Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 537, Section 76: Ah, you fool, humans can finally understand each other.

Diakum, feeling conflicted upon learning that his beloved old man had sworn to become the God of War of the Night, returned to Gilneas.

By nightfall, the royal city was filled with werewolves, who roamed the streets and alleys, darting between rooftops and courtyard walls, occasionally letting out a loud howl, creating an exaggerated scene reminiscent of "the cries of monkeys on both banks never ceasing."

Its hideous face and terrifying voice are just like an enhanced version of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.

Of course, this scene is also very similar to the "Paw Patrol" army of dogs that mobilize in large numbers to compete with the cats in the city for territory.

The wolf pack was visibly restless, yet they were being restrained by their leaders. The various factions clearly defined their positions in the city under the night sky, waiting for a certain moment to arrive.

To be precise, from the moment Queen Mia returned to human form, Gilneas, now truly the "Land of Wolves," had been waiting.

Gene Greymane and his werewolf courtiers were setting up a ceremony in the palace, with cartloads of Peacebloom extract being transported from the human settlement and then distributed by the werewolves in cups.

This is a "magical little tool" that we'll need later, but we can't drink it now. Some greedy werewolves who get the potion and want to taste its saltiness will be given a free "slapping combo" by the leader.

Nobody wants tonight's ceremony to be ruined!

Even disturbance is unacceptable, especially to those who have long been disgusted by these beastly habits and yearn to return to being human.

They have waited too long for this day.

Lord Godfrey had been working for days without rest in order to prepare these herbs.

The entire area around the royal city, including the tranquil flowers in the Black Forest swamp, was completely depleted. The humans who prepared potions would also take a break from their work to climb the high walls and watch the wolf packs gather outside.

They had all received word that the Holy Watcher would perform a miracle of holy light tonight, turning all the werewolves back into humans.

This is absolutely a good thing for the people within Gilneas.

Their situation was rather difficult; after all, the idea of ​​being offered a free "race change package" by a "helpful werewolf" just by walking around the streets at night was really too exciting.

Some have speculated that in the future, this day in Gilneas might be celebrated as a unique commemorative holiday. If the demons' arrival in Gilneas was the beginning of the disaster, then this scene might symbolize the end of that disaster.

At the very least, the situation is improving.

It is said that the Mad King of Lordaeron has been defeated, and the dark rule created by the Dragonborn has been dismantled. Anduin Lothar, the handsome man from Stormwind, will establish a human empire, just like the legend from more than two thousand years ago.

After experiencing a series of setbacks and being repeatedly battered by life, the Gilneans, already exhausted, have really lowered their expectations for life.

If Emperor Lothar can bring them back to the peaceful days before the demons descended, then he will be the greatest emperor of this era!
The people in other war-torn areas of northern Xinjiang shared a similar mindset, which suggests that Diakum had considerable confidence in the stability of Losa's future rule.

As long as Lothar doesn't choose to be a "tyrant," the situation in the northern frontier will definitely continue to improve after the establishment of imperial order, since it was almost rotten to the core before.

"Indeed, happiness in this world is relative. After each demonic invasion, the happiness index of the residents of Azeroth skyrockets. So, is the Burning Legion actually the legendary evil group that brings happiness?"
Holy Light above, why would I have such a dream?
"It must be the news that Nellie is going to become the Goddess of the Moonlit Night that scared me."

Diakum, who was listening to the voice of the city with his Heart Power, grumbled bitterly. He was traveling light today, with almost no one else besides some priests from the Church of Man who would be stationed in Gilneas to carry out missionary activities during the war.

However, Lothar, the "reserve emperor," brought a lot of people with him to "join in the grand event."

The fact that the werewolf revolution in Gilneas was contained was a momentous event for the entire Empire. As the emperor, why would he not show his face on such an occasion, leaving the opportunity to shine to ambitious individuals?
In addition to Lothar and his administrative team, Cadore also sent a very prestigious "observation delegation".

Actually, it was just those druids who participated in the War of Lordaeron who happened to be passing by. Malfurion was also there, and the druid leader was currently discussing important matters with the other archdruids.

Just days before, when they were being rescued from the mind-controlled Northern Lord Darius Crowley, King Genn sought help from the druids. Following the advice of the Vigilant, the werewolves hoped that druids could stay in Gilneas for a long time to guide the werewolves in balancing their minds.

This attitude of "turning one's heart toward enlightenment" greatly pleased the Druids.

More than nine thousand years ago, they failed to prevent the emergence of the Cenarion Order, a wound that will forever remain in the hearts of the Archdruids. Now, with the opportunity to personally guide the werewolves of this era toward peace, the elders and young masters of the Cenarion Order will surely do their utmost.

Consider it an attempt to console my incompetent self from nine thousand years ago.

However, it is somewhat puzzling that King Genn invited the Moon Priests to reside there permanently, since the Northern Frontier has always been the traditional parish of the Church of the Holy Light, and the priests of Elune were worried that their stay would cause unnecessary religious conflicts.

But the answer to this question was quickly found.

"His Majesty Gene and his scholars read the legends and scriptures about the white wolf god Goldrin, and they found important clues in the story of the wolf god."

Archbishop Faol, who had come to observe the ceremony, whispered to Malfurion:

"Lady Elune, the moon goddess, has been trying to quell the raging fire in Goldrinn's heart with her moonlight, but the wild wolf god has refused her favor. His love for freedom and wildness is his obsession, but that doesn't mean the werewolves should act the same way."

If Lady Elune's Thousand Moons of Light can help the worgen better quell their inner savagery, then inviting the Priestess of the Moon to walk the lands of Gilneas is a necessary step.

Do not worry, Archdruid. This proposal has been discussed by the high-ranking members of the Church of the Holy Light, and the believers unanimously agree that the spread of the Moon Goddess faith will contribute to the long-term stability of Gilneas.

As I said, while the followers of Holy Light are devout, we are not foolish.

Holy light is not the only answer to all problems. Since the problem was caused by the blessing of the life force, it should be addressed by the priests of the moon goddess who tend to the wolves.

Of course, both the Light and Moon faiths will coexist in Gilneas, and Goldrinn's shrine will be placed there. There will inevitably be friction between the three, but if everyone is working to save the souls of the worgen, then there are no losers in this competition.

“You are a wise leader of the faith, Archbishop.”

Malfurion nodded.

他 说:

"We will also carefully select the priests of the moon goddess to come across the sea. Please do not worry about the conflict of faiths. The Eastern Continent has never been the parish of the Sisterhood of Elune, and the moon goddess faith does not actually focus on proselytizing."

We guarantee that we will not seek excessive expansion within the human empire.

"Hmm, that's perfect."

The two leaders reached an agreement quite happily, and later, as Diakum prepared for the large-scale "Trial of the Beast," they talked about the whereabouts of Lylar Flamefang.

"It is said that the 'Scythe-Clawed Wolf,' pursued by the heroes, eventually abandoned the Moon Goddess's Scythe and escaped into a dream?"

Archbishop Benedictus, Fao's disciple, asked with some concern:
"Is it really a good thing to let an unbridled wolf roam freely in dreams? Perhaps you druids who can traverse dreams should pursue it again?"

"Flamefang is no longer in Azeroth."

Malfurion replied in a serious tone:

"It did indeed escape into the dream, but my disciples Staghelm and Hamuul witnessed it firsthand. The Scytheclaw Wolf attempted to infiltrate the nightmare to hide, but was captured by a black wolf that resembled a Loa. If I am not mistaken, it should be the incarnation of Lycanthos, the black wolf god who disappeared after the Battle of Mount Hyjal."

It took Lylar Flamefang away, taking it to a very distant place, somewhere among the stars.

That is a distance that mortals cannot measure.

We don't yet know why the Black Wolf God appeared in the dream and took away the Scythe-Clawed Wolf, but considering that the White Wolf God Goldrinn chose a chosen one during the Battle of Lordaeron, perhaps it was part of another battle between the two wolf gods.

"Ok?"

This assessment caused the human leadership to turn to look at Malfurion, while Brigadier General Daenerys, who would become queen in a few months, asked with a puzzled expression:

"Goldling has another human chosen one? But we haven't heard of anyone becoming a werewolf after that battle?"

"It's not a werewolf's blessing, but merely a catalyst for the fighting spirit and an advancement in the mastery of anger."

Malfurion gave a mysterious smile and waved his hand, saying:

"As for who he is, perhaps you will find the answer in the future. This time, the White Wolf God learned from his previous mistakes, and the blessing he gave was quite subtle."

I suspect that even the person involved may not have realized that he has been blessed.

This is a good thing, meaning that Goldrinn's power will no longer be a 'double-edged sword.' Hmm, look, the Moon Scythe has appeared, and tonight Mr. Diakum certainly has the majesty of a faith-walker."

"The power of the Vigilant is so overwhelming that many people have forgotten that this saint was also an outstanding and devout priest."

Hamuul Runetotem stood behind its mentor, wagging its tail, and said:
"Lord Diakum's theological attainments are extremely high. His three-volume canon of light and shadow is a scripture that all believers should study. It does not simply explain the connection between holy light and shadow, but also contains a lot of philosophical speculation."

His concept of 'balance' is considered a gem in various religious sects.

The minotaur's praise was somewhat exaggerated. At the very least, it left Dick, who heard the compliment, feeling both helpless and embarrassed. He thought to himself, "This minotaur is just a braggart. I didn't pay him to brag for me."

Besides, I'm almost finished writing Volume 4 of my Light and Shadow Bible. If you, you big horned bull, don't keep up with the updates when it's published, you're heartless.

However, seeing the unwavering approval of the other faith leaders gave Diakum some confidence in the "sales" of his new work. But was it really as good as they said?
Dick expressed his doubts, saying that he had simply jotted down his thoughts casually and that there was nothing particularly remarkable about them.

The vigilant looked up and saw that the night sky was overcast with dark clouds. The twins assisting in the ceremony gave him a look that indicated "the auspicious time has come." So Diakum calmed himself down and raised the scythe of the moon goddess in his hand.

As this sacred relic of life was raised, the silver moon dispelled the dark clouds, casting its cool but tranquil light upon the royal city.

This scythe was originally made nine thousand years ago by a Moon Priest and Lyral Flamefang. It contains the power of Elune and the wildness of Goldrinn. Their original intention was to use the power of the Moon Goddess to restrain the power of the Wolf God, but in the end, they made a mess of things.

But it wasn't that the artifact's power was flawed; it was simply that the druids were using it incorrectly.

This sacred object, symbolizing the "way of balance," should not be biased towards either side. Only when it is held by Diakum, the "master of balance" who walks the path of light and shadow, can its true essence be revealed.

"Gilnehian wolves, be still! Your hearts will either turn to wildness or return to tranquility at this moment!"

Diakum's voice echoed through the city like ripples of moonlight. He activated his mental power, spreading his spiritual energy from himself as the source, incorporating the spirits of hundreds of thousands of werewolves into them as nodes.

The barrier between their hearts has been temporarily broken, allowing the werewolves to sense and understand each other.

This feeling of "mutual understanding" was initially frightening; some werewolves with secrets in their hearts even wanted to turn around and run away in terror, but the call of their hearts touching each other made them stop in their tracks.

Those heartfelt connections were very warm.

The werewolves sensed each other's hearts, even calming the restless city.

The range of the power of the heart is still expanding, eventually including the humans on the other side of the royal city and the leaders on the high platform. This is not because Diakum wants to maliciously expose the secrets in everyone's hearts.

This is a necessary measure.

Not every werewolf has the willpower to fight their animalistic instincts; when individual abilities are insufficient, they need to rely on the strength of the group.

When most werewolves yearn to return to human form, those with weaker wills are also inspired, strengthened, and encouraged, just as Diakum said when facing Y'Shaarj's echo, no one's heart is entirely filled with darkness.

What Dick needs to do now is to gather the bright desires in the hearts of the werewolves, ignite the fire of their will, and help more werewolves overcome the bestiality in their hearts.

Although this is tantamount to "getting a shot of adrenaline".

After all, once the effects of the power of the heart dissipate, the cunning will remain cunning, and the cowardly will remain cowardly, but the years spent as a werewolf will inevitably forge a wild backbone in those souls that are not firm enough.

Cowardly beasts cannot survive in nature!

As Diakum wielded the Moon Scythe, a wide-ranging mental illusion emanating from the power of the heart was cast, much like the confrontation Queen Mia had once experienced. Diakum's Sha power was becoming increasingly refined, allowing him to easily capture the fear in the hearts of these individuals and materialize it.

He glanced back at Gene and the rescued Northern Lord Crowley. They—no, they too had fallen into their personal spiritual trials. Their strong desire to return to humanity was causing their physical forms to revert to their original state at an extremely rapid pace.

But the fastest was Lord Godfrey.

It took him less than ten seconds to overcome his animalistic instincts. When Lord Godfrey opened his eyes, he gasped for breath, grabbed the tranquilizer potion beside him, and drank it down in one gulp. Then, he tremblingly touched his nose, ears, and mouth.

The white soldier beside him grinned and pulled out a mirror, placing it in front of Lord Godfrey.

At first, the lord didn't dare to look. He kept his eyes tightly closed, but when he mustered up the courage to open them at a certain moment, he saw the familiar yet unfamiliar face in the mirror. In that instant, the strong werewolf gunslinger covered his face and burst into tears.

He finally became a person again.

Even if the howl of the mad wolf still echoes in my heart, I will definitely suppress it and set up a civilized barrier for the wolf in my heart so that it can no longer run out and hurt people.

"See, I've already said it, you are all human beings, just on different paths."

Lothar laughed, walked up to Gene who had opened his eyes as if waking from a nightmare, held out his hand to him, and said loudly:
"Welcome back to the Empire, Gilneans."

"Yes."

Gene looked at his reflection in Lothar's eyes.

The sight of that haggard human face with its graying temples brought him comfort as he closed his eyes and took Lothar's hand.

Amidst Archbishop Fao's blessing and his wife's joyful tears, he embraced his family and whispered:
"We're finally home."

------

"Ha, the swarm is finally home."

On the same night, in different areas, the Sunwell Ghost Anveena gleefully directed some statues from the Chamber of the Heart to carry out one giant insect egg after another from the portal.

She hovered in the air with her hands on her hips, gazing at the filthy swamp in the night before her.

This is the northern part of Zandalar Island. This swamp called Nazmir is said to be the origin of the troll civilization, and of course, the origin of the elf civilization as well.

However, due to an ancient "blood plague," the trolls were forced to abandon this place. Today, the Nazmir Swamp is occupied by a savage cult called the "Blood Trolls," who are extremely barbaric and are a group of true cannibals.

They also idolize "Gauthorn".

That creature is an "artificial Old God" created by the Titan Guardians. It is the most evil and depraved thing in the world. Although G'huun did not extend its filthy tentacles into this world, its artificial nature makes it no less dangerous than other Old Gods.

"Hmph, the next target of the Vigilant may be here. As a disciple of Saint Diakum and the daughter of Mother World, I must shoulder my responsibility as a savior."

Anvina waved her hand and shouted at the edge of the foul-smelling swamp:

"Then let my savior swarm start from here. The newly hatched swarms can use the evil god worshippers in the swamp as biomass. Once everything is ready, my swarm will invade that mysterious and corrupt Titan land and eliminate the threat to Mother World."

"But are you sure your swarm won't get out of control?"

Princess Talanji, sent by the Zandalari Empire to assist Anveena, looked at the dangerous insect eggs with great suspicion. She brandished her Scepter of All Souls and whispered:
"My father has withdrawn all the Golden Guard from Nazmir Swamp. If your swarm cannot withstand the Blood Trolls' attack, the entire Zandalari Island will be ravaged by a wave of blood plague."

It's not that I don't believe in your abilities, it's just that this matter is of great importance.

"That's why I asked you for help, 'Devil's Dragon' Talanji."

Anvina landed and said to the worried troll princess:
“I appoint you as the ‘Insect Shepherd’.”

When I am not around, the newly formed swarm will obey your commands. They have not yet given birth to their own 'overlord', so the swarm's will has not yet been demonstrated.

But it doesn't matter, as long as they get enough biomass, the swarm will thrive quickly.

This stinking swamp has been bothering you for over ten thousand years. Perhaps it's time to use my swarm of insects to completely transform the ecology of this swamp.

This is really a great opportunity.

I consulted the Overmind, and it told me that the activities of the Swarm are not limited to destruction; under strict population control, the Swarm can indeed reshape the ecology of an area.

"You've left such a dangerous thing on our imperial territory, and then you're planning to just walk away?"

Talanji's eyes widened, and she scolded:
“I’ve never seen such an irresponsible leader as you. Shouldn’t you stay here to oversee the first reproduction of the ‘Savior Swarm’? I have no experience in ‘herding’ insects.”

"You don't need to have experience. The evolutionary system of the swarm is engraved in their genes. They will decide their reproduction scale on their own based on the environment and the amount of biomass."

Anvina explained:

"You just need to tell them the direction to go. I'm not shirking my responsibilities, but I have to deal with something very important. A few days ago, the Shadow Hunters reported that Azjol Nerub's escaped spider demons went to a strange place."

There is a suspected existence of another group of spider demons who have established a mysterious underground kingdom called 'Aiki Kahet'.

Those spider demons that still maintain a civilized form are excellent materials. If they can be recruited, the Savior Swarm will achieve a significant leap forward.

Moreover, I heard that the Shadow Hunter discovered something extraordinary there, and I must go and see for myself.

(End of this chapter)