Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 243, Section 66: The Call of Kalimdor - (Bonus chapter for "Huo Zheng Ting Hao" and April Fool's Day [85])
The so-called "black pawn" is a very mysterious guy.

Even the lower-ranking commanders of the Kouré Alliance might not know him, but the leaders all knew his background.

Therefore, that evening, when the Burning Legion landing craft carrying the demon-slaying warriors landed outside the Temple of Karabor, Diakum and Nellie went to the location of the victory celebration to wait.

He had already planned to return to Azeroth early the next morning, so spending his last night in Draenor with the people wouldn't be a bad idea.

Varian and Khadgar were also at the banquet, but their attention was more focused on the confiscated demonic items.

Humanity has never truly dealt with the Burning Legion before, so both of them are eager to learn more about the details of the battle from the commander of the victorious Kourei Alliance.

Khadgar thought this would definitely be useful, at least he could learn some experience in fighting demons.

The commander of this battle, and also the hero who slew the great demon, General Alturis, sat in his seat. It was clear that he did not like the lively scene, but even a cold-hearted demon hunter knew to blend in with the world.

Moreover, he was very satisfied with the fighting strength of the Kouré Alliance in this battle.

Without the assistance of General Jaid and his Draenei warriors, the Demon Hunters alone could never have achieved such a glorious victory.

"Master Arandion has returned to the Kingdom of Kaldorei and delivered a warning of the demonic invasion to the Black Raven King. Taking advantage of the Greenskins' entry into Azeroth, we have also informed the nations of the Eastern Continent of the demonic threat."

The plague spread by the corruptors is growing, and that thing will make more people aware of the dangers of demons.

But I'm curious, with Azeroth already facing a crisis, is Lord Illidan still hunting across the stars?

Diakum sat next to Autocris.

He scrutinized the demon-slaying general with a subtle look. In the official history, this guy was not portrayed as a "loyal subject." He was probably the first demon hunter master to dare to openly oppose Illidan's actions in Outland.

But in the current timeline, Altruis has clearly not parted ways with his leader; he even has a tattoo on his arm that reads "The Pride of the Starhunter is the Secret of Demon Slayer."

In response to Dick's question, Autruis shook his head and said:
"The Illidari have already advanced towards Draenor in their entirety. Starhunter originally planned to return across the Star Sea, but after I reported the information about the Dark Portal, he decided to take a faster route. Therefore, I'm also curious, if Azeroth is invaded by demons, will the Covenant of K'ure provide cross-realm support?"

"Rest assured, the destinies of the two worlds are now intertwined."

The vigilant gave an affirmative answer, which visibly relieved the victim, who then said:

"When I arrived in Draenor, you had already been caught up in the unexpected teleportation to Azeroth, so I was unable to convey Lord Illidan's invitation to you at that time. Now is the perfect time."

Lord Illidan and the Illidari hunters have been planning a counterattack for hundreds of years. Our target is the Burning Legion's central stronghold in the Twisting Nether, the demon star Mardum!
Destroying that location would temporarily deprive the Burning Legion of its ability to send Destroyers from the Twisting Nether to various star systems in the physical universe. Although, given their size, they would quickly find another nexus, buying the physical universe a brief respite would be extremely beneficial.

The victim said in a deep voice:

"But to attack the Demon Star, the Illidari alone are not enough! We tried to contact the Holy Light Legion, but well, I can only say they are not particularly good partners. I have personally witnessed the unity and fighting power of the Kourei Alliance, and I believe that not only you, who are renowned throughout the stars, but also the warriors under your command are the allies we need most."

Diakum did not answer. After a few seconds of silence, he said:

“Sure! I’d be happy to participate in the Starhunters’ plan, but only if I know your true objectives! I actually know more about what’s hidden on the demon star Mardum than Illidan does.”

The reason that shattered planet became the Burning Legion's invasion hub was not because of its inherent characteristics.

There is a treasure of Sargeras there!
That is the true target of the Star Hunters.

"The Illidari are very dishonest, which makes me feel insincere. Therefore, the specific action plan should be discussed with me personally by the Starhunter in Azeroth."

"It's already a great result to have achieved this. I believe that the meeting between the two of you will be the beginning of a new victory."

The victim nodded in satisfaction, showing no other emotion despite Diakum's accusations. These hunters, who would give up everything for their oath to slay demons, would naturally use "cunning" as their weapon.

They're not naive or innocent, but they're not completely inflexible either.

So a few seconds later, Aurelius lowered his voice and said:

"That captured demon starship is the spoils of war of the Draenor warriors. If needed, we can help modify it. The Illidari also have Morgh's Molten Demons who are skilled in demon engineering."

While it cannot change the warship's propulsion, it can at least reduce the fel energy contamination on the warship to a level that elite warriors can tolerate.

If you need, my Felhammer is happy to train a group of starship pilots for you.

In fact, if it makes you feel comfortable, the Felhammer can also be given to you as a gift.

"No need."

The vigilant waved his hand and said:

"Compared to demon starships, perhaps the ethereal ships provided by the Astral Consortium would be more suitable for us, but we desperately need pilots, so we'll have to trouble you. If the Dark Portal can be expanded to the point where starships can pass through, then the demon war on Azeroth will become even more interesting."

A moment later, Nelly went up to Diakum and said a few words, and the two left the banquet.

On a small terrace not far away, the Chieftain of Durotan was with his wife who was about to give birth, while the young members of the Saurfang family were spending time with their elders next to two dog-orcs showing affection.

That tall figure reminded Diakum of the battle he fought beneath the city walls when he was caught in the teleportation.

Although brief, the pressure this guy put on him was no less than that of Grom Hellscream.

However, Broxigar Saurfang is very different now than before.

The life enhancement granted by the Heart of Hatred before it dissipated made the orc even more robust. Although he wasn't quite a half-giant, he was at least two sizes larger than Durotan next to him. He wore a set of Blackrock Clan armor, with strange vines connecting it to make the armor barely fit his size.

He wore a black, full-face barrel helmet that covered his face, and even his iron gauntlets were black.

No wonder he's called a "black pawn".

As Dick approached, he noticed the "battle axe" beside Brox.

It is not metal, but a battle axe made entirely of some kind of plant. The vines intertwine to form the handle, and the giant wood with natural magic patterns becomes the body of the double-edged battle axe. It does not look sharp and even has a sense of "decay" because of the withered vines.

But the vigilant could sense that the axe was dangerous.

It is a weapon formed from the last vestige of hatred in Draenor's heart, essentially bearing the ancient wrath of the world.

Faced with such symbolic power, the form and material of the weapon are no longer important. This thing can be regarded as a "world artifact," but it also makes Diakum sigh that "the self-correction of fate" is really stubborn.

Even though everything about Broxigar has changed, he is still stubbornly bound by fate to an "oak axe" and is destined to chop down a Titan in the future.

"Sora, Dranosh, come with me. Your people are waiting for you to celebrate together."

Durotan nodded to Diakum and called the two children to come with him to the victory banquet.

The young orcs looked at the Watcher nervously, fearing that this legendary saint had come to execute their elders who had narrowly escaped death. But the Watcher waved his hand and explained:
“My loathing for him ended the moment that sword shattered his heart. Don’t worry, I just want to have a talk with your elders.”

"Go ahead, it's okay."

A deep voice came from beneath Brox's black barrel helmet.

It was like the sound of wood rubbing together, unusually hoarse and devoid of much emotion.

But the fact that he returned to the children immediately after the battle shows that he still retains his sanity.

Nelly stayed aside to give the two space to talk. Dick stepped forward to examine the orc. He noticed the strange flowers adorning the skin between Broxigar's armor seams. They looked as if they were growing out of his skin, which reminded Dick of the "pseudo-humans" in Everbloom.

他 说:

Are you still alive?

"I'm alive."

Brox shrugged and said briefly:
“You don’t seem disappointed? But on that day, when your sword shattered my heart, I could clearly feel your killing intent. You had no intention of sparing my life.”

“At that time, I felt that I could withstand the pressure of fate on my own, but that was just an unreal vision brought about by stepping into the Holy Light.”

Dick said in a gentle tone:

"I have regained my humanity, but if I had another chance, I would still strike with that sword!"
Broxigar, I know how dangerous you were. Back then, you were loyal to the War Horde and would faithfully carry out any order from Orgrim Doomhammer. Therefore, I cannot risk gambling on whether you will still become the hero shaped by fate.

"You did the right thing."

Brox turned around, picked up the wine on the table, lifted the barrel helmet slightly, and drank it all in one gulp.

In that instant, Dick's eyes also came into view of the face beneath the mask. Fortunately, it hadn't mutated into a hideous pseudo-human; it was just that its facial expression was very stiff, perfectly matching the characteristics of a "vegetative state" person.

He set down the wine cup made of a split-hoofed ox horn and said:

"After I was brought back to the human world by the power of this world, when I finally calmed down from the boiling of demonic blood and looked back at everything we had done from a third-party perspective, I realized that I really deserved to die."

Not just me, all the greenskins who drank the demon's blood deserve to die!

It wasn't hatred that influenced me; it vanished completely after giving me my dog's life. It was my own judgment that we became a menace when we drank that stuff!

Wherever we go, we can only bring destruction and madness.

Killing the demon was my own idea.

Durotan begged other leaders to grant me this opportunity, but I did not do so to atone for my sins.

The sins we have committed cannot be redeemed!
The mere fact that we pollute our own civilization is enough to reduce us to ashes countless times.

He paused, his emerald-green eyes beneath the barrel helmet looking at Diakum, and said:

"I will eventually follow you back to Argus, representing the departed progenitors of Draenor, to plunge my battleaxe into the divine body of Aggramar. That will be my destined end, and I do not expect anyone to sing its praises."

But I know that this requires your permission.

So, Diakum, will you allow me to join your final 'homeland expedition'?

"You will have a place on the battlefields of Argus, Broxigar the Heart of Hatred."

Dick nodded and said:
"I don't know when that day will come, but in the time you have left, spend more time with your children and don't let them follow your path in the future because of some damned power. If you still have the energy, you can also participate in the war on Azeroth."

"And by the way, witness the end of the war tribes."

"If there is a need in this world, I will go."

Brox nodded blankly, stroking his oak axe, and said:
"I will only fight for this reason now."

Dick turned and left without any further warnings or farewells.

Nelly had already been taken away by the drunken Yura to have some sisterly chat, while Dick used Disguise to disguise himself as an ordinary Draenei and wandered around the bustling square, while Black Pawn remained on the quiet platform, drinking one glass of wine after another.

He couldn't actually taste anything; he just wanted to do it.

He stroked his armor; where there was no heart in his chest, there was only a seed, but it was still beating.

It's like a heart full of hatred that is never gentle.

------

"This teleportation was much smoother. Medivh really taught you something!"

The next morning, the group passed through the Dark Portal, which had been activated for the second time, and landed smoothly in the forest not far from Northshire Abbey. Archbishop Nelly finally felt relieved, but fearing that she might be teleported to some random place, she turned back and praised Khadgar.

The young monk smiled.

A precious "Mage's Eye," crafted from Titan-forged runes, floated on his shoulder—a reward from this journey.

Unfortunately, this arcane artifact was clearly not given away for free.

The wizarding leader Mar'gok has been registered as a "distinguished guest" of Karazhan by Khadgar himself. He is allowed to travel to Karazhan at any time without hindrance, freely peruse all the tomes left by the astral mage, and use all the facilities in Karazhan.

As Medivh's handpicked successor, Khadgar certainly had that right.

It's likely that Moroes, the steward who's currently suffering quite a bit from the strange things in Karazhan, wouldn't refuse an "uninvited" helper.

Prince Varian did not return with them. Just as Lothar had instructed, he wanted to stay in Draenor for as long as possible to ensure safety. The druids also stayed there to learn from the forest elf sages how to manipulate degenerate spores and to try their best to obtain the Raven's Blessing from Anzu.

The Raptor Druids, who have suffered from insufficient combat power for many years, know how precious that powerful combat form is.

However, the forest elves who followed immediately started chattering away upon entering Azeroth. They were so excited that the flowers on the elders' heads trembled. Clearly, these "rebellious children" of nature had also sensed the wonders of this world.

"Croak, this place is amazing! It looks so much better than Draenor. Look at the sky, look at the wind, look at the forest."

The noisy old crow, hiding somewhere, was chattering incessantly in Diakum's ear:

"No wonder they can nurture so many Wilderness Demigods. Draenor's vitality is really no match for this place. Ribbit, I've found the harpies you mentioned. They look pretty good."
and many more!

What are they coating their nests with? Why does it smell so strong!

"Well, harpies are used to using dung to reinforce their nests, and their young like to use dung to mask their scent. They also abduct men to mate and lay eggs, and then hang the exhausted, poor men on trees to eat them."
I said, they have fallen from grace since losing Avina's guidance.

Dick said helplessly:

"Now you know why I went to such lengths to invite you, a bird demigod, here, right? The survival of the flying raptors of Azeroth is truly worrying."

"I fucking regret it!"

Old Ansu screamed:

"Caw, do you know how long it will take to educate them from a bunch of barbaric savages who litter to the level of crow people? Caw! Old Ansu knew you, you dog saint, had no good intentions!"

"I don't need you to teach me step by step."

Dick knew he had done something wrong, and could only awkwardly say:

“Didn’t Princess Lacey bring some Ravenclaw Priests and Sun Sages with her? Let them teach, especially the Sun Sages, they know a lot about dealing with wild beasts. Hmm, wait, something’s ringing in my bag, I need to answer the phone.”

The Vigilant retrieved the special communicator that Nellie had given him from the Augure chest and activated the Eredar engineering device with his leader's mark as the third great ruler. As holy light poured into the crystal of the mysterious control panel, a complex star map was quickly projected before Dick and Nellie's eyes.

The archbishop, observing the star chart and the movement of several punctuated points with great expertise, said to Dick:

"The small fleet sent by the Legion of Light has entered the large galaxy where the world of Azeroth is located! At the current speed, it may take them half a month or longer to reach the orbit of the planet Azeroth."

However, judging from the fleet configuration, there is one capital ship. According to the fleet organization of the Holy Light Legion, this capital ship must be equipped with the Holy Light Arbiter main cannon.

In other words, in two weeks, Dick, you will be able to order your starship to launch an orbital strike against this world.

But given the absurd power of Azeroth, I advise you not to do that. Who knows what kind of defensive systems those Titans left behind for this world?

"Hmm, that makes sense. Before the dangerous Unified Field of Everything is dismantled, let the starships operate within the atmosphere."

Dick asked:

"So, who is the fleet commander?"

"It's the twin archbishops who have been thinking of you for over 20,000 years."

Nelly drawled out:
"They brought two thousand Lightforged to support you, along with five of your familiar disciples. Look how much they care about you; they rushed over as soon as they found out you had woken up."

"speak nicely!"

Dick reached out and pinched Nellie's cheek, then closed and put the device away, looking towards Stormwind.

He stroked the Heart of Argus pinky ring on his hand.

Perhaps due to his extreme weakness, the Lord of Argus Star Soul had not spoken to him for several days, which caused concern in the Vigilant's heart.

他 说:

“Let’s go. Leave the forest elves here, deal with the local demonic plague first, then call Lady Aegwynn. We should head to Kalimdor.”

Ps:

When my brothers thought I would only add five more chapters, I added eight. You didn't expect that, did you? I also have my own way of celebrating April Fool's Day. Currently, I owe 137 chapters.

Happy April Fool's Day, everyone!

(End of this chapter)