Azeroth Monster Manual

In the enormous sewers of Dalaran, Antonidas floated in the air, eyes closed in contemplation.

Groups of citizens and adventurers entered the stands, exclamations of surprise and admiration occasionally audible.

They had never seen such a vast and hidden arena; perhaps only the Gurubashi Arena, far to the south in the Kingdom of Azeroth, could compare.

But it was said that the trolls of the Gurubashi Empire still practiced cannibalism, and no nation had established diplomatic relations with them. Only a few adventurers and goblins were active in that wild land.

Time flowed slowly. The stands were packed, and heated arguments and curses erupted from time to time. Antonidas frowned, opened his eyes, and cast a Mass Clarity spell, then said,

“Welcome to Dalaran, everyone. Today…”

Sitting in the VIP section on the east side of the arena, Hemit didn't listen to Antonidas's long opening speech, but closed his eyes and snored loudly until he received a sharp rap on the head, startling the old dwarf from his sweet dream.

“Which bas… Oh, it's Lord Ayr, then it's nothing.”

The old dwarf rubbed the bump on his head embarrassedly under the teenager's angry gaze. Antonidas had already finished his speech and returned to the VIP section on the west side. The competition was about to begin.

“Distinguished guests, esteemed figures, I am the host of this championship, you can call me 'Brush' Edman.”

…

A handsome human host stood on a high platform suspended from the dome, stirring the emotions of the audience.

“Ahem, now let me introduce the rules of the competition.”

Edman cleared his throat, and the noise in the stands quieted down.

“The rule is… there are no rules!”

“Wow…”

The previously quiet stands instantly erupted in huge cheers and whistles.

“I'm starting to like that sissy a little.”

A burly dwarf waved his arms and said to his companions. The host's words aroused the darkness in people's hearts, making the crowd even more crazy and excited.

“This… really…”

Modera sat behind Antonidas and said uneasily, only to be met with Antonidas's warning gaze.

“This 2V2 championship, or rather 2V2 deathmatch, ends with the loser's surrender or death. Now, let's welcome the contestants of the Red Team with applause…”

Edman looked at the heated atmosphere with satisfaction and continued.

“From Clearwind Village, Quel'Thalas… Swineherd - Kael'nel Sunblaze!”

“Boo…”

A chorus of boos came from the stands. People were very disdainful of the nickname 'Swineherd', and some even threw unfinished food and wine bottles into the arena below.

Rommath sneered. Although he couldn't make that commoner named Kael'nel pay the price, it was easy for him to make the bastard look bad with just a word.

“You will regret this, Rommath.”

Ayr didn't question Rommath's actions, but said calmly.

“I don't think I heard clearly, Lord Ayr, are you telling a joke?”

The Grand Magister laughed as if he had heard something funny.

“I said, his achievements are destined to surpass yours.”

Ayr spoke as if stating a fact. After saying this, he ignored the angry Grand Magister and focused on watching the competition.

“The other contestant is a rising genius from the Sunwing family of Silvermoon City, Flame of the Phoenix - Quinthas!”

Quinthas waved to the audience in a flamboyant manner, only to be greeted with sparse applause.

“I hate that long-ear, he doesn't look like a gladiator at all.”

An adventurer wearing simple leather armor spoke trash talk, feeling very uncomfortable with those delicate elves.

Kael'nel stood calmly beside Quinthas, ignoring the High Elf's sarcasm, and just lowered his head to think.

“Next are the contestants from the Blue Team representing the Kirin Tor of Dalaran.”

“Clap clap clap”

Warm applause resounded throughout the arena, and the elves' faces looked a little ugly.

“He is the pride of the Ironforge mages, one of the few dwarven mages in Dalaran, he… is the cruel Afus Alfamay!”

Before the host could finish speaking, all the dwarves in the audience stood up. These dwarves had traveled all the way from Dun Morogh to Dalaran.

Just to cheer for their hero, for their pride, the only High Elf mage in Ironforge.

The dwarves' natural loud voices were worth three people each. The sound made by more than a dozen people seemed like hundreds of people cheering.

“See? Erin, that is the pride of our Ironforge mages. Heavens, his beard is so sexy, and that beautiful nose. I'm about to melt from his big nose.”

A dwarven matron named Mel shook the gnome girl's shoulders with both hands, shaking the little gnome until she foamed at the mouth.

The host ignored the audience's reaction and continued to introduce:

“The other contestant is a battle mage from the Kirin Tor of Dalaran. Our dear colleagues have given him a resounding nickname, he is… Magebane - Kshirem.”

…

“Now that everyone is familiar with the teams participating today, let's welcome the contestants of the upcoming 2V2 championship with screams!”

Before the words were spoken, powerful jets of water erupted from the huge drainage pipes in the four corners of the arena, and the unprepared gladiators were thrown onto the arena in a mess.

The audience watched the wet and disheveled gladiators on the arena and burst into deafening laughter.

“Ha, it seems that our contestants are about to burn up. For the safety of the audience, it's better to let them cool down first.”

Edman told a not-so-funny joke, but the audience seemed to appreciate it, and the sound waves that erupted almost overturned the dome.

“Showboating.”

Rommath curled his lips in disdain. In his opinion, these boring tricks could only please those lowly mud legs.

But Ayr watched with relish. The embarrassed contestants under the stage reminded him of those funny moments in his previous life.

Quinthas, the High Elf mage from the Sunwing family, took the lead, and a combination of Presence of Mind + Pyroblast burst out with powerful magical fluctuations, flying towards the dwarven mage who had just stood up.

The dwarven mage seemed to be unable to react and did not move. The Pyroblast burning with blazing fire hit his chest directly, and the audience saw the black smoke rising from the dwarf and let out a rapid exclamation.

“Hmph, vulnerable. Swineherd, you should just stand here honestly and watch me perform. You're really getting a good deal.”

Quinthas spat a mouthful of thick phlegm in the direction of Kael'nel, then aimed at the human mage and chanted a spell. He wanted to end it all quickly.

“Careful!”

Kael'nel's pupils contracted. He had seen the Pyroblast clearly. It was indeed a rare high-level spell, but that dwarf was too strange. As a High Elf mage, it was impossible not to feel such strong magical fluctuations.

At this moment, six or seven Fireballs flew out of the thick smoke, hitting Quinthas without missing a single one. The proud elf paid the price for his arrogance.

Quinthas fell to the ground spitting blood, the blood gurgling from his mouth, several charred holes in his chest and abdomen exposed to the crowd.

“How is that possible!”

Rommath stood up abruptly. He was a little at a loss at everything that happened in the arena.

Coupled with heavy breathing, beads of sweat dripped from the Grand Magister's forehead. This was the youngest and most promising High Elf mage in the new generation of the Sunwing family. Quinthas's death made him uneasy. Thinking about the reaction of the Sunwing family head and His Majesty the Sun King after returning to Quel'Thalas, he couldn't help but shudder.

Kael'nel silently cast a Flame Ward on himself. This was the first 5th-circle spell he had inscribed after being promoted to a High Elf mage.

Then, he quickly chanted spells, casting 【Protective Flame Barrier】 and 【Protective Frost Barrier】 on himself. Strangely, the human mage in the distance made no other moves, only watching him with a mocking expression.

The dwarven mage emerged from the smoke, only coughing lightly a couple of times.

Kael'thas focused his gaze, only to find a faint charred mark on the dark brown robe he was wearing.

"Silk Armor of the Cruel Gladiator…"

Aier murmured to himself, his words causing the dwarves and elves beside him to be stunned.

As if explaining or reminiscing, Aier continued:

"Legend has it that this set of robes abandons the traditional spell enhancements of mage robes, instead enhancing spell resistance and the caster's stamina…"

"This is cheating! Why are they allowed…?"

Rommath no longer possessed his original arrogance and elegance, loudly denouncing Antonidas and the Kirin Tor's despicable actions. But as if realizing something, his excited expression suddenly faltered, and he was unable to speak.

"Don't worry, tools are just tools, and equipment is the same. I believe in him."

Aier smiled slightly, as if Antonidas's off-stage tactics were just minor pranks.

"But…"

Kael'thas wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Hemit's serious expression. The prince seemed to understand the meaning contained in the old dwarf's gaze: believe in him, believe in Master Aier.

The camera returns to the arena.

Kael'thas wholeheartedly devoted himself to the battle. He no longer paid attention to the cheers erupting in the audience, no longer paid attention to the mocking expression on his opponent's face, and no longer paid attention to… Master Aier's gaze.

A blur of light and shadow flashed, and Kael'thas disappeared.

The dwarf warily watched his surroundings. That pig farmer was actually able to use the powerful Invisibility spell from the arcane school, causing his hair to stand on end, and he no longer dared to underestimate him.

Kix'ithil stood by with his arms crossed, with no intention of attacking. This was the agreement he had reached with the dwarven mage.

This 2v2 arena match was just a stepping stone for him, or rather, a stepping stone to promotion. The stronger the opponent, the more excited he became. He wanted the Speaker to see his potential, and that dwarf was just a stepping stone for him.

"That idiot, why isn't he attacking?"

Antonidas turned his back to the crowd, cursing in his heart. This match was an important part of his plan, and he couldn't allow any mistakes.

"Puchi."

The sound of a sharp blade slicing through flesh came from the dwarf. Unfortunately, the blade of condensed flame only pierced his shoulder due to the dwarf's desperate dodge.

"Hiss."

The dwarf endured the pain, mobilizing all his mana. A golden shockwave swept across the entire arena. Kix'ithil seemed to have been prepared for this, and floated in the air, unharmed by the Flame Shockwave.

Kael'thas helplessly floated in the air, his expression showing some regret, but he quickly regained his composure and began chanting a spell.

The dwarf also chanted a spell, unwilling to be outdone. These two high-level fire mages began the traditional art of mages: a spell duel.

Brilliant light and loud roars collided in the arena, eliciting huge exclamations from the audience. This 2v2 arena match was unexpectedly so exciting that it was far more than worth the 5 gold coin ticket price.

"Hit him, hit him! Stuff your big fireball into that little girl's mouth!"

A wild dwarven woman stood up, waving her fist. The foul language she spoke not only didn't annoy the audience around her, but instead aroused their ferocity, and they all stood up and talked trash, cheering for the dwarf.

Kael'thas wearily released Fireballs, occasionally interspersing them with Flame Shocks and Living Bombs. The robes on his body were already tattered. Enduring the pain, Kael'thas Blinked and arrived behind a mountain-like wooden box.

The elven mage's actions caused an uproar in the entire arena. People angrily cursed 'coward, coward', throwing rotten apples and empty wine bottles at the arena below.

Kael'thas collapsed to the ground, leaning against the wooden box, breathing heavily, ignoring the noise from the audience above. There was only one voice in his heart:

'For Master Aier, I must win…'

Scorching flames exploded above Kael'thas's head, the wooden box turned to ashes, and the elven mage could only helplessly drag his tired body and continue chanting spells.

The dwarven mage covered his wound, looking somewhat disheveled, but he still released powerful fire magic as if his life depended on it.

'He's out!'

Seeing Kael'thas staggering out, the dwarf was extremely excited, and released the magic he had been chanting.

A huge pillar of fire exploded at the elf's feet, like a volcanic eruption, melting the entire ground, and a shrill roar came from the gushing flames.

【Flame Strike】, the 5th circle war magic that Kael'thas had once cast, was perfectly replicated by the dwarven mage, and used on this poor elf.

"It's over, I knew that damn commoner…"

Rommath's face was ashen, constantly cursing, and his supporters behind him also began to whisper.

"It's not over yet."

The young man stared intently at the figure screaming in the Flame Strike. After a moment, the young man actually let out a hearty laugh.

"He learns pretty fast."

… …

"It's over, I am the winner of this match!"

The dwarf didn't notice Kix'ithil's solemn expression beside him. He flamboyantly raised his arms and issued his victory declaration to his compatriots.

"Puchi."

The dwarven mage's eyes widened, looking in disbelief at the blood-red flame blade protruding from his heart.

"Glug, glug."

Blood gushed from his mouth like a fountain. In the countdown to his life, the old dwarf suddenly thought of the long-eared man who had died at his feet just now.

"I… am… the… win… ner…"

He uttered intermittent and faint sounds in a daze, before collapsing to the ground with a thud.

"Clap clap clap."

"What a wonderful hat trick, well done, elf."

Kix'ithil landed from the air, clapping his hands. A magical color bloomed in the young human's eyes, a throbbing and excitement when encountering an evenly matched opponent.

Kael'thas panted heavily, dispersing the magic blade in his hand. The one who had just rushed out of the wooden box was just a mirror image clone of his, while his main body had used the cooldown-completed Greater Invisibility spell to approach the dwarven mage.

"But, with your current state, do you still have a chance to defeat me?"

Kix'ithil said mockingly.

"Perhaps you should kneel down and lick my boots, and I, in my mercy, will accept your surrender."

The human mage licked the corner of his mouth, revealing a bloodthirsty smile. Perhaps this was his true face, perhaps this was the true meaning of Mage's Scourge - Kix'ithil.

What greeted him was a flickering small fireball. The small fireball wobbled and smashed into his mage robe. The robe's luster was as good as new, without even a trace of charring.

Kix'ithil looked down at his mage robe, and then exclaimed in disbelief.

"Alright, alright, it seems you've made your choice, and I… won't let you die easily."

Before the human mage finished speaking, he had already disappeared. A faint purple magical fluctuation flashed, and Kix'ithil appeared in front of Kael'thas.

Kael'thas knelt weakly on the ground, looking at the fist at his chest and Kix'ithil's twisted smile. He just let out a disdainful sneer, spitting a mouthful of thick phlegm mixed with blood on the human mage's face.

A weak voice entered Kix'ithil's ears.

"For… Aier."

PS: First of all, thank you to Apocalypse King Hexi for the reward, boss is generous.

Post first, then revise, 7000-word chapter is here, begging for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets

Thank you~