Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 765, Section 43: The weary man named Anser can finally die in peace.

"So, Lothar was resurrected by Ionar, but you were sent here?"

The edge of the platform in the highest heaven.

Having had a good night's sleep, Diakum stood refreshed in this misty place.

He gazed upon the demonic invasion war in the material world, which had entered its final stage, and jokingly said to the Holy Spirit of Emperor Thoradin beside him:
"This is truly an undeserved misfortune. Shall I personally escort you back?"

"Huh? There's such an option?"

Upon arriving in the High Heavens, Emperor Thoradin exclaimed in surprise. Diakum shrugged and said:

"The higher heavens never force the Holy Spirits to remain here forever. If you still have unfulfilled wishes in the material world, I can personally send you down. But coming back up will not be easy."

Soradin was taken aback.

Then, with the air of a barbarian king, he looked around, admiring the high paradise before him, and to be fair, he had a good feeling about the place.

After Zera and Graceia took over, the "unfinished building" of the High Heavens was repaired with extremely high efficiency. Although the area is still a bit small, the High Heavens is only in its initial stage and does not pursue the ultimate or rapid expansion.

This golden sanctuary, suspended in the clouds, is small but complete, with everything you need.

Especially the angels flapping their wings and flying in formation through the clouds, the magnificent and majestic sculptures, the Naaru who reside here, and the Holy Spirits lingering below the long staircase of faith—all of these satisfied Emperor Thoradin's sublime imagination of Heaven.

But in reality, those in the know can see at a glance that the High Heavens' current style is basically a "Frankenstein's monster," encompassing the majestic splendor of Odin's Valhal Skyhold, the holy transcendence of Bastion, the "mysterious behemoth" feel unique to Titan ruins, and the solemn grandeur of another High Heaven in Diakum's memory.

Even the unique golden light reflecting a magnificent blue hue in the highest heavens is modeled after the design of the higher heavens.

Diakum stitched these styles together, ultimately establishing the imposing holy style that the High Heaven now possesses.

Let alone a barbarian king like Thoradin who wasn't very learned, even a demanding elf like Kael'thas, with his "high aesthetic sense," looked forward to the visions of the High Heavens when comprehending the Way of the Sun.

At this moment, faced with Diakum's teasing, the legendary Barbarian King thought for a moment, then shook his head nonchalantly and said:

"Forget it, I'm not going back! Under my care, Lothar has completed all the trials of being a king. Although I always hold him to a high standard, in reality, his performance is much better than mine was back then."

As an elder, I have fulfilled all my responsibilities. I will leave the rest of the journey to my descendants to plan themselves.

If this can be considered a second death.

Emperor Thoradin, hands on his hips, stood behind Diakum, gazing through the clouds at the battlefield on earth. He said with satisfaction:
"To die in such a magnificent war is absolutely the most perfect ending for warriors! However, I overheard Lothar and Archbishop Faol talking before, saying that all Holy Spirits must go through the trials of the long stairway of faith before they can push open the gates of the High Heaven and step into this paradise."

Even a theologian like Faol, who has studied the Holy Light his entire life, frankly said that this long trial is extremely difficult.

I once thought that someone as ignorant and incompetent as me could never ascend through the ranks of faith, but it seems I didn't take that path. The moment Lothar died, I was 'dragged' into the High Heavens.”

Thoradin blinked and said to Diakum:
"So, does this count as 'going through the back door'?"

"No, such a thing wouldn't happen in the High Heavens. This is the realm of Holy Light, where everything is governed by law."

Diakum explained slowly and deliberately:

"You are a combatant recruited through 'special channels' and will be assigned to the ranks of Battle Angels after meeting with Lady Graceia."

I deeply understand that not every Lightwalker is well-versed in doctrines and theological concepts, especially for paladins and knights, who are more accustomed to substituting righteous actions for theological arguments.

Therefore, combatants among the Lightwalkers can ascend to the High Heavens without going through the Faith Long Stairway after fulfilling their loyalty to the faith. However, correspondingly, you cannot take on the important task of 'protecting the faith and expanding Heaven' here.

You can think of it as a distinction between 'civilian personnel' and 'combat personnel'.

"Okay, I understand."

Emperor Thoradin nodded and said:

“Those Holy Spirits who ascend the ladder of faith can become officials, while we specially recruited soldiers will spend our whole lives on the battlefield of Holy Light.”

"Well, there's a slight misunderstanding, but that's pretty much it."

Dick frowned and drew a triangular holy symbol. He wanted to explain in detail, but considering that Emperor Thoradin had slain monsters for two lifetimes, it was too much to ask him to understand theological concepts. So he nodded and said:

"It's just a difference in rights and responsibilities. There is no distinction of high or low status in serving the great cause of the Holy Light. And the fact is, even if you were to become a 'protector of faith' in a certain star sector, would you be confident that you could carry out the orderly missionary work of the Holy Light faith?"
Professional tasks should always be left to professionals.

We, the Holy Light Walkers, are all honest and simple people; we don't do the kind of nonsense where laymen give orders to experts.

"Makes sense."

Soradin nodded and glanced to the side.

Under his gaze, the angels who were specifically responsible for guiding the Holy Spirit constantly traveled between the highest heaven and the material world, bringing one after another spirit surrounded by holy light into this higher paradise.

Those were all believers who died on the battlefield.

Although Eonar imbued Azeroth with the life tides that allow individuals to resurrect, this power that violates the cycle of life and death is not without its side effects.

Each time a soul is resurrected, it becomes more exhausted. For a mortal soul, after a maximum of three to five resurrections, it will be completely trapped in an inescapable state of exhaustion.

They can no longer be resurrected; they can only accept the call of death.

Those who are devout believers in the Holy Light will be guided by the angels of the High Heaven to this higher realm of paradise at this time.

Souls with profound theological studies and a deep self-understanding of faith are placed on the Holy Spirit platform below the steps of faith. Souls like Emperor Thoradin, who are focused on battle and self-righteousness, are taken to the "Reincarnation Platform," where they are reshaped by Lady Grace and become glorious angels.

Of course, there are distinctions among angels, which means they also have different responsibilities in the High Heaven.

Dying just means moving to a different place to work.
Ah, in this damned universe, is there really no good place for a soul to lie down after a long and arduous journey through life?
Emperor Thoradin muttered a curse in his mind.

He was about to ascend to the Reincarnation Platform to become a glorious Sword-wielding Archangel, but before leaving, Thoradin looked at the shattered crystals surrounding Diakum, the "Lord of Dawn," and the obvious, unhealed wound on his back.

他 说:

"The war in Azeroth is nearing its end, but I suspect your war is far from over? Like the reconquest of Argus."

"That will take some time to prepare."

Diakum looked at Emperor Thoradin and explained:

"Next, the battlefield I and the Holy Spirits of the Most High will go to is the Sea of ​​Light, the Void! The Void has entered the final stage of its schemes, and we must rekindle Him before the sun is completely extinguished."

I am fully prepared, and you will be involved.

"Fight the Void! I'd love to! I can be the vanguard, remember to give me a vanguard position!"

Emperor Thoradin grinned.

His life had ended at the hands of the Void fiend slumbering beneath Tirisfal Glades, and thus he harbored deep hostility and loathing for the Void.

Upon hearing the Watcher say that the next target was the Void, Thoradin immediately became excited and eagerly followed a Throne holding scales to the Incarnation Platform.

Dick remained on the edge of the cloud platform, gazing at the war on Earth.

He could no longer freely enter the material world. The experience of enduring the cosmic repulsive force was too terrible, but it also made his understanding of this star system more profound.

Diakum's gaze followed the perspectives of one Lightwalker after another as they raced across the battlefield where demons were being driven out. When he noticed that the demons of Azeroth were still unwilling to retreat and were putting up a stubborn resistance, inflicting more casualties on the World's Chosen, the Vigilant frowned.

He raised his left hand and casually clasped his five fingers together, grabbing a handful of faith power used to shape heaven in the highest heaven, and then unleashing his combat secrets on the battlefield of the material world in the form of divine magic.

At the same time, golden light poured down from the sky, encircling a holy storm that swept across the battlefield, bestowing upon the Lightwalkers the morality of "Ashbringers," igniting platinum flames on their weapons, and inflicting the punishment of burning demons to ashes upon those temporarily consecrated blades after they slayed them.

Now, all Holy Light Walkers can deal "true damage" to demons.

However, this is just icing on the cake.

At this stage of the war, even without Diakum's divine magic, it's only a matter of time before the demons are banished from Azeroth.

What truly concerned Dick was the truth hidden beneath the surface of this brutal war.

"The conflict over the Force has escalated to its most extreme form," he sighed.

"The clash between death and fel energy in the material world will trigger a high-intensity battle that will last for decades. This war will encompass the entire material star system, and life will be re-sown in the aftermath of this war."

Three Titan Souls have now awakened, and once they resummon the Pantheon, the rise of arcane magic will be imminent.

Void
That solar eclipse worried me a lot.

"Anser...can't hold on any longer?"

Surrounded by gentle hymns, Zera landed beside Diakum, and the Primal Naaru said with great concern:

"I observed that flashing eclipse, and as you said, it didn't just happen in Azeroth; the entire galaxy with stars in the Sea of ​​Matter was projected with the eclipse."

Although it lasted for less than a few minutes, it was clearly a bad warning.

The fact that it can affect all the stars in the entire material world at the same time must mean that Anser is conveying some kind of message. However, the question is, Anser has persisted in the gap between the Sun and the Eclipse for countless epochs, so why does such a change suddenly occur?
Didn't you say before that Lady Elune herself said Anser could hold out for a while longer?

Diakum did not answer Zera's question.

But he had a rather pessimistic suspicion in his mind and needed to find someone who could directly contact Anser to confirm it. At this moment, he was waiting for the arrival of that "distinguished guest".

Zera sensed Diakum's worry, so she quietly spun around without saying a word.

A dozen minutes later, as a ray of moonlight quietly appeared, bells rang throughout the highest heavens, a warning signal triggered when other great powers infiltrate the higher realms.

But as the guards waved their hands to suppress the noise, the bells fell silent again in the next instant.

Diakum stepped into the moonlight that enveloped the edge of the platform and asked:

"What exactly happened on Anser's side?"

“Him”

Lady Elune sighed and said:

“I’ve gone to check, Anser is ready to give up.”

"Ok?"

Diakum raised an eyebrow and said:
"because I?"

“Yes, Anser saw you confront Sargeras, and he confirmed that you are a perfect successor. Therefore, he will leave all the power of the Sun to you to help you fight against Sargeras’ true form in the future.”

The moon goddess said:
"He will sink into the sea of ​​darkness, taking on all the darkness in the form of an eclipse, so that you will no longer be involved with Him and unable to embrace all the power of the Holy Light."

This was Anser's active choice, not a passive contamination by the Void Vile.

Therefore, after He sank into the Sea of ​​No Light, the eclipse He transformed into will become a controllable force, thus thwarting the Void forces' abhorrent plan to bring eclipses to the entire universe.

He will become the reflection of the eclipse high above the sea of ​​darkness, suppressing the waves of the sea of ​​darkness with his own power.

Even if He cannot control that darkness, you can destroy it with your own hands, thereby completely ending the evil desires of the original darkness.

He said this was the last thing He could do for you.

He blesses you as you embark on a brighter future under the blazing sun.

"Nonsense!"

Diakum scolded:
"Do I need Him to make such a sacrifice for me? The path of light and shadow is the path I must walk, and bearing the pain of the eclipse is part of my trial."

I and so many other Lightwalkers have been doing everything we can to save Him, and now that we have finally found a way and gathered the fuel, He is choosing to give up.

That's enough!

Please tell Anser that I will soon lead the Light and Shadow Walkers back to the Sea of ​​No Light.

We will ignite Him with our own hands, so that the radiance of the sun may envelop the entire world.

“But you can’t bear so much darkness from the eclipse, Diakum.”

Lady Elune pleaded earnestly:

"You experienced the rebirth of the Holy Sun, forging your own path amidst the radiance and eclipse. However, that was merely a trial. The suffering of the eclipse that Anser endured was beyond your imagination. Your intention to ignite the sun means that the suffering of the eclipse, which pulls the radiance into darkness, must be borne by other individuals!"
Anser's fall was the desire of the Sea of ​​No Light to expand, a cunning conspiracy of primordial darkness. To ignite the sun meant to confront the deep longing of the entire Sea of ​​No Light alone.

You will be dragged into the deepest darkness.

But we cannot allow you to go down that path.
Anser realized this and was unwilling to let his most outstanding successor bear this suffering for him.

You must understand His good intentions.

"I don't understand, and I don't intend to understand."

Dick said firmly:

“I have my own plans, and my moral code does not allow me to sit idly by and watch Him sacrifice Him for me for such a reason. The expansion of the Sea of ​​No Light must be stopped.”

I don't trust anyone else with this task.

I want to do it myself.

Please tell Him that I have no intention of replacing Him as the sun of the entire universe; that is not the future I have chosen for myself.

I am but a ray of dawn, a ray of morning light, just like the primordial light that Anser threw out, illuminating endless darkness and ushering in a new era for the universe.

I only wish to be the light of dawn!
To illuminate all ages is too glorious and burdensome for me, a passing warrior of light.

Lady Elune fell silent.

She sensed Diakum's determination and persistence, and knew she couldn't persuade him to accept the gift. So, after a moment, she said:

"Then hurry up! You already know that each road is only for one person to walk on, therefore, when you completed the rebirth of the Holy Sun, you took away a part of the power that belonged to Anser."

His willingness to bestow his power upon you means that for every bit of strength you gain, He will become a bit weaker.

Even if He and I continued to persist, it was only a matter of time before we fell into the eclipse.

"I am ready, and the entire world's People of Light were ready just as Lady Zera called for the 'Sun Expedition'!"

Diakum cracked his knuckles and said:
"Once the war on Azeroth has ended, once my wounds have healed, and once the Shadowchaser swarm has reorganized in the Twisting Nether, we will set foot in the Sea of ​​Light, at most half a month."

"it is good."

Elune's moonlight faded, and she said:
"I cannot mobilize the power of the Life Faction because of this, but I will send my followers to accompany you, and all the Moonlit War Gods in the Star Sea will be summoned."

This is also an opportunity.

While rekindling Anser, I must also fulfill my promise to my followers; the tragedy of the Moonlit War God's constant self-destruction must never happen again.

But Diakum.
If you realize that you cannot bear the deep longing of the Sea of ​​No Light alone, then please do not stop Anser's sacrifice. Although you have never truly met each other, He is very pleased with you as His successor.

If all else fails, then please fulfill His final blessing.

"But He has already sacrificed enough for this sea of ​​stars, and we have no right to ask Lord Anser to make a final sacrifice for us, even if He does so willingly. However, that lofty personal morality is not a reason for us to sit idly by and watch Him fall into darkness."

The vigilant comforted him:

"Please have some faith in me, Ms. Bai. I really do have a foolproof plan. In fact, I have already booked a 'recovery surgery' for His Excellency Anser, and it's an expert appointment. The deposit has already been paid, and it's too late to back out now."

"Um?!"

(End of this chapter)