Based on Pre-Shadowlands Lore.
In the snowy landscape, on top of the frozen ground, knelled a demon hunter. Illidan, the Betrayer, the Conqueror of Outland, the one who brought down the Pit Lord Magtheridon, the leader of the Illidari. On his knees, surrounded by the cold nothingness, surrounded by a small pool of his own blood.
His body bleeding, fel-tainted blood spilling from many wounds on his chest, small cuts on his legs, arms, and the rest of his body. His left wing cut in two, rendered useless.
His hand was covered by blood, and he was nearly out of breath. He could barely bend his joints, as they hurt so much. He gently cracked his neck, giving the frostbitten bones some release.
Looking at his weapon, Warglaves of Azzinoth, he could see how they were tempered. Small cracks appeared, and a few placed were bluntly bent. Handle still had dried blood from his hands on top of it.
Long was his journey. From the moment he was freed by the love of his life, Tyrande, he had to take sides, and make decisions only he could follow up with. From taking the power of the demons once more to defeat the dreadlord in Felwood, to summoning the naga and exploring the Tomb of Sargeras, to gain the power of the eye that could be found there.
His journey took many turns. As he stood on top of Black Temple, he was spotted once more by the vile eredar lord, Kil'jaeden.
Before Kil'jaeden, he was but a pawn. Strong pawn, but not strong to disobey.
And now, he was here, near the heart of Northrend, where the Frozen Throne and the master of undead, The Lich King resided. Where he faced the champion of the Scourge, the chosen of the Lich King, Arthas Menethil.
It was here, where all of this will end.
And it was here, when he will finish his mission.
Illidan looked up, seeing what he had done. Today, he fought the champion of the Scourge, and won. In front of him lied decapitated head of the death knight, lifelessly.
It was not an easy battle. Illidan understood that Arthas might have been the strongest opponent he ever faced in combat before. It was only today when he was nearly defeated, if not for his care. He thought he could overpower the death knight, and it was possible. However, he foresaw that his pride could blind him, and in the critical moment, he decided to not attack.
He traded blows with the death knight, learning limits of his power. How he cut, how he swung his blade. It was the battle of attrition he barely won, and he would have lost here, if not for the one swing that saved his life, and ended Arthas.
However, to Illidan, he was a foe that was vanquished.
Slowly getting up, he started to regain his strength. He looked at Frostmourne, Lich King's master weapon. He did not break the blade, he couldn't. Whatever it was made of, the craftsman was prepared to face the burning power of Fel. That was impressive on its own.
…
Opening the black gates, Illidan entered the empty space, behind those doors, stood a pillar of ice, erecting upwards, with the spiral path connecting the top to bottom.
Feeling the cold, dreadful yet angry presence in his mind, Illidan moved up, towards the top of the spire.
As he ascended upwards, he started to hear the whispers of his past. Voice of those who he cared for, who he wronged, and who had stood against him.
Malfurion, Jarod, Maiev, Cenarius, Azshara, and so many more.
And Tyrande…
As his body stated to slowly heal, he regained energy.
However, as his body focused, his mind fought a battle of the ages.
Deep inside, Ner'zhul tried his best to break the demon hunter.
Showing vision of the death of his love, his own failures, scenes of his betrayal, and the whole world ruled by the Scourge.
However, what the master of the undead did not see, was the determination, and the goal in Illidan's mind. His soul. Why he was doing all of this?
"You might try for the next 10 000 years, you wicked spirit, but you will not claim me. Go forward, Ner'zhul, try again. Break me. Torture me. But now, with every step I take, your downfall comes closer. The Hour of Doom approaches, and you know it." Spoke Illidan in his mind, letting Ner'zhul read his thoughts.
His steps were heavy, slow, but he went forward.
…
As he stood on top of the spire, he could see what he was against. On top of the stone throne, frozen in a block of ice, was floating armor.
To the naked eye, it would be it, but to Illidan, he could see the spirit bound to the ice. The old, foolish orc, thought that he could outsmart and reject the leaders of the Burning Legion. The old orcish shaman, Ner'zhul.
And that orc was now looking at him, with rage overwhelming. Rage, and fear of what was about to happen.
Demon Hunter looked at the Frozen Prison that Ner'zhul was locked in, and sighed with a small chuckle.
"From being the one behind the bars, with the warden up my throat, to now being the executioner of the prisoner. What an irony, don't you agree?" Illidan said, as he sat in front of Ner'zhul, showing how free he is, compared to the old shaman.
Ner'zhul's soul heated as he saw the demon hunter taunt him.
"Foolish elf, you think you have defeated me?! I am Ner'zhul, the mastermind behind the Scourge. You might have defeated my champion, but I will not be undone so easily!"
Illidan shock his head.
"Do you think I cannot feel this? That you power, you precious control, the might that you brag about is slowly leaking? I can see now why you had summoned your champion. You were scared of falling, and you needed the host to bear you, to get the body to use. Sadly, he did not succeed and fell to my blade. I must congratulate you, your champion put up a challenge not even mighty demons offered. I will remember him as an enemy who proved that I have not experienced the best of the world's fighters." Illidan stated, taunting Ner'zhul. "And do not think I am afraid of your minions. My forces might have been broken, but now, you are at my mercy. Over time, the strongest of your minions will break free, and slowly, you will be left to vanish for eternity."
Lich King could not tolerate those words. He used his remaining power to throw spikes of ice that surrounded his throne at Illidan, as well as bind the demon hunter with icy chains, but it was proven to no effect, as the night elf set himself ablaze with demonic flames, and evaded the projectiles.
"Is this all you can offer, master of the Scourge? Perhaps I waste my time letting you impress me. I spoke kindly of your champion, but compared to him, you are nothing to be worried about. Let me end you, Ner'zhul. Let us undone your deeds, and end your legacy once and for all!" Illidan stated, readying his power.
"So, it is over. I awaited that day. End me, demon hunter. Let it be finished. But know that I have always tried to be the best for my people. I stood up to Legion, to get that far! Can you say the same?! No, you are their little pawn, the tool you to punish me. Is this what you are, Illidan?! A mere pawn in a grand crusade!"
However, Illidan had no time for such puny argument.
"I know your history, Ner'zhul. If you believe what you say is true, you are naive. You damned your race, sold it to the Legion. I made Draenor ideal place for demons, that I had personally slain. Do not worry, I am not a pawn, I merely agree to finish a deal I agreed to. Legion is not my ally, and I am not theirs. For a time, it just works. Now, prepare, as I will send you free. Your duty ends today, Lich King!" Illidan said, as he jumped upwardly, spreading his wings, while his body started to glow with Felfire.
In a matter of moments, the whole of the spire shined in emerald green, as the beam of Illidan's eyes impacted with the Frozen Throne.
First crack. Second. Third. Fourth. Fifth.
Slowly, the icy prison shattered, and once overwhelmed, it exploded into shards, and spread around the platform.
In the now empty throne, no soul was found. Burned with Fel, it was destroyed. Only now, did the Lich King's crown, the Helm of Domination, dropped like a fancy piece of equipment.
Illidan grabbed the helm, inspecting it. He could still hear a silent voice in his head, coming from the crown itself, calling for him.
He wondered for some time what to do, when he heard the sound of heavy footsteps behind him.
Ready for combat, he turned to the spire path, noticing a large insectoid climbing, holding Frostmoune in one of his bug arms.
"Are you feeling suicidal, Scourge filth?! I can help to end you!" Illidan spoke, heading for combat, but soon was surprised by the voice of the being.
"Fear not, Demon Hunter, I am not here to fight you. I am Anub'arak, King of Nerubians, and the former servant of the Lich King. But I am not here to fight you. No, I am here to congratulate you, and to thank you." Anub'arak said, surprising Illidan.
"Thank me? Are you out of your mind, Anub'arak?" Illidan asked.
"No, night elf. I am not. You might have not known or cared to learn, but many of us were not willing servants of the Lich King. I was once a king of a nation, a living society. Until the Lich King arrived. Until I have fallen in battle, and he had raised me as his slave. Now, with Lich King no more, I am free once more. The Betrayer King." Anub'arak spoke, causing the demon hunter to look at him.
"What is it that you want then, King of Nerubians?" Illidan asked curiously.
"Know that without Lich King control, the Scourge will lose its master, and with that, the chain of control. Soon, all of the mindless Scourge will run rampart, slaying everything on their path." Anub'arak said.
"And why should I care? I was meant to destroy him, and that was done. And if Scourge has no master, dealing with them would be a matter of time!" Illidan stated decisively.
"If you say so, Demon Hunter. I wished to see him undone, and today was the day he fell. Now, I ask you, to take the remnants of his with you." Anub'arak said.
"And why is that?"
"So there will be no pretenders. And if they are, they will need to face you. And seeing how you dealt even with the champion of the Scourge, they up to no easy task."
Illidan thought about the words of the spider king, and he had to agree. If he held the remnants of the Lich King, he could keep an eye on them, and if not, destroy them.
"Very well, Spider King. I will honor your words and take those items with me. You might not fear for someone to claim them anymore, and know that I have no desire to do so."
"I hope I can trust your words, Betrayer. Now, farewell, demon hunter. Once the magic of Ner'zhul drains fully, the Frozen Throne will crumble. If we ever meet up again, may that be as allies, and not enemies. I will remember you, Illidan Stormrage, and if you ever need help, I will answer your call." Said Anub'arak, dropping Frostmourne, and turning back to leave the spire.
…
Soon after, Illidan returned to his camp and helped his allies fight off the rampaging Scourge. Upon gathering his forces back, he opened the portal to Outland, having secured and taken the Domination set alongside Frostmourne.
Kil'jaeden, seeing Ner'zhul undone, honored his pact with Illidan, empowering him with further demonic power.
Little did he know, that he was the next target of the Betrayer. But for now, Illidan stood alongside the Legion, planning their eventual downfall.
Well, I had an idea, and I written it down. This is gonna probably be a one-shot, as I have a few series, and I don't think I should start another one.
Anyway, until we meet again.
