Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 453, Section 62: The End of the Chaotic Era - Dawn of Pandaria

Irelia chanted the scriptures of holy light amidst the chaotic afterglow of the setting sun.

She didn't know if this would work, but considering that the current situation was probably not something she could solve by recklessly cracking open a few skulls with her holy blade, she could only follow the Vigilant's advice.

However, as she continued reading, Irele realized that something was wrong.

Her Heart of Argus pendant began to vibrate, and as the azure power of creation transformed into starlight and scattered, Yrel, unusually, directly heard the Argus Lord's lament with her own ears:
"It's a truly bizarre power. I almost fell for it myself. Luckily, no Eredar noticed my predicament. That way, my perfect image as a lord in their eyes can still be preserved."
Why are you still awake?!

"Ah, I didn't hear anything, Your Majesty."

Irelia was terrified.

She felt she must have overheard something she shouldn't have, and might even be silenced by the usually dignified and deeply resentful Lord Argus.

But she was really overthinking it.

Putting aside whether Lord Argus would do such a terrible thing to a Draenei, Yrel's status as Diakum's most valued apprentice gives her a certain "privilege."

"You little guy are really amazing. Even the four Celestials were dragged into the catastrophic illusion of Y'Shaarj, but you were the only one who was still conscious. You and Diakum are probably the only two people on this continent who are still conscious."

"As expected, Diakum's high regard for you is well-founded, little Irel. If luck is also a part of strength, then you will surely become a pillar of the Eredar in the next era."

Lord Argus sighed a few times, and then, under Yrel's blinking gaze, He said:
"Then you shall become the node and assist me in awakening the rest of the Lightforged Chapter."

"But how can we do that?"

Irelia sighed and said:

"I've tried everything, whether it's slapping them, hitting them on the head, or throwing them from a height, nothing can wake them up. This hallucination is too eerie."

"Well, perhaps we don't need to be so violent, child. Use your brain and think carefully about what emotions are common to all Eredar people?"

Lord Argus advised:

"It is something that transcends life and death, existence, and even time for the Eredar."

"Well."

Irelia tilted her head and thought for a moment, then tentatively asked:

"Uh, reproduction? I think all the archbishops are worried about this, even Lady Verara, who just arrived in Draenor, is worried that our race's numbers aren't increasing."

"."

Lord Argus was silenced.

After a moment, He sighed, suppressing a certain anger, and said:
"It's an oath! An oath to the world of our homeland, you little fool! I must calm down, I can't let Y'Shaarj exploit my weaknesses any longer."

You should be thankful that Pandaria doesn't have 'Pure Sha', otherwise you would have become a Sha incarnation long ago.

Hmm, perhaps there really is a 'fool'.

After all, your current thought process is a bit abnormal. Remember to have Diakum check you up after you leave here.

But that's not the point!

just now!

Raise your Heart of Argus pendant, and using it as a node, recite the World Oath, awakening them with the throbbing and vows buried deep within the souls of all Eredar.

Diakum cannot destroy Y'Shaarj's power core through brute force alone.

The only way to combat calamity is to forge a sword of 'hope'!

"As ordered."

Yrel jumped up, holding the vibrating Heart of Argus pendant high in her hand.

As the world oath was recited, the Eredar on the city walls trembled as if electrocuted.

They are resisting the catastrophic illusions cast by Y'Shaarj. Lord Argus is right; this is an inviolable throbbing etched deep within the souls of all Eredar.

The Gemini were the first to wake up.

The two sisters were currently embracing each other in a very "debauched" manner, which was their most common form of "entertainment" after they became the fallen demons of Man'ari in their catastrophic fantasies.

"I hate this!"

Saloras shoved her sister away, angrily pulling up her clothes, feeling the pain in her chest, and said:

"I'm starting to hate you too, Aurecis!"

"Who isn't?"

Aurecis turned around aggressively, fastened her robes, and said through gritted teeth:
"I want to tear this Y'Shaarj to pieces. What a damn nightmare this is! But Commander Diakum is calling us. He needs us to show all the positive emotions needed to fight against the power of the Sha."

really!

Our previous research was correct; the area where the power of evil is strongest is precisely where it is weakest, just as a person cannot be in despair forever.

Emotions are truly wondrous things, as are the spirit and soul.

Once you realize that you are the master of your own life, all worries about the future and regrets about the past will be insignificant!

The two sisters quickly made up again.

After changing their trousers, they walked hand in hand out of the attic. Looking at the bewildered yet awakened Eredar Lightforged before them, they shouted:
"Those who fight against darkness need that ray of light most. The vigilant need us to light our own light to illuminate the darkness beneath us, warriors."

come on!

Let us light our own light, and together illuminate Commander Diakum's battlefield.

The two stretched out their hands, letting their holy light illuminate the setting sun, much like how they had rekindled the light for the Dark Narukara at the Temple of Karabor.

Beams of light flickered, a gift that every Eredar was born with.

They no longer feared those impossible illusions, which were nothing more than laughable tricks used by Y'Shaarj to manipulate people's hearts. Even though some astute individuals had realized that those illusions were very likely their predetermined fate, these tragic fates had already been reversed and changed 20,000 years ago.

"Uncle Diakum!"

Lyran shouted from the city wall:

"We haven't even said 'thank you' to you yet after all you've done for us. Thank you, Dick!"

"Thank you, Vigilant!"

The shouts on the city wall were deafening.

Although they dared not use the same nickname for their superior as the "connected" Lyran, it was genuine gratitude, especially after recalling their tragic past.

They didn't know if it would work, but it was indeed the answer they wanted to give to the Watchers. They waved their own points of light, symbolizing that they were no longer afraid of those lurking in the darkness.

"But what about them?"

Nuboton looked at the suffering pandaren around him and whispered:

“They don’t have the same racial oath as us.”

"No, they have them!"

The Gemini shook their head and said:
"The Pandaren have been united for over 10,000 years without ever splitting apart. There must be some kind of unbreakable group ideology that transcends the individual that unites them, but they have to find that for themselves."

This is their direct confrontation with Y'Shaarj.
If the Pandaren can truly find the powers to combat the Dark Calamity, it means that from this day forward, they may no longer need to worry about the Sha's corruption.

Inside the Seven Stars Hall.

In the hallucination, Old Chen held Lili and cried, but at some point he wiped away his tears, stopped blaming himself, and stood up under the horrified gaze of Lili's fiery eyes.

He looked at Changbo and Master Shangxi, who were still criticizing him, as well as all the pandaren on the entire Misty Island.

He said loudly:

"I know I've done a lot of wrong things, I know I've hurt you all, and I know it's too late to say all this now, but I still have things to do."

I cannot stop here, everyone!
We have found Pandaria, the homeland of everyone on the Wandering Isle, but our homeland is still facing disaster and suffering. Master Shang Xi sacrificed everything for it, and I must carry on that legacy.

I know that there is no perfect place in this world, so we can only use our own hands to build our hometown into the perfect place in our hearts.

I have made up my mind, and I have shed my burdens.

No matter how difficult this path may be, I will walk it to the end, not only for my own wanderer's ideals, but also for the longing of the Wandering Isle, for the peace of Pandaria, and for our homeland.

We must defend our homeland!

Anyone who tries to destroy it, we will fight them to the bitter end.

Mogu, demons, or Y'Shaarj! We cannot surrender. Our homeland lies behind us; we have nowhere to retreat! So, my friends, carry on with your hatred and loathing for me.

No matter how much you despise me, would you abandon your homeland because of that?

The pandas who had been scolding Old Chen quieted down, even Changbo and Master Shangxi fell silent. They finally shrugged helplessly and disappeared from Old Chen's sight one by one.

That guy is right.

No matter how much you hate someone, every Pandaren will still stand up without hesitation when their homeland needs them.

How badly the brothers fight is their own business. If an outsider tries to take advantage of the chaos to steal something, well, you can expect the two brothers to take you down first, their heads bruised and bloodied.

“My hometown.” Old Chen sighed, looking down at Lili, whose spirit fire surged. He smiled, reached out his hand to the “drowned ghost” Lili, and said:

"Although I know this isn't true, let's go, Uncle Chen will take you home."

"Tch, this is boring, it's not fun anymore."

Lily blinked, jumped back a few steps, and gradually disappeared in a flash of light. She waved her paws and shouted to Old Chen:

“I don’t know what happened. I suddenly fell into a dream in Niuzao Temple and saw you crying. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen you cry because someone scolded you, Uncle Chen.”

You're such a disgrace.

But that's okay.

I know you've had a tough time, so please be kinder to yourself from now on.

After saying that, amidst Lili's laughter, Old Chen winked.

So, those panda people weren't actually fake?

Y'Shaarj connected everyone's dark side. If Lili could enter his dream in Niuzao Temple, wouldn't others in other parts of Pandaria be able to as well?
What the hell!

Am I really that unpopular on Lost Island?

And Changbo, are you fucking serious?! You were having so much fun cursing me just now?!

Old Chen was so angry he jumped up and down.

He was so angry that he forced his eyes open and saw Kane and Hamuul staring at him nervously.

"Are you OK?"

Kane said in a low voice:
"You used really nasty language just now. Changbo, isn't that your brother? It's not good for the two brothers to have such a bad relationship."

Are you two crazy?!

Old Chen did a somersault and jumped back to create distance, then shouted:
"You haven't even sorted out your own messy legal issues, and you're here eavesdropping on other people's private affairs?"

"Ahem, that's our idea."

Hamuer said in a slightly embarrassed voice:
"Let's all pretend nothing happened, okay? Don't talk about what we saw today after we leave. Also, Diakum needs our help. Although I don't quite understand how this ritual is performed, I think he might need our light."

Yes!

The light of hope, only the light ignited by hope, can illuminate the boundless darkness.

Come. ”

The Archdruid took out a sacred relic from their Sun Druid sect and raised the abstract, eternally burning torch high, while Old Chen also channeled his inner energy to fuel the flames.

Behind the flickering flames, the haggard General Deer Helmet hesitated for a moment, then tore off the dark hood he always wore and lit it on the torch as kindling.

He suddenly realized that he might have been in the dark for too long.

I've been away from home for too long. After things are over in Pandaria, I'll go back and see my wife and kids.

Although it had only been a little over two months since they last met at Mount Hyjal, which is basically only a day or two for elves who generally have an absurd sense of time, could it be that he, a "Void Cultist" in a broad sense and a "Shadow Hunter" in a narrow sense, suddenly missed his wife and children? Was there some unspeakable secret?
"boom"

A blinding pillar of fire rose from the south of the Vale of Eternal Blossoms, a flame of hope ignited with all the might of the Celestial Lord. Crimson and white cranes danced in the sky, determined to illuminate the entirety of Pandaria with this flame and transform it into a second sun.

Then came the roar of the white tiger, the cry of the azure dragon, and the soaring song of the black ox; even Shenzhenzi raised his head and cried out a few times.

Countless lights lit up throughout Pandaria, with giant pandas holding torches high, and even though the little pandas were frightened, they still followed the adults and raised their lanterns.

They don't know why they're doing this, but perhaps it's a new custom, just like setting off firecrackers to drive away the mythical beast Nian during the Lunar New Year.

In the Wasteland of Fear
"Holy crap, how could Y'Shaarj be so evil!"

Anvina screamed, clutching her head:
"What do you mean by 'ultimate nightmare'—playing ranked games for two months straight without winning a single match? And what's with this self-destruction to purify the Sunwell? Isn't Dath'Remar sleeping soundly in the Sunwell? Does he really need me to self-destruct?"

And I would never date that idiot Blue Dragon. What kind of bastard is worthy of me, the Queen of Blades?
I'm so angry! I'm so angry!

The Queen of Blades brandished her fist and shouted at the mantis dragons flying overhead:
"Go! Burn down the mantid houses to entertain the Vigilant Mentor! Burn down every building with an image of Y'Shaarj! Make them worship Y'Shaarj, you bastards, you deserve it!"

Immediately, a large number of flammable venom balls were hurled at the Mantid's buildings in the Dread Wasteland, followed by a burst of dragonfire that instantly ignited a large portion of the Dread Wasteland.

The flame was big enough that even the pandas awakening in the setting sun could see it.

"General! General, look! The mantis's territory is on fire! We've won, General! General, Old Yang!!!"

The traveling scholar gave General Yang a nudge.

The latter was too exhausted, too badly injured, and plagued by nightmares, which finally led him to quietly bid farewell to the land he had protected for so many years.

He bid farewell to his hometown.

The smile on his lips perhaps indicated that even without him, the remaining pandaren would still be able to protect the land that fate had bestowed upon them!
The traveling scholar threw himself into his boss's arms and wept bitterly. Those were tears of sorrow, but sorrow did not seem to be a negative emotion. Often, it represented a tender and delicate feeling.

Just as tears are always a gentle thing.

It may not stop bullets and swords, but it can stop something much more vicious.

------

"Ah! I'm going to strangle you!"

Y'Shaarj roared, desperately trying to crush Diakum with his Sha Claws.

But Diakum, standing before it, was radiating light from head to toe. It was not pure holy light, but a mixture of some other power and holy light.

It looks like it's only a thin layer, but it's as hard as steel.

Despite the power of Y'Shaarj exerted, it could not cause any damage. Behind Diakum, the lights of thousands of homes, the light on the setting sun, and the torch held high by Hamuul continued to shine.

The vigilant's smile grew wider, and he burst into laughter.

It was a hearty laugh, yet also a mocking laugh. He laughed loudly in the darkness where nothing could be seen, so that the fearful creatures hiding there did not dare to approach.

Even without a single flame, they still fear the light that could be ignited at any moment.
Compared to Y'Shaarj at this moment, he was really small, being held by claws, like a little mouse about to be trampled to death by a dark elephant. However, in the mental confrontation between the two, Y'Shaarj could feel that the damned Watcher in front of him was expanding with every breath.

His radiant body quickly swelled to be as large as himself.

But it didn't stop; it was like a golden giant that kept rising, rising, and rising again.

Ultimately, the hope that forged the giant of light had swelled to an unseen size, while he was like a mouse at its feet, cowering in the sewers.

"You may freely summon darkness and clamor to use the night to frighten all good people, but you and I both know that with just a ray of light, all darkness will vanish."

You lost!
"It's a pity you died long ago, otherwise how glorious today's victory would be!"

Diakum strode forward.

The terrifying, towering giant conjured a golden greatsword in its hand and, with a roar, brought it down on Y'Shaarj's head.

Before the blade forged in hope arrived, a golden storm swept in, tearing apart, purifying, and evaporating Y'Shaarj's menacing body like a nuclear explosion.

It was like a monster formed from countless ghostly figures, wandering in an era that did not belong to it, but finally remembering the fact that it was dead, rising in a silent roar of unwillingness, and finally turning into wisps of smoke that were not worth remembering.

At this moment, the Supreme Being Kolfan, who served as the vessel, also awoke.

It experienced everything, until it realized it could no longer dodge the giant of light's purifying attack. In despair, this most outstanding mantid could only raise its hands, crossing them in front of it to block.

But the devastating blow that was expected did not come.

In the end, what landed on my forehead was just a light touch of slightly hot fingers, like a warm afternoon breeze on my face.

The mantis demon hero looked up and saw the blue giant standing in front of him, retracting his fading fingertips.

Behind him, the dark heart left behind by the Overlord had stopped beating, and the power of the Seven Fiends had been completely purified, as if everything that had just happened was just a nightmare.

It's as if everything the mantises have experienced over the past ten thousand years was just a dream.

The Supreme Being stared blankly at the blue giant before him.

Although Diakum was radiating holy light, it could still see the other's shadow in the light coalescing into a cold and majestic void deity, scrutinizing it and the other awakened Mantid heroes.

The ruler is roaring.

The Shadow Chasing Insect swarm was also roaring.

That was a call.

The swarm of insects is calling for those who have wandered too far to return home.

"puff"

The Supreme One knelt down.

It reverently lowered its head, touching its forehead to the ground in front of Diakum, and with excitement, fervor, and longing, it shouted:
"Ten thousand years! We have reached the end of the ten thousand-year cycle of sacrifice, death and war. We have seen through the illusions between reality and falsehood. We are finally able to pay homage to your majesty."

O Lord, God of the Swarm.

Your most loyal children
Finally home.

(End of this chapter)