The war instigated by the Ogres changed the lives of many Draenei, and Yrel and Samara were among them.
Due to the impact of the war, the inauguration ceremony for Karabor Temple had to be postponed repeatedly. In the hearts of most Draenei, a temple not personally blessed by the Prophet lacked a soul.
Yrel and Samara, having time off from their training with the Hand of the Prophet, both wanted to continue improving their strength. Following Shandris' suggestion, they hesitated for several days before finally resolving to leave their hometown and travel with the main force to Auchindoun.
When the last group of travelers teleported to Auchindoun, the battle outside this sacred, Light-shining mausoleum was already in full swing.
Many people, including Andreas, saw the Cyclops—a species whose population was already extremely rare—for the first time on Draenor.
The Cyclops, once the masters of the Ogres, now found their status completely reversed; they had become Ogre slaves, driven by officers from Highmaul to charge into battle using their powerful physical strength.
The Draenei defenses did not merely focus on physical defense; even the barricades blocking enemy charges were covered in powerful Holy Light energy, capable of defending against spells cast by the Two-headed Ogre mages.
Ogres are an out-and-out infantry race. Supported by their immense physical quality and the spells of the Two-headed Ogres, they can exert considerable impact even without cavalry.
Although the Orcs destroyed the Goria Empire with the help of the Elements, even today, the Orcs still dare not charge head-on against the Ogres.
The Warsong Clan can rely on the mobility of their Wolf Riders to hunt Ogres, but if ambushed and surrounded, no number of Wolf Riders could break through the encirclement.
Highmaul's standing in Nagrand far surpassed that of the Orcs of the Warsong Clan; more than half of Nagrand was dotted with their outposts.
Although the Warsong Clan had a great reputation among the Orcs, they only earned the Orcs' respect through their fearless fighting style.
However, this berserker-style, suicidal fighting method caused severe population loss. Their actual control area was not large, and they were suppressed by the Ogres, forced to retreat into a corner.
Before the Orcs drank the demon blood, the Ogres were still the undisputed overlords of Draenor. Even though the Orc population was larger, they were powerless to eradicate the Ogre city-states scattered across the world, and instead had to painstakingly defend against the Ogres' proactive attacks.
"Roar!"
The low-intelligence but physically powerful Cyclops caused great trouble for the Draenei defenses. These one-eyed monsters, over five meters tall, were thick-skinned and tough; arrows, bullets, and low-powered spells barely scratched them.
The Crystal Turrets suspended in mid-air could inflict considerable damage on the Cyclops, but these turrets required energy consumption.
The Draenei did not have the Well of Eternity as an infinite energy source like the Night Elves, making it impossible to fire upon the Ogres without limit.
The swarming Ogres, led by the charging Cyclops, finally engaged in close combat with the Draenei defenders. The crude stone axes wielded by the Cyclops could inflict massive damage upon the Draenei defensive positions with a single swing.
Andreas, Shandris, Visshar, and others stood together on the high platform at the top of Auchindoun, gazing into the distance at the battlefield situation.
"Hmm... it looks like the situation isn't great."
Visshar stroked the feathers on his chin and said gravely, "Although the Ogres don't have an absolute numerical advantage, their individual combat strength is too high. If the Draenei don't have more defensive measures, it's only a matter of time before the defense line is breached."
After a period of close observation, Visshar had a very good impression of the Draenei.
This alien race, having descended from the heavens, was very polite and much easier to get along with than the crude Orcs and the brutal Ogres.
Although the Arakkoa Empire had long since fallen, they had possessed a brilliant culture, technology, and magical civilization. They shared more common ground with the courteous and gentle Draenei than with the Orcs and Ogres.
As the saying goes, a timely help is better than a superfluous one. Visshar was considering the best time for the Arakkoa Exiles to propose an alliance to the Draenei.
Andreas didn't know what Visshar was thinking. He explained with a smile, "Don't worry, the Draenei haven't committed all their forces yet. This war won't be decided so quickly."
Just as Andreas said, Velen and the Archbishops were currently discussing whether to deploy the constructs to turn the tide of the battle.
The Draenei constructs were similar to those of the Night Elves; ensuring the durability of the chassis required consuming a large amount of precious metal materials.
Before the Genedar crashed on Draenor, the fleeing Draenei could only accumulate materials bit by bit on each planet, relying on their reserves to get through the toughest times.
Although a production line for constructs had been established in Shattrath City thanks to Hataru's efforts, the output of constructs was difficult to increase due to Velen's cautious expansion strategy and the lack of mineral resources.
The Draenei, who had not yet secured a firm foothold on Draenor, could not fully utilize their technological advantage. Every construct used meant one less available, and Hataru had already warned the Archbishops to use them sparingly.
Although Velen seemed somewhat indecisive regarding the grand strategy for development on Draenor, given the immense pressure facing the critical stronghold of Auchindoun, the Prophet finally used his decisiveness to approve the deployment of constructs for defense on the battlefield.
As the nearly five-meter-tall constructs strode onto the battlefield, the pressure exerted by the Cyclops on the Draenei defenders immediately eased.
These constructs, which blended Arcane and Holy Light energy, possessed formidable combat power. They were not only immensely strong but could also use spells.
Andreas watched the constructs charge the front lines with interest. The Draenei constructs were unconventional; they utilized a forbidden method of injecting the souls of fallen Draenei into them.
Although they used mechanical bodies, the entities controlling the constructs' actions internally were the heroic souls of the Draenei, making them superior to the Night Elves' arcane golems in terms of flexibility and responsiveness.
"Boom!"
One of the constructs lifted its metallic left foot and stomped the ground, injecting Holy Light energy into the earth in the manner of a Consecration Spell. Nearby Cyclops and Ogres screamed as the Light burned them, while the Draenei within the area were healed by the Holy Light.
"So, the subjective Holy Light is essentially a type of cheating energy..."
Andreas rolled his eyes and complained to Shandris, "It can clearly distinguish between friend and foe on the battlefield and produce different effects on both sides. It's difficult for other energies to achieve that."
Shandris ignored her husband's complaint. She silently lowered her head and prayed to Elune, and a hazy moonlight enveloped Shandris.
"Heh heh~"
Velen, leaning on his staff, ascended from the lower levels of Auchindoun via an elevator. Hearing Andreas' complaint, the Prophet said meaningfully, "Mr. Andreas, you can actually use the Holy Light too; you just haven't found the proper method to convert between Shadow and Holy Light yet."
"Oh?"
Andreas was very interested in the topic. "Prophet, I would like to hear more."
Velen stroked his beard with a smile and said, "You once told me that someone criticized you for not having a pure enough heart to wield the Light. That view is actually not accurate."
Velen summoned a wisp of soft golden light in his hand. "The Light does not demand a user to have a pure heart. After all, intelligent beings are inherently filled with all sorts of desires. In my tens of thousands of years of life, I have never encountered a truly desireless person."
"The Light is merely a philosophical concept. As long as one can find a belief that needs to be steadfastly protected, the Light will naturally respond to the call."
Dispelling the Light in his hand, Velen looked at Andreas gently and continued, "Mr. Andreas, your situation is quite special. What you first mastered was not the Light, but its opposite, Shadow Energy."
"My people are not here, so I will speak plainly. I hope everyone can help keep this a secret."
After receiving nods of approval from Andreas, Shandris, and Visshar, Velen said seriously, "Some of you may already know that although Light and Shadow are two opposing energies, they can transform into each other under certain conditions."
"Mr. Andreas, the divine mission you mentioned, is it to restore a Naaru that has fallen into Void Creatures back to the Light?"
Andreas smiled in agreement. He was not surprised that Velen could guess his mission; after all, Velen was a veteran who had lived for tens of thousands of years, having traveled more paths than Andreas had seen gay people.
Velen shook his head and said, "While I don't know how the deity you worship intends for you to achieve a Naaru-level energy interconversion, theoretically, it does make sense."
"To complete the transformation of the Light, the first step is to first rein in the excessively powerful Shadow Power within you. It is best to use a neutral, gentle energy for the transition, and through it, comprehend the Light."
"As long as you can summon the first wisp of Light, the subsequent transformation process will not be difficult. You just need to gradually grasp the degree of transformation yourself."
"Neutral energy..."
Andreas' expression was a bit strange. Following Velen's advice, he completely reined in the Shadow Energy within him, then raised his hand and cast a emerald green light.
"Does Nature Energy count?"
"Uh..."
Velen hadn't expected Andreas to actually be able to use neutral energy. After a moment of stunned, he nodded in approval and said, "Of course. Nature Energy is one of the most suitable neutral energies for completing the transitional transformation."
Among the six primal forces of the universe, the Light has a restraining effect on negative energies such as Fel Energy, Shadow, and Death. The most suitable for this task is undoubtedly gentle Nature Energy, followed by Arcane.
"Steadfast belief, huh..."
When Velen brought up this issue, Andreas suddenly recalled a strange phenomenon he had seen in the World of Warcraft game many years ago.
The Scarlet Crusade had an extremely fervent faith in the Light. Even after becoming undead, they could still use the Light without being corrupted by the Lights Power.
Furthermore, a certain Twilight Priest could continue to use the Light even after falling, which indicates that the Light does not solely represent positive beliefs. Even a prejudiced evil ideology, if firm enough, can still gain the favor of the Light.
'It seems the Light is quite unprincipled...'
Andreas would not harbor any prejudiced evil thoughts. What he valued most were his close friends, family, and people.
When he first transmigrated, Andreas' top priority was his own life, but after ten thousand years of tempering, his view of his own life had been elevated. He no longer acted blindly to preserve his life... In fact, there are now very few beings in the Mortal world who can threaten his life.
Due to his years of control over Shadow Energy, Andreas had become very sensitive to the emotional and belief fluctuations of intelligent beings.
Even though he couldn't mobilize Shadow Energy at this moment, he could still feel the steadfast belief of the Draenei Defenders on the battlefield, who were determined to protect their homeland when they channeled the Light.
Velen saw the change in Andreas' expression and knew he had comprehended something. He timely offered guidance, "Excluding all the titles and explanations artificially imposed on the Light, the Lights Power is actually the power used to arm one's own belief."
"As long as your belief and will are firm enough, the Light will answer your call. Come, feel the deepest yearning in your heart, and arm it with the Light."
Andreas entered an ethereal state with Velen's seemingly magical words. His eyes lost focus, staring blankly at the sun, which radiated light and heat above the beautiful Tanaan Jungle.
Shandris and Visshar made no sound. They, along with Velen, quietly watched the motionless Andreas.
"Light... and Shadow. So that's how it is."
About half an hour later, as Andreas' eyes regained their luster, Shandris was surprised to see her husband's originally pitch-black pupils slowly changing color.
"This..."
Ever since Andreas received Elune's Shadow Energy infusion, his eyes had become black pupils with golden rims. Shandris hadn't seen Andreas' captivating, brilliant golden eyes from his youth in ten thousand years.
There was an old rumor passed down among the Night Elves that those with golden eyes would surely achieve great deeds in the future.
Although neither Shandris nor Andreas believed this widely circulated village rumor, Andreas, who once had golden eyes, indeed became an important leader of the Night Elf race. In a way, the rumor had come true.
"Clang!"
As Andreas' eyes completely turned golden, an astonishing surge of Light Energy erupted from him.
Velen and Visshar were pushed back several steps by the erupting Light in astonishment, but Shandris alone felt an endless warmth contained within the Lights Power that brushed past her.
'The subjective Light, huh...'
Shandris saw Velen and Visshar's shocked expressions after being pushed back, and shook her head with a chuckle, 'The description is really apt.'
Velen, with tens of thousands of years of experience, was truly astonished this time. The energy fluctuations emanating from Andreas even surpassed his own.
As a veteran who had lived for tens of thousands of years, Velen had long passed the stage of having an infinite competitive spirit.
Feeling the unprecedentedly powerful Lights Power erupting from Andreas, the prophet, as always, greeted him with a gentle smile, stroking his beard.
"Welcome, brother, who also bathes in the Light."
At this moment, Andreas was still in a semi-dazed state. The Lights Power emanating from him shot straight into the sky, and a brilliant golden pillar of light illuminated the sky above Auchindoun.
The warring factions on the battlefield didn't know who had unleashed this pillar of Light. The Draenei subconsciously believed it was the prophet inspiring their morale.
Under the golden curtain of light in the sky, a ethereal and illusory song of the Light enveloped the entire battlefield. Draenei warriors quickly recovered their strength under the influence of the Light from the heavens, and their fighting will was ignited by this Light that rose from the sky.
"Boom! Boom!"
Akama passionately struck his shield heavily with his longsword, attracting the attention of his subordinates. He took a deep breath, lowered his center of gravity, and shouted, "Defenders, charge with me!"
"The Light protects us, for the Draenei!"
Inspired by the Holy Light blazing above the Auchindoun battlefield, the Draenei burst forth with a ferocious fighting spirit unseen for years.
Exarch Akama spearheaded the charge into enemy ranks, flanked on left and right by adjutants Marlard and Nuptorn; the three formed the arrowhead of a Defender legion that tore a gap through the Ogre battle-line.
Exarch Adal sensed the drive for conquest within the sky-borne Light, and the cold mask on his face cracked a fraction.
"Sha'tar! Attack!"
On a battlefield of equals, morale usually decides the course of the fight.
With spirits soaring, the Draenei erupted with devastating force; the stunned Ogres, no matter how their rear commanders redeployed, could not stem the counter-attack.
Left with no choice, Imperator Khogall coolly gave the order to withdraw; against such frenzied foes, yielding ground was the prudent move.
"Ohhhh!!"
After securing local victory, the Defenders led by Akama raised their weapons and cheered in relief.
Years of running had ground away the warriors' will; a clean, hard-won victory rekindled flames not quite extinguished in many hearts.
Exarch Hataru, commanding from distant Shattrath, could appraise the towering pillar of Light with detached clarity.
"Somehow… this doesn't feel like the Prophet's Light-will."
Prophet Velen's Light was gentle and all-embracing; he rarely wielded it as a weapon, preferring to heal and support his people.
Yet the radiance Hataru now sensed lacked Velen's usual twilight weariness, carrying instead a sharp, forward-thrusting conviction.
Still, only the Prophet could summon Light on this scale; Hataru shook the notion aside.
Perhaps the Prophet has gained new insight into the Holy Light.
Closest to the beam, Velen did indeed glean inspiration from the will Andreas had woven into the Light.
New possibilities for the Draenei unfurled before him; he resolved to reorder his thoughts once the war ended.
Andreas reeled his wandering mind back in, eyeing the receding Light with curiosity.
"So this is the Holy Light—utterly unlike Shadow Power in form and feel."
Where Shadow Energy felt cool and dark, the Light warmed the heart, kindling goodwill in all it bathed.
"No wonder the Draenei cling to kindness; soaked in Light from birth and guided by the Prophet, they instinctively seek order and spurn chaos."
Likely why Velen kept the secret of Light–Shadow conversion hidden, preserving his people's yearning for good and sparing them a shattering revelation.
Seeing her husband regain his senses, Shandris pointed first at his eyes. "Andreas, your eyes—"
"Hmm?"
With a flick he condensed a mirror of Holy Light; its reflection showed him the change in his irises.
"What the—so eye color shifts with energy? Then why haven't they ever gone 'forgiveness-green'?"
"Don't tell me I'm the true child of Light and Shadow?"
He shook off the questions and dragged his straying thoughts back.
"Exarch, I've only just mastered the Light; swinging it now feels like a toddler hefting a warhammer. Could you assign a seasoned mentor to teach me the basics?"
Velen bowed with a smile. "It would be my honor. I shall serve as your first teacher."
The change was obvious; when Yrel and Samara met Andreas again after today's victory, both stared straight at his eyes.
"Golden eyes…"
Samara gazed, entranced, until Shandris coughed to remind her the man was taken.
"A-hem—sorry, Sister Shandris, I didn't mean anything."
Shandris smiled magnanimously. "I know. Just don't stare too long; you might fall in."
Andreas rolled his eyes. "What am I, wielding some seductive ocular hex?"
Yrel, unaffected, asked Shandris, "What happened to his eyes? How did they change color overnight?"
"Long story." Andreas shrugged. "You'll understand in time. For now, go finish today's drills."
Yrel and Samara froze. "Uh…"
Having seen the Draenei's strength and war-potential, Visshar at last resolved to send his report back to Terokk's Roost.
Shadow Sage Iskar read that the entire Draenei race revered the Holy Light and at first feared clashes with the shadow-wielding Raven Claws Priests.
Visshar's final note on Light–Shadow conversion made Iskar's eyes light with understanding.
"Light and Shadow… Prophet Velen is showing us goodwill in his own way."
After a silent pause Iskar turned to the priests. "You've all read Visshar's report. Speak—should we ally with the Draenei?"
Scroll-keeper Reshad spoke first. "I say yes. Now that we know Light and Shadow can turn into each other, Skyreach's 'chosen of the sun' claim collapses."
"Light and Shadow are merely opposed energies; neither is nobler. An alliance might let us grasp their secret of mutual transformation."
Most Raven Claws Priests agreed, and the Shadow Sage made his decision.
"Unanimous, then. Without delay—before this war ends—we join the Draenei and help drive off the Ogres!"
"I will personally go to Auchindoun to discuss the pact with Prophet Velen. Reshad, you will lead Terokk's Roost and the Raven Claws in my stead."
He looked to a brawny Arakkoa warrior. "General Ghera, ready your troops. Ogre defenses in the Arak Peaks are thin; if all goes well we can soon deliver our new allies a grand gift."
Captain Ghera of the Terokkal Talon Guard answered, "Yes, sir!"
Iskar's gloomy gaze lifted toward distant Skyreach. "Fallen Anhal priests, your dark reign will soon end."
"I will reserve front-row seats for you in the Sethekk Blood Pools—so you too can know the agony of clipped wings!"