Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 85: 40. We are still moving forward! Those who have lost their homeland will definitely return! [Updated 43/50]

(Additional update for brother “Huo Zheng Ting Hao” [8/10])
"what!"

In the visitation hall, Lelan, holding the Heart of Argus, cried out in pain. The arcanist, who had not yet recovered from his previous injury, almost fell off his chair and was supported by the quick-eyed and quick-handed Yrel beside him.

"what happened to you?"

Yrel saw Lelan's pain.

She desperately tried to heal it with Holy Light, but it was no use.

Leilan couldn't even speak at this moment. The world in front of her seemed to be split into two at this moment. Her mind was still clear, but the faint vibration of the Heart of Argus pendant emitted a spiritual power that wanted to drag her into an illusion.

She didn't know whether this was good or bad, but she thought that the artifact left by her father would definitely not harm her.

"You. Together."

At the moment when his mind was about to be swallowed by Argus's call, Lelan struggled to lift the hot pendant in his hand. Maraad reacted immediately, reached out and held his sister's hand, and said to the other three:

"She needs help. We can shoulder this burden together. Quick!"

Leyland's little bootlicker Eredas immediately reached out and stepped forward. Yrel and Nobundo did not hesitate either. At Argus's call, the minds of the five recruits were instantly drawn into the "memories" of the artifact.

The scenes, changes, pains, questions, and shocks that Diakum had experienced before were presented to the five recruits in the same way. Although three of them had fragments of the Star Soul's will in their minds, this was indeed the first time that these young people felt the legendary Argus Star Soul so clearly.

This was the first time they experienced what kind of power the ancient Eredar had relied upon to persevere in their battle against the demons 25,000 years ago.

They were filled with shock, as if they had stepped into history and legend in the most authentic way.

This is certainly understandable. After all, for the Draenei who did not participate in the Battle of Argus, the Star Soul has always been just a "god" that exists in legends. He has always existed in the stories that have been passed down, like a holy statue hanging on the wall.

The advice and courage he gave were passed down as a tradition, but no one would punish you if you chose not to follow it.

But now, the gods have spoken!

In such illusions, they could clearly sense that the Star Soul of Argus was witnessing the long exile of the Draenei. They could also feel the Star Soul's hesitation and disappointment at this moment. That disappointment became more and more real as the illusions continued to show the scenes of the Draenei who had lost their faith and gone astray.

So, they understood the meaning of the scene through silent conversation and observation.

The Star Soul, which has suffered for countless epochs, is already overwhelmed. Facing a heavy choice, He needs an answer from his children.

If they are no longer willing to abide by the ancient oath, then the star soul will leave the draenei clan and travel to other eredar worlds, there to pursue the will to return to and save their homeland;
If the Draenei can remain steadfast in their faith and fulfill the lofty ideals of their fathers, then the only current gathering point of the broken will of the Star Soul will remain in Draenor to help them defeat the coming demons.

This choice sounds a bit cruel. One has to choose between "bad" and "worse". Isn't there an option that allows the Draenei to abandon these overly heavy grand narratives and live peacefully according to their own choices?

No one would ask such a question.

At least for those Draenei who still firmly hold the Heart of Argus and regard it as a kind of honor in this era, they will make choices without even thinking about it.

The Heart of Argus was like a mental node, temporarily connecting the minds of its holders on the world of Draenor. Just as the five recruits were still accepting the fact that "the Star Soul really exists", someone had already responded.

In their spiritual perception, a mind as bright as the golden sun responded firmly to the Star Soul.

That is Velen, the voice of the Great Prophet!
He sadly apologized to the Star-Soul, confessing that he had failed to live up to Argus's expectations and believed that he had failed to lead his people well, but he firmly believed that the Draenei's ideals and ultimate goals had not deviated in any way.

They will definitely embark on the journey back to their homeland and return to the starry sea. They will definitely find a way to save their hometown from the desperate tyranny of evil energy.

This is a signal.

The moment the Great Prophet's promise was revealed, more passionate minds immediately conveyed their persistence to the nodes of the Star Soul.

Each response reverberated like a heavy war drum in the hearts of the new recruits. They could distinguish some of the voices: Archon Haddon, Archbishop Nari, the sharp and fierce General Jaid, and the steady and resolute Bishop Akama.

It's not just the voices of these leaders.

The thousand-year-old veterans from the Hand of Argus expressed their determination with a unanimous war cry.

They are all witnesses of the decisive battle, and they are the most eager and fanatical group among the Draenei clans today to return to Argus and fight the demons.

These responses were like ignited flames that stirred the wills of the five recruits. Arcanist Lelan, who should have been the calmest, was the first to scream, representing the response of their "node", while the other recruits were a beat slower.

But they had no problem with Lelan's response, especially Maraad.

Perhaps the Star Soul noticed the brother and sister. In the past memories recorded by the Star Soul, they clearly saw Brigadier General Malderan fighting side by side with Saint Diakum.

They saw their father standing back to back with Uncle Dick in the great lecture hall of Oronar City, facing the onslaught of demons;
They saw their father, carrying the battle banner and leading the garrison officers, trampling and galloping across the demon battlefield of the Antoran Plains;

They saw the memorial service in the city of Antorus, where their father shed tears as he buried their great uncle Elodus who had died heroically in battle.

They also saw that when Uncle Diakum was in desperate situation and wanted to kill the Shaper Thal'kiel, it was their father who used the protection of the Holy Light to interfere with fate and save the Sentinel.

They even heard Brigadier General Malderin's last words:

"Diachem, please remember the Holy Light. It is the Holy Light that keeps us alive."

Cry!

Burst into tears!
What child could handle such a tear gas bomb, especially when their father turned out to be greater and more heroic than they imagined?

But such a fiery response was not enough.

The Draenei clans received the most Heart of Argus artifacts during the Great Escape. They have nearly 4000 Hearts of Argus in their hands. In addition to those artifacts that were taken in by the Auchenai priests and had no heirs, there are currently nearly Hearts left in the hands of the clan members. However, these nodes cannot represent the will of all the Draenei people.

Star Soul was pleased with the response from the leaders and warriors, but he wanted to hear more.

Thus, as the power spread with each Heart of Argus as a node, a mental network covering all Draenei cities and towns was laid out, and the civilians close to the artifact holders were also pulled into the illusion of this world's memories.

Xinghun did not issue any harsh questions to the civilians.

He just wanted to listen to the voices of his "weak children" who could not go to the battlefield.

Then the spiritually connected illusion became "lively". Amid the noisy calls of "Lord Star-Soul has arrived"/"Argus has appeared"/"Mom, come out and see God!", the leaders of the Draenei also got a precious opportunity to truly feel the voice of the people.

Leaders like Prophet Velen naturally hope that their people can have the same hopes and beliefs as the steadfast warriors, but the fact that separatism has taken root among the Draenei clans cannot be ignored.

Even when most civilians were cheering and jumping for joy because they had truly felt the existence of the legendary Argus star soul, there were still some people who chose to remain silent out of shame.

Perhaps they are tired, perhaps they are confused, perhaps they are fed up with such cruel and cold grand narratives, or perhaps they want to devote their energy to their own lives.

They no longer look up at the stars like children to find the light of their hometown. Compared to the great cause of liberating Argus, they hope to escape the long exile of 25,000 years and live a stable life in the small world of Draenor.

Tired of the dangerous and malicious starry sky, they choose to return to the earth and become rooted saplings to resist the fate of floating duckweed.

They chose to remain silent under the gaze of the Star Soul and regarded it as cowardice and were ashamed of it.

But there was no scolding or roaring, no punishment or disciplinary action. The Argus Star Soul watching over them simply hugged them for the last time and wished that these children could get everything they desired in the new world.

They are all your own children!

Although you may not be able to achieve great things, wanting to live a peaceful life is also the right choice.

On the bright side, they still feel guilty instead of choosing to go along with the Sargerei and Manari who are completely unable to hear the Voice of the Star Soul. This shows that they are truly good kids.

Rest when you are tired. There will always be a day when the children of immortality will muster up the courage and embark on the journey again.

The Star Soul got the voice he wanted to hear. He confirmed that the Draenei had not given up their faith. These children who had gone through a long and arduous journey just needed to rest, and then they would set out again with full energy.

It was because I became radicalized by the interference of evil energy that I misjudged them, but they did not let me down.

So the Star Soul returned with satisfaction and relief. When the hearts of Argus calmed down, the Auchenai priests in the visitation hall had already knelt around the five recruits who had awakened as if from another world.

They called out the name of Star Soul devoutly, with a blessed glow on their faces and in their eyes.

Some people were crying there too.

It was a suppressed but finally relaxed cry.

Star Soul forgave and blessed their somewhat selfish choice. They were still his children, but they chose to settle down far away.

“It should be the same in other places.”

Garrison Commander Eredas looked at the devout priests around him, clenched his fists, and said:
"The Star-Soul descended upon the Draenei clan today. Our people have felt His presence once again. We have been blessed once again, allowing us to embark on the journey of our fathers with a clear conscience.

We have not let Him down, and we will not let Him down!"

"Our fathers have proven their loyalty and courage in the past"

Yrel drew a triangular holy symbol on her chest and said in a deep voice:

"Now it's our turn."

Maraad and Lelan didn't say anything. The brother and sister hugged each other and cried.

They were excited to witness their father's past with their own eyes, but they also had a firm belief rooted in their hearts.

Only Nobundo remained silent. The newly minted shaman looked around suspiciously. When the Argus Star Soul descended, he had distinctly sensed a strange yet real "will," a force distinct from the Star Soul's aura. It seemed to be drawn to him by its very presence.

Nobundo looked at the people around him in confusion.

He confirmed it, and it seemed like he was the only one who felt that strange power.

Meanwhile, in the deepest temple of the Auchindoun Holy Land, Diakum looked at the brilliant light stream floating before him and said:

"You came here excitedly and left satisfied. It seems you've made your own decision. So, will you stay here and witness the end of Draenor with us?"

The Star Soul said nothing, simply surrounding the brilliant light of the world and connecting it to Dick's hand.

"Okay, I'm going to get started then."

Diakham said:
"I don't know if I can hold on, but if you need a spiritual vehicle to help you on your journey, then I have no choice but to help. This is the sacred duty of the Hand of Argus."

He closed his eyes and reached his hand into the light of the world.

The moment the two sides began to merge, a glittering combination of golden runes danced before Dick's eyes:

[External power access! The power path is determined to be: Star Soul Argus Fragment (lower-level node), the power camp is: Unclassified Force/Element, and the power access mode is: Spiritual Inhabitation!
hint!

As a Star Soul Node host, the individual will be given the special title of 'World Spokesperson', which will trigger unknown situations under certain circumstances.

As the host of a Star Soul Node, each individual will be endowed with the special ability of 'Star Soul Will Recovery'. Under certain circumstances, the host will be able to actively strip off or passively collect fragments of the Star Soul Will from other individuals at the spiritual level.

As the host of a Star Soul Node, the individual will be regarded as a "mobile Argus Shrine". The sealed Heart of Argus artifact enhancement will enter an active state and increase the short-term enhancement effect according to the power of the Star Soul Node carried by the host individual.

The "Mobile Shrine of Argus" effect is considered a special aura skill, and the timing of activation is determined by the individual. Once activated, all Heart of Argus artifacts around the individual will be temporarily unsealed and can mobilize a certain amount of world power to strengthen themselves.

While the Mobile Shrine of Argus is inactive, other Heart of Argus artifacts belonging to the Draenei clans can only be activated when their respective holders are near death, providing a brief boost of power.

caveat!

The star soul fragment node is too powerful compared to its individual strength. Once the spiritual residence is completed, it will cause a certain amount of mental pressure on the individual!
Yes/No Continue to complete the spiritual sojourn? 】

Looking at the rune reminders that kept dancing in front of him, Diakum let out a long breath while closing his eyes. He said:
"We have come this far, how can we allow ourselves to retreat into cowardice?
Come, prove my oath!

Prove that I am not just a boaster, prove that I am a stubborn stone walking against the tide of fate, prove that I will eventually be tempered into a sharp edge in the disaster and personally open the door to dawn for us."

"what!"

A low cry of pain rang out from the temple, startling Archbishop Maladaar who was guarding the door.

He instinctively wanted to open the sealed door to see what was happening inside with the saint, but he withdrew his outstretched hand the next moment.

The saint said that he wanted to communicate with the star soul of Argus. The illusion caused by the Heart of Argus just now has proved that the saint has successfully done this. What he is going to do next is definitely within his plan. He should have confidence in the Sentinel.

More importantly, the Holy Light of the Vigilant is still shining!

The light is still there!

The saint is still here!

There is still hope!

The future is still here!

------

In the outer area of the Auchindoun Sanctuary, there is a place called "Tomb of Light".

From the name, you can tell that this is a burial area specially used for burying believers. On weekdays, there are always many pilgrims worshipping here. However, recently the internal review of the Auchindoun priests has led to the closure of the Auchindoun Holy Land, and this place has become deserted.

However, deserted places are not necessarily empty. For example, if you always go to deserted places when running at night, you will either get robbed or see things you shouldn't see.

For example, right now, in the cemetery of Tomb of Holy Light, a large group of people are gathered here. It is normal to have Draenei, but it is very abnormal that a group of orcs are also here.

These orcs dressed in black robes had the same cold aura as Van. Their leader was none other than Teron'gor, the favorite disciple that Gul'dan had sent out to Shadowmoon Valley before, the former high-ranking shaman of the Shadowmoon Clan and the current high-ranking warlock leader of the Shadow Council.

This guy was holding a bloody staff and had several skulls tied around his waist. His evil aura was almost reaching the sky.

Seeing a big blue-skinned man walking into the cemetery, he immediately stepped forward and asked:
"Confirmed?"

"Ah."

The sturdy Draenei nodded excitedly.

This guy is no ordinary person either. He is the "messenger" Rathorn who was sent by the great traitor Osar to stir up trouble before he was purified. Of course, his current title is "War Messenger".

Just by hearing the name, you know that this guy is not a good person.

After Governor Othar was purified, he naturally took over the traitorous organization Sargerei and openly colluded with the Shadow Council. It is self-evident what he wants to do here now.

他 说:

"That dog saint Diak'um is in Auchindoun right now, and Archbishop Maladaar is the only one accompanying him who can be considered a threat. This is thanks to the noble sacrifice of our sister Niami. If she hadn't exposed herself at Karabor Temple, that troublesome guy wouldn't have come here to check on the situation.

When the saint dies a miserable death and his body becomes blood food for the summoned demons, our poor sister Niami will surely feel relieved."

"Very good! Then start summoning. The Slayer can't wait to taste the flesh and blood of this Holy Light Butcher."

Talongor was excited.

He had finally waited for this moment, so he turned around and waved to signal the high-level warlocks under his command that they could begin the summoning ceremony here.

This Tomb of Light covers a vast area, and with the help of traitors among the Auchenai priests, they had prepared the materials needed for the Grand Summoning Ceremony several days ago. As for the sacrifices for summoning demons...
Hehe, it’s not only flesh and blood that can attract demons. The Draenei souls wandering in the Tomb of Light who have not yet been taken away by death are also delicious food in the eyes of demons.

Of course, they had come here with great difficulty not just to summon a wave of demons to heat up the atmosphere for the war in Draenor. Gul'dan had given him the spells and rituals to summon the demon demigod, so he naturally couldn't allow it to be just a small fight.

What they are going to summon here today is the Vanguard of Destruction under the command of the Polluter, the great demon lord of the Burning Legion who is famous throughout the galaxy!
The fel wolf lord, Lord Lycanthos, known as "The Slayer," and his ghost wolf pack, feared throughout the starry sea, are about to set foot on the land of Draenor!
Destruction is coming, which is a good omen!

"You guys summon here. I'm going to take my warlocks to do something else."

Warbringer Lethon was not a summoning master, nor did he intend to stay here to watch the Shadow Council perform its evil tricks. He gathered the fanatical Sargerei under his command and said to Teron'gor:
"Because of the arrival of that dog saint Diakum, the Holy Land of Auchindoun has activated its most stringent defense. You orcs don't understand this, but I can tell you that the Arkonite defense crystals in this holy land are more powerful than those in the Karabor Temple.

If we can't destroy that defense quickly, they will have to hold out here long enough to wait for reinforcements from Shattrath."

"We are not the ignorant monkeys you see us as, idiot!"

Talongor asked back rather unhappily:

"So what are you going to do?"

"Haha, of course it's summoning, but it's not summoning a demon."

Rathorn took a unique dim crystal from another servant, waved it in his hand, and explained to Teron'gor:

"This! The crystal remains of the late Naru'd'ori. It no longer possesses the power of the Holy Light, but it is still a medium for casting spells that you can hardly imagine. Our arcanists have used it to establish a connection with a powerful alien creature.

That guy is a crazy elemental lord who is best at large-scale explosions. As long as we summon that thing to the vicinity of the Holy Land of Auchindoun, it will be able to use its violent noise to destroy the energy shield of Auchindoun.

At that time, you only need to command the demons to charge in and naturally take the head of the Sentinel.

Remember to give me his head. The Sargerei wish to see the death of this foolish saint to comfort our supreme leader. Of course, the holy name of 'Sorexxar the Eternal' will be mine."

"Heh, but I heard there's a very powerful female warrior among the Sargerei who's deeply revered by your compatriots. I've also seen that woman named 'Haveri'. Compared to you, she's even more ambitious."

Talongor said in a subtle tone:

"So, have you ever asked anyone about inheriting the Eternal's name?"

“Haveli is not a problem!”

The war messenger curled his lips, not intending to say anything more to the evil sorcerer who was trying to sow discord between them. He swung his tail and left with his servants.

Watching them go away, Teron'gor grinned and looked back at the summoning ceremony behind him, which had been responded to and ignited with the glow of fel energy.

He touched the several perfect soul stones he had specially prepared in his arms, and he had his own plan in mind. The powerful souls in the Holy Land of Auchindoun were wandering around. If he could capture those spirits, he would have more power.

If Gul'dan can do it, can't Teron'gor do it?
whispering sound!
Gul'dan has failed once, and that ferocious old guy is no longer worth fearing. If he fails again, won't Teron'gor have the chance to show his ambition?
Haha, mentor, your great legacy will be accepted by your outstanding students without hesitation!
On the other side, the war messenger Rathorn, who had chosen the summoning location, also had his own plan. He watched his summoners use Deori's remains to start the ceremony of summoning the elemental lords from other worlds, and then waved his hand to call a capable adjutant.

He warned:

"Go find Haveli! That bitch has been hiding in the Gulda Ogre's lair in the northern mountains lately, trying to recruit the ogre thugs who have been hiding there for years. Tell him that I intend to invite her to participate in the hunt for Vigilant Diakum, and use this as a test of our status.

Whoever kills Diak'um will be given the title of 'Socretha the Eternal'.

Tell her all the orcs' arrangements!
Let that ambitious bitch lead the way for us. Haha, with such a radical heart, she will definitely be willing to die.

After we summon Murmur, we'll stay here and wait for her to be slain by Diak'um before we ascend to claim the glory! Haha, the Draenei have always respected wisdom, and that woman with all her brawn on her head is the perfect cannon fodder.

(End of this chapter)