Alexstrasza, the Red Dragon Queen, controls the life force given to her by the Titans. Considering the immense suffering the orcs inflicted upon her, it would be reasonable for her to grant a few individuals immortality. Galen is willing to risk his life to challenge the Black Dragon King to be with her forever, despite the fact that the Black Dragon King is one of Azeroth's most powerful fighters, someone only a handful of people could defeat.
Sylvanas immediately felt that the risk was worth it, understanding Galen's feelings. She knew that mutual love was truly wonderful. This was love!
Although Galen mentioned the Red Dragon Queen's blessing, Sylvanas believed that he could surpass the limits of a normal lifespan even without it. What was a demigod, after all? He was confident that once the Origin Heart gained ten million followers and upgraded to a Level 5 Imperial Capital, he would become as powerful as a demigod.
Ten million believers granted power unmatched by any wilderness demigod in Azeroth. Even Elune, the Moon Goddess, whose followers are spread throughout the Night Elves, couldn't compare.
However, if Galen didn't use the immortality slots for himself, he could give them to his close relatives, such as his father, Thoras, and his cousin, Danath.
Then, Galen had another thought: the Night Elves obtained their immortality in exchange for their contributions in repelling the Burning Legion. His future goal was to defeat the Burning Legion. This would not only provide experience but also opportunities to earn immortality for his allies!
Following the map provided by Elder Firebeard, they flew low over the trees and soon arrived at the northeast side of Grim Batol Keep. There, they found a long-abandoned cave in a narrow mountain path. After Durin drove away a giant bear that had taken up residence, the ten-person team entered the cave in single file.
Inside, Galen observed signs of artificial excavation, showing the distinctive style of dwarven craftsmanship.
"This should be the place," Galen said. "Medivh, Lady Aegwynn, please determine the area with the strongest residual magic."
The two mages surveyed the cave and stopped before a boulder. "This is likely the spot," they confirmed. "The residual dark energy is most active here. Though faint, its presence is unmistakable."
"That's correct. The Wildhammer dwarves abandoned their city because Emperor Thaurissan's wife used black magic, which corrupted the city," Galen confirmed. "Come, Durin, let's move this boulder together!"
As the team's primary front-line fighters, Galen and the Mountain King took the lead in clearing the way.
With a powerful push, the boulder shifted, revealing a passage less than two meters wide. A faint aura of dark magic emanated from the opening, but Galen's Holy Light barrier blocked it.
Garona activated her Shadow Power and nodded to Galen before stealthily entering the passage to scout ahead. Then, Galen drew Trol'kalar, activating its power of the Holy Light, causing the longsword to shine like a torch. He led the way into the dark passage.
Sylvanas followed closely, with Alleria and Liadrin behind her. The two mages cast magical barriers on themselves and followed. Chromie, noticing that Aragorn and Durin had taken up positions to guard the rear, followed Aegwynn into the passage.
The secret passage was built by the Wildhammer dwarves to accommodate their height. Everyone except Durin and Chromie could walk through easily, though they still needed to bend over.
Soon, they reached the end of the passage and entered Grim Batol.
The interior resembled a large hall, similar to a room in an inn.
Galen consulted the map, looking left and right, and cursed the Wildhammer dwarves in his mind. "Were they insane? They dug everywhere!" he thought. Except for the central part of the city, which had a somewhat normal layout, the rest of the structures were underground. Galen recalled his unpleasant experience in Blackrock Depths, with its confusing maze of tunnels, and felt a similar irritation.
Reluctantly, Galen opened the strategic map to locate the double agent, Partiasstraz. According to the map, Paltiasstraz was to the southwest.
After secretly communicating with Paltiasstraz through the Origin Heart and exchanging information, Galen confirmed the approximate location.
"Let's go!" Galen urged.
He asked Medivh and Aegwynn to cast invisibility spells on their teammates. They were going to proceed stealthily. However, Alleria and Sylvanas declined the mages' spells, as their skills in mimicry and camouflage were already highly proficient.
The Grim Batol stealth team set off. Based on his knowledge of dwarves, Galen assumed they would conceal important facilities underground, making it likely that the Red Dragon Queen was also in a cavern deep below.
"This is exciting!"
The group moved through the city, which was teeming with tens of thousands of orcs, as if they were taking a leisurely stroll.
"Please, keep silent, Highlord," Medivh telepathically advised. "While I am confident in my invisibility spell, it does not conceal sound. Speaking could easily give us away." At the same time, the Archmage mentally reminded the other team members to remain quiet, stay close, and avoid attracting the orcs' attention.
"I have an unsettling feeling," Aegwynn conveyed to the team. "Since entering the city, I've felt as though we're being watched. Yet, despite traveling for some time, we haven't alerted any orcs. It's very strange!"
Galen clenched his fists. It's likely Deathwing. The question is, is he monitoring us remotely through magic, or is he physically present?
Suddenly, the sound of artillery fire reached them from afar. Had Gandalf reached the city gates already?
"So soon? Are the Dragonmaw clan truly that ineffective?"
Durotan had once described the Dragonmaw clan's warriors as a formidable group of knights, but only when they had their flying mounts.
His assessment seemed accurate.
Nekros's adjutant had intended to use the warriors to defend the mountain pass in stages. But the human army advanced behind massive blue water elementals, who absorbed the Dragonmaw warriors' attacks, while twenty golden steam tanks followed closely behind.
Despite the steep mountain road, the steam tanks' powerful engines drove their massive wheels, allowing them to traverse the terrain as easily as if it were flat.
Blizzards also descended from the sky, targeting the densely packed orc defenses. Gandalf was breaking through the Dragonmaw defenses layer by layer. Meanwhile, the musketeers behind him focused on the slower orcs, who were falling in large numbers.
The city gate of Grim Batol loomed twenty or thirty meters high. The two massive gates, made of black iron, were incredibly solid and heavy, requiring dozens of orcs to push them open.
Today, Galen's army had brought the steam tanks to the gate of Grim Batol.