Stormwind Wizard God
Chapter 818: Who

Chapter 818: Who

Who is Xavius? He was a force to be reckoned with: a warrior on par with the legendary Antonidas, the second most powerful individual in the Kaldorei Empire, and Queen Azshara’s initial favorite. Later generations would know him as the infamous Nightmare King. Xavius was arguably the biggest traitor of the War of the Ancients and a pivotal figure at its very core.

Yet, this immensely powerful being was now prostrate on the ground, trembling, not even daring to glance up at Duke. If Duke could return to his own time, he’d have enough bragging rights to last a lifetime.

Behind Duke, Grom was utterly bewildered. This scene made even the fiercely loyal and courageous Grom question everything. "Has Duke truly fallen? Is he using his pre-fall memories to control me? Or is he still pretending, not truly corrupted?" Grom’s burning desire for the truth was almost unbearable, but he could do nothing but grin menacingly at the night elves, playing the part of Duke’s loyal minion.

Duke continued his act as the Demon Lord. He looked down at Xavius and said, his voice cold, "Look up and face me!"

"Yes!" Xavius whimpered, slowly raising his head.

"You too!" Duke commanded the others.

"Yes, sir!" they all responded.

Under the terrified gaze of Xavius and the other elven mages, Duke slowly, almost in slow motion, transformed his skin, inch by inch, into an ethereal, ink-black shadow. This Shadow Form, commonplace in later eras, was utterly unprecedented at this time.

In his shadowy form, Duke’s gaze, sharp as a blade, pierced Xavius’s face and heart. "I am Infernal Affairs, Overlord of the Burning Legion. I know only death and destruction. Do not dare to challenge my authority in any way, or be prepared for at least one of your cities to be utterly annihilated. Do you understand?"

"Understood... I understand!" Xavius stammered, agreeing hastily, overcome with fear.

"Bring me an undefiled moon-well. I wish to bathe!"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Xavius nodded frantically.

Without another glance at Xavius, Duke dispelled his Shadow Form and strode away with an air of profound pride. Grom followed, his axe Gorehowl slung over his shoulder.

Xavius, however, followed eagerly, bowing and scraping. "Great Wuxian..."

"Just call me by my temporary name, Mark," Duke corrected him.

"Lord Mark, I am conducting this summoning ceremony in the name of Queen Azshara. Would you consider meeting the Queen?"

Duke stopped, an astonishing aura of authority radiating from him. His eyes burned with such ferocity that Xavius felt as if they emitted a light of death, capable of splitting his body in two.

"Are you giving me orders?"

"No! I wouldn’t dare!" Xavius fell to his knees again, utterly humbled. "It was merely a suggestion... a small suggestion."

Duke was secretly pleased but maintained a stoic, domineering expression. He scoffed, "I’m not in the mood for now. But since you are relatively submissive, I will grant you this."

With that, Duke tossed out several glowing green vials that resembled test tubes.

Xavius eagerly pressed on, "What is this...?"

"Give it to your enemy to drink! Just one drop will grant you the powerful warrior you desire."

"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!" Xavius was practically overflowing with ecstasy. Shamelessly, he crawled forward and kissed Duke’s right boot.

On the third kiss, a look of disgust flashed across Duke’s face. He swiftly pulled his foot back, kicking Xavius in the face and leaving a black boot print on the night elf noble’s cheek.

"Go! Lead the way!"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Xavius, the very man who would bring countless disasters to Azeroth throughout history, was now serving Duke like the most devoted servant.

Grom, still behind Duke, was utterly dumbfounded, words failing him.

At this point in time, the Kaldorei Empire’s excessive use of the Well of Eternity had long since turned its waters to an inky black, so polluted that even rats wouldn’t drink from it. Fortunately, before the Well was completely tainted, many Moonwells had been cut off from its source, remaining pristine.

One such Moonwell was located at a royal villa, 30 kilometers west of Zin-Azshari.

Xavius, treating Duke and Grom as gods, had a large contingent of royal guards lead the way. Protecting Duke were members of the renowned Moon Guard, masters of both magic and martial arts within the Kaldorei Empire.

After escorting Duke and Grom to this magnificent royal villa, adorned with arcane decorations and artifacts, Xavius discreetly left behind twelve beautiful but noticeably short elven maids before respectfully departing.

"Please rest, sir. I will return to visit you at noon tomorrow."

Duke impatiently waved Xavius away like a bothersome fly, then turned his gaze to the maids, who were trying desperately to smile despite their trembling.

Perhaps it was Duke’s earlier command to Grom to shorten the old elf wizard’s legs that left a deep impression on Xavius, because he had managed to find twelve elf girls who were slightly shorter than Duke. This was an incredibly rare feat. Historically, night elves, having evolved from trolls, were generally over 1.9 meters tall in ancient times. Poor Duke, despite growing taller after adulthood and again after absorbing fel energy, was still only 1.85 meters—a good height for a human, but still half a head shorter than most night elves. Duke almost wanted to exclaim, "I’m trying my best here!"

These twelve night elf girls were quite pleasing to the eye, if one ignored their slightly purple skin and the facial wrinkles that Duke found rather irritating. The problem was that Duke had many secrets to keep, and Grom’s patience was wearing thin. Duke simply said, "Go away! I don’t need your service."

"But..." the head maid began, her voice laced with bitterness.

Duke’s voice turned menacing. "Did you see the fangs of my servant? He is an absolutely ferocious creature. If he gets wild and eats you, don’t blame me for not warning you."

The terrified elf girls retreated almost in a panic, leaving Grom utterly bewildered. Grom almost swore, Damn it, when have I ever eaten a human?

Ignoring Grom, Duke quickly set up a magic circle, then immersed himself in the Moon Well as if it were a hot spring. Mysterious and eerie prayers suddenly echoed above the Moon Well: "Light comes from darkness, and light comes from darkness!"