The Entropic Horror Kara dwarfed any ordinary Naaru, standing over ten meters tall and radiating such crushing pressure that the three dared not breathe.
Before the enemy even arrived, Kara waved a hand and filled the sky with tiny black Shadow bolts. Seeing this, Velen instantly threw up a thick Light barrier over the Altar of Enlightenment.
The moment the Shadow bolts struck the barrier, all three heard a clear whisper inside their minds.
Ngh!
Shandris, the weakest of the trio, sank to one knee clutching her head. Andreas pressed a hand to her brow and used psychic arts to drive the whispering out.
Having opened the attack, Shandris had taken a heavier mental blow than Andreas and Velen; without Andreas' aid she would soon have collapsed.
When its opening assault failed, Kara raised two slender arms of black energy. After several seconds of gathering power, five purple cones of Void Power shot toward the altar from different directions.
Velen's face paled. 'I can stop two at most—the rest are yours to handle!'
Shandris, teeth clenched against the splitting pain, forced her Kaldorei war-bow upward.
Thwish-thwish-thwish!
Several condensed moon-arrows streaked out; one cone exploded in mid-air from the clashing forces.
In the underground shelter, Karabor priests and acolytes felt the violent tremor. Dark-eyed Samara and Yrel bowed their heads in silent prayer for the three above.
BOOM!
As the first bolt hit the barrier, Andreas saw Velen's body waver.
The second compressed blast of Void energy shattered the shield; blood trickled from the Prophet's still-injured lips.
Andreas, already prepared, shifted power and raised a fresh barrier of Light, barely stopping the remaining two bolts.
By now Kara had entered Karabor Temple itself. Andreas, white-faced, shouted, 'Now—activate!'
THUD!
Velen slammed the prophets staff against the altar floor. Twelve massive Arkonite crystals buried around the platform burst upward, forming two interlocking hexagons that caged Kara mid-air.
At the same instant, hundreds of smaller crystals rose around the vast temple.
Built atop a ley line node, Karabor Temple began siphoning Draenor's ley lines. With no Blue Dragon Guardian to police them, the network lay open to any mage.
Raw Arcane energy was drawn through the temple's Light engine, converted into streams of Holy power, and channeled through the twelve prime crystals into a tight prison that pinned the bewildered Kara in place.
'Hurry!' Velen wiped blood from his mouth. 'We have less than a minute—Andreas, it's up to you.'
As he spoke, Kara thrashed wildly. Minor crystals shattered one by one, and even the twelve great Arkonite pillars trembled.
Andreas' golden eyes turned black. Power surged through him, and the Auchenai High Priest robes Malardal had gifted him billowed without wind.
The tear of Elune atop the Staff of Ganir drank in Andreas' energy and funneled it into the ground. The crystal cage surrounding Kara flushed violet.
A black siphon line crept from Kara toward the Tear; when it finally connected, Andreas shuddered as pure Void Power poured into him.
Feeling its strength being stolen, Kara redoubled its struggles—five of the twelve crystals already spider-webbed with cracks.
Sweat dripped from Andreas' brow; the flood of Void energy made him feel as though his body were swelling.
Velen stood with eyes shut, readying a final strike. Andreas, teeth gritted, called the only ally still mobile.
'Shandris!'
'Sonic-Shock Arrow!'
A solid shaft leapt from Shandris' bow, pierced the energy cage, and buried itself in Kara.
BZZT!
Ripples spread from the arrowhead; Kara's writhing froze as the resonance wreaked havoc inside its energy body.
Overflowing with stolen power, Andreas had to slow the drain. At last Velen opened eyes blazing with Light.
'Leave the rest to me, Andreas.'
Velen stepped forward. As Andreas cut the siphon, the cage flared gold again.
Reduced by the stolen energy, Kara's form shrank from ten meters to barely eight.
'The Light is with us.'
Velen spread his arms; the prophets staff floated before him, its Eye gem winking as a tide of Holy power erupted outward.
Sensing the matching resonance, the twelve exhausted Arkonite crystals shattered together, releasing in one burst the energy Velen had spent a month infusing into them.
Aaaaargh!
Weakened, Kara clutched its head and howled under the blazing Light. Its violet-black body glowed everywhere, and the deep-purple crystal core in its chest began to show flecks of gold.
Cough-cough!
Stuffed to bursting, Andreas slumped to the floor, struggling to calm the Shadow Energy raging inside him.
Shandris watched Velen turn deathly pale while the core inside Kara slowly turned gold.
On the Tranquil Steppe, battling orcs and Ogres alike paused, feeling the violent radiance far to the east.
WHOOSH!
At last a column of pure Light shot skyward—three times the size of the one Andreas had raised at Auchindoun.
The gloom of Shadowmoon Valley was swept away; golden feathers of energy drifted down like snow.
Draenei villagers across the valley stepped outside, some daring to catch the warm feathers that melted on their palms and soothed their fears.
The Shadowmoon chieftain stared in shock as 'his' Dark Star vanished, replaced by a grotesque, floating golden form.
'What… in the world just happened?'
As Kara returned to her original form, Velen, due to severe energy loss, fainted and fell beside Andreas.
Fortunately, Shandris, still able to move, endured her headache and helped him up. Otherwise, with Velen's Holy Light power completely depleted, falling and hitting the ground would likely have been much worse.
Kara, floating in the air, unconsciously rotated her body. Her size was larger than K'ure, and she seemed to have not yet fully recovered from the transformation, with her central crystal core flashing at a high frequency.
When Shandris helped Andreas to her feet, Kara let out a sigh in a steady female voice.
"I am ashamed. I didn't expect to have wounded Velen twice and caused the Genedar to fall into this unfamiliar world. I have truly failed in my duty."
Although Kara's blessing ability was offensive, she still possessed some common abilities shared by all Naaru.
Kara, having just recovered her Holy Light body, was also relatively weak, but she still channeled a portion of her limited Holy Light power into Velen's body.
As the Naaru's pure Holy Light flowed into the nearly energy-depleted Prophet, Velen's eyelids twitched, and he slowly began to open his eyes.
Looking at Kara, who had returned to her original state, Velen's tired face showed a relieved smile.
"Kara, welcome back to us."
As if sensing Kara's return, pillars of Holy Light simultaneously rose from Auchindoun and Shattrath City in the direction of Terokkar. Kara floated above the Altar of Enlightenment to respond.
Through the energy matrices buried beneath Auchindoun and Shattrath City, D'eori and K'ure remotely transmitted the energy they had absorbed via the special connection channels between Naaru. Kara's previously flickering body rapidly solidified.
Just as Andreas was about to congratulate the Prophet, a beam of moon-white energy suddenly projected from the distant starry sky, enveloping a stunned Shandris and Andreas.
"Wait! Now is not the time!"
Andreas endured his physical discomfort, preparing to ask Elune for a little more time.
However, Elune's descent this time was only energy; her will did not accompany it to Draenor. Andreas and Shandris' bodies rapidly dematerialized under the pull of Elune's energy.
Shandris had long been mentally prepared and, with a look of relief, said to Velen, who appeared astonished, "Prophet, please convey my regards to Yrel and Samara. I believe that one day, we will meet again."
Andreas quickly interjected, "Velen! Remember my words, beware of the orcs, beware of Kil'jaeden! The orcs are absolutely not to be trusted!"
"If things become impossible, you can request aid from the Army of the Light, and let Xe'ra send the draenei to Azera..."
"Whoosh!"
Before he could finish speaking, the energy descending from the sky enveloped Shandris and Andreas. On the altar on the top floor of the Karaabor Temple, only a bewildered Velen and Kara, whose crystals flickered thoughtfully, remained.
'D'eori, K'ure, did you feel that?'
"Yes, it is the aura of our great creator."
'Heh~ So that's it. I didn't expect those two mortals were sent by the Creator, but... why would the Creator change her name to Elune?'
The three Naaru communicated silently through their psychic network. As the leader of the three Naaru, Kara finally made a judgment.
'Regardless of the Creator's intentions, she did send her dependents from another world to lend a helping hand when we were in crisis. This kindness cannot go unreturned.'
D'eori said thoughtfully, 'Andreas's last words must have been Azeroth, right? Has our Creator bestowed her favor upon that planet?'
K'ure said, "Yes, the only world where the Burning Legion suffered defeat, possessing a growing World-Soul, considered by the Pantheon's Titans as the hope for the future."
Kara sighed, 'Beware of the orcs and Kil'jaeden? That mortal seems to have glimpsed fragments of the future. We should prepare.'
'First, let's focus on recovering our strength and strive to contact the Mother of Light as soon as possible. Perhaps... we truly will reunite with those two mortals and the Creator on Azeroth in the future.'
'Agreed.'
'Agreed.'
..."Ugh..."
Unlike his energetic state upon arrival, Andreas's condition was very poor on the way back, struggling to endure in the inter-stellar teleportation channel.
Although Shandris was very worried about him, at this moment, their bodies were not even visible to each other. She could only silently pray to Elune, hoping the Moon Goddess would help her husband overcome this difficulty.
"Swish!"
A beam of light suddenly descended from the sky above the continent of Kalimdor, heavily striking the outskirts of Astranaar, the capital of the Night Elf Republic.
Tyrande was currently arguing heatedly with Fandral in the administrative hall. The sudden tremor in her heart made her instinctively look up at the sky outside the window.
"Elune? Could it be..."
"Tyrande."
When Tyrande entered a meditative state, Elune, who had not appeared on Draenor, gravely warned her.
"Something unexpected happened. Andreas was not in good condition before entering the inter-stellar teleportation array. I am worried that something might happen to him. You must go to the scene immediately to prevent the situation from escalating to the worst possible outcome."
"The worst?" Tyrande asked, puzzled. "What would be the worst?"
Elune was silent for a few seconds before returning with a wry smile, "If Andreas's own will is not strong enough, he might turn into an irrational Void creature due to inhaling an excessive amount of Shadow energy."
"What?!"
...
The crown of Nordrassil, on the outskirts of the capital Astranaar.
Shandris shook her head to clear her chaotic thoughts. When she turned to look at Andreas beside her, her expression suddenly changed dramatically.
There was no one where Andreas had been, replaced instead by a large black orb of light.
This orb was flickering with a faint glow, and its unstable aura was almost visible to the naked eye.
..."Andreas?"
Shandris, confused by the situation, dared not act rashly. A few minutes later, Tyrande rushed over from the city on a hippogryph.
"As expected..."
Seeing the bewildered Shandris and the orb of light in front of her, Tyrande's expression was somewhat complex.
She didn't know what the two had encountered on the alien world, and Elune hadn't told her the full story, but from the current situation, Andreas was indeed in crisis.
As Tyrande's research into Elune's Sentinel deepened, she understood more and more about Shadow, an energy opposite to moonlight. This dark orb of light looked very similar to the Shadow Dissipation ability recorded in the 資料.
However, ordinary Shadow Dissipation was a life-saving ability used to absorb damage. The orb of light Andreas had become seemed more like a self-protection mechanism, preventing others from touching or disturbing him casually.
'Her reaction speed is really fast...'
Tyrande pursed her lips. This state should have been released by Andreas himself, at least preventing the worst-case scenario Elune had mentioned.
"Shandris."
Hearing Tyrande's call, the anxious Shandris turned around and said urgently, "Mentor, we..."
"I know, don't rush."
After comforting her most proud apprentice, Tyrande looked at the motionless orb of light.
"For now, let him stay here and slowly recover from his injuries. I will have the Sisterhood priests cordon off the area. I believe Andreas is not someone who easily succumbs to dark will."
News of Andreas and Shandris' return quickly spread throughout the high ranks of the Night Elf Republic.
Fandral and Maiev arrived close behind Tyrande, and Celeste, Leticia, Niana, and Aurora quickly followed, bringing long-staying guests such as Onyxia and Lunara.
However, the first thing that caught everyone's eye was a large, dark orb of light, while Shandris stood worriedly to the side, discussing something with Tyrande.
Aurora scanned the area, but couldn't find her father.
"Mom, where's Dad? Why are you alone?"
The long-awaited reunion with friends and family brought Shandris comfort, but Andreas' current state prevented her from even managing a symbolic smile.
Reaching out to stroke Aurora's long hair, Shandris opened her mouth to explain, but the words caught in her throat.
Although Celeste was often a bit scatterbrained, her logical abilities had grown significantly after marriage, benefiting from Andreas' long-term influence and professional training.
The strange atmosphere made her consider an unpleasant possibility, and her eyes slowly widened as she stared incredulously at the black orb of light.
"Don't tell me... this orb is Andreas?"
Shandris was silent for a moment, then nodded with difficulty under the astonished gaze of her friends and family.
Fandral also asked, dumbfounded, "What exactly did you encounter on the alien planet? Why did Andreas turn out like this?"
Shandris shook her head. "It's a long story. Let's go back first. Temporarily place this area under martial law; don't let anyone disturb him."
...When Andreas and Shandris departed from Azeroth, the War of the Three Hammers had just begun in the Dwarf Kingdom of Khaz Modan.
In Shandris' subjective impression, she and Andreas had only been gone for about ten years, but in reality, time on Azeroth had advanced significantly.
Because of the reckless actions of Thaurissan, King of the Dark Iron, the fire lord Ragnaros was mistakenly summoned to the Material World.
A scorched volcano erupted from the ground with Ragnaros' manifestation, causing massive topographical changes in the area around the Black Iron Plain and Dustwind Gorge.
These two regions are now known as the Burning Steppes and Searing Gorge, respectively. The once fertile soil was scorched into wasteland by the fire lord's flames, and Redridge Mountains within the Kingdom of Stormwind's territory were also affected.
The Dark Iron Dwarves originally intended to summon a trump card to turn the tide, but instead found themselves saddled with a difficult father figure.
From then on, the Dark Iron Dwarves were enslaved by the fire lord, forced to obey Ragnaros' commands and construct a weakened version of the Fire Kingdom inside Blackrock Mountain. A large number of creatures from the Elemental Planes took the opportunity to settle in the Material World.
After the momentous War of the Three Hammers concluded, the three major clans of the Kingdom of Khaz Modan officially split.
The Dark Iron clan occupied the Burning Steppes and Searing Gorge, living a miserable slave existence under the control of Ragnaros.
The Wildhammer clan's capital, Grim Batol, was left severely damaged after the assault by the Dark Iron Dwarves, and the clan split into two factions due to differing opinions.
A small number of clansmen who couldn't bear to leave their homeland remained in The Wetlands to continue guarding Grim Batol. The eastern half of the Wetland swamps was under their control.
Kadros, King of the Wildhammer, led the majority of the clan north into the Hinterlands, establishing a new home in that savage land ruled by the Darkspear Troll: Aerie Peak.
Most of the original Kingdom of Khaz Modan's territory and its capital, Ironforge, belonged to the biggest winner, the Bronzebeard clan, including the great snow mountains of Dun Morogh, Loch Modan, the western part of The Wetlands, and northern The Barrens.
The descendants of Modimus Anvilmar, King of the High Mountain, lost their former authority, and the Bronzebeard clan symbolically supported the former rulers' lineage.
When Shandris returned to Azeroth, the time was approximately 70 years before the Dark Portal. She and Andreas had spent a considerable amount of time traveling through the two interstellar passages.
Besides the War of the Three Hammers, not many major events occurred during the more than 100 years that Shandris and Andreas were away.
The only notable events were the war between the Kingdom of Stormwind and the Gnolls, and the overthrow of the Zandalari Trolls' symbolic control over the Kezan Islands by the Goblin rebels.
Worried about her husband's condition, Shandris temporarily set aside her official duties after returning home.
She spent most of her time guarding the large orb, silently waiting for Andreas to awaken from his slumber. Celeste also joined the vigil for her husband.
Without Andreas' guidance, the development speed of the Night Elf Republic slowed slightly, but it still firmly held the undisputed top position on Azeroth.
After the War of the Shifting Sands concluded, the three great deserts of Silithius, Tanaris, and Uldum underwent massive changes under the transformation of the Forge of Wills.
The desert terrain gradually receded, and grasslands spread outward from the numerous Oasis that appeared, restoring some of the former glory of these three regions.
Since the total population of the Night Elves could no longer support further territorial expansion, after negotiations between the High Council and the Tol'vir Royal Council, the Tol'vir began to extend their reach into the greatly changed Silithius.
After giving up the territories they could not control, the ancient race of the Tol'vir deepened their cooperation with the Night Elves, and the southern part of Kalimdor, previously affected by the Qiraji and C'Thun, was completely pacified.
Suramar, which had recently rejoined the Night Elf Republic, continued its rapid development under the leadership of Archmage Elisande. This "Pearl of the Night" now utilizes its unique geographical location to become the largest trade hub between the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor.
All nations with ports, including Zandalar and Kul Tiras, established maritime trade routes with Suramar.
Fueled by massive trade revenue, Suramar, reopened to the outside world, expanded its territorial boundaries at an astonishing speed.
Although the Zandalari Trolls lost the Kezan Islands, an overseas colony, their colonization of the Kezan Goblins was originally only for scientific research purposes—to study the island's Kaja'mite ore—so they didn't regret the loss at all.
The Goblins who overthrew their slave masters developed a new civilization on the Kezan Islands. They mined and utilized the large oil reserves stored there, gradually developing Goblin engineering, which was fundamentally different from the mainstream technology currently found on Azeroth.
The situation in Northrend remained the same. Lacking surplus population for expansion, Suramar continued to strictly guard its existing territory, maintaining a delicate and fragile balance with the Dragonriding Vrykul and the Drakari Trolls.
Conversely, the Bearmen clans in Grizzly Hills became increasingly dilapidated. Having lost the opportunity for unification, they fractured even further, and intense internal conflicts over territorial disputes even erupted among the major clans.
When Malfurion heard the news and hurriedly awoke from the Dream to visit Andreas, Shandris learned about the status of the Emerald Dream from the Archdruid.
Although the Nightmare had a strong desire to expand, the protecting forces led by Malfurion and Ysera still firmly contained them in a corner of the Dream.
However, the entanglement with the Nightmare ultimately consumed a great deal of energy from the Green Dragon and the Cenarion Circle. Perhaps the Old Gods' objectives had been partially achieved.
Moreover, Shandris unexpectedly heard a familiar and repulsive name from Malfurion.