Medivh and Garona returned shortly after. Galen carefully observed their expressions, but both appeared calm and revealed nothing.
"Everyone's here. Let's enter the Tomb of Sargeras and clear out the demons. We'll also need to secure the Eye of Sargeras and the Avatar of Sargeras," Aegwynn said, heading towards the temple ruins and beginning to chant a spell.
"Domok Thala More!"
As Aegwynn finished the incantation, the magical barrier surrounding the temple vanished.
Whoosh!
A strong wind gusted from the temple gate. Galen squinted, sensing the negative energy within.
The concentration of fel energy was significant. Galen suspected Kil'jaeden had prepared a trap inside, waiting for Gul'dan.
"Follow me," Aegwynn said, casting a magic shield on herself and leading the group into the dark passage.
Galen had been to the Tomb of Sargeras before, but this version, built by Aegwynn, was much grander. It was built upon the Temple of the Moon in Suramar.
Suramar was one of the greatest cities of the Night Elf Empire, its cultural and religious center. Tyrande, Malfurion, Illidan, Jarod, Maiev, and Ravencrest hailed from this city. It was also a key fortress during the War of the Ancients, where civilians opposed the Highborne in Zin-Azshari. The Temple of the Moon was a massive structure at the city's heart.
With Aegwynn leading, they avoided any detours. Galen disliked dungeons, caves, and similar terrains, like Maraudon, Uldaman, the Sunken Temple, and Dire Maul.
They soon reached a huge, dark stone gate, flanked by a humanoid statue over twenty meters tall.
The statue resembled a Valkyrie, holding a war hammer defensively.
It's a Warden Servant.
However, its left arm, leg, and side showed signs of fel energy corruption. Galen's suspicions were confirmed: the tomb's guardians were tainted. Nearly a third of the Warden Servant's body was corrupted.
"The fel energy here is far more active than it was decades ago!" Aegwynn said, looking at the statue. She had maintained the barrier here before Medivh's birth. Back then, everything was normal.
"What is this?" Galen asked.
"This is a Warden Servant. I found them in ancient ruins, repaired and awakened them, and set them to guard this place. That was hundreds of years ago. There's also a Maiden of Courage inside," Aegwynn explained.
And probably a Maiden of Virtue in Karazhan later. Do Guardians have a thing for stone statues?
"We'll take them with us. I need gatekeepers," Galen said.
"They're corrupted by fel energy. It's a problem," Aegwynn replied, noting the fel energy glowing on the Warden Servant's left side.
"It's fine. We can remove the fel energy and enhance their strength," Galen assured her. A little fel energy was nothing. He planned to use the Warden Servants for his first batch of Lightforged warriors.
"As you wish" Aegwynn said.
Aegwynn chanted a spell in front of the dormant Warden Servant. Runes appeared beneath the statue's feet and spread across its body. When she finished, the twenty-meter-tall statue shrunk into a palm-sized figure.
Galen's eyes widened. That's a useful spell! It's like the World Shrinker, the Gnome Shrink Ray, and Noggenfogger Elixir!
Aragorn took the shrunken Warden Servant, used Holy Light to block its senses, and placed it in his pack, planning to Lightforge it in Minas Tirith.
Aegwynn then opened the stone door.
Rumble!
The door, untouched for decades, slowly opened, revealing the Tomb of Sargeras's core chamber.
Galen signaled everyone to prepare. The Royal Guards formed a defensive line with their shields.
Boom!
A terrifying laughter echoed from within.
"Gul'dan, did you think you could betray the Legion and survive? Kil'jaeden will not tolerate your treachery!"
"Legion warriors, charge! Tear Gul'dan apart! Kil'jaeden will reward us!"
A demon lord rushed out, followed by a horde of demon guards, dreadlords, and hellhounds.
This must be a demon army secretly teleported by Kil'jaeden. They were waiting to ambush Gul'dan.
The Deceiver was retaliating against Gul'dan in kind.
"Attack!" Galen ordered.
Aegwynn cast Ice Ring, Gandalf launched Blizzard, and Medivh used Flame Strike. The demons were caught off guard.
The Dreadlord leading the demons was stunned. What's happening? Weren't we supposed to ambush Gul'dan? Why are humans here? And their attacks are so strong!
"Holy Light Radiance!"
Galen used his new skill, derived from Blind Light.
Holy Light Radiance emitted a blinding light in all directions, affecting enemies within ten meters. Illuminated enemies suffered Holy damage and wandered in confusion.
The skill was particularly effective against demons and undead. Even the Dreadlord recoiled, covering its eyes and screaming.