Blade Dance

I knew from the beginning that this was a suicide mission.

We, the Illidari, are destroyed.A legion's raid on the Dark Temple ruined everything, leaving only a few of us, like shady reptiles, hiding in the vulnerable temporary camp of Longhou Fortress, fearing the enemy's pursuit.Kane Sunfury, Jace Darkweaver, Cyana Nightblade, Servis Brightflame, Mantheril Darkmoon and me.

Annihilation, because I realized that we lost almost everything, too many companions, our homeland, and our freedom.Lord Illidan said that the quest to capture the Keystone must continue, because it is the most critical part of the plan to defeat the Legion once and for all, and the only way we can return to Outland.The portal to Mardum is one-way.That means if we can't get the keystone, we'll be trapped in Mardum forever.

Even so, we accepted the task without hesitation, and set off immediately.

Because we are loyal, we have no choice.

Along the way, Kane was saying that if we got the keystone, we would be free to enter any Legion world, including Argus, which would make it a lot easier to wipe out the Legion demons.He seems to want to use this to convince us of the importance of the keystone, so that he will be more motivated and determined to fight.We all have great respect and confidence in the Deputy Commander, after all, he has indeed demonstrated outstanding leadership over the years.So I didn't listen carefully to what he said, just thinking that since he was there, the tiny success rate of this task might be greater.

But in the back of my mind, I still understand how little the chances of success are.Because none of us have the desire to live, including Kane Sunfury.

Yes, there is one more person.

Roy.

Our goals are clear.After entering this world full of demons through the portal, Kane pointed us to the distant volcano, where the Sargerite Keystone is located.Its keeper, Tyranna the Spider Queen, is also inside.I jumped up a small hill, trying to stand on a higher place to see the distant scene clearly.A legion warship fueled by fel energy was parked in the embrace of the volcano, and several legion mephits were circling around it.The number of demons is indeed as low as we thought before.

Without making extra stops, we will move forward all the way and pass the test.The demon minions trying to resist are no match for us.Realizing this, the deputy commander ordered us to split up.This is faster and safer, he said, and we will meet at the foot of the volcano.He, Jace, and Cyana go together, Servis and Mantherell, and me and Roy.

I don't know what he means by "safety".Maybe I know, but refuse to think about it.on one's last legs.

We separated after confirming the assembly place and time.Roy and I approached the volcano from the Molten Coast in the southeast.There was nothing on the narrow beach, but we also raised our vigilance.The smell of demons in this area is particularly strong, and there must be something lurking in the dark.As expected, suddenly the distant sea tide surged up, and reached an astonishing height in a blink of an eye.I immediately raised my war blade and made a posture of preparing for battle.The towering tide fell in all directions, and an unusually huge hellfire stood out of it.It let out a roar that shook the sky, and then rushed towards us, the blinding evil fire around it dyed the sea green.

I was still waiting for it to get closer, so that I could jump up and attack its vitals, and Roy rushed up immediately.

We took some pains to slay this demon, who can only use brute force indiscriminately.I found its remains reduced to ashes after death.Not so the demons of Outland, who leave behind dark green blood, fetid corpses, and fel seeping into the soil.This confirms that killing demons in the Twisting Nether is quite different - we just killed this infernal for good.It gave me a brief, fragile burst of relief.

We walked on in silence.

It shouldn't have been.

Roy and I have known each other for a long time and know each other well, but we haven't seen each other for a long time.Thunder rumbled in the dark green sky, meteorites fell, and the air was filled with a disgusting demonic smell.The oppressive atmosphere was unbearable, and I really needed some communication to distract me from my jitters, so I broke the silence first.

"I thought you were dead."

I don't know why I started with that sentence - so bluntly, without thinking.

"That's what everyone thinks." I tried to make amends.But Roy didn't seem disgusted with me repeating the old story, he just replied very flatly:

"No, I was rescued. Just didn't choose to go back."

There was a moment of silence, and I fell into thinking.

His tone was strange to me, it sounded like he was saying something for granted.And he used the word "choice", what does that mean?He had a choice.He made a choice.

I don't know what the other option or options are that exist side by side with the Illidari, but obviously it or they are more important than the Illidari, so Roy gave up the Illidari.This made me wonder.

And fear.

I should have pressed on, but I didn't.Because he seemed very reluctant to continue this topic.

"Do you think we will succeed?" I really couldn't think of anything else to say.

"Of course," he said, "we'll get the Sargerite Keystone and go back unscathed."

I froze.

I figured I just needed some reassurance and encouragement, even if they were empty, so I voiced my deepest, most futile worries.But Roy's answer was beyond my expectation.

Stunned, I brushed my left shoulder against a stone pillar.Roy glanced at me, seemingly confused.

I didn't say anything, just played back his words in my head.That is by no means comfort or encouragement, but the heartfelt sincerity of the guardian.He really thought we were going to be successful.

It dawned on me that Roy might be the only one in our group who had the desire to live.

That desire is so strong, so deep, that when it breaks, it breaks your heart.

"Asha, here."

I ran over.

We came to a camp.The fire was burning, but there was no one here.My guess is that other people passed here before us, and the demons have been eliminated, or the demons who were guarding here were summoned to go elsewhere.On the fire stood a cauldron whose use we were familiar with.In the world of demons, it can be used for divination of the target's whereabouts or for long-distance communication across planes, and requires fel energy to work.In theory, the greater the distance, the more you need.

Roy stood in front of the cauldron and drew a small knife from his waist.This made me a little curious, since we rarely wear swords or weapons.So I also walked over, trying to see what the knife looked like.It was a short horn-handled knife with a pure aquamarine embedded in the tip of the hilt.The blade is slightly worn and looks like it has aged.

The blade slashed across his wrist, and blood flowed into the cauldron.The liquid began to swirl, but nothing appeared.

"Who do you want to contact?" I asked.

"Lord Illidan," Roy said.

He stared at the cauldron, his whole body tensed.

"No response, what does that mean?"

I leaned over and took a closer look, and there was really no movement.While this has never been the case, I've always found Crucible to be not entirely reliable.Nothing is completely reliable but my eyes.

"Maybe it's not working," I said. "Try something else."

Roy glanced at me and said nothing.He was tense, his fear was palpable.What does Lord Illidan's lack of response mean?I didn't think too much about it, I thought it was okay.It means that the Legion has entered the Longhou Fortress and defeated Lord Illidan. Even if we go back, we will die?First of all this is simply not possible.Second, even if that were the case, it wouldn't be a big deal.

It never occurred to me that we might make it back alive.

But his reaction was so strong that it made me uncomfortable.

Roy stretched out his bloody wrist, and dripped a few more drops of blood into it.The liquid in the crucible began to spin again, and this time a clear picture appeared.We see the deployment of the Legion near the volcano and inside, as well as the location of the Spider Queen Tyranna, who is in the innermost part of a cave at the foot of the volcano.She was yelling something at the doomguard, apparently aware of the intruders - our arrival.

We got the latest information, and now we went on to the volcano, and no one mentioned the cauldron on the way.I tried to analyze the situation in the volcano, and Roy occasionally echoed.I realized he was distracted and something was taking over his mind.But I didn't remind him to be on his guard because I thought he needed some space.And I watch the road, I'm watching the surroundings for us.

So we just kept our heads down until we met Servis at another stronghold.

He looked solemn.

"What's the matter?" I strode over, looking around, "Where is Mantheril?"

"he died."

I stopped.Although I faintly sensed something the moment I saw him standing alone, I still felt shortness of breath and tightness in my chest.

Roy walked over to me.

"what happened?"

"We found a book of grimoires, which recorded some rituals and spells. Mantheril absorbed the evil energy in it, but he couldn't control the huge energy in his body."

Roy nodded slowly, didn't ask any more questions, and turned to check around the stronghold, leaving Servis and me standing in silence.We've all figured it out.The tome of the demon judge contains powerful power. Mantheril must want to make himself stronger, so he tried to absorb the evil energy in the tome.But he didn't control the weight well, the flesh and blood were overwhelmed, and his body exploded.

I subconsciously looked at the surrounding ground, and indeed found some thick liquid that hadn't dried up, and some indescribable debris.My stomach was overwhelmed, and I couldn't wait to look away.

Time waits for no one, the three of us continued our journey and soon came to the foot of the volcano.Kane and the others were already waiting there, and Saiyana's leg was slightly injured.When I reported Mantherell to Kane, he seemed a bit taken aback, but soon became indifferent again.

"That's the reality," he said, "but Demon Hunters have never been afraid of sacrifice. We've given everything to become what we are. We'll keep going, whatever it takes to crush the Legion."

He said these words loudly and with confidence, which inspired people and brought us together again because of our common ideals.For a split second I felt the Illidari still exist, in the immortal soul of each of us.

Yes, he was right.We have nothing to fear.

Everyone nodded, and then entered the cave one after another.I was about to follow in when I suddenly realized that there was one person missing from my field of vision.I looked back, and Roy was standing at the entrance of the cave, looking inside with a stiff face.

I was about to speak when he followed.

If we end up making it back alive, I'll ask him what he was thinking just now.

Inside the cave is a tunnel leading to the Legion ship in the middle of the volcano.We found the Doomguard based on visions in the Crucible, joined forces to attack, and killed it easily.Out of the tunnel, we tamed a few Legion mephits, mounted them, and flew to the Legion battleship floating above the volcano.

Once aboard the ship, we found the Queen quickly, thanks to the vision of the cauldron.A bloody battle ensues immediately. As the guardian of the keystone and the commander of Marton, Tylanna is indeed surprisingly powerful.But under our overwhelming attack, she couldn't last long.When the demon crashed to the ground, I tasted the joy of victory for the first time in a long time.I really didn't think we could make it, but we did, and I survived.It was nothing short of a miracle.

Cyana and Jace died heroically.Kane lost an arm and Servez suffered a serious leg injury.Roy and I suffered some minor injuries, but this still does not prevent us from retreating.The loss of my comrades weighs on my heart, but the thought of our triumphant return with the Keystone and the destruction of the Legion makes me believe the sacrifices were worth it.

With no time to rest, we simply healed each other's wounds and used the keystone to open the portal back to Outland.Roy supported Servis, followed Kane into the portal, and I walked last.

But everything is too late.

Lord Illidan is dead.None of us would have imagined, never would have expected, that Maiev Shadowsong was waiting for us.The old enemy of the Illidari, the stalking watchdog, she killed Lord Illidan.

Anger burns through our hearts all at once.We rushed up without any scruples and hacked and killed them indiscriminately. We risked our lives and swore to kill them all.But we, who are full of scars, are no match for nearly a hundred watchers.In the chaos, Roy and I had to temporarily hide in a cave behind the fortress, but Kane and Servis were nowhere to be found.

A moment of disengagement made me realize how outnumbered I was.What was even more troublesome was that Roy's war blade was knocked into the air.

No one thought that things would turn out like this, and I was not so desperate when accepting suicide missions.I sat down with my back against the cold and hard stone wall, stretched out my hands and grabbed my hair tightly, and heard a suppressed whimpering and roaring sound in my throat.why?We succeeded, and we came back here after overcoming many dangers, and what awaited us was death.

As soon as I exerted force on my hand, there was a sharp pain in my shoulder.My shoulder should hurt, but that doesn't matter right now.

why?

I couldn't breathe, I couldn't think, but I was trying to control myself.It's not over, it's not over yet.We can fight our way out, Roy and I, and we will.I turned to look at Roy, who was sitting next to me, breathing with his head down, his face was covered in blood.I realized his head had been hurt, blood clots knotting his black hair.

I patted him on the shoulder and handed him one of the two Glaives.To kill requires weapons.

"No," he said.

I looked at him in bewilderment.

"No one fights with a Glaive."

"Then take it all." I handed the other without hesitation.Roy is stronger than me, and the war blade is more powerful in his hands, hundreds of times better than mine.

This is an objective reason, but still not enough to be my reason for doing so.I'm giving up the chance to survive. In this life and death situation, the weapon is life.

I don't know if I was dazzled by the enthusiasm.I want Roy to live because his desire is so strong.

"No." He said it again.

I feel bored.

"This is your weapon, your right to live." He looked at me and said, "If I take one, none of us will live. If I take two, it will take your life. You know I can't use it Two Glaives got us both out. My disarming was my fault, not yours."

He added: "I'll lure them away, and you take the opportunity to escape. Although I don't know if it will succeed, it's worth a try, and I will do my best. The keystone is with Kane, you just need to live."

I stare at him.

"You have no weapons."

A look of surprise flashed across Roy's face. "I have." He said as he pulled out the short knife he used in front of the cauldron, and waved it in front of me as if showing off, "It is the most powerful weapon I have ever used."

At that moment, if I read correctly, he smiled.His smile was so weird and deformed.

For the first time, I realized that crying and laughing are so indistinguishable.

"You're kidding." I felt absurd, so I was a little angry, "This is not funny at all." I stared at the short knife in his hand, a weapon like that was a toy in front of the swords and scythes of the Watchers.What the hell is he thinking?

"Asha."

He suddenly grabbed my hand.

"Sorry, I may not be able to go back."

His hand was so hard it hurt me.

"I'm sorry," he said again.

I realized that he wasn't talking to me.

"Roy..."

"Let's go." He took my hand and stood up, "They will surround this place later."

I was forced to stand up and walk with him to the mouth of the cave.There was the sound of fighting in the distance, maybe Kane and the others were fighting.

I held my warglaive, and he clutched the short knife tightly in his hand.We glanced at each other.

Then spread the black wings at the same time and rushed out.