Obsidian looked down at the ancient Blue Dragon before him.
Senergos was the Watcher of the Azurewing Repose in Azsuna, one of the oldest known non-Guardian Dragons.
His dark blue scales were etched with the marks of time, each seeming to carry the storms and glories of the past.
Time had left irreversible traces on him, and a hint of weary decline subtly emerged from his powerful strength.
Blizzard never explicitly defined the lifespan of dragons in the Warcraft universe, but Senergos was the first Blue Dragon explicitly mentioned as having "reached the end of his days" and eventually dying of old age.
However, Senergos's story before the 'Legion' expansion pack was largely blank, so his previous history could only be speculated upon.
Some believe that he must have been of a certain age even before being blessed by the Titans, which is why he reached the limit of his lifespan over twenty thousand years later.
However, based on Obsidian's current observations, he still had some time before his end.
So, was it related to The Nexus War?
That was the war Malygos waged against all mortal spellcasters, where he was ultimately killed by Alexstrasza herself in the Eye of Eternity.
Was it after witnessing the tragedy of a Guardian Dragon's death and the division of the dragon race that Senergos, disheartened, had his lifespan shortened?
Regardless, now that Obsidian was here, he wouldn't allow these tragedies to happen.
At this moment, the old Blue Dragon was also scrutinizing the mysterious Dragon of Radiance before him.
(Senergos)
Obsidian calmly met this scrutiny.
He "saw" more—the signs of decay within the old Blue Dragon's body, and the deep-seated, almost obsessive desire in his heart: to restore the glory of the Blue Dragonflight, to reunite his fragmented kin, and return to their former state of "family."
"Senergos," Obsidian's low voice broke the silence, "I know your wish."
"If Malygos, the Guardian Dragon of the Blue Dragonflight, can break free from his madness and return to his true self, it would be a blessing for all of Azeroth and for the Blue Dragonflight. This is also something I would be pleased to see."
A sharp glint flashed in Senergos's eyes. He did not reply, waiting for what came next.
"But on the path to this goal, three great mountains stand in the way." Obsidian's voice carried a cold sense of reality. "First, the problem of Deathwing Neltharion must be resolved."
"This is a family matter for the Black Dragon Legion. I have a preliminary idea, but it still requires time and opportunity."
"Second," his tone softened slightly, "Sindragosa. Her fall is an unhealable wound for the Blue Dragonflight, and a significant reason for Malygos's descent into madness."
The name Sindragosa instantly stirred long-sealed grief and longing in Senergos's heart.
The powerful yet gentle consort of the Blue Dragon—his massive body stiffened imperceptibly for a moment.
"Third," Obsidian continued, pointing to the cruelest reality, "a dwindling population. The number of Blue Dragons is no longer sufficient to sustain a flight."
Senergos remained silent. Obsidian had already perceived this point, which was precisely why the Azurewing Repose was founded.
"Deathwing's plan requires timing," Obsidian's words shifted, and flames flickered in his vertical pupils, "but the latter two, we can begin immediately. Starting with Sindragosa."
"Indeed." Senergos finally spoke. "It is because you mentioned the possibility of resurrecting her that this old bone of mine is willing to fly around with young dragons."
"Yes, I can resurrect her." Obsidian affirmed.
Then, his tone took on a perfectly measured solemnity, "But Senergos, you must understand, to reverse life and death, to forcefully drag a powerful soul back from eternal slumber, requires an extremely great price."
"This is different from resurrecting mortals. Reversing Sindragosa's life and death requires me to pay the price with my primordial power."
He deliberately emphasized "primordial power" and "price," describing the resurrection as a transaction that required the other party to provide an equivalent payment.
The light of hope in Senergos's eyes did not extinguish; instead, it solidified further because of this explanation of "price"—if the price was high, then its authenticity increased.
His head tilted slightly forward, his icy Blue Dragon eyes fixed on Obsidian: "Emberglow Dragon, what do you need?"
He understood that there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world, especially when it involved the rules of life and death.
"A transaction, naturally, must be fair." Obsidian's wings folded slightly, adopting a negotiating posture, his voice calm and clear, "First, the Focusing Iris. Lend it to me for a few centuries of research."
Senergos's pupils contracted slightly.
The Focusing Iris! The artifact controlled by Malygos, capable of drawing upon the entire magical energy of Azeroth's ley lines!
It symbolized the Blue Dragonflight's authority over the magical network.
Lend it for a few centuries?
For the long lives of dragons, a few centuries was indeed not too long, but this involved too much.
"The Focusing Iris is crucial for the stability of the ley lines and is personally controlled by the Spell-Weaver." Senergos's voice carried deep apprehension. "Even I cannot make such a decision on my own—"
"It is merely for borrowing and research; it will not interfere with its fundamental function of stabilizing the ley lines." Obsidian interrupted, his tone imbued with undeniable confidence. "It will be returned in its original state after a few centuries."
"This will cause you no substantial harm, yet it can bring about Sindragosa's return. Moreover," he added meaningfully, "can Malygos, in his current state, truly utilize it properly?"
Senergos fell silent.
Obsidian's words struck his deepest fears.
The mad Malygos—the Focusing Iris in his hands seemed more like a huge hidden danger.
A brief loan, in exchange for Sindragosa… it seemed… not entirely unacceptable?
His massive dragon tail impatiently swept across the frozen ground, kicking up a cloud of snow.
This demand, while bold, was not entirely without room for negotiation.
"Second," Obsidian didn't give him much time to think, immediately throwing out the second condition, "The Nexus. I need its right of use."
"The Nexus?!" Senergos's voice rose, filled with obvious shock and vigilance.
The Nexus was the core convergence point of Azeroth's ley line energy, one of the Blue Dragonflight's most sacred and important lairs and strongholds!
This demand touched an even deeper core than the Focusing Iris.
"Merely the right of use, not ownership." Obsidian explained, his tone calm, as if discussing renting an empty room, "I need a place with extremely abundant energy and a stable environment."
"To conduct some—biology-related experiments. The Nexus is vast inside, with many unused areas."
"My use will not interfere with the Blue Dragonflight's core areas, nor will it damage the structure of The Nexus itself."
He did not reveal his plans for dragon offspring reproduction, only giving a vague excuse of "biological experiments."
Senergos fell into deeper silence.
The Nexus was a symbol of the Blue Dragonflight, Malygos's dwelling.
But the reality was, ever since Sindragosa's fall and Malygos's descent into madness, The Nexus had long lost its former prosperity, and many areas were indeed vacant and abandoned.
Lending it to a powerful ally for some controllable research… and the other party promised not to interfere with the core?
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right nobut who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/TripleCrown
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"