Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 257, Section 14. The Holy Light Brings a Gift to Diakum - Wow! Wow!
"What did you do to my son! You damned alien!"

When General Staghelm and Diakum reappeared, Archdruid Staghelm, who had just returned to Silithus from the Emerald Dream, immediately sensed the change in his son.

Although he had only just embarked on the path of shadows, how keen was the Archdruid's perception of life force?
He roared like a protective lion and pounced, grabbing Diakum by the collar. The Vigilant had no doubt that Old Staghelm was about to unleash his "Flame Fist" on him at any moment.

But General Deer Helmet stopped his father, and wearing a mask, he said in a deep voice:
“Don’t do that, Father! Saint Diakum only offered us, the suffering ones, a choice. I willingly followed him into the shadows to find a way out for my brothers and sisters who are suffering in this fortress.”

The Void's Curse of Flesh can turn us back into our elven form, but the Old Gods must never be allowed to dictate this!
We must find a trustworthy and just fulcrum to bestow that void mystery upon us, so that I may bring my brothers and sisters into their families.

Even if the price is that we must be shrouded in shadow, Elune's light will still shine upon us in the darkness.

"Son! Don't do anything foolish!"

Old Deer Helmet was so anxious he jumped up and down.

He grabbed his son's hand and said loudly:
"You know perfectly well that your father isn't that shallow. No matter what you become, you'll always be my son. Don't do anything so dangerous."

"What about this?"

General Deer Helmet sighed and removed his mask.

Upon seeing his son's troll face once again, Old Staghelm's fists clenched involuntarily. He took a deep breath, intending to maintain his kind expression, but the throbbing veins in his eyes were impossible to suppress.

Even though he knew in his heart that this was his precious son, that damned troll face was really...
"Don't be hard on yourself, Archdruid."

Irelia watched the over ten-thousand-year-old man perform his "facial expressions," and fearing that Old Deer Helmet might have a stroke from the heat, she quickly advised him:
"Everyone knows that you Druids are the best, and you don't judge people by their appearance. Everyone also believes that your care and love for your family comes from the bottom of your heart, but General Staghelm is ill."

If you get sick, you should see a doctor!

We can't stubbornly rely solely on faith; that's something only vagrants and fools do!

You must believe Saint Diakum's assurance; he will recover soon, and then you will be able to see your beloved son again.

"Yes, Father, I'm just sick."

General Deer Helmet put his mask back on and comforted the general:

"It's like when I was a child, I almost drowned because I was playing. You told me then that I would recover and be healthy again. Please be patient, I will definitely get better, and I will definitely return to our home healthy."

The Archdruid nodded with difficulty. He found it hard to convince himself to watch his son step into the darkness so quickly, so he turned to Diakum and said:
"What is your level of morality, both light and darkness? Don't lead my child astray!"

This kind of pursuit of morality is very dangerous; it's like following you, the torchbearer, through the darkness. Once you stray from the right path, those who follow you will encounter terrible danger.

Similar incidents have occurred within the Cenarion Order.

The terrible impact of that incident still serves as a stark reminder of our harm.

"I cannot guarantee that I, who am so cautious, will be able to reach the other side of the light."

The vigilant said softly:

"But I have decided to complete my trial of the path of light and darkness when I face the 'Thousand-Eyed Demon'. Your son has only just entered the darkness and has not yet chosen to truly follow my righteousness. Therefore, you and he still have time. If I unfortunately die in the veil of darkness that C'Thun brought me, then you will still have the opportunity to bring your child back into the sunlight."

Speaking of which, how is your coordination with the Black Crow King going?

“We have just invited several forest elf sages to Mount Hyjal, and the druids who are stranded in Draenor will also return after completing their studies. Protecting the people is the top priority for the Black Raven King and the Emerald Heart, and they cannot spare the time to come to Silithus to fight.”

Old Deer Helmet, who has been wandering back and forth in his dreams these past few days, looks rather haggard. He said:

"However, since those damned Zandalari trolls have sent men to confront the swarm, we don't need to bring the entire Silverwing Sentinel. Master Latusius has already received authorization from the Black Raven King."

The Moon Guardians and Watchers will participate in this war against darkness as elite forces, and I myself will lead a Druid Vanguard to participate as well.

Our Silverwing General will also lead a contingent of Moon Priests.

but."

Old Staghelm hesitated for a moment. The elf with emerald green antlers looked Diakum up and down, and said:

"I participated in the War of the Shifting Sands a thousand years ago. In that battle, the Black Raven King personally led 100,000 elven vanguards, and with the assistance of the guardian dragons, they managed to repel the insectoid army. Now, in this war you initiated, the number of participants is pitifully small. How do you expect to breach the insectoids' dark temple?"
Judging from your unhurried demeanor these past few days, you seem completely unconcerned about tackling tough challenges. Is it that you're not good at war planning, or are you simply confident and well-prepared?

"I am waiting."

The Watcher replied to Old Deerhelm:

"We Draenei also have an army on our way. We will soon set off for the Scarab Wall, and they will surely be able to catch up with the battle."

I think the Black Crow King should probably start mobilizing for war. In the final stages of the plague, those demons who are sharpening their claws and preparing for battle will most likely begin the second invasion they crave.

I dare not say what the situation will be like in the Eastern Kingdoms by then, but you Kaldorei will certainly be the first to suffer a heavy blow.

"Indeed, if we focus too much on the panic of the plague, we will inevitably lose our ability to defend against the demons' attacks. This is merely a trick used by the corruptors to weaken us."

Staghelm's expression turned serious, and he said:

"What if the war turns against us, and what if the world needs help?"

"That's exactly why we're here!"

Diakum drew a triangular emblem on his chest and said:
"Regardless of our past relationship, as long as you never bow down before the devil, then we are friends! The Eredar's demon-slaying blade will always be drawn for those who walk alongside justice."

--------

“I feel my sanity is collapsing, the void is gnawing at my thoughts, and as I shape its flesh and blood, the void is also constantly adding very destructive ‘inspiration’ into my brain.”

Late one night, near a desert insect hive some distance from Cenarion Hold, Diakum finished his "study" for the night.

He rubbed his forehead and said to Nelly, who was standing guard beside him:

“Learning the power of the void requires not only talent, but also spirit. Normal spirit is like paying for learning in their eyes. Every bit I mastered, my spirit crumbled a little more.”

"But to be honest, at least what you made today looks somewhat human."

The archbishop pointed to the Qiraji worms lying in the sand in front of him.

She wasn't being sarcastic; she was simply stating the truth. The insect that Diakum had "recruited" from a nearby hive had completely changed its appearance.

It no longer even maintains the basic shape of the alien insect, but has been completely reshaped into a strange creature.

Supported by its thick, hoof-like feet, the creature has a streamlined shape. Its forelimbs are transformed into black, horny, tearing blades. Its mouth, which is connected to its body, is full of razor-like teeth. On both sides of its mouth are grotesque, curved, bony spikes that resemble "bull horns." It retains two pairs of elytra but can no longer fly, and can only support its body for short-distance jumps.

Above its body are bony, cutting claws; the grotesque bone blades can inflict irreparable lacerations with just a muscle contraction when biting its prey.

It also has a tail that is covered with horny, bony armor.

Under Diakum's gaze, the creature bounced and hopped as it adapted to its new body, emitting its first cries around him, its "creator."

“This is definitely not a creature you created on a whim; it clearly has some underlying hunting logic.”

Nelly, a biology whiz, squatted down, picked up a piece of meat, and tossed it to the newborn. Then, bathed in the desert moonlight, she looked up at Dick and asked:
"So what is it called?"

"Jetbug. I call it 'Jetbug Number One,' but it is actually still a different kind of bug. I just reshaped its flesh and blood, without deeply modifying its life essence."

This means that, in the eyes of other insect species, although it is completely different, it is still considered 'one of their own kind'.

Looking at what he had "sculpted" with his blood and flesh curse, Dick said:

"It should have been covered in a sturdy keratinous armor, but unfortunately, this insect's vitality is too weak to support it having such exaggerated fighting organs; it only resembles them in appearance."

"Don't underestimate yourself, Diakum. To be able to create such a new creature with great potential as a beginner in the Curse of Flesh has already proven your talent in the Void Path."

The Shadow Words whispered in Diakum's ear, urging him with a hint of curiosity:
"Your mind clearly contains a whole set of flesh-and-blood modification techniques specifically designed for the 'Swarm,' which could absolutely transform the current Qiraji into a more aggressive form, and even tailor-make an intelligent system that better suits their civilization's needs."

After you kill C'Thun, you can completely seize control of this Qiraji!
"You will personally guide the direction of their evolutionary life; well, the Sea of ​​Darkness will surely benefit from this astonishing creation."

"Just because I can do it doesn't mean I'm willing to."

The Vigilant rejected the allure of the Shadow Words, pointing a finger at the nearby insect hive and commanding his "creation":

"You're the one I've chosen, Flying Bug One! Go and show me your fighting prowess."

"Ow!"

Springer Flea One received the Creator's command. It swallowed the piece of meat that Nelly had thrown at it, quickly digested it, and then flapped its elytra, allowing it to leap and fly back into its former "home".

It killed the bewildered worker insect with a single strike.

With only the commands of the powerful "Creator" in its mind, it relentlessly attacked all life around it, and after killing seven worker insects, it finally attracted the attention of the hive guards.

Several fierce worker insects attacked Jumper No. 1. In the end, under Nelly's regretful gaze, Jumper No. 1 paid the price with its life, perishing together with the three worker insects. Its mangled body was dragged back to the nest by the other worker insects to serve as nourishment for the hatching of the eggs.

"Won't this cause genetic pollution in the insect population?"

The archbishop brushed his hair aside, turned to look at Diakum, and the watchman, while drawing the holy symbol on his chest in mourning for the death of Zergling One, shook his head and said:

"It has only had its flesh and blood reshaped. As I said, its essence is still a Qiraji worker. The swarm's genes have not changed. I haven't learned that much about the entire Curse of Flesh system yet."

"So you mean, in the future, if you wanted, it would really be possible to create a new Zerg civilization out of thin air?"

The archbishop widened his eyes and said:
"Is the Curse of Flesh and Blood really that powerful?"

“This falls under the category of ‘creation science,’ Nelly.”

Diakum reached out and hugged his beloved old man, whispering:

"Although all six fundamental forces have the ability to create, the Void is the true master in creation. Today, it has been deeply involved in the evolution of all races in Azeroth except for elves, trolls, and tauren."

The Titans attempted to create perfect life on Azeroth, but the Void thwarted their plans.

The entire world you see was 'created' by the Void. Although the Void's intentions were certainly bad, haven't they found the Holy Sun yet, thanks to a series of coincidences?

“I found it a few minutes ago, but I’m carefully observing the deadly duel of ‘Flying Bug No. 1’.”

Nelly smiled, pointed to the deep desert in the darkness ahead, and said:
"They're there, coming this way along the road. Garrosh and his Mag'har tribe, and their new friends, a group of powerful, horned creatures, perhaps the tauren you're talking about."

However, they looked quite disheveled.

Many of the minotaurs were coughing, and some were being loaded onto chariots pulled by giant beasts.

They were also infected by the plague, perhaps they came seeking help. However, the fact that the tauren could pass through the Kaldorei elves' outposts in Feralas suggests that the two races are quite close, at least not hostile. "The entire Kalimdor is night elf territory, how could the tauren, who make a living here, possibly be hostile to them? It's said that after the War of the Ancients, Archdruid Malfurion personally settled the creatures of Kalimdor."

The minotaurs may have received the same life-and-kin treatment as the boar-men and bear-men.

The vigilant shrugged and said:

"Let's go, let's go meet them."

He summoned his cool and noble Ghost Tiger, picked up Nelly, and rushed into the desert. The swift Ghost Tiger's running speed was truly as fast as the wind, like a sandstorm blowing in the desert. It carried the Watcher to the vicinity of the long convoy in a matter of minutes.

"They are vigilants!"

The Mag'har Prophet Gaiara, who was leading the way and guarding the front, cheered, and the orc warriors of the K'uree Alliance immediately shouted loudly, which also roused the tired tauren.

When Diakum stepped forward, Garrosh, his face weathered but now bearing a new battle axe, and the others straightened up and paid homage to the saint of Draenor with orcish etiquette.

Two Fireblade Sword Saints were also among them.

But these people were in really bad shape, as if they had just fled, especially the minotaur kodo caravans, which were almost full of all their belongings.

"Something happened in the Desolate Lands?"

Diakum asked in confusion:
"The Bloodhoof Clan should be the overlords there. It was the centaurs who drove you out?"

"Yes, but no."

Garrosh sighed.

He knew that Saint Diakum was a prophet, so he didn't care that Diakum knew about centaurs. As he led Diakum to see the minotaur chieftain, he explained in a low voice:

"When we arrived, everything was fine. Although the centaurs in Desolace were rampant, they were not beyond the limits that the Bloodhoof Clan could handle. Because it is the ancestral land of the Tauren, they did not want the Night Elves to interfere in the conflict between the two races. After we arrived, we also helped the Bloodhoof Clan win several battles."

It seemed they were about to drive the centaurs back to their territory, but just a few days ago, the situation changed.

"The centaur has come back to life! It's an evil necromancy spell."

Gaiara continued:
"The area of ​​effect covered all the tombs in the entire Desolace, and all the centaurs that had been killed, or even those buried long ago, were resurrected. These undead centaurs still possessed intelligence, and they attacked the living under the leadership of their respective war khans."

The undead attacked not only the tauren, but also the living centaurs; it was a massacre.

The centaurs' mobility was terrifying; before we could even react, the entire Desolace was swept away as if by a storm of blades.

The surviving centaurs were forced to retreat into their sacred Spear Valley, and the Bloodhoof Clan also escaped the desolate lands that had become a dead zone with our help and that of the Cenarion Circle.

Chieftain Cairne entrusted his good brother, Archdruid Hamuul Runetotem, to escort the elderly and weak to the Golden Plains for temporary refuge. He himself led the warriors of his tribe to support the war in Silithus, and of course, he also wanted to obtain some support from you.

While the plague cannot transform the tauren, it does leave them permanently weakened, which is why the tauren have been steadily defeated by the undead centaurs.

"The entire Desolace is now sealed off by night elf sentinels and priests, but they are doing it out of good intentions."

Garrosh looked around and said in a low voice:
"Before we left, Lantresor and Samuro risked a reconnaissance mission to the Centaur Spear Valley, where the Blademasters discovered something terrible."

Those surviving centaurs are joining the Burning Legion!

I've heard that the centaurs' ancestors were somehow connected to Cenarius the Defiler. In any case, they were terrified by the undead centaurs and could only beg their ancestors for mercy. The Defiler would love for another group of half-demons to appear in this world.

That place will soon descend into a frenzied battle between demonic centaurs and death centaurs.

The Burning Legion is coming!

The centaurs' fall was just the beginning.

Those barbarians reminded me of the orcs who drank demon blood—damn them! We tried to stop them, but we were outnumbered and outmatched, and in the end we only managed to rescue some imprisoned centaur elders and some elderly, weak, women, and children.

They parted ways with us in Feralas and sought refuge in the territory of the boar-men.

"Ah."

Diakum nodded. The rapidly deteriorating situation in Desolace confirmed his earlier suspicions: the Corruptors' patience was running out, and the countdown to the demon invasion of Azeroth had begun.

"Are you the saint Diakum that my brother Garrosh has been praising?"

Chieftain Cairne Bloodhoof, carrying a massive totem, spoke with a booming voice. He looked down at Diakum in human form and felt that he bore no resemblance whatsoever to the tall and mighty alien saint Garrosh had described.

Dick removed the Disguise Brooch, transforming himself back into a half-giant, and Chieftain Kane finally nodded in satisfaction.

Yeah.

Only a man with fists strong enough to stand on and arms strong enough to run a horse deserves the title of "sage".

Minotaur are as honest and straightforward as they appear, unable to keep secrets. So after a brief conversation, Kane told Diakum his request with a worried look on his face.

"Our shaman Magatha Grimtotem is helpless against the plague, and she suggests that we seek help from our distant relatives, the Highmountain tribe, who live far away in the Broken Isles. But our Kaldorei companions tell us that the Highmountain tribe is also suffering from the plague."

My elven friend told me that you possess a method to cure the plague?

"Yes, and you don't need to worry. The druids of the Kaldorei Kingdom will soon be able to master the manipulation and control of the degenerate spores."

Dick comforted him:
"Given your friendly relations with them, they will do everything in their power to heal you, but the war in Silithus is dangerous, and you should perhaps not join in."

"Actually, I didn't want to come either."

The old ox, true to its honest nature, didn't bother with pleasantries when warned against it. It sighed, wagged its tail, and spoke the truth:

“We are outnumbered and cannot withstand the ravages of war, but my brother Dezko keeps saying that he heard Anshe’s message and that we must come to this desert to find hope.”

I was so annoyed by it that I couldn't do anything about it. Since it was the sun god who spoke, I figured it might be true. So I brought my warriors over to try my luck and escort my Maghar brothers along the way.

Garrosh and his companions have helped us a great deal. Tauren are always sincere to their friends, and their enemies are our enemies!
Oh, Dezko is the chieftain of the Dawn Chaser tribe, we call him the Sunwalker. Other tauren worship the Earth Mother, but the Dawn Chaser tribe worships the sun god Anshe. But that strong, kodo-like warrior fell ill on the way here.”

Chieftain Bloodhoof led Diakum to the kodo caravan, pointed to a robust tauren lying inside, and said:
"It is very sick, and it seems that the plague is deliberately targeting it."

“This is the evil of fel energy against the Holy Light, Chieftain Bloodhoof. This shows that Chieftain Dezko has indeed received the will of the Primal Light.”

Dick immediately recognized that the tauren in front of him was not only a Lightwalker, but also a "Sunbringer" like himself, although the tauren's legendary class lineage was incomplete.

In their beliefs, the Holy Light is given the title of "Sun God," similar to the situation among the Arakkoa.

The Tauren's doctrine of the Holy Light is still at the level of "worship of all spirits." It is far inferior to the Draenei Church, let alone the human Church. However, animism has its advantages. At least the Tauren's class system is not rigid and is inclusive, with almost a hundred different classes emerging.

Among the tauren brought by Cairne Bloodhoof were warriors, shamans, druids, and the great black bull paladins who were now in front of him, who were followers of the Holy Light.

Each of them possesses unique skills and should not be underestimated.

May the Holy Light bless my brothers in faith!

The vigilant reached out and placed his hand on the sun-drenched walker's shoulder, and in that instant, the warm holy light transformed into a sacred halo that spread outwards.

Under the astonished gaze of Chieftain Bloodhoof, his gravely ill brother visibly recovered, while the tauren around him, ravaged by the plague, also gained more vitality thanks to the healing power of the Holy Light.

This won't cure the plague, but it will help them survive longer until they reach Cenarion Hold, where a forest elf sage invited by Old Staghelm will be stationed and can give them seed-infused water to drink.

The plague does not cause the flesh and blood of tauren blessed with life to degenerate, so they do not need to consume seeds; they can recover quickly simply by drinking healing water.

“Anshe! I have seen the true ‘Pioneer of the Sun’!”

Seconds later, Chief Dezko, tormented by the plague, opened his eyes and shouted the instant he saw Diakum:

“You are Anshe’s messenger, sent by the sun god to convey hope to us! Anshe foretells to me that an era of war is coming, and only by uniting by your side can the minotaurs hold out until the next era of peace arrives.”

It rose shakily and knelt at the feet of the watcher in a devout manner.

The Tauren warriors of the Dawn Chaser tribe initially had doubts about their chieftain's obsession, but when they saw Diakum's holy light change like sunlight, they also knelt down before Diakum, shouting "Anshe!"

This scene puzzled even Dick.

But soon, he heard a weak voice reminding him:

"The Holy Light saw the Void's temptation of you, and He was anxious. He was also showing His generosity, fearing that you would be pulled into the sea of ​​lightlessness by the Void. You are quite popular, Diakum."

"Lord Argus? Are you alright?"

Dick asked in his mind:
"It's been a long time since you've spoken to me."

“I was just taking a nap, but I heard Azeroth’s groans more clearly here. My sister is in pain, and we are so close to Him.”

The weakened Argus star soul said:
"Help Him, Diakum."

"Rest now, it will be soon! In a few days, I will reunite you with your sister."

Dick answered, then looked somewhat helplessly at the holy light that enveloped him and the Dawn Chaser tribe before him.

He sighed and said in a low voice:
"There's no need to force myself to do things I don't like. I have no intention of abandoning the Holy Light. There's no need to compete with the Void in terms of 'generosity.' You've already given me enough. I accept this 'gift' you've sent."

Do not worry, the trial of light and shadow has come to an end, and I will soon return to your light.

The holy light pulsed as if in response, transforming into a more vibrant midnight sun that rushed outwards, seemingly illuminating the darkness and making the Minotaur paladins even more devout.

"Why be so hypocritical? Diakum, you've clearly already fallen for him."

The whispers of shadows laugh in the light.

it says:

"If you weren't tempted, you wouldn't have been studying the mysteries of the Curse of Flesh and Blood for several nights in a row. What we are giving you is the path to the 'Creator,' a favor that the Holy Light cannot bestow upon you with such generosity."

He knows He is at a disadvantage, and now, in order to turn the tide, He can only offer you a herd of sickly black bulls as followers.

Haha, the power of the Holy Light in this world is far less than that of us in the void.

It feels good to be admired, doesn't it? (Warning)

But the Void is patient. It won't let you answer now. C'Thun is inciting the insectoids to prepare for war, and it too is aware of the impending danger. Go, take it down! Step over its corpse and ascend to the throne of the Void's 'Chosen One'.

(End of this chapter)