Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 643, Section 11: Zera, the Blind Prophet Who Chases the Sun
The darkness of the Karabo Temple burst forth with holy light, a radiance so intense it illuminated the night sky, more dazzling than the city's streetlights.

But it will be late at night, and most decent people will already be asleep.

Those unscrupulous individuals had also received advance warning through eye contact, so they pretended not to see it, lest they be inexplicably drawn into the doctrinal conflict between the Vigilant and the Mother of Light, neither of whom they could afford to offend.

Only the Holy Light Legion warriors who were stationed in the city noticed this change.

The soldiers who had followed Admiral Sphrax to Draenor rushed to the Aldor Temple, eager to see what had happened that would cause the Mother of Light to unleash the Holy Light in such a "full-force" manner.

They suspected that the Mother of Light had been attacked, but upon closer examination, given the power level of Draenor, there were probably only three or four enemies capable of coercing Lady Zera to use such terrifying energy in a counterattack, and they were all "partners of justice."

So, what exactly happened?

"Treatment! This is a unique 'treatment method'!"

On the street leading to the entrance of the Aldor Temple, these soldiers were stopped by Yrel, whose deputy company commander of the first company of the Lightforged Chapter explained to them with absolute certainty and a serious expression:

"The Mother of Light saw the pitiful state of the magic-addicted elves from Azeroth, and she decided to heal their bodies from their thirst for energy, in order to help them rebuild their broken wills and lead them onto the path of the Holy Light."

"We haven't seen much of this, don't try to fool us!"

A Lightforged officer pointed at the elves who were feasting in the light, and bared his teeth as he hissed:
"They're clearly devouring the Holy Light! This is blasphemous! How can this be healing? While it does sound like something Lady Zera would do, this is just too much!"

"Addiction? You've never heard of addiction, so it's natural that you have this kind of understanding. It's not your fault."

Irelia, with great distress, explained the general causes of magic addiction to these Starsea warriors, and then summoned Orunas, the "Steadfast One" who had been appointed as the leader of the Light Eater clan.

Let them see for themselves the "divine transformation" of these magic-addicted elves after they have consumed the holy light.

When Orunas arrived, he was still burping, looking like he had eaten and drunk his fill, but because of the excessive intake of holy light, his eyes were shining with a golden light.

It is important to emphasize here that the way the Light Eaters use Holy Light is a completely different concept from "Lightforging".

The former merely wields holy light by consuming magical energy, while the latter is permanently strengthened by the holy light. Although their appearances are similar, their essences are completely different.

Faced with the suspicious Lightforged, Orunas's talent for performance exploded at this moment.

He recounted his days in Suramar with a sorrowful tone, adding countless details about his encounter with Lady Yrel and how he was led onto the path of the Holy Light, and explaining the structural system of the Light Eater clan.

Finally, in front of the Lightforged, he demonstrated a series of Holy Light spells that he had mastered, thus proving that they had indeed embarked on the path of the Holy Light through this absurd method of "comprehending the Holy Light".

The fact that they could use divine magic meant that these elves had indeed been accepted by the Holy Light. Therefore, although this scene was outrageous, the warriors of the Holy Light Legion had to convince themselves that it was probably just a healing method that looked "evil".

What normal person would believe what you two are saying?

We, the warriors of Holy Light, are fanatics, not fools!

If there were only a few hundred mana-addicted elves, we could convince ourselves that this was indeed healing, but look here, there are thousands of thirsty elves devouring the radiant energy of the Mother of Light. This is clearly suppressing Lady Zera, isn't it?

These Draenei garrison commanders are truly wicked to have come up with such a wicked method to restrict the Mother of Light.

"Step aside!"

The officers of the Lightforged Fleet even drew their swords.

Although their spiritual connection with Zera had been severed when they had previously met with the High Heavens, over 20,000 years of leadership and war had instilled in them a habit of obedience.

They could not allow the local Eredar to treat the Mother of Light so viciously.

But Irelia is not going to give way.

The warriors of the Lightforged Fleet must protect the Mother of Light; she too has her own righteous cause.

As she put it, when Commander Diakum led and sheltered his followers with extraordinary enthusiasm, they should reciprocate with equally fervent protection and response.

We, the Argus Restoration Army, were doing just fine in Draenor, but your Mother of Light had to come and cause trouble. Although her purpose was to sacrifice herself to strengthen Commander Diakum's power, hmm, that sounds a bit strange.

"The two noble beings are debating scriptures in the temple; no one may approach without their permission!"

Yrel yanked the visor off her helmet with a bang, and the Ash Apostle's Holy Blade was also in her hand.

Her holy blade had been through many battles and, like the Ashbringer before it, was covered in cracks. But Yrel, as the first disciple personally taught by Diakum after his awakening, was truly remarkable. Although she was a bit of a brat, her affinity with holy light was truly outrageous. So many battles had already forged her holy sword into something "transcendent".

When Yrel's Holy Light is activated, the Holy Light filling the cracks in her Holy Blade pulsates as if it were alive, giving the light and heat she radiates a touch of the majesty of a solar storm.

Of course, it's also possible that Yrel's habit of starting with Divine Storm regardless of the enemy she faces leads to her understanding of the "Solar Storm" power concept being far superior to that of her other companions.

Once you level up your proficiency, your skill damage will naturally increase.

After all, even in the magical world, the concept of "practice makes perfect" still applies.

Just as tensions were about to break out, Marad, Nuboton, and the other warriors of the Lightforged Chapter stepped forward to form a human wall to block them. The Lightforged Fleet's fierce generals had now formed an assault formation.

Just as a "battle of holy light" was about to begin, a shout suddenly rang out from behind.

"Go all back!"

Lady Sphrax's reprimand rang out with the sound of her boots stomping on the ground as she ran out wearing an officer's cloak, accompanied by Archbishop Isana.

The two were good friends during their time in Argus.

The general was enraged by what she saw, and she roared:
"Is the power bestowed by the Holy Light so that you would turn your weapons against your own people? Have you both gone mad? Do you have no faith in the noble ones you follow?"
"Step back!"

"But General"

"Step back! Don't let fanaticism and blind faith affect you anymore. If these magic-addicted elves are truly malicious, do you think the Mother of Light can't break free?"
What this little girl said is right.

This was indeed Ms. Zera 'treating' them, although it seemed rather cult-like.

Sphellax rubbed her forehead and waved her hand, saying:

“Go back and rest. If Lady Zera needs help, even if we lose our mental link with her, we can still hear her war hymns, can’t we? But do you feel any anger when you hear those hymns in the light?”

The warriors hesitated for a moment, sheathed their weapons, and listened intently. After a short while, one of the Holy Light Warriors said with a strange expression:
"I...I hear a feeling of sadness and helplessness?"

"Yes, I felt it too. The Mother of Light was not angry; she seemed to be blessing the pitiful lives of these magic-addicted elves."

"It's not just that I'm sad for these elves, I feel like Ms. Zera is sad for herself? Why is that?"

The Lightforged warriors discussed amongst themselves.

It was obviously impossible to send them back to rest now, but Yrel and the other two did not insist. As long as they did not enter the temple and disturb the debate between the two nobles, these Lightforged warriors could do whatever they wanted in the Temple of Karabor.

Faced with their doubts, Nubodun turned to look at the Aldor Temple, which was enveloped in light, and said in a subtle tone:

"When you realize that you have been following the wrong beliefs for a long time, you will also be sad. But do not worry, the Vigilant will help the Mother of Light as he has helped others."

He was also a Naru.

Ms. Zela is his compatriot.

Please be patient and wait with confidence, just as you firmly believe the sun will rise tomorrow.

—————— "They must think we trapped you using evil methods."

Diakum's voice echoed throughout the temple, which was now completely filled with holy light.

Zera was in a state of energy burst, with visible "divine light veins" emanating from the Naaru's crystal body, like a polygonal "light source," allowing massive energy to flow and adhere to the physical structure inside the Aldor Temple.

The intense holy light that swept over the temple in a short period of time even altered its physical structure, causing the ordinary brick and stone pillars to be "infiltrated" with specks of light, making them look quite beautiful.

This ability to influence matter through the release of power fully demonstrates that Zera has indeed reached the critical state of a lesser god, and she also possesses her own conceptual power.

Diakum guessed that it must be related to "light".

Unfortunately, as the direct successor of the sun god, all concepts related to "light" are forcibly rendered invalid by Dick.

He inherited Ansena's "progenitor-level" concept of light, making Zera seem as if he were bound by an invisible force, forced to be fixed in this sacred posture on the Throne of Light.

But the guards did not harm her.

It was merely a restraint, to prevent her from doing anything foolish.

Although their powers originate from the same source, Diakum does not need Zera's "self-sacrifice" to advance the fusion of his and Anser's divine bodies.

He is very satisfied with the current progress of the integration.

If it goes any faster, the power that's surging every second will really get out of control.

If that really happens, Diakum will just have to find a secluded spot in the sea of ​​stars and sit there as a guest "golden sun."

However, this constraint is not insurmountable for Zera, since Dick has no malicious intent.

The reason she didn't break free was not only because she didn't want to harm the magic-addicted elves outside who were devouring her holy light energy like "starving ghosts reincarnated," but also because Diakum poured her holy light into another peculiar being.

The fragment of the eclipse floated between Diakum and Zera, the light belonging to the Mother of Light meticulously sculpted into a ring-shaped structure, crisscrossing back and forth within Xalatas's eclipse body, pouring holy light into it, as if trying to ignite this "dark power".

"Daughter of the Eclipse" Xalatas clearly resisted the infusion of holy light, struggling and roaring incessantly.

"This is a fragment of an eclipse. It was Anser's first creation during an eclipse, and as far as I know, she seems to be the only one at the moment."

Diakum said to Zera:

"She didn't believe we could ignite the sun, so we made a deal: if I could 'ignite' her, it would mean we could rekindle Anser, who was trapped in the eclipse, in the same way."

I thought it would be simple, but it turns out it was actually a bit 'troublesome' for me.

"Ok?"

Zera made a surprised sound and said:

“You wield the light of all things, Diakum, igniting the fragments of the eclipse will not be difficult for you.”

“Yes, but that means Xalatas’s consciousness will be ignited as well. She will die the moment she returns to the light, and a pure Naaru will be born as a result.”

The vigilant shook his head and said:

"My power is growing too fast. I have to suppress the sunlight to a weak level in order to affect Xalatas, but I want this eclipse to see with her own eyes the moment she is accepted by the Holy Light. I want her to willingly ignite the sun with us."

Most importantly, Xalatas knew where the eclipsed Anther had fallen in the Sea of ​​No Light.

Without her guidance, it would be difficult for us to overcome the obstacles posed by those Void Lords and find the Sun God of the Eclipse. If we cannot even find Him, how can we ignite Him?

Diakum paused, then said to Zera:
“You are the first Naaru created by Anther and Elune together. You are Anther’s first child in the blazing sun. I think it is the safest choice for you to ignite this eclipse fragment.”

Of course, that's assuming you're willing.

Zera fell silent.

When she unleashed her power just now, she was truly prepared to "perish together with the enemy."

After all, no matter how stubborn she is, after personally experiencing the betrayal of Lochsason, the Redeemer she herself forged with light, and after Diakum produced concrete evidence of the eternal death's conspiracy, the credibility of the "Children of Light and Darkness" prophecy has been greatly diminished.

Perhaps, as the Vigilant said, the prophecy he witnessed at his birth was merely a malicious trick used by the mastermind behind the Force Wars to interfere with the Holy Light faction.

Just as they sent Nathrezim to wreak havoc in the material world, indirectly luring Sargeras into discovering the catastrophe of the Void corrupting the Protoss.

That deception directly led to the destruction of the Pantheon and the end of the Age of Order, unleashing fel energy and giving birth to the Burning Crusade. Their prophecy brought forth the Legion of Light, igniting the light of the entire galaxy, and fueling a fervent battle that continues to this day.

"But how are you going to deal with the 'fanatics' that I created?"

Zera asked with some regret and weakness:
"Perhaps my whole life has been trapped in a prophecy written by someone else, but I believe that the existence of the Holy Light Legion is absolutely necessary. When demons ravage the starry sea, the righteous warriors of light simply cannot turn a blind eye."

If you are going to launch a war between light and darkness, or if you are going to start a 'Sun Expedition', then the Holy Light Legion will be your most trustworthy vanguard in war.

They, like me, were bound by prophecy, and they firmly believed that the Children of Light and Darkness would lead them to victory.

You may not accept my power, but Vigilant, perhaps you really should become a 'Child of Light and Darkness,' even if that is a woven lie."

"The best way to deal with illusory prophecies is neither to comply with them nor to expose them."

Diakum tilted his head back and said:
"Instead, I used another explosive fact to attract the attention of those who believed in the prophecy. I didn't need to respond or deny it; they had their own answers."

What I mean is, when the gates of the Highest Heaven open to every walker of the Light, who will care about a vague and unfounded prophecy?
When the prophecy that was written is eventually forgotten, the hidden dangers it posed will simply disappear.

You have seen the highest heaven.

I did a pretty good job shaping it, right?

The feedback from the recent 'initial trial run' has been quite good, so with just a few minor adjustments, the existence of the High Heaven can be revealed to all the People of Light.

At that time, I will use your faith connection with the Holy Light Universe to convey an 'invitation to Heaven' to them.

As for fanaticism and blind obedience?
The moment they embark on the long staircase of self-examination and the purification of their hearts, these are no longer problems.

The important thing is you! The blind prophet in the light.

The important thing is, you can't keep going like this with your eyes closed!

He looked at Zera and said:

"Igniting the sun is the mission and duty of all the people of light. I am the leader, but I cannot do everything alone. If igniting the sun requires firewood, it must be a terrifyingly large number."

I still don't know what kind of firewood is needed to start this fire.

But once we know, it will be up to you, the Naaru, and the People of Light you lead to gather every spark for this great cause.

That's not my personal paradise.

Therefore, don't even think about delegating all your tasks to me!

(End of this chapter)