Chapter 659

Chapter 659: The Life-Binder

The black door stood shut before them. Warlord Nekros stared intently at its scratched and scorched seams.

A thick Dark Iron chain weighed upon his back. Jesse recognized it—the Demon’s Chain. Nekros used this dread artifact, forged of saronite, to enslave dragons through the Demon Soul’s power.

But where was the Demon Soul? Jesse still couldn’t sense it, though he knew it must be with Nekros. He remembered the artifact always accompanied that chain.

"Open it," he murmured.

The towering red Drakonid obeyed, planting its hands on the door and heaving forward.

As the door cracked open, life energy spilled forth, searing everyone present. Nekros shielded his eyes and stumbled back. Missing a foot, his cane barely kept him upright against the scorching wave.

Jesse sensed no warmth in this fierce vitality—only ominous agony that repelled approach.

The hall, already stifling from dragon eggs, grew hotter still. Jesse loosened his collar as they advanced behind Nekros and Dragonmaw grunts in heavy plate.

Inside, Jesse found the chamber vaster than the outer Hatching Chamber, yet plunged in utter darkness.

Beside him, Molofeel winced—the magical radiation clearly tortured her demonic nature. Jesse gulped, knowing what awaited.

Burnt-leaf odors assaulted his nose. Flames whirled in the gloom like a colossal fire-orb igniting from shadows. It pulsed upward, revealing a blazing maw beneath.

Prismatic lights flared throughout the hall. Every Orc recoiled; even Jesse faltered. Only Nekros held his ground.

Countless enchanted gems floated alight. As Jesse’s eyes adjusted, he discerned the orb’s true shape:

An immense dragon skull—its head alone dwarfing entire young dragons. Horns thicker than pillars bore golden rings wider than house walls, each set with spell-gems and diamonds larger than Jesse’s skull.

Jesse’s neck prickled. Before this titanic beast, merely standing felt arduous.

Queen Alexstrasza tilted her head, one eye studying them. The hall brightened as her scales glowed crimson, mingling with the chamber’s strange rocks to banish all shadows.

The chains binding her became visible—massive links coiled around her body, neck, and head, all empowered by the Demon Soul.

Even curled in painful captivity, she loomed temple-large. Jesse doubted not that she could shatter Stormwind Keep in one charge.

Only dwarf-wrought marvels like Grim Batol or Ironforge could cage such a being.

Nekros slowly raised his right hand. Jesse saw it then.

A… plain golden disk. No artifact’s radiance, no terrifying aura.

It defied all expectations. Jesse detected zero energy—just a dull metal plate, dimmer than common goldware. Had he not known, he’d have mistaken it for a palm-sized gong.

Long ago, dragons must have veiled its power to thwart Deathwing. That explained why he sensed nothing.

Yet when Nekros lifted it, Alexstrasza’s great eye trembled. She feared it.

The dragon queen’s massive lips moved. A cavern-deep rumble followed: "Cease showing me that thing."

Her Common speech held feminine tones, yet echoed like abyssal thunder.

"My visit isn’t for you," Nekros answered in Common, then turned to Jesse, switching to Orcish: "Satisfied?"

Every Orc—even Alexstrasza—fixed eyes upon him. The Red Dragon Queen’s gaze lingered at his waist, precisely upon Azuresong Mageblade.

"Astonishing, Nekros," Jesse replied in Orcish. "I’ve no words… for this marvel."

As he spoke, he strained to sense Saenor’s presence. But Alexstrasza’s overwhelming power devoured all awareness, leaving only suffocating heat.

Had Vereesa and Greed entered? Were they battle-ready? Jesse knew nothing. He fought the urge to glance backward—too suspicious now. Instead, he feigned awe before the dragon queen.

But he was indeed shaken. When he made eye contact with the queen, he could hardly breathe. Had he really come here to save this ancient being? Did she need his rescue?

“Take a good look, Yulok.” Nekros stepped back a few paces to a roughly safe distance and said, “After leaving here, you may never witness such a being again. Today her temper is surprisingly calm—you’re lucky.”

Jesse nodded, feeling anxious. Just then, the Red Dragon Queen suddenly fixed her gaze on him. She slowly closed her eyes, then opened them again, shifting her focus downward.

Was she hinting at something? Was she trying to communicate with him?

Jesse found it hard to believe this divine being was signaling him, but he followed her gaze. At that moment, the dragon shifted her massive wings, which had been pressed against her body. That single motion stirred a whirlwind carrying floral scents through the hall.

Under her wings, Jesse spotted something green—a corner of Vereesa’s cloak!

Nekros roared, raised the golden disc, and chanted a spell. The disc glowed faintly, making all the chains on Alexstrasza’s body creak. Alexstrasza groaned in pain; her head, which had been slightly raised, slammed to the ground, shaking the hall violently.

When everything calmed, Nekros stared wide-eyed, panting heavily. “I must be cautious,” he told Jesse, sweat covering his face. Jesse nodded and drank the Flask of Distilled Wisdom from his pack.

“What is that?” Nekros asked.

“I’m scared too. This potion helps,” Jesse replied.

Though doubtful, Nekros seemed unfamiliar with Azeroth’s alchemy. He eyed the swirling magic in the flask, unconvinced.

But Jesse sounded so persuasive…

Then Nekros watched Jesse pull out another bottle and sip its light-green liquid. “What’s this?”

“Restorative Potion,” Jesse said, recorking it. “Why drink that?”

“For this.”

Jesse suddenly raised his wand and shouted the Fear incantation, unleashing a shriek of shadow!

Cries, roars, and curses erupted. Few Orc soldiers grasped what happened before wails filled the hall.

Their disguises dissolved into shadow. One Orc soldier broke free from the mass Fear and swung his axe, only for an arrow to pierce his throat.

Vereesa emerged from beneath the dragon’s wings, firing an arrow into an Orc guard’s armor seam. Lightning tore from the dragon’s wing, blasting the doorway and scattering incoming soldiers. Greed charged out, axe in hand, felling one Orc and smashing another’s helmet.

“Jesse, behind you!”

At Vereesa’s shout, Jesse whirled around. An Orc swung a sword at him. Jesse blocked with his Gorefiend staff, knocking the blade aside—just as an arrow pierced the Orc’s skull.

“Damn chameleon!” Nekros clutched his head, straightening up. Jesse was shocked he’d shaken off the Fear so quickly despite their closeness.

Jesse turned to cast another Fear, but Nekros chanted faster, pointing at Jesse. Both spells hit almost simultaneously. Nekros’s Fear was purged by the Restorative Potion, while Jesse’s spell made Nekros sob and collapse. Yet he gritted his teeth, trying to rise.

The man’s will was unnaturally strong—resisting Fear enhanced by the Flask of Distilled Wisdom and Gorefiend staff. Jesse instantly cast a Choking Spell, pinning Nekros down. Gasping, Nekros knelt, dropping his staff.

“Charm him, now!” Jesse yelled, turning to see Orcs flooding in. Vereesa’s arrows mowed them down in waves. Greed hammered Nekros’s elite guards aside, holding back Dragonmaw soldiers targeting Jesse. But more Orcs surged through the door…

Molofeel appeared beside Nekros, shadows swirling around her hands. After a coughing fit, Nekros rasped, “I serve you… utterly, noble lady.”

Though his voice was meek, his upturned face showed barely contained hatred. “Give it to my master,” Molofeel ordered.

Trembling, Nekros unhooked the chains from his shoulders and passed the bound Demon Soul to Jesse. When Jesse took it, his arm felt uncontrollable.

This was the Demon Soul…

The artifact that repelled the Burning Legion millennia ago and nearly eradicated the Blue Dragonflight. Deathwing’s treasure…

Perhaps nothing in this world surpassed its power.

Suddenly, everything hushed. Vereesa’s whistling arrows faded; Greed’s roars grew distant.

He had to save the Red Dragon Queen, Jesse told himself.

He had already obtained the Demon Soul; Deathwing should have taught him how to use it. Should he sleep now?

Perhaps he should have rested, but he shouldn’t, he absolutely couldn’t sleep.

Jesse blinked as a wave of deep drowsiness hit him. He forced himself to focus again on the palm-sized disc before him. This was Deathwing’s treasure; without entering the Dream, he couldn’t master how to use it.

No, Nekros was already under his control; he could teach him how to use the disc.

But how could that fool understand how to use it better than Deathwing? Deathwing could surely instruct him correctly in the Dream.

No, he couldn’t sleep, he couldn’t enter that Dream again. Open his eyes, open!

Jesse held the disc, feeling a surge of intense despair tighten around his heart.

Perhaps he didn’t need to struggle anymore; he should hand the disc over to Deathwing, along with those dragon eggs outside. Only then could he survive, live forever; otherwise, he would suffer punishment in the flames of destruction.

He was just a mortal now; he shouldn’t bear such a heavy burden.

If he gave it to the Dragon Father, he could gain immortality and be with his loved ones forever. He could rule the new world with the Dragon Father, seeking a new dawn.

Jesse felt a dull ache in his arm. He pulled back the sleeve of his robe and saw the precious black dragon sigil radiating an indescribable, beautiful light. From that light, he thought he could glimpse his future.

He could see Neltharion’s almost flawless face, as if all the suffering, oppression, and pain he had endured along the way were for this moment of awakening.

The Red Dragon Queen gasped for breath, one eye barely glancing at him; the torment from Nekros’s spell had left her yet to recover.

He had already seized control of the situation; with the Demon Soul in his grasp, the entire fortress belonged to him—Jesse Seso, King of Grim Batol.

Jesse Seso, that name felt strangely unfamiliar. “Jesse, I only fear that you are no longer yourself,” a voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

Vereesa, are you calling me?

The ranger stood atop a distant stone pillar, shooting arrows steadily, accurately hitting those Orc soldiers trying to approach Greed and him, taking them down one by one.

Her expression was determined, her movements clean and agile, like a ruthless and efficient killing machine. Yet in the gaps between her shots, she still glanced toward him.

—Death is nothing to fear; I only fear that you are no longer yourself.

With his left hand, Jesse drew the Azuresong Mageblade, raised it, and stabbed deeply into the black dragon sigil on his arm!

A roar followed that nearly shattered his eardrums; he screamed but heard nothing. Kneeling on the ground, he endured the searing pain as he slowly pulled the sword out. The black claw mark had been torn apart by the blade, losing its original form, and blood flowed out, staining the flames, swallowing that ineffable multicolor. Black shadowy blood oozed from the wound…

He raised the Azuresong Mageblade, stained with his own black blood. If there was any way to destroy the Demon Soul, it had to be like this.

—I give you one last chance, Seso…

A chant echoed in his mind.

—Do you think you can destroy the Demon Soul so easily? I must admit, for a moment I really thought you would be loyal to me, but in the end, you chose the other side. I was truly disappointed because I valued you greatly.

—But your will was far stronger than I imagined; you are a talented mortal, so I was willing to give you one last chance. Do not attempt to break my treasure…

As the black imprint on his arm was pierced, it began to burn into a twisted, malformed corrosive scar, and the voice of Deathwing’s curse grew more indistinct.

Jesse carefully moved his bloodied blade toward the golden disc. When the sword tip touched its surface, it suddenly made a sharp sound.

The Azuresong Mageblade cracked.

The tip of the Blue Dragon’s sword had only lightly touched it, causing a fissure. The floating arcane light quickly faded, while the disc didn’t move at all. The blood from the blade flowed onto the disc’s surface, slid off, and fell to the ground without sticking.

Was this the end? Had he failed?

As he accepted this reality, Jesse felt an unusual calmness.

Perhaps it was because he no longer had to bear Deathwing’s curse, and he didn’t have to hide anything from anyone anymore.