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After a few days to allow their respective armies to rest, the combined host of humans and dwarves set off on the journey west toward Khaz Modan.
On the march, Alastor ordered the rest of the AC units to stay ahead of the army and act as scouting units, using their inbuilt terrain sensors to map out the land as well as detect any potential hostiles in the army's path.
Any hostile resistance that was encountered was swiftly killed without mercy, be they daemons, Beastkin, or Black Mages.
They hadn't encountered the Undead yet, but they knew that when they reached the northern battlefields they would not only see and but fight against the dreaded Scourge and their newly dubbed Lich King.
Something many of the current combatant were almost eager to do.
Which in turn wasn't that surprising, since almost everyone had a lot of pent-up anger that they needed to release after not only seeing their world ravaged by blasphemous forces but also witnessing the destruction Chaos had wrought upon their home kingdoms.
At other times, Kurdan, Alastor, and Anduin would be found together discussing plans or simply talking to pass the time as they journeyed.
Eventually, Kurdan asked about the happenings in the south ASIDE from the matters in Stormwind.
From the bits and pieces of information he had gathered, The Wildhammer King at least understood that Stormwind was also under its own siege.
During that time, Llane Wrynn had been stabbed with a cursed blade that led to his death days later, and Queen Taria Wrynn, while surviving a failed assassination, was now in a coma.
It was Anduin who explained, recounting the conflicts in the Savage Lands at Fort Clover as well as the events that led to the relieving of the Siege of Stormwind.
When Kurdan heard that Grimgor Ironhide had been killed by Alastor, he was shocked but then surprisingly he began laughing without restraint.
"I owe you once more, lad, for killing that damn ork. In his last rampage across Arda, my father Thor Wildhammer was also killed by him. Good Riddance to that damn green monster!"
Kurdan remembered that day vividly as he saw his father, the previous High Thane of Aerie Peak, get his entire chest caved in by Grimgor's axe.
But what was worse for Kurdan at that time was not the fact that he couldn't avenge his father, but the sheer helplessness he and many of his brethren felt after seeing Grimgor's strength firsthand.
But by the Maker, finally, after more than a century, someone had killed that monstrous Black Ork, thus avenging everyone who had been slain by him over the ages.
Suffice it to say, the Wildhammer king felt his respect for Alastor rise—not only as a hero, but as a powerful being who could hopefully turn the tide of the current war and whatever might come after.
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Finally, The day arrived when Alastor's army crossed the eastern border of the kingdom of Khaz Modan and settled within a valley a short distance away from the capital city of Ironforge.
Alastor had received a report from one of his scouts that the main army led by his brother Varian was also in position in the south.
Alastor nodded and dismissed the scout. As he, Anduin, and Kurdan then departed to meet Varian and his commanders at the halfway point between the two armies.
Arriving at the small clearing, they saw Varian already waiting there along with Gavinrad, Mathias, Krasus, Aegwynn, and Tyrande.
"Brother, I hope your journey was a success," Alastor greeted Varian with a nod.
"Those mechs you made were really a great help in clearing out any pockets of resistance we encountered. Not to mention they were also very effective shock units."
Varian gave Alastor a smile and nod in return as he turned to look at Kurdan.
"I can see that you were successful as well."
Kurdan stepped forward and nodded to the new king of Stormwind.
"Well met, King Wrynn. I owe your brother and ye kingdom a great debt for their help."
"My kingdom has already begun once more sending supplies and logistical support to the Northern Alliance armies, and you can expect the full support of the Wildhammer dwarves in this war of yours."
"I am very glad to hear that, King Kurdan, and we are honored to have you on our side."
With the introductions done, they began talking about the upcoming plans of attack.
Mathias was the first to speak.
"My agents have scouted ahead and gotten an overview of the enemy, and it's not pretty."
"Even from our initial probing we can say without a doubt that the current force besieging Ironforge numbers in the hundreds of thousands, which includes Beastkin, daemons, and even powerful Black Mages."
Gavinrad frowned.
"This might be the largest hostile army in the south."
Krasus nodded seriously as he began speaking.
"Not surprising. The Kingdom of Khaz Modan has the most direct route to transport supplies and reinforcements to the Northern Alliance. Not to mention the underground mountain city has no shortage of weapons and supplies that could prove very beneficial to the war effort."
"The enemy knows this too, so it's no surprise they would muster a sizable portion of their resources to destroy Ironforge, or at least keep it locked down."
"Bloody bastards!" Kurdan said angrily as he gripped the shaft of his power axe tightly. Yes, the Wildhammer and Bronzebeard dwarves did not always see eye to eye since they had separated, but they were still kin.
And now his kin were being attacked on their very doorstep? Such an insult will not go punished!
"It won't matter. We'll make sure we get rid of all these abominations soon enough," Anduin said coldly, as everyone nodded at his words.
"Mathias, have your agents contacted King Magni? or any of the Bronzebeards?" Alastor asked.
Mathias smiled proudly at the question.
"That's the good news, my lord. My men were able to find a secret passage within Ironforge and meet up with King Magni. They successfully relayed the plan to him."
"As soon as our forces attack the enemy army outside the mountain fortress, King Magni will open his gates and attack from his side as well."
The massive underground capital city of Ironforge was located deep within the Ironforge mountain range, aside from a few secret passages.
The main way to enter and exit the city was through the Iron Fortress—a massive and heavily fortified stronghold built directly into the largest mountain.
The section visible from outside was only the outer fortress, which was already armed to the teeth with all kinds of defenses. Yet even if the enemy breached it, they would still have to contend with the inner fortress within the mountain.
And after that, they would have to pass through a long passage leading to the main city. The passage itself was layered with different defenses and traps.
Suffice it to say, the Iron Fortress—if magic was excluded—was the most impenetrable fortress in Azeroth, and even with magic considered, it remained one of the most well-fortified structures on the continent.
A reputation it had earned throughout the ages through the blood and corpses of the many, many fools who had tried to overcome it.
Krasus decided to stay beside the main army and attack alongside them, while Aegwynn, Tyrande, and her Sentinels would go with Alastor and attack alongside his forces and the Wildhammer dwarf army.
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Soon the plan was initiated. The first to attack from both directions were the Armored Core units.
The fast and dexterous war machines quickly made dozens of openings within the surprised enemy army from the south and east, either by using their ranged weapons or simply ramming into their lines before wreaking havoc through high-paced melee combat.
Immediately after, both armies' armored divisions moved in through these "openings," shooting relentlessly as well as providing additional cover for the soldiers behind them, while artillery bombarded the Chaos-aligned army.
Due to the quick response of the enemy commanders, a significant number of these openings were closed, but the ones that weren't were successfully widened by the human and dwarven forces, becoming literal kill zones.
If anything, the number of breaches successfully being maintained was more than initially expected, much to the humans' and dwarves' joy.
Because they were attacked by surprise and harassed by this new human-dwarven army, the Chaos army turned to face them—which ended up being their mistake once again.
Not long after they turned their attention to Alastor and Varian's armies, the massive doors of the Iron Fortress they had been attacking moments ago opened, and from within them a large number of Bronzebeard dwarves charged out.
At their head was a fully armored Magni Bronzebeard, and he looked murderous.
"ONWARD, BROTHERS AND SISTERS! NO MERCY FOR THESE MAKER DAMNED BASTARDS!"
That was all the prompting needed as the Bronzebeard dwarves began their own attack, either opening fire on the enemy or getting up close and personal with their heavily armored legions, walkers, and armored vehicles.
All the while, the Iron Fortress continued to rain death upon the enemy.
The Black mages who would have been difficult to handle due to being much more skilled and powerful than the ones before had their luck run out when they were personally targeted by Aegwynn, Tyrande and her sentinels who made quick work of them.
But perhaps one of the most awe-inspiring sight was when Magni and several other prominent dwarves utilized a rare and powerful dwarven ability they called Titan Avatars.
Magni and these dwarves began glowing as they grew several times their height, becoming close to—if not equal to—the height of the Armored Core units, while their eyes shone with a brilliant earthen-yellow light.
They then immediately charged into the enemy lines and wreaked havoc like wrathful deities.
Every swing of their equally enlarged weapons banished several daemons and crushed Beastkin into piles of gore, while the shockwaves of their attacks caused nearby enemies to lose their footing—if they weren't already sent flying.
Unfortunately for the enemy, it only got worse when multiple squadrons of Stormwind and Wildhammer aircraft began either bombing their ranks or strafing them with heavy fire.
"SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THR—!"
The Khorne daemon couldn't finish before he was crushed beneath a Titan dwarf's hammer.
By the Dark Gods, what the frak is wrong with this world?!
So thought a Herald of Tzeentch—specifically a Fluxmaster atop his Disc of Tzeentch—as he watched the sudden reversal on the battlefield.
It had been bad enough when he and other daemon hosts had first begun manifesting on this world. Back then, things had seemed simple.
Conquer the world that had caught their master's—or perhaps multiple of the Dark Gods'—fancy and turn it into a daemon world.
Simple, right?
Wrong! VERY WRONG!!
Not only were the vast majority of this world's inhabitants strangely resistant to the influence of Chaos…
But there were forces capable of hindering the tide of their armies before they even fully materialized in this world—like those four Dragons and their respective dragon clans.
But no, it only got worse.
Especially when he remembered the different groups of mortals, each presenting yet another obstacle for him and his fellow daemons.
Mages who could wield the Warp without succumbing to corruption or mutation, doing so with eerie mastery.
Superhuman warriors—Knights—who could butcher through their forces with expert skill.
Mortals capable of wielding a strange power called the Holy Light, which had proven very deadly and effective against daemons and similar dark forces, while also providing powerful healing capabilities.
And it wasn't only them.
In fact from what he had heard in the north, there were even strange Eldar (Elves) who were able to manipulate and channel the power of nature itself to assist the mortal armies' resistance.
The Herald was beginning to seriously question whether his gamble to come to this world—to harvest souls and hopefully earn his master's favor—had been such a good idea after all.
Yes, he was a daemon of Tzeentch, and deceit was one of their domains.
But you couldn't enjoy the fruits of your labor if you were stupid about it; He was mad not an idiot!
(AN: Many would beg to differ.)
The Herald considered abandoning his forces to discreetly retreat and look for another opportunity.
Only for him to suddenly feel a chill and quickly turn his head.
Just in time to see a lone white mech flying toward him, its energy blade already swinging.
Frak.
That was his last thought as the blade easily cut through his magical shield—and straight through him.
Fun fact: while daemons were technically considered immortal—since most of the time their deaths only resulted in their essence being sent back to the Warp to eventually reform—it was by no means painless.
In fact, it hurt a lot, especially depending on how you were killed in realspace.
And that wasn't even considering the reception they would receive from their respective Chaos God…
Who, the vast majority of the time, did not take failure kindly.
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Due to the surprise attack by Varian, Alastor, and Kurdan's armies—and the subsequent multi-pronged assault further aided by the Bronzebeard dwarves—the Chaos army besieging the Iron Fortress, and by extension the Bronzebeard capital, was successfully broken.
Most of its forces were either killed or banished in the case of the daemons.
While those daemons that were unfortunate enough to either be killed by a blessed weapon or encounter a Paladin had their essence itself destroyed.
Any Black Mages that were found were executed without exception.
The few who managed to escape were being pursued by hunting teams dispatched by Magni, as the King of Ironforge invited his allies into the underground city while he brought the commanders to his palace for discussions.
Magni was very grateful for the assistance, but it was obvious to Alastor and the others that recent events had taken their toll on the normally resolute dwarven king.
And they couldn't blame him.
He had received the news of his brother Muradin's "death" at the hands of a man his brother had trusted implicitly, prompting him to enter the war seeking vengeance.
Then, due to the grand ritual conducted by the Black Mages, Azeroth had been saturated with corrupted energies, with the planet itself surrounded by Warp storms.
Which had led to mass opening of Warp portals and manifesting of many daemons behind the frontlines in the North with his kingdom being besieged alongside many others.
And while he was here protecting his kingdom, his last remaining brother, Brann Bronzebeard, was in the north fighting alongside their allies—but without nearly enough support to safely sustain the northern line against the Scourge in the long term.
It only made Alastor even more resolute in his actions.
This sudden war had caused nothing but death and misery for everyone involved excluding the enemy.
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After the talks were concluded and plans were made to incorporate Magni and his army into the growing allied force, everyone assumed they would retire for the day before moving out again at a later date.
But then Alastor asked Magni for a favor that caused the others to pause and look curiously at them.
"You of all people have no reason to be formal with me, lad. Just ask what you need!"
"It's not something I need, Magni. Rather, it's something I need to know."
Alastor extended his hand, and upon his palm appeared the same mystical orange flames with red and yellow highlights.
Aside from Kurdan, the others recognized the flame as the same one Alastor had used to kill Grimgor back at Stormwind—and later to destroy Gul'dan.
"Your people are perhaps the most knowledgeable when it comes to flames. Do you know which one this is?"
Alastor had tried racking his brain over the nature of this new flame he had seemingly unlocked back in Stormwind, but he always came up empty.
He had already shown it to Tyrande, Krasus, and Aegwynn. Aside from offering their own observations about the unknown fire, they had also admitted they had never seen anything like it.
Which, unknown to Alastor, had also confused Tyrande. Considering how long she had "lived", she believed there wasn't much left in the galaxy that could truly surprise her—even if it was something new.
But apparently fate was proving otherwise.
So Alastor decided to ask one of the people most knowledgeable about flames and fire-related lore on Azeroth.
Magni looked at the flames, mesmerized.
The flame had a beauty and danger to it that was weirdly contradictory yet in harmony, he could sense the great heat contained within yet only felt warmth when near it.
After a moment he snapped out of it and searched his memory for anything related to this mythical fire.
Unfortunately, he came up empty.
Still, he reassured Alastor as he called upon three very prominent dwarves.
Into the chamber came three old dwarves. But despite their age, they did not look weak in any way. Their bodies were still robust, and their eyes shone with the classic dwarven stubbornness—tempered with great wisdom.
These were Brontes, Steropes, and Arges, the current living Dwarven Elders.
To be granted the title of Elder, a dwarf needed to be exceptionally wise, a recognized Grandmaster in the art of forging, and an exceptional warrior.
But Brontes, Steropes, and Arges were particularly famous.
They were triplet brothers and each of them was in their late-500's.
For several centuries they had rendered incredible service in the protection and prosperity of Ironforge, while also being recognized as the greatest forgers and craftsmen on Azeroth.
And besides their power and wisdom, they were also incredibly knowledgeable—each of their minds more akin to a vast library of lore and ancient knowledge.
Even Magni treated them with great respect as he explained Alastor's request.
But the answer they gave after seeing the flame Alastor conjured was not what anyone expected.
"This fire… it is not from this world."
"In fact," one of the elders continued slowly, "I am almost certain it is not from our reality at all."
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