Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 34: Prophet Velen's Endless Zeal

The demons came quickly.

Almost at the same time as the first batch of fully loaded Naaru spacecraft set off, a large number of fel portal reactions appeared in the edge areas of Mac'Aree.

With the whole nation turning to the cause, the Nathrezim spies hidden in the crowd and the demon worshippers bewitched by them no longer needed to hide. The arcanists who had been implicated in the affairs of the Enlighteners and Awakeners also seemed to have made up their minds.

They were like rats reveling in the apocalypse, stretching their bodies from the dark land and swaggering in a world that did not belong to them. These heartless guys even opened portals directly in areas where civilians gathered, intending to create greater chaos.

Although most of the portals were extinguished and destroyed by the garrisons of various areas shortly after they were opened, there were always areas with weak defenses or those that were given special "care" that would fall into a critical state.

For example, the city of Oronar, for example, the Academy of Mysteries.

The situation in these two densely populated areas is very serious.

On the one hand, the density of population is extremely high, and on the other hand, both areas were once important strongholds of the Awakener Esoteric Cult, so it is normal for all kinds of monsters and demons to gather there.

Grand Archon Velen personally went to the city of Oronar to protect the evacuation of the people, while Dick went to the place where he had worked and fought.

At this time, apart from the few remaining veterans of the Hand of Argus, the rest were all elite guards of the Archon's Seat. Talgas even transferred the elite of the Assassin's Court to him for use. After all, Dick also had the title of "Honorary Commander of the Assassin's Court".

When he led his troops into the Mysterious Academy, the place was already in chaos.

Faced with the swarming demons, the garrisons were forced to activate all the arcane guards. Those huge puppets resisted the vicious destroyers everywhere. The aftermath of their battle even destroyed one third of the teaching area. The civilians waiting for rescue were placed in the dormitory area by the academy's governor, Ms. Verara.

The magical defense here has been activated, and the Arcanite crystal towers floating around the building are rotating, maintaining the arcane barrier that continuously resists various attacks.

From time to time, magical glow would burst out in the form of lightning. It was the arcanists of the academy controlling the crystal towers to attack the approaching demons.

The facts turned out to be just as Dick expected.

After all the famous demons were killed in the wars on Krokuun and the Antoran Plains, the destroyers who rushed into Argus from the demon star Mardum had completely lost their command. These demons were like a group of brutal "roving criminals", waging a chaotic war without any rules.

There is no command, and no need for command; there is no main attack area, it is all the main attack area.

Their enormous numbers and brutal instinct for destruction became the best fuel for chaos at this moment. The demons seemed to not care about their own casualties at all. They seemed to have received some kind of order, which was to create as much destruction as possible before the great dark titan came to Argus.

Such a chaotic enemy is vulnerable in front of a well-trained army, but it is precisely this disorderly chaos that makes the battlefield in front of them seem even more anxious and crazy.

Those hellfire structures wrapped in evil fire would fall like meteorites every second. They were no longer used in a concentrated manner, but were thrown everywhere in a "random" manner. Many of them even crashed into the mountains on the edge of the academy, but the demons did not care about the waste of firepower.

They enjoy this rare "liveliness" and relaxation.

For the demons, the battle to attack Argus was too frustrating!
Although the Burning Legion was just a newly established entity and the Burning Crusade had only just begun, the number of worlds destroyed at their hands was already quite impressive, but no one had ever seen a planet as tough and difficult as Argus.

The complete death of all the upper demon commanders and the complete paralysis of the command system have already demonstrated how dangerous this hedgehog-like world is.

However, chaos is the ladder to success, and the demons are also ambitious!
The failure of the bigwigs is precisely the best opportunity for the middle and lower classes. As long as they behave decently, they may be able to gain the favor and reward of their master Sargeras.

For example, offering 999 screaming skulls to the Dark Titan in a massacre
Many ordinary demons think so and are planning to do so.

But unfortunately, when the Grudge of Kazzak in Dick's hand, wrapped in blazing holy light and transformed into a waterfall of golden light that bloomed for the first time on the battlefield, these ambitious demons realized that they might not be able to complete the anticipated and desired "class transition" today and become the superior people in the Twisting Nether.

"It's Diak'em Zastins! The nemesis of the Doom Overlord! The Soul Breaker of High Zakuun! The Destroyer of Balnazzar! Run! The demon's natural enemy is coming! The Butcher of Light is coming, the mad Eredar who delights in slaughtering demons is coming with his scorching holy light of destruction.

He will burn every one of us with a grin!

Run!
Run.”

The noisy and timid little devils were chattering and screaming. These little devils who were shouting that they would burn through other people's knees were frightened when they saw Dick leading his troops rushing towards them.

They fled in all directions, small in size but sharp in voice, and the brainless hellhounds seemed to be able to sense the fear spreading, and they also howled and dodged the charge of the trampling cavalry.

I'm not afraid of the brutal and tenacious demon guards.

Many young men jumped out with spine axes and wanted to challenge the legendary "Holy Light Butcher", but most of them were "melted" in the waterfall of light continuously released by Dick.

This is just an ordinary priest skill, generally used for group healing and adding some "light and shadow effects" when preaching.

However, Dick had been using it constantly during the brutal war, and now it was so easy for him to use that it was like a "passive skill" like blazing devotion. In addition, the World Soul was too generous in favoring him, which directly led to his waterfall spreading like a halo, "devouring" the surrounding lower-level demons who were ignorant of the dangers in every second.

The Thunder Elephant Heavy Cavalry, who were advancing continuously with him as the charging arrow, were like "Holy Light Dump Trucks" and rushed forward, miraculously making their way into the depths of the Mysterious Academy.

The elite guards of the Seat of the Triumvirate who followed Brigadier General Dick truly realized for the first time the actual meaning of the word "overwhelming", but for those expressionless veterans of the Hand of Argus who were as boring as completing their "daily KPI", where was the limit?

In the constant charge and trampling, they soon felt "bored" just like Dick.

The scene in front of him looked grand, and the screams of the demons were as pleasant as ever, but compared with the meat grinder war on the Antoran Plains, this place was as peaceful as if he had entered a "demon kindergarten".

"Disperse and rescue!"

Dick gave the instructions.

He didn't need to explain too much. The five young warriors, who had become truly elite non-commissioned officers, immediately dispersed, each leading a team of veterans to different directions to carry out cleanup and rescue operations. Some elite guards were also dispersed to follow, while Dick himself continued to lead thousands of people towards the besieged dormitory area.

Tens of thousands of people are suffering horribly there.

A Naaru spaceship is heading here, and Dick's mission is to ensure that these trapped civilians can successfully board the spaceship they have prepared.

"Reinforcements have arrived! Open the barrier!"

On the high tower of the dormitory area, the exhausted Archon Verara breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the holy light shining. She leaned on the jeweled staff and gave orders in a hoarse voice.

Soon, Dick and the warriors entered here.

The twins and the spellcasters were dispatched to relieve the arcanists who were defending against the counterattack, while Dick, accompanied by Verala, entered the school building where the civilians were.

He had to calm them down and make some final arrangements before boarding the ship.

"Ms. Verara, you have been appointed by Grand Archon Velen as the governor of the Naaru spaceship 'Pure Holy Light'. You will follow the Naaru 'Mida' and escort our people to a world protected by Holy Light, where we can rebuild the city and thrive.

Because of the special nature of this mission, Lord Velen will grant you the title of 'Grand Archon of the Clan' before you depart!"

As Dick entered the lecture hall, he said to the exhausted Ms. Vera beside him:

"You will establish your own clan in the new world. You will have the power to name your clan and enjoy all the powers and status of a Grand Archon. You will also need to choose a garrison commander from among your followers and work with your companions to quickly restore order among the people and establish proper security for them.

His Majesty Mida will remain in that world to protect you for at least two hundred years.

This is our agreement with the Holy Light faction.

In exchange, you can no longer deliberately resist the spread of Holy Light education among the people.

I know this is a difficult decision for an arcanist who values truth, but you must endure it for the sake of the people."

"So, I am the 'price'?"

The fact that Ms. Verala could become the Archon of the Academy of Mysteries demonstrated the political wisdom of this arcanist with a clean background, and she immediately realized it.

Under Dick's silent gaze, he sighed and said:
"Okay, after I board the 'Pure Holy Light', I will be baptized and become a priest of the Holy Light. If this can protect our people, I am willing to give up my pursuit of arcane truth. In fact, long ago, I guessed that when I became interested in the teachings of the Holy Light, it was only a matter of time before I became a believer."

"You may keep this pursuit. The Holy Light will not forbid you from continuing to study the arcane."

Dick comforted him:
"But you do need to shoulder your responsibilities. I know that among the tens of thousands of civilians here, some were once junior students of the Arcane Academy. If you must preserve the arcane heritage, then you must remember to prevent the tragedy of the Awakener Cult from happening again.

Here is your letter of commission and seal of the Grand Archon."

He took a jewel box from Captain Nari next to him and handed it to Verara. After the latter opened it, it contained a seal of the Grand Archon, representing the highest authority of the Eredar.

Although she was only the governor of a clan of star sea exiles, in order to facilitate management, Velen still allocated a seal of power that he had used before and handed it over to her.

It’s not just Ms. Verala.

The exile camps currently divided into different Naaru spaceships have their own leaders. They are all granted similar seals and hold the power of the clan's archon as governors. Each governor has at least 8 and up to 12 people under his command, most of whom are civilians, with only a small number of military and administrative personnel.

This means that every governor has a heavy burden on his shoulders.

They have to lead their people to rebuild their homes in a strange world. Fortunately, the Eredar have the characteristic of "immortality", otherwise such a burden alone would be enough to crush the will of ordinary people.

Under Dick's gaze, Ms. Vera wore the seal that symbolized the highest power.

She reached out and touched a ray of broken light in the box. At the moment of contact, the "Seal of Arcane Truth" floating on her forehead was quickly transformed into the "Seal of the Archon" symbolizing the power of the Eredar.

Or to put it in a more noble way, the Seal of the Eredar Leader!
This unique "decoration" of the Eredar is indeed the most obvious feature used to distinguish each other's class and identity.

Unfortunately, only the Eredar can see the difference at a glance. To other races, it is just a ball of broken light floating on the Eredar's forehead.

"This is your Heart of Argus artifact. Please be sure to keep it safe. After you leave your homeland, this will be your last connection with it."

Dick handed another Heart of Argus pendant to Verala.

This thing was only supplied to the soldiers on the front line a few days ago, but now it was given as a gift to the governor and soldiers who were about to lead the people to open up a new world at the time of departure.

This is both a blessing and a constraint, both a responsibility and a legacy of mission.

Vera reached out and took the pendant, noticing the scratches remaining on its surface.

she says:

"Is this a relic of a warrior?"

"Well, its previous owner killed at least two hundred and seventy demons before he died in battle."

Dick said:
"May his courage be with you! May you carry on his unfinished mission. Here is a coded document, accessible only upon your arrival on the target world. It details the secrets of the Heart of Argus."

He handed a scroll sealed with magic to Verala and emphasized:
"You are the only one who can view this information! Sharing it with other members of the clan is prohibited except in emergencies or when you have chosen a successor and are about to step down!

This is the burden of the Oath Keepers.

After reading this, you will understand why we must send our people away from our homeland, and you will also understand the significance of our reproduction and longevity to our homeland."

"Ah."

Verala took the scroll and put it into her close-fitting robe.

This made Dick complain in his heart that the ways ladies hide important things are really not new at all.
After a brief exchange of instructions, Dick and Vera walked into the lecture hall together. Many civilians were anxiously awaiting their fate. The men of the families were filled with courage, armed with simple weapons and forming militias to guard the doors and windows, ready to protect their families at all times. The women, on the other hand, kept their children close by.

This scene made Dick nod in satisfaction.

As long as the Eredar do not lose their courage, sooner or later they will be able to return to their homeland and witness its revival with their own eyes.

"Dad, Mom!"

Just as Dick was about to go up to the pulpit to comfort the people, a cry caught his attention.

He looked back and saw a little girl holding a teddy bear standing helplessly beside him. She seemed to have just woken up and was looking for her parents. An Eredar woman next to her was awkwardly trying to bring her back to her side.

However, Dick's eyes narrowed at this moment.

He took a step forward and scolded:
"How dare you! How dare you hide in front of me! Demon, this is an illusion, what are you hiding?"

"?"

Everyone around didn't realize what was happening until they saw Brigadier General Dick raise his hand and turn a ball of scorching holy light into a punishment, hitting the Eredar woman who tried to take the little girl away.

The latter screamed and retreated, but her disguise had been shattered by the burning of the holy light, revealing the enchanting body of a high-level succubus.

Her wings were shaking, and she looked in horror at Dick, who was striding towards her, surrounded by holy light.

She had obviously heard of the glorious deeds of the "Holy Light Butcher", but now there was nowhere to escape, so she could only stagger back and try to fly away, but was chopped to the ground by weapons by several well-trained militiamen around her. Amidst the furious roars, only the succubus's miserable wail was left.

The little girl was terrified.

She obviously couldn't accept the fact that the sister who had been taking care of her these days was a demon.

"Check here immediately!"

Ms. Verala was also startled.

But she reacted quickly, turned around and shouted to the exhausted arcanists beside her:
"Conduct an expedited Arcane Eye search. These bastards must have slipped in while we were receiving civilians. There must be other demons hiding here. Curse these bastards!"

"This is a very normal situation. Similar situations also occur in other civilian areas. Don't worry, Ms. Verala. They can't board the Naaru's spaceship. That is a place protected by the Holy Light."

Dick held the frightened little girl in his arms and whispered:

"Go ahead and do your work. I don't think preaching is necessary. When people realize there might be demons lurking around them, they'll naturally become alert. That kind of vigilance is exactly what we need!"

"Ah."

Verala turned and left with an apology, while Dick looked at the little girl in his arms and helped her pick up the doll at her feet, blew off the dust and gave it back to her.

He whispered:

"Child, where are your parents?"

"They're going to fight the devil."

The little girl looked at Dick timidly. Perhaps the holy light surrounding this uncle made her feel safe, so she said in a baby voice:
"My parents are the best fighters in town! Although they've retired, they still volunteered to go to a place called 'Antoran' at the call of a powerful uncle named 'Diacum'.

They told me to stay here with the people in the town and they said they would protect me and the others.”

"Well, Antoran, I just got back from there."

Dick gave a complicated smile, reached out his hand and soothed the little girl with a little warm holy light.

He said softly:

"Those bravest people chose to stay there. Your parents must be there too. They will stay in our hometown and fight the demons, protecting our hometown until you grow up. When you return to your hometown in the future, you will definitely see your parents again.

Don't be afraid, little girl.

You know, the Eredar can live a very, very long time.

To you, it's just a... Well, have you ever had a tea party with your friends?

It's like you're playing the role of an explorer traveling to a foreign land!

When you come back with fun and exciting stories, your parents will definitely be happy to listen to your adventures. But when they are not around, you must be good, and I will ask Ms. Vera to take care of you personally.

You have to trust and respect her as your mother, okay?"

"really?"

The little girl widened her eyes and asked:

"Will I really be able to see my parents after I come back? Will my parents really be proud of me?"

"Well, of course, everyone knows that believers of the Holy Light cannot lie, child, so you can trust me."

Dick smiled and said:
"What's your name? When I see your parents again, I can tell them that their daughter is very well behaved and strong, and a great little warrior."

"Yuna, my name is Yuna!"

"Very good, little Yuna, be strong. When your parents are not around, you must learn to be strong."

He stayed with little Yuna for a while and gave the little girl his own short sword for self-defense as a gift.

When Nellie signaled with her eyes that they should leave and head to the next civilian base in need of help, Dick stood up and said goodbye to her. As little Yuna and the other children waved goodbye, Dick and Nellie walked out of the lecture hall. The Ranger Captain whispered:
"As a model chaplain and garrison officer, you have just told a horrible lie to a child who will grow up to hate you."

"But the Holy Light did not blame me."

Dick looked back at the Naaru spaceship that was slowly descending from the sky and said:
"Look, Nari, even the Holy Light will forgive my little mistakes, so why bother you so much? Let's go and continue our war! I've decided to kill 99 more demons today. Well, in the name of little Yuna!"

“Why not 100?”

"Because the remaining one will be left to Yuna. When she grows up, she will personally make up for the last one she owes. This is the unspoken agreement between her and me."

"Well, how romantic! The promise you made to the little girl, you really have the potential to become the director of an orphanage. In that case, I'll stick with you until the end. I'll also try my best to kill 99 more demons!

Leave the little girl with two 'demon slaying indicators' so she can grow better with some pressure."

------

"Holy Light! Please protect this holy place!"

Amidst Velen's roar, the already enormous holy light barrier spread outward once again.

Like a miraculous object with its own life, the blazing holy light transformed into a hemispherical dome, sweeping across the streets and alleys of Oronaar City like a surging army.

Wherever he went, evil fires were extinguished, shadows retreated, and demons were frightened.

Amid the exclamations of the garrisons and priests, they witnessed with their own eyes how the Grand Archon single-handedly erected this gigantic barrier that covered most of the city of Oronaar.

Any lower-level demons that attacked the barrier would be burned to ashes the moment they came into contact. Therefore, after the barrier was formed for the second time, the entire city of Oronaar was shrouded in a layer of endlessly rotating "ash storm".

In this way, all the shelters in the city that had not yet been evacuated were protected by Velen alone.

Compared with the wonders created by the old prophet here, the fighting and charging of Dick and the soldiers to put out fires everywhere seemed unremarkable.

Those who were rescued by the spreading barrier supported each other and headed to the city center, where several Naaru spaceships were loading evacuated civilians as quickly as possible, and every Eredar who approached here would try their best to express their respect and gratitude to their Grand Archon.

Many painters used their drawing boards to record this scene from various angles during this chaotic time. They knew that this was the last commemorative painting they would leave for their world.

The crowd was crying.

Even though they realize that they will soon be safe and will go to a world where they will not be disturbed by demons for the time being under the protection of holy light, saying goodbye to their hometown is not a tragedy that can be easily forgiven for anyone.

For some older eredar, this means they will never be able to return to their homeland.

The Eredar are indeed immortal, but from this moment on, fate will no longer be tolerant of them if they voluntarily leave the cradle called "Argus".

Holding the holy staff, Velen single-handedly maintained this terrifyingly large protective barrier. He did not care about the pressure caused by the demons' attacks on the barrier. At this moment, all he could hear were the people's crying and sad words. He could feel the fear and pain, which were like a long whip that was constantly swinging and lashing the heart of this good old man.

It's because he, the great consul, is useless.
He was unable to come up with a solution to the problem when the people needed help, and could only watch his world fall into the hands of the devil.

Even though he knew clearly that this disaster that was about to sweep across the entire starry sky was not something that one person or one world could withstand.

"Grand Archon!"

With his arm in a sling, Talgas approached Velen, who was maintaining the barrier, and whispered:

"This kind of protection will quickly tire you out. Please rest for a while and leave the rest of the work to our warriors."

"I can still hold on."

Velen whispered:
"How long will it take for the people of Oronar City to be relocated?"

"This batch of Naaru ships is already 70% full. They can't take all the people away at once. We need to wait for the second batch of Naaru ships to arrive in three days. This means we need to deploy heavy troops in the Archon's Seat and Oronaar City to buy the people a chance to escape."

"Three days."

Velen nodded and said:
"Then I will hold out here for three days! Let the warriors go where they are more needed. I will defend this place! Until the last Eredar board the spaceship, no demon will be able to harm my compatriots in front of me!"

"But your wife and children are still in the Archon's Seat, where the last group was transferred."

Talgarth whispered:
"Should we arrange for Madam and..."

"No need!"

Wei Lun shook his head and said:
“Let’s proceed as planned.

I firmly believe that the Holy Light will bless my wife and children, just as I protect others. As for you, Talgath, I send you to protect my brother. Board that ship and make sure Kil'jaeden arrives safely at his destination.

Continue to assist him and take good care of him for me."

(End of this chapter)