Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 273, Section 30: Bad News! If you don't help, my baby is going to die in the womb!

The meeting of the two Star Soul Lords was an epic moment. Although Diakum did not invite Chromie, how could this little guy, who had specially come to this special timeline to make a record, be willing to miss this moment?

She secretly hid in the shadows of the Heart Chamber, staring intently ahead, trying to memorize every detail. Meanwhile, her precious magic book floated beside her, its magical quill automatically recording information, not only adding textual annotations but also sketching the scene.

Cromi knew that his "following" couldn't fool the increasingly outrageous Diakum.

The fact that the Vigilant didn't expose her proves that she was allowed to be a fast-moving "Azerothian reporter." The Bronze Dragon herself knew she would pay the price for this "spying," but she didn't care.

Or rather, during the time he followed Diakum around the world, the clever Chromie had roughly guessed what Diakum was going to do.

She belatedly realized that on the very first day she met him, she had already been included in a grand plan by the Vigilant that directly concerned the fate and future of the world.

The alien sage gave him enough time and tolerance to make a choice.

Chromie wasn't quite sure why Diakum was being so lenient with her, considering how gentle the other four dragon sisters had been when they were captured. But that didn't stop Chromie from using her dragon wisdom to make a rather difficult choice.

Is she trying to break away from the Titans' order and return to the command of the true Creator?
Should we continue to act as the time jailers of the Order faction, striving to maintain that "correct" timeline?
The real question is, is the timeline that the Bronze Dragonflight has been trying to maintain truly "correct"? If it is correct, is this correctness based on the Titans' perspective or Azeroth's perspective?
Most importantly, how should Chromie, as an individual born in Azeroth, make her choices?

"I apologize, Lord Nozdormu, I apologize to Queen Soridormi who has always been so forgiving, I apologize to my brothers and sisters. But I may have to submit my resignation to the Bronze Dragonflight today."

Chromie looked at the Sand Scale emblem in his hand with great regret.

She knew she would most likely make a decision that would make her a "traitor," but she wouldn't say she regretted it too much.

After all, as a bronze dragon, she had already seen through many cruel truths hidden beneath history from the moment she was born. Nothing that had not yet happened, had already happened, or would never happen again could escape her eyes.

Having witnessed countless truths and lies, she was just one reason away from making her decision, and now, the awakening of the Star Soul Lord had delivered that final reason to her.

"This is the last entry in Chromie's travel journal."

She patted her most prized possession, the Time Capsule, and said to it:

"You will leave this timeline in a moment and return to Sephiroth's side in the main timeline. Diakum gave me a choice, and I also give my compatriots a choice. If they are willing, they can come here to find me."

That 'correct' timeline is no longer worth maintaining!

If the Bronze Dragons truly wish to fulfill their mission and duty to the world, then come here. I will be here waiting for them, and Azeroth will be here waiting for them as well.

This timeline may never be acknowledged, but at the end of this shaped destiny, my world and our star soul will finally gain true freedom.

Chromie's farewell to the first half of his life did not interrupt the others' audience with the two Star Soul Lords. In the instant before the power of creation, gathered by the Heart of Argus upon Azeroth, all the Eredar present were granted the right to look directly at the Star Souls.

They witnessed firsthand the exhausted blue star giant being enveloped in mid-air by the immense power of the world, and the Star Soul Lord of Argus ultimately chose the image of the Eredar as his own.

He also wore a golden helmet to conceal his weakness.

Even the greatest being in the galaxy, after being tormented by the Burning Legion for over 20,000 years, would have been reduced to a wretched state.

But that's why they say the Star Souls in the Star Sea are one family.

Their unique race is extremely small in number, but they are truly united. After realizing Argus's fatal weakness, the Azerothian world-soul, even while imprisoned and "seriously ill" in the ICU, still used his precious world power to heal his brother.

The magnificent, deep blue light flickered continuously, and even the scattered fragments of light, under everyone's watchful eyes, shaped clusters of wondrous crystals on the floor of the Heart Chamber. These crystals were directly derived from the power of the Star Soul, taking root and transforming into energy stones entwined with the deep blue light.

Aegwynn's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

She had lived for over eight hundred years and traveled to every corner of the world, but she had never seen such a pure and powerful convergence of energy as before, an energy convergence that could be used to catalyze all primal forces.

Even a single wisp of it can enhance all known powers in a short period of time.

But she dared not move.

Because while the Azerothian Star Soul Lord was healing his ancient brothers, he also spared some attention to "watch over" them.

Everyone present, including Diakum, showed signs of petrification, a warning from the world's power. Clearly, the precocious Azerothian world-soul, having suffered too much, did not trust these people.

But it's not His fault.

Look at how those "outsiders" treated Him before?

He is now afflicted with the grave disease of the void, and his hands and feet are still bound by the shackles of the Titans. He is the cradle of his own world, yet he cannot even communicate with the life within that cradle.

He was still a child!
Honestly, the Void Lords and Arcane Titans' outrageous behavior of "poisoning and imprisoning" infants would be punishable by execution even in the mortal world. Do you "Starry Sky Great Beings" even know that?

"Don't rush, don't make any unusual movements."

Diakum's voice rang in Aegwynn's ears, reminding him:
"We have no secrets from the Star Soul Lord. Let her observe us and let her decide our future. Lord Argus will speak well of us. As for whether to accept us, she will make her own decision."

"I'm not afraid."

Aegwynn was unusually weak at this moment, and she whispered:
"The problem is that I still have Sargeras' staff on me. If that makes the Star Soul Lord unhappy, I'm doomed."

"Well, instead of the Staff of Sargeras, you should take a look at Aluneth first."

Dick said helplessly:

"Your staff is about to be scared to death."

This is not a joke.

Aluneth is an ancient arcane element with its own consciousness. It often makes strange and insightful comments on some bizarre things. It has a very active personality. It is enough to frighten it when it sees a single Star Soul, let alone two Star Souls talking in front of it, one of which is a Supreme Star Soul whose potential surpasses that of all the stars.

It's no exaggeration to say that if he angered Azeroth, a single glare from him would likely cause an elemental being like Aluneth to explode on the spot.

It was really scared to death.

Aegwynn would have to constantly channel arcane energy into it to "rescue" it and keep this weakling from losing its mind.

"Rest now, my brother. You've exhausted yourself and need the deepest sleep to recover."

Azeroth quickly ended the "infusion healing" of the power of creation, and then gently surrounded Argus with its own world power, lifting him back into Diakum's body as if to enter a dormant state to repair and reshape the fragments of consciousness. The tug-of-war between Dick and the Supreme Star Soul had brought back at least 40,000 fragments of will for Argus, and he needed time to reassemble these fragments into a part of his Star Soul mind.

But this is the best Azeroth can do right now; she herself is "beset by illnesses" and is powerless to help her miserable compatriots.

After helping his ancient brother, the Azerothian Star-Soul also tried to create a form that reflected His will, imitating Argus, but he couldn't use the form of an Eredar, because that wasn't his child.

So Aegwynn was "targeted".

Under the astonished gaze of the former guardian, a blurry figure, bearing a six-point resemblance to her but with elven (troll) ears, appeared within the floating light and shadow of the world's power.

She hovered amidst the ethereal, silken light of creation, as if seated on her throne, looking down upon the crowd. With a flick of her finger, she dispelled the petrification effect on them, and then spoke in a solemn tone:

“Since my brothers trust you, then I can trust you too! This unexpected awakening has exhausted my already limited precious energy, and I must tell you about my current predicament.”

"Please give your orders, Lord of the Otherworld."

Diakum leaned down and said:
“We have come here on the orders of Lord Argus to ensure that you do not follow the same tragic path as Him. Your will is the direction in which we wield our swords.”

"how about you?"

The Azerothian star-soul gazed at Aegwynn and said:
"You are my child, are you willing to serve me as a stranger?"

"It is my honor, Your Majesty, no, Mother World!"

Aegwynn bowed respectfully and said:

"I too have suffered persecution from demons. The malice of the Dark Titans destroyed my family and separated me from my husband. My hatred for the Burning Legion is no less than yours. I was once the Guardian of Tirisfal."

Both publicly and privately, I will dedicate everything I have to your great cause.

"I will watch over you, for suffering has taught me not to trust words."

Azeroth said calmly:

"The world's greatest threat lies not outside, but within the planet itself! The Void Corruption has not yet reached the heart of the world, C'Thun's death has eased my burden considerably, and the Titans' shackles are already severely weakened. Therefore, neither of these is the most fatal threat to me."

"Are you referring to the rift that was carved out by the Force of Death ten thousand years ago?"

Diakum squinted and asked:

"What exactly did they do?" "I'm not quite sure, but ever since they tore open the crack in the unified field of all things, my life force has been constantly draining, decaying, and declining over the past ten thousand years. The speed at which I have weakened far exceeds the torment that the void has inflicted on me."

The Star Soul Lord made a gesture of rubbing her forehead, and said in a pained tone:

"The servants of death left something evil in that rift, and that insidious thing has been stealing life from the planet. It is constantly weakening me, making it difficult for me to resist the nightmares of the void as firmly as I once was."

The device left behind by the Titans became shackles, binding me and preventing me from fighting back.

Find it.
Remove it!

"Where exactly is that crack?"

Aegwynn asked seriously:

"Please understand, but this world is too vast for mortals. Without clues, it may take us many years to find the malice that torments you."

"In those isolated mists formed by the splitting of the continental shelf and the dissipation of the world's power."

Xinghun waved her hand, forming a projection of a celestial body from starlight. She held up the planet, pointed to a sea area in the southern part of the Endless Sea, and said:
"Right here!"
After the Great Sundering, this place was transformed into an isolated realm by the power of the Titan Device, where the malevolent minions of death and their evil forms have remained hidden from the world for ten thousand years. I will try to dispel this fog as soon as possible; you must find it!
I can't afford to weaken any longer, or I'll not even be able to stay conscious, and I'll be at the mercy of the Force thugs.

"The rift is in Pandaria."

Chromie's voice rang out from the far end of the Chamber of Hearts. She strode forward, leaning on her staff, and whispered:

"When the world was shattered during the War of the Ancients, that place was isolated from the world by the self-sacrifice of the Pandaren Emperor. No wonder even the Dragon Aspects failed to discover the problem all these years."

"The traitor of the world!"

The Star Soul Lord became somewhat agitated upon seeing Chromie, and she reprimanded in a hoarse voice:

"Get out! You children who have recognized a thief as their father have broken my heart!"

"I come to apologize, I come to repent, I come to ask for your forgiveness, Mother World."

Chromie dispelled his illusion, revealing the massive bronze dragon's body before the Soul of the World.

She gathered her golden wings, lowered her once proud head, and whispered:
“I have seen the truth with my own eyes, and I will no longer be deceived by that intimidating mission. I am willing to give up the power given to me by the Titans, and only ask to return to your embrace and become your true guardian.”

Faced with the Bronze Dragon's apology, Star Soul remained silent, but his aura remained cold.

The current Dragon Aspects were all originally native to Azeroth, the proto-dragons, the children of Azeroth, and could even be called the "firstborn sons of the world".

The current Dragon Aspects once assisted the Titan Keeper Tyr in killing the dangerous corrupted progenitor Dragon Aspect Galakrond, thus gaining the attention of the Titan Keepers. With the help of the Keepers, they obtained Titan powers and became part of the Titan Keeper system.

But there's more to the story than meets the eye regarding Titan's "power transfer".

When you stop viewing the Titans as "glorious and righteous saviors," you'll find that their motives are not pure, and even the question of why the progenitor Galakrond suddenly went mad is full of doubts.

Galakrond is no ordinary protodragon!
It was probably the most powerful life form ever to have been born among the native creatures of Azeroth. According to a calculation by Khadgar in the official history, Galakrond was three times the size of Dalaran. A being nearly a hundred kilometers long could not possibly have been a naturally born individual.

"I have carefully chosen a leader for you. Galakrond is my most powerful child. I have blessed it. It was destined to become the king of the proto-dragons, the leader of the world's guardians, and to establish a glorious age of dragons."

I once hoped that Galakrond could lead the Proto-Dragon to overthrow the shackles the Titans had placed on me.

But the Titans' evil experiments unleashed the Force, corrupting and destroying it!

The Azerothian world-soul avatar glared at Chromie and shouted angrily:

"It was your master who took advantage of the depravity of my powerful children, deceived and seduced your naive leader, and bestowed upon you power to make you the jailers of the world! You have betrayed your own mother and are still gloating and complacent."

You maintain the order of Titan and strive to make my world develop according to Titan's perfect blueprint, but child, can you understand?

That's not my order!
If things continue according to the order you maintain, in what form will I ultimately be born? If you are unwilling to be forcibly molded, do you think your poor mother would be?

You say you want to repent?

Krodom, what will you use to repent?
The 'correct' timeline maintained by the Bronze Dragons has almost completely blocked any possibility of my counterattack! The more you uphold that 'correctness,' the more you suppress me from waking up from this damned field of universal unity.

Deathwing's corruption pierced my heart even more. I had to watch helplessly as my most talented child was driven mad by the corruption of the Void Force, just as the Void corrupted me in an attempt to make me serve it.

Deathwing's present is the future of your poor mother.

And you, Bronze Dragons! You are still doing everything you can to ensure I head towards that tragic future. I truly want to forgive you like a mother would, but how can I, now bound by chains, convince myself to forget that pain and unbearable suffering?

Chromie lowered her head to the ground.

She was powerless to refute the Star Soul's anger, and at that moment she suddenly remembered why the Bronze Dragon Aspect Nozdormu had chosen to exile himself to the timeline network.

Did His Majesty Nozdormu also know all this? Did he choose to abandon his duty out of self-reproach and regret?

"Chromie is trustworthy, Your Majesty. Although the Guardian Dragons were deceived by the Titan Guardians and became minions of the Titans, and although, as you said, they 'recognized a thief as their father,' they have indeed been diligently protecting the basic order of this world all these years."

Although they believe they are fulfilling a mission given to them by the Titans, and they even have difficulty finding your presence or communicating with you effectively, their protection of the world order does objectively alleviate your pressure.

"It's a good thing for a prodigal son to return, Your Majesty."

Seeing the atmosphere had become tense, Diakum stepped forward to act as a peacemaker, intending to use his "face-saving power," and persuaded:

"You still need your most powerful children to be your representatives, to cleanse the corrupt order for you, to punish the Force's scourges, and to protect the cradle of the world. We are willing to protect you, but the Eredar are outsiders, and we must eventually return to our homeland."

Azeroth needs a force that obeys you directly, and there is no better world protector than the dragons.

Lady Aegwynn and I have been trying to rebuild this force for you, and I have even watched tragedy unfold. Perhaps soon, a guardian dragon will be able to break free from the Titans' seduction and truly return to your embrace.

And you should know about the existence of 'transformation into a giant dragon'.

"Those children are brave, but they lack critical thinking."

The Azerothian world-soul sighed helplessly and said:
"After the elemental lords were sealed in the elemental realm by the Titans, I lost the power to intervene in the changes of the world. Those elemental lords had once obeyed the void, and they were inherently unruly. Trapped in the field of the unity of all things, I was forced to seek new warriors."

I noticed the conflict between the Guardian Dragons and the Proto-Dragon.

I then thought of bringing those children who were unwilling to obey the Titan order back to my command. I commanded the remaining elements of the world to embrace them, but they gained power but not wisdom. Driven by their beastly nature, they were unwilling to lie low and rashly started a war, resulting in their defeat by the guardian dragons. Even their leader was imprisoned.

That was a failed attempt.

"But the dragons did not die. Your attempt has not failed. Letting the beasts realize that failure is not a bad thing, and 20,000 years of imprisonment is enough to calm down the dragon kings."

Diakum waved his hand and said:
"Next, we will try to unleash the children you have shaped and guide them to understand their great mission. Prodigals like Krodom also deserve your trust."

She will lose the ability to travel through timelines, but the time network left by the Titans is already corrupt and not worth seeking.

By restoring her to the power of the world, you will make her a true 'Guardian of Time' for you, defending her against invaders from other timelines and ensuring your path to freedom remains undisturbed.

I think you should give her a chance. Most importantly, as bronze dragons, they have no secrets about the changes in this world.

She will become your most outstanding 'prophet'.

The Azerothian Star Soul remained silent.

It was clear that she, the "creator," was truly heartbroken by the actions of the guardian dragons, but after a moment, Star Soul nodded.

Circumstances dictate her fate; she is now a lonely woman plagued by numerous ailments. Although her distant cousin Argus is in a miserable state, at least he has the unwavering Eredar loyal to him. For His sake, the Eredar are willing to fight demons in the starry sea for 20,000 years.

Such loyal children are the envy of Azeroth, and as a "child prodigy," she is also good at learning from failures.

Diakum was right. She had to seize this opportunity, which might be her last chance to save herself. She also had to cultivate such a loyal offspring to protect her precarious path of star soul growth.

Those heart-wrenching hardships made her unwilling to forgive easily, but they also forced her to make a more rational "fourth counterattack plan".

That's it.

Let's give these dragons another chance.

That's a child I raised with my own hands. Even if they've gone down the wrong path, can I really sever ties and never acknowledge them again?
"But only this once!"

Xinghun said coldly:
"I have lost too much. From this day forward, I will never forgive any betrayal again."

(End of this chapter)