Straker hid many secrets, much like his master. At the thought of Rhodes, a surge of resentment welled up in Arthas' heart.
*That bastard! I haven't even taken his head yet, and now I'll never have the chance to cut him down.*
Rhodes, still playing the role of a lowly zombie hidden among the undead ranks, was genuinely amused. *Listen to this guy. You're actually claiming a "shabby" Bone Dragon is better than Invincible? Well, to be fair, Invincible really can only be ridden.*
This wasn't a video game world; Invincible couldn't just fly on a whim. When Arthas led the Scourge to attack Light's Hope Chapel in the Eastern Kingdoms, he hadn't exactly flown circles around the battlefield on his horse.
A Bone Dragon, on the other hand, was a formidable combatant with 200 HP, significant attack power, and high defense—easily more lethal than a common Abomination. Plus, it possessed specialized unit skills like *Morale Penalty* and *Aging*. In the eyes of Arthas and Sylvanas, it was a terrifying draconic engine of war.
"You say my victory is dishonorable? That's the funniest joke I've ever heard, Arthas. Are you really that formidable yourself?" Straker sneered. "Your current state is your true self. If you're so capable, drop Frostmourne and show me just how strong you really are without that crutch."
"There is no need for further insults. My only regret is that I cannot personally kill you and your master, Rhodes," Arthas snarled, his eyes fixed venomously on Straker.
Standing to the side, Sylvanas grew pensive. *Who is Rhodes? Why does he call him Straker's master? What is the meaning of Arthas' words?*
"What nonsense are you spouting, Arthas? I fight only for myself. I have no master," Straker countered.
"The Lich King knows Rhodes' secrets, and so do I. On the surface, he's a man of justice wielding Holy and Life magic, but in the shadows, he studies necromancy. You are a 'special' undead he obtained from the Titan Watchers. You were never even alive!" Arthas spat, seemingly intent on provoking Straker as much as possible before the end.
This was a secret known only to him and the Lich King. When they first captured Straker, the Lich King had pierced through the veil, and Arthas had seen it too. Despite Rhodes' denials, it was the truth, and Arthas wanted to spite Rhodes one last time. Even if Sylvanas couldn't defeat Rhodes, causing him some trouble would bring Arthas immense satisfaction.
"You've been beaten into idiocy! What do you mean 'I was never alive'? If I wasn't alive, how did I die? How did I become undead? How did I become a Death Knight?" Straker looked at Arthas as if he were a complete moron.
Straker knew the truth of his connection to Rhodes, but it didn't matter. In the future, his master would never openly deploy undead forces; Straker would remain the sole face of that army.
Sylvanas crossed her arms. Arthas' words were clearly intended for her ears. She had heard of this "Rhodes"—a human lord skilled in Holy, Fire, and mysterious Titan magics, and a close ally of Kael'thas Sunstrider. But the idea of him being Straker's master seemed absurd to any sane person; Holy Light and the Undead were natural opposites.
*Wait... perhaps not entirely opposite,* Sylvanas suddenly recalled. Among the undead who had regained their free will, many remembered their former lives—Rangers, Warriors, Hunters, Mages. But a specific class had also awakened: Priests.
Most of these undead priests wielded Shadow magic because they had lost the Light's grace. But was that truly the case? According to her Dark Rangers' surveillance, some were still trying to commune with the Holy Light.
Rumors suggested the Light had actually responded to some, even allowing them to heal the undead. It was an impossible contradiction, yet it was happening. (In Azeroth's lore, the undead can indeed use the Holy Light—even Lightbound Undead exist.
Back in the early days of the game, players were baffled by Undead Priests, especially when they could switch to a Holy healing spec, which was a direct slap in the face to the Scarlet Crusade's ideology.)
Hidden in the crowd, Rhodes was equally annoyed. *This guy Arthas is trying to frame me even as he's dying. I wasn't even planning on killing you, but you've got guts, kid! Where the hell is Kel'Thuzad? By my timing, he should be here to save Arthas by now, or Straker is going to run out of script.*
"Arthas, spare us the provocations. If you're going to lie, at least make it plausible," Sylvanas stepped forward to intervene. "I know Straker; he is an ambitious Death Knight. He might submit to power, but that person would never be a wielder of the Holy Light."
She decided to investigate this later. Straker had his own camp of free-willed undead; she wondered if he had noticed any priests among them successfully communing with the Light. For now, the priority was for Straker to finish Arthas.
Arthas' words slithered through the canyon like venomous snakes, but Straker simply let out a deep, mocking laugh. "Arthas, it seems defeat has cost you your sanity. You've started babbling clumsy fairy tales. Rhodes? The human hero who scorched the Scourge at Mount Hyjal? You say he's my master? That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard since I died."
"It is indeed absurd, Arthas," Sylvanas added coldly. "Your failure has made you pathetic. Do you really hope such a transparent lie will buy you a moment of respite? Straker's power is his own—the power of true freedom he gained after breaking the Lich King's chains!" She pivoted the topic toward "freedom," the one thing that resonated most with the liberated undead.
Arthas opened his mouth to speak, but Straker had lost his patience. He raised **Soulshredder** high, aiming it straight at the fallen prince. "Enough talk, Arthas. It's time to end your story!"
Just as the crimson blade was about to descend, the air above the canyon shrieked as if fabric were being torn apart. A massive wave of cold, potent Arcane energy flooded the area, accompanied by the chilling sound of grinding bone and dragging chains.
"Stop! You shall not harm King Arthas!" A frigid voice boomed from above.
Rhodes let out a quiet sigh of relief. *Finally, Kel'Thuzad. Otherwise, I'd have had to put on a mask and save this loser myself. Without the Lich King's juice, you're so squishy, Arthas. If it weren't for my Alliance reputation, I'd have chopped you myself.*
A massive, glowing blue portal tore open in the sky. On the other side, a frozen hall filled with skeletons and ghostly instruments was visible. From this gateway, a towering figure slowly descended: the Archlich **Kel'Thuzad**.
He didn't come alone. An army of elite Scourge forces from Naxxramas—Abominations, Gargoyles, Crypt Fiends, and other Liches—poured through the portal. This was the Lich King's strongest remaining fist in the Eastern Kingdoms.
"Kel'Thuzad! Thank the gods, you've come!" Arthas cried out, his voice thick with relief.
"Your Majesty, it seems I am just in time." Kel'Thuzad waved his staff, and a thick Frost Armor appeared around Arthas, just barely absorbing the impact of Straker's "final" downward swing.
**CLANG!** The frost shield groaned and cracked, but it held.
Straker feigned a roar of fury, backing his Bone Dragon away and turning his gaze to the floating Lich. "Kel'Thuzad! You dare interfere in a fair duel? Is this failed prince really worth saving?"
"Utterly foolish, Straker. Did you truly believe you could challenge the Great Lich King?" Kel'Thuzad's voice was like grinding ice. He opened the portal wider, and more Naxxramas reinforcements swarmed out. "Kneel and swear your loyalty anew, and perhaps I shall spare you."
Sylvanas' face darkened instantly. Kel'Thuzad's arrival had completely derailed her plans. She signaled her Dark Rangers and Banshees to tighten their formation and enter a defensive posture. She had hoped Straker would do the dirty work, but now that the Archlich was here, the balance of power had flipped.
*No... there might still be a chance.*
"Hahaha! The Lich King's power is formidable, sure," Straker laughed derisively. "But give it a rest, Kel'Thuzad. Others might not know his true identity, but don't you? A pathetic Orc... that's who he really is. He's not worthy of my service."