Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 54 9. Explain to me what "Defiler Cenarius" is!? [Updated 12/50]

(Added for the "Stacked Armor" brother [2/5])
The deepest part of Shadowmoon Necropolis.

This is an area that looks extremely magical. It is built deep underground, but the shamans have mobilized the power of elements to create a "suspended platform" here.

It is just a circular altar but it is surrounded by huge stones of different heights. Those stones are engraved with mysterious Shadowmoon runes. They are a kind of "magic text" with wonderful power. The necromancers of the Shadowmoon clan rely on these runes to drive the undead. As for where they come from.

Oh, do I need to guess?
Knowledge that can be linked to the power to control death can be easily understood with just a little imagination.

At this moment when evil energy is rampant among the stars, the Holy Light is holding on and fighting back, the arcane is hiding its tracks, the Void is making trouble madly, and life is developing in a wretched manner, Death is also quietly gathering its strength in the war that is burning the stars. All the wars and peace in the material universe are only part of the larger "Force Conflict", which is the manifestation of the power of the origin of the universe in the material world. If the fluctuations of the Force cannot be quelled, there will be no moment when the disasters in the world stop.

Only by understanding this can we understand the core contradiction that has plagued the Azeroth universe.

However, after the Shadowmoon Clan's ancestors received the gift of this power of death, they did not use it wantonly. On the contrary, the simple orc ancestors revered death as they revered the elements.

For a long time, they used this power to appease the undead and provide high-quality "funeral services" for the entire orc civilization. Coupled with the orcs' worship of the spirits of their ancestors, the Shadowmoon Clan quickly became the "cultural top stream" in orc civilization, and their clan's shamans and psychics were highly respected.

But the Shadowmoon Clan has never abused this respect!

Their people adhere to the teachings of their ancestors and work diligently to support the advancement of their civilization.

From this point of view, the Shadowmoon Clan was indeed qualified to lead the orcs. However, everything is different now.

To paraphrase an old saying, times have changed!
In the secret room of this holy place, a cold power surrounded the sacred stone pillars. With every deep breath taken by Ner'zhul who was kneeling inside, the reflection of the dim sea of stars would appear around the suspended platform, like a strange observatory. The dim starlight made the place even darker in the transformed reflection, making it look like a "supernatural area" between the material world and other realms.

The current chieftain of the Shadowmoon clan, Ner'zhul, seemed to be sleeping in the darkness, but he was actually praying his daily prayers to the spirits of his ancestors and the spirits of the elements, hoping to obtain a few words about the future from their responses.

The orcs also have the "prophet" heritage.

Of course, unlike the Draenei prophets who can truly predict the future, the orcs' prophets are more like a profession. It is a respectful title for the shaman masters. Because the elemental power comes from the planet itself, the elements are the first to sense when various disasters are about to break out on the planet.

They would communicate these warnings to the shamans, and over time, the shamans were believed to be able to predict the future.

At the clan meeting in the Nagrand Prairie a few months ago, the reason why Ner'zhul was able to easily persuade the chiefs to unite was largely due to his identity as a "prophet".

The orcs are still in a tribal system, and superstition is a behavior that is consistent with the characteristics of civilization.

But only Ner'zhul himself knows.
He told a horrible lie!
He had long been unable to communicate with the elemental spirits. The elements had abandoned him, so naturally he could no longer predict the future. But why did he tell such a terrible lie in that situation?
In addition to the enticement and coercion of his "disciple" Gul'dan, there is another very important reason.

"Here comes Ner'zhul, the butcher of the Holy Light."

A gentle but illusory voice sounded in Ner'zhul's ears, causing him to immediately open his eyes from his prayers that received no response at all. A light flashed in his cloudy eyes, like those of a young old man.

He looked up and saw his beloved lifelong partner, Rulkan, floating in front of Ner'zhul in the form of a spirit.

She died of illness more than ten years ago. She was still as full of energy as when she was young in my memory, and her blue eyes were full of tenderness and regret.

"My Ner'zhul, you are in pain, poor thing."

Ms. Rulkan, in her undead form, landed and reached out to touch her partner's wrinkled face. His once robust body now seemed to be collapsing, making him look as old as a dying man even though he was clearly in his prime.

"Rulkan, I will reunite with you soon, but will our ancestors really forgive us for this?"

Ner'zhul said hoarsely:

"Gul'dan is doing terrible things.

He no longer hides his dark ambitions. After completely sidelining me, he is leading the Shadowmoon Clan in a terrible direction. He designed to provoke disputes between the orcs and the draenei, and war is about to come to this once peaceful world.

I felt like I had done something terrible, that I had been an accomplice.

Will the ancestral spirits really accept me back because of this horrible act?"

"Don't blame yourself, Ner'zhul. This is not your fault. You are just using this method to help the scattered orcs unite."

Rulkan's spirit still spoke gently:
"You have heard the painful cries coming from the sacred mountain of Oshu Valley. Gul'dan's accusations are not lies. The 'monsters' left behind by the Draenei are indeed harassing our ancestors and leaving them restless.

That's your personal experience!
This is a draenei conspiracy, my love.

You just care too much about peace and ignore the evil intentions of those blue-skinned people. They are constantly expanding in our world. Talador was once the territory of the Bladewind Clan, but now it has become a city of the Draenei. The Bladewind Clan who longed for peace were slaughtered by them.

The Nagrand grasslands have always been the territory of the Warsong clan. The descendants of Hellscream have been there to defend us against the attacks of the Ogre Empire, but the Draenei have already reached there. They have built cities outside the Warsong clan's ancestral land, and the ferocious Tarbu sheep cavalry are trampling on our grasslands every day.

Gorgrond is the homeland of the Blackrock Clan, but the Draenei rangers are spying on it day and night.

There are also the isolated cities of Farahlon and Ashland.
The Draenei are occupying them, and they are also openly exploring those ancient sacred ruins in front of our people. So, Ner'zhul, my dear, tell me, what are the Draenei doing?
They are testing our reaction, like cunning hunters, testing our bottom line bit by bit.

The disaster of the Bladewind Clan is just the beginning!
If the orcs cannot unite and give the blueskins a resolute war response, perhaps Nagrand will soon become the second Talador.

The most important thing is Shadowmoon Valley!
Our people have always lived here in peace with the world. When the Draenei fell here, our simple ancestors even helped them, but what about now?

They built that city in the name of Holy Light. They opened up the connection between the Temple of Karabor and the city of Shattrath. The Pilgrim's Road was wide enough to accommodate a large army!

South of our burial grounds, our sacred burial grounds, fanatical draenei loyal to Exarch Othar have driven our people out and occupied the high ground, where they established outposts that threaten Shaz'gul Fortress.

My Ner'zhul, you are so kind.

You haven't noticed the blueskins' double-edged sword. Gul'dan has seen their intention to prepare for war. If we don't act, the Shadowmoon Clan will become the second Bladewind Clan.

You should support Gul'dan. Although his methods are cruel, they are also for the survival of his people.

If you think Gul'dan's actions are too dark, you can dismiss him after this racial crisis is over. You have the reputation to do so, and as long as you come forward, the people will obey you.

Gul'dan is just a knife in your hand!

It's a very useful knife, especially for protecting people in war."

Rulkan persuaded Ner'zhul with a series of seemingly impeccable arguments. She stroked her partner's cheek and whispered:
"Don't worry about these things, my dear. You need to cheer up now. That butcher of Holy Light is very dangerous, and the ancestral spirits are panicking.

You must defend the holy land!

You know the importance of this!
You know that you are preparing a supreme weapon for our people that can turn the tide at a critical moment. Yes, my dear. You will once again become the hero of your people, you will once again become the savior of the orcs, you will..."

"boom"

The loud noise interrupted Lurkan's temptation.

Amidst the flying rubble, the Kingsguard, wielding the Feathered Greatsword and wrapped in holy light, appeared before Ner'zhul. It then stepped aside to make way, and Dick, holding the Legacy Axe, strode in.

Under the shining Seal of the Naaru's Blessing, Dick looked at Ner'zhul who stood up holding the Shadowmoon Staff, and the spirit floating beside him.

"Love always makes blind people do abominable things in its name."

He sighed and said:

"Don't worry about me, you two! You can continue your sweet talk. Of course, Mr. Ner'zhul, who is deeply in love, as an outsider, I must remind you.

Before you indulge in the sleazy allure of a paper wife, it's best to check her makeup first.

Even from this distance, I can smell that disgusting sulphur smell."

"Ner'zhul! Do you see this? This is the true face of the Holy Light that the blueskins worship!"

Rulkan hovered beside Ner'zhul and screamed:

"Hypocritical on the surface, but filthy at heart. Wrapped in holy light, he casually speaks obscenities, wantonly attacks the beauty in others' hearts, and forces the good to obey his brutal will.

This is the Holy Light!
Do you still believe that the Draenei, who are protected by such power, are good people?

They are a group of belligerent demons! In the sea of stars, any world they pass through will be burned by evil fire and reduced to the humblest stardust. They are the vanguard of destruction and the messengers of bad omen!
If these dangerous blueskins are not eliminated, Draenor will end up like those tragic worlds!
Go ahead, Ner'zhul, kill him!

Kill this shameless Draenei saint and let the Sentinel's head become the first battle cry of the orcs' righteous war!"

"Shut up! Lord Commander Kil'jaeden, I'll catch up with you later!"

Dick shouted at the vicious "Rulkan" to shut up.

He strode towards Ner'zhul with a battle axe in hand. The latter also swung the Shadowmoon Staff with a roar, turning the cold void into shadow tentacles that wrapped around and entangled Dick and smashed towards him.

He is indeed a legend of the orcs.

This move was extraordinary. Even if it was the same trick, its power was at least five or six times stronger than those pathetic Shadowmoon Warlocks outside. But unfortunately, if it was just this, it would be completely useless against the Sentinel's methods.

"The void retreat!"

As Dick scolded him, the holy light he threw out turned into a shield to block the attack.

As he smashed the void waves in front of him with his battle axe, the Kingsguard flew forward and chopped down with their holy swords with such force that Ner'zhul lost his balance. He took a few steps back and was not afraid of the vicious "Holy Light Doubles".

As the chieftain of the Shadowmoon Clan, in addition to his shamanic and warlock skills, he was also an exceptional necromancer. The region Dick resided in had been the burial place of many renowned chieftains and legends in orcish history for centuries. "Ancestors! The glorious battle beckons!"

With cloudy eyes, Ner'zhul smashed the Shadowmoon Staff in his hand to the ground. The Shadowmoon runes on the surrounding boulders kept shining, allowing one undead wearing clan armor after another to break out of the coffins and fight their way out.

At this time, the orcs had not yet mastered the skills to create "Death Knights". These undead were only temporarily given death vitality under the manipulation of necromancy. They still retained the fighting skills they had in life, but their decayed bodies and tendons could no longer allow them to exert their former power.

But there is indeed an advantage in numbers.

Entangled by the legendary skeletons from all directions, the advance of the Kings Guard was suppressed. Dick looked around, then stood in place, holding the battle axe and raising his fist to smash down hard.

The Holy Judge, who was ready to strike, descended from the sky in the posture of a light cannon, hitting most of the stone platform around Dick. The scorching holy power was released and transformed into a terrifying energy tear, burning and purifying the dead bones that rushed over under the impact of this high-purity light power.

Those dead bones maintained their fighting posture, but could only be burned to ashes in the uninterrupted sacred storm formed by the holy power.

Again!
Before the birth of heroic professions such as the Death Knight and the Lich, which harnessed the force of death, using Holy Light to defeat the undead was as easy as slaughtering pigs!
The destructive power of this attack was so great that not only Ner'zhul but even Rulkan was shocked.

She screamed:

"No! The power of this saint is wrong! He is not an ordinary legend, you can't deal with him, Ner'zhul, run! Go find Gul'dan! The Draenei used evil power to resurrect their butcher saint, and they have made final preparations for the war to exterminate the orcs.

This is the weapon of war they created to slaughter orcs!
Run!

Dear, tell Gul'dan this news quickly and let him prepare."

"run?"

Dick moved his shoulders in the burning waves of holy power.

He looked at the completely burned Tahamat holy armor on his body with regret, and sighed in his heart that the blue and green armor really could not be used in high-end games. He had not even finished fighting a war, and this set of armor could no longer hold up.

"You two are not going anywhere today!"

The Sentinel unleashed the Fury of Vengeance with a scorching breath. Oh, now it should be called "Seraph".

Enormous golden wings enveloped Diakam, who continued to emit scorching holy light. Now that his wings had erupted, they could no longer be called "small" at all. They were like two enormous and gorgeous winged shields that not only gathered holy light, but could even help Diakam withstand melee attacks when closed. The enhanced power granted by the holy power explosion and the coverage of the high-temperature milky white holy flames caused the Legacy Axe in Dick's hand to wail under the heavy burden.

It's just an ordinary epic weapon. How can it be infused with such power and used?

But as a weapon, it must fulfill its duty!
Even if it means being broken, we must help the Vigilant win today's victory and maximize our value.

"I have no intention of leaving here! I am the Chieftain of the Shadowmoon Clan! I am a hero of the orcs!"

Ner'zhul roared:

"How dare you challenge my clan in my holy land? Draenei, die!"

He roared and swung his staff, sending clusters of deadly void spikes striking forward continuously. These powers that gathered the essence of the void were very dangerous. The Kingsguard turned into flames and died after enduring several blows, but it had bought Dick enough time. When Ner'zhul was about to summon larger and more dangerous void creatures, the shining battle axe had already smashed down on his head in the aftermath of the collision of holy light.

"boom"

The Staff of the Shadowmoon Prophet, passed down from generation to generation, blocked the scorching blade of the battle axe, but the next second the explosion of holy power bestowed by the Radiant Sun still hit Ner'zhul's body, knocking the aging orc chieftain back several steps.

Although he was old, he relied on the physique of a legendary man to block the holy conquest of the saint.

Unfortunately, the demons of Argus are well-known. Once Dick gets close to them, he will launch more than just a single attack.

The shining holy runes surrounding Dick were already full of power. The Judgement of Ashes struck again, but was blocked by the shield cast by Ner'zhul at the cost of his mana. However, the subsequent holy storm sucked Ner'zhul into the swirling hot storm of the holy runes, and in an instant, Ner'zhul was turned into a bloody man.

He screamed and staggered back, trying to regroup.

But at this moment, the scorching midnight sun's glow around Dick quietly transformed, flashing a blood-red light like the magnificent sunset at dusk, and the wisp of evening breeze meant that the cold execution had arrived!
In this quiet evening, say goodbye to everything you love.

The transformation of the holy light symbol means that Dick has entered the true "execution sentence" state. All the holy power of the Sun Herald no longer radiates outward to burn, but instead gathers in Dick's weapon.

As the legacy axe screamed and its crystal blade quietly shattered in farewell, the axe, as hot as a shining blade, was swung up and hit the staff raised by Ner'zhul under the expressionless blow of the Vigilant.

"boom"

The Shadowmoon Prophet's Staff, which had been passed down for hundreds of years, collapsed at the touch of a finger.

It wasn't even broken into two pieces, but exploded into fragments the moment of contact. However, the axe blade continued to move forward, going all the way down from Ner'zhul's left shoulder and finally cutting through his body.

A dazzling blade light remained in Ner'zhul's sight at this moment. It was the remnant of light. When the execution was completed, the holy light faded, and all that was left in Dick's hand was the main structure of a battle axe that had lost all its sharp edges.

But is it impossible to execute without a sharp blade?
Do not!
Light compressed to the extreme is sharper than any blade in the world.

You know, one of the combat talents Dick first acquired was "Holy Light Unsheathed". Although he couldn't use the Holy Light skill of "Forging Light into Swords" in most cases, it didn't mean that he was not proficient in it.

Ner'zhul stood there in a daze.

The moment Dick took a step back, regretfully put the Wailing Legacy Axe back on his back and dispersed the exaggerated wings of the Seraph, the old orc chieftain fell face down in a burst of blood.

He's not dead.

Dick needed him alive!

So the blade of light only passed through his body, defeating all his resistance but not harming his life.

As wild as a butcher, yet as precise as a surgeon, arbitrary yet cruel and ruthless, this is the power of the Holy Light combat skills that Dick has polished to the "perfection" level during his 25,000 years of sleep.

Lying in a pool of his own blood, Ner'zhul stretched out his hand with difficulty, trying to touch his beloved partner who was getting farther and farther away from him. However, the next second, he saw that the expression on Rulkan's face, which was always gentle and compassionate, changed.

It seemed as if he was finally tired of this terrible and boring battle, and as if he was finally disappointed with the incompetent Ner'zhul.

Luerkan hovered in the sky above the deepest part of the holy land, which had been purified by the holy light and was in ruins. She displayed a cold and cruel expression and shouted:

"Oh, what a waste! I spent so much time training you. Orcs are really a bunch of trash! Only Gul'dan has some talent. He had to give up those weak and shameless things for power. The other orcs are not worth mentioning at all."

"Look, I told you everything."

Dick stood there and said to the dazed Ner'zhul:

"Next time you're looking for a paper-man wife, remember to check the ingredients beforehand. It's so embarrassing to end up like this. Alas, you never know if there's a red-skinned fel-energy Ogryn underneath that sweet and soft paper-man skin."

He raised his head, looked at Lurkan, and scolded:
"Stop pretending! Lord Commander Kil'jaeden, if you still have even a shred of the courage you felt on that decisive day on Argus, then show yourself! We are friends, to a certain extent. Do you intend to meet your former battle-brother in such a humiliating manner?

Go to the toilet and talk!"

"Hmm, Sentinel Diakum Zastins, the legendary 'Holy Light Butcher,' the lifelong enemy of that jerk Kazzak, the executor of Holy Light, the destroyer of demons. I've been wanting to ask about him since a while ago."

As his spirit's true form was shattered, Rulkan transformed into a fiery illusion of fel energy, from which came a voice that made Dick's face turn pale.

While shaping his own advent image, the latter asked in a playful tone:
"Why do you insist on calling me 'Kil'jaeden'? Are you provoking the 'Defiler' in this way? Has the conflict between me and the Conqueror spread throughout the stars?
Or have you Draenei really planted your spies in the Legion as the legend says?
Haha, the Shaper is really a waste.

Do not!
You Eredar are a bunch of trash!
If I can't even do this little intelligence work, how can I possibly run the Burning Crusade with blue-skinned bugs like you?"

"The Defiler? Archimonde's resurrection? That's not right. I clearly crushed his Soul Stone. His soul was incinerated by the Holy Light, so he couldn't even reach the Shadow Realm!"

Dick took a step back with a surprised thought.

He stared at the projection of the Great Demon Lord formed in the vortex of fel energy before him.

The first thing that caught his eye was a pair of huge antlers made of fel energy. As soon as this thing appeared, the Vigilant realized that things were getting out of his control.

Then, a pair of eyes filled with darkness, cruelty, and ruthlessness emerged from the vortex of evil fire. On the huge face like some kind of beast, dead branches burned by the evil energy were dotted like vines in the red beard ignited by the ashes, forming a symbol of disaster.

The slender body and four majestic trampling hooves were finally shaped, and the left hand of the humanoid upper body of that guy held a filthy star spear, while the right hand transformed into an exaggerated magic destructive claw with a crystal-gathering posture.

It stretched out its great body forged by fel energy and looked down at Dick, who was in shock.

It likes this expression of trembling at its own power.

It announced loudly to Dick and Ner'zhul:

"I am the Defiler of the Stars, I am the Master of the Legion, I am the embodiment of the Plague of Decay! I am your withering doom. Now! Kneel! Kneel before Cenarius the Defiler, kneel before the leader of the Plague of Death!
This is your last chance."

The people of Ner'zhul are already numb.

The old orc understood everything at that moment, and covered his eyes in pain and despair. Dick, who was also numb beside him, responded:

WTF?

Did something go wrong when I climbed out of the Holy Casket that landed me in some strange world? Cenarius the Defiler? I know every word in this sentence, but why does the combination sound so strange and niche?
What the hell!

Shengguang, come out and explain yourself! Why did you kick me like that?
Is this still the Azeroth universe?

(End of this chapter)