Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 449, Section 58: The Queen of Blades Initiates the "Eliminate the Weeds" Resolution

"boom"

A low, booming sound, accompanied by the cracking of an amber tuning fork, echoed along the Klaxevis's defensive line. The mantid warriors fighting fiercely there didn't even need to turn around to know that another barrier had fallen.

The echo shield that enveloped the entire holy land was weakened further, and the dragons that blotted out the sun in the sky once again approached the ground.

Despite the high-frequency sound waves that harassed and tore through the ground, they unleashed a "rain of venom" that swept across the entire Mantis City, causing the valiant warriors to melt and scream in agony.

Among the flying dragons, the giant individuals would take the opportunity to drop large amounts of spores. These vicious things would explode when they landed on the ground, infecting any mantis that came near them. They seemed harmless, but if not cleaned up in time, the spores would spawn evil parasites that would corrode the strong mantis from the inside.

Once an infected mantis falls, disgusting parasites emerge from its corpse, transforming into mindless beasts that gnaw and release even more spores.

The Shadow Chaser's tactics are undoubtedly evolving!
This is clearly one of the Mantid heroes Ricard the Cutter's signature moves, but after the Cutter disappeared while carrying out a mission to assassinate the Queen, the Shadowbugs mastered this evil skill.

It is now clear that these vicious swarms can learn and evolve from their enemies.

From this perspective, their attack on the last holy site of the Mantises was not merely for a simple victory; they wanted to use the Mantises' civilization as a stepping stone to a more powerful state.

The elders of the Klaxxi quickly grasped this harsh truth, but they did not reveal it at this critical moment.

Because it's unnecessary!

If the Supreme Being can awaken the Overmind before the Mantid are destroyed, then they will surely win this battle!

If the Supreme Beings cannot achieve this, then the destruction of the Mantid will create an even more powerful Swarm. As a branch of the ancient insectoid empire, and having already discerned that the current Swarm's evolutionary blueprint comes from the Qiraji Swarm, the Mantid elders do not regard this as a disgrace.

It's like an echo and a call from an ancient empire.
As one of the three successors of the Yaqi Empire, whoever wins will ultimately create a second glorious era for the Yaqi Empire.

Driven by this idea, the Klaxxi elders personally arrived at each defensive line, transforming into "state priests" and loudly chanting the Dominator's scriptures to inspire the elite Mantid warriors to engage in the most brutal battle against the endless swarms of Shadow Chaser.

The mantises are not afraid of death.

The great cycle that occurs once every hundred years lasted for a full ten thousand years. The mantid that can be born now all come from the bloodline of bravery. No cowardly "native bug" will be born in the entire Dread Wasteland.

They are only afraid of dying without any value.

In every previous great cycle, the mantises fought for ancient traditions, the prosperity of their race, the maturity of their individuals, and the desire to become heroes. Today, they are even more pure in their hearts.

They fight for survival, and they also fight to protect the glory of their millennia-old faith.

Therefore, the mantises today are especially ferocious.

They charged fearlessly at the Shadow Chaser Insects. Even on the destroyed amber battlefields, the surviving Mantises would pick up any weapons nearby or flick off broken biological blades to pounce on the most valuable targets and win glory.

Anvina and Garold had indeed underestimated the intensity of this battle.

They believe that with a tenfold numerical advantage, the mantises might be "smarter".

But it turns out that even Garrod Shadowsong, a commander with terrifying combat experience, had never actually fought against a true "fanatic."

After the "Breaker Squad," composed of the seventeenth elite warrior insects, was wiped out on the front lines, Garrod, who had personally experienced the ancient war, had a cold glint in his eyes.

"In order to kill these 170 elite warrior insects, the mantis demons paid the price of at least 2,000 elite soldiers and an elder. Three of their seven layers of amber echo barrier have been breached, but their resistance has not only not decreased, but has become more frenzied as the shadow-chasing insects get closer to the holy land."

It seems that the Great Queen's 'rational choice' led us to misjudge the racial characteristics of the Mantises.

They are more fanatical and more stubborn than demons.

Demons may retreat, but they will not!

I need to revise my assessment of this swarm. If they appear in Kalimdor at their current size, and if they clash with the Kaldorei, the intensity of the war will be no less than the War of the Shifting Sands a thousand years ago.

On the contrary, because the opposing force consists of elite troops, the Kaldorei high command will suffer even greater casualties.

Garold remarked:

"Despite their lack of high-end power, the Aqir Empire is a force that has forced the Pandaren and Mogu to unite against them. Its legacy should not be underestimated."

"This makes me even more curious about how the Troll Empire managed to defeat the Aqir Empire back then?"

Anvina was also shocked for a moment by the exaggerated numbers and intensity of these battle reports.

She complained:

"The Mantids are merely a branch of the military nobility of the Aqir Empire. No matter how you look at it, the Troll Empire of that time risked its life to achieve such a miracle. It is said that after defeating the Aqir Empire, the Troll Empire, which once ruled the world, was crippled, which led to the rise of the Elf Empire."

Hmm, I really feel now that Mother World has been a bit unfair to her 'firstborn son'.

But didn't you notice, Garold?

Not only were the mantid incredibly fanatical, but the Shadow Chaser swarm also became 'serious'.

The Sunwell Ghost wasn't just making things up; she spoke with the professionalism of someone reviewing a past event:
"In the statistics I've been doing for the past hour, I've noticed a significant increase in the attack frequency of Zerglings and Hydralisks. The already exaggerated aggression of Warrior Bugs has even exceeded the threshold, with some even actively devouring the corpses of their defeated counterparts."

The speed at which the dragons produce venom orbs has increased significantly.

The swarm's will to win has been awakened, something that hasn't happened in previous battles. I can assure you I didn't participate in it. According to the Overmind, this might represent the 'awakening' of the swarm's will.

The swarm is a unified whole!
The more active the swarm's will, the higher its offensive desire and combat power. Sure enough, even though the Vigilant Mentor opened the path of evolution, the original genes of the Shadow Chaser swarm were still in effect.

The Qiraji swarm also yearns to fight their ancient 'brothers' in a more powerful form, in order to restore the glory of the Aqir Empire.

According to this theory, once the Shadow Chasers have absorbed the Mantis and the Spider Demon, the swarm's will will become more complete.

"Don't do academic research at this time."

Garold reminded him:

"If you have already used the trump card that Empress Shakshir gave you, then be prepared to receive it. Once the fighter jet that will secure victory appears, you must not miss it. This is the most important information on the real battlefield, and the commander must develop a sensitivity to the opportunity."

"Ok!"

Anvina nodded and said:
"I have dispatched the Unharmed Tyrant Malik to personally lead a strike force composed entirely of warrior insects to ambush near Klaxevis. Once the opportunity arises, they will plunge like daggers into the enemy's heart, ending the mantid's resistance in the most ruthless manner."

"Have the captured heroes and aspiring heroes not yet completed their rehabilitation?"

Garold said:

"Shouldn't the swarm be that slow?"

"The Gene Master has long since devoured the Cutter and the Swarm Guardians, but the Overmind is a miser."

Anvina complained:

"It has already deployed the newly formed Swarm Tyrant to the battlefield in the Sea of ​​No Light, where a war is also taking place. It is said that it is hunting a dying lesser god."

The Overlord is very stubborn; every word he says is disdainful of us, believing that we are incapable of leading the Swarm to victory.

But actually, that guy has a very strong sense of pride; he wants to race us to win, but I won't lose! Even if I'm just the 'stubborn bronze' our mentor calls me, I'll prove them wrong!

"boom"

A loud bang erupted in the center of the town of Klaxevis as Anvina raised her hand.

Under the watchful eyes of the Sunwell Witch, the sacred temple at the very center of the Mantis Sanctuary seemed to have exploded. The explosion triggered a chain reaction, weakening the amber echo barrier that enveloped the entire sanctuary by at least 40%!
"The opportunity has come!"

The Queen of Blades' eyes lit up.

She trembled with excitement, hovering in the air, and shouted:
"All troops, attack! Push forward! I don't care about casualties, I just want Karaksivis!"

The Blade Queen's command was like a whip lashing down on all the Shadowbugs on the battlefield, causing the dragons in the sky to crash into the fragile Echo Barrier in a suicidal manner, ultimately tearing a crack in the barrier.

As the mantis warriors stared in disbelief, countless dragons surged into the city center they were guarding, like mercury spilling onto the ground.

Among them is a massively sized Hive Tyrant!

Unharmed Tyrant Malik, wielding his tainted divine weapon, landed and with a whirlwind slash, ruthlessly killed the mantis warriors that pounced on him.

As it swung its claws forward from under its left shoulder, the ferocious warrior insects rammed forward with their four claws outstretched.

As a "former hero," Malik is very familiar with this place. He knows where to attack to make the town fall faster, but the demonic blade Apocalypse is hissing in the shell behind him.

This vile weapon demanded that Malik find some amusement for it. However, the Unharmed Tyrant ignored this request, which did not comply with the Queen of Blades' orders. It was now the Swarm Lord, and the Swarm consciousness had given it more individual awareness; it could now resist the commands of the Demonblade.

Moreover, Maric began to find the weapon a bit noisy.
Who gave you the right to put your own pleasure above the interests of the Zerg? Even if you want to have some fun, you'll have to wait until after this war is won!

This reaction greatly displeased Demon Blade Apocalypse.

It quite likes its current life of "going from one victory to another," and life in the Chaos Realm is much more comfortable than in the Death Realm, but Apocalypse doesn't like the insects' overly "selfless" nature.

It also began to think that Malik was not a good swordsman.

It began to miss those vibrant souls that had refused to bow down to it. Yes, perhaps after the Shadow Chaser swarm devoured the Mantid, it should find a "sword slave" among the heroes that better suited its "taste".

Of the twelve heroes, you can always find one.
"Front!"

Apocalypse roared:
"Your brothers are ahead, there's fun ahead! Go, defeat it, humiliate it, drag it back to the hive! I want to hear its lament!"

The Unharmed Tyrant turned his head, flapping his elytra to transform himself into a deadly gale as he charged forward. He swung his halberd, slicing through the crimson light before him, the corrosive blood splashing onto his armor and hissing as it corroded.

Before it stood Nernak, the Heroic Blood Summoner, holding an amber staff and watching it warily.

"Surrender."

The Unharmed Tyrant whispered:
"Your genes are very valuable."

"You traitor who betrayed the Lord!"

The Blood Summoner brandished its staff, gathering orbs of blood that swirled around itself, and roared:

"What exactly did your evil god promise you?"

The unharmed tyrant tilted its dragon-shaped head.

Too lazy to answer the question, it replaced its weak defense with weapons.

dominate?

Do not!
The era of the defeated and false gods is over; the Zerg swarm yearns for true power! Let's start with this superior genetic advantage right before our eyes!
------

"cough cough"

The Great Elder Ik of Kharakshi lay amidst the ruins of the bombed-out Secret Chamber Temple, his dim old eyes fixed on the small, thin figure emerging from the dust of the amber bomb.

"Korric? Is that you? Child, why?"

The elder struggled to raise its paw, but the traitorous priest before it swung its amber dagger and severed the luxurious amber-adorned limb. In response to its questioning, the short traitor in the priest's robe let out a strange laugh.

it says:

"There has never been loyalty, so how can there be betrayal? Elder, you have been sleeping for too long, you are senile. When you praised me as the Lord's loyal servant, I knew that your so-called 'divinity' was nothing but self-praise."

How can a priest who has lived for thousands of years and cannot even distinguish traitors be trusted?
Ha, just a lie!

"Are you loyal to the Great Empress?"

In its dying moments, Elder Ike's mind became unusually clear. It stared at the diminutive priest before it and gasped:
"But why did you choose this time? Shakshir surrendered to the Shadow Chaser swarm."

"Surrender? Why use such a malicious word?"

Kolk didn't go forward to take the Elder's life; instead, it rushed over to disrupt the ancient rituals that maintained the resonance of the amber stones, accelerating the dissipation of the amber echo barrier that enveloped the entire holy land, making it easier for the Shadow Chaser swarm to invade the holy land more quickly.

This guy looks like an extremely shrewd assassin, clearly someone who has undergone extensive training.

As it busied itself, it said:

“You may not believe it, but I truly believe in the supreme interests of the Swarm, Elder. I did not embark on this path merely for the future promised by the Great Queen.”

I'm an idealist!
Although their actions were despicable, they were all for the sake of our swarm.

You know better than anyone else that even if the ruler were to be resurrected, it would be impossible for him to bestow the entire world upon the mantis, something even the mantis itself couldn't do, as depicted in myths and legends. How could he dare to make such a presumptuous promise to his followers?
You have distorted the ancient story.

But as a high-ranking acolyte, I am qualified to examine the truths that you have buried in the sea of ​​books. I know how the Sovereign died; it was no match for the 'True God of Order'.

It's just a loser!
How can worshipping such a loser possibly lead the Mantis to true glory?
Elder, you're so foolish!
Even if we're going to sell our souls, we have to choose a devil who can afford the price!

Kolk destroyed the last amber stone, dropped the dagger, and, under the astonished gaze of Elder Ik, stepped forward and struggled to lift its bloated body.

As always, this clever assistant priest would step forward to help the elder when he was unable to complete the ceremony.

"The Queen of Blades ordered me to fulfill my mission, and I obeyed. I became a despicable traitor, not because of Shakshir's orders, but because the Queen of Blades showed me the cause of the Shadowbugs."
That is the path to greatness.

Kork pulled a runestone brimming with void energy from his pocket and smashed it into the ground amidst the ruins. As the runestone shattered, a rift leading to the Sea of ​​No Light opened before the two mantis cultists, one large and one small.

"plz follow me."

The traitorous acolyte said:
“I will show you the great things I have witnessed, I will show you where the true future of the mantis should be. Then you will understand how glorious the true ‘Great Cycle’ is.”

Compared to that future, our so-called achievements of the past ten thousand years are as laughable as a panda playing in the mud.

Elder Ike did not refuse the invitation.

It was dying, and it knew it.

If that's the case, why not make this death, which is ten thousand years late, even more "spectacular"?

The two insects crossed the void rift and landed in another battlefield. From the lightless land where they were, they could see the living mountain made of flesh and blood being torn apart and devoured by endless Shadow Chasing Insects.

The tireless king beast Agamaggan ran and trampled into the black giant eye of the flesh monster with a carefree joy. Each charge of this terrifying monster made the giant eye tremble in pain.

The constant ringing of the sacred bell inspired millions of Shadow Chasers, driving them to fight and devour each other with frenzy.

The Great Elder Ik was utterly unable to describe what he was seeing; even in his wildest fantasies, he couldn't imagine a swarm of insects capable of hunting "gods."

Its mind was in a mess and it couldn't process the shocking scene before it. Of course, it was also possible that its thoughts had been shredded by the power of the void the moment it entered the Sea of ​​No Light.

Black lightning descended from the sky of the land of darkness, illuminating the cruel scene of "ten thousand insects slaying the god".

Amidst Kolk's maniacal laughter, the young traitorous acolyte knelt devoutly, allowing the flying "mantis dragon" to carry him away like food, heading towards the distant main nest.

It knew that it would receive a "glorious promotion" under the watchful eye of the "master".

It will join this invincible swarm of insects, and together they will roam the world.

Yes.

The entire star sea, six major realms!
Those will all be their future battlegrounds in the great cycle of reincarnation!

"This lesser god was already close to death."

The sovereign's slightly weary voice rang in Elder Ike's ear, saying:
"In the previous 'war of the gods' that took place in Karazhan, His brain core was burned by the corrupted Titans of the fel faction, and He was already barely clinging to life when He was smashed into this land. Even if the Shadowchaser swarm does not attack Him, He will still breathe his last in thousands of years."

So this victory is really nothing special.

It looked more like vultures, hyenas, and crows were devouring a carcass.

"It's still far from the scale of the 'war of gods' that the Lightforged hoped to see. The Shadow Chaser swarm is still very weak. Even if we devour all the dying lesser gods before us, we still won't grow to the point where we can initiate the 'Great Cycle of the Force'."

"Yes, no, 'we' need to evolve!"

The elder, Ike, muttered to himself:
"We need endless evolution, we need to embark on the highest evolution, we need knowledge, power, and truth. Yes, I have over ten thousand years of knowledge and desire in my mind. Take it!"
Let's make the most of everything.

Let us become stronger!

"hehe."

The ruler let out a sobbing laugh, and said:
"Then, welcome to the Swarm, Klaxeva Ik. You will become the first 'Swarm Archon,' and you will be the one to record and write our civilization and our great cycle."

"The 'Queen of Blades' in training, Shakshir, still has a lot to learn, but you can teach her."

(End of this chapter)