Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 410, 19. Tragedy: Without the fifty-dollar good brother, how will the vigilant survive?
Yrel leaned wearily against the claws of her Lightforged Dragon.

The mighty Lightforged dragon was now panting heavily, its body bearing burn marks from black flames, looking quite pitiful. Not only it and its rider, but all the Lightforged along the Path of Fire were now "as if reborn."

They had just experienced a true "battle for life and death," but what threatened them was not the Blackfire cultists, but the sudden solar eclipse.

That conceptual level of "light-devouring" power cannot be resisted by any means. The process of extinguishing their "light" is like a cold noose around their necks, tightening rapidly in a silent countdown.

There's an old saying among the Pandaren: "The greatest terror lies between life and death." And this has proven true. The sheer fragility they feel when faced with overwhelming power forces these valiant, millennia-old warriors to confront their purest emotions.

Fear and despair!
The doubts and self-denial brought about by the ominous star of doubt have become trivial and insignificant problems at this moment. When one relies on instinct to call upon the holy light and receives protection at the moment of death, all hesitations have vanished.

At this point, there is no need to worry about safety issues.

At the moment the eclipse transformed into the bright moon, with the death of Ordos, all his Blackfire followers simultaneously turned into a shower of black ash that filled the sky.

Those vicious fire bulls were wielding their knives and hacking away one second, but the next second they simply "collapsed" into ashes.

Their battle cries still echoed in the Lightforged's ears, but they were gone.

The black ash smelled extremely musty, as if these cultists had been dead for tens of thousands of years, leaving only their decaying will behind.

"Are you ok?"

Marad, who had rushed over carrying his warhammer, knelt down and looked at the pale-faced Yrel. He asked with concern:
“You were just hit by black fire. I saw you almost fall off the Forged Dragon.”

"I'm fine. The Holy Light is protecting me. When I needed help, the Holy Light responded to me as before. It seems that in the eyes of the Holy Light, I am not a bad person."

Irelia looked up, her face pale, but she still managed to force a smile.

She rubbed her forehead and said:
"I suddenly realized how stupid I was a few days ago! I actually doubted whether I was a good child of the Holy Light because of the temptation of a demon, and almost doubted whether I should walk the path of the Holy Light."

As it turns out, we, as warriors, only understand purity and our most primal desires when faced with life-or-death tests.

The Holy Light embraced me, and I cannot let Him down.

"Good, it seems you are indeed alright."

Marlaad breathed a sigh of relief, extended his hand to Irelia, and said:

"Let's go to Molten Courtyard! The Vigilant is waiting for us there. It's time to witness the end of the Firelord."

"Um, I have a request."

After Irele got up, she whispered:
"After the war in Pandaria ends, I want to request to leave the party for a while. I've thought about it and I think old Gani's advice made a lot of sense. I want to go to those who need help and fulfill the duty of helping others that the Holy Light has given me."

No longer just following the vigilantes in these important world-maintaining events.

I thought that perhaps if I helped ordinary people overcome the small obstacles they encountered in their lives, the Holy Light would also feel fulfilled.

This request made Marad stop in his tracks. He turned back and looked at Irel with a surprised expression. The deputy company commander asked in astonishment:

"What's wrong? Is there something dirty on my face?"

"I just feel like you've matured a bit, and you're no longer the loud and boisterous Holy Light Vanguard you used to be."

My great-uncle laughed heartily and nodded, saying:
“Yes, I approve. Let’s go to the Northern Frontier. It’s full of demons. When Marshal Lothar begins the reconquest of lost territory, we will participate.”

"Ah."

Yrel nodded and caught up with the main group. They crossed the now quiet Path of Fire toward the Molten Courtyard, where a dangerous cliff separated the Path of Fire from the mountain where the courtyard was located.

Fortunately, wherever Diakum was, there was always that old raven who was always sneaking around spying on the screen. After Nuboton called for Anzu, a storm of raven feathers blew up, creating a temporary path for them.

"bang"

Just as everyone arrived at the Molten Courtyard, exhausted from the battle, they witnessed the mighty Dawn Overlord smashing the weak Fire Demon King to the ground.

This time, Ragnaros has no chance to escape!
Firstly, it no longer has any other powerful believers in the material world who can transfer its existence to it.

Secondly, Aegwynn, wielding her staff, maintained a suppressive barrier under the bright moon. The Firelord couldn't even defeat Kazzak, so it would be presumptuous of him to challenge the Star Soul Spokesperson.

The tyrant of fire was subdued and bound by chains forged from golden holy flames by Kazzak in the center of a desolate courtyard. The mighty overlord of dawn, wielding the chains, seemed to have rediscovered his "working state" from the beginning of his existence, fulfilling his duty as the most formidable jailer among the stars.

Diakum has put away the "black fire".

This thing is related to the sun god Anser. It's too hot to handle, so it's best not to let other Holy Light Walkers touch it. The tragedy of Ordos has already proven the hopeless end for mortals who get involved in such matters.

"Lord of the Flames! Mother World is willing to give you one last chance."

The Vigilante strode forward, staff in hand, and stood before the ball of flame bound by holy light. Ragnaros's signature twin-tailed head glared menacingly at Diakum.

It knew it was finished.

But it still doesn't think it did anything wrong.

As Aegwynn, transformed into a raven, landed beside Dick, the Firelord saw the golden Heart of Azeroth in Aegwynn's hand. It knew that if it obeyed the summons of the Supreme StarSoul, it might be able to survive.

However, Ragnaros scoffed at this.

It roared:

"Where was the Supreme Star Soul when we fought against the Old Gods for the sake of the world? Where was Azeroth when we were captured by the Dark Empire and corrupted by the Void?"
Mother World is a load of bull!
He cherishes flesh and blood as His own children, but aren't the elements His children too?

He watched helplessly as we were bullied by the void and driven out of the material world by the Titans' lackeys. He was indeed bound by the Titans' field of unity of all things for hundreds of thousands of years, but were we enjoying ourselves?

What did I do wrong?

I just don't want to experience humiliation again!
The Supreme Star Soul has immense potential, but it can't even protect itself right now! What future is there in following someone like that?

The Fire Demon King sneered and said:
"If I were a mindless, low-level element, that would be one thing; I could convince myself to follow those great ideals and submit to the destiny that leads to the future."

But I am not!

I possess wisdom; I have witnessed all the changes in Azeroth since the beginning of the world. I know the power you are fighting against, and I also know how difficult the future of the Supreme Star-Soul will be.

I am not afraid of battle, but the Supreme Star Soul's past weakness makes it impossible for me to see any light in Him!

He's just a child who doesn't know how to use power at all, and he can't even do the most basic thing like rewarding and punishing!
How many times have the elves let Him down? How many times have the trolls protected Him? But what's the use? Doesn't He still hold onto His precious elf babies?
Pooh!
It's just scraps.

Kill me if you will. I am the King of Fire, the monarch of fire elements, and I represent the oldest power in this world and the will of the first flame.

Azeroth wants puppets who obey Him. Sorry, I can't do that!
"Go find a spineless elemental lord yourselves; I have no interest in playing house with him."

Aegwynn fell silent.

She clutched the trembling Heart of Azeroth, staring at the Firelord, who possessed his own twisted logic, and said:
"Your very existence is a great power bestowed by the Supreme Star Soul. You use the power given to you by your master to act recklessly and pretend that you are doing it for some bullshit freedom and power?"
Your starting point is wrong.

If you truly rose from the lowest level to where you are today, and if everything you have is the result of your own hard work, then I might have some merit to your claim. But someone as naturally powerful as you has no right to say that.

Even a dog knows not to mind a humble home, but you... you're not even as loyal as a dog.

Fine, since this is your choice, then Mother World doesn't need to be merciful to you.

"Warrior, carry out the execution!"

Aegwynn took a few steps back, disappearing into the shadows beneath the bright moon.

She placed the Heart of Azeroth against her chest and whispered words to soothe the Star Soul Lord's dejected mood.

The words of the Flame Demon King just now pierced Star Soul's heart like a sharp blade.

He could not imagine that in the eyes of his original creation, he was seen as weak and helpless, even though he had been trying to resist all kinds of external forces.

Ragnaros looked stubborn.

It is an element that is not afraid of death.

Even if their consciousness dissipates, they will be reborn as new elements in the Fire Source Realm. Although they are no longer "it", for elemental beings, this can be considered a kind of liberation from "reincarnation".

"You have a good idea, but you will not receive a merciful release, Ragnaros. The Holy Light has decided your fate through my hand."

Diakum raised his hand, plunging Kazzak's Soul Staff into the Firelord's suppressed elemental body. Amid Ragnaros's roar, the Vigilant turned and shouted to the Lightforged warriors who had witnessed this:

"The path of holy light is open to all sinners!"
What we seek is not merely to slay evil; salvation and enlightenment are also the desires of the Holy Light. We must never forget the purpose of our struggle, nor should we regard the war itself as the end of punishment.

Today, I demand of you!

All Lightforgers, I beg you to join me in completing this Lightforging!
I ask you to integrate your own morality into your holy light, and to weave together holy miracles that lead people toward goodness with our morality. We must use our determination to defend what is good to fight against the cruel mind of the Balrog King.

We must make it fully understand that this world is not only filled with tyrants who, like it, are obsessed with power.

We must not only reshape Ragnaros's body, but also cleanse his soul!

come on.

Let this ritual be the final test of this 'trial of faith,' and let us forge a unified faction symbol for the Lightforged Chapter with our own hands.

Under the watchful eyes of the Lightforged, the Vigilant removed the gauntlet from his left hand, allowing his holy light to gather in his palm.

He shouted:
"In the city of Oronar in Argus, before the Well of Fel in the Great Lecture Hall, I swore to the Holy Light to defy fate and reverse all tragedies, to become a stubborn rock in the river of fate and to turn all the pain I see into beauty."

I bestow my holy light upon Ragnaros's body and soul.

"I want it to sense this courage, I want it to be as brave as I am!" He chanted his holy righteousness, placing his hand on Ragnaros's fiery body. With a burst of holy light, a dazzling golden light erupted from the Firelord's body.

"Ah, no! You vile thing!"

Ragnaros could clearly feel his mind being eroded by Diakum's burning morality; the courage of the Vigilant surged into his brutal heart like a stream of spirit, seeking to permanently alter a part of it.

The Balrog King is struggling.

It finally understood what judgment Diakum was going to deliver upon it, and it refused that future of "becoming light".

It desperately resisted the rolling holy flames.

But a few seconds later, another hand, shining with holy light, was placed on its body.

"In the cabin of the Gindar, I witnessed the Eredar people leaving Argus in exile, and I learned that my father had died in a glorious war. I swore to the Light that I would uphold justice like my father, become a strong shield for the people, and guard the light so that the tragedy of Argus would never be repeated."

That is my holy light and morality, that is the morality of the protector.

Before the final battle in Shattrath, I resolved to uphold my principles, and I will walk this path to its end!

The great-uncle, carrying the Balrog's Hand warhammer, stood beside Diakram, shouting his own righteousness just like him, and infusing the Guardian's oath into the light, washing it over Ragnaros's scorching body.

Irelia trembled with excitement.

She knew that the Vigilant would lead them to create a "miracle of holy light" unlike anything ever seen in the cosmos today, and she felt proud and excited to witness and participate in it.

So she was the third to rush out and shout to the others:

"I am the first Draenei to witness the Vigilant awaken from his millennia-long slumber. I did not experience the final battle of Argus, nor did I endure the millennia of exile with my people, but I still have my own code of honor!"

Under the watchful eyes of the vigilant, I, a mere child, swore to protect my sisters and my village, just as the oath that had been passed down for centuries in Ambori.

We will uphold the light for the glory of the vigilant.

But during the final battle in Shattrath City, I became even clearer about my moral obligations. If I am destined to become the High Priest of the Draenei clan in the future, then I will protect more than just my sisters.

Any evil that seeks to harm the Draenei must first overcome the sword in my hand; if they wish to burn Draenor, they must first step over my dead body!
I am Yrel, the Hand of Kourle, and this is my oath of protection.

May the Holy Light bear witness to me.

My brothers in arms, bear witness to my efforts!

Yrel placed her hand in the flames of the Balrog King; the scorching fire caused her pain, but it only strengthened her resolve.

"I am a shaman."

Nuboton looked at the light-up eyes of the Lightforged and said:

"But the Vigilant told me that the Holy Light would not abandon me because I walk the path of the elements, and that as long as I do good in the name of the Holy Light, I will remain a warrior of the Holy Light."

On the city platform of the Temple of Karabor, as we faced the Naaru who had fallen into darkness with our people, I lit my own holy light!
That is the holy light in my heart.

Just as now, just as it is now, this is my elemental morality, and also my holy light morality. I firmly believe that there is nothing in this world that cannot be saved.

When Her Majesty Kara bid farewell to darkness and returned to the light, I vowed to become a healer!
I want to heal all the pain caused by darkness.

Be my witness.

He put his hand into the flames.

He didn't hear Ragnaros's roar, but he did feel the call of Sulfuras's fire. It seemed that the fire of creation was pleased with Noboton's words, and to the shaman's astonishment, a ball of fire flew over and struck him on the forehead.

Let the elemental sign on Noboruton's forehead also transform into a dancing flame spirit.

"This is fantastic! This will definitely be the best section of my new autobiography."

Lyran watched with delight as the Balrog King transformed within the scorching holy light and righteousness. She turned to Eredas and said:
"Let's go too."

"But you are an arcanist."

Eredas sighed and said:
"You have no holy light or morality."

"Who said I didn't?"

Lyran, unwilling to accept defeat, grabbed Iredas and used Blink to land beside her uncle and companions. She shouted:
"I am a traveler. I do not believe in the Holy Light and seek the wisdom and truth of arcane magic, but I know that the Holy Light has always been shining on me, just as it shines on every Eredar."

I will record everything I see on my travels and tell it as a story to the ray of light beside me.

I don't know if the Holy Light will like my trip, but its light gives me the courage to step into those unfamiliar and unknown places.

I am a traveler and a pioneer. I help strangers in need in order to gain their kindness.

This is my morality, this is the morality of a helper.

Lyran reached out and placed her hand into the flames. A slender beam of light burst forth from her fingers on the body of the Fire Demon King, making Lyran laugh with satisfaction.

She knew that the Holy Light had reluctantly acknowledged her morality.

But considering she's an arcanist, the Holy Light has already been very lenient; let's not ask for more.

"Under the scorching sun of Tongtian Peak, amidst the depravity of the Crow People, I experienced the torment of faith and the trials of the soul. I witnessed the distortion of light in the darkness, and thus I vowed to protect the hearts of the people."

I dedicate myself in the light, and I watch over others in the shadows.

This is my moral obligation.

I will always be vigilant, I will always move forward.

Eredas solemnly reached out and absorbed the flames, and the interplay of light and shadow grew amidst the Balrog King's agonizing howls.

Diakum looked at the twins and encouraged them to step forward so that they could truly integrate into this glorious spectacle shaped by the collective will of the Holy Light. They were the archbishops of the Holy Light Legion, and they should set an example for their followers.

The twins exchanged a glance, then joined hands and stepped closer to the massive body of the Flame Demon King.

They said it in their signature two-part structure:

"We once believed that the Eredar's vengeance was guided by the Holy Light."

"We once believed that the eternal war against the devil represented our piety."

"The oath of pure light is the brightest blade, and it is irreconcilable with all darkness."

"However, even in the light, shadows are cast, and warriors who fight demons must be careful not to become demons themselves."

We have been lost, we have hesitated.

We were fanatical, we were blindly obedient.

"But we have ultimately returned to the light! This is our righteousness."

"But we ultimately stand tall in the shadows. That is our morality."

"Shadows exist even in the light!"

"Light shines in the shadows"

The two women raised their hands as if chanting a mantra, and as their hands merged into the flames, the holy flames of radiant gold, imbued with righteousness, began to burn in reverse. Ragnaros, the Firelord, should have ignored any flames in the world, but at this moment, he let out a terrified cry.

It is being "ignited".

It is being ignited by the burning righteousness of the Lightforged.

"Come forward, Lightforged!"

The vigilant called out:

“Recite your righteousness and create miracles of holy light.”

And so, hands wreathed in light were raised high; and so, valiant warriors stepped forward; and so, hearts rekindled and began to beat.

The Lightforged are back!
They proclaimed their righteousness before their companions, turning this burning righteousness into a flame that ignited the flame. They asked the Holy Light to bear witness, and they also asked one another to bear witness.

It is no longer about fanaticism, blind obedience, and hatred, but about protection, punishment, and healing.

Ragnaros is the “perfect witness” to this transformation.

When the last Lightforged, Kazzak the Overlord of Dawn, roared and ignited the flame of righteousness, Ragnaros's final transformation was complete.

The sacred flame is burning.

The Fire Demon King is dead, but the "Radiant Lord" has been born!

A line of dancing golden runes flashed before Diakum's eyes. He stared at the prompt in surprise and hesitated.

The holy light he longed to see had been created, but he now faced a difficult choice.

Oh, my good 50-yuan buddy!
It seems I have to say goodbye to you.

(End of this chapter)