Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 667, Section 35: The son his mother worried he'd be bullied outside was now living a life of luxury.
Medivh is visibly doing well in the Shadowlands.

Although his immortal soul has now taken on the most orthodox lich form, his somber skeleton is composed of arcane bones forged from the frost essence of Maldraxxus, and his soul is bound to these bones by golden soul chains.

But for powerful liches, these chains were less a form of restraint and more an ornament to display their immense power.

Just as Medivh, as the "Lich Baron" of the Ritual Court, whose status is second only to the powerful and noble Marquis Sindarine, has become a true "elite" even in Maldraxxus, a "war-torn land" filled with ambition and strife.

Like other liches, he wore a mysterious and majestic magical crown and adorned his skeletal body with a magnificent purple lich robe. The robe was covered with ribbon-like runes depicting the majesty of death, and the hem of the robe was divided into four very ceremonial "skirts".

As Medivh floated along, the ornate yet sinister decorations added an extra layer of deathly authority to him.

At this moment, he led the elite liches of the Ritual Academy, following their leader Marquis Cindani, to the floating city of Broker, a place filled with the stench of money and desire, clearly for the mark of the Lord of War.

As direct subordinates of the Warlord, the five great houses of Maldraxxus, who wield different powers of conquest, must have all sensed the appearance of the Warlord's mark. However, since the Warlord's disappearance, the five houses have been engaged in open and covert struggles, and these liches clearly do not intend to share this secret glory with the other houses.

At Diakum's invitation, the noble and powerful Marquis Cindy, along with her formidable subordinates, went to the secret chamber prepared for them by the spirit brokers, intending to be the first to receive the war decree left by the Lord of War.

Throughout the entire process, Medivh maintained a very restrained demeanor as a subordinate, staying half a step behind Marquis Sindarine and holding the "War Staff" left behind by the Lord of War in Maldraxxus for her.

This is a true "divine weapon," a weapon bestowed upon the Lord of War when he became an Eternal Being.

In other words, this thing was most likely made by the First Beings. In terms of both its status and destructive power, it is a genuine top-tier weapon among the six realms.

Unfortunately, although Marquis Cindy found the staff immediately after the Lord of War disappeared, she was clearly unable to perfectly wield the Lord of War's power.

On the contrary, when this thing was in Medivh's possession, it was unusually "obedient".

This alone made Diakum and the Twin Walker discover the strange potential relationship between the "master and servant" pair. Just as they entered the secret chamber and the door was closed, the powerful lich Marquis Sindan, who was only one step away from becoming a lesser god, bowed and humbly made way for them.

Medivh, who had been so humble just moments before, stopped pretending and swaggered forward, leaning on his Staff of Conquest, admiring the Warlord's Mark that Diakum had produced.

This scene left the wealthy spirit broker and the dual-realm traveler dumbfounded.

What the hell!

Is the truth really that shocking?

The newly appointed Lich Baron Medivh of the Ritual Chamber has actually been secretly manipulating Marquis Sindarine? So, this guy is the true master of the Ritual Chamber?

Seemingly sensing the shock of the onlookers, Medivh extended his chilling bone claws, triggering the Warlord's mark and causing the Warlord's projection, which had appeared once before, to reappear.

He explained in a gentle tone:
"It's not what you all think. I didn't use malicious methods to manipulate the noble Marquis. I simply reached a 'gentleman's agreement' with Ms. Cindy."

"While I was stranded in the Shadowlands, she and the entire Ritual Court served me temporarily. In return, I will help Lady Sindanee ascend to her long-desired 'Stairway to Godhood' after this is over."

"However, under the constraints of the Shadow Realms' destiny, the concept of 'lesser gods' does not exist!"

Diakum glanced at the silent lich and said quietly:
"The power structure and system of the Shadowlands were fixed by the Firstborn. The Eternals wield and share the power of the God of Death, and their followers each control a lower power concept of the Force of Death."

In other words, Marquis Cindy's inability to ascend to godhood is not due to a problem with her talent or methods, but simply because she has reached the 'glass ceiling' within this system.

Even if the Lord of War were willing to share power, she could not accept such a heavy gift.

"so."

Marquis Cindani, who had remained silent all along, spoke in the sinister, echoing tone of liches, her flowing, dark green "ethereal hair" swaying in the breeze:

"Either I break away from the Shadowlands' divine order and ascend to godhood with the help of the brilliant Lord Medivh, or I have no choice but to go all the way down this rigid and ruthless corrupt order."

To be honest, and I'm not afraid you'll laugh at me, I'll tell you the truth.

During the long period of the Lord of War's disappearance, I and other ambitious people from the Secret Court also tried to seize the Lord of War's power, but it was not until Medivh's arrival, and until he explained the cruel truth to me, that I realized that the power and status of the Eternals could not be obtained or inherited by the efforts of us lowly beings.

They were born as gods!
This power cannot be transferred to other living beings. As you said, even if the Lord of War were willing, he could not grant me more power. This truth made me fully aware of the hypocrisy of the so-called 'destiny'.

This system, established by the First Ones, claims to be 'perfect', but it is clearly devoid of humanity.

"Ha, I never imagined I'd one day be able to 'empathize' with Zovaar, the Lord of the Maw."

The powerful lich marquis said sarcastically:
“I can hardly imagine how much pain and disappointment Zovar, who was once the ‘Eternal Arbiter,’ must have felt when he discovered the flaws in ‘Destiny’ to the point of going mad and actively challenging the majesty of the Creator?”

“We should have reverence for power, Ms. Cindy. Do not comment on the noble so casually.”

After listening to the Lord of War's message, Medivh waved his hand and said:

"We pursue the truth, and we should be more humble."

"Your teachings are correct."

Marquis Cindy bowed her head respectfully in response.

Although both of them claimed that they were just cooperating, her attitude was anything but cooperative; she was clearly placing herself in the position of a servant.

Moreover, Medivh did not force her; she did it willingly.

It can only be said that the Astral Mage was indeed outrageous. While he was alive, he was able to coexist with the Dark Titan for decades and even occasionally overpower the Dark Titan's dark thoughts. After his death, he was naturally able to do some things that made people feel "horrified".

"After I entered Maldraxxus, I heard about the local 'Prophecy of the Warlord'."

Medivh played with the Warlord's Mark and said to Diakum:
According to local legend, the Lord of War placed his power and knowledge in the sacred "Seat of the Lord of War," but only those who can pass the "trials" can inherit that power and knowledge.

The trial involves finding the artifacts that the Lord of War hid in various locations throughout Maldraxxus before his disappearance.

Including this Staff of Conquest, there are a total of four divine artifacts. The remaining three are the Flesh and Blood Forged Bracers, the Lord of War's Shoulder Cap, and the Military Authority Shoulder Armor.

"I spent some time, with the help of Marquis Cindani, retrieving the artifact and delivering it to the Throne of the Lord of War. I obtained a runic sword that He Himself forged but could not complete, thus learning of the Lord of War's whereabouts."

Medivh let out a laugh that Diakum recognized, and he teased:
"As it turns out, the Throne of the Warlord does not contain invincible power or unparalleled knowledge; the Warlord simply stores his own set of plans there. I informed the Twin Realms Walker and Lord Rafam about the matter of Cecilia, and it turns out that they are indeed worthy of being the collaborators you personally chose."

They successfully brought the mark back.

However, this also proves that the disappearance of the warlord was not an 'accident'.

"That's right, I had my suspicions before."

The dual-realm traveler in the secret chamber nodded somewhat suspiciously and said:
"Although the explanations that the Eternal One left in Cecilia sounded reasonable, upon reflection I found them to be full of loopholes."

The legendary Lord of War is the most rational, powerful, and cunning war commander in the Shadow Kingdom. How could He, who always plans carefully before acting, recklessly go alone without leaving any backup plan, leading Him to a desperate situation?

Most importantly, after the Lord of War disappeared, the other Eternals just stood by and did nothing to search for him.

Isn't it said that the Eternals are the foundation of the Shadowlands' existence?
They themselves are the embodiment of power and order, and now that the very foundation of destiny has vanished, the other eternal beings are acting as if this never happened—this is highly unusual.

“This is certainly not normal. A person with a sense of order wouldn't only provide such vague information when cornered.” Seeing that the others were still confused, Diakum stopped cryptic and explained:
“A close examination of the messages and calls left by the Lord of War reveals that He was more of a temptment than a warning!”
This message is a standard 'mission briefing', a perfect lure of power, a call to action for the noble, and a cunning strategy for the ambitious.

Rather than saying that the Lord of War was 'forced' to leave the mark on Kercia, judging from the information He gave, it seems more like the Lord of War threw out an important message that no one could ignore, attracting everyone who heard the message to take immediate action.

It's fine to choose to prevent the Shadowlands' destiny from being overturned because of a sense of justice.

Driven by ambition, or perhaps by a desire to open the Holy Tomb of the Firstborn and monopolize the power to reshape reality.

You can doubt the veracity of this information, but you cannot ignore it, much less pretend you don't know it.

Soria, the wealthy tycoon of the Soria conglomerate who had previously decided to join the operation, was a cunning broker and merchant who immediately understood the "hint" in Diakum's words.

She was startled and exclaimed:
"You mean, the Lord of War deliberately left this information behind? He wants all those who know 'Zalemotes' to take action. He wants the treasure left behind by the First One to be revealed?"

Was all of this a conspiracy by the Lord of War?

Diakum nodded and looked at Medivh, indicating that he would finish the explanation.

"We currently have no evidence to prove this."

The Lich Baron shrugged, toying with the Lord of War's mark, and said elegantly:
"But if the Lord of War is truly the most powerful, wisest, and most cunning Eternal One in the entire Shadow Kingdom, if He is truly as legendary as He is, proficient in all the tactics and strategies of the Shadow Kingdom and the entire material universe and even the six realms, then concocting such a 'conspiracy' would be a piece of cake for Him."

Rather than saying that the Lord of War was captured by his old, rebellious brother Zovar, it's more accurate to say that everything Zovar is doing now is part of the Lord of War's plan.

Even He, the cunning old fox, was gradually luring Zovar, the 'idealist,' into carrying out that terrible plan.

To ensure Zovar wouldn't suspect anything, the Warlord simply kept himself under Zovar's watchful eye as a prisoner. This allowed him to keep a close eye on the Maw Lord's movements and, by portraying himself as a 'victim,' extricate himself from this terrible conspiracy.

Medivh paused, spread his hands, and said to Ms. Solia, who was completely dumbfounded:

"If this conjecture continues, the final outcome will either be that Zoval achieves his ambition, obtains the power of the First One, and reshapes reality, or that heroes and warriors, who appear out of nowhere, stop Zoval from doing dangerous things under the guidance of the Lord of War, and successfully save everything."

But no matter what the outcome, the divine order that governs the Shadowlands will collapse because of this pursuit of the power of the Firstborn!
The most ingenious part is that when the warlord was rescued, he became a 'perfect victim'.

No one would doubt Him.
In the Shadowlands after the overthrow of destiny, He can still reign supreme in Maldraxxus and join forces with the other Eternals to 'reshape the order of the realm of the dead'. But what did the Lord of War lose in this process?

He became a prisoner but will be freed.

He lost his reputation, but his status and identity remained, and no one dared to discuss it openly.

He no longer holds the power of 'victory', but the Lord of War was never lacking in power.

He lost his ancient brother, but was his relationship with Zovar really that good?
If their relationship had truly been good, Zovar wouldn't have attempted to overthrow the order and been banished and suppressed in the Maw by the other Eternals.

If their relationship was truly good, then the other Eternals would not have turned a blind eye to it after the Lord of War disappeared.

The warlord lost nothing, yet gained everything he wanted!
You see, although there's no evidence, what I've said is at least logically sound, right?

Faced with Medivh's question, the broker was completely speechless.

She realized that the pursuit of the Firstborn's treasure was fraught with risk from the very beginning. What was worse, she had just joined the group like a fool, lured by the promise of high returns. What kind of high-return project was this?
This is clearly a "pig butchering scam" orchestrated by the Eternal One himself!
It's too late to back out now.

But she still had one last question, she said:
"But the Lord of War, this eternal being, is clearly the biggest beneficiary of 'Destiny'! He is the leader who wields great power in this system, and at least in the Shadow Kingdom, nothing can bind him."

Why would He deliberately incite others to rebel against destiny?

“Listen to what you’re saying, you broker! How foolish.”

Marquis Cindy said with a sharp, sarcastic tone:
"If all your power comes from something bestowed upon you, then no matter how wonderful that power may be, it is not yours. It can be given to you and it can also be taken back."

The Lord of War is indeed above all others in the Shadowlands, but as you said, everything He has is given to Him by the 'Destiny System'.

If the Lord of War were a muddle-headed person like the eldest daughter Grace, it would be one thing, but the Lord of War was molded by the Creator into a wise and mighty person. How could such a soul be willing to be bound to a system that determines the past, present and future, a system as stagnant as a still pond with no ripples?

He lacks neither power nor status or fame; He seeks something more abstract and precious.

"What He wants is 'freedom'!"

Diakum delivered the definitive statement:
"It's not just that He yearns for freedom; Zovar also deeply loathes Fate. And Denathrius, who sits in the blood-red shadow of Revendreth, remotely controlling the wars of the material world and weaving a terrifying conspiracy that drags both the Dark Titans and the Mother of Light into it, is even less likely to allow himself to be bound by Fate."

The Queen of Winter, who holds a transcendent position in the Shadowlands, is indifferent to fate because her duties dictate that she is least bound by it.

And the eldest daughter.
The eldest daughter is not a fool!

It is impossible for a fool to lead Bastion to defeat the evil invasion of the Sea of ​​Darkness alone in ancient times. Do not underestimate the Void Lords, nor their eldest daughter who defeated them.

She just...
how to say?

Having faced reality, they chose to give up.

But that's alright. I'll give my eldest daughter some 'psychological counseling' soon. How can a proper Eternalist not focus on fulfilling her duties and just slack off all day?"

"what!"

The businesswoman, whose values ​​had been shattered and then rebuilt, screamed while clutching her glamorous mask:

"So, according to you, all the big shots in the Shadowlands are plotting to overthrow Mandate of Heaven to some extent? If what you're saying is true, then there isn't a single good person in the Shadowlands."
We brokers have been doing business here for tens of thousands of years, yet we don't understand this place as well as you, a newcomer.
I think you guys are being a bit conspiratorial.
Perhaps the Eternals aren't all villains as you claim.

"Not good!"

Just as Solia was incoherently denying the truth, the deranged Rafaam suddenly appeared in the secret room, shouting at the top of his lungs:
"Those artifact craftsmen, those greedy and insane bastards, have run away with the Arbitrator's core and mark!"

The Supreme Thief King grinned, jumping around and waving at Diakum, saying:

Just like you said!
As soon as you left, they couldn't contain themselves any longer. They fled to Revendreth with the treasure! Ha, those guys are now Emperor Denathrius's lackeys.

so."

Rafam, extremely excited, rubbed his hands together and said:
"Do I, the Supreme Thief King, need to personally go to Emperor Denathius's luxurious Nathria Castle and steal our treasures back? And while I'm at it, steal... cough cough, take a little more as compensation for our emotional distress?"

We split it 20/80, you and the others get 20, and I get 80 by myself!
I've been working my ass off on this job, so I think this profit-sharing ratio is justified. Anyone who dares to object is heartless.

"Don't worry."

Diakum gave So Lia a "See, I told you so" look, then said to Rafam, whose urge to steal was surging and he couldn't stop:

"Be patient, you'll have a chance to empty Castle Nathria. Hmm. I suddenly have an idea. What do you think about what if we moved the magnificent Castle Nathria to the material world and staged a big heist of Castle Nathria or something? Would that be a good idea?"

"Hiss! Diakum, Saint of the Holy Light! You're a damn criminal genius! Very well, let's do it this way, hahaha, I'm itching for a fight! Now, please welcome the next victim of the Supreme Thief King to the stage!"

(End of this chapter)