Can this old ticket of the Eredar secure a passage on the Naaru's vessel?

Exhausted after returning from Krokuun, Velen did not even return home to see his family; as soon as he landed, he headed straight for the Temple of K'ure.

The Naaru priests here had already received orders. When the Prophet arrived, K'ure—one of the two guardian Naaru—was prepared to speak with him.

It was a top-secret conversation. No one else was permitted to overhear, save for the Triumvirate, the High Priests of the Temple, and Tal'gath, the leader of the Order of Assassins.

Before the holy seat of the Naaru, Velen strode forward, his holy staff in hand. His mood today was vastly different from his usual audiences for the teachings of the Light; the gentle serenity was gone, replaced by a scorching anxiety. The Naaru seemed to perceive this, and K'ure emitted a soft, melodic resonance, weaving the Light into a soothing hand to dissipate Velen’s fatigue and calm his spirit.

Amidst the rhythmic rotation of the Naaru, composed of brilliant, geometric crystals, Velen spoke of the information they now held:

"The Dark Titan has issued his decree of doom. Only one month remains until the end of Argus. My brother and I have received the revelation from the world-soul; we shall fight these vile demons at our home until the very last moment. But while the final battle rages, my people must find a way to escape the demon's clutches."

The High Exarch raised his head, pleading with the guardian Naaru whom he viewed as a trusted confidant:

"My brother Diakum, regarded by the star-soul as a 'Guardian' and 'Oath-keeper,' believes we must seek the aid of the Light. He is certain that in this desperate hour, the most effective salvation will come from the realm of the Light. You and your companion L'ura arrived at Argus on a vessel capable of traversing the stars, and Diakum says your kin possess similar ships. You have told me many great tales of Naaru who sacrificed themselves to save worlds. I beg of you! Please send a distress signal to the other Naaru across the cosmos on behalf of the Eredar. We need ships to transport our civilians! The more, the better! The faster, the better! The survival of the Eredar hangs in the balance this month. We will give anything we have in return; whatever you require, we shall provide."

A melody, ethereal as a song, resonated in response. To ordinary ears, it sounded like the chiming of crystals, but to Velen, who understood the language of the Naaru, the sounds translated into a gentle, masculine voice.

K'ure said to him:

"Do not be so humble, Velen, Prophet of the Light. L'ura and I came to Argus and stayed for a millennium precisely because the 'Prophet' among us foresaw the dire fate the Eredar would face. We have lived with your people for a thousand years, and we have long determined that the Eredar, filled with wisdom, courage, and an unmatched desire for exploration, are entirely worthy of salvation. Moreover, we have seen a miracle unfold here, one that defies destiny..."

"Hmm?" Velen looked at the radiant K'ure, who chuckled and explained:

"In the prophecies of our oldest and most sacred leader, the prime Naaru 'Mother of the Light' Xe'ra, she saw the Eredar falling into the embrace of fel under their corrupted leaders. Yet, only you and your followers resisted the call of evil and darkness. That is why, upon arriving at Argus, we gifted you the precious Naaru beacons. Lady Xe'ra instructed us not to waste time on other Eredar elites, for she has always believed that destiny is immutable and should not be altered. But as it turns out, we should always believe in the existence of 'miracles.' The fate of Argus that Xe'ra foresaw has changed its course! To this day, L'ura and I have seen no sign of the Eredar's corruption. You have dismantled the chaos the Coven of the Awakened would have caused with decisive, efficient action, and your resolve, along with that of Commander Kil'jaeden, in facing the Burning Legion is brighter than a thousand suns! Rest assured, Velen of the Light. L'ura and I will immediately contact our Naaru brethren in the star-sea. We will do everything in our power to bring every ship we can find to Argus. However, the Naaru are scattered across different planets helping those in need; I cannot guarantee they will arrive simultaneously. You may need to send your people in waves over time. Most importantly, you must hold the front lines against the demonic onslaught and buy time for this great endeavor of saving life and civilization! This means you will suffer terrible losses. Even if we call it a 'great sacrifice,' facing the brutal reality will still require you and your brother to maintain firm resolve in the darkest of hours."

"We will do it! We will do everything in our power!" Hearing such sincere support from the Naaru, Velen let out a long sigh. He gripped the Heart of Argus pendant at his chest and said aloud: "We will not disappoint our noble rescuers, but... I must ask, are the Naaru ships truly enough to transport all of our people?"

This question made K'ure silent for a moment. Amidst the echoing, shifting crystal tones, it replied:

"Not necessarily. But if the disciples of the Mother of the Light arrive in time, then by relying on a massive starship like the 'Tempest Keep,' we can at least ensure the safe evacuation of the Eredar in the Mac'Aree region. It is the largest and most durable starship we possess; we have used it to relocate refugees from several worlds that perished at the hands of demons. Yes, Velen. Argus is not the first world the demons have targeted! That terrifying Dark Titan has unified the once-scattered prisoners and granted the violent demons from the Twisting Nether a 'noble' mission. They use destruction as a tool to perform 'salvation,' but that does not change their nature as thugs. Furthermore, I must warn you, Velen, just as Diakum has been reminding you: while all Naaru are born of the Light and possess the inherent nature of compassion and healing, we still possess individual perspectives. Just as L'ura and I belong to the gentle, rational faction, some Naaru take paths different from ours based on their understanding of the Light. I must admit that some of our kin have become radicalized while confronting the darkness of the cosmos. For instance, in an ancient age beyond mortal imagination, my radical brethren launched a 'Great Crusade' across the boundaries of power—a war of such ferocity that the Eredar of today cannot comprehend it. I was not yet born then, but I know it is a mark that is difficult to erase from our kind. Therefore, when making contact with other Naaru, I urge the blessed Eredar to be cautious."

K'ure’s subtle, profound warning made Velen nod. Brother Diakum had indeed said the same, but with the Eredar facing total extinction, these issues could be discussed later.

"Then, is there anything we must do for this plea for aid?" Velen asked.

K'ure said:

"L'ura and I need to borrow your relic, the Ata'mal Crystal. It can accelerate our transmission of the Light, allowing the distress signal to travel across the star-sea to our brethren much faster. But I know that for the Eredar, this relic symbolizes..."

"No, it is merely a crystal," Velen said in a low, firm voice. "Compared to our civilization, no treasure is worth mentioning. I will retrieve the Ata'mal Crystal at once; please, both of you, be prepared. May the Light have mercy on us. May the Light protect Argus through this darkest of ages."

***

"Look at that light! Quickly, look!"

In the mountains of Krokuun, outside the busy camp where the Heart of Argus was being crafted, Farya, who was on night watch, suddenly saw an anomaly in the sky. She immediately called her resting companions.

They all saw the beam of light in the distance that pierced the heavens. It was very far away, as if on the horizon, yet it shone so clearly that the young ones stubbornly believed it was some kind of enlightenment from the Light.

The commotion soon alerted the others in the camp, and even the twins ran to higher ground to observe.

"What an astonishing energy reaction!" Salaraas whispered. "Judging by the direction, it should be Mac'Aree. So, what are they doing there? Do they intend to light this giant torch to intimidate the demons that might arrive at any moment?"

"It’s a signal, isn't it?" Oleresess pondered for a moment before saying, "Just as recorded in history, more than a thousand years ago, there was a similar beam of light shooting into the sky. Seven days and nights later, the two Naaru of the Light arrived on Argus."

"It is indeed a distress signal."

Dick’s voice sounded from behind them. His linen robes were covered in dust and debris—traces left behind from a day of chiseling sacred stone. He stood beside his young warriors, gazing at the light toward Mac'Aree, and said:

"High Exarch Velen has successfully convinced the Naaru to help. That light is likely the message the Naaru are sending to their brethren in the star-sea, summoning them to bring their ships to Argus to help transport the refugees."

"Refugees?" The word caused the expressions of the young ones to shift. The proud Eredar had never imagined that they would one day be branded with such a wretched title.

"Yes, embarking on a star-sea exile, bidding farewell to one's homeland, drifting like rootless duckweed—if this isn't a refugee, what is?" Dick spoke with a complex emotion. He said softly, "Many people do not realize the predicament the Eredar will face in the future, including yourselves. I even suspect that Velen and Kil'jaeden do not fully grasp the scope of this problem. They know the situation is grave, but they cannot imagine how bad the outcome will be. Prepare yourselves, children; we are going to live hard lives from now on. Several thousand, ten thousand, twenty thousand years, or even longer. We might have to wait through many cycles of沧海桑田 (seas turning into mulberry fields) before we can return home. The children born during this journey will only be able to imagine their lost homeland through the sorrowful descriptions of their parents. The shadow of a lost home will accompany us until it drives some of us completely mad. So, are you truly prepared?"

At that moment, Dick looked at the surrounding youths with a subtle gaze, carefully observing their expressions until thoughts began to surface on their faces.

"But we will always find a new world," Captain Nary, who was leaning against a nearby rock with her arms crossed, said. "The star-sea is so vast; there will surely be a world as beautiful as Argus to become our new home."

"Yes, that new world might even be grander, more generous, and gentler than the land beneath our feet. It might be perfect in every way, but it will inevitably have one flaw: it is not Argus! And it can never become Argus." Dick turned back, looking at Nary, and said: "Little Nary, you are destined to become our finest scout commander. Whenever an exile ship arrives at a new world, you will be the one to lead the bravest warriors onto that strange land to confirm if it can serve as a foothold for the exiles. But will the demons truly give up? Once their master obtains the power of Argus, the great power of the star-soul will be used by the demons. An invincible demonic army, truly designed to ignite the star-sea, will be formed on Argus. They will begin to unleash despair and death upon the entire material universe. It will be a path of ash that will not stop until its goal is reached. So here is the question, Nary: how will you find a perfect world that can both protect the Eredar as they continue to multiply and ensure it is never found and destroyed by the frenzied demons? In the face of the Burning Crusade launched by the demons, how many planets can stage a miracle of turning the tide?"

Dick’s tone was harsher than before. The "Five Prodigies" had rarely seen Officer Dick so serious. Captain Nary remained silent, and the twins exchanged glances. They were intelligent—their minds were sharp—and by now, they had grasped the lesson Dick wanted to impart.

"Constant escape is not a solution! With demons following on our heels, unleashing destruction, it means we will become, in effect, 'Harbingers of Doom.' Wherever we go, the demons will target and destroy it. We exiles will eventually become messengers of misfortune that everyone in the star-sea avoids, or even become, in essence, accomplices to the Burning Legion." Dick spread his hands and said to the others: "Our people will lose their courage in escape after escape; our leaders will become haggard during the long exile; our bravest warriors will lose their strength due to repeated failures. One day, we will grow tired of this endless flight. One day, under the malicious arrangements of fate, we will fall into a seemingly perfect world and plunge headlong into the lies woven by hope. One day, we will use platitudes to convince ourselves, burying our heads in the sand, pretending the misfortune following us will no longer arrive, hiding in every fearful night to pray for mercy from fate. But they will catch up! They will surround us in ways we cannot imagine, humiliate us, slaughter us, and eventually exterminate us! They will trample on the bones of our kin and laugh, warning the submissive slaves that this is the fate of those who resist! This slaughter will continue until the last of us falls in a pool of blood. Nary, you are so keen; you might escape every massacre, but in the end, you will only be able to live in seclusion in a wilderness no one can find, accompanied by the painful, desperate, and helpless memories, ultimately torturing away your last shred of spirit."

"Stop it!!!" Nary screamed, interrupting Dick’s "dark preaching." She glared at Dick in anger and roared, "Then give us a solution! You say the Dark Titan is invincible! You were the one who suggested that the leaders have the people abandon their homeland! And now you’re the one pretending to prophesy a miserable future! Dick! Diakum! Can you stop playing these damn mind games?! I’ve watched you for a long time; I know you have secrets. At times, you act like a prophet, even more cryptic than High Exarch Velen. I don't want to pry into your heart. But as this dark age approaches, you’d better not just talk. You’d better not just point out the problems eloquently, fueling fear to keep yourself from looking like a coward, while failing to offer any solutions to the problems you've raised. People like that are the most hopeless idiots in any world, in any era!"

"I have brought the method!" Dick took a newly crafted Heart of Argus pendant from his waist pouch and stepped forward, solemnly placing it into Nary's hand. He gripped her trembling hand and said: "To travel far in the long, dark night without losing our way, we must build a lighthouse for ourselves before we depart. Whenever we are lost, we look back. As long as that light remains, we know where to go. Argus! Nary, only Argus can be the ultimate salvation for the Eredar! We were born here, and we must inevitably die here. When the exiles lose faith, it must be leaders like you, wearing the artifacts of our homeland, who stand up and convey to them the efforts we have made and the mission we bear. We have left our homeland, but not because of despair, and do not view this as a mere flight! Sooner or later, you and I, and all of us, will return with the means to heal the world. We will defeat the demons and their evil master here; we will eventually take back our homeland and our heritage from their hands!"

He turned around, took a handful of Hearts of Argus in his hand, and with bright eyes, said to the Five Prodigies and the twins: "This is my duty, it is Nary's duty, and it is your duty! Take these artifacts, children; wear them with pride! In the long exile that is destined to follow, you, holding these artifacts, must also become torches in the hearts of the people, leading them back to the right path when they lose their way. We must not only resist the demonic invasion at home, but also become guardians of faith and zealous missionaries for every innocent life in every world where we find a foothold. We bring warnings about the Burning Legion to other beings who share our plight and help them resist the demonic invasion. The Burning Crusade cannot destroy every world, and the worlds saved by our actions will eventually become our allies! The demons have united to destroy the material universe, so the lives threatened and oppressed by them should also unite to form a more determined legion."

The Heart of Argus pendants and rings in Dick's hands were taken one by one. When even "egoists" like the twins put on the pendants and rings, Dick ended his first sermon as a "priest."

He looked at the light rising toward Mac'Aree and said: "We will eventually return home, children. We will return with victory and hope. Even if it takes a hundred thousand years, we will definitely return! The immortality Argus has bestowed upon us should be used in exactly this way. We have eternal time to fight them until one side completely falls!"

"The way you give orders really looks like a general, and the way you boost morale is just like a High Exarch," the twins muttered under their breath. "We’ve never seen a Vindicator like you; they usually have muscles for brains, but you... you are clearly different."

***

"I’ll take that as a compliment, but you’d better not say that in front of other Vindicators." Dick blinked, turned, and left the platform, heading toward the sacred stone cavern. He had to return to continue chiseling; he had to finish crafting the artifacts as quickly as possible, for the demons could arrive at any moment.

Nary did not interrupt the Five Prodigies' contemplation; she quietly followed Dick and asked softly: "I'm sorry, I was very unseemly earlier. But we... I mean, can we really win?"

"If I told you we couldn't win, would you surrender to the demons? No, you certainly wouldn't." Dick smiled and said, "Since we have decided to fight to the end, winning or losing is no longer the goal. Just like for us, who are destined to go into exile, all we need is to set sail. We will win! Tell yourself, we will definitely win."

He patted Nary on the shoulder, wearing his linen robe, and strode toward the cavern of sacred stones, brushing past the jewelers who were polishing the relics overnight. These craftsmen came from all the administrative districts of Argus and were currently under the command of Brigadier Diakum in this camp. The Eredar's innate tendency for order meant the craftsmen could complete their work quickly and well without much supervision.

During breaks, some craftsmen would take the initiative to visit the cavern to pay homage to the sacred stone. Some had heard the legends of Krokuun and viewed witnessing the World-Will as the highest honor.

Just like now, during his midnight labor, Diakum had just picked up his chisel and struck twice when he saw a lady in purple robes enter. She smiled gently at Dick and then reached out to touch the sacred stone before her.

But the next second, her hand was caught by the sentry.

"Tell me, where are you from?" Dick, still covered in stone dust, narrowed his eyes and asked, "Mac'Aree? Nathrezar? Or the Twisting Nether?"

The woman pulled her finger away sharply, dodged the heavy punch thrown by Diakum with a flash, and retreated, staring at the vigilant Eredar brigadier with a murky gaze. She discovered that this walker of the Light was also staring at her with a peculiar look.

How to describe that gaze? There was no fear, only a touch of extreme curiosity. It was just like a hunter who had discovered a rare pet, dying to strip away her disguise to see her true face.

And let’s be honest, when an Eredar Vindicator known for "integrity" shows such a look, it’s quite unsettling.

"Worthy of being the Vindicator Brigadier who defeated Sataiel! Sharp and vigilant enough! But your head will become a collection for the Legion, and you will be the first to die!"

A hint of cruelty flashed across the jeweler's face. Amidst gathering fel energy, an exotic-looking dagger jumped into her hand. She then shouted "The Legion will prevail!" and lunged, but was instantly "submerged" by an unexpected burst of the Light.

The disguised figure melted away, yet the Vindicator had his own ways of detecting stealth.

"It’s an illusion! What are you hiding?"

Accompanied by a chilling roar, Diakum unleashed his Light in a "Sunlight Shower." The radiating, dazzling light, while not overly lethal, was exceptionally bright. It instantly dispersed the shadows throughout the cavern, forcing the demon out of its hiding place. Blinded and shrieking, the intruder was cast out of the shattered shadows.

Its disguise was completely shattered, revealing its hideous form.

The lean but towering body was covered in the sulfurous stench of fel. The cloven hooves left black footprints on the ground, while the massive, deep purple bat wings on its back, the curved, slender horns on its head, and the signature pale skin confirmed its identity.

A Nathrezim!

A spy and intelligence officer of the Burning Legion, nicknamed a "Dreadlord," a master of spreading corruption and playing with trickery.

"The color of these wings... let me think..." Dick narrowed his eyes, staring at the hideous Nathrezim. He knew that the Dreadlord race had some quite unique "settings."

Because they were modeled after the same "sample," these guys were almost carved from the same mold. The important feature they used to distinguish each other was the color of their wings. Ordinary Nathrezim recruits did not deserve unique wing colors, but those with names all possessed distinctive wings.

The color of the wings of the creature before him was very familiar to Dick. A moment later, he called out its identity:

"Sasovalar, the Corruptor..."

Dick shouted the name and summoned the Light to gather into sacred fire. The flames on his left hand empowered him, turning into a magical armor of Inner Fire, while the flames in his right hand were hurled, forcing the Dreadlord into mid-air and interrupting the wave of fear it was charging to release.

The commotion in the cave immediately drew the attention of other Vindicators. A vigilant Nary soon rushed in with two guards, just in time to see Dick fighting the hideous demon with his bare hands.

The Brigadier seemed to be able to predict all the demon's moves. The opponent continuously released waves of fel energy, but the Brigadier dodged every one in advance. The dangerous, foul-smelling insect swarms were burned away by the Light the moment they were released, leaving the demon no opportunity to control him.

"Weapon!" Dick shouted. Nary fired a shot forward, grabbed a warhammer from the side, and threw it over.

The Vindicator performed a backflip, caught the warhammer, and as his hooves hit the ground with a heavy strike that crushed a summoned Fel Imp, he activated his Retribution Aura. With a lift of his hand, he decisively popped his "wings."

The "shadow actor" stance from the night he fought Sataiel was staged once more. After the radiant runes finished charging through several attacks, a three-combo Divine Storm bloomed in the small area.

The Ranger Captain and the Vindicators sealed the exit. Trapped in this enclosed space, the Corruptor Sasovalar had nowhere to hide and could only take the brunt of the Light-slashes, which were like a blade storm.

The more it fought, the more frightened it became!

This Eredar Vindicator was strange! He knew its moves too well; it would lift a claw, and he would know what it was going to do. Conversely, the bizarre combat techniques this guy used were ones it had never seen before while murdering other Vindicators. And the reserves of holy energy in this guy’s body were ridiculously high, weren't they?

Are you really just a High Vindicator and not a legendary Paladin waiting here specifically for me? Is this not a "demon-hunting" trap specifically designed for unlucky guys like me?

*Bang!*

The heavy, powerful Ash Judgment hit the Dreadlord's breastplate. The first heavy strike was blocked by the armor, but the subsequent radiant damage hit like a heavy punch, sending the Dreadlord crashing down with a scream.

It flapped its wings, trying to put distance between them, but in the next second, its wing root was pierced by Nary's large-caliber bullet. As it fell, Dick lifted his hand, condensed the Light, and hammered it down fiercely.

The energy-formed Hammer of Justice smashed in the air, leaving the fallen demon dizzy, and the scorching sacred fire threw itself onto its body, setting it ablaze. As the demon looked up in despair, it saw Dick chanting a holy word to cast Power Word: Shield on himself, while casually casting a Heal on himself and the other Vindicators.

This "hybrid warrior-mage" stance made the Nathrezim feel both painful and annoyed.

Brother!

My previous series of attacks didn't even hit you; you're at full health, why are you healing?! Are you just using me as a training dummy to practice your skills, right?

*Bang!*

More and more Vindicators rushed in, fighting the Hellhounds and Imps summoned by the Dreadlord. The ever-braver Diakum stood with his back to the sacred stone, refusing to let the evil spirits approach the noble object. He used his heavy, scorching warhammer to shatter the demon's claws and used a sweep to break its horns, sending them flying.

Sasovalar knew it was finished, but this evil thing stared fixedly at Dick and shrieked:

"The Legion already knows what you are doing! This camp will be destroyed soon; you have no hope! Welcome the invincible army of Lord Sargeras! Fools, enjoy your insignificant victory."

"Noisy!"

The warhammer fell, striking the head with precision.

The Dreadlord's body dissolved into a swarm of bats, completing its signature exit, leaving only the filthy demon-steel armor clattering to the ground.

Dick looked at that thing. Although Sasovalar was a named Nathrezim with the impressive nickname "Corruptor," its overall strength was very average—merely at the legendary low-tier level. However, the Dreadlord race had all their skills invested in infiltration, conspiracy, and seduction; direct confrontation was indeed not their forte.

Dick, having claimed his first named demon head of his life, felt no joy. He turned around, and under the shocked and respectful gazes of the Vindicators, he furrowed his brows and said in a low voice:

"Immediately dispatch priests to check everyone in the camp with the Light; there must be other demonic spies mixed in here. Find Captain Jaid; I need the Krokuun Cavalry to assemble here! The demons have discovered the secret of the Heart of Argus; the Legion's first invasion will begin in Krokuun! This is faster than we anticipated. I don't know if you are prepared, but we must dance with the demons!"