Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 106 5. But if you are a noble dark archon, you can owe it first
The relationship between light and darkness has always been complicated.

For innocent children, concepts such as light and dark, black and white, right and wrong, and good and evil are extremely clear and mutually opposed, but adults with dirty hearts obviously do not see it that way.

Everything in the world is always composed of you in me and me in you. The crude and simple dualism of good and evil can probably only be so vividly displayed in children's animations. The essence of the world is a chaotic system. Perhaps this is also part of the foundation of the universe, such as the "ambiguous" relationship between the two force fields of holy light and void.

The Naaru are creations of the First Light and the most sacred beings in the physical universe. However, the Draenei witnessed the entire process of the guardian Naru'kara falling into a Dark Star and being re-purified into a Naaru by the Sentinels, Velen, and Isana in the Temple of Karabor.

This is also illustrated by the "bad things" that His Majesty K'ure has experienced in the past two hundred years and the changes in the white orcs in Nagrand who have been affected by them.

That is, the Naaru have a very magical "duality of light and darkness". They can maintain a long-term existence in both light and dark forms, and can transform their forms after meeting certain conditions.

If the existence of Naaru represents a certain will of the Holy Light, then starting from this point, the complex doctrine of "light and shadow coexisting" is actually formed. As early as more than 20,000 years ago in Argus, Diakum asked Ms. Isana about the relevant concepts when he changed his job, which almost broke the legendary priest's heart.

But the truth is, Diakum knew the "Little Secret of the Holy Light" from the moment he woke up in this life.

Is light just a ray of light in the eyes of the world?

of course not!

The concept of light is composed of two parts: "light" and "darkness". Without light, darkness will always be darkness. Without darkness, light will lose its meaning.

Just like in this nightmare realm dominated by the Slayer, where no other power existed except shadow, Diakum opened his arms and allowed the surrounding darkness to surge into his body like a storm.

It's like a traveler holding a torch walking in the dark, who chooses to embrace despair and commit suicide after the torch goes out.

At least that's what Gul'dan, who was hiding in the dark, thought.

"Knowing is one thing, understanding is another, and practicing is another. Wish me good luck."

The Sentinel muttered something softly. He tried to call upon the Holy Light, but his mind was indeed trapped in a nightmare. No! He had walked into the trap himself, just for this moment.

As he said, a priest who does not understand the "shadow form" can only guide souls under the light. A true spiritual leader should stride into the darkness fearlessly, because their torch is not only in their hands, but also in their hearts!
This is indeed very risky. After all, it is related to the path of the Force. If you are not careful, all your efforts will be wasted.

However, since the legendary Archon profession has been given the form of "Dark Archon", it proves that all this is arranged by the Holy Light.

Let's take a step back and say that even if I really messed up and fell from the Chosen One of Holy Light into the void and the lightless sea, didn't that foul-mouthed idiot who always seduced me in the item description still promise to leave me an offer?
Even though that guy is not serious, he looks pretty powerful.

As Diakum absorbed the invisible shadows from the nightmare realm like gulping down water, his spiritual body, no longer shrouded in holy light, grew dim, even as gloomy as darkness itself. The originally dimmed and shining Archon Seal on his forehead also changed, as if black smoke was pouring into the crystal like liquid, transforming it into a symbol of shadow.

Something is wrong!
There's something wrong, even nine out of ten!
Gul'dan, who was hiding in the dark, had already realized that something was wrong. He called out to the Slayer to unleash his power and completely crush the spirit of this Chosen One of the Light in this nightmare realm of the fel demigod.

The Slayer politely let out an ancient wolf howl, causing his nightmare servants to tumble out from the shadows around them.

Those ferocious ghost wolves howled as they slithered through the invisible shadows, continuously emitting soul-rending roars, and charged towards Diakum, who was no longer protected by the Holy Light, like the most terrifying creatures in a nightmare.

They want to tear this guy's spirit apart here, trap his will forever in this nightmare of all living beings, so that he can die miserably in the material world.

But just as the vicious fangs and teeth approached, just as danger surged like electricity, Diakum finally opened his eyes amidst the shadows.

The world before his eyes was dark, as if he had walked into a pitch-black night. At this moment, the shining runes also flipped like dark starlight, forming a very design-conscious prompt:

【

Force-Holy Light occlusion complete! External power incoming! Power path determination: Shadow/Void. Power access mode: Infusion/Blessing. High-level priest skill [Shadow Form] acquired!

While in this form, the Priest's connection to the Light is temporarily blocked, and he draws destructive power from the Shadow/Void realm instead.

All healing and strengthening skills of the priest will be sealed, and the destructive power of spells and incantations will be greatly increased.

The Priest's Power Word/Holy Word spell sequence will be replaced with the Shadow Word spell sequence.

The priest will be able to be shrouded in shadows, dissipate at will, and thus reduce most physical attacks.

Shadow Priest skills [Mind Flay/Mind Blast/Mind Spike/Mind Scream] have been learned!

High-level Shadow Priest skills [Mind Control/Will Domination/Soul Devouring Plague/Shadow Demon/Heart Devouring Demon/Invisible Dissipation] have been learned!

High-level Shadow Priest skill [Vampiric Touch] has been learned! Due to the legendary talent [Dark Archon] strengthening, this skill has become a passive effect.

hint!

Shadow Priest skills can only be released in Shadow Form. Releasing this type of skill does not consume Radiant Energy/Holy Power, but requires the priest to pay his own 'Spirit' as a casting resource.

When the priest's spirit is weakened, he will enter the state of "Mind Frenzy".

hint!

The more serious the Shadow Priest's 'Mind Frenzy' state is, the more destructive the Shadow Priest's skills will be. After canceling the shadow form, the mind frenzy can be soothed through meditation/mind purification and other methods.

caveat!

When the Shadow Priest's 'Mind Frenzy' exceeds the individual threshold, the priest will enter the 'Crazy' state.

At this time, 'Shadow Form' will be forcibly replaced with 'Void Form'. All Shadow Priest skills will be strengthened to the maximum extent and attached with powerful Void Force. In this form, all attacks will no longer consume casting resources and will be accompanied by 'True Heart Damage' that ignores any defense.

Important warning!

When a shadow priest in the 'void form' uses his own spirit as a sacrifice to destroy a powerful enemy, the priest will be swallowed by the lightless sea and become a member of the void creature.

This racial conversion process is one-way and irreversible!
】

"Well"

Entering the shadow form for the first time, Diakum looked at his hands covered with a thick layer of shadows. The unique feeling of the Holy Light Force that had always been connected to his spirit being blocked at this moment made the Sentinel enter a state of "daze".

But how to describe this state?
"It's like I've been standing all my life and now I'm sitting down."

He whispered, then raised his hand and lightly knocked down the ghost wolf that was about to pounce on him.

He clearly felt that his enormous mental power, which had been strengthened to the point of being evaluated as "perfect" in the Legacy of Naaru, turned into physical tentacles at this moment and instantly wrapped around the hungry wolf, tightening its spirit like a noose.

With a fierce swing of Dick's hand, the ferocious nightmare wolf was shattered by the vicious mental whip while screaming.

Diakum is a legendary pastor!

His normal form as a Light Archon is already powerful enough, but after abandoning all moral principles of healing and protection, and even temporarily giving up the connection with the Holy Light Force, the destructive power of the Dark Archon he gains will only be stronger!

The reason is very simple.

If the destructive power he gained by giving up everything was still less than normal, then the Vigilant was crazy enough to abandon the blessing of the Holy Light?

The Void Force obviously understood this as well. If it wanted to seduce a supreme "People of Light" like Diakum to throw himself into the Sea of Darkness, it had to offer a temptation that was more generous, larger, and more ruthless than the Holy Light!

"All shadows will be yours, all nights will sing for you, all stars will be extinguished for you! Hold the shadows with an open heart, and do great things without hesitation! Use it freely, child."

A faint voice, with a strange feeling, appeared in Diakum's ears. This was the "shadow in the light" that high-ranking priests often encountered during meditation.

That is a temptation from darkness, denounced by priests as a bandit of the soul and an enemy of faith, but it is just a voice from the void, gently pushing open the door for all those who yearn for the truth.

How could the void have any bad intentions?

The void loves every life equally and generously. As long as they reach out and ask for it, the void will respond!

Diakham walked forward in the realm of nightmare.

He used no weapons, simply waving his hands like the most devout priest. The elegant manners taught by Ms. Isana, the legendary priest of the Rula Temple, made Diakum like a priest giving a perfect confession. He used his materialized mental power to restrain the ghostly hungry wolves that pounced on him one after another, transforming his immense mental power into cold tentacles to lift and throw them.

Let them scream, hear them wail!
Those hungry wolves were beasts, they didn't have that many emotional thoughts, but they also had fears in their hearts, and those deep-seated fears were sensed by the shadow priest, and Diakum laughed heartily.

He knew that he had found a weapon hidden deep in the enemy's heart that he could use.

So he snapped his fingers and threw out one mind blast after another, exploding the fear hidden in the enemy's hearts like a bomb, tearing their spirits from the depths of their souls, just like roughly inserting his hands into the brains of these beasts, stirring them fiercely with fear as claws.

The more fear there is in your heart, the more destructive power it will cause when it explodes.

The souls torn apart by the explosion of fear could not be wasted either. With Diakum's exquisite weaving, the remaining souls were transformed into a soul-devouring plague, which was inflicted on all the hungry wolves that dared to approach him in the sweep of the dark and entangled mental power.

The plague does not ask for any blood or flesh in return, but only greedily bites at the souls of those who are not strong enough.

It implants the illusion of fear into its hosts and feeds on their retreating courage.

Finally, a hungry wolf could not bear the fear and fell to the ground while retreating, but its soul could not escape the manipulation of the shadow priest. It was offered as a sacrifice to the generous void. As the dark blue shadow rift opened, one shapeless and hideous shadow demon after another was summoned into this nightmare realm.

The power of the Dark Archon gave these shadow demons a more powerful form. When they were summoned into the nightmare realm with a scream in the mind-distorting Shas'yar language (the ancient language of the void), they were transformed into one after another Eredar dark spirit warriors wearing dark cloaks and holding tearing blades under the shaping of the Dark Archon Diak'um.

Diakum decided to call them "Shadow Templars"!
The wolves continued to die, and the number of shadow demons increased.

It was like an invisible sickle sweeping across the shadowy area filled with wolves. After Diakum took a dozen steps forward, the shadow demons guarding him had formed a team, and the wolves summoned by the Slayer retreated howling.

The wolf howl was filled with fear, because there were already "corpses everywhere" in this nightmare realm.

"You are the leader of the pack, but you don't seem to know how to lead your pack. You fill their hearts with weakness and fear. You are used to suppress your offspring with fear, but now, that fear is being used against me."

Diakum, as black as an "African Draenei", stood in the nightmare, his arms spread out like a preaching priest.

But behind him, the shadows stretched out like a cloak, stretching and boiling, dancing and reflecting each other, as if they were injected with too much fresh power, making the shadows sing. They cheered the coming of the Dark Archon and kept turning against him.

The eyes of the Killer were filled with scarlet light, and it felt that the nightmare it had created was being "taken away".

This made it feel extremely uneasy.

The orc warlock Master Vorpil, who had followed Diakum into this nightmare trap, was now dumbfounded.

He looked at the Draenei priest who was more terrifying than Gul'dan with trembling body. He could not imagine why Diak'um, who was clearly a saint of light just now, turned into a demon in the shadows at this moment.

Look at him standing tall in this nightmare, facing the Slayer. Where is the slightest bit of holiness? Is this really not just a vicious internal struggle between two monsters fighting for control of this shadowy land?
"But your heart is also filled with shadows, Demon Wolf, the weak and abandoned shadow!"

Diakum was enveloped in shadow, the Dark Archon's Seal pulsing rhythmically on his forehead. His mental energy radiated around him, enveloping the Slayer like a halo. The next moment, his voice echoed within the Slayer's mind, corrupted by the infusion of fel energy:

"I've always been curious about one thing. Did Goldrinn die when you threw yourself into the arms of the Burning Legion?"

"Ow!"

The name spoken by Diakum obviously touched upon the taboo of Lycanthos, causing the demon wolf to roar and attack the overly arrogant shadow priest in front of him.

Nightmares are its domain!

It is fearless here, it is invincible here!
"boom"

The demon wolf's massive claws lashed out, lashing out at Diakum's body like tearing the earth apart. The shaped shadow demons were torn apart by a single claw, just like the blackened Sentinel was easily killed in an instant. But the next moment, a voice so strange that it could not be expressed with vocal cords rang out from the shadows in front of Lycanthos:
"Iilth ma paf'qi'ag sk'halahs. GAZ SKSHGN! (You are but prisoners imprisoned in your shell, servants of fear!)"

"what!!!"

Master Wopil's soul heard these words and wanted to cover his ears but it was too late.

That sound seemed to have some kind of power!
It was alive, turning into sharp claws that tore open his skin, and drilled into his mind through his ears amidst a bloody howl. His ears were bleeding, but the dark sound continued to extend and tear in his mind, causing the orc warlock to cover his face and scream in pain.

His fingers were about to tear his skin, but he still couldn't stop the echoes of the damn Shasya language from echoing in his mind.

As the language of the ancient gods of the void, this thing carries with it spiritual pollution. Where have the natives of the small world of Draenor ever seen such a "high-end thing"?
But the fact that he didn't go crazy on the spot after hearing the Dark Archon's psychic scream in the most orthodox Shasyarian language already shows that this guy is indeed determined. If you don't believe it, just look at the wolves in the nightmare realm who got too close. They have already fallen down under the Dark Archon's large-scale psychic AOE.

It was as if the Void Scythe that reaped souls was swung again, harvesting a bountiful harvest of food.

The boiling darkness had gone mad at this moment. They screamed and cheered as they captured the souls that were frightened to death, and sent them diligently and respectfully to their "master" to let him taste the delicious fear.

But Diakum was unwilling to taste souls. He was still a priest who protected the light, and at this time he was just using the power of darkness to save people.

“Shgla'yos plahf mh'naus. (Hunger drives the shadows that feed on lost souls.)”

With another chant in Shasyarian, he sacrificed these filthy souls to the Lightless Sea, in exchange for more shadow demon servants who tore open the rifts in the void and rushed into this nightmare land.

Even Gul'dan, who was hiding nearby, noticed something was wrong. The orc warlock shouted:

"Kill him now! Slayer, that madman is sacrificing your nightmare to the void! The void concentration here is getting higher and higher!"

"wrong!"

Wrapped in shadows, Diakum transformed himself into a ball of pure shadow with an invisible and dissipating posture, and withstood the three attacks of the Killer without a single injury.

He floated in the darkness like a ghost, raised his hands and declared loudly:

"You think nightmares are your domain? Lycanthoth, pitiful being born from the shadow of Goldrinn! Your soul is already incomplete, relying entirely on the infusion of fel energy to survive. What I come here to sacrifice today is not only your nightmares, but also your pitiful soul!
Come, dance with us in the darkness, the greedy lightless sea has called you!

Submit to it and don't resist this grace!

Sk'yahf qi'magg luk sshoq anagg'qen. (Your soul will be forever lost in that endless spiral.)"

The third sentence in Shasyarian language brought the shadows to a boil again, shaking this nightmare land.

As the Killer retreated vigilantly, a deep crack in the shadow was tearing apart, and in the dim starlight on the opposite side, like the remnant of an extinguished star, a "thing" that made it feel creepy was trying to get into this nightmare and feast on it.

"That's enough! Stop, and you'll die too!"

This was the first time the Slayer spoke since arriving in Draenor.

The demon demigod stared at Diakum in his shadow form and said:

"The Void wants your soul more than anything else! Vigilant, how dare you wield the power of the Void so crazily? You are even crazier than the craziest cultists! Do you still want to return to your light?"

"Of course I do! But I know you won't let me go so easily."

Dick said calmly in the shadows:

"Gul'dan used Garona's soul to set this perfect trap, to make me retreat when I saw the difficulty, to make me, who vowed to change all tragedies, turn a blind eye to a soul that had gone astray.

He wanted to mock me, ridicule me and slander me with this.

But I still came!

I stepped into this trap and chose to face your threat because I promised the child that I would bring her back from the darkness. If I cannot save her, then I will send her off with a demigod's funeral.

Come, Slayer, and fight me who embraces darkness until this nightmare collapses. Join me as I descend into the vortex of the lightless sea. I firmly believe that the Holy Light that watches over me will lend me a helping hand.

But who will come to rescue you?
Polluter?

Sargeras?
Or is it Goldrinn, the one you hate the most but also the one you most desire a response and recognition from?
Well, your mental exhaustion is really serious, big devil."

"Don't trust him! The Slayer."

Gul'dan's voice rose from the darkness, and he cried:
"He's just tricking you! There are no Void entities in Draenor. Void Force has no chance of winning against a Fel Demigod in this world! Kill him now!"

"So, make your choice."

Diak'im ignored Gul'dan's impotent rage.

He was suspended in this nightmare where cracks had appeared in the void. Looking at the Slayer before him, he said:

"Will you perish here with me? Or will you fight me openly in the material world at some point in the future? You are Goldrinn's shadow! Therefore, you know better than anyone what Goldrinn would choose if he were here."

"I am not it! I am the Destroyer! I am Lycanthos!"

The demon wolf roared.

It opened its huge teeth and bit towards Diakum, as if it wanted to use this blow to completely destroy this arrogant soul.

But the next moment, accompanied by a loud sound of shattering glass, a hideous dark tentacle covered with suction cups burst out from the void crack behind Diakum, passed over the Vigilant's shoulder and hit the Killer's wolf kiss.

The collision of the two forces caused the nightmare to begin to shatter, and the entire dream realm was shaking violently.

"It's coming."

Diakum remained unmoved in the air. He drew a triangular holy symbol on his chest and whispered:
"You made the wrong choice, Wolf Spirit, so pathetic that you can't even face yourself! May the Holy Light bless you and me to survive in the Sunless Sea."

"Get out of here with this weak soul! Diakum Zastins!"

The murderous roar of the Slayer interrupted Dick's desperate prayer. Something was thrown at Dick and caught in the hand of the Sentinel. It was a cold object like a small piece of ice. When holding it, Diakum heard Garona's wail.

The demon wolf before him swung its tail to close its own nightmare realm, expelling Diakum from this realm to prevent the filth of the void from actually falling into the nightmare it was walking through.

At the moment when his spirit returned to his body, the Sentinel heard Lycanthos's scolding:
"I underestimated you, saint of the Draenei, and the Defiler also underestimated you! As you said, we will fight to the death in the material world to decide where this pitiful world will end!

After killing you, I will challenge Goldrinn and let him know who is the real Silvermoon Wolf Lord!
Oh, cherish your life, the void has set its sights on you."

"Swish"

Dick opened his eyes the next moment.

He was still standing at the end of the dark path in the town of Mogol. The Orb of Domination in his hand had been completely shattered into crystal fragments. The Holy Light also ignited on Dick's body again, dispelling all the shadows around him. He heard the call from the Holy Light in his spirit.

But in his ears, the faint voice sounded again:
"Look, how perfectly this crown of night suits you? You wear the cloak of darkness so proudly, yet you guard the tiny glimmer of light. You first called upon us and we offered our full assistance. So who is more generous?
My child, whatever the Holy Light can give you, we can give you; whatever the Holy Light cannot give you, we can offer you with our smiles.

Your heart and your eyes are open, you have faced the truth, and you will eventually know that emptiness is never the opposite of hope, but the holy light is always related to blindness. Haha, He is calling you.

It's like an incompetent guardian is afraid that his outstanding child will be kidnapped by bad people.

But you have grown up and you know who can give you better.

Go ahead.

Respond to Him.

Return to the embrace of the Holy Light and don't let Him worry.

I look forward to seeing you again, honorable Dark Archon Diakum Zastins, distinguished guest of the Sunless Sea."

When the voice in the wind dissipated, the seal of the Dark Archon on Dick's forehead transformed back into the seal of the Light Archon after a few breaths.

It's like a ray of light being relit in the darkness.

He crushed the cold crystal fragments in his hand, freeing Garona's bound will, then turned to look at the orc warlock beside him.

Master Wopir was now lying on the ground, making strange and sinister laughs. He had torn open his ears with his fingers, blinded his eyes with his own hands, and torn open his face, but he could still see and hear.

As Dick approached him, he could vaguely hear the warlock muttering:

“Al'ksh syq iir awan? Iilth sythn aqev aqev aqev (Is this real or an illusion? You are crazy. Crazy, crazy)”

Ok.

After meeting the shadowy majesty of the Dark Archon, the high-level warlock unexpectedly went mad, but the Lightless Sea did not want his pale soul that had been drained, so it left him alone in the cold night, allowing him to become a twisted, corrupt, blind and fanatical ghost.

Yes, a pathetic white orc is about to be born.

Diakum witnessed the whole process and murdered his soul with his own hands.

What a shame.

May the Holy Light forgive your sinful soul.

(End of this chapter)