Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 843, Section 11: The High Heaven can only have one gatekeeper, and that gatekeeper must be, and can only be, Master Hogg!
When Illidan awoke again, he was still haunted by rather bizarre visions.

That was everything he perceived from the outside as he struggled to suppress his "self-promotion" and fight against the nature of destruction. In a daze, he "saw" his brother appear in that terrible killing field, shouting something to him with tears in his eyes.

Tch, what a weak character.

How can such a weak Archdruid leader lead his people in the future?

But then, Illidan seemed to "see" Tyrande again, in her Nightsworn form. The full-force Luna's Wrath was like the legendary Black Moon, chilling to the bone yet mixed with a mind-wrenching heat.

She was also shouting something to herself, but the infusion of fel energy made it impossible for her to wake up. She vaguely remembered that she seemed to have launched an attack on them, but was then suppressed from the outside by the power of the moon goddess. Then, the golden radiance of dawn burst out from Malfurion's body, instantly washing away all the physical entities that Illidan could perceive.

That was the last thing he saw before he fell into a coma.

Illidan was certain that it was Diakum, the Lord of Dawn, who had personally entered the Twisting Nether. Only the most direct confrontation between the two Forces could trigger such a terrifying energy tide as he remembered.

He tried to sit up, but cried out in pain as soon as he got up.

The Star Hunter's entire body felt as if it had been crushed by a colossus, every bone groaning as if it were going on strike, and his internal organs were undoubtedly severely damaged, even his normally strong heartbeat became erratic.

More importantly, Illidan could feel the emptiness within him, the "inner demon" that was so crucial for a demon hunter—gone.

It must have been purified, which led to my prolonged weakness.

The inner demon is the source of a demon hunter's power. As half-demons, they need to rely on the inner demon to store, mobilize, and resist the call of fel energy. Without the inner demon, it means that all of the demon hunter's abilities are sealed.

Moreover, as Illidan lay in bed, touching the painful spots on his body with his fingers, he easily discovered that his skin was engraved with Dawn Runes, like a "seal." Those holy runes, shining with light and heat, formed a "shackle" on his body, tightly binding him to the nature of destruction.

This must be the work of the vigilant.

It is said that he used a similar method in his final battle with Sargeras, forcibly severing the Dark Titan's connection with the Twisting Nether in order to defeat Him.

This "Force stripping" technique is Diakum's unique skill; at least Illidan had never heard of any other true god having such a means of severing Force connections.

Having figured out his current situation, the Star Hunter finally understood what had happened during his coma.

His brother and Tyrande brought him back from the brink of losing control, but they could only save him and not "cure" him. Considering that the rampaging concept of destruction had already pushed Illidan into a divine ascension, Malfurion and Tyrande summoned the Vigilant who had been hiding on them and advancing in secret.

Diakum used a brutal method to purify his inner demons, which were his "fel energy sensing organs," thereby forcibly interrupting Illidan's "erroneous ascension." He then used the methods of the Lightwalker to temporarily isolate himself from the connection with fel energy, preventing himself from being captured by the power of fel energy again.

No wonder I'm so weak right now.
I'm probably the first demon in history to be purified by the Holy Light Butcher but still survive. Wow, I've accidentally unlocked another "Mythical Achievement".

"You're awake? You've recovered quite quickly."

A voice that made Illidan frown and instinctively defend himself appeared in the ears of the Starhunter, who was pondering a countermeasure, causing him to say in a hoarse voice:

"Zera?"

"Yes, it's me."

The Mother of Light shrank her body, swirling her divine crystal as she floated to Illidan's bedside. She explained:
"Don't worry about the pressure you feel right now. It's normal for a half-demon to feel uncomfortable staying in the High Heavens. Rest assured, the Lord of Dawn will send you back to the mortal realm when you are able to move freely again."

The reason I brought you here is because your previous situation was too complicated.

If the Lord of Dawn hadn't forcibly opened the dimensional rift from the Twisting Nether to the High Heavens at the crucial moment, allowing the gates of the High Heavens to open in the Demon Realm, you, who were already out of control at the time, would probably have been completely captured by Sargeras.

The thought of a star hunter serving the god of destruction sends chills down one's spine.

She briefly explained what had happened, then noticed Illidan's "resistance," which prompted the Mother of Light to utter a regretful hymn, and she further explained:
"Please do not worry, I no longer regard you as the 'Child of Light and Darkness', and I have long since abandoned my evil plan to mold you into a 'Savior'."

If my previous interactions made you uncomfortable due to my blind faith and fanaticism at the time, then I sincerely apologize, Star Hunter. Back then, we were both trapped in the same heavy despair. Fortunately, when I witnessed the arrival of dawn, all the troubles and torments were soothed by the Holy Light as if by divine intervention.

Illidan remained silent, his face expressionless.

The troubles that "Zera the Madman" once caused him cannot be explained in a few words. Starhunters rarely have nightmares, but almost all of his nightmares over the past ten thousand years have been related to Zera.

Illidan would dream of being bound by the Holy Light in a strange place, while Zerra, that madwoman, would try to pass on all her power to him in the manner of a "martyr," even forcibly converting him from fel energy to the Holy Light, turning him from a perfectly good demon hunter into a "holy light hunter."

hiss.
Those nightmares were so real that Illidan still remains quite wary of Xerath.

But the Mother of Light has a clear conscience at this moment.

She continued to explain:

"The Lord of Dawn will purify your inner demons, for they have been completely corrupted by the destructive nature you have borne, and must be purified in order to interrupt your 'advancement' which should not be taking place at this time."

Your foundation is far from perfect. A flawed divine vessel will not only limit your potential exchange, but will also leave you at a disadvantage when facing the Avengers and Destroyers in the future. Therefore, He purified your inner demons and sealed your body.

Unless you actively step into the Twisting Nether, the Will of Destruction cannot achieve a deeper symbiosis with you.

However, this seal is not permanent.

You will be very busy from now on. You will have to do your best to forge your vessel to the point that it can perfectly withstand the power of destruction, so as to complete your glorious ascension and become a Fel Lord who can be on par with the Avengers and the Destroyers.

Of course, it's just that their positions are the same.

The Lord of Dawn believes you shouldn't rashly challenge either of them; you are far too weak compared to them in terms of power.

Illidan paused for a moment, then nodded and said:

"Please convey my sincerest gratitude to the Lord of Dawn. I know very well that without His help, there would be no conscious will named 'Illidan' at this moment."

But I still have questions.

If I cannot travel to the Twisting Nether, or even be isolated from the Fel Force, how can I forge my divine vessel?

"The answer is in your homeland, in Azeroth."

Zera said in a light tone:

"When you return there, you will naturally know how to complete the rest of your journey. As for your gratitude, I don't need to convey it for you, because the Lord of Dawn is currently in the High Heavens."

He should have been here waiting for you to wake up and chatting with you, but unfortunately, just now, an emergency occurred that forced Him to go and handle it personally.

"Ok?"

Illidan struggled to his feet, frowning as he said:
"Something that requires his personal intervention? Could it be that some strange evil god has appeared in the Star Sea of ​​Matter? Or is there a problem with the sun in some star system?"

"Well, it's not that serious."

The Mother of Light said in a strange tone:
"Perhaps you should go and see for yourself, right in front of the gates of the Highest Heaven, in the Holy Spirit Temple beneath the long staircase of faith. Speaking of which, it was someone from your hometown who caused this problem."

"Oh?"

Illidan's interest was piqued. He didn't intend to stay in the High Heavens for too long. On the one hand, as Zera had said, it was very uncomfortable for a half-demon to stay in the Holy Light Sanctuary. The light and heat that could purify him at any moment were watching and scrutinizing him, and this feeling of being constantly watched made the Starhunter quite insecure.

On the other hand, Illidan knew that his brother and Tyrande must be very worried about him.

They risked their lives to venture deep into the Twisted Void for my sake, so I must reassure them and let them know that I am out of danger.

More importantly, if he needed to complete the forging of the fel energy vessel before the seals on his body failed, then he shouldn't waste any more time.

He was severely injured, every bone in his body seemed to be groaning, but so what?
Since we're still alive, we must keep moving forward.

Moreover, he was genuinely curious about which powerful figure from his homeland could have caused such a situation in the High Heavens that required Diakum, the Lord of Dawn, to personally intervene.

Could it be that something suddenly happened to Lothar, causing his soul to ascend to the heavens?
hiss.
Isn't it?

Given Lothar's status and position, his arrival in the High Heavens must mean that some kind of cataclysmic event has occurred in Azeroth. However, I had never heard of any trouble brewing in my homeland, which had been calm and was undergoing major infrastructure construction.

With these questions in mind, the Star Hunter, who had changed into a long robe and hood to conceal his whereabouts, was guided by a Seraphim. He passed through the sacred and extravagant castles and pavilions of the High Heaven, walked through a very fashionable cloud walkway, and arrived at the gates of the High Heaven amidst the echoing holy bells and the prayers of the Holy Spirits.

It's no exaggeration to say that even with Illidan's unwavering mind, he felt a strange longing for "conversion" after completing this journey.

Fortunately, he was blind and could only sense but not see the sacred scenery of the High Heaven. However, the chanting and preaching of the saints who had crossed the long steps of faith and become the Holy Spirits of Heaven, who walked like pilgrims along the way, still broadened Illidan's horizons.

He was never a believer.

But he was certain that this place was the place that all believers in the material galaxy longed to reach.

The High Heaven is pure; there is no temptation of power, no blessing of authority, and no strife of desires. The souls who can reach this place through the long stairway of faith have only piety for their faith and a unique understanding of the Holy Light.

The hundreds of thousands of Holy Spirits in the higher heavens are all zealous beings, and they are happy to offer their salvation and liberation for the suffering of the stars.

how to say?

Perhaps I wouldn't say I like it, but it's definitely not a place that anyone would hate. Unfortunately, not all souls are qualified to arrive here after death.

As the Lord of Dawn said, ascending the long staircase of faith is a reward for goodwill and good deeds; ascension to heaven is never a blessing or power to be pursued.

This place symbolizes the ultimate good in the world, just as the Abyss symbolizes the ultimate evil.

Heaven and hell form the two ends of the criterion for good and evil, thus dividing and manifesting the most basic and purest justice and evil, which is an important foundation for the existence of order.

If one cannot distinguish between good and evil, one cannot determine the boundary between order and chaos. If the boundary is not clear enough, a gray area where both black and white can exist will inevitably emerge, which is the beginning of a chaotic march.

Illidan felt that his trip to the High Heavens had not been in vain. He truly felt the morality that Diakum had instilled in this High Heaven, which made him understand how the Vigilant had wielded his former legacy as the Sun God. It also gave Illidan, who was under the same pressure, a kind of indescribable understanding.

However, when he arrived at the foot of the long staircase of faith, at the magnificent Holy Spirit Temple, which was built by the Holy Spirits themselves, based on faith, for the souls waiting to climb the staircase, he was astonished to hear the gnoll Hogg's eloquent debate.

Hogg was preaching in public with another Holy Spirit. The two were engaged in a meticulous and tedious debate about the absurd question of whether there should be a messenger room in the highest heaven. Meanwhile, the group of Holy Spirits who regarded climbing the long ladder of faith as their life's ideal were divided into two factions, each supporting different viewpoints.

Lord Diakum, the Lord of Dawn, sat high in the Temple of the Holy Spirit, listening intently to the debate between the two.

So the "important matter" that you had to handle personally was deciding whether or not to officially recognize Hogg, this self-proclaimed "Grandpa of the Supreme Heavenly Gate," as a member?
Hmm, you Lord of Dawn, aren't you living a rather leisurely life every day?
Illidan was internally ranting, but as he approached, Diakum raised his hand, signaling him to be quiet for the moment and wait for Hogg's famous "debate with the scholars" to end.

This is the most basic respect for those who debate scriptures.

"This may seem absurd to you, after all, whether Hogger can have an official title in the High Heavens is just a matter of my word, but you must understand, Illidan, there are not only humanoid life forms like you and me in this galaxy, there are also many beast-like intelligent life forms like Hogger."

Life forms in the cosmos are all-encompassing, and walking the path of faith is their shared right.

Therefore, whether Hogger can convince its opponents today directly relates to whether the High Heaven will open the path to ascension for those strange believers in the future.”

Diakum explained to Illidan in spiritual language:

"Whether it is 'all living beings in the world have their own inherent nature and cannot be misled' or 'flowers, birds, fish and insects all have spirituality and can be taught without discrimination', these two paths directly relate to the style of the missionary work of the highest heaven and even the material galaxy in the years that followed."

This debate is more important than you think.

Hogger may not yet realize that his righteous act today is enough to earn him posthumous canonization. Of course, I didn't expect him to be so eloquent; look at how those holy spirits from all over the galaxy were rendered speechless by his arguments.

"Hiss, it seems that spending these days frantically building a government with the Starry Sea Spirits beneath the Supreme Celestial Steps is indeed beneficial for developing eloquence."

"But if I remember correctly, Hogger was the chosen one of the Black Wolf God, right?"

Illidan replied in a strange tone using telepathy:

"How dare you let this 'heretic' go to heaven?"

Do you know how many races the Black Wolf God's worship encompasses in the starry sea?

Diakum countered:
“If elevating one Hogger can make so many beings more clearly aware of the ‘boundary between good and evil,’ then what’s wrong with having one more eloquent gnoll holy spirit in my High Heaven?”

They can create their own sacred grasslands outside the holy palaces and castles, and, as Lecanthus has instructed, run and hunt freely on those endless grasslands.

No one has ever stipulated that there can only be one kind of heaven.
The High Heaven is the concept of 'good,' Illidan, and it does not constrain or limit itself to any rigid rules or requirements.

I should not and cannot dictate everyone's definition of kindness and beauty, nor should I restrict their efforts to do good deeds out of their longing for heaven.

To put it more bluntly, I only care whether they do good deeds and stay away from malice throughout their lives.

As for whom the virtuous people believe.
I don't care.

“My God, I heard a true god of the Force spreading heretical ideas to me. The Light Walkers could never have imagined that their Lord was an atheist.”

Illidan said in an exaggerated tone:
"But you can't guarantee that every living being in the highest heaven will think the same way you do. One day, the beliefs of so many believers will cause disputes and conflicts here. At that time, heaven will no longer exist."

"Then let it perish."

Diakum laughed and said:
“There will always be someone who rebuilds paradise from the ruins, as long as the desire for ‘good’ remains, and as long as there are people who will approach everything to protect those beautiful things.”

You didn't come here to listen to Hogger's debate, so I must say goodbye beforehand. I found their discussion quite interesting, so you'll have to stay and listen to this debate on faith. I'll send someone to take you back to Azeroth. Once you're back, don't waste your time; go find Queen Azshara.

She will help you with the next container forging.

It's just a simulation of the Fel Force.
It did not exceed the limits of the power of the Arcane Path.

Good luck, Starhunter. Perhaps you'll find your place in this highest heaven.

Ps:

The book will officially finish on the 31st. It's the end of the month, so please vote with your monthly tickets. This is the last time I'll vote, because I won't have another chance after this.

(End of this chapter)