Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 523, Section 62: The Prologue to Eternal Reincarnation - The Beginning of Supreme Evolution

Garrod Shadowsong sat in that "conductor's chair".

He tried to relax, but he couldn't actually relax at all. A strange octopus was moving around on his head, as if it wanted to eat his brain off. In this situation, most people would not be able to truly relax.

The "brain worm" was slowly and laboriously attaching its eight tentacles of varying lengths to both sides of Garrod's brain.

He felt the slimy mucus. Ugh, how disgusting. But the tentacles had unique suckers that clung tightly to his skin after the air was expelled from their pores, even giving him a feeling of pressure on his flesh.

Under Anvina's gaze, the tentacles of the brain worm began to glow, connecting Garrod's will to the worm hive in the Sea of ​​Light through the influence of some void power.

The swollen abdomen of the brain worm also has a strange luminous organ that is lit up, and it shines with different frequencies of light in response to Garold's thought processes.

General Sandys Feathermoon stood beside Anvina, watching her husband gradually drift into sleep, and couldn't help but whisper:
Are you sure this stuff is harmless?

"This is a creation of the void, how could it be harmless?"

Anvina countered with a question:

"You are a high-ranking member of the Sisterhood of Elune, how could you ask such a stupid question? Although the Gene Masters have made many corrections to the mental link of the Brain Worm, this is still a direct contact with the will of the Swarm. How could a mortal not be affected?"

"Then why did you let him go first?"

General Yu Yue was getting a little frantic. She clenched her fists and said:
"I only have one husband!"

"Don't worry, the side effects aren't as severe as yours. The most extreme consequence is that you suffer mental trauma and are stripped of your swarm's will."

The Sunwell ghost shook her head and said:

"But the cerebrate is set to 'mental overload,' so when the commander's mental stress becomes unbearable, the cerebrate will explode first. This is a safety precaution. The Vigilant also mobilizes Lightforged Priests to guard outside."

Don't worry, they will intervene immediately if any problems arise. Unless you're so unlucky as to die on the spot, you can usually be saved.

And since you've asked, I won't hide anything from you.

This kind of action will only happen once!
Because the current Shadow Chaser swarm has only recently awakened its swarm will and has not yet produced enough command nodes through natural selection, it has resorted to this desperate measure: using mortal commanders to replace swarm nodes in order to effectively command the massive military force.

If they can survive this battle, the Shadow Chaser swarm will truly embark on the cycle of supreme evolution.

By then, if you want to experience commanding swarms to conquer cities and territories, the only way left is to join the Shadow Chaser Cult. So, on the bright side, this is a 'one-of-a-kind event' that will never be repeated!
"Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to participate?"

General Yu Yue's expression remained grim.

But when she looked at her husband, her expression quickly calmed down as Garrod told her the contents of the moon god's oracle.

Such a clear oracle indicates that the war currently taking place in the foreign lands is related to Lady Elune's interests. Although the Moon Goddess did not reveal this secret to all the elves, now that she knows, she certainly will not stand idly by.

Most importantly, even if it's just a substitute battle with her consciousness withdrawn, she absolutely cannot allow her husband to fight alone on an unfamiliar battlefield.

Where is my chair?

General Yu Yue asked a question, and Anvina pointed to what was in front of her and said:

"Knowing that you two have a good relationship, I specially arranged for you two to play together so you can have a 'couple duo queue'. When you get there, don't rush to mobilize your Zerg swarm. Let Garrod teach you the basic operations."

Even though it's a pure war that abandons all superfluous objectives, at the very least, a sufficient exchange ratio must be achieved!
You are all the most powerful commanders in the material world, don't embarrass yourselves.

"I feel like you're stirring things up, and doing it in a very low-level way."

Sandys glared at Anvina, then sat down in the chair next to Garold amidst her opponent's attempt to "get away with it" with a waving and squinting smile.

Her brain worm also moved, attaching its tentacles to both sides of the general's forehead.

The slight electric shock made Sandy's muscles tense, but at some point she quietly drifted into a dream, feeling as if her consciousness was sinking into a dark, lightless swamp, and then she opened her eyes after falling into the cold water.

What came into view was a grotesque and morbid sky, with a huge shadow cast down from the gloomy firmament.

In the winds of war filled with intense entropy, one after another, enormous black "slings" fell from the clouds, like filthy water pipes, pouring black blood-like liquid onto the battlefield.

The murky liquid that falls into the fungal carpet covering the continent's surface, spread by the Shadow Chasing Insect swarm below, transforms into grotesque, fleshy monstrosities that begin to frantically destroy everything around them.

However, before their destruction even begins, they are often surrounded and annihilated by the swift-reacting Shadow Chaser. Then, worker bees fly over and drag the biomass back to the hive in swarms to hatch more fighting insects.

Anvina said the war hadn't officially started yet, but from what Sandy had seen in those few seconds, it was clear that a large area in front of her was already in the midst of fierce fighting.

A vast array of flying dragons circled the Devourer as it headed towards different destinations.

On the ground, warrior bugs lead their army of zebras and hydralisks, moving back and forth. In every hive, large and small, there are rows of prophet bugs and prophets forming a stronghold of psychic power.

The hives that hatched the Thunder Beasts served as the spearhead of the war, while the existing hive tyrants were clearing out the fleshy monsters that had poured into their territory from the black waters all around this chaotic coast.

This time it's not just the Faceless Ones, Kerchiel, and Krahis.

Besides these flesh-and-blood void creatures, there were also dark essences like shadow walkers. These energy-bodied void creatures transformed into black storms in the air, crashing against the dragon-filled sky like wraiths.

Large swarms of "Nightmare Dragons" emitted piercing screams that sent chills down one's spine.

Those monstrous dragons known as "Shadwalker" in the material world flew in a dark, swarming mass across the battlefield, like a drifting black cloud, guarding the enormous Void Sea Serpent as it approached the Chaos Coast.

That must be a chosen servant of some Void deity. Although only part of the sea serpent is above the water, its length can be estimated to be enough to easily encircle the entire city of Lordaeron.

It's just like the world-destroying serpent from mythology.

Moreover, all of these Void creatures exhibit obvious "enhancement effects," which may not only stem from the war blessing of a Void deity; they are clearly aimed at wiping out the Shadow Chaser swarm.

General Sandy felt like he couldn't see enough.

She "landed" on the shore near the giant serpent, but even the part of the battlefield she could perceive was full of details that were difficult to fully capture.

She felt as if her brain was being "expanded".

It seems that through the link of that brain worm, one's own thoughts are being integrated into a larger, invisible, cold, and resilient "mental network".

He had become a node in that mental network, but he could mobilize the mental "resources" of the entire network to help him deal with the overly complicated information on the battlefield at this moment.

Sandys even felt a sense of "immersion" in it.

No one needed to teach her; the moment she connected with the swarm's will, all the information about the various swarm units was poured into General Yu Yue's mind.

Such a massive amount of information would be enough to overwhelm a normal person's brain, but with the assistance of the swarm's mental network, General Yu Yue quickly digested the information and, as if without any instruction, issued commands to the insects in her nest who were waiting for orders.

"Samurai Insects and Hydralisks will ambush the monster on the left three kilometers ahead, waiting to annihilate it once it descends!"

"Adjust the air defenses ten kilometers back to let those Shadow Bees in. The Hive Prophet squadron will lock onto the edge of the air and unleash a psychic storm on them once the number of Shadow Bees is saturated."

"All Prophet Bugs need not join the battle; prepare for 'Mind Possession'! When the 'Moon Eater' sea serpent is weakened by the swarm's attacks, transform it into our 'battle weapon'!"
To achieve this tactical objective regardless of casualties.

All worker insects will collect biomass at maximum efficiency for the 'elite hatching' decision. In the second round of hatching in my hive, no low-level units will be produced.

One command after another was issued, and the various squadrons of insects in the hive began to move under her command, just like a war machine being started.

Shandis was intoxicated by the "perfect state" in which she had every detail under her control. She even kept adjusting the swarm's perspective to better grasp the battle situation in her area.

“Sandis? Sandis!”

Garrod's calls gradually turned into rebukes.

While General Feathermoon was engrossed in the war and oblivious to everything else, Garrod, the commander of the swarm, had to temporarily sever the connection with the swarm's will to bring his "warmonger" wife back to her senses.

"Don't get too caught up in the will of the swarm, Shandris."

Yingge solemnly reminded him:

"You can manipulate it, you can use it, but don't become one with it! The assimilation ability of the swarm's will is too strong. It will subtly correct your mental cognition, making you more perfectly integrated with the swarm's war system."

But only when you become a member of the swarm can you achieve true 'perfection' with it.

However, I don't want to take a 'Queen of Insects' wife back to Ashenvale.

Two hours! After two hours of command, you must return to reality and rest.

"Two hours isn't enough for me to defeat that 'Moon Eater' serpent!"

Sandys Feathermoon retorted:

"Even if I need to rest, I need to secure enough victories to get me back, Garrod! We're at war now, don't interfere with my commands!"

"But that giant snake isn't your target. It's not even a side objective. Look up and take a look!"

Garrod gave a reprimand, causing General Yu Yue to "look up." Following Garrod's perspective, she could see more clearly the full picture of the "shadow" that existed high above this coastal continent.

Where are those dark clouds?
This is clearly a whole continental plate that has been completely bloodied and fleshed out!
The "slings" she had seen before, spewing filthy black blood, were like the "blood vessels" of this enormous, ghostly thing, and on the edge of this flesh and blood continent, new void creatures were born every second.

Once a swarm of Shadow Chasers gets close to it, the flesh protected by its chitinous carapace bursts open to reveal a giant eye, which sweeps away the harassing insects with twilight.

It may not be able to attack on its own, but this thing is a gigantic "devil's womb".

It is a mobile military camp, and the war of servants in this "war of the void gods" will never end until this completely flesh-and-blood continent is shattered.

"What...what is this thing? What a filthy and twisted creation!"

Sandys rebuked him with utter disgust:
"As expected of the Sea of ​​No Light, the hideous heart of the Void Realm."

"This is the last remnant of a shattered world completely corrupted by the void."

Gabriel said in a serious tone:
"After its world was destroyed, it was dragged into the Sea of ​​Light by a Void deity and became a 'holy land'. If Azeroth is conquered by the Void, Shandris, our Kalimdor, will eventually become such a monster."

The Vigilant invited us to this war not merely to use our art of war, but to witness firsthand the despair of a world overrun by the Void.

Commanders, our objective in this battle is to destroy the Echo of Despair from this dead world before you.

It is just one of countless tragedies slumbering in the sea of ​​darkness, but we must still give that dead world its final dignity and rest.

We will fight to the very end here!

Until those empty evil gods are defeated by our vigilant ones.”

"Yes!"

One resolute voice after another rang out in the other nodes of the swarm's will.

Shandris recognized Lothar, Kael'thas, the rude dwarf Stormpike, and even Archmage Antonidas among them.

I really don't know where this human archmage got his command skills from. Maybe it's because there aren't enough people available, forcing the vigilant to temporarily recruit new members?
“We must keep attacking, gentlemen! The seven Void Gods have ordered their servants to besiege the Chaos Coast. They intend to force the Vigilant into the Sea of ​​Darkness to face their ‘judgment’ by annihilating the Shadow Chaser swarm.”

Anvina's voice then echoed within the swarm's mental network, reminding them:
"The Vigilant will come! But not now. Mentor Diakum has his own plans, and we have our duties. Now everyone go back to your respective command nodes to fight!"

If you should give up, then give up; don't stubbornly resist.

The Shadow Chasing Swarm offers you ample opportunities to command battles along this coastal continent; however, once targeted by the Void Gods' curses, you will suffer lasting damage even upon returning to the material world.

"Swish"

The "temporary working group" that Garrod pulled in the node of the Swarm's will was disbanded, and then General Feathermoon returned to her own hive.

The delay allowed her swarm to engage in battle with the giant "Moon Eater" serpent before her.

The swarm executed the tactics strictly according to her orders, but due to the lack of command along the way, most of the giant serpent's minions were consumed, and the subsequent swarms of swarms could not keep up.

The Moon Eater Sea Serpent seized the opportunity and charged all the way to the vicinity of the insect hive, and it was clear that it could no longer hold out.

That's a high-ranking demigod!
In the material world, this would be an incredible fighting force, but in the current Void God War, it can only serve as a commander on the periphery.

Within the shared mental network of the Swarm's will, Shandris knew that her husband, Garrod, through the combined efforts of the Overlord and the Swarm Tyrant, had successively killed several Void demigods who were attempting to raid the Overmind's hive.

"We can't take it down; the opportunity has been lost."

Minutes later, Shandris unleashed all the Prophet Spellbugs she had, but still couldn't restrain the crazed, venomous sea serpent.

After assessing the battlefield, she decisively abandoned the Zerg hive.

After activating the "Tyrannical Pheromones" and initiating the "Devourer's Decision," Shandis decisively withdrew from consciousness, allowing herself to be "redeployed" within the swarm's mental network to another hive near the coast.

She could even clearly sense that all the insects in that nest had entered a mindless frenzy because of her command, charging at the enemy and causing casualties at all costs.

Sandys began to like this "army" that was absolutely obedient to orders.

After taking stock of the forces and configuration of the insect hive she had in hand, she cleared her mind and then continued with the battle plan she had just been working on.

I'm going to eat that Moon-Eating Sea Serpent!
Hey, Void Scum, your Sister Feathermoon is back on the battlefield!

------

"The Shadow Chaser swarm is losing too quickly. Given the current and widening attrition ratio between the two sides, the swarm will most likely not last the battle time you set for them."

On the floating island of the Sunwell, Aegwynn said to Diakum with a serious expression:

“If you’re sure you want to go, then I’ll head to Watchtower right now! Lady Tyrande said she was grateful for your saving her life and would go through fire and water for you. Now it’s time for the Nightsworn to keep her promise.”

"Airdrop the Nightsworn into the Sea of ​​No Light?"

Diakum stared at the still-moving hands of the pocket watch in his hand, and said with a smirk:

"You really dare to think that way. Aren't you afraid that the Nightsworn will go out of control? I would rather face those seven Void Gods alone than see Tyrande go out of control. She is Lady Elune's chosen one, and the only Night Goddess of War who has survived in the Stars so far."

Her existence is nothing short of a miracle.

"She will agree."

Aegwynn said:

"We can't just stand by and watch you go to your death. You've done so much for this world; we owe you that."

"There's no need to repay it like this."

Dick shook his head, put the pocket watch in his pocket, and said:
Has the World Mother completed the 'incubation' of the Black Devourer?

"Almost complete, but..."

Aegwynn blinked and said:

"Is it also going to be deployed to the battlefield of the Sea of ​​No Light? I admit that it is quite powerful, but in a continental war of that scale, the role that a dragon king can play is very limited, right?"
The servants of the seven Void Gods are gathered together; you are practically using your own swarm to withstand the wrath of the Sea of ​​Darkness. How long has the Shadow Chaser evolved? The various abominations of the Sea of ​​Darkness, however, have existed since the Great Order of Light and Darkness and have continued to evolve to this day.

"But the Zerg Swarm is 'war-specialized,' while the Void Life is not."

Diakum gave a subtle look and said:

"If the Black Devourer were just a slightly stronger dragon king, why would I have put so much effort into creating it? It is a strategic weapon, the 'final battle power' that I crafted for the Azeroth world-soul."

As for what it can do, you'll find out soon enough.

Please go to the World Soul Temple in person and send the Black Devourer to the Chaos Coast after it has finished hatching. I want my swarm to launch a spectacular counterattack and set the stage for my grand entrance with a war that will shake the Sea of ​​No Light and the six realms!

Also, you've said something wrong.

The Watcher cracked his knuckles, stroking the hilt of Ashbringer, and said to Aegwynn, who was staring at him:

"It's not the Shadow Chasing Swarm that's fighting alone against the accumulation and evolution of the Sea of ​​Light over countless years, it's this world!"

They are the ones challenging Azeroth.

I never felt like I was going to the battlefield alone. Aegwynn, my people, my world, and the world I protect are with me.

Even for their sake, I cannot stop here.

(End of this chapter)