could act, the edges touched where the soldiers stood.
Several of the fighters screamed as their faces suddenly swelled with dozens of red, burning pustules. One after another, the pustules burst, regrew, and burst again, spreading rapidly over any unprotected part of the victim's body.
'Jekar iryn!' Krasus hissed, gesturing at the cloud.
A blast of rich, blue light ate away at the foul mushroom with such swiftness that scores more were saved from the horrendous plague. Unfortunately, there was no saving those already affected. They dropped one after another, their ravaged flesh reminiscent of a field of erupting volcanoes.
Rhonin stared in disgust. 'Horrible! Damn them!'
'Would that we could! We can wait no longer! If the Moon Guard will not follow our lead, then we must hope we can do something by ourselves!'
But as the wizards prepared to do just that, Rhonin spotted a pair of riders approaching. 'Illidan comes-and he's got Malfurion with him!'
'Praise the Aspects!' Krasus turned to meet the duo. As they rode up, he set himself before Malfurion's brother. 'You are late! Gather the Moon Guard! You must be ready to follow my lead!'
From most others, Illidan likely would have not taken such a brusque command, but he had a healthy respect for both wizards, especially Rhonin. Peering over Krasus and seeing Rhonin's dark expression, the sorcerer nodded, then hurried to obey.
'What do you hope to do?' asked Malfurion, dismounting.
'The demons must be stopped here,' Krasus answered. 'It is vital that we not be pushed back beyond Mount Hyjal and that we turn this rout into an aggressive attack on our part!'
The druid nodded, then said, 'Archimonde is out there. I barely escaped him.'
'I had suspected that he was.' Krasus considered the night elf. 'And the fact that you lived through a confrontation with him says I was correct in desiring your presence at this moment.'
'But-what can I do?'
'What you have been trained to do, naturally.'
With that, Krasus turned back to Rhonin, who had already set himself to face the distant demons. The elder mage stood next to his former pupil, with Malfurion imitating him a moment later.
Krasus glanced at the human. 'Rhonin, in matters of magic, Illidan looks to you more than anyone. I leave it to you to establish a link with him.'
'As you wish.' The fiery-tressed figure blinked once. 'It's done.'
The mage returned his attention to the druid. 'Malfurion, imagine the most powerful spell you think you can cast. But by all means, do not tell me what it is! Use whatever method, whatever contact with the powers of the world you require, but do not complete your casting until I say so. We must be relentless against our foes.'
'I…I understand.'
'Good! Then, we begin. Follow my lead. Rhonin?'
'I'm ready,' the younger wizard replied. 'I know just what I want to do.'
Krasus's eyes widened. 'Ah! One other detail, Malfurion; be prepared to randomly shift the focus of your attack. Move your spell to wherever it seems there is a gap in our effort. Do you understand?'
'I believe so.'
'May the powers of light be with us, then.'
That said, Krasus abruptly froze. His eyes stared unblinking across the gap separating the night elves from the demons.
Rhonin quickly leaned toward Malfurion. 'Use everything. Leave no defenses. This is all or nothing.'
'They are approaching the point.' Krasus informed his companions. 'Would that Archimonde be among the first ranks.'
They could all sense the approaching horde. The evil permeated the very air, sending a foul radiation their way. Even Krasus shuddered, but from disgust, not fear.
'Rhonin, I have Jarod Shadowsong prepared. Are the Moon Guard ready?'
'Yes.'
'Almost…' The pale visage tightened. Krasus's eyelids flickered. 'Now.'
They had no knowledge of one another's attack, exactly how Krasus intended it. He desired true random effort, the better to foul up whatever defense Archimonde and the others might devise. His plan had as much potential for disaster-if not more even-than success, but that very fact was what the dragon mage counted on.
From the clouds suddenly dropped glittering spears of ice that fixed on the enemy horde. To the north, the ground shook, and demons suddenly scattered as the earth swelled. Elsewhere, huge, black birds appeared from nowhere, heading toward the airborne elements of the Legion.
All along the front, one spell after another assaulted the enemy. Some were concentrated in specific areas while others seemed to act everywhere. No two were alike and although a few appeared to be in conflict with one another, they did far worse damage to the oncoming horde.
Demons died pierced by ice, burned by crimson flame, or buried by molten earth. Those in the sky fell beaten and torn by hundreds of claws or tumbled to their deaths after winds tossed them against one another.
The Eredar attempted to counter, but Krasus suddenly commanded, 'Shift your focus!'
Immediately, Malfurion, Rhonin, and-to the north-the Moon Guard and Illidan altered the direction in which they focused their spells. Krasus sensed the warlocks grow confused, uncertain as to where to first apply their counter-assaults. On the ground, the Fel Guard and other demon warriors tried in vain to defend against something that their weapons could not cut in two or impale.
The relentless advance finally came to a halt.
'They are stalled!' shouted Krasus. 'Shift focus again and push harder! We must begin to retake ground!'
Again they adjusted the locations of their attacks. A few areas quieted, but just as the Burning Legion sought to take advantage of those lulls, someone among the spellcasters filled the gaps. Nowhere could the demons now stand their positions, much less press forward.
'They're giving way!' Malfurion called.
'Do not let up!' Krasus gritted his teeth. 'Rhonin, I am alerting the captain!'
The druid dared to look at the human for a moment. 'What does he mean?'
'It took some convincing, but Shadowsong rode to Ravencrest! He's been waiting for our signal!'
'For what?'
In answer, the battle horns sounded. A sudden electricity filled the night elves. Gone was the dying hope, the resignation. Once more the soldiers responded to the horns' cries with vigor, and the host advanced.
The spellcasters adjusted as they, too, slowly moved forward on foot. Their trained cats following close behind, they marched with the soldiers toward the enemy.
And finally the Burning Legion began to retreat full.
First the night elves crossed the ruined gap that the Moon Guard and wizards had earlier wrought to buy them time. Then they started to climb their way over the first of the demon dead. They also passed many of their own, lost hours earlier, but more and more, it was the demons who lay as corpses before the soldiers. The Burning Legion, softened by the unpredictable attacks of the spellcasters, fell away easily as the night elves cut into them.
Another set of horns blew. A lengthy, well-savored roar of anticipation unexpectedly erupted throughout the host. The night elves surged forward, more than doubling their pace.
'Ravencrest must follow the plan!' Krasus snapped. 'They cannot chase the Legion too far or too fast!'
A flight of arrows fell upon the demons, slaying scores more. Panther riders charged the remaining fragments of the opposing line, the great cats eagerly tearing into their prey.
Malfurion's heart beat swifter. 'We're doing it!'
'Do not let up!' stressed the mage.
They did not. Fueled by their success, the druid and the others continued adding to the support of the troops. Exhausted though they might be, they understood well that this was a most critical juncture. Mount Hyjal
