Артас: Возвышение короля-лича

           Theundeadrushedathim,andforawildmomentArthaswascatapultedbackintimetohisfirstencounterwiththewalkingdead.Hewasagainstandingoutsidethelittlefarmhouse,assaultedbythestenchofdecayandalmostnumbedwithhorrorasthingsthatshouldhavebeendeadattackedhim.Hehadlongsincemovedpastanyhorrororrepugnanceattheirexistence;indeed,hehadcometothinkofthemwithaffection.Theywerehissubjects;hehadcleansedthemoflife,toservethegreatgloryoftheLichKing.Itwasnotthattheymoved,orfought;itwasthattheyfoughthim.Theywereutterlyunderthecontrolofdreadlords.Grimly,usingallthestrengthheyetpossessed,hefoughtthemback,astrange,sickeningsensationfillinghim.Hehadneverexpectedtheywouldturnonhim.

           Overthesoundsoftheconflict,Balnazzar’svoicereachedArthas,thetonegloating."Youshouldneverhavereturned,human.Weakenedasyouare,wehaveassumedcontroloverthemajorityofyourwarriors.Itseemsyourreignwasshort-lived,KingArthas."

           Arthasgrittedhisteethandfromsomewheredeepinsidehimdredgedupmoreenergy,morewilltofight.Hewouldnotdiehere.

           Butthereweresomanyofthem—somanythathehadoncenearlyeffortlesslydirectedandcommanded,nowturningimplacablyagainsthim.Heknewtheyweremindless,thattheywouldobeywhoeverwasthestrongest.Andyetsomehow...ithurt.He’dmadethem....