In the Emerald Dream, Aileen and Yī Nǔ Tè transformed into two Storm Crows and flew southeast.
After a thousand years of development, the Druids' shapeshifting abilities had become systematized.
Druid factions were no longer distinguished by their shapeshifting, but by their spellcasting characteristics: Restoration, Feral, and Balance.
Restoration Druids specialized in healing spells. Restoration Druids advocated healing the land, and all Druids of the Earthen Ring would also cultivate the Restoration specialization.
Feral Druids specialized in shapeshifting spells and combat techniques after transforming into beasts. The Cenarion Council, founded by Malfurion, all cultivated the Feral specialization, and every member was skilled in shapeshifting.
Balance Druids, on the other hand, were spellcasters who specialized in spells to eliminate enemies. Balance Druids, like priests, could use Elune's divine magic, dabbling in the power of the stars, moonlight, and sunlight, but their primary focus was still nature-based spells, with Entangling Roots and Summon Treant as fundamental abilities.
Nalarex was a Great Druid of all three specializations, and Yī Nǔ Tè also cultivated all three.
His strength was very close to Nalarex's; if Nalarex didn't possess so many artifacts, Yī Nǔ Tè might truly have had the ability to challenge Nalarex.
Aileen's magical studies were eclectic; she had learned Arcane, Elemental spells, and Holy Light, and naturally, Druid spells as well.
Unlike Yī Nǔ Tè, Aileen only dabbled occasionally, but still applied them with masterful skill.
Good talent allowed for such freedom, and Yī Nǔ Tè had often expressed envy for Aileen's talent, stating that if she dedicated herself to Druid spells, she would become even more powerful than his father.
Aileen merely smiled at this, not taking it to heart.
Not only was she talented, but she was also exceptionally intelligent.
The essence of Druid spells lay in closeness to nature; the power of the spell had little to do with talent.
Even if she mastered Druid spells, she might not surpass Nalarex, and above Nalarex was Malfurion, who was truly the Child of the World.
The profession that could truly leverage talent was still a mage.
However, the ceiling for mages was her father, and she found it difficult to even come close to his level.
So, since she couldn't be number one anyway, why work so hard?
Although her thoughts were negative, Aileen was not dejected.
She played when it was time to play, but when it was time to study, she studied diligently.
Otherwise, how could she manage the Sky City now?
Those initially chosen for the Sky City were all proud and fierce warriors; if she couldn't suppress them with her strength, how could she earn their respect?
Soon, the two noticed a black area ahead, which should be the region controlled by the black energy Aviana had mentioned.
Slightly lowering their altitude, they observed the black energy up close; the creatures contaminated by the black energy had already mutated.
They found a large tree that hadn't been completely contaminated yet, landed on it, and transformed back into human form.
Yī Nǔ Tè used natural energy to purify the tree, and after casting the spell, a slight ripple appeared on Yī Nǔ Tè's face. "Just as Aviana said, Druid spells cannot completely purify this black energy."
"Aviana wouldn't lie to us!" Aileen said, casting a dispel magic spell on the tree.
The space around the tree rippled, and the black energy was expelled from the trunk.
Yī Nǔ Tè inspected the tree again. "It's completely clean now."
"Something's not right!"
Aileen warned him, and Yī Nǔ Tè looked at the surrounding black energy; it was rapidly approaching the tree, infecting it again.
"Such stubborn energy, like a Nightmare that's hard to dispel!"
"Nightmare?" Aileen suddenly thought of something. "Do you remember the title of the Old Gods NZoth?"
"The Nightmare God?" Yī Nǔ Tè became serious. "If this really is something NZoth created, then we're in trouble."
"It is a bit troublesome, but it saves us a lot more trouble."
Aileen gave Yī Nǔ Tè a look, then jumped down from the tree.
Hovering in the air with flapping wings, she gathered a huge bolt of lightning and struck it on the ground.
The powerful lightning instantly evaporated a lot of black energy, but once the black energy reached the air, it re-condensed and surged towards Aileen.
Aileen retreated while summoning lightning to disperse the black energy.
The black energy seemed to have locked onto Aileen, relentlessly pursuing her.
The surrounding infected creatures gathered, piling on top of each other to attack Aileen.
Aileen nimbly dodged the attacks of the black energy and infected creatures, moving through the air at high speed.
Wind Elementals circled around her, blowing away any black energy she couldn't avoid in time.
Yī Nǔ Tè watched anxiously, wanting to help.
However, he knew that going up would only hinder her; until he knew what the black energy was, he couldn't act rashly.
Aileen was actually buying time; she wasn't confident in dealing with this black energy and could only wait for Gale to arrive.
A flock of black Storm Crows flew from a distance, rushing towards Aileen.
These Storm Crows were also infected; they were Aviana's kin.
Now, they were the best weapons against Aileen.
The Storm Crows were incredibly fast, forcing Aileen to transform into a Storm Crow herself to escape.
She twisted and turned in the air, using Wind Elementals for propulsion to accelerate, just to keep the Storm Crows from catching up.
They chased for a long time like this until suddenly, in the northwest, fiery clouds filled the sky, and a Rainbow Bridge shot out from within the fiery clouds.
Yī Nǔ Tè immediately shouted, "Aileen, His Majesty has arrived!"
Aileen immediately came to a sudden stop and shot upwards.
Wherever she passed, wind and thunder roared, sweeping all the infected creatures together.
The Rainbow Bridge descended, enveloping all the infected creatures.
Intense flames ignited within the Rainbow Bridge, instantly burning all the infected creatures to ashes.
As the flames dissipated, the black energy on the ground rapidly retreated.
But the flames were not ready to let them go, following and burning for over a hundred miles.
Aileen and Yī Nǔ Tè landed, coming to Gale's side.
"Father, we suspect this energy might be the power of the Old Gods NZoth."
"You guessed correctly." Gale recognized it as Nightmare Power at a glance; all creatures controlled by the Nightmare Power would lose their sanity and become Nightmare creatures.
Even powerful beings like Ysera, once they became Nightmare creatures, could only be killed; there was no possibility of purification.
Therefore, he had just directly killed all these Nightmare creatures.
The Sun God Power was expelling the Nightmare Power from the Emerald Dream, but if the source wasn't found, the Nightmare Power would eventually return.
Aviana flew from a distance, looking at the destroyed forest, she opened her mouth but said nothing.
Gale: "Don't worry, this place will soon regain its vitality."
As he spoke, tender grass sprouted from the ashes, quickly spreading across the entire burned area.
In an instant, it had transformed into a vast grassland.
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