Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 403, Section 12. The Fearful Spirit: Are you there? Let me see your fear.
Irele felt that something was wrong with her.

She seems to have caught a cold.

Her arms were limp and powerless, and the holy blade lacked its usual destructive power. Yet, the holy light still shone, still capable of felling the mogu half-giant before her. However, as she prepared to end the battle with a decisive Ash Judgment, a thought suddenly occurred to her:
"Do I really have to do this? Perhaps these half-giants have their reasons. Shouldn't we listen to their excuses?"

Irene felt like she had made a fool of herself.

He shook his head vigorously, dismissing the strange idea, and then unleashed a burst of holy light to purify the death servant.

As she turned to look at the battlefield behind her, she was delighted to see that her comrades had defeated the enemy and that the black and white "fat bear men" had been rescued. She wanted to celebrate the victory with the warriors, but then a strange thought came to her mind.

Was this really a victory?

Can this battle truly represent justice?

"Does the Holy Light really want her to purify the world in this way?"

Irelia blinked.

She felt she was being a bit "melancholy" today!

Perhaps it was because the peach blossoms still drifting on the wind on this battlefield made the place seem too romantic, causing me to fall into the strange thoughts of a little girl again?

She shook her head again, resolutely throwing away these outdated ideas.

But more thoughts surged forth, as if a "gate" in my mind had lost control, causing past experiences to constantly surface, all of which were scenes of making various choices in my not-so-long life.

He had refused the invitation from the old garrison commander stationed in the village and failed to attend the garrison commander training on time, which caused him to react slowly when he encountered danger. If he had made up his mind earlier, would there have been fewer deaths in Anboli Village that day?

When I followed the Vigilantes onto the battlefield, I was too naive and always hesitated, which led to Samara being imprisoned and tortured. Although my best friend kept saying that everything was fine, I knew that she would often wake up in the middle of the night.

Perhaps it was his own problems that led to Samara's suffering.

I can never think like the vigilant; I'm always reckless; I always make mistakes, which will cause Commander Marad to be punished along with me.

He created the Light Eater elves but never seriously led them, abandoning them in Karazhan and leaving them to fend for themselves.

I am such an irresponsible "father".

He even conspired with old Gani to defraud the Dark Iron dwarves of the Thorium Brotherhood, deliberately undercutting their price to obtain their artifacts.

Yrel, oh Yrel, look at what you've done! Can you really be called the "Warrior of Light"? You seem just as wicked as those green-skinned sorcerers.

Furthermore, despite being a minor, he got completely drunk at the Black Iron Bar.

I'm such a flawed and worthless person. Maybe I'm not even qualified to fight with the Holy Light in my hands? After all, I don't adhere to the commandments like the legendary paladins, and I haven't even upheld justice in battle.

No wonder his own morality could never bring him more blessings.

Perhaps it was only because of the Vigilant's favor that the Holy Light gave him some face and continued to shine upon him.

Perhaps I have already lost the right to continue fighting in the Lightforged Chapter.

Speaking of which, it's said that the Twin Archbishops have a roster of assessments that records their personal evaluations of the Lightforged warriors. Perhaps they've already received a shockingly low score in that book.

I might be kicked out tomorrow.

and many more!

When leaving Darkforge, Captain Faria told us to "eat something good." What did that mean?
Is Captain Faria hinting that she is about to be expelled from the Lightforged Chapter?

I might lose all the honors I've earned so far, be sent back to Draenor as an unqualified person, and have to follow Samara under her protection, earning my own living. Maybe setting up a barbecue stall at the Temple of Karabor would be more suitable for me.

But can I really do a good job as a barbecue vendor?

Even baking bread for myself results in frequent accidents.

Look at you, Irelia, see what kind of scum you are!
You should feel ashamed!

Little Hoof's steps grew heavier and heavier. She always felt that her companions around her were looking at her with strange eyes. Although they hid well, she could still feel the disdain and scrutiny of those veterans.

And those fat bear-men were also looking at them warily, as if they thought they had come with other purposes.

No!

This place is dangerous!
Even though I'm a terrible person, I'm determined to protect my companions.

Irelia raised the holy blade in a daze, a sight that made Liu Yanxin, the head instructor of the Azure Dragon Monks, who wanted to step forward to thank him, blink in surprise.

She couldn't understand what this blue-skinned man with hooves wanted to do.

"Irelia!"

Marlaad's shout came from the side, and his great-uncle rushed up and pressed down on the blade that Irelia had raised. He gave the Azure Dragon Monk in front of him an apologetic smile, then pulled Irelia's shoulder and led her aside.

Irelia regained her senses for a moment, then dropped the holy blade on the ground as if she had been electrocuted, looking as helpless as a little girl who had made a mistake.

This scene made my great-uncle sigh. He rubbed his temples and said:

"Perhaps I am not a qualified leader. You have not rested since the battle in the Fire Source Realm. You must be very tired, but I did not notice that."

This is my fault.

How could such carelessness satisfy Commander Diakum?
Perhaps I should resign from my position as company commander to Captain Faria; I feel I deserve more trials.

"No, it's not your fault."

Irele shook her head and said:

"You are a very capable commander. It was all my fault. I am a bad person. I may not be qualified to receive the blessing of the Holy Light. I feel that I am not much better than the greenskins."

Look, my holy light has dimmed!

Holy Light thinks so too; I really am a rotten person.

"My light has dimmed."

Marlaad raised his hand, looking at the shimmering light at his fingertips, and said:
"Perhaps we both need to go through a trial. I feel my moral compass is crumbling. I've come to another world to fight against enemies I've never seen before. Is this really protecting the people?"

The two reflected on their conversation, one sentence at a time, and soon they were both feeling emo.

They were bowing their heads in remorse when Nuboton rushed over, grabbed them, and slapped each of them across the face.

"Wake up! Can't you sense anything's wrong?"

The shaman shouted:
“Our soldiers are starting to become paranoid, and even the veterans are starting to question whether their fanaticism has blinded them. Although I don’t think this is a bad thing, it is a bad thing!”
There is some force influencing our minds; there is something 'dirty' here!
Quick, get out of here!
I'm now very skeptical about whether the elements can actually help; I feel like I've made a lot of mistakes.

As a therapist, I should have reminded you from the beginning, but I failed to do so.

Alas, I am a failure as a shaman; I have let you down.

"Stop reflecting here and come with me!"

Ms. Liu Yanxin, the head instructor of the Qinglong Martial Monks, also noticed the unusual behavior of this group of outsiders.

After fiercely defeating the enemy, they quickly fell into collective self-doubt, with some Warriors of Light even kneeling down and chanting holy light as they began to recount their sins.

This scene was quite frightening, like a group of people had gone mad.

The Pandaren knew that the power of the Sha was influencing these outsiders. The outsiders lacked experience in dealing with Sha, nor did they have the unique spiritual cultivation experience that the warriors of Pandaria possessed.

After the intense emotions escalate during a fierce battle, it's quite normal for a large number of people to be affected.

She waved her claws to signal the Lightforged to follow her. She now had to lead these righteous warriors away from the leaking Sha energy. Although they couldn't understand each other's languages, they could still understand each other's gestures.

The twin archbishops were not affected, at least not on the surface.

Under their orders, the Lightforged, caught in a state of self-doubt and reflection, were instructed to leave the battlefield as soon as possible.

They wanted to take the Vigilantes with them, but Diakum was holding the Blade of the Dark Empire and "sealing" the true form of the Fiend of Doubt beneath the enormous blue dragon statue. The black and white Fiends there could swirl into a blurry storm, making it impossible for anyone else to get close.

This force, which ignores defenses and acts directly on the mind, is too troublesome. After weighing the options, Gemini can only retreat temporarily.

They knew very well that a loss of mental control was a precursor to a loss of power, and if they continued to stay here, given the Lightforgers' fighting strength, who knew what kind of tragedy might occur.

The area around the statue quickly quieted down. The corpses that had fallen on the battlefield remained uncollected, and the black and white malevolent energy swirled in the wind, like a giant, evil python breaking free of its seal, trying to spread rapidly outwards and devour more weak minds to nourish its darkness.

But it can't leave.

In its Void form, Diakum is like a brand new lock, binding its body and preventing it from leaving the battlefield. The current surge of Sha energy is merely the last struggle of the Sha of Doubt before falling into its cage.

"This power is amazing."

Lord Argus made a rare and sharp comment, speaking in Diakum's ear:
"It ignores life rank and applies equally to everyone. The twins seem resolute, but in reality, they are also affected. Its ability to silently penetrate the minds of fanatics proves its danger."

Is this the power left behind by Y'Shaarj?

"The Fiend is merely the shadow formed from the last breath of the 'Seven-Headed Beast' as it lay dying, Your Majesty."

Diakum gripped the slightly trembling blade of the Dark Empire, letting the black and white Sha energy entwine around him. He pushed the entropy energy to envelop and suppress it, pressing the true form of the Sha of Doubt into this void evil object made from the claws of Y'Shaarj.

He was also plagued by feelings of "doubt".

Past events kept resurfacing in his mind, trying to find the flaws in the vigilant's heart, and then unleashing a storm to crush him.

But Dick's tone was calm, almost indifferent in his Void form, with Twilight's Hammer hovering beside him, protecting him. The large eyeball within the blood-red crystal rolled back and forth in the black and white smoke of demonic energy, searching for a hidden enemy.

"Y'Shaarj is the strongest Old God. It may only be one step away from becoming a Lesser God. It is said that its dark roots have penetrated into the heart of the world, forcing the Titans to personally pull it out of the world's surface."

Although Y'Shaarj was easily crushed when facing the true God, the wound created when it was removed became the Well of Eternity.

Y'Shakti's power is extremely strange.

It can sense the emotions of all things and arouse them. I guess Aman'Thul was so angry at the time that he even recklessly pulled out Y'Shaarj, which means that He was also affected by anger. Logically speaking, as the leader of the Titans, He shouldn't have been so reckless.

Diakum shook his head and said:
"No one is immune to this power, because everyone has emotions! If it weren't for this ten-thousand-year-old seal, given the intensity of the ancient war and the never-ending war in this world, the evil demon would probably have spread all over the world long ago."

The evil spirits it created by devouring countless lives might even resurrect Y'Shaarj.

As you know, the ancient gods did not have the concept of 'death'.

"Ah."

Lord Argus nodded slightly and said:

"But you seem unaffected?"

"Perhaps I am resolute enough? Similar doubts had already tormented me countless times during my long slumber when I failed to complete the world contract with you in my homeland."

I also considered giving up and wallowing in self-pity at times, but eventually I grew tired of the endless self-doubt and got back up to start anew.

The vigilant chuckled softly and said:
"Occasional reflection is a good thing. Only by knowing how to reflect on oneself can one make continuous progress. Moreover, I have already lit my own light in the boundless darkness. My Lord, as long as that light does not go out, I will not lose my way."

"very good."

Argus Star Soul fell silent with satisfaction.

He knew that Dick could deal with these demons without His help, and as He dissipated, He reminded him:
"That 'little bug' is going to ambush you; it has something dangerous in its hand."

“Yes, I’ve been waiting for it to come over. This guy is quite cautious, but it’s okay, it’s about to jump into my ‘trap’.”

------

"Unwounded" Malik lurked within the black and white smoke of the Shaman, silently approaching his target like a "smoke demon."

The powerful mantis, "Hero," warily eyed the blue giant crouching beneath the statue.

Its target is the blade of the Dark Empire in the hands of the giants.

That was the sacred object of the "Sovereign" worshipped by the Mantis. If it could be brought back, the cruel yet glorious cycle would end, and the Sovereign would be able to rise again from the shadow of history.

But as an elite leader who had experienced countless wars, it could clearly sense the terrifying threat posed by this giant, just as a flying insect felt the sun's radiance, the mere light of the corona was enough to scorch it.

Under normal circumstances, Maric would only want to stay as far away from him as possible.

It has survived countless battles without being seriously injured, and is revered by its kin as the "Unwounded One." In addition to its strong defense and superb skills, its sharp eyes are also a gift and instinct.

Only mantises that clearly know who they can and cannot provoke have a chance to survive time and time again in the cruel cycle of reincarnation, and ultimately gain the glory of being encased in Kepa amber and sleeping eternally, transcending time.

Without a doubt, the giant before them was a "big shot" that even heroes could not afford to provoke.

But since Malik dared to launch a sneak attack, he must have been confident!

Its biological cleaver, sharp as a mantis's forelimb, had been retracted into its arm armor, and it now held a black and white "insect egg" in its hand.

This thing was surrounded by light spots that were exactly the same as the black and white evil energy around it, and it even appeared colder due to the concentration of power.

This is a "mind bomb" created by another hero, "The Clarity-Seeker," using the power of the "Sha of Fear." It is a "forbidden weapon" invented by the Mantid in the increasingly brutal war in Pandaria.

Using the power of several demons released by the mantis over the past ten thousand years as bait, once contact is made, the mind can be dragged into the demon's domain.

The power of the Demonic Fiends ignores life rank and takes effect; even the most powerful enemy will be "hard-controlled" as long as they still have emotions.

Over the past few centuries, the Mantid have used this thing to kill many powerful enemies, not only the stubborn and dangerous Pandaren monks of the Shado-Pan faction, but even the formidable Deathlords under the Thunderlord's command could not escape its attacks.

What happened to the deceased?
Did the deceased have no emotions?

wrong!
The deceased not only have emotions, but their accumulated grief and resentment make them more susceptible to influence, provided that the source of their obsessions is accurately identified.

"Ha, a dangerous giant."

The unharmed mantis, Malik's, blinked its compound eyes, its entire body tensing in preparation for a surprise attack. Its "psychic bomb" was ready to fire, its sharp mandibles twitching as it thought to itself:
"Don't you feel any fear in your heart? I don't believe it! Just like I feel inexplicably afraid of you even when I see you for the first time."

Everything in the world has a shadow, and so do you.

"Swish"

Swift as the wind, fast as lightning.

The unscathed speed bursts perfectly showcase the combat aesthetics of the Mantises, sweeping across the battlefield like a death wind.

The mind bomb struck the unsuspecting Diakum on the head, and the Sha of Fear erupted instantly, mixing with the power of the Sha of Doubt, and swallowed Diakum whole in a flash.

The uninjured one grabbed the Dark Empire Blade from Diakum's hand, and without lingering for a moment, it turned and ran.

Its posture was just like a raccoon running to steal dog food, and then it ran away after succeeding.

Even Twilight's Hammer, who was protecting Diakum, couldn't be bothered to chase this idiot.

Are the things of the Devourer of All Realms so easy to take?

Do you know that the "biological blade" and "combat pheromones" that you mantises are born with are the "superior genes" that the Shadow Chaser swarm has been desperately seeking but could not obtain?

Diakum didn't even bother you, yet you came to me of your own accord. You Mantis are really something else.

The vigilant was attacked by the two demons, and in the blink of an eye, his mind was dragged into a black and white "demon space".

Standing before and behind him were two black monsters that resembled a mixture of goats, giant snakes, and centipedes. These were the dark manifestations of Y'Shaarj's power remaining in Pandaria, the "legacy" of the most powerful Old God.

The demon of fear roars, the demon of doubt sobs.

They relentlessly devoured Diakum's spirit, seeking to utterly destroy this Lightwalker and transform him into a servant of the Sha, making him the perfect vessel for the resurrection of the seven-headed behemoth Y'Shaarj.

"You've faced so many challenges, witnessed so many regrets, and endured so much pain."

The mournful cry of the ominous spirit echoed in the hearts of those on guard, saying:
"Didn't you even have a single moment to doubt whether you had done something wrong?"

Compared to its gentle persuasion, the fear of death is much more brutal.

This creature, enveloped in a strange purplish-red light and surrounded by "highlights," swung its thick, malevolent claws, brutally tearing at Diakum's spirit.

It roared like the legendary black-clad beast "Brother Jie":

"Invincible Vigilant, I want to see your fear! Let me see!"

(End of this chapter)