With Ulduar's outer defenses shattered and the Halls of Lightning secured, Galen knew that Loken's reign of corruption was nearing its end.
The capture of the Halls of Lightning filled Galen with a sense of triumph.
Within its ancient chambers lay the Forge of Wills!
The Forge, combined with the Engine of the Makers, presented the tantalizing possibility of creation. Galen could now, potentially, shape new life, new beings, to serve his purposes.
Yet, victory was not complete. The towering fortress of Ulduar still loomed, and the ancient evil of Yogg-Saron festered within its depths. Galen knew that true peace would remain elusive until this final darkness was purged.
And there was another, more immediate threat.
Loken, in his desperation, had tampered with Ulduar's arcane monitoring systems. His death would trigger a cosmic beacon, summoning the celestial observer Algalon to judge the fate of Azeroth.
Galen recalled a similar, insidious tactic from the ancient texts of the Chronicles of Shu Mountain. There, demonic forces, facing annihilation, had bound their existence to crucial points in the world. Their destruction would unleash a cataclysm, a wave of destruction that would consume countless lives and leave even the most righteous stained with karmic guilt.
Loken's plan was a cosmic spite bomb, designed to ensure that even in death, he could inflict maximum suffering.
Galen, however, was not overly concerned. Algalon was an observer, not a warrior of unparalleled might. If necessary, Galen would subdue him. And if the celestial being proved resistant to reason, then Galen would... persuade him to join the cause.
With Loken's demise, the Iron Dwarves and Iron Vrykul scattered across Storm Peaks were left leaderless. Their resistance crumbled, and they were swiftly overwhelmed and... repurposed.
The Halls of Stone and the Halls of Lightning proved to be more than mere defensive outposts. They contained a wealth of ancient knowledge and technology. Within the Halls of Lightning, Galen discovered a star chart, mapping the celestial bodies surrounding Azeroth.
Beyond this regional chart, Galen also found star charts of far more ancient origin, records compiled by the Titans themselves. These charts, however, had not been updated for millennia.
A plan formed in Galen's mind. He immediately copied the star chart and sent it to Illidan in Draenor, knowing the implications of this discovery.
Illidan, sensing the urgency in Galen's message, returned to Azeroth through hidden pathways, arriving at the Lightning Halls under the cover of darkness.
"Why have you summoned me back?" Illidan asked, his voice a low growl.
"The answer is obvious, is it not? When I sent you the star chart, I knew you would return, my... 'master'," Illidan said, emphasizing the last word with a hint of bitterness.
He had never imagined that a simple duel with Arthas would lead to this... this enslavement of his very soul.
"Hahahaha! Let us not dwell on such trivialities, Illidan. You are still free to act as you see fit!" Galen chuckled.
"Hmph! If you had not given me such freedom, such resources, such... conveniences, I might have found a way to betray you long ago."
Such naive arrogance, Galen thought, amused. In the Altar of Kings, he held dominion over countless souls far stronger than Illidan. Even Neltharion, in all his fury, was but a plaything. Illidan was hardly a threat.
"Enough of this banter," Galen said, his voice firm. "We have more pressing matters to attend to. Now that we possess the star chart, there is little reason for you to remain hidden in Draenor. You must find a way to acquire the Sargerite Keystone. It is the key to our counter-offensive against the Burning Legion!"
The Sargerite Keystone, also known as the Keystone of Sargeras, was a device of immense power, capable of opening portals to any demon world, including the Legion's stronghold of Argus.
Galen knew its location: Mardum, the prison world of the demons, and it was guarded by Matron Mother Malevolence, a powerful demon personally entrusted by Sargeras with its protection.
In the original timeline, Illidan had sent his demon hunters, the Illidari, to Mardum to retrieve the Keystone. They had succeeded, but upon their return, they were captured by Maiev Shadowsong and her Watchers.
"Rest assured," Illidan said, a predatory grin spreading across his face. "With this star chart, the Burning Legion's base is practically within our grasp! Hahahaha!"
His laughter, however, quickly turned into a snarl. "There is one small problem. I lack the means for interstellar travel."
"A ship," Galen surmised.
"Precisely! A vessel capable of traversing the vastness of space! A new group of naaru recently arrived in Shattrath City. Their ship is currently stationed in orbit above Draenor. Perhaps I could... acquire it."
"Hold on," Galen interrupted, his voice sharp. "You intend to... seize A'dal's ship? Are you insane?"
In the original timeline, Kael'thas Sunstrider had indeed stolen the Tempest Keep, and succeeded. But A'dal and his naaru were now allies, part of the Holy Light Expeditionary Force that Galen himself had invited. To steal from them would be a betrayal of trust, a stain on their honor.
"What is the problem? It is a perfectly functional ship, and readily available!" Illidan argued, his voice laced with impatience.
"Silence, Illidan!" Galen snapped. He would not tolerate such blatant disregard for honor. "For years, I have been utilizing the talents of draenei technicians to repair a crashed vessel: the Genedar, which lies in Nagrand's Oshu'gun."
The Genedar's hull was largely intact, but its power systems were beyond repair. The draenei, lacking the means to defend themselves, had been forced to abandon it.
Now that Draenor was under the control of the Draenor Allied Forces, Galen had initiated a project to restore the ship.
He had sent his most skilled engineers—Thermaplugg, Gazlowe, High Tinker Gelbin Mekkatorque, and Grizzik—to study the vessel and devise a plan for its repair.
"Fortunately, A'dal's fleet remains operational," Galen explained. "I will have K'ure and D'ore request that A'dal dispatch a technical team to assist in the repairs. You, Illidan, will oversee the project, ensuring its swift completion."
"Fine," Illidan conceded, though his tone betrayed his lingering desire for a more... direct solution.
Galen knew that Illidan still harbored thoughts of seizing a ship by force. But reputation was a fragile thing. Once lost, it was difficult to regain. He would not allow Illidan to jeopardize the long-term goals of the Crusade for a short-sighted gain.
With Illidan dispatched, Galen turned his attention to the final assault. The combined forces of the Lightforged Vrykul's Dragonflayer Legion, the Earthen armies of Uldaman, the elemental legions of Wintergrasp, and the dragons of the Wyrmrest Accord had assembled before the gates of Ulduar, awaiting his command to storm the ancient Titan city.
The Titan Keepers, wielding their ancient authority, began to unlock the colossal gates.
"Click."
The sound echoed across the frozen landscape, and for a moment, the very snowflakes seemed to hang suspended in the air.
Then, with a grinding rumble that shook the earth, the gates of Ulduar swung open.
"CHARGE!" Galen roared, his voice amplified by ancient magic.
"Dragonflayer Legion! To glory!"
"Earthen Legion! For the Titans!"
"Wyrmrest Accord! For Azeroth!"
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The silence was shattered as Ulduar unleashed a devastating barrage of arcane shells, the opening salvo in the final battle for the fate of Azeroth.