Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 33: The Longest Day: It’s time to say goodbye, let’s get going

The Battle of Antoran Plains lasted for two full days.

In the end, the Eredar's defense was successful. As the last ship of civilians was sent away, the demons stopped their attack and began to retreat. But just like the ending of the Battle of Krokuun, after the demons withdrew, they left behind a land full of corpses, death, and fel pollution.

The fertile grain-producing areas have become history. Now, there are fel molten pools and broken earth everywhere. Even the sky is completely covered by thick sulfur-stinking clouds. The Antoran Plain has been renamed the "Antoran Wasteland".

Standing on the dilapidated walls of the city of Antorus, where everyone was evacuating, the exhausted Dick could see with his own eyes that this fertile land, once the heart of the Eredar civilization, was now filled with sinkholes.

The polluted magma continued to gush out from the mantle layer, replacing the sweet rivers and lakes, turning the land that once gave birth to millions of people into a hell with no grass growing, and turning it into a barren land exactly the same as he remembered.

Only demons can survive here.

On the city gate in front of Dick, there were hung the heads of a series of Burning Legion demons, including the Supreme Fel Lord Zakuun, the Lord of Doom Krosus, the Queen of Hate Alisabhar, etc., as well as demon heads piled like a mountain outside the city gate. These were all proof of the great military achievements of the Eredar in the war.

However, looking at the land before them that had completely lost its last vitality, no surviving Eredar warrior would call this battle a "victory."

They triumphed over the horrific demons for the second time, but this time the losses were even more terrible than those suffered at the Battle of Krokuun.

Grand Archon Kil'jaeden was seriously injured, battlefield commander General Elodus was killed, the Assassin's Court lost two-thirds of its members, the Teleportation Court was completely destroyed, the local defenders of the Antoran Plains were defeated and their organization was broken, the newly reorganized Mac'Aree Garrison was reduced to only one tenth, and the Hand of Argus Legion was once again on the verge of annihilation.

Of the 2,500 men who had been added to Dick's army, only 307 remained after the war.

Kil'jaeden no longer had to worry about not having enough Heart of Argus. After this battle, the Eredar had enough to give each surviving veteran a Heart of Argus artifact, not counting the new recruits.

In other words, after losing the Antoran Plains, the Grand Archon had less than 150,000 troops available to defend the capital of Mac'Aree.

It’s not that the Eredar are so miserable that they have no more soldiers available. The main reason is that the location of the Antoran Plain is very important. It is the port hub connecting to the Eredar Governorate on the continent across the Eredar Sea. Now that it is occupied by demons, it means that communication and reinforcements between the continents are completely cut off.

The people on the other side of the Eredas Sea, who were also invaded by demons, can only rely on themselves.

"Dick, it's time to go."

Captain Nellie's voice sounded behind him, and Dick withdrew his gaze from the scorched earth in front of him.

He looked at Nari behind him. The latter was very lucky. While her commander Targas had lost an arm, Nari fought the entire Antoran War with only a scar on her neck.

Just an inch away from severing her spine.

Dick treated her personally, and it took him a whole day of using holy light burning and various healing techniques to pull her back from the brink of hell. However, the injury meant that Nari's voice could never return to its former clarity.

The hoarse voice seemed to be filled with a sadness that could never be wiped away.

"Has Malderan awakened?"

he asked.

Nellie nodded and said:
"He just woke up and is attending his uncle's funeral. The Archon wants to bury General Elodus in the City Hall of Antorus, along with the remains of the warriors we recovered. The surviving warriors hope that you can personally preside over the memorial service."

"I?"

Dick shook his head and said:
"I'm just a newly minted priest. I'm not qualified to preside over such a high-level memorial service. I don't have any experience. Aren't the high-ranking priests of the K'ure Temple here?"

"Gone."

Naili said numbly:

"They're all dead. The Church of Holy Light in Antorus was attacked three times within ten minutes by the Dreadlords who infiltrated it yesterday, using animated Hellfire. The priests and the wounded were all killed. Now, you are the highest-ranking official priest in the Antoran Plains."

Dick nodded, picked up the Grudge of Kazzak beside him, and prepared to go to the city hall of Antorus City.

As he passed, Nellie whispered:
"Can we really win?"

"OK!"

Dick put his hand on her shoulder and said softly:

"The warriors' sacrifices have bought back precious time, my child. The Naaru's ships are closer to our world than ever before."

"But there are only five days left before the thirty-day doomsday announcement."

Nellie clenched her fists and said:
"If they don't come, if they don't catch up, if they fool us, then we... we are..."

"Believe in the Holy Light! They will definitely come!"

Dick interrupted Nellie's hesitation and said:
"Be patient, child. Come, I need some helpers. Call Imira over here. She only hurt her leg, but she can still perform her duties as a priest."

An hour later, in the city center square of Antorus, which was as dilapidated as a bombed-out city, Dick, wearing a bishop's robe, brought the limping Imira to the pulpit under the gaze of the surviving warriors.

His arm was still bandaged and he could only flip through the scriptures with one hand. Next to him, Imira's face turned pale with every step she took, and she even nearly fell down because she couldn't stand.

But no one laughed at their embarrassment, and even Commander Kil'jaeden who was sitting below did not think there was anything wrong with it.

After all, the commander himself is in a wheelchair.

He had previously single-handedly killed two demon demigods with the power of the world, and countless demons had died under his sword. In the end, even the violent Fel Lords and Doomguard had to retreat hastily under Kil'jaeden's destructive charge. He had indeed fulfilled the duties of a Grand Archon on this battlefield.

The dark impression of the "deceiver" in Dick's mind has been replaced by the Grand Archon who leads the people to fight.

Once upon a time, Dick believed that the War of the Ancients fought by the night elves was the most brutal anti-magic war in this physical universe, but now... his thoughts have "changed" a little.

In the past twenty-five days on Argus, at least nine demon demigods have been buried here, countless legendary demons have fallen, and the corpses of lower-level demons, connected head to toe, are enough to fill the entire Eredas Sea twice!

All the demon leaders that Dick could name or were familiar with died once in this world. Well, at least once.

Even a cunning bastard like Tichondrius was forced to lead his troops and was purified by old Velen himself in the battle to raid the Archon's Seat three days ago.

Although the current Burning Legion is only the initial version, it not only does not have a senior commander like Manari as the core of command, it has not recruited top fighters like the Annihilan Pit Lord, nor has it developed war weapons like the Star Wars Battleship, and has not yet obtained the "Immortal Blessing" of the Fel Argus.

Although defeating the "incomplete Burning Legion" may not necessarily be considered the most glorious achievement in life by Lao Gu Hui, after all, he had witnessed the glorious moment when President Sa was sealed in his previous life.

Diakum has seen the big world.

But if this is just the beginning of a new life, it is enough to make Dick respect his new identity and the beginning of his new life.

"Well"

Dick stood on the pulpit, and the soldiers below looked at him silently.

Behind him was the city hall filled with the remains of the victims. The recovered "holy relics" were placed there in the most solemn manner. The garrisons holding purification torches were waiting to light them to ensure that the victims would not be desecrated by the demons that followed.

He pondered for a moment, closed the holy book, and decided to "improvise". He first plagiarized the content of a sermon given by Old Velen ten thousand years later, and then began with the priests' iconic aria and said:
“Blessed are the holy ones.

For the filthiness spread by the wicked will be consumed by the blazing fire, leaving no shame behind.

Blessed are the humble.

The arrogant demons who wanted to spread darkness have been silenced, and they can take nothing away except the response of the sword.

Blessed are the brave men.

The cowardly servants secretly curse you and me to perish at the hands of evil, but the towering walls built by the sacrifices have time and again become the backbone of the world, supporting our undefeated belief.

Blessed are the righteous.

The arrogant destroyers set foot on our blessed land with the wish of destruction. They sent down magic fire to burn our souls, cleansed our minds with curses, and tortured our bodies with sharp blades, but the Eredar responded to them with equal guardian wrath.

They want us to wail, so they wail.

They curse us to suffer, and so they suffer.

They expect us to despair, so they despair.

They weakly beg us to kneel at the feet of their evil masters, and that's what they do!

The shameless ones were afraid of violence and drew their swords against the weak, so they were satisfied to see people who followed the guidance of kindness and faith, fearlessly holding up the holy swords and challenging the strong ones with malicious intentions.

We did not fall!

We are still moving forward!

We tread through the flames of fel energy, dispel the dark haze of shadows, defeat the cowardly monsters, and slay the evil creatures of hell!

Soldiers! Commanders! People! We can proudly stand tall in this war-torn wasteland, hold our heads high, and answer the question of destruction to the world that watches us.

The Eredar remain! Argus stands!"

Dick raised his one arm high, shaking his fist with a gentle elegance that was completely unbecoming of a priest, and with the ferocious expression of a warrior, shouting:

"Let the Dark Titan come! Let the Destroyer of the Star Sea come! We will answer His questions, and we will respond to His declaration of doom!
He can destroy us, but He cannot scare us!
He can kill us, but he can never conquer us!

In the name of the world, we will continue to fight, we will continue to fight until the final moment arrives, until the day we become the torch, now it is time for the demons to answer! Now it is time for them to answer the questions we have raised!

At this moment, are there still violent demons who dare to arrogantly step into the world of the Eredar in the name of their dark master?
Cheers, everyone.

The Eredar are immortal! The soul of Argus lives forever! "

The soldiers were stunned.

Even Kil'jaeden looked astonished.

They had thought they would hear soothing words from the priests, and they had thought they would be able to enjoy a moment of peace of mind after crawling back from the hell of a difficult and deadly battle, but Brigadier General Diakum replaced the soothing prayer with a declaration of war.

As the heroic spirits of those who died in battle watched, this iron-blooded "Holy Light Butcher" assured them that all their sacrifices would not be in vain.

This damned priest didn't mention even a single word of the teachings of the Holy Light throughout the entire text. Are you truly a priest certified by the Naaru? Where is your mercy, kindness, holiness, and gentleness? Were they used as bait in your frenzied demon-slaughtering?
Go back and reread the scriptures!
but.
It’s so exciting!

That's how it should be!

Warriors should replace weak prayers with boiling blood, and defenders should respond to the enemy's roar with their immortal will.

Comfort the dead?

Do not!
It’s not time yet!

The last demon to enter Argus has not been slain, their evil master is still advancing among the stars, and it is not yet time to comfort the heroic spirits of this war.

"Long live Argus!"

In the dead silence, Commander Kil'jaeden, who was sitting in a wheelchair, was the first to roar, and then the passionate war cry like a storm resounded throughout the abandoned city.

Krokuun is finished, and they continue the fight on Antoran.

Antoran is finished, they will continue the fight at Mac'Aree.

If Mac'Aree is finished, they will enter the towering mountains where their ancestors once lived. If the towering mountains are also finished, they will not mind driving the broken warships to continue to resist on the Eredas Sea! Until the last inch of land in this world falls into the hands of the fel, that is when their souls will return to the arms of the world soul.

surrender?

Sorry, it doesn’t exist!
That option wasn't there in the first place.

"We will continue to fight, uncle, you can go with peace of mind."

Garrison Commander Malderan dragged his broken body and personally lit the blazing torch on the remains of General Elodus. Behind him, the tearful Five Warriors and the garrison commanders each held a torch. Even the usually arrogant Twins were there, gently placing the blazing flames beside the remains of the deceased.

The golden flames quickly ignited and burned into one piece, and the golden holy light turned into a dazzling feather of light at Dick's call, falling down, sending the heroic spirits back home.

Dick ultimately lived up to his professional ethics as a pastor.

He stood in front of the town hall and prayed for the dead. The golden flames danced, mixed with gentle ashes that drifted away in the fiery wind, like the final farewell of the victims to their comrades.

The ashes playfully kissed the cheeks of the warriors who kept shouting battle cries, and then flew on the wind to the wasteland of Antoran Plain outside the city.

They went home.

"Sir, behind you."

Imira suddenly whispered something, and Dick opened his eyes in surprise and looked back to his side.

Clusters of golden light gathered together, and soon, amid the exclamations of the garrison officers and priests, they formed the image of an Eredar garrison officer composed entirely of holy light.

I don’t know whether it’s a man or a woman, or what his identity is.

It was wearing a complete set of gem armor and holding a shining warhammer, standing beside Dick like a shadow, as if to thank the priest for his wonderful comfort sermon, which allowed the victims to let go of their last concerns and return to the holy light.

We can’t let His Excellency the Reverend make this trip in vain. This is the reward for the sacrifices.

[External power access! The power path is determined to be: Holy Light Force, the power form is: High-purity Radiant Energy Convergence, and the power access form is: Radiant Contract.

The high-level Paladin skill [Kings Guard] has been learned.

The high-level Paladin skill [Scorching Guardian] has been learned.

High-level priest skill [Soul of Redemption] has been learned.

hint!

This radiant energy body is a gathering of holy light and moral spirits that are unwilling to leave. It will appear in the material world in different forms when it is summoned.

When summoned as the Kings' Guardian, the Radiant Spirit will replicate all of your attacks and fight alongside you.

When summoned as the 'Spirit of Redemption', the Radiant Spirit will replicate all your healing actions and fight alongside you.

hint!

This spirit shares your stamina value. When your health reaches zero, the Radiant Spirit will sacrifice itself as [Scorching Guardian] to restore 35% of your health, grant you [Divine Shield], and release [Holy Shock] to surrounding enemies.

hint!

After the Radiant Spirit has dedicated itself, you will need to consume your Radiant Energy Pool to reconstruct the Spirit. This reconstruction will take different amounts of time depending on your life rank and affinity with the Holy Force.

At the current level, the time required to reconstruct the glorious spirit body is: fifteen days.

】

"The Holy Light Appeared"

The devout garrison officers and priests witnessed this "miracle" with their own eyes. They were so moved that they burst into tears and were about to kneel down to pray, but Dick pulled them up one by one.

The Commodore shouted:

The fallen heroes are reluctant to leave. They hope to continue fighting with their compatriots as spirits of glory! Quick! Recite your moral principles, warriors! Let the immortal heroes sign a contract with you to protect you.
Praise the Holy Light!

He sent us what we needed most at this time!"

Imira, who was still in a daze, began to call out under Dick's guidance. The other little cockroaches also prayed. One after another, the spirits of light walked out of the flames of holy light and chose their companions.

But Madeleine did not call out.

"Don't you want to disturb your uncle's rest?"

Dick said softly.

Madeleine shook his head, touched his heart, and said:

"I was badly injured, Dick. After you slew the great demon Zakuun with my help, I... Ah, such a heroic spirit should be left to younger people with more hope."

"Don't say stupid things."

Dick supported his old friend and said:

"You are as strong as an Elekk. You can fight for another thousand years! Ten thousand years!"

"No."

Madeleine smiled and said:

"I learned from my wife's letter that the arcanists of the Arcane Academy developed new magic under the pressure of war. They can channel the souls of the dead into powerful arcane guard constructs to continue fighting. They call them 'Immortals'.

I know my own situation.

You don't have to comfort me.

After I die, I will continue to protect you in another form."

"I won't allow that to happen. Stop trying to put yourself on the spot! Your children are waiting for you to come back."

"Did you just say something dirty? Does the Holy Light allow you to do that?"

"The Holy Light has no influence on my private life, huh?"

Before Dick could finish his words, he looked up at some kind of call, and then he saw the first shining beam of light left in the distant sky, which was in the direction of Mac'Aree, followed by the second, and the third. Finally, in just a few seconds, those beams connected into a dazzling rain of light, completely illuminating the gloomy sky caused by the pollution of fel energy.

Just like tearing apart the gloomy clouds, allowing the bright sunshine to shine on the land of Argus again.

"They're coming!"

Brigadier General Malderan beside Dick muttered to himself:
"The Naaru are coming! The messengers of Holy Light are coming! Hope has come, our children and families are saved. Hahahaha, our sacrifice was not in vain.

Did you see that, uncle?

Your sacrifice and that of other heroes was not in vain."

------

"The first group of Naaru and their ships arrived from the star region closest to us. Forty-seven small gem starships have begun accepting civilians."

When Kil'jaeden, Dick, and the other commanders returned to the Archon's Seat via teleportation, Velen personally greeted them.

The old prophet, his face etched with fatigue, smiled broadly, the gloom that had enveloped him for days seemingly lifted. He stood atop the highest tower of the Archon's Seat, pointing toward the jeweled ships hovering above the towering mountains of Mac'Aree, scattered like a fleet awaiting inspection.

He said to Kil'jaeden:
"The Naaru's starships can transport civilians directly there. I've already ordered the Administrative Court to reorganize Mac'Aree's civilians according to their place of origin. Governor Hatton assisted me in completing the evacuation schedule. The civilians of Oronaar will be transported within three days, which is exactly when the second batch of Naaru starships will arrive in Argus.

That's a truly large force, and the remaining one hundred starships are more than enough to transport everyone."

"What about the civilians on the continent across the Eredas Sea?"

Kil'jaeden says:
"The Naaru are all in Mac'Aree. What should we do over there?"

"The great fleet personally dispatched by Mother of Light Zera will be in charge of that area. Their five ships, one large and four small, are more than enough to pick up the civilians there."

Velen drew the holy emblem on his chest and sighed:
"Thank God! The Naaru have promised to transport our people to different safe worlds and help them through the most difficult pioneering times. I have disbanded the Administrative Court and the Security Court, ensuring that each spaceship has a civil servant who can serve as both a civil magistrate and a military commander."

The Archon said:
"His Majesty K'ure and His Majesty Lula sent me a message that the spaceship they were aboard, the Ginidal, would remain in Mac'Aree, serving as a pick-up for the final batch of warriors."

"No need!"

Kil'jaeden closed his eyes, waved his hand, and said:

"You go with them! Velen, the people need you. I will stay with the warriors in Mac'Aree to buy you the last time to escape. The demons won't let us send the civilians away. They will soon launch an attack in Mac'Aree."

"All of Sargeras's great demons are dead, Commander. Their resurrection in the Twisting Nether takes longer than that of ordinary demons."

At this point Dick whispered:

"Even violent demons will become a mob without the command of a strong leader. The defense pressure on Mac'Aree will be much lighter than that on the Antoran Plains.

We don't have to keep all the warriors here. The people need not only leaders, but also guards. I suggest that we split up the veterans holding the Heart of Argus and try to ensure that there is a small team on each immigrant ship."

Having said that, Dick gritted his teeth and glanced at Weiren.

他 说:

"I request you to board the naaru's ship immediately! I will take over your command of Mac'Aree's defense."

"What? Now? Are you kidding me?"

Kil'jaeden laughed in anger.

He glared at Dick and scolded:

"You mean to take my command now? Are you planning to rebel? Brigadier General Diakum! I order you to retreat!"

"No, my brother."

Velen reached out and placed his hand on Kil'jaeden's shoulder, and gentle holy light surged into his body, healing and sealing his power.

The Prophet whispered:
"That's what I meant. Perhaps the people need you, more than me, to lead and protect them with your fiery determination. The Holy Light foretold our tragic fate, but I will defy it! Where are the Chosen Ones of the Holy Light?"

"click"

Six burly Chosen of the Holy Light stepped forward, holding shining spears. Then Velen tapped the ground with his staff and shouted:
"Escort Lord Commander Kil'jaeden aboard! He will lead the first group of people off Argus! General Diak'um and I will take over command of the war."

"No! Velen, you can't do this! You can't deprive me of my honor! Damn it! I order you to let me go!
Velen!

do not do that!

Without me to protect you, you will die on the battlefield!"

After realizing that Velen was not joking, Kil'jaeden, who was "protected" by the six Chosen Ones as they left the Hall of the Rulers, began to struggle.

At this moment, his panic was even greater than his anger.

But the source of his fear was not the deprivation of his own power. He saw a kind of determination on Velen's face, which seemed to make him realize that something worse than death might happen.

He will lose him!
He would lose his brother, and the place of death was reserved for him.
"We said we would go to the end of the world together. You promised me, Viren! Stop! Don't leave me."

Ps:

Thanks to the two silver allies of brother "Huo Zheng Ting Hao". I really appreciate your encouragement and support during the Lantern Festival. The weak author who has been emptied out in advance has no way to repay you. I will save it for now, and I will make up for it when I have time after the book is put on the shelves.

(End of this chapter)