Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 448, Section 57: The Kharakshi initiates the "Fight to the End" resolution.

"Look at that exaggerated Sha energy storm. The mantids are doing something dangerous. It seems they are indeed feeling the pressure."

Diakum's projection of power stood atop a hill in the Dread Wastes, gazing toward the direction of Kalasikvis.

With the support of several Shadow Hunters, the Vigilant's consciousness could clearly see the Shadow Insects closing in from all directions in a "Hurry, all troops!" manner.

It's no exaggeration to say that the wasteland landscape was "rolling" everywhere you looked.

That was the posture of countless leaping insects gathering and advancing, and the sky was even more exaggerated. The ominous sky that should have been a mix of black and white was completely blocked out by the improved flying dragons that blotted out the sun, and there were also some flying insects of even larger size mixed in.

That was the advanced form designed by the genetic masters for the flying dragon.

Larger in size, more destructive, and more ferocious, they also possess dragon pheromones, allowing them to automatically form aerial formations and serve as the core of aerial combat without the need for commands from the swarm lord.

What should have been the appearance of a "classic devourer" became unrecognizable to Diakum due to the addition of the Mantis's superior genes.

But that's a good thing.

The guard laughed and said to General Staghelm beside him:
“Anvina’s Zerg swarm has already shown some signs of ‘devouring everything.’ What is your assessment of this?”

"I can only say that there is still a lot of room for improvement."

General Staghelm's assessment was somewhat harsh.

But she had actually witnessed firsthand how the Zerg swarms under the Overmind fought. In comparison, Ms. Anveena's command of the Zerg swarm was still accompanied by too much personal emotion.

Not ruthless enough, not efficient enough, not cold-blooded enough.

This severely disrupts the destructive power the swarm should possess, but considering that fighting the Mantid is not simply about "annihilation," the current situation is acceptable.

"They are about to set off to find the Heart of Y'Shaarj. The Shadow Chaser Swarm will remain in the Dread Wastes to deal with the Mantid threat, so the task of tracking down those heroes is entrusted to you."

The watchman said to General Staghelm:
"The Exodar ship's self-inspection and weapon system enhancement on Thor's Isle are nearing completion, and I will meet you in the Valley of Eternal Blossoms no later than tomorrow."

Don't be too reckless. Staghelm and the Heart of the Old God are extremely dangerous Void creations. Even with the Swarm's Will protecting your minds, it's still difficult to maintain your sanity under such erosion.

Track, locate, and send a message, then wait for me to come and resolve the situation.

"As ordered."

Staghelm nodded, then asked:

"We've noticed the Sunset Pass, which seems to be directly connected to the Valley of Eternal Blossoms. It's the most magnificent pass on the Great Wall of the Coiled Dragon Spine. The Mantis Demons will definitely attack there, and the Black-Clad Guards and Cloud Dragon Knights guarding it might not be able to hold them off. Should we help them?"

"No need to worry about the setting sun at Sunset Pass."

Diakum took one last look at the swarm of insects that had begun to assault Klaxxivis's Amber Sonic Shield. Against the backdrop of the brutal battle between the two ferocious insect forces, he said:

"Master Zhu Talan is a leader with a plan, and those Dark Walkers who yearn to return from darkness to the sunlight have already taken action."

The Pandaren can take control of their own destiny, and we should simply appreciate their struggle and congratulate them on their victory.

Let's take action.

The shadowy figures of the Watchers dissipated, and General Staghelm pulled up his shadow hood, gesturing forward. The Shadow Hunters behind him leaped onto the flying insects beside them and took to the air.

In this vast sea of ​​insects that blots out the sky, they blend in perfectly.

Like someone going against the current in a dark night, they have long since blended into the darkness, yet are still searching for dawn.

Meanwhile, at the setting sun.

The Black-Clad Guards, who have been stationed here year-round, have all been mobilized to the city walls. In this massive pass, General Yang, holding a Pandaren warbow and carrying a quiver of heavy arrows specifically for hunting Mantis Demons, patrols the battlefield.

The old general, who had spent his entire life on the Panlong Ridge, had a very serious expression.

From the Remnant Sun Pass, one can see directly the situation in the Wasteland of Terror. He knows that strange swarms of insects have been besieging the Mantis Demons these past few days. This situation was reported immediately, but Sect Leader Zhu Talan personally instructed the Black-Clad Guards not to worry.

This unusual response made General Yang uneasy, and now, his worst fears have come true.

The mantises were clearly no match for the more ferocious swarm of insects, but these guys actually made a desperate gamble and gathered their elite forces to launch an attack on Sunset Pass.

"They're heading into the Valley of Brocade!"

General Yang's staff officer, a fully armed scholar with a longsword, whispered:

"Moreover, this attack is completely different from the previous Great Cycle. In the past, what came up were the 'aggregate insects' of the mantis demons, their fragile larvae. Only those that survived the death battle in the Great Cycle could truly mature."

However, this time, only elite adult mantids came up.

The intensity of the battle will be extremely high.

Call for help, General.

Bring the garrison from the walls of Four Winds Valley over! Otherwise, we can't hold them off with just the few of us."

"Even if we can't hold on, we have to!"

The old panda man patted the city wall bricks before him, which had witnessed countless cycles of reincarnation and were covered with carvings, and said:

"It will take time for the garrison of Four Winds Valley to move over, not to mention that they went to Kun-Lai Summit to provide support. Our brothers are very tired. In contrast, the garrison of Sunset Pass has been waiting in comfort."

We didn't participate in the battle at Kun-Lai Summit because Master Zhu knew how important the place we were guarding was!

"I hope the sect leader and the supreme gods will arrive as soon as possible, but it is our mission and duty to hold this position until the very last moment."

"General, a strange fellow has appeared on the city wall. He requests to see you, saying he has brought us reinforcements."

A soldier rushed over to report the news, which made General Yang raise an eyebrow.

He discussed a few words with his adjutant, and then the two went outside Canyang Pass. At a sentry post, he met the visitor.

That was a very pretentious panda.

The latter was dressed in full night clothes, with a black veil and a conical hat. He stood on one leg on the city wall, his arms crossed, and a black scarf fluttered behind him in the chilling wind.

Although it's pretentious, you have to admit, this kind of outfit does give off a "master's vibe".

General Yang blinked at his opponent, and after noticing the opponent's claw-blade weapon and the row of plum blossom darts at his waist, he grinned and scolded:
"What are you rats from the Jade Lotus Gang doing on the Dragon's Backbone? This is no place for you! Twelve years ago, I personally beheaded Madam Guo Ya's husband for smuggling military supplies! What? Does that 'Jade-Faced Fox' want revenge?"

"Madam said that General Yang did the right thing. She had repeatedly warned the Big Boss not to interfere with the Black-Clad Guards, but the Big Boss was blinded by greed and committed a crime. The entire Jade Lotus Gang should be grateful to General Yang for not investigating to the end, which gave us a way out."

The Jade Lotus Gang ninja master, who came to deliver the message, said in a hoarse voice:

"I came here to deliver a message from Madam Guo Ya to General Yang: there is no need to worry about the defense of Canyang Pass! The entire Jade Lotus Gang has rushed here and will surely protect the pass."

"Ok?"

The old panda looked at the guy suspiciously.

The latter didn't offer much explanation, but simply measured the waist token he was hiding in his hand.

It was clearly a newly made identity document, bearing the insignia of the Jade Lotus Gang, as well as the stamps of the Golden Lotus Sect and the Shadow Phantom Sect.

Now the truth becomes clear.

After all that, these rats running in the dark have actually "whitewashed" themselves. No wonder the Jade Lotus Gang has been keeping a much lower profile in their activities lately.

"Hahaha, alright, alright, even rats have a patriotic heart, so I naturally can't cut off your path. But let me make this clear: once you're on the city wall, you're my soldiers!"

The old panda man scolded:
"Do whatever I tell you to do! If Canyang Pass is not lost, you will deserve some credit. If this place falls into the hands of the Mantis Demon, it would be a good thing if we all died for this mighty pass."

"As it should be."

The ninja master turned and bowed, then disappeared from the watchtower amidst rising smoke.

"General, I've heard that the Jade Lotus Gang's puppeteers are skilled in the secret art of the Azure Jade Golem. With those big guys, holding the pass shouldn't be a problem, but..."

The traveling scholar's advisor said with great concern:
"We're not afraid of anyone in a ground battle, but the problem is that the mantises can fly. The dragon knights might not be able to stop every flying insect, and what if enemy elites sneak in during the chaos?"

"What can I do?" The old general rolled his eyes and said:

"It's already quite an achievement to hold the pass. We're just soldiers, not gods. Let the Shadow Sect's heroes handle the elite troops that get past. Judging from the Mantis Demons' posture, they have big ambitions this time, which is not something we common soldiers should worry about."

"Even if the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up."

"woooooo"

The deep sound of horns echoed on the ancient city wall, prompting Old Yang to grab the ancient war bow on his back.

With an arrow nocked, it shot out like lightning. A mantis warrior that had just swooped in let out a howl as its head was pierced through. The arrow continued its momentum, ultimately pinning the creature to the top of the city gate of Canyang Pass.

The traveling scholar-strategist also drew his sword, and the battle cry of the Black-Clad Guards echoed throughout the war-torn land. At this moment, the setting sun on the horizon was as red as blood, which suited the name of this pass.

Every inch of the city wall is bought with blood; ten thousand years of war bring ten thousand years of glory.

------

"what"

A agonizing roar echoed through the underground sanctuary of Klaxvith, where the Supreme Lord Kolfan stood beneath the pillar of the Pride of Sha, allowing the azure essence of Sha energy to flow into its body.

Ominous smoke, like that of a dragon, billowed into the Supreme Being's body from his mouth and nostrils.

The power of arrogance levitated it in the air, its body moving strangely like a marionette. This was a true "fusion," like some kind of sacrificial ritual, turning the mantis heroes into the "human pillars" of the demons.

On one hand, they need to use this method to bring the essence of the demons to the Heart of Darkness, so that the Overlord can recover its strength.

On the other hand, without the Demon Lord's "ultimate enhancement," the heroes' current combat power would be almost certainly doomed if they encountered the Four Heavenly Gods' obstruction. This is the final assault of the Mantis Demon's ten-thousand-year cycle.

At this point, it's natural to bring out all the good stuff; it's no longer the time to hide it.

"what!"

The Supreme One let out another painful roar.

At some point later, the eerie blue aura surrounding it suddenly dissipated, as if it had been completely sealed within Yingjie's body.

It landed on the ground, and with a nimble flip, it knelt in the ceremony in a "superhero-style landing" posture.

The Supreme Being gasped for breath, and with each breath, baleful runes resembling blue tattoos flashed across his hardened carapace, as if they were embedded with cool LED strips.

The feeling of that power was impacting the Supreme Being's mind.

An arrogant sense of invincibility was rising within him, but it was quickly suppressed by Kolfan's powerful reason.

It stretched out its claws, grabbed its crimson amber crescent axe, and glanced at the heroes behind it who were recovering one by one.

The Wind Sweeper carries doubt, the Clear One carries despair, the Poisonous Heart carries hatred, the Blood Seeker carries fear, the Gluttonous Locust carries arrogance, and the Manipulator carries anger.

These emotions amplified them, allowing them to transcend the demigod level and reach a considerably powerful level.

The two heroes who were not selected, Blood Summoner Nernak and Undead Summoner Chitar, were not too sad. Judging from their names, these two heroes' abilities were more inclined towards group combat, and they were not suitable for such long-distance elite raids.

"The outer perimeter of Kalasis has been completely occupied by that Shadow Chaser swarm. They have gained the upper hand and are devouring us mantids with frenzied speed. The fate of the Great Queen is unknown, the new synergists have failed to hatch, and the originally planned candidate for Great Queen also fell into the hands of the Shadow Chaser when the palace fell."

Whether we like it or not, the mantis civilization has reached a critical juncture.

The Grand Elder, Karakshiva Ik, leaning on an amber halberd, addressed the seven ready heroes:

"There is no time to lose. You must set off immediately. The commander of the Order has already led a large army to attack Sunset Pass. Elder 'Lai Gong' of the Terror Insects will smash the city walls there, forcing the Pandaren to focus all their attention on the ground war."

Air Commander Remok will hold off the Cloud Dragon Knights for you, and then lead the reserve heroes into the Valley of Eternal Blossoms.

Take this with you!

It handed the Blade of the Dark Empire to the Supreme Lord Korvan, and instructed him:

"Use it to awaken the dark heart of the Overlord; if the Overlord needs a body, then..."

"I will dedicate everything to the faith of my people!"

The Supreme One spoke aloud.

It was the first hero in history to combine the amber sap of the sacred Kepa tree with its own regenerative abilities, thus developing the most primitive secret technique of "amber regeneration".

It is because of this secret technique that the Mantis Demons have been able to preserve the strongest warriors born in each era over thousands of years, and it is also because of this secret technique that the elders have been able to pass on wisdom, knowledge and faith through endless time.

It can be said that amber technology is the foundation upon which the Mantis civilization stands.

In this respect, it is truly deserving of the exaggerated title of "Supreme One," and even the most arrogant of the heroes, the Gluttonous Locust, is respectful before the Supreme One.

This is because the Mantid are a matriarchal society. Otherwise, given Kolfan's reputation, if he so desired, the Mantid warriors who grew up listening to his stories could definitely have placed him on the throne of "Supreme Mantid King".

The Supreme One turned to the two heroes who had decided to remain in Kalasikvis to protect the Elder Order and gave them instructions:
"We must hold on! Protect the elders, and we will awaken the Sovereign as soon as possible."

"Rest assured, Your Majesty."

"Summoner Chital," the champion who could manipulate spores to ride mantises of death into battle and create monstrous insects through "limb splicing," replied in a shrill voice, brandishing his amber staff.

“We will hold out in the Holy Land until the very last moment. We have created multiple layers of protection for the Holy Land with precious amber. Even in the worst-case scenario, we can hold out for at least three days, which is enough for you to awaken the Sovereign.”

"As long as the mantis's spirit is revived, all disasters will cease in an instant."

This sounds somewhat like blind faith in the power of a sovereign, but considering that the Mantis has been promoting this for over ten thousand years, it's not appropriate to question whether this gamble of "the rise and fall of civilization hinges on this" is appropriate.

When the seven heroes emerged from the secret temple with their powerful aura, all the elders of Kalasisvis personally saw them off.

The meticulously crafted, stained divine weapons were handed over to them, and the finest amber armor was draped over the powerful bodies of the heroes. The reserve heroes, selected through the war, followed their predecessors with reverence.

As they drank their last of the amber-infused beverage and soared into the sky, thousands of elite mantis warriors followed suit.

Under the orders of the Elders, the city's defenses in Klaxvis quickly shifted to a strategic retreat, striving to hold out against the Shadowbugs until the glorious moment of the Dominator's resurgence.

But in reality, these elders who have been chanting scriptures for ten thousand years no longer care.
Their long lives are dedicated to the ideal of "resurrecting the ruler," as evidenced by their efforts to restrain the Great Queen's arrogance, to personally sending generation after generation of young mantis demons to the battlefield of the Great Cycle, and to painstakingly cultivating heroes.

While the abuse of Kepa amber to prolong life does indeed have the air of "cowardice," to be honest, if these mantid elders are compared to the ambitious individuals and followers of other races, these guys are practically "saints."

They don't have much selfishness.

Therefore, when they finally saw the hope of the final day of the Great Cycle, these elderly elders unleashed a fighting spirit even more fervent than the mantis warriors.

Whether they survive or not is no longer important; what matters is that the ruler must return!

He fell like a martyr on the eve of the divine resurrection.
Ah, what a glorious end.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Fear Wasteland.

In the Great Queen's palace, which had now transformed into a main insect hive, Anvina listened to the report from the flying insect scouts. She shook her head and said:
"I really don't understand the thought process of those mantis demon elders. They created seven powerful demigods. If these demigod heroes are sent to the battlefield, it will be really difficult to devour them in a short time without a king beast."

But they sent seven demigods away.

“Normal people shouldn’t try to understand the thought processes of fanatics, Anvina, there’s no need to try to empathize with them.”

Garold reminded him:

"And even if there are seven demigod heroes, so what? The Shadow Chasers have already gained momentum; they are merely delaying their demise. The Mantises have made their choice: they have chosen to fight to the bitter end."

You should make a decision too.

"Okay, then let's use the trump card that Shakshir left us!"

The Queen of Blades nodded, looking quite spirited, much like a leader commanding an army toward the final battle.

She said loudly:

"Then let the mantids return to the embrace of the Swarm. If they want the Great Cycle, we'll grant them an even more glorious Eternal Great Cycle. What's the point of hiding in Pandaria and fighting the Pandaren?"
A race as warlike as the Mantis should go to a more frenzied battlefield and fight to the death with even more frenzied enemies!
I'm certain that the Overlord, that 'warmocrat,' would absolutely adore these warriors who seek honor in their march towards death, and my 'Savior Swarm' will be proud of them in the future! The Mother of All Things will surely acknowledge them as members of the 'Children of the World.'"

(End of this chapter)