In two days, under Zul'jin's command of the Amani Trolls, Orgrim led his orc soldiers through the burned forest, marching towards the Sanctum of the Sun.
Far in the heart of the Ghostlands, in front of the Sanctum of the Sun, the burning forest fire had been extinguished. The magisters used their magic to put out the flames.
"These filthy orcs, they will pay a bloody price!" Alleria stood on the second floor of the temple, gazing angrily at the distant, burned forest.
Leylin waved his hand, clearing away the drifting smoke, and said, "Things will change, but right now, I need two elite rangers."
Alleria looked Leylin up and down, curiously asking, "What are you going to do? A new mission? I didn't know about this."
This wasn't a mission from the Silvermoon Council; it was the result of Leylin's discussion with the two mentors yesterday. Magister Nallorath analyzed the intelligence sent back by scouts at the front. Zul'jin had also participated in this war, serving as a military advisor to the orcs.
Trolls were the elves' sworn enemies, and they were quite familiar with the elven kingdom. With Zul'jin's help, the orcs' invasion of this land became much smoother.
"The mission we discussed on the spot, I'm going to capture Zul'jin," said Leylin.
Alleria's hatred for Zul'jin was no less than that for the orcs, but hatred hadn't clouded her judgment. She shook her head and said, "No, you can't go. Crossing the orc camp to capture such a troll is too dangerous."
"Don't worry too much. Since I've already planned this mission, it means I'm confident enough," Leylin said.
Alleria knew she couldn't change Leylin's mind. She clenched her fist and pounded it against Leylin's chest, saying, "Whether the mission succeeds or fails, you have to come back alive."
Leylin wasn't good at emotional talk, but he promised, "I will."
That night, a small party of mages and rangers set off from the Sanctum of the Sun, following the western coastline. They bypassed the orcish soldiers' camps and circled around to the rear of the Horde.
This area had previously been Zeb'Nowa, the edge of the troll territory. Leylin's party stopped here. After settling their mounts near the coast, they began to discuss their mission plan.
Lor'themar took out a map from his robes and said, "The trolls who attacked us alongside the orcish tribes aren't in Zul'Aman. The trolls fighting alongside the orcs are all in this location."
Pointing to a clearing on the map, Lor'themar continued, "This used to be a territory belonging to the trolls of Zeb'Nowa, and now it's a temporary horde camp."
The intelligence the scouts had given to the two magisters, along with the figures they had released to investigate the number of trolls in this location, indicated fewer than two hundred. However, Zul'jin was in this place, providing the orcs with the food and crucial information needed for their attack on the elven kingdom.
Sylvanas gazed at Halduron beside her and asked, "Are your scouts certain Zul'jin is hiding in this location and hasn't come out?"
Halduron Brightwing had enough confidence in his scouts to affirm, "Absolutely in this place. My scouts wouldn't mistake the chieftain of the amani trolls."
Having received confirmation, Leylin said, "My reconnaissance after unleashing my magic is exactly the same as your reports, which means our mission plan hasn't been disrupted yet. Since Zul'jin is still hiding here, we don't need to wait too long."
In less than three hours, Leylin's party arrived near the troll encampment. To the west of Zeb'Nowa, a troll camp.
There was only one entrance to this troll camp, blocked by two troll watchtowers, each guarded by over twenty troll headhunters.
The defenses seemed very solid, but for elite rangers, such defenses were completely negligible.
After receiving a reassuring look from Leylin, Sylvanas drew her golden bow, aimed at the foreheads of the five troll headhunters, and fired!
Five arrows shot out simultaneously. Before they could even groan in pain, the troll headhunters' corpses crashed heavily before the massive, tall wooden gate.
After Sylvanas drew her bow, the subsequent arrows killed all the trolls guarding the gate. With the threat on the watchtower eliminated, Leylin used [Dragon's Breath] to burn down the tall wooden gate.
The forest fire had long been extinguished, and seeing the flames at the gate, the troll soldiers quickly assembled to fight the small team of only six.
To the team's delight, Zul'jin emerged from the central troll hut. He was furious upon seeing the elven team. He had repeatedly urged the orcs to ensure the frontline defenses were in place, but these foolish orcs wouldn't listen. Now, trouble has arrived.
"Zul'jin, it's time to pay for your crimes!" Sylvanas drew her golden longbow, aiming at Zul'jin's forehead.
As the Warlord of the Amani Forest trolls and Chieftain of the Amani Tribe, he showed no panic in the face of the elite rangers of Quel'Thalas. Although he knew these troll soldiers were no match for this small group.
Zul'jin possessed his own power, and great power at that.
"Relax, little girl. It's not time to judge me yet," Zul'jin said coldly, looking at Sylvanas.
Trolls are large, and even with his hunched back, he was still a head taller than the high elves.
"Look at the group that has intruded into my camp this time, including a human. Now, do you feel the pain of your home being invaded and destroyed? How ironic!" Zul'jin's cold laughter mocked Leylin's squad.
The members of the Leylin squad did not answer; they were not here to listen to this chieftain lecturing them on history.
Of course, Zul'jin wouldn't give these invaders a vivid history lesson.
"Let me guess, you've come to capture me? Haha, indeed, elven mages love to use such clever tricks. But I'm different today. When you come, also imagine the price of failure! Witness the power bestowed upon me by the evil god!"
With a sharp roar, Zul'jin's wings suddenly lit up. He was using the power of the eagle loa.
The eagle loa Akilzon, appearing above Zul'jin's head, let out a loud cry, and two enormous tornadoes, manipulated by Zul'jin, rushed towards Leylin's team from two directions.
"Kill these arrogant elves, and use their blood to sacrifice to the loas!"