Chapter 723

Chapter 723: Storm Altar

In this abandoned Orc ruin, Jesse met the group of warlocks and studied spells with them.

When Jesse suggested modifications to the spells, others raised few objections. Jesse realized everyone here had been influenced by Dethmoora’s demonology texts, leading to considerable admiration for Dethmoora. So when Jesse used Dethmoora’s demon scroll to correct their spells, they accepted it immediately.

Realizing this, Jesse felt relieved he hadn’t told Mor’zul at his home that he’d killed Dethmoora. Otherwise, these warlocks would’ve hunted him endlessly!

That night while resting in a cave within the ruins, preparing to depart at dawn, Mor’zul approached Jesse and handed him a scroll.

"What’s this?" Jesse asked.

Mor’zul replied, "The incantation to activate the altar’s power. At the altar, you, I, and Master Elaine—who summoned you here—will summon the demon. Master Elaine is an expert summoner; her teacher belonged to the former Council of Tirisfal. You witnessed her leading the summoning earlier, Jesse."

"I saw," Jesse nodded.

When Elaine summoned Molofeel, she recited lengthy chants. Jesse tried memorizing them with his good recall, but as the chants grew longer and he simultaneously recited Mor’zul’s supplementary spells, he gave up.

If he could obtain Elaine’s chants and decipher the cave’s magic circle, mastering the ritual would be imminent.

Mor’zul added, "While Master Elaine leads the summoning, we’ll channel the altar’s power into the magic circle to complete the ritual. This is far more complex than Moonbrook’s back mountain, requiring intense focus. Tomorrow we’ll rehearse here to ensure you’ve mastered the chants and our coordination is flawless before heading to the altar. You’ve shown ample talent summoning Ms. Molofeel—I’m confident in you."

"Where’s this incantation from?" Jesse lifted the scroll.

"Kargal Shadowpunch’s work. He served the Shadow Council at Blackrock Mountain, Jesse," Mor’zul said. "He witnessed both altars’ construction and knows them better than we do."

Kargal Shadowpunch, the group’s only Orc, had skin so dark it marked him as either Shadow Council or Blackrock Orc—both groups blackened by dark magic.

Mor’zul explained, "During rehearsal, three of us will handle summoning, six will maintain the binding circle, and six outside will weaken the demon with spells. Once bound, the demon will be trapped at the altar as our prisoner."

"How long will that take?" Jesse asked.

"Uncertain," Mor’zul said. "But we once bound a Doomguard this way—it’s still imprisoned, guarded by Gorzeeki’s succubus. That binding took five minutes. With the altar’s power and six weakening the demon, it shouldn’t take long."

"A bound Doomguard?"

"You know how to summon Doomguards?" Jesse asked.

"No," Mor’zul said. "We found it in the Black Morass, and it fell into our trap." Regardless, it offered a chance to question an Ered’ruin demon. Jesse hoped it would cooperate.

If not… Jesse touched his chest, feeling the Chain of Will beneath his clothes. He’d force its submission.

"After the ritual, I want to see that Doomguard, Mor’zul."

"No problem," Mor’zul said.

"This may seem overcautious, but what if the binding circle fails? Someone might falter, or—"

"These six are our steadiest members," Mor’zul interrupted. "Kargal leads them, assisted by Gladys Shortstick, Cole Tobias, Hobber Brightforge from Ironforge, Regis Fall, and Demisette Cloyce."

Jesse noted only Hobber wasn’t human. "What about Albert Fizban?"

"He’s on perimeter duty," Mor’zul said. "Others include my student Gorzeeki the goblin, Albert’s gnome friend Spackle, the Dark Iron Dwarf Fezuras, Luther Pickman—the Lordaeron man with the succubus you spoke to—and Martha Strain, a demonologist exiled from Dalaran, plus all our demon servants. The perimeter team weakens the demon, handles emergencies, and replaces binding-circle members if needed. Succubi hidden beyond the altar will eliminate intruders."

Jesse noticed gnomes and goblins were relegated to the perimeter—even these warlocks hesitated to trust them with crucial roles.

Mor’zul continued, "If the demon breaks free, we’ll execute the anti-summon. Master Elaine will banish it to the Twisting Nether."

"That simple?" Jesse asked. "Even a Demon Lord can be banished?"

"Not as easy as banishing an imp, Jesse," Mor’zul said. "That’s why we need the circle, the altar’s power, and materials—not just for summoning. When Master Elaine performs the anti-summon, we’ll channel the altar’s energy to support her."

"What if the anti-summon fails?"

"Then we forcibly banish it ourselves," Mor’zul said.

"Then I hope everyone’s ready to fight to the death."

Mor’zul nodded. "Everyone here expects to battle their summoned demons, Jesse. Warlocks dying by their demon’s hand is common—even Northshire acolytes know that."

The fifteen-member group rehearsed for days. Mor’zul and Elaine sketched circle patterns in ashen soil with magic wands, directing everyone to assigned positions.

Jesse stood with them in the innermost ring. Six binding-circle members encircled them, with six more warlocks and demon servants outermost—exactly as planned.

No commands were needed; everyone knew their role instantly. They were clearly experienced, making Jesse feel like an unprepared newcomer.

But Mor’zul had said Jesse only needed to handle his task: the summoning itself. He’d practiced chanting and coordinating with Elaine thoroughly. Yet without the Storm Altar’s power or materials like Soulstones, it remained an empty rehearsal.

Though Jesse felt the chants’ effect, he couldn’t channel magic or contact the Twisting Nether. To see real results, they needed the actual altar.

On the third day, the group headed northwest toward the Storm Altar.

After two days along Redridge’s foothills, they entered a canyon strewn with tattered Orc banners—remnants of an old encampment. Now only bear-sized spiders scuttled through ruins.

As warlocks entered, even fierce beasts hid instantly—they’d clearly encountered demon-summoning Orc warlocks before and sensed this group’s aura. Years prior, this altar had been the Blackrock Orcs’ primary summoning site.

Deeper in the canyon, cleanly devoured Orc carcasses littered the ground.

By midnight, Jesse detected strong shadow magic carried on canyon winds. The Orc Kargal announced, "We’re here."

The group hurried forward, shorter members running toward distant torchlight. Cresting a ridge, they saw a massive dark altar in the valley below.

Behind two stone pillars, the hexagonal altar stood encircled by Blackrock Mountain’s lava, connected to their ledge by a beast-spine bridge. Three hooded statues loomed over it, gripping swords. Heaps of demon bones at their feet silently testified to the altar’s past glory.

"Even abandoned, the altar’s power remains palpable," Mor’zul murmured, eyeing the lava. "Rest tonight. We draw the circle tomorrow."