When Galen finally arrived in Uldum, the once-thriving Amun Base had been utterly erased from the map, swallowed by the relentless tide of wind elementals, leaving behind nothing but shifting yellow sands. Even the colossal Tol'vir statues, hundreds of meters tall, ancient guardians of the original Amun tribe, lay buried beneath the elemental onslaught.
This was not the first time one of Galen's sub-bases had come under attack, but it was the first time in over a decade that he had witnessed one completely annihilated. A cold, simmering rage ignited within him, and he vowed that the consequences for this transgression would be severe.
Al'Akir, the Windlord, was marked for death. Galen swore it, even N'Zoth himself would not be able to save him. He had waited patiently, orchestrating events to lure these chaotic elementals into the open, and now that they had revealed themselves, Galen would grant them no quarter, no chance of survival.
Furthermore, he demanded a swift and decisive victory. To allow Al'Akir time to fully tame the wild wind elementals of Uldum, and even the southern skies of Kalimdor, would create a far more troublesome and protracted conflict.
For this monumental task, Galen had brought only the Golden Holy Dragonflight, marking their inaugural participation in a global event since their Lightforging. While he had initially considered deploying the Voidwing, Freewing, and Stormwing Gryphon Knight Regiments, he knew that against the sheer power of wind elementals, dragons would achieve a more crushing and overwhelming effect.
"Tekahn," Galen addressed the imposing figure beside him, "are your tribe's armies prepared?"
Tekahn, the Pharaoh of the Neferset tribe, stood resolute. In addition to the Golden Holy Dragonflight, Galen had also summoned these proud descendants of the Titans, the indigenous inhabitants of Uldum. Their intimate knowledge of the terrain would be invaluable in blocking all northern passages for the encroaching wind elementals.
"Highlord," Pharaoh Tekahn replied, his voice a deep rumble. His half-human, half-feline body was covered in sleek black fur, and a majestic golden eagle mask adorned his head, lending him an air of ancient authority. "The Neferset tribe's 50,000 warriors have all arrived at the Sun Obelisk. We have activated the obelisk's power, effectively sealing off the southern sky from further elemental incursions!"
However, despite his outwardly majestic appearance, the Pharaoh's tone shifted, becoming almost obsequious. "Highlord, has our god truly returned? Can we Tol'vir finally escape the curse of flesh and return to our original, glorious stone bodies?"
Galen cast a knowing glance at Takahann. This Tol'vir leader was remarkably similar to Ymiron, the Vrykul king, in his fervent desire to shed the curse of flesh and revert to his pristine, stone form.
While the Tol'vir also possessed bodies of flesh and blood, they differed significantly from the Dragonflayer Vrykul. They were one of the few long-lived races afflicted by the curse of flesh, a distinction that might be attributed to their geographical isolation from Ulduar's Forge of Wills.
Moreover, due to Uldum's relative seclusion, their tribes had suffered minimal losses over the millennia, remaining almost as numerous as they were 15,000 years ago, with the exception of their great conflict with the Mogu.
Consequently, they had witnessed the gradual, agonizing changes to their bodies with their own eyes, a torment that fueled their desperate longing for their original forms. In the original timeline, the Neferset tribe had even allied with the destructive Deathwing in their pursuit of a cure, intending to seize control of the immense power left by the Titans within the Halls of Origination.
"You are the loyal kin of the gods," Galen affirmed, his voice resonating with respect. "You have guarded Uldum and the Halls of Origination for thousands of years. Even in the face of the formidable Lei Shen, you did not yield, displaying the supreme courage to perish alongside him!"
Galen genuinely admired this unwavering resolve. Lei Shen, the Thunder King, had been a truly formidable opponent in his time.
"Ra has awakened in the distant south," Galen continued, his words igniting a spark of hope in Tekahn's eyes. "And I believe he will soon descend upon Uldum once more, reclaiming control of the Halls of Origination. Then, he will lift this curse from you, restoring you to your rightful forms!"
Galen's promise sent a wave of ecstatic joy through Tekahn. He cared little whether the other Ramkahen and Orsis tribes desired to restore their stone bodies; his Neferset tribe harbored a profound hatred for their flesh-and-blood forms, desperately yearning to shed this accursed affliction!
"Of course," Galen added, a subtle hint of leverage in his tone, "if you perform exceptionally well in this upcoming conflict, I will personally intercede with Ra, urging him to expedite your transformation. After all, I understand the torment you endure in your hearts!"
"We, the Neferset tribe, are willing to die for the Highlord!" Tekahn declared, raising his serrated axe in a gesture of unwavering fealty, his voice ringing with fierce determination.