Blind is an extremely specialized Fire Magic spell in Rhodes' repertoire. It serves as an exceptional crowd-control tool, plunging enemies into total darkness. Even once they recover, they are left in a brief state of weakness. With the empowerment of Intermediate Fire Magic, this spell can reduce a target like Archimonde to a mere 25% of his combat effectiveness.
However, this spell is ineffective against constructs, fire elementals, and the undead. The reason it worked on Arthas previously was that Arthas had not actually died; he had become a Death Knight while still among the living, making him susceptible to its effects.
Throughout the battle, Rhodes had intentionally refrained from using any debuff magic—such as Misfortune, Slow, Curse, or Blind. He had saved them for this exact moment, ensuring Archimonde would be completely off-guard. He waited until the Defiler was at his weakest, just as he believed victory was within his grasp.
As the Guardian Medivh used his final reserves of mana to call down a colossal pillar of lightning upon the Defiler, Rhodes' eyes flashed. He had been waiting for this exact opening!
After releasing such a massive area-of-effect skill and being struck by Medivh's final blow, the fel energy within Archimonde would inevitably fall into a brief state of flux. This was the window for the killing blow.
"Now!" Rhodes growled, opening his spellbook.
Four distinct debuffs—laid like a pre-set trap—were triggered simultaneously, snaring the gasping Archimonde with lethal precision!
Slow! (Advanced Earth Magic): A heavy, ochre energy acted like the thickest mire, entangling Archimonde's limbs. Every movement became excruciatingly difficult, as if he were struggling through deep water.
Curse! (Intermediate Fire Magic): Dark blue, murky energy seeped into his protective fel aura, destabilizing his energy flow and drastically reducing the power of his next strike.
Misfortune! (Intermediate Fire Magic): An invisible wind of ill omen swirled around him, dulling his luck and perception of danger. In the world of Azeroth, this was the most eerie effect, making him prone to blunders and energy backfire.
Blind! (Intermediate Fire Magic): Finally, a flash of brilliant but harmless light erupted, stripping Archimonde of his sight. The Defiler let out a roar of startled rage as his world turned into a void of blinding white.
"Impossible! This is—" Archimonde's face finally twisted in terror.
Under the influence of Rhodes' Advanced Earth and Fire Magic, these effects were pushed to their absolute limits. In his prime, Archimonde might have forcibly dispelled them, but having just exhausted himself with the "Hand of Death," he was caught in that vulnerable moment between his old strength fading and new strength rising.
"What have you done to me? Despicable insects!" Archimonde roared, flailing his arms blindly as fel energy leaked out without aim.
"Now! Archangel! Finish him! Take his head!" Rhodes commanded, pouring his last ounce of mental strength into the instruction.
The Archangel, who had stayed out of the fray until this very second, channeled its surging Holy Light into Divine Judgment, the weapon reforged from Strom'kar, the Warbreaker. Its four light-wings erupted in a brilliance that tore through the dawn, turning the angel into a golden meteor.
The greatsword gathered the Holy Light from Rhodes, the angel's own divine essence, and even drew upon the residual lunar and natural energies in the air. As dawn broke and the night receded, a beam of pure moonlight descended from the fading moon, further empowering the celestial warrior.
"Go, servant of Rhodes! Behead the Defiler!" Tyrande shouted, guiding the moon's power.
Simultaneously, the fallen Cenarius used his last strength to entangle Archimonde with vines, while Malfurion rose to assist his mentor. Jaina's staff flared with frost, freezing Archimonde's torso, and Uther knelt to bestow a final array of blessings—Sacrifice, Kings, and Might—upon the Archangel.
"Bring us victory!"
"Defiler, your reign ends here!" Rhodes proclaimed.
"For Azeroth!" the crowd roared in unison.
The Archangel blurred, bypassing Archimonde's frantic arms and striking straight for the exposed neck. Divine Judgment cut through the Defiler's weakened fel defenses like a hot knife through butter.
"No—AAAAAUGH!" Archimonde's final shriek was cut short. Holy and lunar energies detonated within him. Time seemed to freeze as his massive frame stiffened, the fury in his eyes replaced by utter disbelief.
The next moment, the massive, burning head of the demon was sent spinning into the air.
Dark green blood erupted from the neck like a waterfall, towering dozens of meters high. The headless titan teetered for a moment before crashing down, making all of Mount Hyjal tremble. Archimonde the Defiler—commander of the Legion and right hand of Sargeras—had fallen.
As his body began to collapse into a fel vortex, threatening to take everyone with him in a final explosion, Medivh, Jaina, and Caponia combined their efforts for one last Arcane teleportation. They shifted the remains into the heart of the demon ranks.
The resulting explosion was catastrophic, vaporizing the remnants of the Burning Legion. The army was annihilated; any survivors were no longer a threat.
Silence held the battlefield for a heartbeat before a deafening cheer erupted.
"We won!!"
"Archimonde is dead!"
"Long live Azeroth!"
Soldiers from every race embraced, weeping with joy. The heroes—Rhodes, Cenarius, Medivh, Malfurion, Tyrande, Thrall, Uther, Jaina, and Caponia—all looked upon the scene with exhausted disbelief before joining the cry of victory.
Rhodes collapsed to the ground, his strength gone. Jaina and Uther rushed to support him.
"You did it, Rhodes. You really did it," Jaina whispered in awe.
"The Horde owes you a debt," Thrall said, approaching. "You are a friend of the New Horde forever."
"You saved not just the World Tree, but all of Azeroth," Malfurion and Tyrande added.
As Rhodes nodded weakly, a system notification chimed in his mind.
A Glorious Victory!