"Halt! Who are you? Get lost! Do not approach this place." Several Naga guards immediately surged forward, their posture making it clear that a fight would break out at the slightest provocation.
Rhodes snorted coldly and casually unleashed an Arcane Blast. The move was somewhat similar to the "Almighty Push" from the Naruto world—releasing a wave of arcane energy with himself as the epicenter. Typically, the raw power of such a basic blast is pitiful, but it depends entirely on who is casting it. In Rhodes's hands, the force was extreme.
The dozen Naga guards who had crowded in were instantly sent flying. Had Rhodes not shown mercy by controlling the spell's output, they would have been corpses.
This terrifying strike immediately alerted the rest of the garrison. A large number of Naga warriors rushed out, surrounding Rhodes, Kael'thas, and Maiev.
"I am a friend of your master, Illidan. Alternatively, you can go notify Lady Vashj. Illidan and I met previously on the Broken Shore," Rhodes stated calmly.
The expressions of the surrounding Naga guards shifted instantly upon recognizing him. They remembered the cooperation at the Tomb of Sargeras all too well. Though they continued to eye Kael'thas and Maiev with suspicion, they parted to make a path and signaled the arrival into the depths of the cave in their raspy Naga tongue.
Rhodes didn't have to wait long before a tall female Naga slithered out from the cavern—Lady Vashj, Illidan's chief lieutenant.
"Stand down, all of you! Do not offend our guest. Had this gentleman truly been angry, you would all be dead by now. My apologies, Lord Rhodes; Lord Illidan did not know you were coming."
Vashj spoke with genuine respect, though she stole a glance at Kael'thas and the captive Maiev. It seemed Lord Rhodes had already taught this fierce Warden a lesson in etiquette. Maiev snorted but remained silent; she was currently Rhodes's prisoner and knew that any verbal jab from her would only lead to her being mocked as a "prisoner of war."
"Vashj, I have urgent business with Illidan. I hope you can take me to him," Rhodes said.
"You are a friend of Lord Illidan, which makes you a friend of mine. Follow me, Lord Rhodes," Vashj said, gesturing for them to enter.
As they walked into the grotto, Vashj turned to Rhodes. "Lord Rhodes, the Orc you sent to assist us has already been introduced to Lord Illidan. He is very powerful, and his expertise in Fel magic has been a great help." Previously, the Naga magi struggled to help Illidan drive the Fel artifact, but the old warlock, Drak'thul, was perfect for the task.
"I'm glad he's useful. However, I have come specifically because of the Eye of Sargeras," Rhodes noted.
The interior of the cave was far deeper and more vast than it appeared from the outside. Green Fel light flickered along the walls, and the air was thick with the pungent, acrid scent of mixed Arcane and Fel energies. The path wound downward, eventually opening into a massive subterranean grotto.
In the center, the Eye of Sargeras hovered in mid-air, radiating a pulse of terrifying energy that made the heart skip a beat. Illidan Stormrage floated before the artifact, arms outstretched, guiding the energy with everything he had. Naga guards stood by as protectors, while the newly arrived Drak'thul sat cross-legged nearby, assisting in maintaining the stability of the ritual circle.
"Illidan! Stop for a moment. I need to speak with you," Rhodes' voice echoed through the cavern, cutting through the humming drone of the ritual.
Illidan's movements faltered. The demon wings on his back folded as he slowly turned, his blind eyes burning with Fel fire as he "looked" toward Rhodes. "Rhodes? You've come... and you've brought guests?"
His voice carried a hint of annoyance at being interrupted, but mostly surprise—especially when he sensed Kael'thas and Maiev. Kael'thas, for his part, looked incredibly cautious. He stared at the floating Eye, his gaze a mix of deep dread and a faint, subconscious longing—such a powerful energy source could surely restore the Sunwell and satisfy every desire of his people...
"Kael! Steady your mind! Do not let that weapon bewitch you. It contains the will of Sargeras—do not fall for its trap!" Rhodes roared, noticing the strange look in Kael'thas's eyes. He immediately unleashed his own Holy energy to dispel the artifact's influence over the Prince.
"I... I'm alright. Goodness, that weapon was actually whispering to me. It is an utterly evil thing," Kael'thas said, looking shaken. It was terrifying; just looking at it had nearly caused his mental defenses to crumble.
"Just be careful. I almost fell for it myself when I first touched it. Keep your guard up, Kael," Rhodes advised. It wasn't hard to see why the future Kael'thas might have fallen to Fel magic; after the destruction of his homeland, he was desperate for power. He had even forgotten that Kil'jaeden, the one offering him help, was the true architect of Quel'Thalas's ruin.
"I am very busy right now," Illidan said, sensing that Rhodes hadn't come for a social call. "If you have something to say, say it quickly."
"Illidan Stormrage!" Maiev's voice was as cold as a blade. Her hand gripped the umbra crescent on her back as she dropped into a combat stance.
"Relax, Maiev," Rhodes said, stopping the Warden before she could charge. He looked back at Illidan. "Illidan, old friend, I'm here to convince you to stop."
"Stop?" Illidan scoffed, though the energy flow began to vibrate unevenly. "Why? We are on the verge of success! The Lich King's power is fading rapidly; the Frozen Throne is already cracking! Just a little more time and I can end the traitor Ner'zhul once and for all. I'll fulfill Kil'jaeden's task and rid us all of a primary threat!"
"You hear that, Rhodes? He truly has betrayed us; he's a lapdog for Kil'jaeden!" Maiev said excitedly, waiting for Rhodes to give the word so she could attack.
"Don't say things that cause misunderstandings, Illidan. Others might not know your true goal, but I do. Your real target is the Burning Legion itself," Rhodes said. "And as for you, Maiev, I told you to relax. Don't ruin the mood."
"The Lich King is a cancer on Azeroth. Removing him is a service to this world. Why stop me?" Illidan demanded.
"And then what?" Rhodes asked calmly. "Let the entire continent of Northrend be the price? Do you know the consequences? Rising sea levels, tectonic shifts—the disaster would sweep across all of Azeroth! The coastlines of Quel'Thalas, Lordaeron, Kalimdor... countless lives would be extinguished. You might even release things far worse than the Scourge. Is this your idea of 'salvation'?"
"Sacrifices must be made sometimes. If destroying the Scourge requires a cost, so be it," Illidan grunted.
"A necessary sacrifice? Lord Illidan, I understand your hatred for the Lich King; my people want him dead more than anyone," Kael'thas interjected. "But Rhodes is right. The cost of destroying a continent is too high. And are you certain Kil'jaeden will spare Azeroth once your task is done?"
"Illidan, you don't want to release the Old Gods," Rhodes added. "You know of Ulduar, don't you? You know what's imprisoned beneath it? Attacking the Lich King is fine. If you can pinpoint the Frozen Throne and destroy only that, I'd support you with both hands. But destroying all of Northrend is out of the question."
Illidan fell silent for a long moment, weighing his options. He wasn't a total madman, but his obsession often made him blind to collateral damage. Lady Vashj hissed softly, "Master, they speak with reason. The Legion's promises are never kept."
Drak'thul looked up as well. "Mighty Demon Hunter, destroying the balance of the world is not the path of the wise. We have already dealt a heavy blow to the Lich King; our primary objective is partially met."
"Illidan, if you won't stop, I will have to make you. Do you truly wish to have me as an enemy?" Rhodes asked.
Illidan looked at Rhodes and, after a moment of hesitation, sighed helplessly. He cut the energy flow. The light of the Eye of Sargeras dimmed, and the suffocating Fel pressure lifted. He descended to the ground, his wings folding tight.
"Fine, Rhodes. I will stop. But you must help me destroy this evil weapon so it never falls into other hands. And," Illidan added gravely, "you must help me face Kil'jaeden. I have failed his task; he will not let this go."
"No problem," Rhodes replied. "That's exactly why I'm here. We'll destroy the Eye together and face Kil'jaeden as one."