Capítulo 700: Chapter 700: Ner'zhul's Desperate Struggle
Ner'zhul's formidable magic, augmented by the "Skull of Gul'dan," was gradually eroded by the relentless assault of diverse elemental forces.
There was no bloodshed, no souls scattered.
This tactic of skill and supernatural control compensating for the disparity in magical power levels was impressive, even to Alexstrasza, the ancient and powerful being of over twenty thousand years.
In higher echelons of power, brute force often trumps skill. However, the act of triumphing against stronger foes through wit and strategy is far more thrilling than any battle among equals.
Ner'zhul possessed quality; Duke, with the support of the mage tower, had quantity.
They were locked in a grinding battle of attrition.
Especially when the surface of Ner'zhul's fire cloud was eroded, exposing the purer, darker power of the "Skull of Gul'dan," Duke's magical expenditure skyrocketed exponentially.
Battling godly powers with moonlit might was a daring feat only Duke would conceive and dare execute.
Even Alexstrasza was left speechless. Not wanting to expose the invisible Duke behind her, she could only sigh, "Duke, you truly are fearless!"
Duke, flattering the dragon, said, "But I have you, don't I?"
"I shall not intervene."
"What if this orc scum attacks you directly?"
By now, if the Dragon Queen hadn't grasped Duke's cunning plan, her title would be in question.
Alright, if you're battling and a teammate lures a monster your way, that's an act of enmity, a declaration of war. But if they ask first, that's respect.
Yes, the Iron Law of the Red Dragonflight strictly forbids assaulting sentient beings, but it doesn't prohibit self-defense against attacks from them! Alexstrasza recalled why Duke had been so keen to learn about the laws of Wyrmrest Accord, the rules publicly displayed in the temple. Now, it dawned on her that Duke was exploiting legal loopholes!
Alexstrasza was exasperated.
"Hey! Are you scheming against me? This meal is turning out to be quite costly..."
"No, no, no, you wouldn't want a chef as kind, just, and devoted to Azeroth as I am to perish, would you?" Duke shamelessly coaxed and cajoled.
Clearly, he was leveraging the promise of long-term meals, oh no, tempting her.
The Windrunner sisters were chuckling secretly.
This was the result of differing mindsets. Dragons adhered strictly to rules, constantly bound by what they cannot do.
Duke, a modern man, was like those cunning lawyers. His mindset was: if it's not explicitly forbidden, it's fair game, and even if the punishment is mild, as long as the profit is substantial, it's worth pursuing.
Yes, Duke was indeed corrupting Alexstrasza.
The Queen was at a loss. She knew the orc warlock engulfed in evil energies was no good, but adding a new race to their list of enemies required a unanimous decision at the Dragon Council.
However, Duke had opened a new window for her.
She hesitated, wondering if this was the start of a downfall. Often, demons lure beings into sin, starting with small errors and gradually leading to deeper corruption.
Duke noticed her hesitation. "Ah, it's just a precaution, a safety measure. I didn't plan on forcing you to break the principles of the Wyrmrest Accord. Even without your intervention, I still have a sixty percent chance of dealing with Ner'zhul."
Duke didn't press the Queen for an immediate decision, aware that it might also involve the complex issue of 'true nature'. The forces of righteousness in Azeroth value one's core integrity. While Duke sought to leverage the Queen's power, causing her to deviate from her historical path and fall from grace was not his intention.
Remember, once the paladin Arthas fell, he became a formidable death knight.
Meanwhile, the battle intensified.
The air on the platform was filled with a nauseating, pungent odor, more destructive than dragon's breath, assaulting the senses of every being present.
On one side, hellish flames; on the other, a magnificent display of magical fireworks.
As the contrasting scenes converged mid-air, a huge boundary line, akin to a spatial rift, formed at the center.
This wasn't merely an optical illusion. This bright band of light was slowly pressing towards Ner'zhul, steadily absorbing his scattered magical energies and severing his connection with the elemental realm of fire.
"This cannot be!?"
Ner'zhul's face trembled violently with shock, causing the white powder coating it to flake off in large chunks, revealing a visage more horrifying than an old witch's unmasked face.
He could not let this continue.
Ner'zhul's cowardly nature had always dictated his reluctance for direct confrontation. He preferred to wait for the enemy to make a move, then counterattack. Unfortunately, he had observed Duke for some time and found no weaknesses.
Each Duke seemed real.
They drew magical power from various sources, transforming it into magical attacks.
Rather than illusions, Ner'zhul was more inclined to believe these were actual fragments of Duke's soul, each holding a part of Duke's power and essence.
"Descend now—Judgment of Destruction!"
Suddenly, over ninety percent of the fire cloud enveloping Ner'zhul split off and exploded in the next instant.
It was like a million hand grenades detonating mid-air.
The air was filled with splashing flames, covering every corner of the sky within a hundred-meter radius, leaving no room for evasion.
The ice shields of countless Dukes shattered, and except for those who managed to activate their [Ice Barrier], most Dukes screamed as they fell, turning into a mist of magical dust.
Alleria, peeking out from behind the door, was dumbfounded. If not for the real Duke sneakily hugging her sister's waist across the door, winking at her, she might have been scared out of her wits.
Suddenly, she realized that mages with their Ice Block, rogues with their Cloak, and paladins with their Invincibility, all seemed rather roguish!
Just then, a triumphant Duke appeared, only to be struck by twenty curses and perish within a second.
Duke grimaced, grateful he hadn't been the one to show off, or he wouldn't even know which curse had killed him.
Damn it, according to League of Legends, wasn't this like unleashing an ultimate move on nothing? Still, to have such combat power after an empty ultimate?
Truly worthy of the original Lich King!
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