Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 268, Section 25: The Five-Colored Team Strikes Back - Chromie's Dragon Travel Group Gains Two More Generals

"Why is light seeping from underground? Why can I hear strange singing? Why are the Lightforged kneeling? Why have the lamentations of the Old Gods suddenly disappeared? Hey, can anyone tell me what's going on?"

In the Silithus Desert, in a safe zone far from the Scarab Wall, General Shandris Feathermoon, having witnessed too many strange things today, leaned on her battle halberd, guarding her timid husband aboard a Naaru starship of the Holy Light Legion, and stared blankly at the Qiraji ruins shrouded in floating golden light.
Do not!
It would be more appropriate to call it the "Qila Rift Valley" now.

The terrifying aftershocks of the battle that had previously emanated from underground had completely torn apart the ground here. The solid crust, like hardened rock or a fragile eggshell, collapsed along the huge underground tunnels carved out by the Qiraji worms under wave after wave of extreme energy impacts.

It was as if an invisible giant was constantly stomping on the ground, causing a huge tremor throughout Silithus.

First, a blinding, cold light enveloped the collapsed ruins. The warriors could hear the roar of holy light and the howl of evil gods. After the lamentations, darkness descended, and two shadow energies from the same source fought fiercely around the entire ruined battlefield.

It's like a civil war between evil gods fighting for territory.

Finally, when the darkness became so intense that it obscured the light of the sky, the most brilliant light burst forth from the core of the darkness.

Just as darkness gives birth to dawn, just as light emerges from shadow, although the main battlefield was confined to the underground of the ruins of Qira, this ancient desert was permanently altered in its terrain by the violent impact of the primal force.

Although Zul, the Dark Prophet who was the last to leave the battlefield, was certain that it was merely a battle between the Vigilant Diakum and the Old Gods, Shandris was no fool.

She experienced the ancient war.

She could tell what kind of terrain damage would be caused by a battle between demigods, and the scene in front of her was something that a demigod could not have caused!
If she had to put it into words, she felt as if she had returned to ten thousand years ago, when the Night Oath, who had transformed into the God of War of the Moon, stormed into Azshara's palace. Only the war between the two lesser gods could produce such a large-scale terrain destruction effect.

So, did she misjudge the situation?

Was that vigilant saint actually a minor god walking in holy light?
Because the ground was too dangerous, the Starship Storm Fortress teleported the warriors to the safer air at a critical moment. In addition to the people on the main ship platform, the other four escort ships were also filled with warriors of various races who had been teleported up. It was as if the clouds were full of people.

They were all watching from the air as everything below unfolded in a way that defied belief.

General Yu Yue felt that her brain was not working properly.

She gazed at the golden, holy light that enveloped the rift valley before her, as if the entire land had been blessed by holy light. This might signify that the Watcher had slain the dangerous ancient god and won the War of the Shifting Sands, but she certainly had too many questions she wanted to answer.

Unfortunately, no one here could answer her question.

The Lightforged who had piloted their starships to play "StarCraft: Protoss vs. Zerg" knelt in unison before the starship's navigation console, facing the "Lightforged Rift." Led by their respective commanders, they loudly sang praises of the greatness of the Holy Light. Even Yrel and Marad joined the five main heroes in the chant.

As Diakum's two voters, probably no one present knew better than them what had just happened.

They were deeply moved, and the "righteousness of the Lightforgers" echoing in the hymns of the Holy Light resonated in the hearts of Yrel and Marad.

The opening of that path allowed them to share in the power and insights of Saint Diakum. Through the special bond between kin and master, the two were also able to share in the supreme grace that the Vigilant received in the light.

They seemed to have had an epiphany.

Wonderful knowledge swirled in their minds, while radiant holy runes surrounded them, leaving them no time for anything else.

"Don't disturb them; this is a very important moment for the voters."

The twins, who had been led away from the tunnel by the dark prophet Zul and the Loa gods, seemed to have calmed down. They saw the undeniable miracle of holy light before them and realized that there was a problem with Zera's prophecy of the holy light. Commander Diakum had not fallen into the void simply because he had entered the darkness.

On the contrary, he found a new and brilliant path in the gaps between light and shadow, adding a precious possibility to the supreme holy light.

This reality was enough to bring the two of them to their senses, and Saloras, dressed in black and leaning on the Holy Twilight Staff, said in a hoarse voice:

"The Holy Light blesses the warriors, allowing them to share in the profound truths of the Vigilant Saints' path. The Lightforged, witnessing miracles, face a choice of faith: whether to switch from the 'Pure Light Oath' faction to the Vigilant's 'Twin of Light and Shadow' path."

Do not disturb them, and do not anger the Holy Light.

What's with those singing sounds?

Farondis rubbed his ears and whispered:
“I can’t understand that ethereal hymn, but I think it’s trying to convey some message to me. Whose voice is that? Is it your Naaru?”

"It's a glorious chorus!"

Oleses, dressed in gold, explained:
"His Holiness Adar and his followers are singing hymns with the newborn Holy Spirit of Radiance. It is a special way of communication between the Naaru. They are welcoming their new brethren, and the newborn Naaru are expressing their gratitude for their assistance and washing away their weariness with their glorious holy power."

He is very powerful.

Far more powerful than ordinary naaru, its favor in the light is almost on par with that of the primordial naaru.

"A newly born Naaru?"

This was the first time Old Deerhelm had ever seen such a sacred creature as the Naaru. As he gazed in awe at A'dal spinning and singing before him, he murmured:

"So the Naaru are born in the material world? And our world is honored to be the cradle of the Naaru's birth?"

"No, she was talking about Diakum."

Archbishop Nelly explained:

"The Vigilant is a 'half-Naaru' for some special reason. Just now, in the fierce battle between light and darkness, he completed the completion of his mythical bloodline and has become a true descendant of the Holy Light."

He was the newborn Naaru, a peculiar humanoid Naaru.

Look!
He’s back.”

As Nelly cheered, all the demigods looked up. The holy light that lingered in the Lightforged Rift below transformed into a band of light like the sunset, swirling and forming a holy curtain. Against that sacred backdrop, a "crystal half-giant" floated into the air with his hands behind his back.

No one could see his form in the light clearly; they could only vaguely make out a blurry outline.

But they could see golden cherubs surrounding him, singing praises, and holy white wings fluttering in the wind behind him.

His guardians were the Seraphim of the Holy Forged, and two guardian dragons, one green and one red, followed him in his light, constantly roaring with the joy of freedom. The starship's sturdy hull could not stop his steps; it was as if he were moving through the light. With a not-too-bright flash, the newborn Naaru appeared before everyone's eyes.

"I am back."

Diakum’s gentle voice rang out from within, and Nelly rushed forward, opening her arms and plunging into the light.

The archbishop was worried, fearing that her boyfriend would once again fall into the same predicament of being lost in the light, but in the next instant, as the holy light faded, the crystal half-giant returned to the human form of Saint Diakum.

He hugged his girlfriend and even romantically twirled her around in front of everyone. Thankfully, he remained rational and didn't engage in an exaggerated celebration like a "victory kiss."

Most of the people here are believers in Holy Light.

Although everyone sings praises of true, good, and beautiful love, the Holy Light Walkers are mostly reserved.

After Nelly was gently placed on the ground, the Watcher looked at the crowd before him, and they looked at him in return. His heavy and imposing lion armor was now in pieces. Although solid light filled the cracks and shattered pieces, the exaggerated damage to the armor alone showed how intense his battle with the Old God had been.

The Ashbringer's Blade, held in the saint's hand, was now shattered, with only the hilt remaining intact.

The sword, forged from celestial gold, shattered into fragments of varying sizes, their basic shapes maintained by the lightning formed from holy light pulling them apart. Even the flowing light within the grooves of the blade lost its mystery, revealing the broken crystal core.

But this broken state did not make the Saber appear dejected.

On the contrary, it is like a victor who has fought with all his might to defeat a powerful enemy, and does not regard the scars as a disgrace, but as a medal of courage. The seemingly defeated form of the "Holy Sword Thousand Blades" is just a stage in its "growth" as a weapon to a higher level.

Every blade in the world has its limitations; even the sharpest knife can only shatter the body. Only by forging light into a sword can it be sharp enough to tear through the darkness.

"C'Thun is dead! The terrifying legend of the Thousand-Eyed Demon has come to an end. The Qiraji Empire has collapsed, and from now on, there will be no more danger in the sands of Silithus."

He announced to the crowd:
"We united and defeated the invincible Old Gods. The Kaldorei finally reclaimed victory in the War of the Shifting Sands, and the loyal Sandfury clan was rewarded with freedom from their millennia-long garrison."

The Zandalari Empire has fulfilled its oath of protection; may glory belong to Dazar'alor. "May glory belong to the Vigilantes!"

The Dark Prophet Zul was a true showman; as soon as Diakum finished speaking, he immediately responded with a loud salute.

Look how eloquent Diakum is!

He won this battle single-handedly, and the combined achievements of the elven and troll allied forces in today's battle probably didn't even equal the results of that single Holy Light Arbiter secondary cannon shot from the Stormhold starship.

Especially after breaching the ruins of Qiraji, the Lightforged who spawned on the battlefield almost single-handedly won all the tough battles.

The trolls and elves followed behind, fighting off the scattered insect swarms. It was like following a max-level player through a dungeon, clearing out the mobs, and managing to snag a few kills on the Qiraji Lord with great difficulty. In the end, they even managed to get a glorious achievement.
But they still shared the glory of victory with all the participants.

That's why people say someone can be considered a saint.

Look at the art of language; it's something everyone here could study for centuries.

"Now that the Qiraji swarm has been completely defeated, the ancient mission of the Troll Empire has come to an end. Gentlemen, we should go. The warriors of the Sandfury Clan are still waiting for us in the yellow sand."

The Dark Prophet proclaimed:
"We humbly request that the Holy Sage Diakum spare some time to visit Dazar'alor. The King of Gold will surely prepare a grand feast to entertain him."

The troll is leaving.

He was just like those big spenders who leave the party after finishing a dungeon, but Diakum stopped him, saying:
"Please go and appease the warriors of the Sandur Clan first. However, if you two are able, I would like to stay in Silithus for a few days. After I have settled some trivial matters, there is an important matter that I would like to invite the Prophet and the Princess to go together."

"Honorable Lightforger, is this matter?"

Princess Talanji asked softly, with the same humility she would show to Loa, and Dick nodded, saying:
"It is related to the fate of the world, and also to the future of the Zandalari Empire."

"hiss"

Her Highness gasped.

She looked at the Dark Prophet Zul, who nodded and agreed without saying anything. But the princess clearly saw that Lord Zul, who appeared calm, was secretly clenching his thumb behind his back.

It even caused bleeding.

This proves that the Dark Prophet's shock or excitement was difficult to suppress.

The clever princess suddenly understood.

Perhaps the invitation from that saint was the real reason the Dark Prophet insisted on coming to the Silithus Desert, and now that he has received the invitation, his goal has been achieved.

"The same applies to you all!"

Diakum looked at the others in front of the navigation console.

Whether Kaldorei elves or Highborne elves, he said:
"Since you're here, stay a few more days. Then we'll go together to that important place and help you 'Children of the World' rediscover your true mission."

Several demigod mages nodded, and even Ms. Aiya Blue Moon, who was in a hurry to go back and work on her midterm exam teaching plan, did not express any objection.

The vigilant didn't use a question; they weren't given the right to refuse.

What?
You say you're a demigod, and there's no power in this world that can force you to make a decision?

Alright, look at C'Thun's still-warm body, then look at Adal, who stands behind the Vigilant, spinning his body and singing hymns, and those Lightforged whose eyes are filled with fanatical worship, ready to draw their swords and kill at the Vigilant's command at any time. Then think carefully about your own situation. The Vigilant generously allows you to organize your thoughts a bit more.

"You two follow me!"

After exchanging a few pleasantries with the leaders and commanders, Diakum looked at the twins, whose expressions were complex, and said:
"I want to have a serious talk with you."

------

"Wow, isn't that Mylinsera? The Emerald Princess! It's said that she was the one who led the creation of the Scarab Wall a thousand years ago, sealing away the Qiraji Empire's swarm. Everyone thought she was dead, but it turns out she's still alive and was rescued by the Vigilant."

On the crystal dome of the Tempest Keep's escort ship, the Exodar, Teregris, resting in her dragon form atop a cluster of warm crystals, looked up at her two dragon companions soaring freely in the light. She spoke to Chromie beside her:

"But who is that red dragon next to me? I don't think I've ever seen her before."

"Rheastarsa, a very 'strange' red dragon."

Chromie poked her cheek and said:
"She is also the daughter of the Red Dragon Queen, but compared to the other princes and princesses, she has always kept a low profile since she came of age. How should I put it? Rheastarssa is an anomaly in the Red Dragonflight, no, in the entire Guardian Dragonflight.

Some of her ideas are 'extreme'.

However, this does not change the fact that Rhea is a kind-hearted person. During the War of the Shifting Sands, she took the initiative to take on the responsibility of building the Scarab Wall in place of the Red Dragon Prince Kalecgos, believing that her brother was more in need of shouldering the responsibilities and mission of the Red Dragon Legion than she was.

She was sealed away in the Temple of Qiraji for a thousand years along with Mylinsera; she is undoubtedly a hero who protected the dragon army.

"Yes, they all did great things."

Teregosa sighed, her words filled with envy.

However, a moment later, the bold dragon that had been resting on the roof of the Naru spaceship asked in confusion:

"Haven't they gained their freedom? Why don't they return to their respective holy lands to rest and report their safety to their people? Why are they still flying around here? Are they on guard against any possible remnants of the insect swarm?"
No way!
The burst of holy light from the Vigilant just now has burned to death every insectoid that might exist here. A demigod who has penetrated the power of the Force is truly terrifying; I feel that ordinary demigods wouldn't stand a chance against him.

"Hmph, he's a dual-force chosen demigod, a formidable figure even in the Star Sea."

Chromie quickly began writing in his ever-expanding encyclopedia, then casually explained:

"And what kind of look is that? Do you think Mylinsera and Rheastassa don't want to leave?"
They can't possibly walk!
We two are being watched by Lord Star Soul, but the other two are in even worse shape. The Shadow Mark of the Vigilant is imprinted on their dragon scales, which is an extension of the power of the void. You try letting them escape.

They've barely left Silithus before their flesh and blood mutated into monsters.

"Silly boy, they've joined our dragon tour group too! Look, red, black, blue, green, yellow—now the Vigilant has all five dragon colors. Sometimes I really wonder if he has some kind of weird 'collecting fetish.'"

"I feel like he's becoming less and less like a good person."

Tyreggosa stretched out her body freely on the beautiful starship gem cluster. She had given up and stopped trying to contact the Blue Dragonflight, and began to enjoy her "vacation" in a carefree manner.

Just a few seconds later, Chromie slammed the tome shut in her hand and said to Teregosa:
"Don't be in a hurry. Now that C'Thun's corruption has been resolved, the Vigilant can now fulfill his true purpose for coming here. The path to the Chamber of Hearts is clear, and the time to meet the Star Soul has arrived!"
Get ready, Teregosa.

Your vacation is over.

Next, you, me, and the other three great female dragons will all have to assume our respective responsibilities.

"But didn't you say that bronze dragons have rules and can't participate in world changes at will?"

Blue Dragon said in surprise:

Are you going to disregard the rules?

"Hmph, aren't rules meant to be broken?"

Chromie rolled her eyes, then looked at the flowing sand light surrounding her hands and sighed:
"Besides, those are rules left by the Titans, and they don't apply to the Lord of Azeroth! We may have to serve a different master next, but how should we put it? On the bright side, it's called turning over a new leaf, or a prodigal son returning home."

It might not be a good thing, but it's definitely not a bad thing either.

(End of this chapter)