Chapter 17 Chapter Seventeen

Blackmoore died without a sound.The white snow covered by the corpses turned bright red and muddy.Thrall took a deep breath, let it out, then fell to the side and sat down heavily.The double pain of fighting and falling surged up, but a smile appeared on Thrall's face, because at this moment he realized that he was seriously injured.He closed his eyes and begged to be healed, and a warm current flowed through him as if answering.He's devastated and still seriously injured, but he's been through the worst and he's going to live. He still hasn't considered giving up.He struggled with the pain and finally stood up.He still needs to find refuge.He also needs to start a fire and find some food.He's not going to die here, he can't die yet, he needs to get back to Agra - and there's another person who needs Thrall's help.

He had been walking slowly for some time, until a shadow appeared on the snow.Thrall raised his head, his eyelashes were covered with frost, and saw a huge reptile figure hanging in the air in front of him.It was between him and the sun, and Thrall couldn't see its color.His body was almost numb, and it was difficult to even move, but he still raised the Destroyer Blow.He wouldn't let something as insignificant as a twilight dragon get in the way of Agra. "Stop, friend orc," said the voice with a hint of joy. "I am here to carry you back to find warmth and food. I repent, I thought that what awaited me was a hero's funeral, but now I will gain the gratitude of my king."

It's a blue dragon!Thrall's momentary relaxation was so intense that even his legs couldn't stand still.The last thing he could feel before he lost consciousness was the powerful dragon claws that gently wrapped around him. An hour later, Thrall found himself in the magic-created space in the Nexus, where he was already familiar with.He was sitting in a chair, wrapped in a warm blanket, with a glass of steaming drink in his hand, and every sip of the combination of sweet and spicy seemed to renew his strength. The brazier burned brightly, and Thrall reached out his hand toward the fire.More than once today he had come close to death--not just physical death.But he refused to just die, and here he is, the living he is grateful for, for the warmth of the fire, for the friendship with the blue dragons, for continuing to seek him when they should have given up hope trail.

"Sal." The orc rose to greet his friend Kalecgos.The dragon's half-elf face smiled in relief, and he took Thrall's arm with both hands. "It is a pleasure to see you," Kalecgos said. "Another cloudy day, what a blessing to have found you. Tell me how we found you. My heart broke when you fell: I searched for you and found you." Thrall smiled slightly, though his eyes were still sullen. "The snow slowed the fall, but also made me disappear from your sight. It seems the ancestors were not ready for me to join them." "Naregos, he found you. He said there was a corpse not far away," Kalek said.

"Blackmoore," Thrall said.He thought he would say the human name angrily, but when the name blurted out, there was no anger or hatred in his heart, which surprised him.Blackmoore was a complete failure.Not only has he disappeared from this timeline, where he shouldn't have been, but his influence has also disappeared.Any influence on Thrall died with him. Kalek nodded. "That's more or less what I felt when he described the body to me. I'm delighted—and surprised, if I may call it that—that you won. Cold, and then fighting—well, it seems you orcs are tougher than I thought."

"I am not alone," Thrall whispered. "But I know one person who still does." Kalek stared at him curiously, Thrall explained. "Following Ysera's instructions, I am left alone. No matter what happens in this world, I will see her again." At this moment, the blue dragon nodded. "I understand," he said. "I hope so, Thrall." "I know it can. I'm sure of that." He looked directly at Kalek. "But I think . . . you're not so sure." Kalek frowned, turned and paced around. "You fell in battle, Thrall," he whispered. "You didn't see what came next." He fell silent while Thrall waited patiently.

"This creature, this—Cromatus, I heard Father Twilight called him...do you know what he is?" Kalek asked. "It's a chromatic dragon. I heard Descharin talk about it. He said they were all dead." Kalek nodded his head with bright blue hair. "That's what we thought too. They're not products of nature, Thrall. They're creations. Man-made things. And this one—I've never heard of him before, but he's clearly the work of Nefarian's success , and the most perfect one. I never saw a beast with five heads." "Five heads," Thrall mused. "Each one has the color of a different dragon family." This scene is very ugly, but it lingers in his mind, and he can't shake it off.

"Five heads," Kalecgos repeated, with growing panic. "That's right. Chromatic dragons don't live long, Thrall. But maybe that's what Nefarian learned: five heads, five brains. Maybe that's why Chromatus is so powerful, though... Although he still seems weak." At this moment, Thrall could no longer hide his surprise. "weak?" Kalek turned around and looked at him without turning his eyes. "Weakness," he repeated. "He stumbles when he walks. Sometimes his wings can't support his body. Even so, my legion can't stand against him and the twilight dragons. He beats me. Thrall, I'm an Aspect now, I don't say this to brag, but apart from other dragonlords, no dragon can defeat me. But I have to give orders to retreat, otherwise he will destroy me and my entire army. We have given all our strength, and he is still weak .”

Thrall realized that Kalek was always trying to think positively.He doesn't give in easily to negative feelings like anger or despair.But despite this, Thrall still detected a sense of discouragement, worry and, yes, hopelessness in his manner and in his voice. Thrall understood why. "For some reason, he wasn't back to full strength at the time," he said. "When he's healed..." Kalec's blue eyes were filled with grief. "By then he will be invincible," he whispered. "That's right," Thrall agreed thoughtfully, "you can never win alone."

"We're all in disarray at a time when we need to work together the most," Karek said. "This Chromatus who leads the Twilight Dragons... If my dragons and I approach him a second time without reinforcements, he will defeat—nay, destroy us all." "Ysera and Nozdormu will come," Thrall said confidently. "They and their legions will join you." "It's not enough," Kalek said gloomily. "We need red dragons. No...more than that, we need the Life-Binder herself. Thrall, my blue dragons are frightened, and I admit it: so am I. Seeing a creature like this, knowing you can't Beat him..." He shook his head. "We need the hope she might bring, but even she has no hope in her heart. Without her, I believe we are doomed."

"I'll talk to her again," Thrall said. "She didn't listen to you last time," Kalek said, with an uncommon bitterness in his usual melodious voice. "Neither will she this time. We lost, Thrall, and... I'm overwhelmed. I'm an Aspect. I have...new insights, and new ways of understanding things. It's hard Explain. Even though I'm stronger than I was before, even so, I feel like I haven't changed at all in many ways. I feel like I'm just Kalecgos, and I'm really overwhelmed." Thrall walked over to his friend, putting a large hand on Kalek's shoulder. "It's the humility in your heart that makes you what the blue dragon wants to be. Maybe you have all the power of the Lord of Magic, but that doesn't change who you really are. I know you're brave, Kalec. And I know maybe this Sounds impossible. But... as I lay in the snow, hovering at the gates of hell..." He hesitated. "I saw a vision. I knew in my heart it wasn't just a flashback of a dying orc, it was real." Kalecgos nodded, completely believing him. "What kind of illusion is it?" Sal shook his head. "I can't tell you about this vision just yet. I can't tell anyone until Alexstrasza hears about it. That's why I think it's possible for me to bring her back to herself. With the Life-Binder and her red dragon and You fought alongside—well, I think Cromatus has something to worry about." The two looked at each other and smiled. Followers of the Twilight's Hammer have been busy. Chromatus was given life, though his hideous body still withered.Even though he was very weak when he was born, he still fought bravely and won the victory.Now, he was lying in the snow outside the temple, desperately hungry, so they brought him flesh to eat, devouring every mouthful. Father Twilight stood beside him, almost ecstatic with victory.Deathwing certainly couldn't find a single thorn in his side about the events of the day.Blackmoore slew the disappointing Arygos, using the dragon's rare blood to fulfill his unfulfilled duties.Also, a twilight dragon reports that Thrall fell from behind Kalecgos, and if he survives, Blackmoore follows his trail.The Twilight Dragons fought off the Blue Dragons, and most importantly, Chromatus was brought to life.Even though he was just a newborn, he still repelled the most powerful attack of the blue dragon led by the new Dragon King Kalecgos. For the past hour, Cromatus has been quietly eating the snowfall elk carcass that the cultists hunted.But now, he stopped and raised his huge black head. "I want more," he said casually. "Anything you want, Chromatus," Father Twilight assured him. "We'll bring you enough meat until you feel like hunting for yourself." "I will, soon," Heilongtou's deep voice almost echoed in everyone's body. "The livelier the food with my two palates, the sweeter it tastes." "Always right," Father Twilight agreed.Chromatus stretched back the black dragon's head to continue eating, but the red dragon's head lifted up.That head is full of arrogance, and a giant eyeball turns to stare at the humans below. "The dragons haven't brought me their throats to chew yet," he said. "They will come again." Father Twilight didn't quite notice the warning in his voice. "Only idiots would do that, and I think they're too broken to be an idiot," he said. "Ysera is gone, and her green dragons are worn down. Nozdormu may have been found, but neither he nor his bronze dragons have come to aid his kind. Alexstrasza was crying human girl, and the red dragons look like they can't even do the basics without her. You showed the blue dragons how powerful you are, and their soft-hearted dragon king couldn't lead the dragons well. They Thrall, the presumed hero, died in the snow, or would soon be the dead of Blackmoore's sword. I think you can take your time recovering yourself, my friend." The glowing purple eyes of the dragon's red head were fixed on him. "I'm not your friend, Father Twilight," he said softly, but with a sharpness that nearly stopped a human heart. "Nor am I your child or servant. We both serve the great Deathwing, my father created me to serve him, and that is the only thing we have in common." Father Twilight didn't show his fear, but he thought the dragon felt it.It took him a moment to calm himself down, to keep himself from making trembling sounds. "Of course, Chromatus. We all serve with great devotion." The huge eyes narrowed, but Chromatus made no further point. "You're not a dragon, you don't know them as well as I do. Maybe they're in despair, but they'll come back. They'll come back until there's nothing left." "This," the blue dragon head laughed, and added, "it might be right after the next battle. Anyway, I'm still recovering. If you let your guard down, you're that idiot. When the next wave of attacks comes When I attack, I have to restore my full strength." He paused, the blue dragon lowered its head, and swallowed an entire adult female elk with its mouth open and closed. "The daughter of Malygos is alive, is she?" Father Twilight was confused. "Yes, she's still alive, but we've activated the Needle of Turbulence with the blood of Malygos' descendants." The black dragon head gave the humans a sharp look. "Her blood doesn't matter now, what matters is her bloodline." "Oh," said Father Twilight, and then, when it dawned on him, "Oh. So, should I, uh, bring her to you now?" "Time passes," said the bronze dragon. "I am my father's only successful experiment. Perhaps a more stable -- more... traditional -- way of creating chromatic whelps will ensure that they are strong enough to survive. I, as the father, and the last descendant of Malygos As a mother? Yes...our baby will grow stronger. But I must rest first. Bring her in a few hours. Don't worry about that necklace, I'll release her when I'm ready. Even the dragon She is no match for me in her form." Father Twilight turned to one of his assistants. "Bring the blue dragon prisoner to Chromatus within three hours. I must inform our master of our victory." "Your order is my life," said the assistant, running as fast as he could to obey his master's will.Cromatus watched as the assistant ran away, and the green dragon head ate another elk, chewing on its bones.Then he sighed heavily, his breath still reeking of raw meat.Chromatus lay on his stomach in the snow and closed his ten eyes.But before he fell into a deep sleep, Heilongtou spoke his last words. "And my order," he said to Father Twilight, "is your life." Father Twilight knelt before the orb, and the dark orb exuded a dangerous aura. "Lord Deathwing," he whispered. Suddenly the orb burst open, releasing a cloud of smoke as dark as the night, and finally transformed into the image of a dragon with glowing eyes. "You'd better give me some good news," the Black Dragon King said in a low voice. "I have," Father Twilight replied quickly. "Best news. Chromatus survived!" There was a low, joyous laugh, not just in response but in the echo, and Father Twilight felt the ground tremble slightly. "That's good news. I'm glad you made it! Tell me more good news." Father Twilight hesitated.Unfortunately, there was bad news as well as good news, but even that bad news had a bright side. "Arygos failed, but in the end he worked, taking the place of the female dragon as you might expect. We used his blood to activate the Focusing Iris, and with its help we were able to harness the full power of the Nexus. Dharma energy! We created a needle of turbulence and used it to channel all the energy directly into Chromatus." The silence at this point was almost worse than Deathwing's rage; it seemed to have been silent for centuries. "Then, Arygos did not become the dragon king. He did not give me the blue dragon." The voice was very soft, almost calm.But seriously, the crazy Dragon King is never really calm. "Yes, my lord. I don't understand how it works—no one seems to understand—but somehow the Dragonlord's power is transferred to another dragon." "Kalecgos," Deathwing said, and the name came out of his mouth with hatred in his tone. "Yes, Master. As soon as Arygos realized what had happened, he summoned the Twilight Dragons. He then flew to the Eye of Eternity, where Blackmoore slew him and used his dragon's blood. The blue dragons, led by Kalecgos, immediately attacked us. But, master, although the newborn Chromatus was very weak, he still beat the blue dragon! Once he regained his strength, everything and anyone Neither will be able to stand against him. So you see, it doesn't matter if Kalecgos is the new dragonlord. Even if he is, we have a chance of winning!" He waited for his master's reply, his armpits were already soaked with sweat.He waited a long time. "I'm starting to think it's time to do it myself," Deathwing said, his voice warning. Father Twilight breathed a sigh of relief, and he did his best not to let the black dragon see it. "No, my lord. You see, I can assist you very well." "It... reassures me. This is a critical time in my current plan. It would make me angry to be distracted by other things. You have a point. But Thrall? Is he dead?" "He fell off Kalecgos' back during the fight," said Father Twilight. "The chances of him surviving are slim, and even if he doesn't fall to his death, Blackmoore is after him." "So you think he's dead?" "nature." "I don't think so," Deathwing said. "I want his body. The search takes as long as it takes, but you must give me his body. I'll count on him until I see the body." "Since it is my master's wish, I will devote myself to it." "Cromatus needs extra care until he recovers. He must not be harmed." "Never. In fact, Chromatus had some ideas for the future. He asked to bring Krygosa to her. Her dragon egg has shown signs of success before, and I believe we may have solved the chromatic giant." The question of the short life of the dragon." "Cromatus is smart. Very good, very good. She deserves the honor of the future mother." The black dragon's strange metal jaw was slightly lowered, roughly grinning. "I'm happy about that. Despite the setbacks you've been forced to face, you've done well, Father. Keep up the good work and you'll be rewarded." The smoke that formed Deathwing's image turned back into a swirling black mist again, floated to the ground and condensed into a black hard orb, returning to its original form.Father Twilight suddenly sat down on the ground, wiping the sweat from his brow. They brought with them a largely complete set of laboratories.During this process, Kylygosa had intimate contact with it.She was familiar with every bubbling beaker, every small stove, every vial and syringe, and "sample" contained in clearly marked jars.She was familiar with the smells and sounds of the place, and the tools with which the pharmacists did their jobs. Here she tastes pain, humiliation, and tormented grief.But she's always known that, as much as she silently wants to end it sometimes, she doesn't really deserve it.And she knew they weren't going to kill her...until her existence meant nothing to them anymore. And once they're done with what they've brought her here to do, she really, really doesn't mean anything to them anymore. Her heart was beating wildly.They watched her carefully.In the past, she'd fought back with tooth and nail, getting even a little satisfaction from hurting each other before they started torturing her.They must be expecting a more ferocious struggle.But she just looked pale.She was exhausted, and tears easily filled her eyes. "This female dragon doesn't resist anymore?" said one, half seductive, half genuinely surprised. "Does it make sense?" Kelygosa asked listlessly. "It doesn't do me any good. Before, I had hope of being rescued." She looked at him tearfully. "But this time I won't be pulled away and forgotten until you need me again, will I?" Another shook his head, giggling.Her name is Zuzu, and she is a female troll. "I don't think anyone ever told you where you were going." Kylygosa's stomach ached with fear. "I... thought you were going to take me to the lab again." The two cultists exchanged a grim smile. "No, cute little dragon girl," Zuzu said. "You've been spotted by Chromatus." "Wh-what?" Kerry stammered.What they were talking about was definitely not what she thought... not this rotten monster with five heads... "He thinks you two might be able to have a steady stream of colorful babies," said Josa, a burly human with reddish blond hair. "A word of warning: don't expect a candlelit dinner before." The two laughed, Zuzu had an ugly laugh, while Josa smiled smugly. Kylygosa wanted to kill them.She wanted to tear them apart, flee from here, fly in the air, be killed by the twilight dragon, or be tortured to death, any fate except the one they led her to. At the same moment, she also realized that this was an unprecedented opportunity for her.She held back the years of vomiting, forced herself not to tremble from rage and panic, and frowned thoughtfully. "If we do have baby dragons," she said, "I'll be worth something." "You will have it," Zuzu said. "Your bloodline may make you the only descendant who can bring Cromatus what he wants." Klee forced herself not to think about all the other women of the Dragon Clan succumbing to Chromatus' lust.Instead, she nodded. "I could be queen." "Queen for a while, maybe," Jossa said.The three of them walked side by side, and he was already ahead of Keli and Zuzu. "But the end of all things will come. You will be no exception." Zuzu tugged at her silver chain, but Kirygosa noticed that the troll had let go of his grip even as she spoke.She noticed their weapons: two daggers in hip sheaths.They were approaching a circular staircase that would lead to the ground floor.And Chromatus.Josa had already started to go down, and soon they would be alone. Now. Keri used her right hand to free herself from the troll's careless grip on the chain.She raised her left arm and wrapped it around Zuzu's neck.Zuzu raised his hand to pry open the arm that was about to suffocate her, and his fingers scratched a few long scars on Keli's arm.The blue dragon ignored the pain and continued to tighten its arms until the troll rolled his eyes and his body became weak.Keli put the body on the floor, and at the same time quickly drew Zuzu's dagger. She made no sound.Josa didn't notice anything and was still talking to himself. "I wish I lived to see it," he said almost wistfully. "Doomsday, you know. Even though our lives are under Father Twilight's orders. Maybe he'll be happy to see—" His words cut off abruptly, becoming an indistinct cluck as Kilygosa thrust Zuzu's blade into his throat.He covered his mouth to prevent the unpleasant voice from coming out, and put his body on the floor in the same way he did Zuzu. Her hands were covered with blood.Her heart was beating wildly, and so was her breathing.She wiped away as much blood as possible from her hands and dagger with Josa's robe, listening for any sign that she had been spotted.It was quiet all around. One hand on the chain.It still had her trapped in her weakened human form, but at least no enemies were grabbing the other end of the chain. There was nowhere for her to hide the two bodies; the temple was designed to be open and airy, with few hiding places or compartmentalized areas.Soon, when she wasn't where she was supposed to be, they came looking for her and found the two bodies on the ramp. But with any luck, Kylygosa would have long since escaped by then. She sprinted down the ramp silently, her booted feet making as little noise as possible.Fortunately, the sun had set by this time; at least she could look forward to moving in the shadows. However, even after dark, Father Twilight did not let his men rest.The torches were stuck in the snow, and the orange light drove away the dark blue shadows.Kylygosa went to the ground floor and leaned against an archway wall, looking around. How she wished she could simply transform into a real dragon and fly away!But they had foreseen this, and she was helpless.She touched the chains around her neck that kept her in human form.What mount does she need.They have everything here, but most of them are used to pull wagons-like those animals who pull wagons more recently, they brought the nightmare that had not yet been given life, and now he is leaving Kirygosa, who was hiding in the shadows, was sleeping not far away. But there are some private mounts besides that.Their owners are some high-ranking members of the Twilight's Hammer.Most of the people on this brutal journey through Northrend have to walk to the temple with difficulty.A few were chained there, some distance from the light provided by the torches.She saw a few wolves, a few coat horses, a few night sabers, even some elk and a wyvern or two.Some of them only allow their own jockeys to ride them. But some won't. There was only one difficulty: to get to the dragon, she had to pass the sleeping Chromatus. She hesitated, fear recurring...if he woke up— That would be no different than if you were brought before him.But if you walk past him— This is the only way.If she hadn't made it through, she still had the dagger.She would rather kill herself than hand herself over to such a monster. She slipped the dangling chain into the linen blouse, grabbed the dagger—a pathetic thing to deal with such a monster—and walked slowly forward, step by step. His breath sounded like a gust of wind, coming in and out of his huge, magically activated lungs.If he were a tiger, the humanoid Kylygosa would be a little mouse, but she still felt that the sound of her footsteps and the rapid beating of her heart would wake him up, softened by the snow.He didn't curl up, but spread his heads in front of him, and every breath made his body undulate. Keri wanted to run, but she didn't.Instead, she walked gently across his huge, mottled body, step by step.He stinks, as if even the light of life couldn't take away the rotten smell that had followed him for so long.Hatred suddenly ignited in her belly, and the heat warmed her and gave her a newborn firmness. She's betting more than her own life.Father Twilight had kept her a prisoner for so long, and had let her know a lot—a lot he didn't realize she knew.If she can find Kalek and the blue dragon with that information, maybe she can provide some information to help their next attack. Because they, really, will attack again.Kylygosa knows her kind.And this time she wanted to be with them, not helpless with a chain around her neck. Cromatus moved. Kylygosa held her breath, concentrating on the steps she took.Did he feel her sudden hatred?Perhaps, it smelled from her?Or did she accidentally step on a branch hidden in the snow? He moved, lifted the huge bronze dragon head and replaced it with a sigh.He raised his tail and hit the ground again.He then became motionless again, his heavy breathing suggesting continued deep sleep. Kylygosa closed her eyes in relaxation, and then began to walk carefully and slowly past the sleeping multi-colored dragon to the place where the mount was tied.Her eyes turned from the hideous Chromatus to the dragon that would carry her to freedom. She couldn't steal the wargs and nightsabers that were loyal to their masters.Although elk were native to the area, they weren't fully tamed to ride, or they would have taken her flying off.Besides, they and other herbivores wouldn't like the smell of blood still lingering on her.The Horde's flying mount of choice, wyverns were calmly unexpected, and she discovered that because there were only so few of them gathered at the temple, they were trained to the point that anyone could ride them. Anyone, as long as they know how to control these dragons.Kylygosa pushed away her fears again, telling herself that she was lucky enough to have two still available. She walked up to one of her chosen dragons and whispered something to it.The lion-like head turned to her, eyes blinked impatiently, and the bat-like wings fluttered and opened.He left the saddle on, but it was too late for her to do so.At any moment the alarm would go off, and until then she had to stay as far away from the shrine as possible. Kylygosa had seen others ride wyverns before, but she had never done so herself.She carefully straddled the beast with one leg.He snorted and turned to look at her, obviously sensing right away that she was a novice rider. Klee stroked the wyvern in what she thought would be soothing, grabbed the reins, and pulled the wyvern's head skyward.The well-trained dragon leaped obediently—she took a sharp breath and pressed her body against him sadly.He quickly settled into position, circling in the air, waiting for instructions.She took the reins and directed him to fly west, to Coldarra and the Nexus, hoping desperately that Kalecgos and her dragonfolk were still gathered there. She leaned forward, close to the dragon's ear.Still in chains around her neck, she summoned the last of her persuasive magic to calm him down. "We all know how to fly," she whispered. "Teach me to be a wind rider, my friend." It might just be her imagination, but she thought he gave a loud blow of agreement.