Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 592, Section 53. Azeroth's Model Opera: Inviting Guests, Beheadings, and Taking in Dogs
The Tide Hunters tricked the Wind God.

This is understandable, of course. Among the four elemental monarchs, Tidehunter is known for his cunning and wicked nature. If the chaos of Orgrimmar is simply due to the nature of storms, then Tidehunter Neptulon is the kind of villain who "learned it himself".

Logically, the power of water should be gentle and healing, but Neptulon embodies more the entanglement of drowning, the darkness of the underwater world, and the coldness felt when sinking into the water.

It fully showcases another side of the water element.

This is a truly intelligent person.

The reason why the elemental wars were so fierce in the past was also due to Neptulon's constant instigation and maneuvering among the four factions.

It even collaborated with the fire element, the mortal enemy of the water element, to harm the Stone Mother, causing the Stone Mother to have absolutely no goodwill towards this guy.

However, when Stone Mother truly needed help, the first person she thought of was still Neptulon. This shows that although Tidehunter is cunning, it also proves that it is a true "master of balancing things".

It allows everyone to dislike it equally, while still preserving the possibility of future cooperation.

Aegwynn was absolutely certain that the Tidehunter had been involved in some of the Thousand-Bearded Demon's plans for Kul Tiras, but after witnessing firsthand the violent methods the World Mother would use against disobedient elemental lords, he decisively switched sides to the Saviors.

In order to escape possible guilt, it is not as simple as "bad denial".

On the way to Silithus with Aegwynn, Tidehunter practically sold out the Thousand-Bearded Demon's plans.

"Those evil beings are secretly plotting against Mother World and the mighty Vigilantes, and they want to use the power of the sea and storms to turn the mortal kingdom of Kul Tiras into an 'island'."

As you know, mortal power is always limited. When neither the sea nor the sky can approach the sealed-off lands, it was inevitable that Kul Tiras would become the main base of Void power for all of Azeroth.

The Tidehunter rode the waves toward the great desert, and it said to Aegwynn:

"Of course, I, being a righteous person, could not possibly participate in such an evil conspiracy, but the island was surrounded by the sea, allowing me to hear the information I wanted with the help of each wave."

What's more, the Void rogues of Kul Tiras have even allied with the Naga, and you know I have absolutely no liking for the Naga.

They are N'Zoth's servants, and they dare to brazenly claim to control the sea. If they control the sea, then what am I?

"The ticket seller by the sea?"

The Tide Hunter snorted, leaning on his Tidal Trident, and said:

"The war between my servants and the Naga has never stopped. If the Naga side with them, then I, the righteous one, will surely embrace my beloved World Mother. So, I would like to trouble you to put in a good word for me later."

I assure you that I not only received the call to action from Mother World last time, but I also wrote a reply myself.

Unfortunately, the messenger was devoured on the way by the vicious sea monsters tamed by the Naga.
I sent them out three times in a row, and those damned Nagas attacked three times.

The vicious, soft-skinned snakes clearly want to sever the connection between me, the righteous one, and my beloved Mother World. But even when surrounded, the loyal will not lose their fighting spirit, nor will they allow themselves to collude with those disgusting creatures.

This is my loyalty!
A loyalty as boundless as the sea.

It said in a deep voice:

"The same loyalty I showed you when I personally killed the three messengers sent by N'Zoth in front of you."

"Well, I see it."

Aegwynn said in a cold tone:
"Although I don't quite understand why the three Void Faceless Ones were able to live in your palace for at least two months before being discovered, and coincidentally, they were discovered after I arrived, I did see how ruthless and decisive you were in your actions."

This made me realize your eagerness to return to the side of the saviors.

I will report the facts truthfully.

"Oh, a simple report won't do. I need a report with some 'loyal praise' added. Of course, I know it's not good to bother others unnecessarily, so I've prepared some things to make you feel more relaxed and happy."

With a slight twitch of his fingers, the Tidehunter's very ancient and even somewhat damaged stone box fell into Aegwynn's hands.

This made Aegwynn glance at the Tidehunter in surprise, thinking to herself, "This world is truly rotten! Even the elements have learned to bribe me now!" She wanted to righteously reject this "corruption," but then she heard the Tidehunter whisper:

"This was found by my servants in the ruins of Queen Azshara's palace. You know, when the world collapsed, most of that city sank into the sea. Don't you want to see Queen Azshara's magical research logs?"

I have seen it before, but my dull mind could not comprehend those obscure arcane truths at all. Such a beautiful thing should fall into the hands of someone who knows how to appreciate it.

Just like you.

Knowledge seeks out those who can use it appropriately, and without a doubt, it's a perfect fit for you.

This is the kind of gift I would generously give to my friends.
So, would you like to be my friend?

Aegwynn hesitated for a moment.

A moment later, she put away the old magic journal from the box and said:
"Only this time!"

"Yes, of course, I understand."

"No, you don't understand, Tidehunter."

Aegwynn said softly:

"Haven't you noticed that the sun overhead looks a little 'off'?"

"Ok?"

Neptulon looked up in surprise.

As the ruler of the water element, it naturally dislikes the sun and rarely observes it seriously. However, even so, when Neptulon observes it closely, it still discovers that something is "wrong" with the sun.

The sun is "golden red" today.

“That was a ‘Solar Fist’ poised to be unleashed, which Saint Diakum himself hung in the sky, and the power to control that incinerating force was handed over to me.”

Aegwynn moved her fingers, letting the Tidehunter see the golden crystal shard in her hand.

she says:

"You most likely can't dodge the solar fist at the speed of light, you most likely can't survive his full-force attack, and you most likely can't understand the Vigilant's wariness of you. He himself said that you are the most dangerous of the four elemental monarchs!"
Therefore, he specially prepared this for me.

If you say even one wrong word today, Ms. Willanos will take your place as the next 'Tidehunter'.

I am not threatening you.

I just want to tell you, Your Excellency Neptulon, this is the only time! Mother World's patience has its limits.

In our eyes, you are clearly not as irreplaceable as you think.

We're friends now, so I'll only say these hurtful things once.

Please fulfill your obligation to be a friend and don't put me in this awkward situation where I have to choose between 'duty' and 'friendship'.

So, would you like to be a 'good friend'?

------

"Gale! Heed my command!"

Al'Akir's roar echoed throughout the Skywall.

As always, when the Elemental Lord roared his power, the storms of the entire Sky Wall were gathered in his hand and transformed into lightning that tore through the heavens and struck his enemies.

Lesajers had never felt the Thunder were so ferocious and intimidating.

Surrounded by the raging winds and thunder woven by Al'Akir, she felt as if she were riding a small boat crashing against a hundred-foot-high wave. The Thunder-Eating Dragon felt that her power to control wind and thunder was as laughable as the sparks of electricity at a mage's fingertips. This was even with the Windseeker's sword at her side, granting her the power of the storms that the wind god could not take away. Without that sword, she would have been pulverized by Al'Akir's lightning in a single encounter.

Such is the power of the elemental lords; they may appear weaker when facing monsters like Diakum, but this is not a matter of their own strength.

It's purely because the vigilant people are too outrageous.

If bystanders see the Vigilant easily defeat the Balrog King and think the Elemental Lords are nothing special, then when they actually encounter these beings born from the beginning of creation, defeat and death are only a matter of time.

The Thunder-Eating Dragon felt as if it were fighting against a storm converging over the entire world.

She lunged again and again, but thunder and storm were useless against Ori, and Lysages could only use her sharp teeth and claws.

Fortunately, this physical attack, which should have been useless against elemental creatures, was now imbued with the power of Mother World. The eerie blue light gathered on the dragon claws and fangs, causing "true damage" with each strike.

Seeing that Lysages was struggling to survive his "ultimate attack" amidst frantic screams, and that even the most powerful storm power couldn't kill the dragon, Al'Akir the Wind Rider realized that he was in for a terrible day!
Thunderlord of the Windseeker's elemental powers protect Lysageth!

That was an elemental prince born from the core of his own storm; his own power could not be used to attack himself.

"Rebel!"

The garbage roared.

It realized that storms and thunder alone could not defeat Lysages. This guy's control over storms was only slightly weaker than its own. Among all the creatures with the power of the air element, Lysages was definitely in the strongest tier.

So after shattering the scales of the Thunder Dragon with his Stormblade and spilling Lysages's blood onto the Sky Wall, Al'Akir decisively launched an even more lethal attack.

The power of the world protected Lysages from sudden, fatal attacks, giving the cunning dragon a chance to catch its breath. But the wind elemental lord wielded more than just elemental power.

What about the power of the world?
Wasn't it once that the void tormented you to the point of ecstasy?

His power can protect His "pet" from being killed, but it cannot guarantee that His poor pet will not be corrupted. Because he himself had suffered under the enslavement of the Dark Empire, Orgrim knew better than anyone the terrifying impact of the Void on elemental creatures.

It naturally wouldn't embrace the dream of the Dark Empire promised by N'Zoth, but that didn't stop Al'Akir from using the power of the Void to act.

At Al'Akir's call, a raging black storm quickly enveloped the Throne of the Wind God. It knew this was dishonorable, and therefore it could not allow other wind elementals to see or notice that it had used such underhanded means.

As the black storm enveloped and sealed off all airspace, and Al'Akir's four winds overwhelmed Lysajers, a black Seed of Corruption was hidden within the Wind Rider's lightning.

As terrifying lightning instantly swept across the entire Sky Wall, the Seed of Corruption slammed into the head of the Thunder-Devouring Dragon.

Al'Akir doesn't need the Void to destroy its enemies; it possesses the power to annihilate them on its own!
It only needs the void to temporarily sever the connection between Lysages and the Supreme Star Soul. Without the support of the world's power, Lysages, stripped of his elemental powers, can only wait to die.

Ha, how dare weak flesh and blood challenge the might of the storm?

The moment the power of the void took effect, Lysages let out a scream.

The layer of world power that enveloped and protected her indeed dissipated from the Thunder-Devouring Dragon's body like a receding tide.

Without the power of the world taking effect, Lysages was immediately surrounded by lightning bolts, seventeen lightning arrows in quick succession, almost burning her to a crisp!

But instead of fleeing, she transformed into a dragon in the black storm, becoming a phantom, gripping the Windseeker's sword in her left hand, gritting her teeth and emitting a strange, roasted fumes, while taking something else out of her bosom with her right hand.

"Hey! You! Olakil!"

Like a mortal hero standing amidst thunder, undergoing torment and trial, Lysages raised her head, enduring Al'Akir's lightning strikes, and roared:
"You just used the power of the void, didn't you?"

You damned traitor!

You actually sold yourself to the ancient gods who once enslaved you?

Pooh!
What right does a spineless coward like you have to lead the world's indomitable storm?

"You even summoned a black storm to block out the outside world... Well, let me tell you a secret too!"

The Thunder-Devouring Dragon raised the golden-red hilt of her sword high in her right hand and shouted:

"This! This is my trump card, the one that gives me this much fighting power! And you, you fool, just provoked it!"

"Ok?"

The moment Lysages pulled out Ashbringer, a warning bell rang in Orgrimmar's mind, who had thought he had already won.

It had never seen this thing before, but it knew whose it was.

Especially when the blinding solar blade, enraged by the erosion of the void, leaped from the hilt and burst forth with blazing light, the Wind Rider clearly heard the Thousand-Bearded Demon's concise warning:
"run!"

Without hesitation, Al'Akir turned and vanished from the Throne of the Wind God as Lysajez, wielding two swords, easily shattered the lightning bolts it unleashed and charged toward him with a roar.

Just moments before, Lysages, nearly roasted alive, couldn't catch up. As Al'Akir transformed into a whirlwind, extinguishing the flames, tearing apart the battlefield, and disrupting the heavens, he smashed through Velanoz and Philek, who were trying to stop him, and was about to burst beyond the Sky Wall when she heard the Vigilant's concise warning:
"Aim at it and throw it!"

"Swish"

The next second, Ashbringer was hurled towards the entrance of the Sky Wall by Lysages.

The moment the holy blade left his hand, it transformed into a blinding stream of holy flame, tearing through the black storm and appearing before Al'Akir at the speed of light.

The Wind Rider raised his Wind and Thunder Sword to fight back, but his weapon was shattered at the moment of impact, and the scorching Sun Blade, filled with disgust for the void, flashed away from its massive body.

It was as if a ray of light pierced through Al'Akir's "marshmallow" body, leaving a gaping crack in its storm core.

But that's not fatal enough!
Given enough time, it can still grow strong again amidst the storm.

However.
"Father! Your alliance with the void is utterly repulsive!"

Sunderland's furious roar reverberated through the Wind Rider's elemental mind as Lysajers lunged down with swords in hand.

The Wind Element Prince shouted:
“I would rather be shattered by you, I would rather die here than see you colluding with the Void fiends! We were enslaved by them, and you are joining them in their corruption. What about the humiliation that the elements suffered?”

Die!

No matter your reasons, no matter what you want to pursue!
With your last shred of dignity, die here.

"boom"

The enraged Blade of the Windseeker was raised high by Lysajers and plunged into Al'Akir's still-unhealed elemental body, advancing along the path torn by the scorching light, and finally piercing precisely into the heart of Al'Akir's storm.

Terrifying thunder and storms swept across the Sky Wall at that moment, and even in every part of the material world, gales rose up, howling, crying, and roaring.

They seem to be lamenting the fall of the winds of creation, yet also excited about the death of a tyrannical ruler who is not worth following.

Clearly, Azeroth does not need such a weak wind.

Moreover, judging from Al'Akir's series of mysterious actions, this guy may have really succumbed to the incurable chaotic nature of the wind element during the long years of enslavement by the Dark Empire.

It no longer seeks wisdom, content to be an ancient and unpredictable monster.

The world's mothers don't need children like this.

Lysages, who was closest to the core of the shattering storm, was swallowed up along with the Windseeker's Blade into the primordial winds before them—the storm and lightning that erupted when Al'Akir fell.

Lysages felt as if she had fallen into an ocean of storms, sinking uncontrollably within it. Her storm powers had returned, along with even greater strength and heavier authority.

But at this moment, all she could hear amidst the echoing thunder was the mournful lament of Sunderland, the Windseeker:
After every storm comes silence.

(End of this chapter)