Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 483, Section 22: The Oath of the Sun Chasers - I Will Become the Sun
Kael'thas walked in the darkness.

The flaming strike in his hand burned like a torch, yet it could not illuminate an inch of the land in front of him. His father's palace should not be this huge, but the darkness covering it had clearly altered the spatial structure of the place.

The Vigilante's divine avatar said this was a dark path to Ny'alotha, the Sleeping City, where the palace was being connected by the shadow beneath one's feet to the reflection of the dark empire that existed in the dreams of the Old Gods.

This place is being stripped away from the material world.

The palace and everything within it will be completely absorbed into the dark dream of the Thousand-Bearded Demon, but his father will still be here.
“Dark things are approaching, my dear, they are whispering and spying on us, their cold malice is tearing my spirit apart.”

Lanathel gripped Kael'thas's hand tightly.

She held a sharp sword in her hand, but apart from her husband's fingers, nothing in the darkness could give her even the slightest sense of security.

She felt as if the two of them were walking inside the monster's cold, slippery stomach, and could even hear those blasphemous whispers and dark temptations.

An eye was watching her and Kael'thas from the darkness.

"Unwavering will."

Kai said in a hoarse voice:

"We won't stay here for long."

"Ah."

Lana'thel tried to summon a ray of light, but the magical flame was swallowed by darkness the moment it left her fingertips. Ordinary light could not shine here; this was the true Void, where the unblessed would step into the eternal slumber.

In that lucid dream, the rules of the world will be reversed; in that boundless slumber, even death itself will perish.

The four Old Gods who took root and grew up in Azeroth each possessed their own power, but N'Zoth, the "weakest" Old God, wielded the most troublesome power for mortals.

It governs the dreams of countless living beings.

In every whispering dream, there is a wavering soul kneeling in the void.

However, these methods are still too ineffective against Kael'thas.

Not to mention the prince's unwavering will, his dedication to the people, and his talent as a super arcanist, all of which made him able to resist the tricks of mental temptation, the Heart of Azeroth he was wearing at this moment was also radiating a faint light.

The dim yet real blue beam of light bound Kael'thas and Lana'thal together like chains.

Mother World watched over them, protecting them from all evil.

"The two lords are ahead! There are battle roars!"

Lanathel listened intently and said something to Kael'thas. The prince strode forward, wielding a fiery strike to dispel the dark hand blocking his path. He then saw the Black Raven King wielding a blade and fighting the Faceless Ones.

The latter was exhausted, but was still fighting.

Monsters in the Darklands return to the Dreamlands after they die, so it's hard to say exactly how many Void Evils the Black Raven King has killed. But judging from the wounds on His Majesty, he hasn't stopped fighting since darkness enveloped this place.

"boom"

Kael'thas summoned the Phoenix's flames to strike the Faceless One, and in a chilling explosion, turned all the Void creatures around the Black Raven King into burning pillars of fire.

But even the raging flames could not illuminate this place.

"do not come!"

Kutalos Ravencrest, leaning on his dragon-headed battle blade, panted and scolded:

"Fifteen minutes ago, I killed my 'daughter'. Seven minutes ago, I killed my 'wife' and 'father'. Three minutes ago, I carried out a ruthless beheading on 'Azshara'."

I need to confirm you're 'real,' or you'll be facing a deadly blade.

Kael'thas raised the Heart of Azeroth in his hand, letting the azure beams of light swirl around it, dispelling the darkness and pulling it across the Black Raven King's wrist. The unmistakable soothing touch of the Star Soul made the Black Raven King laugh out loud.

All his fatigue vanished in that moment. He tried to stand up straight, but a sharp pain caused the Kaldorei king to stagger and fall to the ground, where he was helped up by Kael'thas and Lana'thel.

"Sorry, kid."

Kutalos whispered:
You're too late.

These words caused Kael'thas a pang of pain, almost bringing him to tears.

He had already prepared for the worst when he stepped into this darkness, but hearing His Majesty Kultaros's sorrowful reminder still broke Kael'thas's heart.

But then came the warning from the Black Crow King:

"Don't let your emotions get the better of you. The darkness here will sense your weakness and try to exploit it to break you. Come with me. You need to get him out of here. We are falling into Ny'alotha. That lucid dream of the past is pulling at and devouring our souls."

It feared the light of the vigilant and dared not spread further, but the palace had already fallen.

There is no hope of saving this place.

He glanced at the sword in his hand. This dragon-forged blade came from a batch of rune swords gifted by the guardian dragons when Black Rook Hold was founded. Quel'Serrar, which had been shattered in the Battle of Mount Hyjal, and Quel'Dra, which was kept here by the Sun King, were the two most powerful rune swords in that batch.

But the Black Crow King's two-handed sword accompanied him through the entire ancient war and the subsequent ten thousand years.

Although he was not a super-strong individual who could maintain his weapon with his own Force, the sword had become a divine weapon in this world after years of maintenance and enhancement by court craftsmen.

"Take it."

He handed the battleblade stained with dark blood to Kael'thas, saying:
"This is not the King's Blade, nor does it come with great power, but this 'Legacy of Ravencrest' embodies my resistance, perseverance, and fighting spirit. May it protect you as it has protected me."

I didn't bring you any gift, so please accept this as a token of my blessings.

Kael'thas did not refuse.

The main reason was that the Black Crow King's current physical condition made it impossible for him to carry such a heavy weapon forward. The prince carried it on his back and, together with his wife, helped the Black Crow King through the darkness to a corner of the wall.

Anastarian is here.

He used the Quel'dra sword to prop himself up, and in the last moment before his breath stopped, his gaze was still fixed on the city, as if he were telling his children and people something.

Kael'thas had never seen his father in such a passionate fighting spirit.

He seemed to maintain the dignity and composure of a king at all times, and he held his children to the same standard, allowing Kael'thas to grow into the perfect person he is today.

Kai stepped forward, tears streaming down his face. He took the Dragon-Forged Blade that was supporting his father's body and handed it to his wife beside him.

Lana Thrall was also crying.

She took the Dragonforged Blade Quel'Dra, looked at her husband and father, mourned the passing of a king, and grieved that she would most likely never celebrate her wedding anniversary again.

"The city survived, the people took refuge in the inner city, the trolls and dragonborn were repelled, and we made sacrifices but averted the calamity."

already
You no longer need to fight.

Kael'thas, with a sob, laid his father's body flat on the ground and clasped his hands together in front of his chest.

He really wanted to be more dignified.

But in the end, he threw himself into his father's arms and burst into tears. This was perhaps the first time he had cried so bitterly since he grew up.

From tonight onwards, he will never see the most important person in his life again.

This scene deeply moved Ravenclaw. He felt a surge of exhaustion and leaned against the wall, but his legs could no longer support him, so he slid down the wall and eventually leaned against the corner.

With trembling hands, he took out his last diary from his pocket.

In the darkness, he recorded his current state of mind in his usual manner. Since he could no longer say a final goodbye to his daughter, he might as well write it in his diary.

"Your father could have survived."

He whispered to Kael'thas:
"He didn't have to end his long life in a fierce battle like this old man who has already been summoned by death. Perhaps I set a bad example for him. But I think that when Anastarian returned to this darkness, he also thought about the future fate of his country."

The Sunwell is gone, Kael'thas.

The most important treasure of Quel'dorei has disappeared, the pillar that supported your last pride has been removed, and the massive outbreak of mana addiction is now unstoppable.

Two months? Three months? A year?
Pointless!

You will eventually have to face this tricky problem.

How can the incurable magical addiction of the Quel'dorei and even the Highborne be eradicated?
If you can handle this matter well, you will become the greatest ruler in the history of Quel'dorei and indeed all elves; if you cannot accomplish it, you will become the last king of Quel'Thalas.

Alas, fate has been unkind to you.

"We must take back the Sacred Tree of Arcandor!"

At this moment, Lanathene, who had been promoted to "Queen," said in a deep voice:
“We will take back the treasure that belongs to the elves from Elisande. If she doesn’t give it to us, then we will.”

"Can a few broken trees solve the problem?"

The Black Crow King scoffed at this idea, shaking his head and saying:
Do you think Elisande hasn't tried to cultivate a new Tree of Arcandor in the past ten thousand years?

It's no use. No one but Azshara can restore the Tree of Arcandor to its Imperial size, enough to provide every citizen with a drink to suppress their mana addiction.

The Tree of Arcandor can only protect a few from being consumed by magical addiction; that's not a cure for the root of the problem. Ultimately, the Well of Eternity, while blessing us, also cursed us; the elves' aptitude for energy both made and destroyed us.

Kael'thas, you need to address these issues at a more fundamental level.

This is a problem that should have been dealt with by us old men who lived through the imperial era, but our generation has ultimately disappointed you. This problem can only be left to you, Malfurion and Governor Evershadow.

But I firmly believe that the solution exists.

The Kaldorei resisted their magical addiction with a natural affinity and faith in Lady Elune, but that wasn't a way to spread it.

"We will find it."

Kael'thas rubbed his eyes.

He glared at the shameless darkness around him that sought to take advantage of his grief, and he shouted:

"This is my duty, and this is my mission!"

"Then take him away. I have nothing left to give you but my blessings."

King Raven handed his blood-stained diary to Lanathere, entrusting her to pass it on to his daughter, and instructing her to burn his "King's Diary Archives" upon returning to El Retharas.

Alas, one must leave behind a pure reputation in the world.

“But we cannot leave you here either. I cannot allow you to be taken by that rat of darkness, N'Zoth. That would be a desecration of the oath of unity of the elves.”

Kael'thas stood up.

Under Ravencrest's astonished gaze, he took the spark from his pocket.

As the Elf Prince gazed at the flame emanating from the Sun, he seemed to finally understand why Saint Diakum had given it to him as a congratulatory gift.

The fighter who defied fate may not have foreseen what would happen in Silvermoon City, or this bloody wedding that would be "historically significant," but he certainly foresaw the dark path he and the Quel'dorei would embark on in the future.

Yes, without the Sunwell and without its abundant magic, how will their people overcome the inner demons that entangle them?

Without that golden light, how could Quel'Thalas cross the quagmire it has already trodden and reach the other side?
Their people will experience the darkest period in seven thousand years. They will step into the night, and if they do not want to lose their way in the lurking darkness, they will need a ray of light.

We need a sun high in the sky!

Come, dispel the darkness for them, and bring them light.

This may be the fate of the "Sun Chasers".

He said I only had one chance to ignite the flame, that this flame could only be used in the most important moment, but he gave me more than just a flame.
This is the spark!

Only by adding kindling can a fire be made to burn.

Kael'thas removed the crystal dome, and the moment it came into contact with the surrounding darkness, the rootless fire immediately burst into flames, as if the blazing sun could not tolerate the arrogance of the darkness. Wherever it went, light would surely shine down, and it could not allow these dark dogs to bar their fangs and claws in front of it.

When Kael'thas raised the flame high, the surrounding darkness receded in terror, finally allowing light to shine in the slumbering land of Ny'alotha.

N'Zoth is rebuking.

The Thousand-Bearded Demon sensed the blazing sun's light and brandished its shadowy tentacles, trying to extinguish it.

But in the next instant, the flames of the Radiant Sun flickered and merged with Kael'thas's own Phoenix Flame, and a wisp of Sulfuras's Flame also flickered and merged into it.

The light shone brightly, seemingly transforming Kael'thas into a radiant sun, causing the shadow tentacles hurled by N'Zoth to crumble and vanish in the burst of light.

"Queldorei has lost enough today, you villain, don't think you can take anything more from us! Not this palace, not my father's body, not even the soul of the noble!"

Aside from Yaoyang's condemnation, you're taking nothing with you!

he roared.

He found a path as bright and blazing as the sun itself in the shining sunlight.

It was still part of the arcane path, but it was completely different from the path Kael'thas had originally taken. Yet, at this moment, Kael'thas stepped into it without any hesitation.

He, an arcanist and seeker of truth, is dead.

From this day forward, he will become the sun of Quel'dorei, leading his people across the dark sea, the greedy swamp, and the thorny jungle.

He wanted to become a fire-bearer who chased the sun, to find a way to survive for his people in this destined era of sorrow.

Yes.

Kael'thas chose to become the sun!

He opened his arms in the darkness, as if to embrace the ever-rising sun.

In that ever-spreading halo that ignites all darkness and shadow, amidst N'Zoth's roar and the trembling of the lucid dream of Ny'alotha, the sleeping city, Kael'thas will chase the sun.

He saw an illusion in the light.

He saw a weary giant walking ahead of him; he was a fellow traveler and a pioneer.

"Lord Diakum!"

Kael'thas called out, causing the Vigilant in the illusion ahead to turn around abruptly. The Vigilant then smiled and waved to Kael'thas, signaling him not to get too close.

The current Caesar is not yet capable of carrying on the legacy of Anser.

"Chase the sun, sun chaser."

Diakum's voice rang in Kael'thas's ears, carrying a gentle encouragement. He said:

"We will eventually light up the sun, letting Anser's light shine in this chaotic sea of ​​stars, bringing eternal balance here. The Sunwell will be back soon, but I guess you won't need it anymore."

Making decisions is always the hardest part.

But once the decision is made, all you need to do is set off.

The extravagant era of Quel'dorei has ended, and a new era begins on this day of the 'Red Wedding.' Perhaps, from now on, I should call you 'King of the Sin'dorei.'

"Sin'dorei? Blood Elves?"

Kael'thas awoke from the illusion of the Sunstrider.

He savored the name, and as darkness faded and sunlight returned, he knelt beside his father's body.

He whispered:

"Then, in the name of the Blood Elves, Father, we will vow revenge and forge a new dawn with our blood. Watch over us from the heavens."

Please bless us.

One day, your people will once again walk proudly in this world.

Those outside the palace looked at the receding darkness, which seemed to burst forth from the deepest part of the palace. The darkness emanating from the Thousand-Bearded Demon was powerless to block it and could only wail as it faded away under the light of the rising sun.

The palace, which had been dragged into the sleeping city of Nyolosa, returned to the material world under the sunlight.

The Quildores are cheering.

They felt a warmth that came from the bottom of their hearts, like an invisible sun shining on their weary and bewildered souls.

When Kael'thas Sunstrider, adorned with the Sun Crown and wielding the Blade of the Sun, appeared before the palace with his wife, the Phoenix Guards, led by Blademaster Salorion, knelt down in unison.

They paid homage to and pledged allegiance to their new king.

The eldest sister of the Windrunner family was among them, tears still clinging to her blue battle-patterned face. Just moments before, her mother had passed on the position of Ranger General to her.

My mother also made sacrifices for the country; she fulfilled the mission of all the Windwalkers.

"Our king is dressed in blood-stained clothes, a battle robe stained with the blood of the enemy!"

The young bard, Rilas Windrunner, wiped away his tears, raised his golden lyre high, and cried out:
"For the glory of the 'Blood-Clad King'! Quel'Thalas will never fall!"

And so, even more people roared like that.

Lothar handed the head of the traitor Zul'jin to Princess Talanji, then leaned on the Holy Sword of Sdomka and looked back at Kael'thas, who was holding aloft his fiery sword.

He said to Daenerys, who was also waving her fist beside him:

"'Blood-Clad King', tsk, so murderous, he seems out of place with Kael'thas's gentleness."

"Only when those gentle people are provoked will you realize what true fear is. He's not Lothar, the Sun King of Quel'Dore; he's the King of Sin'Dore, the leader of the Blood Elves."

Daenerys pumped her fist excitedly and shouted:
"The age of mercy is over! It's time to make the enemies of the Sin'dorei feel fear."

"I can't say whether the enemy feels fear, but I am feeling fear now."

Lothar looked around and said with a serious expression:
"Where are Varian and Arthas? Calia seems to be missing too. Where did the three children go? Damn it! Did they go after Terenas? By the Light, those three fools!"

(End of this chapter)