Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 706, Section 74: Now, please welcome Ms. Elune, the owner of the "Face Fruit" of the Azerothian universe!

"Now, when I close my eyes, I can hear that mournful cry originating from the abyss. It's a hymn filled with sorrow and remembrance, a sound rarely uttered by the Naaru. She must have witnessed many tragedies unfold before her eyes, yet was powerless to stop them."

She may have been one of those tragedies, but fate did not favor her, and she perished alongside her compatriots when the final defeat came.

I know that the Venthyrs have hidden many Naaru fragments.

Those treasures, so out of place in this gloomy place, were hidden beneath the palace of Emperor Denathrius, in the perpetual darkness where the boldest and most rebellious psionic researchers lurked.

They studied the miracles of the Holy Light day after day, under the orders of their wicked master.

Their attempt to interpret the power of the Holy Light through the convergence of mental energy, and their arrogant attempt to use this divine power for their own purposes, is blasphemy!

Not far from the Ash Wastes, in the hunting grounds of the Sin Lord, the Fear Hunter.

Wielding a sun-like warhammer, Diakum swept across the unpretentious area like a storm, crushing the Venthyr guards before kicking a mediocre anima vampire to the ground.

He stepped on the guy, rambled on like a pastor preaching, then looked down at the terrified man.

he asked:
"Although I know that every Force faction has such researchers, and Arcane Force has gone particularly far in this regard, I cannot understand why the vampires of the Death Kingdom would insist on playing with these things that could easily burn away their power."
Don't they understand the meaning of 'playing with fire and getting burned'?

I'm really curious, could you give me an answer, sir?

Winsea, who was being questioned, was terrified.

He screamed and begged for mercy, but Diakum looked at the imposter before him, whose image was reflected in his eyes as that of the Dreadlord.

He saw two kinds of fear in the man's eyes.

A highly skilled "professional ethic" from the Nathrezim was required, which necessitated disguising oneself as a terrified Wenthyr civilian under these circumstances.

Another, more real fear came from the fact that this dreadlord never expected that even after fleeing back to the Shadowlands, he would still encounter this damned "Butcher of the Light"! What a bizarre twist of fate!
"Very good, it seems you recognize me."

Diakum sheathed the warhammer, which was so hot it could incinerate everything, and took a step back.

As the latter dissipated into countless bats, the left hand reached forward, covering the cold void and transforming into an antimatter claw. With a soft thud, it reached into the bats, grabbed something, and slammed it down, slamming the fleeing dread demon to the ground.

Judging from the way he coughed up blood upon landing, he must have broken at least half of his bones.

"Where do you think you're going, 'Corruptor' Sasowal?"

The Vigilant summoned the void to form chains, binding the wretched Nathrezim. He said with a touch of nostalgia:
"If I remember correctly, you were the first demon I ever saw on the land of Argus, and also the first Nathrezim I ever encountered."

We really are destined to meet.

You were the first dreadlord I captured in the Shadowlands, but don't worry, your ordeal will soon be over.

I mean, the eternal end.

"Don't be arrogant! Butcher of Holy Light! You stand on the holy ground of my Lord, where all sins are under His control. This is your final journey, and I am just going ahead."

Trapped in the Void Shackles, the Corruptor Sathorvar knew he was doomed. Just as demons killed in the Twisting Nether were truly dead, the Dreadlords killed in the Shadowlands had used up their last "Resurrection Scroll." Dreadlords who died in their homeland would also return to Revendreth.

Knowing they were doomed, these cunning individuals didn't even try to beg for mercy.

If someone else had caught them, they might have been able to try and salvage the situation, but in Diakum's hands, even death was a luxury.

The Vigilant are saints of the People of Light, yet demons among demons.

"Death? You're dreaming."

Dick didn't bother with the dreadlord's inner monologue. He swung his left antimatter claw to tear open a temporary void rift, threw the dreadlord in, and then turned and left the hunting ground destroyed by the "Holy Light Storm." He even gentlemanly dragged out several Venthyr hunters buried under the rubble.

They did not attempt to treat them.

Healing vampires with sunlight? What a hellish joke!
The Vigilant didn't linger in the vicinity. He summoned his Kaher Abyss Legend and, taking advantage of the Void Vehicle's untraceable and undetectable nature, as well as its ability to leap freely in the shadows, spent several hours wandering around the villages and towns throughout Revendreth.

The stonesmith's manor was his final stop.

This place is not far from Nathria Castle, basically equivalent to a manor within the first ring of the capital. It is said that the distance from the core of power determines one's status in the power system, so it can be seen that the stonesmith's status in Revendres is truly extraordinary.

Especially the two stone demon sculptures standing at the entrance of her grand estate.

Good guy!
The entrance to the Emperor's palace only has one "Howling Wing". Your grandeur is even more impressive than that of Emperor Denathrius. Isn't this a bit presumptuous?

When Diakum leaped out of the shadows aboard the Kahe Abyss Legend, the two Stoneborn demons guarding the manor gates immediately stirred.

The stone statue, originally an imposing, enlarged version of a mixture of gorillas, giant wolves, and bats, crumbled at this moment, its blood-red gem eyes swirling and fixing on Diakum, who was striding towards them. The powerful Stoneborn demons clearly would not allow unregistered visitors to disturb their creator and "mother."

But just as these two ferocious beasts were about to rise and fight, a chilling wind of the void rose amidst the shifting shadows, freezing them in the beautiful and artistic "black ice" as they raised their claws.

The vigilant didn't even need to use the illusion of an eclipse; simply blowing air in the air was enough to quiet the two "watchdogs."

Wanting to appear more respectable, he placed his hand on the tightly closed, luxurious gate in front of him and gave it a gentle push. With a loud bang, the iron gate of the Stonesmith Manor flew out.

This left Diakum speechless.

No, how can your manor, which is so big, be so poorly maintained on a daily basis?
How long has it been since this iron gate was maintained?
The fixing pins have all weathered away.

Revendres's mud servants are free, but someone as important as you should at least hire a few to tidy up your house.

This is so shabby!
Dick felt like he was being "framed" at this moment. He wondered what would happen if the stonesmith shouted "Rat! You broke down my door" and jumped out to hit him with a Death Moonfire spell. Should he fight or run?

Before he could finish his thought, a Stoneborn creature sculpted to resemble a crow-man rushed out, bowed to Diakum, and gestured for him to follow.

This Stoneborn Hunter is clearly not finished yet; it's just a stone sculpture that hasn't been painted. It's probably a "child" that the stonesmith just created.

Its appearance meant that the stonesmith was aware of Dick's visit and had no intention of pursuing the vigilant's "rudeness," which relieved Dick.

He followed the stone-dwelling creature into the manor hall.

What should have been a luxurious banquet hall has now been transformed into a super-large "stone carving studio," filled with stones of various shapes and materials, as well as design drawings covering the walls, with several small stone creatures tidying up tools nearby.

In the center of this sculpted hall, a woman dressed in hunting boots, breeches, a Winshire shirt, and a vest has her back to the guests.

She seemed to be pondering how to continue the half-finished stone carving in front of her, with a chisel and carving hammer adorning the sinful red stone beside her. She was covered in stone chips and dust but didn't seem to notice, revealing the detached and dreamy air of a "great artist".

Diakum accepted the guest's courtesy without disturbing the stonesmith's thoughts, and instead admired the unfinished works around him.

It must be said that if stone carvings had a quality classification, then these statues, sculpted by the stonemason himself, would undoubtedly belong to the "mythical" art form. Even a simpleton like Diakum could discern the sculptor's different moods and the emotions she wished to convey from the various forms of these stone carvings. Dick tried hard not to look at the stonemason, not only to maintain his gentlemanly demeanor, but also because the stonemason was a woman of great character.

After all, very few women can perfectly pull off such an avant-garde hairstyle as a "bald head".

But the stonesmith is undoubtedly one of them.

Her head was completely bald, without a single hair, except for a Winsea-style gemstone headband. Perhaps because she was so engrossed in the art of forging stones, she found long hair difficult to manage and a waste of time, so she simply shaved it off.

Of course, this could also be due to tradition. In some more warlike races, it is not hard to understand why combative women would choose to shave their heads to express their fierceness.

“I received a letter from Ardenweald before, a group of holy spirits who are still loyal to Elune after death, inviting me to join the ‘Shadow Kingdom Branch of the Moonlit War God Association’ they formed. The name sounds shady, like a prank by fairies.”

Therefore, I think they're just making trouble for themselves.

A cold voice echoed in the hall, accompanied by the chisel marks as it cut through the rock. The stonemason said:

"If you have come here for the same reason, then I advise you to go back. My connection with Lady Elune has come to an end. After I have borne too much pain and despair for my dedication to the moon goddess, I now only want to live a more relaxed life."

"Hmm, your statement is indeed terrifyingly powerful, but does your so-called 'easy life' mean living in a country teeming with schemers, allowing yourself to be misled and manipulated by a leader full of lies?"

Diakum smiled.

He didn't explain much, but simply tore open a rift in the void, and amidst the roars of the Stoneborn, the five Dreadlords trapped inside were released.

These unfortunate souls suffered mental corruption and shock within the void rift, and some of them were released still not fully conscious.

Two of them, acting impulsively, actually flew out to try and kidnap the stonesmith. Although they recognized the true identity of the "bald woman" halfway through their flight and retreated in fear, before the iconic bat avatar could lead them away, the cold, azure moonfire suddenly erupted in the hall.

Under Diakum's "appreciative execution" gaze, four of the five dreadlords were instantly annihilated.

Although it wasn't the scorching heat of holy light, this unique Moonfire spell, which combined "death" and "moonlight," was indeed incredibly lethal. The Nathrezim, known for their cunning and evasiveness, were instantly killed in one strike, fully demonstrating that the Stonesmith's strength was simply "unfathomable."

No wonder Emperor Denathrius tolerated her unsociable and arrogant ways; it turns out there was a powerful figure hidden in the land of Revendres that even an emperor couldn't afford to offend.

While she wasn't invincible—after all, the Stonesmith had received the Sinful Medal that carried the Emperor's power, and her individuality was bound to Revendreth, naturally subject to the Emperor's suppression and restraint—you can tell from this Moonfire spell that even after death, the Stonesmith still enjoyed Lady Elune's favor.

This means that when necessary, she can use the power of the "Death Moon" to counter Denathrius's power of forgiveness.

"Exiles! How dare you set foot on this land again?"

The stonesmith, holding a chisel in one hand and a forging hammer in the other, stared with utter disgust at the trembling Dreadlord, who was being held down on the ground by a group of stone goblins and dared not even raise his head.

To be honest, the fear that the Nathrezim showed when facing the Stonesmith was even more profound and vivid than when they faced the Diakum.

"Speak up, the stonesmith is asking you a question."

Diakum leaned against a pillar in the hall and said jokingly to Sasowar, the "Corruptor" who was being held captive there:

"If you don't speak now, it will be too late when the stone forger takes you to the emperor. I guess a leader like the emperor probably doesn't like a stupid subordinate who can't even pretend properly and causes trouble for himself every day."
Tell the stonesmith!
How many Nathrezim are currently hidden in Revendreth and the Shadowlands?

"I...I can't say!"

Sasowar was in despair.

But it still gritted its teeth and prepared to fight to the end. These creations were absolutely loyal to their creator. This was the "underlying logic" written into the bones of the Dreadlord. They themselves could not do anything to betray Emperor Denathrius.

Unfortunately, the problem is that the stonesmith doesn't need a specific answer at all.

When she saw a Nathrezim brought before her, she already knew that Emperor Denathius had betrayed his vow to her.

"The ancient invasion of the Holy Light was caused by your reckless actions and your attempts to pry into the secrets of the Holy Light, which led to the Naaru's revenge. In that battle, to protect this dark land, my Stoneborn children survived a bitter struggle, and not one in ten survived!"

The Ash Wastes contain not only fragments of the Naaru, but also the remains of the Stoneborn, which have sculpted mountains across the land! All of Revendreth weeps for their loss.

Denathius promised me
He promised to eternally banish the instigators of war from the Shadowlands!

The stonemason reached out and grabbed the Dreadlord by the neck. She stared into his eyes, which were filled with cunning, fear, and despair, and said:
"But He broke His promise, and you have returned. Very well, very well! My children will no longer have to endure the wrath, and they can finally avenge their unjustly killed companions with their own hands."

No matter where you hide, Nathrezim, my children will find you and tear you to pieces.

"boom"

The forging chisel, inlaid with magnificent bloodstone, was driven into the skull of the Dreadlord. The stonemason pressed it with his fingers, rotated it, and slowly but firmly pushed it all the way in.

Throughout the entire process, the Dreadlord was unable to utter a sound and could only suffer a miserable death under the suppression of the Stoneborn.

This horrific execution caused blood to splatter, but the stonemason merely wiped her cheeks indifferently with a handkerchief. With a casual toss, the dead Nathrezim fell to the ground like a torn sack, and under some force, it quickly transformed into a broken stone statue with lingering traces of horrific terror.

"Last time, it was their misdeeds that drew the Holy Light's punishment, and this time the Holy Light is chasing after them again. These Nathrezim are truly the source of Revendreth's misfortune."

The stonemason tossed the blood-stained handkerchief onto the broken stone statue, as if closing a coffin.

She looked at Diakum and said:

"Last time, your Naaru compatriots destroyed a third of Revendreth. How many are you prepared to destroy this time?"

"Not harming a single blade of grass or tree, but taking away only a deeply sinful soul."

Diakum solemnly promised:

"The premise is that you and your descendants of the Stone race do not get involved, do not need to participate in the war, and can remain neutral immediately."

"Fighting in my own home and demanding my neutrality? You underestimate Revendreth. Long after the Holy Light's invasion, the last vestige of this land's spirit was upheld by my Stoneborn descendants."

With a wave of his hand, the stonesmith gave a silent command, which was given to the entire manor, the entire Nathria Castle, and even all the stoneborn of Revendreth.

She said to Dick:
"I am tired of a life full of betrayal, pain and despair. I just want to find a place to spend the rest of my life in peace, and I don't want to listen to the ridiculous arguments of ambitious people anymore."

Take Denathrius away!
This land could be better off without Him.

You take Him away, and I'll help you accomplish that act of salvation. The other Moonlit War Gods told me what you wanted to do; they longed to save one of their own kind.
Fine.

Consider this my way of repaying a favor, and also a final offering to Lady Elune.

(End of this chapter)