Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 219 42. Ping An Stormwind City reminds you that if you encounter a gathering of cultists, please report it to the nearby church immediately [45]

(Additional update for brother “Huo Zheng Ting Hao” [4/5])
The defeats at Azura's Tower and Eastvale were not yet known to the public, but Goldshire was very close to the city, so when that place was harassed, Stormwind immediately sent knights to protect it.

The news of a large group of knights leaving the city could not be hidden from the people in the city, and soon a small "gathering" was held.

On the edge of the recently bustling Mage District, in a hidden basement of a dilapidated hotel called "The Lamb Slaughtered", candles were lit but were completely unable to dispel the darkness. However, the people present did not care much, as what they wanted was this "hazy feeling" hidden in the darkness.

After all, they are a group of warlocks.

Warlocks generally don't like to work in particularly bright places. Too much light always puts too many challenges on their eyes and minds filled with darkness.

It is hard to say from which era the warlock tradition in the world of Azeroth originated, but what is certain is that when the ancient elven empire still existed, Queen Azshara had a group of court mages who specialized in demon summoning and fel energy research.

Especially during the short period when the Queen and the Burning Legion reached a "cooperation agreement", the study of fel energy became a rising "prominent discipline".

However, after the Great Sundering, the Warlock tradition declined.

The Kaldorei Moon Kingdom cannot tolerate elves who use arcane magic, and it even caused internal divisions when the high elves "exiled themselves" seven thousand years ago, not to mention their attitude towards warlocks. With watchers specializing in pursuit and capture patrolling Kalimdor, any warlock who dares to show his head will be killed.

The human warlock tradition probably originated in Dalaran.

There is never a shortage of spellcasters in that magical city who want to make "big news" and have questionable mental states. They are always tempted by inexplicable forces and accidentally open portals to the twisting void, causing small demon invasions.

The Burning Legion has never given up its spying on Azeroth, so the number of demon invasions in Dalaran over the years is actually much greater than what civilians know.

Most of them were dealt with in time by the mages, but there was always a small number of demons that would hide in the human world, and the profession of warlock flourished in the darkness. But just as the green-skinned orcs hated warlocks, normal people were unlikely to have much affection for this profession that dealt with demons all day long.

Therefore, their current living conditions are just like the shabby hotel where they are hiding, moving stealthily and blending in with the crowd.

But even rats in the gutter have a desire to roam under the sun, so after smelling the chaos of the coming storm in Storm Kingdom, the warlocks also became restless.

“I think the Wrynn royal family pills have made the gnolls dare to attack Shimmergold. The majesty of the kingdom cannot even suppress the beasts. What’s more, the gnolls of the Riverpaw clan are just a branch in Elwynn Forest.

Their real base is in the mountains of the fertile western plains!"

A hooded warlock said in a gloomy tone:
"Even Elwynn Forest is in such chaos. I don't even need to explain the situation in the Western Fertile Plains. The Kingdom and even the Eastern Continent's granary are in chaos. The outcome of this battle is hard to predict."

"So, you stayed up late at night and gathered everyone here just to hear you make these sharp comments that anyone with eyes could see?"

A young warlock scolded dissatisfiedly:
"We didn't gather here to listen to your nonsense, risking being captured and burned by those fanatical Ash Knights! Come on, Corinth, what are you going to do?"

"Oh, don't worry, Galdes, you're a rising star among us."

The warlock sitting in the middle of the basement waved his hand. As the others watched, he said in a deep voice:
"The demons are coming. We are all warlocks and can sense the recent unrest in the Twisting Nether. I think more than one of us has heard the invitation from the messenger of the Defiler.

The Burning Legion is about to enter Azeroth and complete what they left unfinished ten thousand years ago. I have gathered everyone here to ask for your opinions.

Who do you think has the advantage?"

No one answered this question.

Warlocks wouldn't answer such a foolish question.

The Storm Kingdom couldn't even defeat a green-skinned orc. When more brutal demons entered this world, it was hard to say who would win or lose. The warlocks remained silent, waiting for the "key point" that the summoner would convey tonight.

"The power of the Defiler has entered Azeroth, and the Plague is already spreading in the northern borders. However, all the nations and Dalaran are suppressing the news. But if you have any information channels, you will know what has happened in Menethil Harbor and Southshore."

Warlock Corinth laughed maliciously.

He clapped his hands, and immediately his gloomy servant pushed forward a cloth-covered cage. The strong but dull human servant pulled the cloth aside, revealing the curled-up human woman in the cage.

She was a young girl, about twelve or thirteen years old, but her arms and neck were covered with shocking gray patches, and she was coughing constantly. She was visibly weak, and even the light in her eyes became cloudy, giving people the impression that she was an underdeveloped and stupid person.

"You're crazy about riding a horse!"

A large group of sorcerers immediately dispersed, and someone in the crowd cursed:

"How dare you bring someone infected with the Demon Plague into Stormwind? Aren't you afraid the Demon Plague will break out here?"

"Do not be silly!"

The young warlock Gardes who had spoken earlier said in a cold voice:
"That's his goal! Corian was planning to let the plague break out in this city. This bastard has sided with the devil!"

"Don't be silly, what do you mean by surrender?"

Warlock Corian angrily scolded:

"It's called a wise bird choosing the right tree to roost in! It's a fundamental skill that a good warlock must master. And I didn't bring this poor girl from Southsea here to turn her into a weapon, you fools.

I simply want to use her to show you another side of the 'Demon Plague', a key bestowed upon us by the Defiler.
Humph, watch out! "

He stood up, took a small bottle of green stuff from the servant, and showed it to the other warlocks.

It was a potion tainted with demonic blood, which was required in many warlock rituals. Of course, it was much milder than the one Gul'dan gave to the orcs.

At least this stuff won't instantly turn anyone who drinks it into a half-demon.

"Come, girl, you are in pain, the plague is tormenting you, drink this and you will feel much better."

He unscrewed the bottle and handed it to the little girl in the cage. The latter took the bottle tremblingly under the temptation of mental magic and poured it into her mouth with her gray-stained hands.

For ordinary people, drinking devil blood is simply suicide. The girl soon let out a sharp cry of pain, as if she had drunk a ball of magma. She scratched her body and cried out in pain. Green spots of light lit up along her blood vessels, as if some strange substance was running through her body.

But what made the warlocks' eyes widen was that after she drank the devil's blood, the devil plague symptoms on her body quickly subsided.

The gray spots dissipated visibly, he stopped coughing, and even the light in his eyes became brighter.

"Can evil energy restrain the demonic plague?"

The warlocks exclaimed:

"Is this the polluter's 'gift'?"

"Yes, this is the gift the benevolent Defiler has given to all beings in Azeroth. One doesn't even need to drink the demonic blood; as long as one is wrapped in fel energy, one won't be infected by the demonic plague. Those poor souls afflicted by the degenerate plague can be cured without medication by drinking the demonic blood in time, and they can also gain demonic power to protect themselves!"

Corinth opened his arms in front of the cage and said to the warlocks:

"You should know from what you see with your own eyes that our group will inevitably grow rapidly in a short period of time, especially in those areas where the demonic plague is rampant. Those who are righteous and want to survive will become our companions!

The Burning Legion will surely win, and only those who kneel down now will be qualified to enjoy the glory of victory!

I know you are all outstanding warlocks. We are walking the path of fel energy. What others see as disaster is our opportunity to rise! Why do arcanists get respect while we are despised?
Oh, brothers and sisters, times have changed! The road to change will be paved by our own hands.

I am now a loyal servant of the Polluter, and I hand you this opportunity to change your fate. Go! Smash these jars all over the city, and you don't even need to do anything extra.

Corian pulled back the curtain, revealing dozens of hidden plague jars. He said loudly:

"This is a choice, but those who are tortured will eventually see us as 'saviors'. The embrace of the evil energy will be broken by our own hands. So, what do you say?"

"There's only one choice left!"

The young warlock Gardes, who had just been spouting insults, strode forward, half-knelt at Corin's feet, reached out to take the two plague jars, and said loudly:

"I will serve you! The great 'Savior' Corrin."

"me too!"

Another tall man squeezed out of the crowd and knelt in front of Corinth. Amid the evil warlock's laughter, more plague jars were distributed.

But before taking action, Galdes, the first to pledge allegiance, said to his colleagues from all over the world:

"Be careful! Today, the patrols in the city have all been replaced by those fanatical Embers Knights. It's said that they gained the ability to see through disguises after touching the 'Seraph Blade' in Tirisfal. If we encounter them, we'll definitely be captured and killed immediately. My advice is, hide first!"

I have an official mage apprentice license in Stormwind, and they can't do anything to me.

I'll go scout their movements, and then we'll set off again to avoid being wiped out all at once."

"Yes Yes."

The tall warlock, who covered his body with a hood, also spoke in a human language with a strange accent:

"We all serve the Legion and the great Lord Corrin in pursuit of power and honor. Such things don't warrant risking our lives. This colleague and I will go out and conduct some reconnaissance for everyone. At the very least, we must survive to enjoy tomorrow, right?"

"Well said, Galdes!"

"Yes, yes, you have shown promise since you were young."

"Come on, don't lose face."

Warlocks are a group of selfish people who value their own lives more than anything else. They wish someone would step on the minefield for them, but Corinth rolled his eyes and said to the two guys:

"My servant will go with you. Don't worry, he will do no harm."

"Okay! Let's leave now."

Gardes, carrying two plague jars and a tall warlock whom he did not know, left the shabby tavern "accompanied" by Corin's servants.

The three of them groped their way along the wall and rushed out of the Mage Quarter. In the dark, deserted alley leading to the church square, Gardes took out a plague jar and seemed to be planning to smash it open, but Corinne's servant said coldly:
"Going to places where people gather will spread the infection faster."

"Good good."

Gardes agreed with a look on his face, and he put the plague jar in his arms.

But the moment he turned around, he pulled out a warlock's dagger that was stained with poison and stabbed it into the heart of the servant behind him.

The tall warlock who was following behind also cast a spell at the same time as if it were his good fortune. The scorching flexible fire roared in from behind, melting half of the guy's body in an instant, causing him to scream and reveal his true form.

A demon guard!
However, with the two warlocks suddenly falling out, even the real demon couldn't do much. It fell to the ground screaming, and the tall warlock used the soul stone to restrain its demon soul and turned it into his servant.

"What are you doing!"

Galdes scolded:
"You took away Corrine's servant. He will surely realize that any warlock who remains there is in danger!"

"Heh, now that you're a sorcerer, you still care so much about other fellow sorcerers?"

The tall warlock sneered and said:
"Don't be silly. It's their own decision to stay there. Just accept your fate! Come on, follow me. We must report this to the Vigilant!"

He rushed towards the church square, and Galdes followed him with a wink.

The two quickly rushed into the square but were almost killed by the Ash Knight Herod who was guarding the night with a giant blade. This was because the two guys had the breath of demons, which triggered the Ash Knight's "demon-slaying frenzy".

"Wait a minute, do it!"

The tall warlock crushed the rune stone in his hand, revealing his true face.

It was a brown-skinned Mag'har orc, holding the commander's emblem of the Alliance of K'ure, and shouted:

"I am Yorin Deadeye, Chieftain of the Bleeding Circle of the Mag'har orcs, and one of the Vigilante's apprentices! A group of warlocks are gathering in the city and trying to spread the plague to Stormwind! Their leader is suspected to be a high-ranking demon in disguise!
Please ask the guards to go and suppress it personally!"

"hold head high?"

Herod, who had already drawn his sword, was horrified when he heard this, especially when he saw the plague jars in the hands of the two warlocks who came to report the news. Even this fanatic whose brain was burned by faith realized the seriousness of the problem, and he hurried back to report.

Gardes looked up and down at the brown-skinned orc in front of him and whispered:

"I didn't expect you to be someone of note, but how did you manage to sneak into Corian's employ without being discovered?"

"Humph, do I have to tell you that I have a divine weapon on me?"

Jorin Deadeye touched the All-Seeing Ring on his finger and waved his hand.

"It was my bad luck. When I crashed into Azeroth, I used Demonic Teleport, but it went out of control and sent me straight into Blackrock Mountain. I met Corien in the Dark Iron Bar. He was recruiting soldiers at the time.

I learned this disguise from that damn stingy dwarf boss and spent all the materials I had on it.

But it's all worth it!
The Alliance of K'ure hates all fel walkers, and the Mag'har orcs and warlocks are sworn enemies! It is my duty to sniff them out and eradicate them, a mission entrusted to me by my compatriots! I will never give up on this task.

I will kill every evil sorcerer I see!"

"But you're also a warlock!"

Galdes widened his eyes and said:
"We are all in the same industry, why should we make things difficult for each other?"

"I'm a good warlock! Unlike you sewer trash."

Jorin Deadeye scolded:
"I have embarked on this path out of revenge. Power has no good or evil, but the human heart does! Look, the Vigilant is coming."

He took a few steps forward and saluted the approaching Diakum with the etiquette of the Alliance of K'ure. The Ring of the All-Seeing One in hand allowed Yorin Deadeye to see through illusions.

"well done!"

Diakham praised:
"Your homeland would be proud of you. Sir Lothar lacks an expert in dealing with demonic forces. Jorin, I recommend you to serve as the Marshal's warlock advisor. Serving in the army for the time being, you can earn merit in this strange world and spread the purity and bravery of the Mag'har orcs."

"Well, I will definitely do my best, but Vigilant, those evil warlocks must be eradicated immediately!"

Yolin pointed in the direction of the Mage Quarter. Diakum nodded and waved his hand. Fifty good brothers flashed out of the light and rushed forward as a beacon for the urgently assembled Ash Knights.

But an energy conflict also broke out in the mage area, and it seemed that the warlocks were fighting among themselves.

The Sentinel was very busy. He encouraged Yolin a few words, glanced at Gardes, and turned back to the cathedral. After he left, the human warlock, who dared not breathe, rubbed his hands and approached Yolin, whispering:
"Brother, we fought together for a living. Now that you are rich, you should help your good brother."

"Hehe, now you know how to serve your country?"

Yolin looked Gardes up and down. He stroked the "Youthful Skull of Gul'dan" at his waist and nodded.
"Come on, I just happen to be in need of an assistant.

But be careful, Gardes, I will keep an eye on you. We are not evil warlocks and we cannot allow ourselves to lose our dignity. We are the demon hunting eyes of the righteous who peek into the twisting void. We use the power of demons but we cannot coexist with demons!
You must remember this!
I don't want to have to remove your skull and use it as a magical tool someday in the future."

------

"Charge in! Purify this place of evil!"

Grand Duke Mograine rushed into the Slaughtered Lamb Inn with his knights, holding a giant blade. They thought they would encounter a big battle here, but they didn't expect to see a mess when they arrived in the basement.

Many people died, but there were also many survivors. It was obvious that there had been a fierce fight.

And in the fel crystal in the center of the basement, there is an angry Nathrezim sealed, who is the "Corien the Deceiver".

As the Ash Knights stared at them, the few surviving warlocks leaning against the wall shouted weakly:

"You're too slow. We fought tooth and nail to kill these lunatics who wanted to unleash the plague. And you're saying, 'We risked our lives to protect Stormwind City, sacrificing everything we have. At the very least, we're heroes working in the dark. The King and the Marshal should at least give us medals, right?"

"That's it!"

"By the way, can you please forgive me for the 'little mistakes' I made a few years ago?"

Alas, Warlock
This profession, where betrayal is commonplace, is truly hopeless.

(End of this chapter)