvanas didn't take such an arrogant fellow seriously at all. After eliminating Arthas, she would have to find a suitable home for the undead who followed her.

Currently, she has her eye on the capital city of Lordaeron, which is occupied by the Scourge. Perhaps she can make use of the human forces that have already been assembled.

After they recaptured the royal city, he led his undead army in a sudden attack, catching them off guard, and then completely occupied the land of Lordaeron.

“Tell me your specific plans, Banshee Queen.” Stanker walked to the tactical sand table in the center of the hall and gestured for him to proceed.

"Where and how do you intend to entertain our 'great' prince?"

Sylvanas suppressed her displeasure and walked to the sand table, pointing her finger to a rugged mountainous area east of the capital city of Lordaeron.

“Here, in the canyon north of ‘Deathbell Town’.” Her fingertip traced a winding route on the map.

"Just as you said, the Dreadlord will launch an attack within the royal city. Even if Arthas manages to break through, he will inevitably suffer heavy losses and be exhausted both physically and mentally."

I will send my banshees to his aid and guide him, telling him that I have assembled a loyal force on the other side of the canyon to help him retreat to Northrend.

"Will he believe that?" Stanker raised an eyebrow.

This is the most crucial point, because besides him and Sylvanas, Kel'Thuzad is also preparing to rescue Arthas, and after that, he will be responsible for making contact with Kel'Thuzad.

“He had no choice,” Sylvanas said coldly.

Sciark nodded and added, “Very well, my Death Knights will block the exit of the canyon and confront him head-on. I will be there to wait for him and let him know that without Frostmourne, he is nothing.”

'Just what I wanted,' Sylvanas thought to herself, but her face remained impassive. 'So, what about your… 'big pet'?' She glanced at the enormous bone dragon. 'What's it responsible for?'

Rhodes immediately contacted Stronk remotely through the hero system.

Rhodes said, "Stronk, you give the Banshee Queen a bone dragon. Don't worry about her controlling the ancient dragons. This ancient dragon will become our eyes to monitor Sylvanas."

The Banshee Queen's special ability in the original Warcraft III was incredibly powerful, allowing her to directly control enemy units.

There's a really cool tactic in PVP mode: when you level up the Dark Ranger to level 6, you can use his ultimate to control the opponent's peasants.

Then create the opponent's units to disrupt their mentality. Of course, the premise for playing like this is that your micro-management skills must be far superior to the opponent's, otherwise you're just asking for trouble.

If you don't play it right, you'll be beaten to a pulp in no time. Rhodes guessed that the Banshee Queen might be trying to use this method to control her bone dragon.

Because in the eyes of the Banshee Queen, this giant undead dragon was given to Scythe by the Lich King, but if you think that, you are very wrong.

Even the Lich King doesn't have the same level of authority as the system; his own bone dragons can choose to uncamp at any time.

"Yes, my great master."

“By the way, if the Banshee Queen asks for a price, then ask her for some banshee modification techniques; our underlings need them,” Rhodes said.