Chapter 22 Chapter 21

It hurt more than Garrosh had expected, yet he accepted it. He is pleased with the response to his decision to rebuild Orgrimmar.While some seem displeased, such as Cairne and Eitrigg, most seem receptive to the attention of returning to old orc ways.This made Garrosh very happy.He often went out to look at the skulls of his father's beheaded enemies.One day, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, he decided to go one step further in memory of his late father. It was an easy decision to make, but painful to implement.He lay on his back on the floor of his room, forcing himself to calm down and relax.Leaning over him was an elderly orc. Although his face was wrinkled and his hair was as white as snow, he had well-developed muscles and steady hands that were not commensurate with his age.He held a sharp and narrow knife in one hand, dipping the tip of the knife in black ink from time to time.In the other hand held a small hammer.The only sounds in the room were the crackling of the brazier used for lighting and the hammering of the orc tattooist as he tattooed Garrosh's face.

Most tattoos are simple.A family crest, a word or a tribal symbol.But Garrosh wanted his entire chin tattooed black - and that was just the beginning.He wants to eventually get intricate tattoos on his chest and back so friends and foes alike can see that he's willingly inflicting this pain on himself.It took many hours, judging by the frequency with which each blow of the hammer pierced flesh—and each stroke felt like a red-hot needle. For a moment Garrosh swallowed, realizing that he was sweating—he didn't know if it was the pain or the heat from the fire in the small room.The tattooist stopped what he was doing and looked down at him. "Don't move," he said, "and don't sweat so much. Your father didn't sweat."

Garrosh wondered how Grom managed not to sweat.He tried to do that too.He didn't say a word, because talking requires moving his mouth, but he blinked his eyes to show that he understood. The tattooer was an apprentice to Grom Hellscream's tattooer, and now he stepped aside for his own apprentice to come and wipe the sweat off Garrosh's brown forehead and wipe the excess blood from his chin and ink.Taking advantage of this moment, Garrosh breathed heavily.It's been four hours and I've only used up three fingers' worth of ink.The tattooist leaned over again.Garrosh forced himself to remain still again, and the torture—the glorious sweet torture—began again.

"Garrosh!" Cain strode into Grommash Keep, his roar loud and deep.The guards came towards him, to assist, not to intercept.He glared at them fiercely and snorted so hard that they all stepped aside. "Garrosh!" There was always someone awake in Grommash Keep, keeping the braziers on and preparing for tomorrow's business, so the place was quiet but not empty.The people were awakened by Kane's shouts, hastily put on their coats and came out to watch curiously. They rubbed their eyes, not fully awake from the dream. "Garrosh, I want to see you!" "The leader of the tribe wants to see him!" A Kor'Kron guard shouted loudly.

Kane whirled around at a speed that was out of his age. "I'm High Patriarch Cairne Bloodhoof. I helped Thrall create the Horde, and now Garrosh is destroying it. I have something to say to him, and I'm going to say it to him now!" "Old Niu, you are yelling and making noise there, even the dead will be woken up by you!" Garrosh's voice was as sharp as Cairne's, and sneering.Cairne immediately forgot the Kor'kron defender and turned to stare at Garrosh Hellscream.The tauren's eyes widened slightly. "So," he murmured, looking at Garrosh's tattoo, "you've inherited more than just your father's weapon."

"His weapon," Garrosh said, "and the markings on his face and body that terrified his enemies." He moved his mouth slightly, as if in pain.Those tattoos looked new. "Your father did a lot of bad things, but he died doing a great thing," Kane said, "and now he'll be ashamed of you too." "What?" Garrosh growled. "What are you talking about, tauren?" "I warned you about Thrall," Kane continued, dismissing the question for a moment.His roar had been loud before, but now it was terribly low. "I told him it was a foolish thing to entrust you with such power. I thought maybe one day you would be able to carry the burden, but it would take experience and discipline. But I was wrong. You, Garrosh? Hellscream, You're not even fit to lead a pack of coyotes, let alone this honorable tribe! You'll just beat your chest and howl like a Stranglethorn gorilla and lead us all to destruction."

Garrosh paled, then flushed with anger. "You'll regret those words, old bull," he hissed. "I'll make you eat them, and the dirt on the ground." "You were the one who attacked the Ashenvale sentry, wasn't it?" Kane yelled, walking towards the orc with clenched brown fists. "Nearly a dozen druids from the Cenarion Council met to negotiate a peaceful solution to the Horde, and you were the one who ordered their slaughter." Disbelief and rage alternately flashed across Garrosh's face, "My lord, what are you talking about? How dare you accuse me of such despicable actions?"

Kane snorted at him, "Garrosh, you have publicly expressed contempt for the treaty signed in honor and mutual trust and Thrall's so-called appeasement to the Alliance." "Yes! I despise this kind of appeasement. But I will not secretly violate the treaty! I will be proud of any action I order to attack the Alliance! I will stand on the roof and proclaim it to prove to the Horde that we are still alive. There is hope! Glory to the Horde—" "How dare you mention that word?" Kane growled. "Glory? Even now you're lying, Garrosh. Your glory is no more than a centaur. At least dare to do it. Admit it." Your stupid and selfish choices!"

Garrosh's tone suddenly became icy. "You think of me as a schemer, idiot. You're getting old with age. It's no wonder Thrall would believe you, but out of his respect, I don't mind your nonsense. Thrall asked me to lead the Horde, And I'll do what I think is best for it. Go away, and save yourself being dragged out and thrown out in embarrassment." In answer, Cain slapped Garrosh backhanded, right over his fresh tattoo.The blow sent Garrosh staggering and nearly falling, screaming in pain, his arms outstretched for balance. "I just wanted to drag you by the tail, rough son of a bitch," Kane said. "That slap is long overdue."

Garrosh's lower lip was swollen, blood gushing from the slit.He covered his face reflexively, then hissed and let go.The orc was confused for a moment, and then apparently fell into a rage. "So you're going to challenge me, old cow?" "Did I not express myself clearly enough? Perhaps I should do it again. I challenge you, Garrosh, to a fair duel with you. A fight to the death." Garrosh sneered, "The match has been changed at Thrall's behest. It's been mixed. Now it's just an exhibition match. Do you want to fight me? Come on. Now I'm the Horde Leader, I announce that I will accept your challenge to a fight to the death—the old fashioned fight to the death. As before, the old rules. All the rules."

Kane narrowed his eyes, "Is that the end of the fight?" Garrosh sneered. "Fight to the death. Maybe you'll apologize now." Kane stared at him for a moment, then threw back his head and laughed.This surprised Garrosh. "If you're asking me to fight the old ways, Son of Hellscream, know that you're just letting me loose. I thought it was just teaching you a lesson. If the Horde loses such a fine fighter, I'll I am sorry, but you will never be allowed to destroy everything Thrall has worked for, and everything the warriors have sacrificed for, just for personal honor. I will never allow it, did you hear me? I reiterate my challenge to you. Life-and-death struggle—fight to the end in the traditional way!" "I take it," Garrosh hesitated for a moment, then growled, "willing to take it. I used to feel sorry for you, but not anymore. It's time for the Horde to get rid of you old bastards, living like moths on those Born out of the grace of those who actually went out to fight and sacrifice." "It's time for the Horde to rid itself of you arrogant young fool, Garrosh," Cairne replied calmly. "I regret having to. But I have to. In fact, I'm glad you asked for it to be done the traditional way. You're killing innocents with the intent of destroying any hope of peace. I can't allow you to continue like this." Garrosh laughed now, stroking his chin cautiously, then put his bloodstained finger in his mouth and sucked gently.The movement must have been painful, but he had recovered, and he didn't look like he was in pain at all. "Of course, you know what you need." Garrosh hesitated. "What weapon? What costume? How many witnesses?" Kane asked. Garrosh grimaced and shook his head in distress, and Cairne could not help but snort at him. "You asked for a traditional duel, and I, a tauren, know your orc traditions better than you." "You love the minutiae," Garrosh growled, "whatever you want. As long as we get started!" Kane looked at the orc disdainfully, then shook his head to collect himself. "We each choose a weapon, and each choose a shaman to bless the weapon. No armor—no clothes, except a loincloth. And we must each have at least one witness." He gave a wry smile." I'm sure it's more than that." Garrosh nodded briefly, "I will abide by these rules." "Arena. An hour later." Kane turned to leave, but stopped again at the door. "Get ready for your funeral, Garrosh? Hellscream. Don't worry I'll desecrate your corpse. When you die, I'll treat you according to the honor you earned in life." He tilted his head and strode out , Garrosh laughed loudly behind him. An hour later, the arena was packed.Torches and braziers are lit to provide illumination and warmth.Word has spread like wildfire, and the audience has clearly chosen who to support.Some sat on Cairne's side; others—quite a few—were cheering for Garrosh. Kane threw his head back, trying to make out faces with his dim old eyes.There is no doubt that most of the people on his side are tauren.There were also members of other races, but they all had one thing in common—they were all old.He couldn't see Garrosh's supporters clearly, but he could make out, in the orange firelight, tauren black mixed with green orcs, purple trolls, gray Forsakens, and pink blood elves. , brown or white fur. Kane sighed.He believed that he could win this duel, otherwise he would not have proposed a life-and-death struggle.He's not so lifeless that he wants to give up his life.Not so far.He challenged - and accepted Garrosh's decision to return to "the old ways" - because he needed to end Garrosh's arrogant, short-sighted and dangerous rule over his beloved Horde.He planned to take Garrosh's place until Thrall returned.If Thrall felt that he should be punished, Kane would accept it. However, he also had no illusions that he could easily win the battle.Garrosh is one of the Horde's finest fighters.But one-on-one combat was completely different from the battlefield, and Garrosh was always reckless and impulsive.Kane will fight in his own way and win because of it. Garrosh prepared on his side of the great arena.According to the traditional rules of doom, he was naked save for a loincloth, his anointed tan body gleaming with luster.He has a typical orcish build, strong, muscular, and proud.Now he was warming up for the fight with the great ax that had slain Mannoroth.The ax was likewise anointed, and the edge shone with a dark radiance. Cairne will fight alongside his ancestral weapon, the Rune Spear.He too was stripped down to a loincloth.His fur, though gray with age, was still glossy and thick, glistening with oil.Beneath his skin are solid muscles.Although his joints often ached in the rain and snow, and his eyes could not see clearly, his strength and speed never diminished.At this moment, Kane raised the rune spear and saluted the four sides of the world and the elements.He struck his chest with his spear hand, saluting the spirit of life within himself and all living beings.Next, he went to Boram Starchaser and asked for his blessing. Fighters oil their bodies before fighting, as do their weapons.Muttering softly, Boram dipped his fingers into the vial full of holy oil, and dabbed the gleaming liquid onto the spear tip. "I'm sorry it's come to this," he whispered into Cairne's whisper, "but it's over, and I know you did it in justice, Cairne Bloodhoof. May your spear strike again Straight and accurate." Cain bowed deeply in humility, his thick, powerful fingers gripping the spear's handle.Twenty generations of Bloodhoof chiefs have fought with this runespear, and he will do the same.It has tasted the blood of many venerable enemies, and it has always struck straight and true.His eyes lingered on those runes for a moment.It was an ancient tradition that he had inscribed most of his deeds on the spear before.But there was much more to tell, and he promised himself that he would find time to finish his story when the battle was over and things were sorted out a bit. "Old bull!" Garrosh snarled. "Are you going to stand there all night brooding? I thought you were here to kill me, not stare at an old spear." Kane sighed. "Your words will go with the winds of fate, Garrosh Hellscream. They will be your last words. Mine will choose their words more carefully." "Bah!" Garrosh spat.He picked up Gorehowl and bowed to the shaman who had blessed it—Kane squinted his eyes and looked over as best he could.It was a tauren shaman who blessed Garrosh's weapon with spells and holy oils.This surprised and hurt Kane, who had expected an orc to perform the ceremony.It was a female tauren with dark fur— "Magasa," he whispered.She's a powerful shaman, but so is Boram.While her blessing will help Garrosh, Boram Starseeker's blessing will also help Cairne.She must have known this; it was just a gesture.What she did was finally a public statement of where her allegiances lay. Kane nodded to himself, more convinced now than ever of his rightness.This challenge was necessary, before more fell under Garrosh's spell.At least Magatha has shown her true colors now.He had to call it infidelity; he had no choice now.Grimtotems need to be banished from Thunder Bluff, unless they finally choose to swear allegiance to the Horde.Now it's a necessity, not a wish. Magatha looked up.Kane couldn't see her expression clearly, but he could imagine her smiling smugly.He smiled silently.She picked the wrong people to support. He turned to look at his opponent. Garrosh stretched his body on tiptoe with the handle of the ax in his hand, his brown eyes sparkling with excitement. Mother Earth, please guide my attack.You know I'm not fighting for myself. Kane raised his head and opened his mouth to let out a low, wordless roar, which meant a challenge in the tradition of life-and-death fighting.Garrosh answered with a deafening scream, almost as loud as his father's.Then, just as Cairne expected, Garrosh rushed over. Kane stood firm, waiting for the young man to come running towards him with the tomahawk held high.Garrosh lifted the mighty Gorehowl above his head and swung it vigorously.Kane knew that the notches in the blade made a shriek, which gave the weapon its name.The sound would have terrified Grom Hellscream's enemies, but Cairne was unmoved.At the last moment, the Tauren dodged aside with grace that belied his body, allowing Garrosh's own speed to carry him through without harm.The orc tried to stop, but Kane had already thrust the rune spear into his right arm. Garrosh cried out, surprise, humiliation, and pain in his voice.His grip on the weapon relaxed slightly.At this moment, Cain lowered his horned head and slammed it into his injured arm, knocking Garrosh to the ground, and Gorehowl almost flew out of his hand.If he really let go of the weapon, he would be completely lost.The rules clearly state that once the weapon is dropped, neither side is allowed to pick it up. Kane raised the rune spear and stabbed straight down.Garrosh rolled to the side at the critical moment.The spearhead slit the orc's waist and sank deep into the arena floor.Cairne wasted a precious moment in pulling out his spear, and Garrosh was already on his feet.Garrosh, the most respected warrior of the Horde, had almost lost his weapon; Cairne had already taken the lead. "Well done, old cow," Garrosh said slightly panting, "I admit, I underestimated your speed. It seems that your slow motion is all fake." "Your sarcasm wasn't clever to begin with, and it's even more so now, Son of Hellscream," Cairne replied, never taking his eyes off his opponent. "Save your energy and fight well, so I can save the words for your funeral." It's all too easy to piss off Garrosh, Cairne thought.The orc frowned and rushed over again with a low growl.He skillfully swung the Gore Howl, Kane felt the force of the wind, heard the howling of the battle ax, and almost missed the swift blow.Garrosh was no fool; he learned from his mistakes.He will not underestimate Kane for the second time. Kane lowered his head, scratched the ground with his right hoof and charged.Garrosh let out a shrill battle cry, and brought his ax down to the tauren's throat.But at that crucial moment, Cairne stopped suddenly, leaped to the left, and speared Garrosh's wide-open body. Garrosh's eyes widened.He barely had time to turn slightly so that his right shoulder took the blow from the spear instead of his chest.The blow was rather dangerous, but it was no longer fatal.Still, Garrosh's arm had been greatly weakened, first the right arm and then the shoulder on the same side. Garrosh howled out in pain and rage, clutching Gorehowl with one hand and covering the wound with the other.Kane drew his spear easily, feeling a sudden pity in his heart. Garrosh's death is a loss to the Horde - he was an excellent fighter after all.If Thrall hadn't appointed this young orc as leader!This tragedy is no longer necessary. His momentary hesitation allowed Garrosh to take his chance, and though it seemed unlikely, he raised the two-handed ax with his badly injured arm.Cairne quickly grasped the runespear in both hands, holding it high to parry Garrosh's blow.A powerful and sturdy weapon that has seen countless battles, Kane has parried it like this before. Gore Howl slashed down on his head, and let out a terrifying scream. The Rune Spear—a family heirloom for twenty generations, the pride of the Bloodhoof family, which has killed countless enemies and protected the family for the people—is now broken into several pieces. The blood roar slowed down, but did not stop.It sliced ​​through Kane's chest, cutting a shallow groove in his flesh, before slashing his arm.It was only a flesh wound; the spear had already absorbed most of the blow. Kane recovered from the horror of seeing the ancient weapon destroyed.He hasn't lost yet.His hand gripped the lower half of the broken spear, its sharp break could still hurt people.Garrosh was still fighting, but he was badly wounded.The blow that shattered the runespear had worn him out, and he wouldn't last long.One swipe with a broken spear would-- Kane blinked.His vision blurred.Was it dirt, sweat, or blood in his eyes?He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand in the nick of time, but it didn't help.He put his hand down and found it trembling slightly.And his legs...felt weak. He looked at Garrosh in shock.The orc was sweating profusely and panting heavily.As Cairne watched him, Garrosh met his gaze calmly, ax in hand.Kane grabbed his weapon, and it trembled in his hand, feeling strangely heavy— As a result, I lived a glorious life, but died at the hands of traitors. He couldn't even give one last cry to accuse the killer.It took all his willpower to barely lift the broken spear so he wouldn't be knocked down with his bare hands. Garrosh stared at the gash he had made on Cain's chest and the shards of the rune spear lying on the ground. His eyes narrowed, a look of surprise appeared on his face for a moment, and then he clenched his jaw firmly.He began to run towards his opponent, raising Gorehowl with both hands and slashing down with the axe.Kane is now unable to parry or dodge this heavy blow, and his life is rapidly depleting.Kane? Bloodhoof, the great patriarch of the tauren, silently watched the great ax come down.