In a full month and a half, Rhodes consumed over 200 Holy Light Elementals, and the results were very satisfying to him!
At this moment, the two angels had undergone earth-shattering changes. The wings on their backs had turned from white to gold, emitting waves of Holy Light. The golden halo above their heads had transformed into a crown-like object, resting on their heads, and their originally black long hair had also turned golden.
The height of the two angels had not changed, but golden light, pure Holy Light, flowed over their skin.
The angels' originally hollow, soulless eyes, under the infusion of this vast Holy Light, had also turned golden, shining with glorious Holy Light.
Although they still lacked intelligence, if these two angels appeared outside now, all humans would immediately kneel and worship them.
Now the attributes of the two angels have also changed. Their speed has increased to 15, and their health has increased by 20 points, reaching 220, while their attack is 25 and defense is also 25.
Furthermore, they gained Holy Light Flash, Holy Light Spell, Divine Shield, Divine Intervention, Hammer of Justice, Holy Storm, Consecration, Blessing of Kings, Blessing of Wisdom, and more! They basically learned all Paladin spells.
The two angels can now provide Holy Light protection and healing to teammates, and also use Holy Light to attack opponents. They have directly transformed from melee units into all-rounders, capable of ranged combat, tanking, dealing damage, and healing.
Rhodes was very satisfied with the changes in the two angels. In terms of raw power, they were still slightly inferior to Archangels, lacking resurrection skills, but in terms of versatility, they had already surpassed Archangels!
And in the future, if there are things like castles or mountain fortresses, and these two angels are upgraded to Archangels, the Holy Light blessings will also be retained.
"This is incredible! Rhodes, with the power these two angels now possess, it's like you're carrying two top-tier Paladins with you. I feel the Holy Light on them is even comparable to Lord Uther's," Jaina said.
Over the past month and a half, she had personally witnessed the transformation of these two angels, from having no Holy Light at all to becoming pure Holy Light creatures, even capable of using a full set of Paladin skills. It was truly amazing.
A smile appeared on Rhodes' lips. If Holy Light could infect angels, could other forces also do the same?
For example, creating Dark Angels, or Fallen Angels, or Hell Angels, Life Angels, Death Angels, and so on.
Angels, as creatures, have excellent compatibility with elemental forces; they are inherently blank slates. After a month of infusion, Rhodes felt that the power they could accept might not be limited to Holy Light, and their future potential for transformation was very high.
Moreover, besides transforming into two angels, Rhodes had other gains during this month and a half. For example, a group of Vampires had accumulated in the haunted house.
In addition, the Refugee Camp had refreshed a full 7 times. Among them, 3 times were Tier 1 units, 1 time was peasants, 1 time was small Hell monsters, and another time was Gremlins. Rhodes didn't hesitate to throw the peasants and small monsters directly into the skeleton transformation field, converting them all into skeletons.
As for Gremlins, it was given to Solmyr, as it was a Tower unit after all.
The fourth refresh was the Mag from Hell City. This thing was a ranged unit, but its sulfur smell and evil attributes clearly meant it couldn't go outside easily, as it would be mistaken for a minion of the Burning Legion.
And the fireballs it released were actually useless, so Rhodes simply didn't waste gold recruiting it.
During the fifth refresh, the units that appeared were two Wyverns from Stronghold City, commonly known as 'ducks'.
Their combat power was considered at the bottom among Tier 6 units, but they could fly and were large, which made them somewhat useful.
Rhodes recruited them, as they could temporarily serve as flying mounts in the future. Having a flying mount when at sea was very beneficial.
The sixth refresh brought useless Nomads. Their attack and defense were subpar, and their only special ability was Desert Travel, but this movement ability wasn't needed in the real world, so Rhodes chose not to recruit them.
And the most recent, seventh refresh, spawned a group of Wolf Riders. Rhodes sighed and didn't purchase them either.
Nothing else, just couldn't use them!
The 21 unit slots for 3 heroes and the 7 slots for the town are very precious. Rhodes didn't want these miscellaneous units occupying slots when good things appeared in the future, and gold is very precious.
It must be used wisely. If Tier 1 units appeared, they could still be converted into skeletons, but Rhodes would not buy other units unless they were useful to him.
"This past month, you've worked hard, Jaina. How is your research on the Thunderbolt Lightning scroll coming along?" Rhodes asked.
Because he was busy converting angels with Holy Light, Rhodes had basically not gone out to fight monsters for the past month and a half, instead staying holed up in Dalaran. The magic scroll of Thunderbolt Lightning had been given to Anna for research.
Jaina sighed upon hearing this, a look of disappointment on her face.
"To be honest, Rhodes, there's been no progress. Every day I take this magic scroll and use Thunderbolt Lightning a few times, trying to sense how the magic runes are drawn.
But I completely fail to understand the casting principle of this magic. I can't connect to the magic net to draw magic patterns to use this spell; I can only use it while holding the magic scroll.
I even gave this magic scroll to my teacher, Antonidas, and he studied it for over ten days.
But my teacher also had no clues. This magic seems to appear out of thin air. We can only use it by relying on the magic scroll. Without the magic scroll, we simply don't understand the principle," Jaina said.
It's truly too difficult! No wonder Lord Uther failed. Only by obtaining such a magic scroll can one realize how miraculous and powerful the magic within is.
"Don't be discouraged, Jaina! We still have one or two months of travel at sea in the future, so you can continue your research then," Rhodes said.
Rhodes estimated that to fully comprehend a hero's magic, Jaina's level wasn't enough; it would require a mage of Aegwynn's, or Illidan's, or Queen Azshara's caliber.
Even Medivh wouldn't suffice. Although Medivh possessed great magical power, his research into magic wasn't particularly profound; he spent a large portion of his time sleeping, or rather, being controlled by Sargeras!
"How are things outside now? Lordaeron should be ready, right?" Rhodes asked.
"Well, Rhodes, King Terenas has finished modifying your magic ship, but he's only prepared 3 thousand immigrants to cross the sea with you.
Most of them are from Andorhal and ordinary commoners whose homes were destroyed.
Because the Undead Plague seems to have ended, many ordinary commoners who had planned to leave Lordaeron have now decided not to go," Jaina said.
Since half a month ago, the undead throughout Lordaeron had weakened, and some undead creatures even disappeared directly, as if overnight, the entire plague in Lordaeron had quieted down.
King Terenas excitedly publicized that Arthas had achieved a glorious victory on the continent of Northrend, defeated the scourge, and was now leading his fleet back to Lordaeron.
Most Lordaeron commoners and nobles, and even some Paladins of the Silver Hand, believed that Arthas had indeed completed his expedition and truly annihilated the scourge!
Rhodes' heart skipped a beat when he heard this!
It seems Arthas has already obtained Frostmourne and become the Death Knight of the Lich King.
The Lordaeron expeditionary force was basically wiped out, with only a small portion hiding on the continent of Northrend, establishing a small port sanctuary. These people would only be discovered in the Wrath of the Lich King expansion.
Rhodes recalled the plot from the Chronicles: after Arthas obtained Frostmourne, he killed the Dreadlord Mal'Ganis, then received an audience with the Lich King, gaining command of the entire scourge!
And the Lich King also remotely manipulated the scourge rampaging in the Kingdom of Lordaeron to hide, preparing to deliver the final blow to the kingdom.
When Arthas returns, he will directly enter the palace to kill Terenas, after which the terrifying scourge will sweep across Lordaeron.
After Arthas' patricide, the news of Muradin Bronzebeard's death would reach Ironforge, leading to the forging of the ashbringer by Magni Bronzebeard.
In at most half a month, or even less, Arthas would return.
"Rhodes, do you think this scourge has really ended? Has Arthas, has he truly defeated the source of the undead in the north?" Jaina asked, looking at Rhodes.
Many things had happened in the past month and a half. She had written to her father, Admiral Daelin, to mobilize a portion of the Kul Tiras fleet for a long-distance voyage.
Everything had been going smoothly, but half a month ago, the scourge suddenly disappeared, which caused her father to hesitate slightly about his voyage plan, and even her teacher Antonidas had doubts.
Everyone believed they had underestimated the young Prince Arthas, that he had truly accomplished an extraordinary feat no one else could, truly eradicating the source of the scourge, that Dark Lord.
Completely ending this disaster.
"Do you think that's possible? You know Arthas' strength; his Holy Light is far less powerful than Lord Uther's.
His expeditionary force was only a few tens of thousands. When he reached that northern continent, facing endless armies of scourge undead, there was only one outcome: defeat," Rhodes said bluntly.
There was only one outcome for Arthas going to Northrend; he couldn't win.
"Rhodes, are you saying that the news of Arthas' return is false?" Jaina looked at Rhodes with a shocked expression.