Inside the tomb, the vibrations grew more violent.
"We must leave immediately!" Illidan roared. His demonic wings unfurled, and he prepared to launch himself upward, intending to smash through the crumbling ceiling.
"Don't panic! Get close to me. I'll use teleportation magic to get us out." Rhodes remained relatively calm; a simple tomb collapse was nothing he couldn't handle. With the Guardian's teleportation magic at his disposal, crossing this distance was easy and efficient.
The tremors intensified as massive blocks of stone rained down from above. Dust filled the air, and the entire Tomb of Sargeras seemed ready to collapse and bury everything within it deep underground.
"No time left! Grab on!" Rhodes bellowed, snatching Illidan's arm, which was covered in hardened demonic scales. Activating a surge of Arcane energy, he commanded, "Teleport!"
The Guardian's teleportation art—passed down from Medivh—ignited. Powerful Arcane energy instantly enveloped the two of them and all the nearby summoned units: the Archangels, Light Elementals, Gold Golems, and Diamond Golems. Space rippled like the surface of water, and their silhouettes began to blur and distort.
In the split second before they vanished, the main entrance of the tomb gave way with a deafening roar, completely sealing the passage with tons of rock.
Standing outside the ruins, Maiev Shadowsong looked at the blocked entrance. Beneath her mask, the corners of her mouth curled into a cold arc. "It's over, Illidan... Hm?"
However, her sense of victory lasted only a second.
A powerful spatial fluctuation erupted behind her, accompanied by a blinding Arcane glow. Rhodes, Illidan, and their strange entourage of summons appeared on the Broken Shore, perfectly positioned on the flank of the ongoing battle between the Naga and the Wardens.
The sudden arrival forced both sides to halt their fighting instinctively. Jaina and Vashj looked toward the unscathed Rhodes and Illidan with relief. Maiev's pupils constricted as she stared at them in disbelief—specifically at the two Archangels. Their presence radiated a Light that was simultaneously comforting and oppressive. What powerful creatures... what are they?
The energy radiating from them made her feel a prickling discomfort. (Note: Maiev's Warden abilities—Stealth, Assassination, Blink, and Poison—are largely derived from Shadow power, making her naturally susceptible to the Light.)
"This is impossible! You couldn't have made it out alive!" Maiev cried out. Teleporting that many units with such precision across a collapsing tomb was a feat beyond the capabilities of an ordinary mage. Who was this man standing beside Illidan?
Moreover, the creatures of pure Light—angels with wings of radiance—were something she had never seen before. Suddenly, a memory surfaced. Although she hadn't participated in the Battle of Mount Hyjal, she had received intelligence reports.
It was said that the heroes had defeated the Legion Commander, Archimonde, and that a powerful being of Light had delivered the final blow—an angel with two pairs of glowing wings, wreathed in holy power. Is this the same being that slew Archimonde?
But that made no sense. If it were a being of pure Holy Light, why was it coexisting peacefully with Illidan? Illidan had fully transformed into a demon, and Light-based lifeforms usually sought to purge demonic entities on sight.
"It seems your plan fell through, Maiev," Illidan said, stabilizing himself as his wings flapped slowly. His tone was mocking. "Trying to bury me? Unfortunately, things rarely go the way you want. My partner is far more reliable than you imagined."
He glanced at Rhodes, his expression saying, See? I suggested we lure her into the tomb to bury her, but you disagreed. Now, given the chance, she didn't hesitate to try and bury us. He didn't care about the lives of the Wardens, and Maiev certainly didn't care about his life or those with him.
Illidan emphasized the word "partner" while ostentatiously waving the Eye of Sargeras—imprisoned in magic and glowing with an ominous green light—in her direction. Maiev's gaze was instantly drawn to it. The terrifying Fel energy radiating from the orb made her heart skip a beat and only strengthened her resolve to stop him.
"Illidan! Look at what you're holding! That is ultimate evil!" Maiev accused sharply, her grip tightening on her Umbra Crescent. "You truly have defected to the Burning Legion! You shameful traitor!"
"Fool! My goal has only ever been one thing: to destroy the Burning Legion! As for the power I use... hmph, power itself has no morality. I will use this power to ruin them," Illidan snorted, not bothering to explain further. He felt he had explained enough over the years, yet even his beloved Tyrande couldn't understand him. Rhodes was the only one who supported him.
He had accepted Kil'jaeden's task for two reasons: first, to weaken the Scourge (the Lich King was no friend to Azeroth); and second, to gain Kil'jaeden's trust to gather intel and eventually take the fight to the Legion's home worlds. But he knew no one would believe him.
"Sophistry! Illidan, you are a wretched, traitorous monster! Wardens, listen to my command! Sisters, at all costs, seize that artifact and stop him!" Maiev ordered, cutting him off. Despite her shock at Rhodes' power, her duty as a Jailer overrode all else.
The Wardens immediately regrouped into an offensive formation.
"Tsk, it never ends," Rhodes sighed, stepping forward to stand between Illidan and the Wardens. Jaina quickly commanded her Phoenix and Magic Elements to move to his side, standing ready.
"Wardens of the Night Elves, I have no desire to be your enemy," Rhodes declared, his voice carrying over the sound of the waves. "The artifact Illidan holds is indeed dangerous, but his goal is to deal with the Lich King in Northrend. Our true enemies are the Scourge and the Burning Legion. Internal strife is foolish. Stand down, and I will overlook your attempt to bury me just now."
"Who are you, human? Why do you protect this dangerous traitor and demon?" Maiev's sharp eyes fixed on Rhodes. This mage was powerful, and anyone allied with Illidan couldn't be good news. She noticed the "Naga" mage standing by his side, her disguise fading to reveal a blonde human woman.
"Who am I? I am an ally of the Night Elves. I released Illidan alongside High Priestess Tyrande, under the orders and entrustment of the demigod Cenarius. I honestly don't understand why you persist in hunting him. He was freed by the demigod and proved himself by slaying the Dreadlord Tichondrius," Rhodes replied.
"Cenarius does not represent the will of all Night Elves! You have no idea how dangerous the monster you released is. He is a demon who was sealed for ten thousand years!" Maiev roared.
At that moment, one of the Wardens nearby seemed to recognize Rhodes and whispered to Maiev, "Mistress, I remember this human. He was indeed with Tyrande when they entered the barrows to release Illidan. He was the one who claimed Illidan was needed to fight Archimonde."
Rhodes narrowed his eyes. "So, do you represent the Night Elves? Are you their supreme leader? I recall the leaders are Archdruid Malfurion, Priestess Tyrande, and the Great Demigod Cenarius. All three allowed Illidan his freedom. By what right do you interfere?"
"What right do you have to lecture me? You're nothing! I haven't even settled my score with you for trespassing in my prison and releasing my prisoner," Maiev countered. She couldn't retaliate against Tyrande easily, but she had planned to deal with Rhodes after catching Illidan. Seeing them together confirmed her suspicions: anyone who associated with Illidan was corrupted by his silver tongue.
"I am a disciple of Cenarius and a friend to Malfurion and Tyrande. We fought the Legion together at Mount Hyjal. While we were bleeding in battle, where were you?" Rhodes' body began to radiate thick, natural life energy.
He cast several Druidic spells, causing massive vines to erupt from the ground and surround the Wardens. "Now, let's see if you can actually stop me."
Rhodes snorted and turned to Illidan. "Take the Naga and go. I'll handle things here."
"I'll leave it to you then. By the way," Illidan said with a wicked grin, "you once told me: 'If a crazy woman won't listen, you have to beat her until she does.'"
"Don't you dare escape, Illidan!" Maiev screamed.
Rhodes ignored her and unleashed over twenty Magic Elements and a dozen Phoenixes into the fray.