Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 254, Section 11. Alright, this is a remake of the Troll Empire vs. the Qiraji!

The mysteries of the Curse of Flesh were too profound; Diakum felt that this was the first time he had ever struggled so much to learn something.

He spent half the night listening to the Shadow Words explain to him how the Void corrupts life, and another half the night practicing how to apply the Laws of Corruption to the reshaping of flesh and blood. But by dawn, the Vigilant had not been able to reshape the alien insects he had captured as test subjects into another form.

"So, you spent an entire night just to make it grow two more legs?"

Having just woken up, Nellie rubbed her eyes and stood beside Dick, giving the alien insect in front of her a strange look. She said suspiciously:
"It's one thing to have legs, but why are they all different lengths? It looks like a crippled insect, is that right?"

"Don't set your expectations too high for your first attempt. It's already quite good that you've mastered this level in just seven hours."

Dick also felt that his "creation" was a bit strange, as ashamed to be seen as his Eredar calligraphy, so as he got up, he sprinkled a wisp of shadow flame and burned it to ashes.

He didn't even need to care whether it was too cruel. These alien worker insects had no self-awareness, and even their sense of pain had been weakened to the extreme by the evolution driven by the power of the void. If a Qiraji nest was considered as a whole, then these numerous worker insects were like walking tentacles, and could hardly be called complete individuals.

They need to be combined with other insects to form a complete system, so even if the extreme animal rights activists like the "Rende Society" came over, it would be difficult for them to criticize the cruelty of the vigilantes.

"Your learning goal is 'C'Thun, the Thousand-Eyed Demon,' to learn how it used the power of the Void to shape its insectoid evolution into its current form. This is the most perfect practical example of the essence of the Curse of Flesh."

As Dick was washing up, the Shadow Whisper whispered in his ear:
"The Blood Curse is a tool used by the Void Path to intervene in the evolution of mortal civilizations. It forces groups to follow the path that the Void desires to see by distorting their life forms, much like a shepherd's whip."

Of course, you need to take some time to think about where your creations will go in the future.

This is the duty and mission of a 'creator'.

The void can corrode and catalyze all things, but corrosion and distortion are not the result but the means. If you want to walk in the darkness, you must be clear about your purpose in order to make better use of the power of the void.

But you learn very quickly, which makes us very happy;
Your goals are clear, which also determines your extraordinary achievements, provided that you completely break free from the shackles imposed on you by the Holy Light, whether in body or mind.

The plague, a fusion of fel energy and life, will inevitably bring about a major turning point in the fate of the elves, and this is a good opportunity for you to embark on the path of the void!
Go! Don't hesitate, don't be afraid!
To walk in the void, one must have clear mind and bright eyes; a void walker should be bold and unrestrained, openly displaying your potential and talents to the sea of ​​darkness.

"Stop with the empty talk! At my current learning speed, how long do you think it will take to complete the reshaping of Onyxia's flesh and blood?"

The vigilant wiped his face and asked a question.

The Shadow Words let out a mocking laugh, drawing out its words:
"You want to fly before you've even learned to crawl? That's a fallen black dragon! It's a continuation of the bloodline of the Void Miracle, created by the combined efforts of three ancient gods of this world. How dare you, a mere vigilante, dream such pipe dreams at this time?"
Learn slowly.

Be patient. Wait until you can transform the desperate dark troll back into its elven form before considering reversing the black dragon's curse.

"Well, that makes sense."

Diakum nodded, following the teachings of the Shadow Word like a student.

However, just as he stepped out of his room, he saw Iriel rushing towards him, reporting:

"Your friend Lord Farondis has arrived. They have teleported very precisely outside the fortress, and Marlad is bringing them in. They have come for you."

"them?"

Dick raised an eyebrow and said:
"The old lich didn't come alone?"

"Of course not, he brought a lot of people with him."

Irelia said in a slightly exaggerated tone:
"Those are all powerful spellcasters. I feel that their arcane energy, when gathered together, can distort the surrounding light even without being perceived. Moreover, each of them has an elegant demeanor, clearly indicating that they are extremely powerful spellcasters."

Ms. Aegwynn told me to come find you right away.

Her exact words were, "If we anger these people, even with Sargeras's Scepter, it will be difficult for her to lead us to safety without causing a disaster."

"So exaggerated?"

Dick raised an eyebrow and led Irelia to the maintenance area in front of the fortress to meet Farondis. However, they were immediately stunned by the "galactic warships" summoned by the old lich.

Good guy!
Four demigods!

They're all spellcasters. If you said this team was going to use Arcane Explosion all the way to Yan'e and its insectoid empire, I'd believe it. Besides, two of these three elegant Highborne elves are "old acquaintances".

Prince Tosedrin and Dean Elya Bluemoon both had truly "miserable" experiences in the official history.

The thread of fate he had moved more than 20,000 years ago had brought them into a new life—a cause for celebration! Although these three wouldn't thank him for what "didn't happen," the vigilant did feel a joyful sense of accomplishment at that moment.

It's like a vegetable farmer seeing a thriving crop of good chives.

Diakum chuckled inwardly and then instructed Yrel to invite General Staghelm and Master Latusius over. Since these powerful Highborne elves had come from afar, the local elves had no choice but to show their hostliness.

Let me introduce you.

Farondis beckoned Diakum over, pointed to the three imposing Highborne elves beside him, and said:

"Lord of Azsuna and Nasaras, Governor Tosedrin Herrerasas, the Magic Prince of the Elven Empire."

Ms. Aria Bluemoon, Dean of the Nassaras Magic Academy and First-Class Honorary Member of the Azshara Court Mage Order.

Lady Sandara, the polymath lord of Crystal Song Forest and the Great Library of Sandara.

These three are all faction leaders and powerful figures among the Highborne, and they have come here for the same reason as me.

The three elven leaders who were introduced looked at Diakum with scrutiny and curiosity. Spellcasters of their rank had arcane blessings and would not be fooled by the illusionary brooch, so they could see Diakum's true appearance.

They bowed slightly to Diakum with the poise and grace of the High Elves, and the Watchers returned the courtesy of the Eredar, all the while marveling at the wealth and resources of the Elven race.

Farondis can easily summon three demigods to help him with a simple call. If you add the "Elven Guard" protecting Azshara in Suramar, the elven race alone could probably put together a "ten-man demigod squad" when faced with a crisis.

Most importantly, Diakum could tell that of the three demigods before him, apart from the Blue Moon Dean and Farondis who had been transformed into liches, the other two were still alive. The Highborne did not have the right to immortality through the World Tree like the Night Elves, so these two must have their own abilities to have survived from the War of the Ancients to the present day.

Lady Sandara, the Scholar Lord, is the only leader that Diakum is not familiar with.

But the Watchers knew that they were a group of High Elf scholars trapped on the continent of Northrend when the world crumbled during the War of the Ancients, consisting entirely of spellcasters and their ranger guards.

In the official history, these guys, in order to delay their magic addiction, actually dared to set their sights on the magic nexus of the blue dragons, trying to steal the blue dragons' technique of converting magic into magic out of thin air. As a result, they went too far and blew up their city, which inadvertently created the Crystal Song Forest.

According to Farodis's introduction, Crystal Song Forest still exists in Azeroth, but the Sandara elves have not been wiped out. They still have a demigod leader who is probably living quite comfortably in the far north of the roof of the world.

Just as Diakum was sizing up the scholar Sandara, the white-haired woman, dressed in the luxurious robes of the High Elves, wearing a white bearskin cloak and an arcane headdress, also looked at him.

"May I ask, do you have a powerful force of Lightforged warriors who have unexpectedly ended up on the continent of Northrend?"

The woman, who exuded a chill, said softly:
"My people recently observed that the savage trolls of Zul'Drak were fighting with someone, so I sent out rangers to investigate. They eventually learned that it was the Holy Light warriors from another world punishing those vicious Drakkari trolls."

The valiant 'Hunter' General Restalan could no longer tolerate the trolls' abhorrent practice of human sacrifice, so he launched a righteous attack on the Drakkari. My people provided them with much-needed supplies and healed several warriors.

Because we share a common enemy, Sandara City is currently the Lightforged's base and stronghold.

To be honest, my general is discussing with Lord Restalan a joint attack on the Drak'kalli troll fortress of Drak'kalon. The Lightforged are determined to eliminate the evil Loa, the wind serpent who craves human sacrifice, a strategic goal that the Sandalari elves have held for thousands of years.

I have vivid memories of the bravery of your Lightforged, and since we are currently in a semi-mercenary relationship with them, General Restallan asked me to convey his message to you when I was invited here.

He said they would stay in Northrend for the time being and would use the morality of the Holy Light to educate those savage and corrupt beings. Moreover, he seemed to have received a divine revelation from the Holy Light, which kept saying that 'ultimate evil' would appear in Northrend.

They will become the bulwark of holy light forged upon this world when darkness falls.

"I must thank you and your people for your assistance to my warriors, Scholar."

Diakum expressed his sincere gratitude: "Without your help, Ristalan and the Lightforged would have had a terrible time. Since the Holy Light has given them its mandate, let them stay there for now. I will join my warriors at the appropriate time."

"Now that you two have finished catching up, may we begin to get down to business?"

Lady Aria Bluemoon, adhering to the efficiency expected of a spellcaster, was neither a politician nor inclined to flatter; as she adjusted her crystal glasses, she said:

"Please forgive my intrusion, but there is a midterm exam at Nassaras Academy in a month. I must supervise the instructors' question setting and the students' review throughout the process. If it weren't for the fierce plague and the vicious flesh-and-blood transformation, I wouldn't have been able to leave at this crucial educational juncture."

I know the plague is dangerous, but the teaching quality for this batch of students must be guaranteed!

To put it another way, if my students cannot protect the vulgar appearances they care about, they should at least retain a beautiful soul refined by knowledge.

I don't want them to graduate with mediocre spellcasting skills and make a fool of themselves all over the world because of my negligence, thus tarnishing the glorious image of our Nassaras Academy.
Isn't this my favorite disciple, Magna Egwin, the most outstanding graduate of Nassaras Academy in nearly a thousand years?
You're here too?
Come here quickly!
Let me take a good look at you.

The first half of the Lich Headmaster's words, which had the air of an educator, was cold, but after Lady Aegwynn appeared, her tone became noticeably more lively, full of the tolerance and favoritism that a strict teacher has for a good student.

Aegwynn coughed a few times, slightly embarrassed, and stepped forward to greet his mentor. Farondis whispered to Diakum, "..."

"When Aegwynn was being hunted by Dalaran, she disguised herself as a student and hid in Nassaras Academy for a period of time. Her intention was really just to avoid trouble, but her outstanding talent was still recognized by Blue Moon and she was taken as a personal disciple."

Later, the battle mages of the Tiris Arcane Society chased after them and caused trouble, which angered Dean Bluemoon, who punished them by sending them to the "underachiever class" for "disrupting teaching".

She demanded that they pass their graduation exams based on their own academic abilities before she would release them, and no amount of pleading would help. At the time, Antonidas, who was still a great mage, personally went to plead for them, but Blue Moon made him write ten papers, and he almost got detained.

So during that time, Dalaran could only pretend not to know where Aegwynn was hiding, thus giving Aegwynn a period of relaxed rest.

She completed all of Blue Moon Dean's courses there, becoming one of the most outstanding graduates in the history of Nassaras Academy. To this day, her photo still hangs on the honor roll at the old campus in Azsuna.

This is a rare honor for us spellcasters!
Oh, and by the way, I'm also a distinguished graduate; my photo is on Aegwynn's website, hanging next to Governor Tosedlin's graduation photo.

"What about those battle mages who were punished and relegated to the underachiever class? Doesn't anyone care about them?"

Irelia, standing to the side, shrank back, asking in a terrified tone:

"Isn't anyone going to rescue them? Don't underachieving students have human rights?"

"They are probably still studying hard in the lower grades right now."

Farodis said with a sigh:
"That was a curriculum personally designed by Queen Azshara during the Elven Empire era. With human talent, it would take hundreds of years to learn it all, and passing the rigorous graduation exam would be a distant dream."

Moreover, in Dalaran, only spellcasters who are not particularly talented choose to become battle mages.

No problem, though. Blue Moon's Nassaras Academy provides free 'Lich Ascension Assistance' for students who are unable to graduate for a long time. It's part of the student benefits. In fact, almost all the liches currently walking the mortal realm in Azeroth have some connection with Nassaras Academy.

Although few people among mortals know about Blue Moon Academy, once you reach the level of a Grand Mage, you will receive an admission invitation from Nassaras Academy.

Unfortunately, only High Elves and High Elves take pride in this and enroll on time; very few humans dare to come and register.

The last human mage to graduate from here in such a short time was Medivh, and Medivh's Distinguished Graduate Trophy is still in the Vault of Karazhan.

Antonidas, the mage leader of Dalaran and chairman of the Council of Six, is currently a 'day student'. He is busy with the affairs of Dalaran and can only come to study in his spare time. Fortunately, the guy is really talented, and he will probably graduate in a few decades.

Unfortunately, his learning efficiency destined him to never become an outstanding graduate.

"So, the motto of Nassaras Academy is 'Study until you die, and keep learning even after you die'?"

Irelia, wagging her little tail, sighed:

"The teaching style of educators in Azeroth seems a bit too extreme."

“Then you should lament that you never attended the Mystic Academy in our homeland, Iriel.”

Diakum thought of a distant story, and he sighed:
"The teaching atmosphere of the Mystic Academy under Archimonde's leadership back then was even better. I remember that the standard time from enrollment to graduation was 135 years, but unlucky students like my disciple Imira would waste 150 years in the academy."

One can only assume that the higher education institutions within the Star Sea likely all possess a strict management system.

Governor Tosedrin, who had remained silent, had a stern expression as he observed the people before him. Only after Farondis and Diakum finished their conversation did the true prince of magic step forward and say to Dick:
"After receiving the message from the Black Raven King, I have been thinking about a question: Guardians of the alien races, can the number of forest elves in Draenor really completely cover the plague-infected areas of Azeroth?"
"Due to their constitution, the Highborne Elves cause our people to undergo a much shorter transformation period when infected with the demonic plague. In this situation, even with the full assistance of the Forest Elves, can we truly guarantee that my people will safely survive the calamity of transformation caused by the demonic plague?"

"You are very insightful; you got to the heart of the matter in just one sentence."

Diakum didn't hide anything; he told the truth:
"The number of natural seeds that the forest spirits can catalyze is limited. Although using seeds to prepare alchemical potions can greatly prolong the duration of the plague, perhaps you should all be prepared for the possibility that some of your people will degenerate into dark trolls."

"Yeah, I guessed it."

Governor Tosedlin was a decisive leader.

He felt no disappointment; instead, he turned to look at the dark city walls in the distant yellow sand and said:

"Therefore, the 'Shaping of Corruption' promised by the dark god can also be one of the ways for the elves to save themselves, but it must never be used to perform the shaping. We must seize that secret technique before everything becomes irreversible."

"I have a collaboration proposal on this matter."

Dick stepped forward and whispered to Governor Tosedlin:
"Please move on to discuss this further. Also, the Void is the Void, and the Ancient Gods are the Ancient Gods; the two should not be confused."

Before his private conversation with Prince Torsedrin, Diakum turned back to Farondis and told him that the Troll Empire would come to support the Zerg war.

The old lich blinked in surprise upon hearing this, then his eyes darted around before he sneered:
"Are the trolls already so eager to claim sovereignty over the dark trolls? They're taking advantage of the fact that we'll have a hard time surviving this catastrophe on our own, and they want to expand their influence."

Ok.

Now the Troll Empire is truly one big family!
But they can forget about it!
Even if it means my people regain their purity through the power of the void, I will never allow them to collude with those savage trolls.

"But you all know that the predecessor of the elves was clearly..."

As soon as Archbishop Nelly opened her mouth, all the elves around her turned to look at her. If looks could kill, Nelly would probably have been torn to pieces in that instant.

"Okay, pretend I didn't say that!"

The archbishop chickened out.

Amidst the glares of a group of elven demigods, she raised her hands to indicate that she had misspoke, then turned to look at the masked General Staghelm beside her, who was still glaring at her.

You've turned into a dark troll! Why are you still glaring at me?
It really is a troll's body and an elf's heart.

Hey, Vastan, do you know that your very existence is the strongest proof of the "elf troll theory"? If the Black Raven King is a little more ruthless, you'll probably "vanish into thin air" in a few days.

"General Deer Helmet, please come with me."

The Watcher called out and led Staghelm and Tosederin into the adjacent room. Farondis looked around and exchanged a glance with the Scholar Sandara. The two spellcasters secretly cast eavesdropping spells, wanting to hear about Tosederin's progress.

The High Elves and the High Elves have their own unique national circumstances.

Their connection to the Force of Life is not as naturally endowed as that of the Kaldorei, and the number of Forest Spirits is an unchangeable reality. If the problem could truly be solved with "magic," it would be a perfect ending for them.

What happened to the void?
The power of the void is also a part of magic!
"Hey hey hey"

The ghost of Shadow Words let out a strange laugh high in the sky. It knew that Diakum had finally learned to let go of his prejudices and begin to take a "pragmatic" approach in the face of harsh circumstances.

Look how well I've taught him!

(End of this chapter)