Azeroth Monster Manual

The camera returns to Dalaran.

A frazzled Modera, sporting dark circles under her eyes, was handling her official duties.

Just as she was teetering on the verge of collapse, our Archmage finally returned.

"You've worked hard."

Antonidas looked at his loyal supporter with some sympathy.

"Archmage, these past few days…"

Modera suppressed her grievances, preparing to report on Dalaran's affairs to Antonidas.

"Go back and rest first.

You've been working hard these past few days.

Oh, and on your way back, send that fool Edman to me."

"Yes."

Although she had a bellyful of words, the Archmage didn't say them, quietly closing the door before leaving.

…

"You wanted to see me, Archmage?"

"Sit."

Edman sat somewhat nervously on the armchair opposite Antonidas.

To say he was sitting was more like perching.

His buttocks barely touched the edge of the chair, not daring to sit properly, indirectly proving Antonidas's immense power.

"The reason I called you here is to inform you that the remaining five arcane invention competitions are canceled…"

"But Archmage…"

Hearing this, Edman anxiously wanted to say something.

"Hm?

Do you have an objection?"

"No… no."

The host lowered his head and muttered.

"I'm just informing you.

Remember your place, Edman.

Without me, you'd forever be nothing more than a sewer rat."

Antonidas dealt with the piled-up official business without looking up, but the warning in his tone was clear.

"Yes… yes."

"Also, take this invitation to the Silvermoon Embassy and personally hand it to Ael's Salrona.

If he accepts my invitation, have him come alone."

…

"…Sincerely invites my friend Ael's Salrona to a banquet at Violet Citadel's banquet hall at dusk?"

Ael recited the invitation in his hand, then looked towards Edman, who was standing at the door, peering in.

The youth put down the invitation in his hand and smiled, waving at the host.

"You're called Edman, right?

I admire your hosting style."

Ael pushed the untouched red tea on the table towards the human, a polite gesture that made Edman feel flattered.

"You flatter me, Lord Ael.

This time, I came…"

"Did Antonidas say anything else?"

The youth interrupted Edman's next words, asking somewhat casually.

Edman wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said cautiously:

"The Archmage also said that if you accept the invitation, he requests that you come alone, as he has secret matters to discuss with you."

"Hmm, is that so."

The youth supported his chin with his hand, his eyes vacant, seemingly unconcerned about Antonidas's invitation, but in reality, he understood everything perfectly.

'Dalaran has been in chaos for so long, yet that old fox Antonidas has remained indifferent.

Now he's inviting me to a private meeting.

If I'm not mistaken, Dalaran will have some big moves next.'

Edman looked at the youth's trance-like state, feeling anxious, but also embarrassed to disturb him, so he could only wait silently.

'Let me guess where our Archmage went these past few days.

Well, such a simple puzzle is really not challenging.

It seems that His Majesty Anasterian and Antonidas have already met.

Judging by this human's posture and attitude, perhaps they have already reached some kind of agreement?

It's best to use the tactic of 'drawing firewood from under the cauldron' sparingly.

I haven't even put in any effort, and that old codger Antonidas is already anxious…'

"Hehe."

The youth chuckled involuntarily, only to realize that he had been distracted for too long.

He quickly straightened his body and returned an impeccable smile to cover it up.

"Apologies, I was just thinking about some interesting things.

Please tell the Archmage that we will meet at dusk."

Edman breathed a sigh of relief, humbly bowed, and prepared to leave.

"Everyone plays their respective roles, and everyone has their own value.

Smart people will find their own place.

Are you a smart person? Edman."

The youth lightly sipped the red tea in his cup and smiled playfully.

"I…"

Edman was struck by lightning.

The youth's ambiguous words were like a sharp sword piercing his heart, causing his numb heart to beat with a long-lost rhythm for some reason.

"Sorry, I don't understand you…"

"Don't rush to answer me.

Although your face is still young, your heart is very old.

If you ever get tired, the Ael brothers will welcome a wanderer like you."

…

Edman didn't know how he walked out of the Silvermoon Embassy.

He walked towards Violet Citadel, his eyes lifeless, like a wandering spirit, but his mouth occasionally muttered words such as "wanderer" and "sewer."

As Edman guessed, the youth's words were a blatant act of poaching, but those two ordinary sentences instantly captivated the veteran "brush" Edman.

Leaving aside Edman's confusion and hesitation, time came to the evening.

The youth came to Violet Citadel alone, quietly sitting in the empty banquet hall.

"Buzz."

A faint purple arcane glow flickered, and Antonidas also arrived silently.

"Ael's Salrona, I want to talk to you about a collaboration."

"Oh?

Wasn't the Archmage just in talks with the Sun King?

Judging by your expression, the cooperation with His Majesty Anasterian seems to be progressing smoothly."

The youth looked at the Archmage's calm face teasingly.

Ael keenly caught the slight twitch on that well-maintained face, which further confirmed his guess.

"Did His Majesty Anasterian tell you himself?"

"Who knows?

Perhaps I heard it from Modera, you never know."

The youth smiled happily.

For some reason, seeing Antonidas's impassive old face made him want to give him a couple of hard slaps.

"Do you think I'd believe that?"

The Archmage returned to his initial expression.

He pulled out a chair and sat in front of the youth.

"Let's get to the point.

Neither of us has that much time."

Ael yawned, looking serious.

“Very well, since Master Ayr says so, then I won't hide anything either. The reason I invited you here this time is that I want you to hand over the formula for Gold Kela. Don't rush to refuse. I believe you will be satisfied with the bargaining chips I offer…”

Antonidas stated his request in one breath, then leaned back in his chair with an air of composure, as if he wasn't afraid of the young man's refusal at all.

“Is the Speaker so confident in the bargaining chips he's offering? You and I both know what Gold Kela represents. Aren't you afraid that I'll be reluctant to let it go?”

“Master is joking. Let's hear my conditions first.”

“I'm all ears.”

“I wonder if Master has heard of the Eye of Dalaran?”

The Archmage lowered his body, leaned close to the young man's ear, and said mysteriously.

Seeing the shocked expression on the young man's face, Antonidas revealed a meaningful smile.

‘As expected of the grandson of the Speaker of Silvermoon, he even knows about the secrets that Dalaran has hidden for thousands of years.’

Belo'vir Salonar: What is the Eye of Dalaran? Can you eat it?

“Speak, what are your conditions?”

The young man slowly exhaled and said in a deep voice. Of course, he knew about the Eye of Dalaran, but his understanding of the Eye of Dalaran only existed in the chronicles of the original timeline.

Speaking of the Eye of Dalaran, one must mention another artifact, the Scepter of Sargeras.

Legend has it that when the Titans first came to Azeroth, they defeated the Old Gods and imprisoned them one by one in cages. However, in order to prevent those powerful void creatures from coveting Azeroth's yet-to-be-born Titan soul.

The Titans unanimously decided to use their own power to create a barrier that could prevent powerful creatures from coming to Azeroth.

The name of this barrier is the "Algalon Fail-Safe System", and other protective measures were also put in place.

The greatest significance of this barrier is that: the more powerful the creature that wants to come to Azeroth, the more powerful the energy source needed to open the portal to Azeroth.

Even so, a being like Sargeras - Lord of the Legion - would need to reduce his own power or simply create a relatively weak clone to come to Azeroth through the portal.

Ayr once fought with a clone of Sargeras (and was almost killed in one move). The Legion Lord used the Scepter of Sargeras to open the portal to Azeroth, which allowed his clone to come to this world, and fought with Aegwynn, that bi… now a fine Guardian, and completed his next plan.

Imagine how could the Eye of Dalaran, which can be compared with the artifact in the hands of the Legion Lord, be bad?

However, the chronicle has very little introduction to this gem. Ayr only knows that this magical gem can be called an artifact and possesses unparalleled power.

“One year's usage rights to the Eye of Dalaran. Dalaran will not interfere with any of your actions after using it.”

“10 years.”

“Do you think this is a vegetable market?”

Antonidas's forehead faintly showed bulging veins.

“Then 8 years.”

“Enough, elf, your name is greed.”

“How about 5 years?”

The young man didn't care about the Archmage's attitude and continued to bargain.

“Enough, 2 years, I can lend it to you for a maximum of two years, if this…”

“Deal.”

Antonidas: I was too hasty.

…

“Happy cooperation.”

Ayr smiled and nodded to the Archmage, preparing to leave.

“Now that we've reached a cooperation, there's no need to continue the competition. I've already notified Edman to cancel the remaining five invention competitions, and the 1V1 battle…”

“Speaking of which, I also want to make a deal with the Speaker.”

Antonidas's expression was a little strange. Intuition told him that the young man… was not quite right.

“Using the word 'deal' is not very appropriate. In short, the magic invention competition can be canceled, but I think the 1V1 battle still needs to be held.”

The young man smiled slightly, ignoring the Archmage's increasingly strange expression, and continued:

“How about this, Speaker, if you win the 1V1, I will give you the core drawings of the Arcane Construct for free, and some of the gadgets made by the Salonar Workshop over the years can also be given to you, but…”

A contemptuous smile appeared on the corner of Antonidas's mouth. The young man's words gave him the illusion that he was still an apprentice boasting to his mentor.

But he didn't refute it and continued to listen carefully.

“Before the competition, please invite the heads of the 7 nations and the high-level dwarves and gnomes to Dalaran to watch the competition, as well as all the mages in Dalaran, and note, all mages!

In addition, I also have a small request. I want to give a public lecture before the start of the competition to increase the influence of the Salonar Alchemy Workshop. Of course, if we are lucky enough to win, the previous conditions will remain unchanged. How about it, can this condition be met?”

The Archmage's eyes widened, looking at the young man in disbelief, not because the conditions proposed by the young man were too harsh, but because the conditions proposed by the young man were too simple, which made him have to suspect whether there was any conspiracy in it.

The two looked at each other in silence for a while.

“Ayr Salonar, what exactly are you… Forget it, since you have made such a simple request, then I have no reason to refuse. You proposed the duel, so the time and place will be up to you.”

Antonidas couldn't see anything in the young man's eyes, but how could he easily spit out the fat meat that had reached his mouth? Moreover, the only elves who could participate in the battle were Rommath and Kael'thas.

In the face of absolute strength, Antonidas could proudly say: Elves? Humph! Not a single one can fight. Anasterian, sit down, and you too, Belo'vir, who told you to stand up?

…

The next morning, shocking news spread throughout Dalaran in a very short time.

The remaining five magic invention competitions have been canceled.

The 1V1 Magic Battle Competition will officially start in 10 days!

Competition location: 100 kilometers northeast of Tarren Mill

(Original location of Durnholde Keep)