Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 563, Section 24. The Vigilant Ones are doing well too; they're all living off their wives now.
"Yes! We can fix this thing. I'm not bragging, but I designed the Dragon Soul myself."

"You're talking nonsense! Mikro, we designed it together. You just built a shell for the Dragon Soul. I even made the chains. It wasn't your achievement alone."

"You're talking nonsense! Kriel, did I draw the blueprints? Master Neltharion even praised my drawing skills. Of course, I know that kind of praise from Deathwing is just a way of hoping we'll give him a discount when we pay the bill."

Pooh!
"The despicable thoughts of those nobles are truly vile."

"Keep your voice down, or someone will hear you."

"Come on, Deathwing is dead, who can control us now? Guys, be more arrogant, we are the 'Proto-Goblins'! When the trolls were first born, we were already using our wisdom to serve Deathwing."

We goblins are the first truly intelligent life forms in Azeroth!

The chattering echoed in front of him, making Diakum look at the noisy "progenitor goblins" with a pained expression.

These are Deathwing's servants.

Before Neltharion went mad, he used his astonishing "biological secrets" to design and create these intelligent and skilled assistants for himself, whose appearance was quite different from that of ordinary goblins.

If I had to say, it's more like a mix of goblins and Drogbals.

The latter is a special creature that calls itself "Stone Trolls". They are distributed in many underground areas and can manipulate the power of the earth. They are natural shamans. It is unknown whether they are the ancestors of the trolls, but some of the Drogbars did serve Deathwing a long time ago.

These progenitor goblins in front of us may look unremarkable, but they are indeed "skilled and clever".

Not only were the Dragon Souls crafted by them, but the adamantite armor Deathwing used to bind his corrupted flesh and the subsequent source steel armor were also made by them. These creatures served Deathwing for many years and were the Destroyer's closest servants.

However, they are also tainted by the filth of the void. They do not hate the erosion of the void, but they will not have their minds occupied by the void either.

the reason is simple.

The Void doesn't pay the goblins!
This alone was enough to keep the proto-goblins constantly on guard against the Void's incessant chatter. The goblins enjoyed chatting with the Void to relieve their boredom, but the Void's constant attempts to take advantage of them for free made the goblins very unhappy.

"Stop arguing! The time wasted arguing doesn't count as working hours, and don't expect me to pay you."

Diakum stopped the argument among several proto-goblins dressed in black robes. Pointing to the Dark Heart, which they were repeatedly examining, he asked:
"If I could pay you with a starship, how long would it take me to receive the finished Dark Heart?"

“Alas, if you are truly so generous, guest, then a few days at most.”

A progenitor goblin rubbed his claws together.

A gleam of triumph shone in its eyes, as cunning as those of a "modern goblin," and it proclaimed loudly: "We've finally caught a sucker and made our money!"
"The materials for the Darkheart could only be made by Deathwing. They were special materials that he created using the power of the Earthguard. Therefore, these minerals became extinct after his death."

We can't figure it out either.

The good news is, the Dragon Soul is also in your hands, so all we need to do is dismantle the Dragon Soul, add a portion of it as repair material to the Dark Heart, and then it can be used.”

"Of course, you still need to go through a 'quenching' process."

Another progenitor goblin stomped his foot and said:
"Hidden beneath the Dragon Islands lies the Charalek Cavern, where Deathwing's secret palace is located. Hey, that's where we were born. I even have my own laboratory in the 'Abelus' Palace, but I haven't been back for over ten thousand years."

In short, the magma beneath the Destroyer's palace was infused with the most ferocious shadowfire, personally poured by Deathwing, and only that thirsty flame from the void could temper the Darkheart.

Conservatively speaking, you might have to absorb all the Shadowflames beneath Abelus's Palace before you can awaken this 'gluttonous' creature.

The solution proposed by the proto-goblins made Aegwynn blink.

She glanced at the golden disc of the dragon's soul in her hand. It wasn't that she was reluctant to part with it, but rather that she didn't quite trust the craftsmanship of the progenitor goblins in front of her.

Both the Dark Heart and the Dragon Soul are rare, limited-edition items.

If it's dismantled but can't be repaired, wouldn't that be a complete disaster?

Diakum intended to use this to absorb the Dark Eclipse, the corrupted power of a true god, directly connected to the source of the void. Any slight flaw in the artifact it created would be fatal.

Her questioning seemed to have been noticed by the proto-goblins.

The goblin masters who had served Deathwing for years immediately protested, shouting and clamoring:
"You can question our character, but you can't question our craftsmanship! The Dragon Soul was sculpted by us in one go, while the design of the Dark Heart is far more outdated."

We can even improve it!
But that comes at a different price.

"Alright, alright, gentlemen, masters, let's talk about money."

Diakum reached out and quieted the ancient goblins, who were noisier than modern goblins. He now suspected that Deathwing's poor mental state might be partly due to the goblins' voices.

That sharpness was enough to drive a person mad, like rubbing a knife against a stone.

But as soon as they heard that money was involved, the goblin masters' eyes lit up. They surrounded Diakum, knowing that this big boss could make decisions.

"Ahem, besides starships, I can give you something even better."

Diakum spread his arms wide and said sincerely:

“I can offer you a formal job. Your employer is dead, and you need a new job, don’t you? Whatever amount Deathwing paid you before, I’ll take it all.”

"We'd be your beasts of burden? That's not entirely out of the question."

The goblin master named "Mikro" stroked his chin and said:
"Anyway, we'll be treated like slaves no matter where we go. Everyone's happy to get a decent wage, but we still have to go to the Star Sea to realize our ambitions. We've already heard about the Star Consortium from our good-for-nothing descendants."

Hmph, it's only because a few of us 'business geniuses' are bound to Deepholm by Deathwing's damned labor contracts and have to serve him, otherwise how could those bandaged people dominate the Starsea business market?
But you don't look like a rich man. Why don't you show us a few treasure troves first to demonstrate your strength?

"When Deathwing hired us, he gave us a mountain of gold every hundred years! It was a real 'mountain of gold,' a precious substance made of pure gold that only the Earthwardens could refine."

"hiss"

Diakum gasped.

He suddenly realized that he probably couldn't afford to hire these skilled guys.

Seeing the "men of the house" looking troubled, it was time for the ladies to step in. Archbishop Nelly stepped forward, scoffed, and then tossed a gemstone at them, saying:
"Will it be okay to pay wages with this?"

"Wow, what a beautiful starry blue sapphire! Look at this crystal cluster, it's so perfect, and it looks like an ancient artifact, at least 20,000 years old."

The goblin master Kriel took the gem and instantly assessed its value. After a brief discussion among the group, he coughed and said:
"If we use these gems as wages, we'll need ten dollars a year! Ten dollars each."

"I can afford it!"

Nelly, hands on her hips, said with an air of wealth and power:

“Diacom has the entire Eredar civilization behind him. Not to mention this ancient sapphire, we have plenty of even more precious items. And you can choose anything as your salary.”

We can give you anything we have.

"It's more than that."

The twins also stepped forward hand in hand and said:
"The Vigilant are the leaders of the People of Light and now the inheritors of the Sun God. Theoretically, they are the leaders of all Naaru, so the Holy Light Universe can also be considered the territory of the Vigilant."

As the archbishops of the Holy Light Legion, we won't talk about money with you; that's too vulgar.

You said you want to enter the Xinghai commercial market?
it is good!
As long as you serve the Vigilant properly and meet his needs, the commercial market of the Holy Light Universe will be open to your guild, and we can decide to only collect the most basic commercial tax from you.

As for the duration, as long as you remain servants of the Vigilant, you can continue to enjoy these trade privileges. Whether you can make money in that vast star sector with thousands of civilized planets depends on your own abilities.

"Business tax? No! We hate that word!"

The goblin masters waved their fists and cursed:

“As the ‘Royal Master Craftsmen’ of noble status, we demand tax exemption! Our craftsmanship is unparalleled, our knowledge is unmatched throughout history, and we are clearly qualified.”

"Then what are you all standing there for?"

Like a ruthless capitalist, Aurecis slammed her hand on the table and said:
"Three days! Repair the Dark Heart within three days and enhance it to perfection, then we'll grant you tax-free status. Otherwise, you'll have to pay a 15% business tax. Don't stare so wide-eyed; you're in the luxury goods industry!"
The Holy Light Walkers don't particularly like luxury goods, so a 15% tax is already quite low.

"Damn it! 15%! Why don't you just skin me alive? We're willing to sign these contracts, which is like selling our lives to you. You've taken our lives, so you can't touch our money now!"

The progenitor goblin jumped up and down, cursing:
“You wicked witch, you’re such a nuisance! Brothers, let’s get to work! Get this done in three days, for our generous new employer.”

The proto-goblins snatched the Dragon Soul from Aegwynn's hand and used their earth-walking abilities as Drogbals to head to the Obsidian Throne on the Awakening Coast.

That was the Black Dragon Legion's former foundry. The proto-goblins were very familiar with it; they knew the location of the Forging Grounds.

"You two take the Lightforged and go protect them."

Having just devoured two large bowls of "soft rice," Diakum patted the twins' slender waists and instructed them:
"It is imperative that this process not be interrupted. In these three days, I may need to go through several more 'light and shadow transitions,' but I will hold on until the Heart of Darkness is fully formed."

"Yes, you must hold on."

The Geminis' eyes were filled with worry, but what could they do when their lovers had already embarked on this great path of "transforming into the Sun"?
Even though the two women, due to the limitations of their duties, could not go to such lengths as Nelly to become the God of War of the Night and protect Diakum's safety, they still had their own ways of supporting Diakum.

After the twins and the others left, Aegwynn finally spoke:

"Is the Heart of Darkness alone not enough?"
That's a man-made artifact. Even if it was forged using forbidden knowledge from the Sea of ​​No Light and possesses the same ability to target the Force as the Dragon Soul, it still can't completely replace you in enduring the suffering of the Sun God's eclipse.

"It's not enough, but the Heart of Darkness is just a means to lighten my burden. I need it to buy me some time to unravel the mysteries of a higher realm in the Way of Light and Shadow."

Diakum, holding Nellie's moonlit hand, explained to Aegwynn: "As long as the Dark Heart can help me through the second phase of 'Fusion,' I won't need it after entering the third phase of 'Rebirth.' Besides, you've witnessed my 'innovations' on the path of the Twin Lights."

You should have some faith in me, my friend.

Aegwynn thought of the golden chains binding the Devourer of Worlds' body.

That was indeed the "coexistence" of Holy Light and the Void. Although the degree of coexistence was still very low, the fact that Diakum could create such a thing showed that he had truly entered the path of advancement several months ago.

This made Aegwynn sigh, realizing that Vigilante was truly a "mystical genius" when it came to the idealistic power of Holy Light.

"But your current state is too unstable."

Nellie held Dick's hand and said with great concern:
"You can't control the changes in light and shadow on Anser's body, which means you could enter Eclipse form at any moment. You're practically a walking time bomb. The previous six hours of dim light have already withered all the grasslands and forests near the 'Great Sword of Light' on the Ounhara Plains."

"If this happens a few more times, this plain, and even Dragon Island, will be finished."

"What I have brought about, I shall naturally eliminate."

Dick smiled, levitated in the sky amidst the swaying of the corona, drew a triangular emblem on his chest, and then made a "hugging the sun" gesture.

The great sword of holy light that was fading away in the distance suddenly burst forth with light, shining like the warmest sun on the withered grass and forest, allowing the life force that had been drained to return quickly.

The moment the fallen leaves disappear, new shoots sprout anew, and new green grass emerges beneath the dark meadow.

Most incredibly, Aegwynn didn't experience any "magical" techniques throughout the entire process, nor did it resemble a divine ritual. Diakum completed this "withering and flourishing" in a way that was almost "miraculous."

"Is this the realm created by the primal force of life?"

Aegwynn whispered:

Does the sun god also have a divine duty related to life?

“No, Anser only has the concept of divine authority and power of light and fire.”

Diakum explained:
"But is the Light of Life not 'light'? Is the Fire of Life not 'fire'? This is the power of the true God, Aegwynn, which has transcended the limits that we can summarize with 'divine authority' or 'domain'."

Just like the 'Moonfire' spell used by the followers of the moon goddess is a variant of arcane energy, but can you say that this kind of divine spell belongs to the arcane realm?

Those complex identifications are merely mortals' understanding of power, but true great power doesn't concern itself with such things.

Just like Sargeras.

He has fallen into fel magic, but when necessary, He can still wield the most magnificent arcane knowledge in the cosmos.

In another destiny, He deceived the Eredar in the same way.

"Sigh, I'm stuck here."

Aegwynn touched her fingers sadly and said:
"Azshara may have understood these things and thus become a lesser god on her own, but if I cannot understand what you are saying, I will never be able to take another step forward in this lifetime."

fine"

She touched the ring on her finger and said softly:

“I am no longer the person I used to be. For me, ‘truth’ is no longer worth mentioning in the face of those precious things that will eventually be lost and regained.”

Power is empty, but life is truly your own.

Let's go.

Go to Vadraken!
We'd better finish the cage that transforms into a dragon and the reforging of Tyr before your next change of light and shadow. Mother World doesn't intend to get too involved in the evolution of the Dragon Islands.

She didn't like this place filled with Titan magic.

Therefore, we must also take over Tyre Fortress and its energy-converting halls here, allowing the world's power to surge once more, restoring the dragons' 'holy spring' to its original state.

------

On the highest platform of the Dragon City of Valdraken, a place that was once a sacred site where the guardian dragon kings held meetings, an uninvited guest arrived this evening.

The sky over Vadraken was overcast, with dazzling bolts of lightning rolling through the black clouds. A fierce storm lashed the city, throwing the dragon people and dragon beasts, who had stood guard here for ten thousand years and were overjoyed at the return of their guardian dragons, into a panic.

They had never seen such catastrophic weather on the Dragon Islands before—no, they had! Similar celestial phenomena occurred more than 20,000 years ago during the War of the Scaled Ones when the Thunder-Eating Dragon, Lysages, descended upon the Dragon Territory.

But how to say it?

Although today's storm came with great force, it was not very aggressive. Compared to those malicious thunderstorms, today's storm was more like the most destructive force unleashed by nature.

However, amidst the thick clouds and thunder, a figure resembling a giant serpent appeared and disappeared, clearly approaching Vadraken, which made the dragons in the vicinity of the city feel a sense of danger.

However, the order from the guardian of the dragon throne soon put the dragons at ease.

The noble Red Dragon Queen issued a decree that today's "storm visitor" carries no ill intent.

At this moment, all the dragon kings, including Malygos, who was covered in wounds and whose horns had been broken, were accompanied by their close offspring, gazing at the "thing" approaching from the sky.

Its entire body is covered in a purple armor that resembles lightning, as if it were armor forged in endless storms.

But its elegant, serpentine form moved through the storm, accompanied by exaggerated air currents that covered its body like white feathers, making it look as if it were dancing in the air.

Its sharp and massive forelimbs possess majestic dragon claws, and every movement is bathed in lightning, as if it were sharpening a weapon.

As it drew closer, its chest shell emitted a bewitching light amidst the thunder and storm, much like strange starlight, always drawing people in for a closer look. But this momentary lapse in attention could attract a deadly bolt of lightning.

Its exaggerated horns and flowing whiskers finally emerged from the storm as it circled the throne of the guardian dragons, resembling a giant serpent hundreds of meters long, its eyes, adorned with thunder, gazing upon the guardian dragons on the throne before it.

The air membranes growing on the neck and back are organs used to manipulate storms, but they are actually more like the majestic mane of this "Storm Dragon".

"Lesages".

Alexstrasza looked at the colossal dragon before her, reshaped by the power of the world, and was surprised to find that she could no longer sense even the slightest bit of savagery from the Thunder-Eating Dragon.

Although her unpredictable and dangerous aura, like a storm, still remained, the Thunder-Devouring Dragon at this moment, besides its power, was enveloped only by a rather "divine" majesty.

Like a storm god soaring high in the sky, he would no longer be easily angered by the provocations of mortals.

"After its elemental powers were sealed away by Al'Akir, it regained its storms and thunder through the forging of flesh and soul and the blessing of the world."

Malygos lay there, the old blue dragon looking pitiful and defeated, clearly having lost to Neltharion II, but the anger in his eyes had indeed dissipated considerably.

It sighed and said:

"Lesages' 'ascension' is complete! It has truly returned to the embrace of Mother World, and is more powerful than the thug it once was."

"It's so beautiful."

Sindragosa, the Frostbinder tending to her husband, gazed with admiration at Lysajers, the Storm Dragon writhing freely in the storm, and whispered:

"Mother World truly lives up to her reputation as a 'beauty enthusiast'; her aesthetic sense is far superior to the Titans' uniformity."

Just as they were discussing, the "Thunder-Devouring Dragon - Lysages," which was gracefully encircling the tower guarding the dragon, spoke.

The moment it spoke, the catastrophic storm was calmed by a still breeze, the thunder disappeared, and only the torrential rain remained in the sky, as if the world had quieted down to listen to its words.

"I apologize for everything I have done to you, Dragons of Order."

The once most ferocious Thunder-Devouring Dragon spoke in a peculiar tone, almost like that of an ascetic:

“I spent a long time repenting for myself. I realized the disaster my recklessness had caused to my fellow countrymen and the world. I also realized that it was not your fault that you were molded, but a conspiracy of the Titans.”

You are victims too.

Although it is difficult for me to accept you as my fellow countrymen again, at least we can live in peace afterward, and after you release my brothers and sisters, I will also persuade them not to restart the war.

This world no longer needs the dragons' civil war, and Mother World would not want to see us at war again.

But you need to make a decision!

The majestic storm dragon raised its head, and amidst the flashes of lightning, it said:

“If you are unwilling to return to your birthplace, then I must “admonish” you in the name of ‘mother’.”

The threatening words at that last sentence made the dragon kings, who had been staring at each other blankly, nod in agreement. Some of the "frightened" Alexstrasza whispered to Nozdormu beside her:
"I thought she had really changed her personality, which startled me, but she still speaks so naturally when she says harsh words. It seems that she is indeed Lysages. The Vigilant's mental spells can make her realize her mistakes, but they cannot change her true nature."

"A warmonger bound by the rules of the Supreme Star Soul."

Nozdormu summarized briefly:
"But it's much better to realize your mistakes than to go down a dead end. Perhaps after we release the other incarnations of dragons, we should also ask Saint Diakum to give them a 'repentance package' as well."

The whip of the mind is far more effective than the reins of the body.

Ps:

Lysages Storm Dragon Form:
(End of this chapter)