With a flash of blue teleportation light, Rhodes appeared on the outskirts of Stratholme—or rather, the New Undercity.
"Good day, Great Master," Sandro said, raising his staff and offering a formal mage's salute.
Sandro's appearance had changed since his initial summoning. Back then, he had a bare skeletal face, but after several months of absorbing the Primal Force of Death—one of the six fundamental forces of Azeroth—his face had regained flesh. It was pitch black, similar to Sylvanas and other Forsaken.
Rhodes also noticed that while his level hadn't increased, Sandro's Strength and Intellect had each grown by a point. Furthermore, Sandro was decked out in Azerothian gear to bolster his mana. Rhodes had long since realized that local equipment could boost his heroes' attributes. Strongk, for instance, wore heavy Death Knight plate forged from Saronite, supplemented by anti-magic metal armor and a runic greatsword, granting him significant stat bonuses.
"You seem to be faring well, Sandro."
"Thanks to you, Master, this world is magnificent! It offers entirely new death magics and a vast array of spells," Sandro replied. His satisfaction with Azeroth was evident; he felt lucky to be here.
"Good. Next time there's a major campaign, I'll bring you along so you can soak up some experience and level up," Rhodes nodded. He placed great value on Sandro's development, believing his potential surpassed even that of Kel'Thuzad. Rhodes planned to turn him into a polymath—mastering all four schools of magic, along with high Intelligence and Mysticism.
"Thank you, Great Master. Shall we depart?" Sandro bowed. In the Battle of Stratholme, he and Strongk had taken down Baron Rivendare, gaining two levels. At his current low level, a few skirmishes would boost his power significantly, though further growth would eventually require large-scale wars.
"Let's go. It's time to meet Kel'Thuzad."
The Eastern Plaguelands were thick with an eternal stench of decay and despair. Twisted trees, ruined farmlands, and wandering ghouls defined the landscape. Though Rhodes had reclaimed the capital of Lordaeron and Light's Hope Chapel, fully restoring the Plaguelands would take a long time.
Rhodes and Sandro appeared in a desolate graveyard. In the distance, a massive shadow drifted through the sky, radiating an intense aura of death: Naxxramas.
"There it is, Master. We'll need flying mounts," Sandro said, pointing a bony finger at the floating citadel.
"Kel'Thuzad is in there?" Rhodes looked up at the fortress. Memories flooded back. As a veteran player, Naxxramas was a point of pride—the ultimate raid that required perfect coordination.
The Plague Quarter, the Military Quarter, the Arachnid Quarter, the Construct Quarter... Rhodes could still recite every boss's mechanics by heart. Back in the day, a minor slip-up by a single player meant a total wipe.
He remembered the "Four Horsemen" in the Military Quarter most vividly—pulling them apart, managing the stages... it was a nightmare for many. Even in the "Classic" re-release, pugs were constantly wiped because players, especially those from the modern retail servers, didn't respect the old-school mechanics.
Of course, the Four Horsemen wouldn't be the same now; Alexandros Mograine was very much alive. But the other bosses should still be in their places.
"Indeed, Master. Shall we sneak in, or make a formal visit?" Sandro asked. He found Rhodes's nostalgic gaze odd. Why does he look at this undead fortress like an old childhood home? To my knowledge, this is his first time here.
"I think we should take a more... assertive approach," Rhodes said, rubbing his chin. "We'll catch Kel'Thuzad off guard and make him realize we aren't guests he can easily turn away."
Since he was finally at Naxxramas, why not enjoy the "raid" experience? But this time, he was bringing Ghost Dragons. Rhodes had already given Strongk a massive army a month ago, but in the weeks since, he had accumulated more. He now had 6 Ghost Dragons, along with a horde of Dread Knights, Vampires, Liches, and more.
"Master, your ideas are always... unique," Sandro said, wiping non-existent sweat from his brow. "But we are here to talk him into surrendering. Is it necessary to make it so awkward?" Sandro had envisioned a stealthy approach using Disguise Undead to reach Kel'Thuzad's chamber.
"Are you teaching me how to do my job? To win a surrender, you have to show strength first! However, we won't reveal my true identity to the common Scourge. I'll pose as an undead, just like you." Rhodes prepared to cast a disguise, but Sandro stopped him.
"Master, your identity is secret to the Alliance, but the Lich King already knows you can command undead units. There's no need to hide from Kel'Thuzad. If you want to intimidate him, bring out the Sacred Fire Phoenixes, the Archangels, the Dragons, the Devils, and the Titans. Give him a real show."
Rhodes burst out laughing. "Sandro, you're a man after my own heart! Why wait? Let's go!"
"Let's give the Archlich a 'greeting' he'll never forget!"
Rhodes and Sandro mounted a summoned Bone Dragon and soared toward Naxxramas. The skeletal guards at the entrance didn't even have time to react before being vaporized by the Ghost Dragon's breath. Once inside the citadel, Rhodes began the grand summoning.
First came the 6 Ghost Dragons. They let out silent roars, their translucent, wraith-like wings blocking out the light. Unlike Bone Dragons, which are mere animated skeletons, Ghost Dragons are spectral entities. Physical blades pass right through them, and their "Aging" breath is far more potent.
Next, a phalanx of Dread Knights marched out of the portal on their nightmare steeds, their cleavers gleaming with a cold light. Following them were hundreds of Vampire Lords and dozens of Power Liches. These were the elite of the Necropolis.
Then, Rhodes flipped the script. He summoned his Sacred Fire Phoenixes and his personal guard: 3 Archangels. The radiant majesty of the angels formed a jarring contrast with the deathly silence of the fortress. He added 20 Magic Elements, silver-shining Diamond Golems, and golden Gold Golems—beings capable of shrugging off immense physical punishment.
Since each hero can only lead seven stacks, Rhodes handed the entire Undead contingent to Sandro's command. Rhodes himself led the Archangels, Fire Phoenixes, Magic Elements, Golems, and a large number of permanent Holy Light Elements.
"I think that's enough, Master," Sandro said, looking at the army with a hint of exasperation. "If you summon any more, this fortress might actually collapse. We want him to surrender, not flee in terror."
"We've barely started! Come on, let's go give Kel'Thuzad a lesson he won't forget." Rhodes shouldered his legendary weapon, Verdict of Light, and led the charge into the heart of Naxxramas.
"Raid's starting! Kel'Thuzad, I'm coming for you!"