Act III : A Lost Cause

Loved ones were forever lost, broken hearts were left unmended,
Legends had fallen, but the legacy of the Lich king had anything but ended

The hooded figure, wrapped in an emerald cloak had fixated his staff into the soft earth beneath where he stood. The staff flashed an odd green and blue color alternatively, and rapidly. The Prophet was knelt down and in deep concentration. From the ground, blue hued globes of light began to appear, and circulate around the flashing rod, like fireflies floating in unison. More of these "spiritual globes of light" began to circle the staff, and slowly transfer their power unto it. The figure was knelt on the ground with both palms outreached towards the dark night-sky, just above the Ebony Staff. More and more of these creatures began to circumbulate the rod, and orbited around it in perfect harmony and coordination. Slowly, he chanted over and over... "Ancient spirits... give me strength... the strength to show this evil the wrath of nature..."

"Get ready Elf, for even you can't evade death today." said the Lich Kel'thuzad proudly.

Spiritual energy was surging into his veins, replenishing his much needed strength. The dark ritual was nearly complete, and Lina was getting ready to cast another spell. Her hands were flashing the light of a small blue flame slowly growing in intensity. The Lich realized now that he would have to actually make an effort in order to win this battle. He began chanting a demonic dialect taught to him by Alexia, "Aagaro Aganaisha". The flame in Lina's hand was beginning to grow in size, and power. The ground began to tremble and shake once more, and pulsate green waves throughout steadily.

The Lich dove into a deep trance, and tried to bring peace to his mind. Tranquility soon begun to grasp the inner depths of his mind, and the soothing silence stirred something within. Ancient demonic knowledge locked within the inner catacombs of his mind, began to rhythmically roll onto his tongue. Fire began to quell inside his veins, and a sheet of ice wrapped around him like a mantle.

The spiral helix triggered, and began to encircle the Lich in the center. The cloak began to thicken and slithered around the storm of fire like a snake. The raging fire began to quell, and the ice melted to water which slowly doused it out. Lina's hands began to imbue a mark, shaped like a phoenix which pulsated vigorously and angrily, almost life-like. The Lich's hidden power had awoken.

He knelt down, and tapped the ground with his left hand, and raised his right hand skyward. His right hand flashed an eerie blackish glow, while his left send an icy blue mist into the ground below.
A blue storm cloud began to form above Lina, and the Phoenix began to flash ever vigorously and rapidly. With her palm out-reached, she focused onto the mark in her mind. The mark began to dissipate, and a phoenix began to form ahead.

It burned in a cloak of fire that raged fiercely. It screeched in anguish due to the constant pain it suffered from its own flame. It flapped its wings and flashed an array of embers at the Lich. The ground shook fiercely, and a shard of ice burst from beneath, and absorbed the heat from the embers. It screeched once again, and dove towards Kel'thuzad and spun spirally to increase the force of the flames that licked its body. The blackish energy from Kel'thuzad's right hand formed a circular orb, and targeted the phoenix. The phoenix spun ever closer to the Lich, but the orb struck it at its heart. It began to consume its entire body in dark cloak, and slowly engulfed it.

The flame began to die, and the phoenix was screeching for freedom. Its eyes were covered by the black substance, and soon the shadow energy began to corrupt its heart. Lina's link with the Phoenix shattered at that precise moment; it began to slowly die as the darkness engulfed its entire being. The phoenix was completely over-shadowed by the darkness now, and fell fast to the ground. Lina was dumbfounded, and gawked with pure curiosity as to what Kel'thuzad was planning to do with her summon. In his right hand, a black leash began to form. He thrust it at the phoenix, and he began to flood it with his own spiritual dark cosmic energies. A green colored flame began to immolate from its body, and its red colored eyes began to form like two pools of magma in a bed of ash. The phoenix flew towards the Slayer, and she quickly outstretched her palm towards it. Its body combusted in red flames, which contested with the green colored fire that was continually growing.

The dark phoenix was hastily closing into the Slayer. She closed her eyes, and began to chant in Elven quickly. A towering inferno burst from the ground, and surrounded the Slayer on all sides. It rose higher and higher, until it closed itself in a cone several feet above. The phoenix dove headfirst into the fire, and began to "feed" on the fire, and absorb it into the abyss of darkness surrounded itself. The Slayer's hands began to pulsate a blueish yellow hue.

She closed her eyes to concentrate on this spell, as it consumed a great deal of energy from her. Her fingertips began to cackle blue lightning, and the storm cloud above her began to rumble, and flash weak bolts of electricity around her. The phoenix was directly above the Slayer now, and was careening down towards her, ever closer. The Slayer cupped both hands together, and a spherical ball of electricity cackled between them. She raised both hands to the sky, and yelled "Laguna Blade!" Almost instantaneously, the spherical ball of lightning charged towards the phoenix, and took the form of a massive bolt. The bolt fizzled through the fire, and rushed towards the dark phoenix at a lightning fast rate. It struck it in the phoenix's chest, and spread like wildfire around its body. The massive electrical surge engulfed its body in flames, and pushed it through the air with a monstrous force. The phoenix landed on the floor, and began to disappear into the ground. The dark cloud of energy began to evaporate slowly into the air.

She's weak; I can feel her energies drastically lowering. Now's the chance to strike.

The Lich raised both arms upwards to the sky, and suddenly a large glacier of ice thrust itself from the ground right beneath Lina. Fortunately, she sensed the disturbance in the ground beneath, and with haste dove out of the way. The shard of ice cut into her skin, but just barely. It almost seemed as if the stormy cloud above her, gave her the additional boost in speed to be able to dodge the frost glacier. Kel'thuzad brought his hands to his chest level, and began to circle them around each other slowly, in a spiral-like fashion. The spiraling motion began to form a haze in between, which spread to the air in front of him. The haze quickly diffused to the air around the Slayer, who was gasping for breath having barely escaped death. The haze began to form a massive block of ice, which began to head towards the Slayer with the powerful force of gravity.

She ducked to the side, and it landed neatly side by side to the old glacier. While the block was falling, he had already begun to freeze the air around him, into shards of ice. He clicked with his fingers, shattering the ice. He left one icy shard in one place, and sent the remaining massive number of ice shards towards Lina. Dozens of razor sharp, icy shards began to fly towards the Slayer at an incredible velocity. She dove to the right, and rolled to the left followed by a quick backward somersault evading all the shards. The Lich's mind was in unison with his environment now. He lifted those shards off the floor, and flew them towards the Slayer once more. The Slayer quickly reacted by unleashing a ball of fire towards the icy shards. The Lich sent a massive draft of bitter cold wood towards her, which pushed her body up against the ice. He sent the final shard of ice and gashed it deep into her right hand's wrist.

He lifted one shard off the ground, and thrust it into a nerve in her left shoulder, paralyzing her left arm. She clenched her teeth with pain, but resisted the urge to scream in agony. She would not allow herself to let the Lich have the satisfaction.

The Lich on the other hand, began to smile with glee. He walked closer to the Slayer, until she was but a few feet away. He outstretched his right palm, just barely an inch from her face, and began chant slowly, "Sar Fera'atil". He began to salvage any shadow energy from his environment, and siphon them into his hand. The shadow bolt was almost ready. He mockingly laughed and spat in her face. He finally spoke,
"It is you Lina, who does not leave here alive today. I shall make sure to resurrect you as my personal pet, oh how I shall enjoy it."

She spat back into his face, not even showing the least amount of fear staring into the face of death.

"Just for that, I'll give you all of your memories back, and force you to slay your own kin."

A green flash of lightning suddenly illuminated the sky. The entire battle field glowed in its presence. It quickly darted across the sky and towards the Black Citadel. It shattered through the main windows, and found its victim. The massive bolt struck him in his chest, and the spiritual energy clawed at and diminished his very soul. This beam imbued the power of wisps, which began to drain their victim's life force. Slowly the dark entity began to lose his life, and strength. The massive bolt sent him sprawling backwards. He landed with his back to the wall, near the throes of death. He was still a part of this world... but just barely hanging on.

The hooded figure ever so far away, collapsed on the hillside due to the massive surge of energy out of his body. He prayed, a heart-felt prayer... before falling unconscious, "May the spirits of nature have taken out Arthas... and victory be granted to the Sentinels... may the lives of those lost find peace... and may Tyrande's soul rest .. in peace..."

"My King!" screamed the voices inside Kel'thuzad's mind. He stared at Lina for a short moment, and then looked towards the Black Citadel.

No... she's not worth it... I must attend to the King's aid...

Without speaking a word, he left Lina chained to her icy imprisonment, and hovered to the direction of the Black Citadel.

Arthas clutched his singed chest, with his trembling arm. The surge of energy had been great... but he needed help... and he needed it now...

Frostmourne lay on the ground before him, next to the shattered glass of the massive citadel windows. He was too weak to even utter a sound. There was not even a minion in sight from whom he could perhaps drain energy from. He was all alone... and would die alone. He tried to speak, but coughed up blood instead. He wanted to scream, but he did not have the strength to do so. He wanted to cry for help, but he knew it was useless. Suddenly, he heard footsteps nearby. The metal clanging of a soldier striding while clad in mail. Yes, he knew this soldier's distinct presence well.

"Abaddon... help me..." spoke Arthas in a whisper quiet voice.

Surely enough, Abaddon burst through the throne room doors, into the King's quarters. He spoke, "Lord Arthas, are you alright?"

Arthas's voice wheezed as he spoke with great pain, "I fear not, summon the Lich Kel'thuzad... I need him right now..."

Abaddon's voice was clear and icy cold, "Imp afraid not, Lord Arthas."

Arthas sounded confused now, "What...do you mean Abaddon?"

Abaddon ignored his voice, and casually placed his sword onto the floor of the room. He knelt, and lifted Frostmourne with both hands.

Arthas eyes widened with horror, "Abaddon! What are you doing!"

As Abaddon clutched Frostmourne, voices began to flood into the deep confines of his mind.

Death shall devour this land and all who reside in it
Only to me alone shall every soul submit

He began to grasp Frostmourne with both his hands, and stared coldly at his Master.
He broke into an evil grin and stared at his own reflection in the shattered glass that lay on the floor.

My will be done, that not one can defy
Those who stand to oppose me, shall die

Arthas quivered with fear as it dawned on him what was about to happen.

With the previous one slain , a new chosen one was made
Arose forth a new champion to claim the magical runeblade

Abaddon raised Frostmourne high above and hissed,

"Succeeding you"