Chapter 147: Revelation

The recent battle with Gul'dan and Orgrim provided Patrick with profound insights. Gul'dan was also a high-tier spellcaster, and had it not been for the death of Medivh—which implicated Gul'dan and resulted in a drop in his tier and severe damage to his soul—Patrick might have suffered a crushing defeat under their combined assault.

However, this clash with Gul'dan offered Patrick a wealth of practical combat experience, though it required final discussion and confirmation with Alan before implementation.

"This major battle made me realize the formidable power of Tier 9 warlocks and quasi-legendary warriors. In a battle between equals, the enemy will never give me the opportunity to deploy my mental vision and channel large-scale magic. Choosing spells enhanced by metamagic techniques that require zero casting time yields far better practical results in high-end power duels than those massive spells."

[Indeed, as an opponent of the same tier, if you were to deploy your mental vision, lock onto the target beyond visual range with your mental power, and begin preparing a large-scale spell, you would inflict devastating damage should it succeed—but that outcome is built entirely upon an 'if.']

Alan's voice sounded light and airy. [Your tactical thinking is correct. Gul'dan is Tier 9 just like you. If you began deploying your mental vision at the start of the battle, he, as a high-tier spellcaster, would instantly perceive your intention and disrupt or erode it with his mental power. If your mental power were pinned down by the opponent while Orgrim seized the opportunity to launch a fierce charge, the outcome would be decided right then and there.]

[The more advanced and powerful a spell is, the longer the casting time it consumes. Battles between mages of the same tier sometimes come down to the foundations of both sides. With your abundant mana reserves and superior, faster spellcasting techniques, you are already standing in an entirely invincible position; you could literally wear the opponent down to death.]

"Gul'dan's spell actually gave me a new train of thought regarding spellcraft," Patrick recalled the situation during the fight with Gul'dan. "He completely integrated purified, corrosive fel energy into the spell matrix of a Curse of Corruption, and then placed that spell matrix inside a Shadow Bolt."

"At the time, that fel energy ruthlessly eroded my arcane barrier just like a curse. The originally dark, spiderweb-like curse turned a fel-green color, causing my arcane barrier to sizzle as it corroded. It wasn't until your reminder that I completely purged that fel energy, but it cost me a massive amount of mana."

Alan immediately poured cold water on the idea: [A spell matrix cannot be modified and arranged so casually. Spell matrices, metamagic techniques, and arcane sequences—these three pillars are the most profound aspects of arcane research, as well as the fundamental principles of all skills, spells, and creations. They do not pursue having as much mana as possible, nor as little mana as possible; rather, they demand stability, safety, and high efficiency.]

[The core philosophy of these three foundational principles is exquisite composite design coupled with precise, well-balanced mana flow. Core designs in real-world arcane creations—such as their arcane circuits and mana nodes—are invariably built upon these two points: stable and safe mana flowing through the conduits, activating the effects of every single rune, incantation, and node. If too much mana flows, the entire arcane creation may fail to withstand it and explode; if too little mana flows, the design effects of the creation cannot be activated at all.]

Patrick mentally translated this into modern terms: "That makes sense. A regular wire can only transport a certain amount of current; only specially treated wires can handle high currents."

[When Gul'dan initiated his attack, his choice was identical to yours: he didn't start off by trying to channel some ultimate apocalyptic move. Instead, he began with the most basic, commonplace spells. A Curse of Corruption to probe the state of your barrier, a Curse of Agony to potentially distract you in combat, and a Curse of Tongues to affect your spellcasting. From any perspective and under any circumstance, Gul'dan's choices were the most correct ones.]

[After probing your defenses, had he discovered that you were unable to counter his spellcasting or lacked sufficient strength, Gul'dan would have immediately retreated behind Orgrim and begun preparing a composite Soul Fire or Chaos Bolt to wipe the enemy out in a single combo. Just like when you used Super-magic: Blazing Encirclement in Uldaman to directly annihilate the Dark Iron Council—within just a few breaths, the enemies were completely wiped out.]

[In the real world, there are no bizarre 'world wills' that force you to take the opponent's ultimate attacks head-on or grant invincibility during spell channel bars.]

Indeed, the moment Gul'dan launched his direct attack, one could sense that intense magical fluctuation along with the ripples of mental power expanding outward into the surroundings. Although the spells Gul'dan cast against him were basic, common ones, he managed to instantly cast multiple spells in rapid succession—a feat that undoubtedly demanded an extraordinary mastery of spellcraft.

Following this engagement, Orgrim was forced to deploy the Red Dragonflight, which should have been kept in ambush against the humans. The Horde's fangs were now fully bared, waiting for the first prey to stumble into the trap.

A smile crept onto Patrick's face as he thought, "I wonder if it will be the Council?" Patrick dearly hoped the Council would walk right into the trap, giving those self-righteous councilors a rude awakening regarding the immensity of the world.

The Council was scheming against Patrick, but wasn't Patrick scheming against the Council in return? However, every gain entails a loss. Patrick had traded his family's share of assets in Silvermoon City for these past few years of rapid development. Before his wings were fully grown, the affairs in his hands still needed to be dealt with step by step, weighed carefully, and analyzed meticulously. Before a complete falling out with the Council, a certain "tacit understanding" had to be maintained, and the dignity of the Sunstrider royal family still had to be respected.

Patrick had always made it a point never to infringe upon the interests of the royal family. By doing so, they could watch the fire from across the river; even if the Council eventually realized that those councilors could no longer suppress him, the royal family would have ample reason not to intervene in the internal factional struggles of the Council. As long as Patrick did not plunge Quel'Thalas into turmoil, the royal family would gladly turn a blind eye and mind their own business.

For the fiercer the internal fighting within the Council, the greater the prestige of the royal family. If the Council factions fought each other into a bloodbath and both sides were severely weakened, His Majesty Anastarian would smile, and the power of the Sunstrider royal family would be completely solidified, rather than relying on covert maneuvering to influence the kingdom's domestic politics.

The royal family's attitude toward the Council had always been consistent, and the Council's internal infighting maintained a strict baseline—after all, they still had to guard against the Sunstriders and the loyalist factions. Thus, the upper echelons of all Quel'Thalas had maintained this delicate balance down to the present day.

Although the High Elven kingdom appeared prosperous on the surface, it was only because of the multitude of mages and His Majesty Anastarian—a top-tier spellcaster—propping it up. Judging solely by the quality of the common populace, high elves were actually inferior to humans. What could one possibly expect from elven commoners whose minds were entirely consumed by hedonism and arrogance? What could they even accomplish?