Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 355, Section 45: The Black Crow King's "Evil" Plan

Mephistos believed that its miserable fate was all due to the damned Butcher of the Light's entrapment. Indeed, there were terrifying legends circulating in the Twisting Nether about Diakum's penchant for "entrapment."

The problem is that Diakum was truly innocent. He had no intention of lingering in Stormheim; he was simply there to meet up with Staghelm and the Order of the Shadowwalkers and lead them to Kalimdor to participate in the demon war.

Executing a dreadlord on the road is just a piece of cake.

As the Vigilant watched the scene unfold—Mephistos, his body shattered, being swept away by the dark tides of the Sea of ​​Light as the void rift gradually closed—a sense of unease lingered in his heart.

"These Nathrezim bastards, relying on the double protection of death and fel energy, cause trouble everywhere. They lack the necessary respect for the Butcher of the Light, thinking that they will not die and therefore have no fear."

"Rolling meat is the most difficult to deal with."

Dick reached out and closed the rift, preventing the aura of the Sea of ​​No Light from leaking out and affecting the material world. He turned to the three people beside him and said:
"We need to figure out how to deal with these fearless bastards. Sending them back to the land of the dead is like taking a trip back to their hometown for them."

"According to what you said before, the Death Eternal One did indeed portray the Dreadlord as far out of place."

Saloras shook her head and said:
"A body that can perfectly contain the six Forces means that it will never be destroyed by the Force. Even if Mephistos is banished to the Sea of ​​No Light, the Fel Force on it can be washed away, but the infusion of the power of the Void will make it something more troublesome."

“Even your sacrifice and banishment this time is not a bad thing for it.”

Aurecis also rubbed her delicate chin and said:

"It will use this opportunity to infiltrate the Void faction and fulfill its true master's ambition to infiltrate the six fundamental forces, but I don't believe that a 'perfect creature' truly exists in the world. There must be a way to deal with the Dreadlord."

"Kill them in the realm of the dead, and these guys, no matter how powerful, will truly die, just like killing a demon in the Twisting Nether will cause the demon to vanish into oblivion. The creations of the Force cannot counter the Force itself."

But the problem is, the land of death is their homeland.

We are no longer able to launch a punitive expedition against the realm of death like our predecessors in the Holy Light!
It is said that the ancient expedition of the Holy Light Legion to the realm of the dead was also instigated by the Nathrezim stirring up trouble throughout the material world.

Diakum sighed and said:
"Alright, let's leave it at that for now. The Sea of ​​Darkness is our stronghold. Mephistos being imprisoned there and being watched by the Overlord is just a form of hard labor."

"If we don't know how to truly eliminate the troublesome Nathrezim, why don't we ask their own people?"

Imira scratched her head, then raised her hand and said:
"That demonic scythe! Do you remember it? Wasn't the Uthalus Reaper Demonic Scythe, which was previously held by Zul'shid and is now in the hands of Yorin Deadeye, sealed with a mad dreadlord?"
It is said that Uthalus was the only dreadlord who dared to defy Sargeras, and the other Nathrezim called him the 'Mad King'.

Driven mad by Sargeras, it even forgot its mission and became solely focused on revenge against the Dark Titan. Although dealing with such a madman is unsettling, to be honest, if anyone could truly help us destroy Nathrezim, it would undoubtedly be it.

The Lightforged Archmage looked at Commander Diakum and whispered:
"This may be the only way we know how to completely kill Nathrezim in the material world."

"Makes sense."

Diakum stroked his chin and nodded, saying:

"But Usalus will definitely take the opportunity to propose a terrible deal, and I don't even need to guess what he wants to do."

"It won't bother you."

Saloras said:
“You are the only one explicitly documented as having repelled the human form of the Dark Titan in the material world. Perhaps Uthalus has been waiting for you to initiate a conversation with it. If you believe the Nathrezim is truly that much of a threat, perhaps making a deal is an option.”

"It is precisely because Uthalus is determined to seek revenge that it understands even more how powerful the Dark Titans are."

Aurecis said:
"That Fear Mad King is very patient; he will give anything to see the Dark Titan fall. If used properly, he might become your most insidious ally."

The Lords of Light could not make a deal with it, but the Void Herald was happy to associate with such a malevolent creature.

You have two identities, so you should use them wisely.

Diakum was persuaded.

He decided to take the magic scythe from Yorin Deadeye after defeating the Corruptor. To be honest, Dick wasn't entirely comfortable handing it over to Yorin, a young warlock.

Although the Blood Ring Clan's unique rituals allow him to foresee his own death, thus making him more cautious or more reckless in his actions, Uthalus is not a magical artifact that mortals can use. Even in Azeroth, a world filled with all kinds of artifacts, that thing is among the most dangerous.

Zul'hild wielded the Demon Scythe but couldn't comprehend how deadly it was, and the foolish warlock's infatuation with the Dragon Soul made the Demon Scythe lose interest in him.

Uthalus's power is unfathomable.

Unfortunately, it is selective, only providing assistance to those warlocks who are both "bold" and ambitious.

"Lightforgers! The nine Nathrezim and three hundred and seventy-nine demon servants in this village have all been executed! We have completed our glorious sacrifice, and the waves of the Sea of ​​Light echo with the sound of praise."

General Staghelm, clad in a black hood, strode forward, wielding a reaping scythe wreathed in entropy energy and carrying the Qiraji Slayer's sword on his back. He reported loudly:

"The Shadowchaser Order's revenge is complete, and my hunters and I are ready to travel with you to Kalimdor to aid our people."

“Very good, that’s exactly why I came here.”

Diakum nodded and asked patiently:

"How many members does the Shadowchaser Order currently have on the Broken Isles? And how many Shadowchaser Hunters are there?"

“There are many Randore. Governor Torsedrin conducted a large-scale ascension ceremony to help the Highborne escape the influence of the demonic plague, but not every Randore has the confidence and courage to step into the Void Path.”

Staghelm sighed and said:
“We will also make selections. As per your instructions, we will not let those fools who are not capable of mastering the void seek their own death. Therefore, the current number of Shadow Chasers is controlled at around three thousand people, but the vast majority of them are apprentices.”

There are only six hundred true Shadow Hunters. Apart from the original Quicksand Guardians, we have only recruited less than two hundred official members during this period, each of whom I have carefully selected.

I divided them into six hunting parties, each led by one of my former commanders.

I also assigned a group of Shifting Sand Guardians to Quel'Thalas to develop the Shadowchaser Order. Progress there is slower than here, but there are already three hunting parties at our disposal.

However, the Phoenix mages of Quel'Thalas do not allow us to summon swarms of insects freely there; they only permit us to stay in the border city of Desolace, and have designated an area as our base.

"This level is already good enough."

Diakum was very satisfied. He said:

"The fact that so many Shadow Chasers have gathered in such a short time seems to me to indicate a trend of 'blind development'."

"We are, after all, followers of the Void, and this power is not suitable for widespread dissemination in the material world. Moreover, with the assistance of the Overlord Swarm, we are not lacking in basic military strength. Therefore, the Shadow Chaser's mission should be to pursue an elite path."

"That's what Archbishop Saloras told me too."

General Staghelm glanced at Saloras. Over the past period, he had been impressed by this shadow demigod with her extensive theoretical knowledge. Saloras's understanding and mastery of the belief system made her seem unfathomable.

Compared to the thoughtful Archbishop of the Holy Twilight, he was indeed only suited to be an executor of military command.

Staghelm said:
"Shadow Hunters should indeed calm down and study the doctrine of light and shadow. There have been many tragedies in the past where the will of the swarm could not be suppressed and the hunters were assimilated. I can only say that dominating the swarm is a powerful weapon, but unfortunately not every Shadow Hunter has the ability to wield it."

Those who cannot remain steadfast in their resolve to protect the light in the darkness will inevitably be assimilated into the swarm.

However, Lightforgers, we now need a safe space for missionary work.

He frowned and said:
“Governor Tosedlin does not oppose our development, but there are too many monsters and demons in the Broken Isles. It is not a suitable place for apprentices to study and practice their knowledge and doctrines in peace.”

"Let's go to Karazhan!"

Diakum waved his hand and said:
“That black tower is one of the energy nodes of the Eastern Continent. There is a ‘Reverse Tower’ in its shadow, which is very suitable as a mission site for the Shadow Chasers. I have some connections with the administrators there, so you can develop your cult there with peace of mind.”

General Deer Helmet nodded.

He had heard of Karazhan's reputation; such a magnificent place could serve as a preaching ground and enhance the Shadowchasers' sense of honor. However, before they left, there was one last problem to solve.

Heya and her shield maidens were trapped in the village, which was now awash in blood. They huddled together, watching warily as the insects dragged the corpses of the slain Vrykul into the shadows, followed by chilling sounds of tearing and gnawing.

That's the swarm of insects devouring flesh and blood. After they've eaten and drunk their fill, they'll return to the dominant insect hive with their precious genes.

Shadow Hunters don't always carry their Swarm Pacts with them; that would be too conspicuous.

Their insects spend most of their time living in the hives of the Sea of ​​No Light, and are only summoned to the material world when needed for battle. However, this is risky, because the Shadow Chaser swarm also needs to expand and fight in the Sea of ​​No Light, so the insect mages of lower-ranking Shadow Chaser hunters often die inexplicably in battle.

However, the Overlord will thoughtfully "replenish" them with new lower-level demons, which are generally more powerful than the previous ones.

This can be considered a hidden "Order perk," so lower-ranking Shadowhunters would actually look forward to the expansion of the Swarm as they fight each other in the Sea of ​​No Light, which means they can also "share the spoils" and enjoy the benefits brought by the Swarm's victory.

Conversely, lower-ranking hunters are obligated to fulfill the swarm's duties.

When the Overlord needs special genes, lower-ranking hunters will search for them in the material world and perform the sacrifice.

The elite warrior insect beside Staghelm was not so easy to kill; even in the conflicts of the Sea of ​​No Light, such legendary insects would be entrusted with important tasks.

The warrior bug, which had now directly slaughtered at least a dozen Vrykul, leaned on its blood-stained weapon, its six eyes fixed on the shield maidens before it. It stood like a wall between the shield maidens and the swarm, its thick, swaying tail tapping lightly on the ground, poised to launch a devastating attack at any moment. It was clear that this warrior bug was very interested in the shield maidens' "genes," perhaps driven by the hive's thirst for power; it was truly suppressing its killing intent.

Once given the order, this valiant fellow would gladly seize the dominant combat genes for the Overlord.

Besides it, Heya could also sense several eerie assassin insects spying on them.

Those chameleon-like creatures blend perfectly with the surrounding light and shadow; it's not just simple optical cloaking. Even with life perception, it's difficult to detect their specific movements, especially when they're lurking.

"These insects... they're more dangerous than demons!"

A shield-wielding woman spat on the ground and whispered to Heya:
“We must send this message back to town and prepare Lady El and the Valkyries. If they prepare to multiply here on a large scale, the entire Stormheim will suffer a terrible disaster.”

"Then we have to leave first. I don't think they intend to let us leave."

Heya grinned.

She could no longer lift her arm; the corruption of the fel energy made the shieldbear dizzy. But even with only one arm available, Heya had just ruthlessly killed seven fel-powered Vrykul.

For shield maidens, battle is their life, their fun, and their pastime; they are women born to fight.

"You need help."

A gentle voice rang out from ahead. Under Heya's gaze, the ferocious warrior insect turned and prostrated itself on the ground in a submissive posture. The other insects also obediently made way for the arrival of the Lightforger, just like the leader of the swarm.
No, like a spirit of insects, Diakum strolled over.

He looked at Heya's arm, shook his head, and said:
"You have been stabbed by the Dreadlord with the most filthy weapon. It is difficult to save this arm, but it is not hopeless. The Holy Light will purify this corruption and restore your power."

Also, your name is Heya, right? The daughter destined to rule the storms.

"I've never seen you before!"

Heya looked at the nearly five-meter-tall blue semi-giant. She could feel his power, but it didn't inspire her to challenge him, because his demeanor was too gentle and he seemed "harmless".

she says:

"Are you the leader? Can you let us leave?"

“I am the leader, and no.”

Dick reached out and placed his hand on Heya's arm, a gesture that caused the surrounding shield maidens to raise their weapons. But the next instant, the divine decree dispelled and healed them, causing them to gasp in amazement. Heya's injuries healed quickly, and the malevolent contamination vanished without a trace, almost like a miracle.

The healing light spread outwards to the shield maidens, allowing these valiant women to quickly regain their energy.

"Demons are invading another continent."

Diakum said:
“I know your traditions, and I know that you see battle as the only way to salvation. Therefore, I invite you to come with me to the battlefield of demons, to participate in the slaying of Cenarius the Defiler.”

Even Odin would be impressed by such a feat. At that time, you can proudly step into Valhalla to realize your supreme ideals.

Of course, I will also invite you to the sacred sites of this world, where you can pay homage to the Soul of the World.

You have no right to refuse, and a good soldier should not refuse the call of the battlefield!

The shield maidens discussed it for a few minutes, and then Heya agreed.

They love to fight and are indeed unafraid to proclaim Odin's majesty from afar. In fact, the Shield Maidens have a long tradition of traveling the world, constantly challenging local strongmen to demonstrate their power.

"Let's go then. It's a long journey, so we need to set off as soon as possible."

With a wave of his hand, Diakum immediately began to disperse the swarm of insects, sending them back to the Sea of ​​No Light. Meanwhile, the Twins in the distance had already begun casting a spell. They had previously recorded the teleportation point in the Silithus Desert, which could send everyone into that desert.

Although he was very close to the Star Soul, Diakum still decided to report the good news to the Lord of Azeroth only after winning the battle.

As everyone stepped into the portal, the vigilant suddenly asked Heya:

Do you have a barbarian ancestor?

"how do you know?"

Heya looked at the half-giant in surprise and whispered:

"What does this have to do with you?"

"I just wanted to tell you to behave properly on the battlefield, girl."

Dick said in a subtle tone:

"Your ancestors would be proud of you. Also, would you be interested in getting to know your distant relative? He really needs your help right now."

------

Mount Hyjal

This is the sacred site of the Night Elves, not only because the Kaldorei planted the World Tree here after the War of the Ancients and gained immortality, but also because the shrines of the Wild Gods are located here.

Druids also practice here, and there are magnificent temples of the moon and various ancient ruins.

Ten thousand years ago, the anti-demon alliance gathered here before setting off to fight demons and save the world. This place is the softest corner in the hearts of all night elves.

However, Mount Hyjal is currently facing numerous troubles. Precisely because it is so important, after the Defilers set foot on Azeroth, the Great Demon Lord's Hoof of Destruction swept across half the continent and headed straight for this place.

“Felwood is almost completely overrun by demons! Just this morning, the last druid order retreated to Moonglade with the help of the Wardens. Now, apart from the Illidari, no army can fight there.”

Archdruid Naralex, his face etched with worry, reported to Malfurion Stormrage, the leader of the druids, "The Emerald Heart," in the temple beneath the World Tree:
"If it were just a demon attack, that would be one thing, but they occupied Felwood Forest and destroyed Everlook a few days ago. The occupation of Frostwhisper Gorge means that the connection between Mount Hyjal and other places has been completely severed."

We are isolated here.

Although the Black Crow King's army can come to support him through the Emerald Dream, due to the Corruptors, the Emerald Dream has recently been plagued by a constant stream of nightmare creations, and these filthy things are causing chaos everywhere.

Without the Emerald Legion's suppression, the Emerald Dreamland is no longer safe; it even threatens the dwellings of the slumbering demigods.

"Then let's find outside help!"

Malfurion rubbed his forehead wearily.

This demigod archdruid, so favored by the Force of Life that various animal symbols appeared on his body, sighed:
"I know some of my compatriots will find it hard to accept, but now is not the time to stick to tradition. Only by working together, just like the anti-demon alliance ten thousand years ago, can we overcome this difficulty."

In my name, Master Naralex, you, as an emissary, traversed the Emerald Dream, inviting the Loa of the trolls to enter and help us cleanse the nightmare creations, and surely protect those demigods slumbering in the dream.

They lost their physical form in the war ten thousand years ago, and once their eternal spirit is corrupted in the Emerald Dream, they will truly be finished.

"Ugh."

Having experienced the War of the Ancients, Naralex knew this was not the time to focus on the conflict between trolls and elves.

The Zandalari trolls have already sent their golden fleet and Loa to help, which is already a way out. It would be unreasonable for the Kaldorei to be ungrateful if they didn't appreciate it.

But before leaving, Naralex looked around, and the archdruid whispered to Malfurion:

"The Black Raven King's movements are not quite right. Logically, he should have sent a large army to guard the World Tree, which is the lifeblood of the Kaldorei. However, although the Moon Guardians are assisting us in resisting the demons, the Black Raven King has not shown himself."

I suspect he may have other plans.

Or even a conspiracy?

“Don’t overthink it, Master Naralex. The Black Raven King is our leader, and we should trust him.”

Malfurion dismissed the already suspicious Archdruid with platitudes. After the Archdruid left, Stormrage walked to the temple and looked at the towering sacred tree that supported the entire city.

His eyes held a complex mix of emotions.

As the leader of the Kaldorei faith, he had consulted with the Black Raven King on his decisions, knew what His Majesty Kultaros intended to do, and had no intention of stopping him.

"Nordrassil, it has been ten thousand years."

Malfurion reached out with a touch of sadness, touching the branches that surrounded the temple, and whispered:

"Perhaps it's time to say goodbye, Your Excellency."

(End of this chapter)