Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 683, Section 51: Willow Catkins are the best fairy in the world, Moonberry is the worst fairy in the world.
"Be careful on the road! Don't let Rafaam touch the control wheel of the floating city! That madman almost drove the Veil Market to the Maw, it's unbelievable. I didn't die in Fortress of Ascension, but I almost died at its hands."

On a floating island outside the forests of Ardenweald, Diakum, who had just disembarked, waved goodbye to the Veil Market that was slowly disappearing into the interdimensional storm.

After causing havoc in the Ascension Fortress and taking away his eldest daughter, he rode this thing across the interdimensional realms to reach his third foothold in the Shadowlands.

The reason for taking the Spirit Broker's spaceship is that, if we include the Eternal Arbiter who has stopped operating, then there are already two Eternals who have "died" at his hands.

He even threatened Emperor Denathrius with death in front of the magic mirror in Bastion.

In this situation, relying on oneself to traverse the interdimensional realm would be extremely risky. You must know that Emperor Denathius is a petty and narrow-minded person. He may not be able to defeat Diakum head-on, but that guy's cunning mind gives him plenty of ways to give the Vigilant a "tough stunt" when Diakum is traversing the interdimensional realm.

Once lost in a space where there is no concept of direction, it's hard to say where Diakum will end up.

It wasn't that he was really afraid of danger; with his current strength, he could walk around freely even if he were thrown into the Abyss. The main thing was that he was afraid of wasting time, as the material world was waiting for the Vigilant to stage a "triumphant return" in the war.

Who has time to play "Fantasy Adventure" in the interdimensional space?

So, in situations like this, it's best to play it safe and avoid reckless actions.

On the other hand, Ardenweald is a rather magical place.

Although it is one of the four covenants of the Shadowlands and holds a fairly high position in the entire world of the dead, Ardenweald is somewhat "different" from other kingdoms of the dead.

This place is not merely a place shaped by the Force of Death; in fact, Ardenweald is a rare "sanctuary of life" in the entire Shadowlands.

The life density of this great forest, shrouded in gentle and magnificent blue light, is even more exaggerated than that of most of the material world. If one had to say, perhaps only the Emerald Dream of the material world could rival it.

The existence of such a place in a realm filled with the primal force of death is simply an absurdity.

However, considering that Ardenweald is part of "Destiny," this area clearly represents the more "obscure and profound" part of the Death Force.

Due to its unique nature, Ardenweald basically rejects death and life from other countries, making it impossible to locate and travel to Ardenweald through normal methods.

This place is very isolated, a typical example of "living behind closed doors" among the many worlds of the Shadowlands, with very little interaction between local creatures and other dead.

The floating cities of the spirit brokers are allowed to enter Azure Wilderness because they also have many "clients" there, including important figures such as the various woodland lords under the Queen of Winter.

According to the power structure of the Shadowlands, the overlords under the Queen of Winter are equivalent to the Saints of Bastion and the Marquises of Maldraxxus. Those powerful beings in animal form are the managers and foundational symbols of Ardenweald.

However, unlike other death kingdoms with clearly defined status, the concept of "power" is very weak in Ardenweald.

The Queen of Winter treats all the souls of her kingdom in an "equal" manner. Apart from her formal military organization, the "Wild Hunting Corps," there are basically no orders of "forced obedience" in Azure Fairyland.

However, this does not mean that Ardenweald is "easy to bully".

If the Queen of Winter and her Night Kingdom were truly easy to bully, then cowardly Grim Reapers like Bwonsamdi, who "bully the weak and fear the strong," wouldn't be oppressed and forced to live in seclusion on the borders of Ardenweald.

This is Diakum's first time in this place; of course, his experience in his previous life doesn't count.

He gazed at the blue forest not far away from the floating island, and then he soon realized that his previous perception was flawed.

There is no light in this place.

Dick looked up at the blue night sky and realized that the Azure Fairyland was actually shrouded in "Eternal Night".

The blue light illuminating the forest is not the moon or any other celestial body in the sky; it is the "lights" lit by the inhabitants of this forest in their own groves.

There is no light here.

The absence of a sun is understandable, since the Death Kingdom lacks the concept of a "sun" in all places except for the Fortress of Ascension. However, Ardenweald doesn't even have a "moon," making it a rare "moonless land."

"Are you here?"

Diakum did not immediately head into the Fairy Forest; this was a necessary precaution.

This is the territory of the Queen of Winter, whose will permeates every tree and every flower. Outsiders like Diakum would be immediately detected upon entering.

Therefore, "disguise" is necessary.

The vigilant asked softly from the floating island:

“I have reached beyond your sister’s domain, and I am about to step into it. In order not to disturb her, I must disguise myself as a visitor to life.”

“But you don’t need to pretend, Diakum. It’s pointless. Even the life disguise I personally put on you can’t hide from your sister’s senses.”

Although her power is not as great as mine, we are different symbols of 'life and death', and the responsibilities we bear in the great cycle of life and death are neither superior nor inferior. So, step into it with my request.

If she has no ill intentions towards you, you will be able to see her soon.

Even if she has ill intentions towards you
Her Nightfall Royal Court cannot hinder or interfere with you in any way; after all, her power is indeed inferior to mine.

Lady Elune's voice quickly reached Dick's ears, but it seemed to echo from many worlds away, giving Lady White's voice a slight "reverberation".

She seemed to be observing Ardenweald through Diakum's eyes, then said in a sighing and helpless tone:

"Her forest withered, she must have been in great pain. My sister and I love nature as much as I do, and I can hardly imagine the despair she felt watching her forest wither and being unable to do anything about it. It must have exacerbated her already reclusive nature."

Perhaps you need to make a little noise to attract her attention.

But I beg you not to harm the inhabitants of this forest.

The moon goddess explained to Diakum:

“Unlike other death realms, in Ardenweald, souls that are close to nature are generally not blocked by the Eternal Arbiter. Some of them will not even go through the arbitration of Olivos, but will directly arrive in Ardenweald through the ‘Eternal Dream’ when death comes.”

This is the 'privilege' of the life force in the realm of death, but it only works in the Azure Fairy Wilderness.

Like druids, hunters, and shamans, who are favored by life, they are also favored by death; unfortunately, not all souls can return to the material world with the help of their sister.

"Only immortal spirits can do that, right?"

Dick spread his wings of light and shadow, took off from the floating island, and flew towards the woodlands of Azure Wonderland. He whispered:

“It’s unfair that only the gods of the wilderness, some of the Loa, and some of the life essences are allowed to oscillate between life and death.”

"Don't use such frivolous words to describe this process, Diakum."

Elune explained:

"Only immortal spirits can withstand the erosion of the Force when walking through the Great Cycle. It's not that my sister and I are unwilling to bestow this gift upon all life, but those who are weak will be worn down into mental energy by the Force the moment they step into the cycle, and return to the forests of Ardenweald."

This has nothing to do with fairness, but rather with protection.

Even for those eternal spirits who can be resurrected, the process of rebirth is not only filled with joy; they must also undergo considerable painful and dangerous trials before they can return to the human world.

Death
This is a serious concept!

Breaking the rules of death always comes at a price, and after many cycles, even immortal spirits will develop inescapable fatigue and cracks, ultimately returning to the Emerald Dream or slumbering in the Azure Wilderness in each cycle.

Perhaps feeling that this explanation was a bit complicated, Ms. Bai changed to a more vivid way of putting it.

She said: "Life has the concept of 'four seasons,' Diakum, they sow in spring, grow in summer, harvest in autumn, and wither in winter. All the growth of life can be encompassed by this concept."

Emerald Dreamland represents the spring and summer of 'planting and life', while Azure Wonderland symbolizes the autumn and winter of 'harvesting and death'.

I represent the 'beginning', and my sister represents the 'end'.

My coexistence with her is the ultimate embodiment of the concept of 'life and death'. Whether or not you can understand the difference between them determines how far you can progress on the path of life.

Actually, if you think about it carefully, Diakum.

Isn't your journey at this moment also a manifestation of this 'great cycle of life and death'?
You will eventually break free from the constraints of death and return to the world of the living. This means that you have already achieved an 'immortal spirit' on your own, without needing my or my sister's blessings.

"buzz"

Dick's feet touched the vibrant soil of Ardenweald, and he immediately felt the earth beneath his feet resisting him.

This means "not welcome".
In that instant, the Watcher seemed to see the entire forest come alive, roaring before him, telling him to get out of this sacred place of life and death! His light, whether it be the sun or holy light, would disrupt the harmony here.

So, what wind blew the Holy Light's homemade cannons to our Azure Fairyland to beg for food?

You guys are really asking for it!

Diakum frowned, raised his hoof and stomped it into the soil. The instantaneous burst of light and shadow caused a fleeting flash of light to appear at the edge of the woodland.

But then, that unwelcoming malice dissipated.

The majesty of the woodland was no match for this powerful holy light cannon. As a result, the will of the woodland scattered and fled as if frightened, like a brood of rabbits running around in all directions, intending to report the news of the invasion to the supreme queen.

In Diakum's vision, he seemed to see a group of cowardly bullies screaming and running away, but with the White Lady's call, the Woodland Will, terrified by the "dangerous Holy Light Cannon," quickly turned around and rushed over.

This time, they took on physical form, flying and circling around Diakum like fireflies in the night.

They seemed quite intimate, but this wasn't affection for Dick.

The watcher could hear the Woodland Will welcoming the "Second King" to Ardenweald in a fawning and ingratiating tone, and instructing him on the work there.

He could even hear the Woodland Will chattering away, the White Lady "complaining."

They say the Queen of Winter has been locking herself away in the Heart of the Forest lately, and she hasn't strolled through the forest in a long time. They also say the Queen of Winter has neglected her Spirit Seed Garden, leaving many immortal spirit seeds to wait in line for resurrection.

Among these chattering reports, Diakum astutely caught one in particular.

He reached out and grabbed a "firefly" flitting around him. Amidst its struggle and buzzing, he asked:
"You just said that many spirit seeds awaiting resurrection have been stolen?"

Woodland Will clearly didn't want to answer any of the Holy Light Cannon's questions, but as Lady White's gaze fell upon it, it immediately and obediently transformed into a beautiful blue glowing butterfly, landing on Diakum's fingertip and relaying everything it "saw" to the Holy Light Cannon that Lady White had "subdued."

Perhaps in the eyes of the ignorant Woodland Will, Diakum was the formidable White Lady's "little follower".

As the Woodland Will continued his rambling description, Diakum's expression grew increasingly serious; he realized that Bumsandy's previous disappearance was not an isolated incident.

According to the Will of the Woodlands, the theft of the Spirit Seeds began several years ago, when Diakum was still in a long slumber.

The theft of the spirit seeds had little to do with the forest withering due to a lack of anima water. Before the withering became more severe, a few spirit seeds had already disappeared. The Night Fae fairies responsible for taking care of the spirit seeds would make a big fuss about it, with the noisy little creatures always thinking that one of their companions was engrossed in a prank and neglected the important matter of taking care of the spirit seeds.

But in reality, this matter should not have much to do with the Night Fae's negligence, although those noisy creatures are indeed careless when they do things.

“This is a serious matter, Diakum. If you have the capacity, please investigate this matter for me.”

Ms. Bai said seriously:
"Although my sister's Spirit Seed Garden was abandoned, preventing the immortal spirits from returning to the material world, their spirit seeds here always have the possibility of resurrection. However, once the spirit seeds are stolen or corrupted, the immortal spirits will suffer a terrible fate."
Oh, someone's coming!

Are you going to hide?

Diakum raised an eyebrow, strode forward, and let the shadows around him spread out, enveloping him as if he were wearing a "shadow cloak" and hiding under a nearby tree.

"Momo! Momo, are you here?"

Soon, a panicked voice rang out at the edge of the woods.

Under Diakum's subtle gaze, a small creature resembling the "Big Fluttering Moth" rushed anxiously into the border woodland.

She has huge, blue butterfly wings that glow softly, and ribbon-like feathers that extend from her waist. She has large, pointed ears and long white hair, but her anthropomorphic body also has a mane, making her look very peculiar and "fantasy".

The little creature had long blue whiskers on its head, which I couldn't tell were eyebrows or antennae, and those whiskers also glowed in the darkness.

She seemed to be searching for something, constantly rummaging under each tree, calling out "Mao Mao's" name, looking quite anxious.

"Look, a Night Fae fairy."

Even Ms. Bai, a self-proclaimed "appearance-obsessed" woman, became cheerful. She spoke to Diakum, whose gaze had softened as he looked at the unique fairy:
"Of all my sister's creations, this is my favorite. Don't laugh at me, but I once wanted to secretly take a few fairies to my kingdom. However, they play a very important role in Ardenweald."

Each of them is important, and I don't want to upset my serious, boring sister.

“Yes, each of these fairies is important. Their essence is a ‘vessel’ created by the Queen of Winter using precious life energy.”

Diakum said softly:
"Those who are born with a concept of 'life and death' can be used as rather extravagant 'materials' in certain special circumstances, and this fairy in front of us is especially important."

The vigilant stepped out of the shadows and stood beside the fairy, who was so anxious she was about to cry. He spoke softly:

"Your name is 'Willow Catkins', right?"

"Ah! Who are you!"

The fairy was startled. With a nimble turn, she retreated a considerable distance, grabbed the mysterious, beautiful, and powerful "Fairy Starfire" in her hands, and made as if to throw it.

But Diakum waved his hand and said:
"As you can see, little willow catkin, I am merely a warrior of light passing through your precious land, unable to bear seeing any soul in need of help shed tears."

So, tell me, what do you want me to do for you? Find your lost pet?

Speaking of which, I think I just saw a large group of forest ghosts running away carrying something, and they were saying something like 'barbecue' or something incomprehensible.

"Oh my god, Mao Mao must have been kidnapped by that nasty Lin Gui!"

Liu Xu was startled.

She shouted:

“We must hurry to save it, but there are many forest ghosts, so I need to call Moonberry and my sisters to come with me to fight the forest ghosts. Thank you, passing warrior of light.”

You are such a kind person.

"Moonberry?"

Diakum frowned and said:
"Don't let that jerk come! I can help you find your pet, and I don't want any reward. I just need you to show me the way. It's too difficult for me, a stranger in this unfamiliar forest. I need a local to guide me."

You are truly a perfect guide.

Ps:
Willow catkins:

(End of this chapter)