Chapter 284 - Compete Strength
It was raining outside when Ling Pingan woke up.
The pitter-patter of autumn rain fell with a tapping sound.
The entire world was shrouded in rain and fog.
Ling Pingan felt a little cold, so he changed into the autumn clothes he bought two days ago.
Then he looked in the mirror and found that it fit very well!
He was satisfied!
Meow!
The kitten, Bastet, was acting coquettishly at his feet.
Ling Pingan picked it up and rubbed its head, then said, “Let’s go upstairs and take a look…”
“Move the little peach tree back into the house first…”
It was already late autumn, and the temperature would get lower and lower.
Although Jiangcheng City was in the south, the winter there was also cold.
Therefore, he had to take care of the little peach tree more in the future.
He had to bring it to the balcony when the sun came out.
And he had to move it back when it was raining.
When it snowed…
Well, Ling Pingan had only seen the heavy snow in the north on the news after so many years.
Therefore, he held the kitten and walked up to the third floor.
He saw the little peach tree in the plastic basin at the foot of the wall.
The little peach tree seemed to have grown a little taller.
Pieces of tender green leaves had already grown out.
There were even traces of patterns on the tender tree trunk.
“How beautiful!” Ling Pingan looked at these patterns and liked them very much.
That was because these patterns seemed to be black and white.
They looked cute, just like Gungun, the panda, and the killer whale!
Therefore, he held the plastic basin and carefully placed it next to the slow oven.
Meow!
The kitten in his arms meowed softly to the little peach tree in the plastic basin.
The purr sounded a little unhappy.
It seemed to be scolding.
Ling Pingan shook his head in amusement.
It seemed that his cat had always been at odds with this little peach tree.
So, he stroked the little one’s head and gently taught her, “Little one, be obedient…”
The little one immediately stuck out her tongue intimately and licked the back of her master’s hand.
Then, she proudly purred at the little sapling in the plastic basin.
Meow!
The little sapling slowly stretched its leaves in the autumn wind.
Ling Pingan looked and smiled, then carried the kitten downstairs.
Bastet, the little kitten saw the leaves of the little sapling in the plastic basin with faint golden veins in its amber cat eyes the moment Ling Pingan turned around.
..
On the highland of the Sunwell.
The once sacred palace had become even more solemn.
The sunlight fell on the golden well water, reflecting layers of ripples.
The little sapling slowly stretched its leaves by the well.
Golden veins were slowly flowing on the emerald leaves.
Countless Highborne Elves had gathered.
The Ranger General was not here.
The mother tree had become the backbone of everyone.
These refugees, who had escaped from the nightmare of the catastrophe had never been so determined to believe in the Holy Sunwell.
And they worshiped the mother tree with utmost devotion.
Because the mother tree had purified the polluted Sunwell.
It also decomposed and purified the arcane energy.
So that people could enjoy the purer and healthier arcane energy.
No more arcane crystals were needed.
A large amount of arcane energy could be volatilized into the air every time the mother tree stretched its leaves.
The whole Isle of Quel’Danas was filled with pure and abundant arcane energy.
The refugees healed the wounds of the past in the arcane spell.
Thus, the belief in the mother tree began naturally.
That was the characteristic of the elves.
Any elf had an irresistible infatuation and worship of the Yggdrasil since the era of the Well of Eternity.
The miraculous miracles of the young mother tree made the surviving refugees fall into fanatical worship.
Therefore, it would attract thousands of cheers and worship every time it reappeared on the Sunwell Highlands.
People trusted it and believed in it.
They couldn’t even leave it.
But…
There were dissidents in the crowd.
These people quietly gathered and whispered.
“Where is Sylvanas of the Windrunner family taking us?”
“Why didn’t she contact the general of the alliance in Lordaeron?”
“Why didn’t she contact the Sunstrider Family?”
“Is she trying to overtake the power?”
The refugees on the Isle of Quel’Danas were inevitably shaken for several days upon the discussions of these people.
However, the Highborne Elves soon forgot all this in the arcana energy.
However, the seeds of doubt had been planted.
Therefore, some people thought that it was time.
It was time to restore the country!
They quickly controlled the crucial places on the island while others were on their way to the Sunwell.
The weapon storehouse…
The port…
And, most importantly, the few arcane giants that had just been repaired.
Most of the crucial places of the entire island fell into the hands of the royalists in an instant.
They knew that it was time.
So, someone lit the command arrow.
The magic command arrow flew into the sky.
A fleet that had been waiting on the coastline in a distance saw the command arrow.
They began to set sail.
Kael’thas stood at the bow of the ship, looking at the island of the Highborne Elves from afar.
“Isn’t it inappropriate for us to do this?” He asked the person beside him. “Why don’t we wait for Windrunner to return from Stratholme?”
“Then, I’ll ask her myself?”
“Your Highness…” the heavily armored human general said from behind him, “We think that this is the best opportunity…”
“The Windrunner Family’s Ranger General is no longer reliable!”
“Our informer told that she mysteriously disappeared from the battlefield when she was fighting against the catastrophe that day…”
“She already possessed many characteristics that the Highborne Elves did not have when she reappeared, and she even claimed to be a Sun Elf…”
“Who knows what she experienced?”
“We won’t know whether she was corroded by some evil thing.”
“The tragedy of Arthas should not be repeated!”
The expression on Kael’thas’ face changed as he listened.
But he had no choice.
Because…
That human was the only strength he could rely on.
If he wanted to revive the Highborne Elves and rebuild the Quel’Thalas Kingdom.
And it was impossible to rely on the Highborne Elves who had been destroyed and scattered by the catastrophes to survive in this increasingly dangerous world.
His father had died in battle.
The entire upper echelon of the Silvermoon Council had died in battle.
The war had almost destroyed everything!
Silvermoon City, Quel’Thalas, and even the Sunwell had been contaminated.
The last elites of the Highborne Elves were Sylvanas, her two sisters, and him, the prince.
“Marshal Garithos…” Kael’thas could only say, “I hope your judgment is correct!”
Garithos laughed.
The weakness of the Highborne Elf prince was easier to deal with than he had imagined.
“Elves…” he sneered in his heart.
The previous second war was recalled bit by bit in his heart.
The deaths of his parents and brothers. The pain of the people in his territory.
He still remembered it clearly!
And the culprits that led to all the disasters, apart from those filthy orcs.
The first to bear the brunt were the arrogant elves who did nothing to save them as their allies.
Now, it was time to revenge.
He wanted to torture and humiliate those arrogant elves bit by bit.
He wanted to let them know what the pain of destroying their home and the suffering of losing their compatriots!
Of course, Marshal Garithos, who had the most troops after the destruction of the Lordaeron Kingdom said to Kael’thas with a pleasant expression, “Your Highness, there’s no need to worry too much…”
“Even if General Sylvanas is innocent…”
“Then, it’s not too late for us to restore her reputation after she returns, and we investigate her!”
“Everything is to fight against the catastrophes and for the world!”
“I believe that the noble Windrunner Family will understand this little sacrifice!”
Kael’thas could only nod his head as he listened.
He, who had been studying magic in Dalaran, was too young.
He was too young.
In addition, the entire Quel’Thalas Kingdom had undergone a drastic change. The country and people were in deep trouble, so he did not have much time to think about it.
His only thought was to restore the country, rebuild Silverymoon City, and appease the people.
The fleet cut through the waves and quickly crossed the strait, arriving at the Isle of Quel’Danas.
One ship after another directly docked at the shore.
The deck was lowered. The fully armed human heavy cavalry began to land.
The Alliance’s war flag fluttered high up in the air.
The people who were there to receive them immediately opened all kinds of defensive facilities and made way for them.
Thus, under the escort of an entire Knights.
Prince Kael’thas returned to the Sunwell that he had been thinking about day and night, and also to his people.
However…
All the Highborne Elves looked at their prince with a suspicious gaze.
“Your Highness…” a veteran who had lost a leg in the war asked, “Why are you with the humans?”
“Where is General Sylvanas?”
Kael’thas heard his doubts. He smiled and said, “I just came from the Kingdom of Lordaeron…”
“I haven’t had the time to tell General Sylvanas…”
“I believe that General Sylvanas will understand me…”
“As for…” he looked at Garithos beside him. “Please allow me to introduce…”
“Sir Garithos, Baron Othmar from Blackwood, Lordaeron!”
“Lord Marshal is here to help us restore our country!”
The Highborne Elves immediately began to discuss.
It was indeed a happy thing that the descendant of the Sunstrider family had returned.
But he had returned with humans?
Moreover, it was an entire fully armed knight and even a fleet.
That was different.
Some experienced people even immediately thought that these humans wouldn’t leave if they stayed there.
Then, would the Quel’Thanas Kingdom still belong to the Highborne Elves?
More seriously, would the Sunwell still belong to the Highborne Elves?
Some of the older Highborne Elves even recalled many things during the second war.
Thus, someone said in the crowd, “If that’s the case, then thank you, Marshal!”
“Now, since His Highness has returned safely…”
“Then Marshal, please take your men and withdraw from Quel’Danas!”
“This is our holy land!”
Garithos’s expression immediately changed.
“Highborne Elves are still as arrogant as before!” He sneered in his heart. “But what’s there to be arrogant about for a group of stray dogs?”
The high-level combat strength of Garithos was almost wiped out in the war of the catastrophes!
The Silvermoon Council was gone.
The old king had also died in battle.
Even the Sunwell had been contaminated by the catastrophes!
How dare a beggar-like thing make such a ruckus?
Therefore, he gave them a look.
The loyal cavalrymen under him immediately drew their swords.
The holy knights also began to pour holy light into it.
“Your Highness, Prince Kael’thas…” Garithos smiled and said to Kael’thas, “I suspect that there are remnants of the catastrophes’ claws in your kingdom…”
“I hope that you will allow me to search the entire island to prevent the claws of the catastrophe from mingling in the crowd and conspiring against us, for your safety…”
“This…” no matter how stupid Kael’thas was, he understood that this human marshal was a threat. A blatant threat!
However, he did not have any better ideas.
After all, he didn’t have a single person under him.
A single commander!
To a certain extent, what Garithos did was something he was happy to see.
If the Sunstrider family wanted to restore their rule, especially to regain control over Quel’Danas.
They would have to rely on external forces.
Humans were a good choice.
However…
He understood that it was easy to invite a god but difficult to send away a god.
If Garithos could act according to his wishes, then the Highborne Elves would become humans’ vassals and pawns in the future.
Even he, the prince of the Sunstrider family, was no exception.
Perhaps these humans would even rebuild their kingdom in Silverymoon City!
And who would complain to the Highborne Elves?
Night Elves?
Stop joking!
The Highborne Elves were probably even more detestable than the orcs to the Night Elves!
They might shed a few tears when all the Highborne elves were dead?
Therefore, Kael’thas thought for a moment and said, “Marshal, there’s no need to be so serious… I believe that my people are pure!”
Unfortunately…
Garithos only sneered at his words.
Then, he took out the knight’s sword.
“Your Highness, it’s not that I don’t trust you…”
“It’s just that the corrosion of catastrophes is everywhere…”
“I have no choice but to do this for the safety of you and my soldiers. I hope you can understand!”
Then, he pointed forward. “Anyone who dares to disobey will be regarded as a betrayal to the Sunstrider Family and a blasphemy to the Sacred Alliance!”
“Soldiers, listen to my orders!”
Groups of cavalrymen began to urge their warhorses forward.
The heavily armored infantrymen raised their large shields and formed a human wall.
Behind them, the mages began to accumulate magic energy.
The Gryphon Riders even began to hover.
Although the Lordaeron kingdom had been destroyed, the remaining military strength was still something that the current Highborne Elves could not fight against!
At least, it was impossible for the refugees on the island in front of him to fight against them in Garithos’s eyes!
So, he was full of confidence!
Kael’thas was panicking.
He did not dare to object. If he angered the humans and started a massacre on the island, even he might not be able to protect himself.
He also did not dare to support. That was no different from a traitor. The glory of the Sunstrider Family would be tarnished even more!
At this moment, a team of DragonHawk Riders suddenly appeared from the clouds in the distance.
Lor’themar, the adjutant of the Windrunner Family, was riding on the DragonHawk.
The surviving elites of Quel’Thalas landed on the ground one by one.
“My respects to you!” Lor’themar bowed to Kael’thas. “Your Highness…”
Then, he looked at Garithos. “Sir Marshal, I will not trouble you here…”
“The Great Quel’dorei will handle our internal affairs!”
“Is it so?” He looked at Kael’thas, the sole descendant of the Sunstrider Family. “Your Highness?”
Beads of sweat began to appear on Kael’thas’ forehead as he listened.
He finally understood that this was a trap.
Humans and Highborne Elves were trapping each other.
The target of the trap was him and the Windrunner, who was currently in control of Isle of Quel’Danas.
Otherwise, why would Lor’themar appear now instead of appearing earlier?
He and his DragonHawk Riders were probably already waiting for orders in the distance.
They had been waiting for this moment.
There was no doubt about it!
That was a coup!
That was a seizure of power!
It was also a fight for the throne!
But what could he do?
He did not have a single soldier under him. He only had the title of Sunstrider Family.
In fact…
Because of what had just happened, even his people no longer trusted him.
“You…” Kael’thas, who had come to understand the situation, no longer hesitated. He was finally like a real prince. He asked, “What exactly do you want to do?”
Garithos laughed.
Now that things had come to that extend, he no longer hid it.
“An order from the Stormwind City…”
“Quel’Danas’ Sunwell has been contaminated by a catastrophe!”
“To prevent it from causing more damage and disasters!”
“I was ordered to destroy it!”
Garithos said righteously, “Holy light above! Please cooperate with us for the overall situation of the Alliance, Your Highness!”
Lor’themar laughed out loud, “Human… Hehehe…”
“I suppose you also have instructions from Darnassus other than the order from Stormwind City!”
“A young Yggdrasil of unknown origin has appeared in the Sunwell…”
“The other Yggdrasils have all sensed it…”
“They want to destroy it before it grows up…”
“The Alliance’s plan is indeed very effective!”
“But… does the alliance listen to Stormwind City or Darnassus?” Lor’themar asked with malicious intentions.
Kael’thas’s thoughts were in a mess.
Since Garithos was following the orders from Stormwind City or even Darnassus…
What about Lor’themar?
Did the former adjutant of the Ranger General listen to the orders from the other side again?
What did he want to do this time?
No matter how hard he thought about it, the prince of Sunstrider could not figure it out. Was there a second strength in this world that he could rely on?
However, Lor’themar did not say anything. He just quietly looked at the humans opposite him.
“You can leave!” He said, “You won’t be able to leave anymore if you don’t leave now…”
The sea was rolling.
One thick Naga after another crawled out.
Kael’thas looked at the Naga and finally understood.