Shadow Trails in Azeroth

Nearly half a month ago, when Black was receiving treatment from Pope Alonsus Faol in Lordaeron, the legendary priest used the Holy Light blessing to cut off the connection with Hades.

He knew then that the meeting tonight would definitely happen.

In the hundreds of thousands of years since Hades was occupied by the madman Hela, no soul watched by Hela has been able to escape from that ghost place.

Blake has been marked with the mark of Hades, and he cannot escape.

The momentary kindness of Faao Mian brought Blake this little trouble at the moment. The Holy Light blessing might be regarded as a provocation by Hela.

It could even be seen as a sign of Black's defection.

After all, Hela is a madman, who can guess what the madman is thinking?

Blake was fighting in the gloomy and icy coastal fog. He soon saw an old acquaintance in the fog flow, the navigator of the Nagfar, Habulon the Hell-drawer, standing on the sea outside the beach.

Where he stood, the water stopped flowing.

Behind him, the dead and deep keel battleship, the ghost ship Nagfar, was floating quietly above the sea water, like a stranded death beast that had sailed out of the abyss.

Hundreds of Kvaldir Mist warriors, fully armed and covered in seaweed barnacles, were glaring at the green will-o'-the-wisp eyes as they looked at Black Shaw who emerged from the shadows.

Their glances were hardly friendly.

Just like the gaze of Habron, the soul-drawer wearing a thick crimson robe and a gray hood, Black's soul felt as if it was frozen.

The current situation proved Black's worst suspicions.

They are not here to question, explore, or provide assistance.

They are here for execution!

This can be seen from the ghost war scythe held in Habulon's left hand, which is pale in color with a hint of ominous black light. This weapon really looks like the soul-harvesting blade of the legendary gods of death.

It is full of the majesty of death and a sense of ritual before execution.

I can explain.

Blake stretched out his hands unceremoniously and made a military salute gesture from a certain country that represented goodwill and giving up resistance in every world.

He said to the spirit attractor in the increasingly cold and thick fog:

This was an accident. During the half-month period when I was disconnected from Hades, I continued to serve the Queen every day. My loyalty to the Queen has not changed at all.

If you, the Soul-Bringer, could put down the war scythe in your hand and give me a little time.

I can prove this with something.

When your soul reaches Hades on the other side, Her Majesty the Queen will be happy to listen to your self-defense on her throne. After all, you have gained her precious trust, Soul Hunter.

Habron said in a tone that fit the tone of a dead man:

But unfortunately, you betrayed that trust.

I don't!

The pirate argued loudly:

I just encountered an accident. My encounter with the Holy Light was not of my own free will. You should be able to understand, Soul Drawer, that there are many forces on this continent that I cannot resist.

And my other identity, you know, is a bit more special. I'm not lying to try to deceive you.

Behold, I bring proof of faithfulness.

He threw his soul-inducing lamp over, but the latter did not reach out to catch it.

The thrown soul-inducing lamp was lifted up like an invisible hand, and was sent to the soul-inducing person in the ghost claws transformed into cold mist.

He scanned the objects in front of him with his gray eyes.

There are more than a dozen screaming souls in the soul-inducing lamp, all from the elite orcs harvested along the way. Every soul is very violent, full of anger and unwillingness.

Those screams represent their vitality.

Just like the souls of the orc warriors who were sent to Hades by Black during this period, they were rare good things in the tide of souls that Hades cruised on the sea in the past.

That's it, it's not enough.

The soul-drawer shook his head, looked at Black, and said:

The Queen's anger is quite intense.

So I have a better gift, dedicated to my supreme Queen of Hades.

The pirate grinned, took out another soul stone from the magic bag, and threw it to the soul attractor Habulon, who stretched out his hand to catch it this time.

The soul stone cast by evil energy showed disdain in his eyes.

But the soul stored in the soul stone made him unable to help but reach out and touch it.

ah!

Following the tugging of Habulon's fingers, the soul of the orc warlock, Kridan the Breaker, was easily pulled out of the soul stone, and then turned into a point of light and fell into the hands of the soul attractor.

Habron is clearly interested in such souls.

He put Credan's soul under his nose, sniffed it gently, and then said with satisfaction:

Well, this soul is indeed different.

It was infected by the poison called ambition, and sublimated in the distillation of arrogance and violence. What flowed in its body was not blood, but malice and madness.

It surrenders to its own desires, immersed in the illusion of power.

Let the darkness ferment in your mind, and in the constant conspiracy, turn yourself into a bottle of mellow and degenerate old wine.

smell it.

This decadent sweetness.

The spirit attractor let out a deep laugh.

He put the soul into the soul-inducing lamp around his waist and said:

It will become the Queen's new plaything. The Queen will definitely like your carefully selected gift, but she will be angry.

I know, I know, I made a big mistake.

Black breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Habulon's reaction. He took out the remaining soul stones from his bag and gave them to Habulon. He would be very humble.

He said:

After encountering the obstruction of the Holy Light, I have been preparing for this self-justification. I am very lucky. I found these unique souls for the Queen.

There are many more here, all as special as that one.

really.

Habron held the four or five soul stones handed over by Black in his hands and carefully distinguished each soul. As Black boasted, these orc souls were quite unique.

This also aroused the interest of the soul leader himself, and he asked:

So, Soul Hunter, where did you find these fallen souls who were born to belong to Hades?

They come from the same place, the Soulbringers.

Blake rubbed his hands and explained:

An organization called the Shadow Council is filled with such scum. I noticed their specialness and I have been hunting them for Her Majesty the Queen.

And now, I got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

He looked at Hablon and said:

I have learned that the leader of the Shadow Council, the most depraved and darkest villain you can find in the mortal world, a peerless villain who may not appear again in a thousand years, is planning a dangerous thing.

I already have a plan.

I intend to dedicate that ugly and extraordinary dark soul to our supreme Majesty the Queen as the most perfect tribute after my dereliction of duty, in the hope of seeking forgiveness from Her Majesty the Queen.

I'm sure I can do this.

But I still need time.

He paused and said to Hablon, who looked at him meaningfully:

Please, soul attractor, first transfer these souls to Her Majesty the Queen, and then tell our Majesty for me. I know I have betrayed her trust.

This sin requires the greatest sacrifice to heal.

I am willing to go through life and death for the queen, to challenge powerful enemies that I simply cannot defeat. I hope that such dedication can reaffirm my loyalty.

I only need a month

In a month, I will give her a real gift.

Not that I'm boasting.

This is definitely the best and most perfect gift that Her Majesty the Queen has received in the past hundreds of thousands of years. I will personally deliver it to Queen Hela.

And all she needed to do was wait.

Give me a little more patience.

patience?

Habron smiled, staring at Black with his gray ruthless eyes, he said:

What you pray for is the most generous blessing Her Majesty the Queen can give you.

You have a big appetite, Ghost Hunter, but for the sake of these 'gifts' that are sure to please Her Majesty the Queen, I will pass them on for you.

But, you brought others with you.

The soul-drawing man's gaze crossed the fog and looked into the dark shadows. He said in a hoarse tone:

Is that hiding female orc your companion? Or a lost and ignorant soul who wants to see the scenery of Hades? Well, it would be even more perfect if you could add her to your gift.

Believe me.

Soul hunter, if you have such a tough and tormented soul dedicated to the queen, the trust you crave will be immediately satisfied, and the queen will even reward you generously.

Blake shrugged and said:

That's just a fool who knows nothing about the shadow of death, Soulbringer. My plan requires her power, and with all due respect.

If she wants to run away, even with your help, I can't keep her.

You underestimate Hades, my companion.

Habulon withdrew his gaze, picked up the soul-inducing lamp, and said quietly:

Her Majesty the Queen planned to use your execution tonight to warn her other subordinates that she specifically ordered you to suffer. Therefore, I brought Gorm, the vicious dog who guards the gate of the Kingdom of Shadows.

If you need her, she will die here tonight without any accidents.

Just nod your head, my companion.

Blake blinked his eyes, without thinking too much, he shook his head with regret and said:

Without her help, I cannot hunt the Darkest Soul for the Queen.

Her presence is necessary, my companion.

So, please ask the supreme death to let her go with some mercy tonight.

as you wish.

Habron closed his eyes and used his soul-inducing lamp as a relay to send Blake's sincerity into the distant hell. After a moment, the soul-inducing lamp opened his eyes again.

The war sickle in his hand dissipated and he said to Blake:

The queen is very interested in those souls and your slightly exaggerated promise. She will give you a month, but, soul hunter, this is your last chance.

If you disappoint her again

I understand, I understand how tragic that ending is.

Blake straightened his back and said seriously:

Just because I'm afraid of the result, I will go all out, but in this process, I may need some help from the Nagfar.

I need to cross the ocean.

We will answer your call.

The soul attractor waved his hand and said:

Furthermore, it's not enough to go all out. Soul Hunter, the only way to repent is to succeed. Any failure will make you doomed.

Come forward!

Blake shrugged and took a step forward. Habron raised his left hand and slashed downwards. The shadows of the ghost war scythe passed through Blake's body and slashed on his soul.

Under his regretful gaze, the Holy Light blessing given to him by His Majesty Faao was torn apart in an instant.

Those wailing holy lights were like light spots flying around Blake, but they quickly disappeared into the gloomy night, and he felt the sticky coldness again.

Hold on to your last chance of survival.

Habron turned around and stepped on the solidified seawater, returning to the deck of the Naqfar. When he held the rotten steering wheel, the sea resumed its swaying.

As the keel battleship slowly sank into the sea, he looked at Blake and warned:

Few people get a precious second chance in the hands of the Queen, spirit hunter. Cherish it as you cherish the life you have now.

The pirates watched the Hell Messenger leave.

A few seconds later, in the dissipating fog, he said to the empty shadow behind him:

Now, are you relieved? Madam, you see, hunting Gul'dan is also of great significance to me. If you fail, you will be controlled again and still be alive.

Although humiliating.

But at least I can save my life.

But if I fail

I'm done.

It's almost like dancing on an egg.

So, stop wasting time and start my second phase of training.