Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 421, Section 30: The Great Sage in My Heart - The Allure of That Phoenix Piercing Flowers

To be honest, Diakum was very dissatisfied with the "Monkey King" in front of him.

It has the nickname "King of Monkeys" and is also a big, clumsy, and wild creature!

Vulgar, rude, full of profanity, and most importantly, not good-looking at all! You're called "Monkey King," right? So where's your golden chainmail? Where's your cloud-walking slippers?

Even if you don't have the phoenix-winged purple-gold crown, can't you at least stick a few red eel tail hairs on your head to make it look like you're not?

And there's the Staff of Fortune in your hand!

It can change size and length, what a great stick! Why did they have to do performance art by tying two wine jars to a perfectly good stick?

What a waste of good stuff.

Most importantly, this guy's body has been sealed with the Pride of Arrogance for too long, causing the evil energy to invade and almost wiping out all the monkey hair on his body, making him look like an old monkey on the verge of death.

It's dull and lifeless, lacking any spirit.

Aside from inheriting his teammates' will after Shao Hao's death and suppressing the Pride of Sha for ten thousand years with the monkeys' racial talent of having extremely strong resistance to Sha energy, this guy has almost no similarity to the "Great Sage" in Diakum's memory.

This dissatisfaction continued until the old monkey dodged Ashbringer's holy flame strike, and in the instant he stood up, he unleashed the Staff of Fortune, making the staff extend and retract like a divine spear, striking Diakum on the head with a bang.

"What a brilliant 'Phoenix Through Flowers' move! So, monkey kings from every world actually know this trick, right?"

This attack halted the vigilant's advance and made him raise an eyebrow as he looked at the big man in front of him, who was leisurely drinking wine while holding up the staff of fortune.

"What? How come I didn't know my staff technique had such a cool name? Hey, I like it."

The Monkey King laughed heartily, waving his paws and his tattered, wide sleeves, and said:

“I am not like other beasts that have become sentient. I know that the Kaldorei call us ‘Gods of the Wilds’ and consider us to be the ultimate creations of life force, but I want to tell you that in addition to being a God of the Wilds, I am also a rather powerful monk saint.”

Since the fussy Yulong handed me this stick, I have never lost a battle.

So, although you are very strong, I advise you to put away your arrogance, Diakum Zastins the Vigilant.

You're right. When you arrived in Pandaria in that gleaming spaceship, I was hiding in the woods and watching you from the wind.

Your light is so bright!

But thanks to the blessing of my 'inner demon,' I am no longer afraid of it. If you want to catch it, you must first defeat me, enter my soul, and personally pull the evil spirit of arrogance out of my heart.

"Hmm, look at what I'm saying, so arrogant. Sigh, I've been influenced by it too."

"Okay, just give it a try."

Diakum stretched his shoulders.

The first step transformed him into a radiant holy spirit, and the second step transformed him into a giant who wielded a holy blade and smashed it down toward the Monkey King's position.

A deafening roar accompanied the holy flames, scattering scorching light everywhere. However, according to the "smoke but no harm" theorem, the Monkey King quickly escaped the burning holy flames with a series of backward leaps.

It stared at the enormous giant of light, grinned, and this mischievous monkey, bored for ten thousand years, seemed to have rediscovered the carefree days of fighting demons with Shao Hao. It let out a wild howl, beat its chest like an ape, and pounced on him, swishing its tail.

"I can do that kind of transformation too!"

It roared, its body expanding and tearing apart the monk's robe, transforming into a giant, savage ape that charged forward and broke through the Holy Spirit's attack. The Staff of Fortune in its hand also expanded along with it.

This is not within the scope of Druid's transformation techniques, but rather the monk's staff possesses its own unique mysteries.

This thing comes from the precious tree "Funan" in Pandaria.

That was a tree seed planted by Freya, the Guardian of Life, in the Emerald Dream. Its blossoms in the Emerald Dream made the entire Pandaria flourish. The sticks made from the branches of this precious tree can change weight and length according to the user's will, making it a truly magical material.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to verify whether the Fu Nan tree still exists today.

The origin of the staff in the Monkey King's hand is even more extraordinary. This thing was once held by Freya herself. When she walked on the ancient land and "enlightened" those gods of the wilderness, it was this staff that she held in her hand.

Therefore, theoretically speaking, this weapon also belongs to the "Titan creations" category.

Although the mischievous Monkey King damaged the staff of Fu Nan after it was given to him by the Jade Dragon Celestial Venerable in order to carry the wine gourd more easily, its destructive power as a weapon is still considerable.

After its giant form, the Monkey King's movements were no longer agile, but every punch and kick was full of destructive power. Relying on the powerful life force of the Wild God and the amplification of the Pride Sha, it withstood the Ashbringer's slashes and then swung its pillar-like club to strike Diakum's body.

The fierce battle between the two giants quickly reduced the golden viewing platform of Everspring Terrace to ruins, even frightening the ancient water spirit Raish, who was fighting the Lord of Light, into tears.

However, this child was clever from a young age and knew that the current battlefield was not something she could intervene in, so she turned around and jumped into the lake to hide.

However, Zhulong, who was in a daze due to the influence of the Prideful Sha, was not so lucky.

When the Giant Monkey King was repelled by the Holy Spirit's three consecutive Holy Slashes, the monkey became enraged. It grabbed the Candle Dragon that was fighting Ysera beside it and used it as a "throwing tool," whipping it like a whip to seize Ashbringer from Dick's hand.

This guy truly lives up to his reputation as a powerful martial monk saint; he skillfully applied a shockwave, causing the holy blade to slip from his hand.

It thought that without its weapon, Diakum's terrifying destructive power would be somewhat reduced, but it didn't expect that the moment the weapon left its hand, the Holy Spirit's heavy hoof would burst forth, causing it to crash into the mountainside with a horn-like charge, followed by a thunderous stomp and then a series of blows to the Monkey King's large face.

This barrage of attacks made the Monkey King scream in pain.

The blue malevolent energy on its body surged even more violently, causing it to leap up and continue its attack. However, when the unarmed Diakum dodged Fu Nan's blow, the Monkey King realized that something was wrong.

This guy's movements became more agile, no longer like a garrison commander with wide, sweeping movements, but more like a martial monk.

not good!

The thought crossed his mind, but the next second a set of Shadow Trace Secret Technique: Dislocating Tendons and Bones was applied to the Monkey King, causing it to suffer excruciating joint pain while simultaneously being hit by a full set of Holy Light: Hundred Crack Claws.

The destructive solar energy was injected into his body and then exploded, causing the big boss to spit out blood.

It never imagined that this alien saint's hand-to-hand combat skills had reached such a high level.

After being forcibly controlled for a few seconds, the Holy Light Spirit's Supreme Slash was fully charged. When the Holy Light Rising Dragon Strike's spinning hammer struck the Monkey King's chin and exploded, the poor Explosive Ape was almost completely submerged in the scorching Sun's Radiant Burst.

This burst of attacks was incredibly satisfying.

Diakum felt his body getting "hot," like a flywheel that had been slowly accelerating and was finally running at full speed. The scorching midday sun, the precursor to the blazing sun, was undergoing a "qualitative change."

The terrifying release of light and heat caused the nearby lake to rapidly evaporate, and Raish screamed in terror from within it.

The ancient water spirit could feel as if a sun had fallen beside its lake, and the "sunlight" emanating from the giant of light was rapidly increasing in temperature.

"Hot, hot, hot!"

The Monkey King's jaw was broken, but it healed quickly. It awkwardly propped itself up on its staff and fled. It heard Raish's scream and tried to lure the enraged Diakum away.

But this job is very difficult.

The Vigilant's eyes now burned with the scorching heat of the sun, and every punch he threw would melt everything in its path.

It's like the sun becoming a spirit.

A heavy punch to a mountain wall will break down the rock. When the Monkey King was hit by a palm strike, the pain was secondary; his chest was instantly "carbonized" when he was hit.

It is the god of the wilderness!
Even its body, forged with the strength of its life force, couldn't withstand such high temperatures, demonstrating that the temperature of this creature had risen to an unbelievable level.

The Judgment Armor that Diakum wore, made of source steel, also showed signs of heating up, but this was theoretically impossible.

The characteristic of raw steel is that it is formed in one piece, and it is almost impossible to reheat it unless it is completely destroyed.

"This is terrible!"

Holding the Fu Nan, the Monkey King glared at the Radiant Holy Spirit who was charging towards him like a heavy Tabu sheep, its tail swishing. It had realized that even with the enhancement of the Pride of the Sha, its normal strength was still no match for Diakum.

We must find another way.

So the Monkey King used the Staff of Fortune to prop himself up and nimbly leaped backward, turning into smoke and dispersing. In the next instant, many clones jumped out of the smoke and fought around the Giant of Light.

Although Diakum got into the "spot," he did not lose control.

Seeing the Monkey King change tactics, he also changed accordingly, compressing his avatar of the Giant of Light back to his normal size, drawing out Kazzak's Soul Staff and raising it high, unleashing the power of judgment in war.

Countless golden rays of light crashed down like orbital strikes, sweeping across the battlefield where Dick and the Monkey King were fighting. One by one, the summoned avatars were destroyed, and as Diakum gathered his light and heat, the scorching light of the Sun Pioneer transformed into a chilling and desolate twilight.

With a roar of "Ahhh!" from the Dawn Overlord, as if watching a bloodthirsty audience, the Soul-Conduit Staff was raised, unleashing an exaggerated solar storm strike forward. This time, it was a true "solar storm."

The scorching white holy flames seemed to have been given real life, sweeping across everything with a full-screen AOE attack like "sunshine," turning everything to ashes wherever they went.

The earth scorched, bricks and stones crumbled, and trees withered. In that devastating "Radiant Sun Strike," only a burst of dark blue malevolent energy erupted and coalesced into a protective secret technique, which helped the Monkey King barely withstand the crushing sweep of this attack, whose destructive power was absolutely comparable to the "peak of demigods."

There's something strange about you.

The Monkey King, burned to a crisp, opened his mouth and spewed out several comical plumes of charred smoke. He then shook himself, scattering the soot from his body. Weakly leaning on his staff, he said to Diakum, who had approached him:

"Ah, this battle was really exhilarating. It reminded me of the days when I traveled around with that idiot Shao Hao. Alas, Shao Hao is no longer here."

Big Maloo let out a few sad laughs, then threw down the wine jug hanging from the top of the Staff of Fortune and tossed it to Diakum.

It sat cross-legged, swaying slightly, and said:

"I lost, I admit defeat wholeheartedly. You blue-skinned idiot are indeed powerful. Even if Shao Hao and I were to combine our strength, we would still be utterly crushed by you. Drink this, it's my Monkey Immortal Wine, and you'll be able to enter my spiritual world."

Why go through all that trouble?

Diakum shrugged and placed his still-warm hand on the Monkey King's shoulder.

Amidst the groaning cries of the Great Malo, the radiant Holy Spirit before it, as hot as the sun, was shrouded in shadow with a single breath, all the heat transforming into a bone-chilling cold.

When the jet-black butterfly wings, carrying the dim light of fallen stars, fluttered before the Monkey King's eyes, he vaguely heard the terrified scream of the Pride Demon within his body.

"Haha, so that's what it's afraid of!"

The giant demon stared wide-eyed at the imposing and chilling Devourer of All Realms before it, and said with a sneer:

"You idiot, you're its overly powerful 'fellow villager,' just like those bullies in the private school who don't study properly and bully other students."

Can you do me a favor?

Give it a good beating!

"I am glad to."

The response in Shasyaar gave the Monkey King a splitting headache. In the blink of an eye, he saw Diakum swing Twilight's Hammer down on his head.

The fallen, ethereal relic howled and screamed, determined to devour everything that was within it.

But let it be.

My life has been worthwhile.
The Monkey King did not resist, closing his eyes and letting the warhammer fall on his already bald head. He had endured ten thousand years of hardship here to help the fool Shao Hao protect his country and people.

But I'm a monkey who should be happily leaping around in the towering mountains! That damned idiot Shao Hao owes me such a huge favor.

If there's a next life, I'll definitely make that guy repay me handsomely.

With a muffled thud, all of the Monkey King's thoughts drifted away, and his soul seemed to leave his body and float to some more distant place.

The days of following Shao Hao to vanquish demons and monsters ten thousand years ago reappeared before my eyes. Ten thousand years ago, it was here, in this palace, that my best friend sacrificed himself for this continent.

I personally witnessed Shao Hao's soul split into pieces and merge into various parts of Pandaria.

That must hurt a lot.

Hey, you idiot, your monkey brother is here to play with you.

If I were with you, the days in the underworld wouldn't be so unbearable.

------

The Demon of Pride was sealed within the Monkey King's body in a highly sacrificial manner.

This was once the cage it had tried to break free from every day for ten thousand years, but today it is also the sturdy wall used to protect the "poor" Pride from harm.

When the Monkey King fought Diakum, he really did his best to help, but he still couldn't defeat this monster who could transform into the "sun".

You transformed into the sun, fine, but how did you suddenly become a super big shot in the void?

Why are you jumping around like that?

Bah, scumbag!

But all the complaints can't change the fact that the Vigilant has already entered this prison. Faced with the incarnation of the Devourer of All Realms in the Monkey King's mind, the Pride of Sha has no way to escape now.

However, among all the demons, this Arrogant Demon's "appearance" is indeed extraordinary.

All the other demons were black, even the peculiar Demon of Fear was black with a layer of scarlet light on the outside, but the Demon of Pride was a blue evil.

Like other Sha, it has the appearance of a Y'Shaarj, with a two-horned, seven-eyed goat and a brutal Sha claw. Sha energy surrounds it in strange clouds, stirring emotions in anyone who sees it.

What makes it different is perhaps that "arrogance" is a unique and significant force among all negative emotions.

As Zhu Talan said, who among those with great power is without pride?
Especially for those who have accomplished great things, pride becomes a kind of "privilege" when they leave their mark on the world's trajectory and history.

Humility can be faked, but pride cannot be hidden.

Facing Diakum, who was strode towards it shrouded in shadow, the Prideful Demon decided to fight to the death. It refused to believe that a leader as honored as Diakum could have no pride in his heart.

But just as when facing other demonic beings, when the Demon of Pride roared and pounced, the Devourer of All Realms simply opened its arms.

It was as if it was welcoming the examination of its own heart.

Arrogance surged into the Vigilant's heart. It saw the glorious deeds this guy had accomplished that ordinary people couldn't even do in their entire lives. It searched its memory diligently, trying to dig out even the slightest bit of arrogance for its own use.

But it soon gave up hope.

As if it were being entangled by its companion, the "Bewildering Fiend," it roared in a weakened state:
"You monster! You are the savior of the Eredar, the rescuer of Draenor, and the honor guard of Azeroth. You challenged fate and defeated it! You have shaken the fates of countless people, why are you still not satisfied?"

Didn't you pause for even a second to reflect on the great things you've accomplished and feel genuinely proud of yourself?

"Yes, I often shamelessly praise myself when I'm alone, just to gain a little bit of emotional value."

Faced with the taunts of the Prideful Sha, Diakum said "innocently":
"But I can't keep going on the path I'm on by willpower alone. I need to see the achievements I've made with my own hands to give me the confidence to keep going."

The problem is that
When you set ambitious goals for yourself, your achievements will naturally seem insignificant.

"Let me see the finish line you've set for yourself!"

Arrogant Fiend roared:
"Before you drag me into the blade of the Dark Empire, let me see what kind of person you really want to become. I don't believe you can be more glorious than you are now."

Diakum granted the man's last wish.

As the illusion of the solar eclipse appeared, he shared a vision of himself with Ao Zhi Sha, as if revealing a secret.

In that bright sea of ​​stars, Diakum, bathed in the light of dawn, stood like the "Radiant Sun" amidst the dark nebula. Opposite him, the Dark Titan Sargeras, wielding the greatsword Goreber the Darkboiler, was coughing up blood.

"If this is a dream."

Diakum asked:

"How much of what I've achieved do you think I've accomplished? Under Sargeras' shadow, all the stars are weak, and all the worlds are cowards."

me too!
So here's the question: what right do I, a weakling who could only watch helplessly as the Dark Titan wreaked havoc on the Star Sea, a coward who didn't even dare to take Ashbringer and fight Sargeras, have to be proud?

Alas, our ideals have not yet been realized; we must continue to strive.

"You crazy person!"

As it was being plunged into the solar eclipse, and as it was being "dissolved" by the darkness, the Pride of the Fiend was like someone drowning.

In the wailing of the fading light, it cursed:
"What kind of good person would consider defeating Sargeras as the ultimate goal? That's too arrogant. You should be dealt with by the Sha of Madness!"

"Yes, you should have done that, but... you no longer have the chance."

"Goodnight, my ridiculous arrogance."

(End of this chapter)