Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 707, Section 75: Oh my god! The pink-clad PE student, riding a horse with wings, pulled together the monsters from the Crimson Abyss and melted them away!

As the Stonesmith said, after the Holy Light invasion in ancient times, which nearly destroyed Revendreth and all the Venthyr, was finally ended by the Stoneborn's selfless battle and sacrifice, most of Revendreth's military defenses were handed over to the Stoneborn.

These Stoneborn, with bodies of rock, imbued with animistic energy, fierce and fearless, unafraid of death, are Revendreth's strongest shield and sharpest spear.

If Emperor Denathus could make good use of the Stoneborn Legion, coupled with his overly powerful Nathrezim intelligence network, conquering a vast territory in the material world would be no problem for him. Unfortunately, the Stoneborn and Nathrezim races are in a bizarre state of "incompatibility".

It's like two branches in a game; even someone as powerful as Denathrius can only choose one to trust.

But the emperor is a very cunning person.

On the surface, he appointed Shi Yi to a high position, but behind the scenes he directed Nathrezim to cause trouble. When he was not discovered, he naturally benefited from both sides, but after being exposed, things indeed became troublesome.

The Stoneborn of Revendreth are gathering, and the Venthyrs of Dark Bay and Fallenlords have already sensed something is wrong. The vampire mayors of the two places are frantically sending messages to Nathria Castle.

They believe the Stone Clan might rebel!
Well, there's no need to think that way; that's just how it is.

But this is not a rebellion; it is a punishment for a corrupt monarch who is full of lies!

Realizing she had been deceived, the stonemason was utterly disillusioned with Emperor Denathrius. As the former God of War of the Night, Denathrius had dedicated his life to saving people from suffering, yet his sins were so terrible that he had to come to Revendreth for eternal atonement after his death. This "legendary experience" alone proved that this bald lady was by no means a cowardly woman who would swallow her pride.

The Emperor may have displeased her for a time, but she will make Denathius displeased for a lifetime!

Without Diakum needing to embellish the story, the stonesmiths had already risen up, determined to make the liar absolutist realize the true cost of "betrayal."

This is truly a time of great upheaval.

While the Stoneborn army was still gathering in the rear, a disagreement arose among the Stone Legion generals guarding Nathria Castle. Two of the three Stone generals decided to pledge allegiance to the Emperor, and the remaining general, seeing that reasoning was futile, simply resorted to physical force!
Thus, Revendreth's first civil war broke out directly in Nathria Castle, the heart of this land.

The Stoneborn, loyal to their Mother Stoneborn, clashed with the Stoneborn loyal to Denathrius, and the intensity of the battle startled the elite psionic vampires under the Emperor's command.

They didn't even know why these stone heads had suddenly gone mad, but the intelligent Wenthyr had already realized that something was wrong.

The noble families of Revendreth immediately began to make connections. These opportunists, whose veins flowed with conspiracy, keenly realized that the time for a major reshuffle in Revendreth had come!
All families that control resources and power must make a choice at this time, betting on one side or the other. If they win, they will gain more; if they lose, they will most likely be thrown into the Ash Wasteland to enjoy a "holy light massage".

Well, considering that the scorching light of the Ash Wasteland had mysteriously dimmed a few days ago, as if the holy flame that had burned for tens of thousands of years had quietly gone out, being banished to the Ash Wasteland in the future is not such an unbearable thing.

However, we should still take the gamble!
The Wenshire people enjoy the thrill of "all or nothing," a madness and depravity hidden in their very bones.

The nobles at the top of the Wenshire social system quickly made their decisions. Those in power, such as Lord Nicklaus, Lord Stavros, and Baroness Freida, naturally stood on the Emperor's side without hesitation. Among the lower-ranking nobles, there were also "heroes" like Lady Ineva Darkvein who immediately led troops to support the Emperor's forces.

But other families were not so loyal, or rather, "reckless".

The heads of the major families scattered around Nathria Castle were hiding in a safe house belonging to the Twilight Bay family on the edge of Nathria Castle, analyzing the situation with great enthusiasm, when the door of the safe house was kicked open.

Amidst everyone's astonished gazes, Prince Renasol, who had publicly claimed to be in "meditational seclusion," entered the room with an elegant demeanor, steady steps, and a powerful aura, escorted by several Stoneborn lords.

The prince's beloved Soul Blade "Wopalia" has been reforged by the bonesmith Helmir and is now even more powerful.

He let his demonic sword hover beside him, just like his father did when he spoke with the nobles. He arrogantly surveyed the crowd before him and walked silently to the seat where someone was already seated.

This grand family meeting was convened. The esteemed Countess, the "Harvester of Desire," rose with a smile and gestured for her chosen "Your Majesty" to proceed.

Under the watchful eyes of all the patriarchs, the other two important figures from the "Harvester's Court," the power institution under the Emperor used to manage Revendres, also quietly appeared.

Dressed in hunting attire and carrying a warbow, the "Fear Reaper" Fear Hunter appeared to the prince's right, while the "Greed Reaper" Caretaker, dressed as a spellcaster and holding a lantern, appeared to the prince's left amidst the echoing crimson light of anima.

There are only seven people in the Reaper's Court who hold power. Now, four of them have banded together. In addition, the Wrathful Reaper Stonesmith has launched the "Stoneborn Rebellion." This means that five of the seven secondary leaders personally appointed by the Emperor have betrayed the government overnight!

Damn it.

Your Majesty, are you serious?

You claim to be able to judge and pardon all sins, how come you can't see that your subordinates are all traitors! How can you fight in such a disadvantageous situation?
Prince Renasol easily detected the wavering in the hearts of the nobles before him. He chuckled softly, leaned back in his seat in a comfortable yet informal manner, tapped his fingers lightly on the table, and said:

"Our most formidable 'Harvester of Pride,' the Accuser who rules the Hall of Atonement and the Ceremonial Quarters, is currently facing a formidable adversary. I don't believe the Accuser will emerge unscathed, even though she wields the 'Sin of Pride,' for she faces the 'Incarnation of Pride' of the material world!"
My noble and elegant ally, Queen Azshara, the World Daughter and Avenger of Azeroth, will reclaim the sixth 'Medal of Sin' for me.

But I am still missing the last medal of sin, gentlemen.

That sycophantic courtier, Nabungcho, who rose to power through flattery in our eyes and shamelessly usurped the position of 'the reaper of jealousy,' will not allow such an incompetent sycophant to occupy a place in my 'court.'

Therefore, which loyal subject can retrieve Nabeng's heart energy for me, proving his value and loyalty to Revendres?
I'll promote him to be the next 'Jealousy Harvester'."

Prince Renasol, now with victory firmly in his grasp, exuded an overwhelming aura, much like a younger, more rational, and more open-minded version of Emperor Denathrius.

He stood up, placed his hands on the table, and promised the still hesitant nobles:

"This is not a rebellion! This is a 'correction of wrongs,' a righteous action. I believe you all have the means to find out what my father and your 'Emperor' have been doing behind the scenes all these years."

Heaven has bestowed upon us power and dignity, but our Emperor is digging up our roots with his own hands!

But I do not intend to overthrow everything my father left behind. I promise you that the power structure of Revendres will not change because of this 'revolution'.

You may not see the possibility of moving up a step, but you will never suffer a decline in power.

The premise is that you do the right thing at the right time.

Prince Renasol stood upright with his hands behind his back, and amidst the hum of his cursed sword, he drawled:

"Standing on the side of justice before the outcome is decided is called 'rebellion'; choosing sides when the outcome is about to be decided is called 'surrender'; and trying to switch sides after the outcome is determined can only be called 'surrender'."

Three choices, three treatments, three fates, three outcomes!
Time is running out, everyone.

After speaking, the prince made a gesture, leaving the countess, who was skilled at dealing with nobles and adept at political maneuvering, to finish things up, while the remaining two harvesters left with the prince.

Today is his "big day," and he has a lot to do.

With the assistance of Diakum, Azshara, the Stonesmith, and even Sachir, he held a significant advantage. If he still couldn't seize power in Revendreth before his father's defeat and death, he would feel like a worthless piece of trash.

To be honest, Prince Renasol is indeed lacking in many ways compared to the experienced Emperor Denathrius. As Bwonsamdi previously commented, compared to his father, Renasol is simply a schemer raised in a honey pot, not a ruler of the same caliber.

The prince agreed with this harsh assessment, but he was not disappointed.

Possessing the bloodline of Emperor Denathrius, he has almost eternal time to grow, learn, and become stronger. Now, he is about to take the first step towards becoming a "King of Kings." "The wrath of the Stonesmith is truly terrifying."

Behind the smug prince, the hunter-gatherer glanced up at the dense swarm of Stoneborn warriors flying overhead, pulled down her hood, and whispered:
"She's putting on such a grand show not just to express her anger at being deceived to His Majesty, uh, to Denathius, but she wants the Nathrezim to be banished again."

Do not!
What she wants is the complete extinction of Nathrezim!

However, Your Majesty, those dreadlords have spent countless years weaving an extravagant and powerful intelligence network across the six realms, a treasure in Denathrius's hands.

You should probably handle this conflict carefully; you can choose between Stoneborn and Nathrezim.

But perhaps you can also

"No, Lady Fear Hunter."

Prince Resonaar shook his head and said:
“My father has already shown us the consequences of trying to have it both ways. I am far inferior to him in scheming, so if even my father cannot have it both ways, then I would better not have such a ridiculous idea.”

The stonemason could raise an army to overthrow his father, just as he could 'purge the court of corrupt officials' again when I disappointed her.

Therefore, Nasrezim must be exterminated!

But my father has a good habit of hiding all his secrets. Therefore, as long as I can find my father's treasure, I can also have my own 'Nathrezim' at some point in the future.

"Of course, that will have to wait until I have enough power to suppress the stone forger."

This answer satisfied both the hunters and the caretakers.

What they feared most was that Prince Renasol wanted a greedy "winner-takes-all" approach. In the current situation, they had to choose sides, as any tactical speculation would have disastrous consequences.

The caregiver whispered:

"With most of Revendreth's military power in the hands of the Stone Forgers, it's too difficult for you to suppress her."

"Of course I can't. I know my own limitations very well. If my father couldn't do it, I certainly can't do it in the short term either."

Prince Renasol waved his hand and said:
"The most important thing for a ruler is to be aware of the limits of his own power and not to try to do things beyond his power. Although I am not capable, there are others who are."

For example, my 'court tutor,' Lord Sachiel, is truly a remarkable man. I believe that if he is placed in the right position, the stonesmith will also encounter formidable opponents. At that time, I can gradually reclaim my power.

Ah, this is the eternal truth of Revendres, two noble ladies.

We love intrigue, we enjoy infighting.

We use this method to cultivate talent and weed out cowards; this is both our flaw and our virtue.

"Fighting with others is truly endlessly enjoyable!"

------

The Crimson Abyss, a place of imprisonment beneath Fort Nathria.

Unlike the Hall of Atonement, which was dedicated to providing redemption for the souls of sinners and exploiting their anima, this prison was clearly "private" in nature, serving only the schemes of Emperor Denathrius.

Even on the land of Revendreth, teeming with schemers, only a minority of the Venthyrs knew of the existence of the Crimson Abyss, and even fewer knew clearly what was hidden within it.

There lies a secret that has lasted for tens of thousands of years, a "legacy" left behind when the Holy Light invaded Revendreth in ancient times.

A group of Venthyr Punishers loyal to the Emperor are stationed here year-round, carrying out extremely horrific punishments. The entire area around the Crimson Abyss has been cleared out, and Venthyr civilians are not allowed to approach without a reason, for fear that the cries and wails might be heard by busybodies and trigger an unnecessary "exploration."

The Venthyr in the Crimson Abyss are all researchers; they possess martial prowess but are few in number. Therefore, the powerful and glorious Stone Legion is responsible for guarding the Crimson Abyss.

When Diakum ventured alone into the Crimson Abyss, the Stone Legion there, just like elsewhere, was engaged in a fierce battle of swords.

The two factions of Stoneborn were locked in a life-or-death struggle, each accusing the other of being a "traitor." This chaos extended into the entire prison structure of the Crimson Abyss, causing the Venthyr researchers to look at each other in bewilderment and flee in terror.

In this situation, how could they possibly prevent Diakum from getting close to the important "prisoner"?
Don't even think about it!

Even if they were united, it would be impossible for them to stop the guards. It's like a group of light-averse ants banding together to try and stop a hundred-ton behemoth that's blaring its headlights.

Do you understand that we don't have the capability?

Dick didn't even need to fight. He only needed to adjust his Holy Light release to "Corona" form, and any reckless anima vampires that approached him would be tragically reduced to ashes in the scorching sun.

These Venthyrs, possessing vampire-like characteristics, successfully replaced the demons at the bottom of the food chain when facing the Holy Light Butcher. Even the demons had to be taken down by Dick with a single sword strike.

"This feeling of continuously increasing the number of kills while having AOE is a bit... how should I put it? It's a bit strange, like having 'auto-lock' enabled."

Not to mention Winthyr, even Diakum himself was somewhat unaccustomed to it.

But not being stopped was indeed a good thing. He followed the mournful hymn that echoed around the Crimson Abyss and, amidst the storm of burning ashes, Diakum finally arrived at his destination after kicking open several doors.

In the dimly lit interrogation hall filled with the style of the Venthyr, dozens of Venthyr masters of punishment were trying their best to restrain the platinum-colored, fallen naaru with their sinful inner energy.

It was hard to imagine how much suffering his fellow countryman had endured over the years in Revendreth, but Diakum could clearly see that the Naaru's crystal was covered with all sorts of sinful runes carved by the Venthyrs.

They wanted to use their methods of manipulating sin to create a "living sin monument" from the ancient Naaru before them, and use it as a medium to manipulate more Naaru.

This is truly a wildly imaginative idea.

Given the mysterious connection between the Naaru and their shared origin, if even one Naaru were to be turned into a Sinstone, then all the Naaru would be "blessed".

The Sin Tablet isn't just something you can use to block the Venthyr's spells of punishment.

Once the Sin Tablet is in control, its owner will become a dog at the feet of its manipulator.

"You want to steal the Primordial Light with this? How dare you!"

The vigilant was enraged.

The agonizing cries of the Naaru before him instantly evoked empathy in him. He raised his Sunstrider warhammer, unleashing a burst of stellar light in the dark land. Amidst the screams of the Venthyrs, Dick leaped down, joining the battle like a scorching sun.

Those arrogant fellows who torment His fellow beings before the Lord of the Highest Heaven, oh, they too deserve the judgment of the Holy Light!
(End of this chapter)