The Ancient Zandalari Empire, the City of the Sky.
Robbie and Vanessa concealed themselves, floating silently in the air, gazing out of the city.
Countless Zandalar gathered outside the city, packed together like sardines in a can, a dark mass stretching as far as the eye could see.
With tens of millions of people gathering in the City of the Sky, Order should have ensued.
Thanks to Emperor Ata who used the Dark Scepter to stamp the document, a series of disciplinary regulations were promulgated.
Millions of flesh-and-blood Zandalar people covered the mountains and plains, yet they stood as still and obedient as wooden figures, standing in neat rows, as silent as puppets being manipulated, without even a whisper.
Robbie clearly sensed something was amiss.
Even though they were all living people, they gave off a sinister and terrifying feeling.
"The ceremony is about to begin," Vanessa said.
"We should also take action." Robbie's gaze drifted towards the Emperor's Temple not far away.
The auspicious time has arrived.
A golden throne slowly floated in the air. It was an ancient Titans Relic. Emperor Ata sat on the throne and rose to a height of about three hundred meters.
Even from a high vantage point, one cannot see the end of the crowd below.
The golden throne was equipped with an amplification Magic Circle, ensuring that the sound would reach the ears of every Zandalar below. Emperor Ata grasped the Dark Scepter, gathering his emotions, preparing to deliver a speech and convey the king's decree.
He must get the Zandalar to willingly give their lives.
"People of Zandalar, the age of God has arrived! You will all become God's children, fighting for Him on all fronts and gaining great glory. Praise be to my people!"
A chorus of chanting swept through, like a gust of wind. "Praise be to the great Emperor Ata, you are the eternal light in our hearts."
Emperor Ata was extremely pleased, so much so that he almost laughed out loud. He received the praise of millions of people at once, a feat unprecedented in the history of Zandalar.
"You are brave Zandalar, glorious Zandalar! The kingdom of the gods is near! The great God will establish an immortal kingdom on earth, and you are gloriously among the first inhabitants of that kingdom. Praise be to my people!"
Another round of praise erupted, "Glory to the great Zandalari Empire! Glory to the great Emperor Ata!"
Emperor Ata brandished his Dark Scepter, his aura soaring:
"The establishment of the divine kingdom requires sacrifice. The great Soulflayer Hakkar will be infused with his Corrupted Blood, and the noble Spawn of Hakkar will feed on your flesh and souls, bursting forth from your bodies. Brave Zandalar have never feared death. I hope your answer is yes."
There was complete silence below; the expected response left Emperor Ata somewhat disappointed.
No one wants to be taken from their life.
Despite the influence of the Dark Scepter's power, the people's hearts resisted it.
Emperor Ata lamented:
"People of Zandalar, do not let outsiders look down on us! Behold, the great kingdom of the gods is about to begin a new chapter in history. To give one's life for the kingdom of the gods—what a glorious honor! As people of Zandalar, do you not feel proud and honored?"
There was not a sound again.
Who would be proud to Consecration their body and soul to an evil god?
Emperor Ata's expression darkened. He didn't want to do this, but since gentle persuasion hadn't worked, he had no choice but to resort to a forceful command.
"As the Emperor of Zandalar, I issue this command: People of Zandalar, give your lives for Hakkar the Soulflayer, and rejoice in this glorious moment."
The power of the Dark Scepter spread, and millions of people praised it once again:
"Praise be to the great Zandalari Empire, praise be to the great Emperor Ata."
Emperor Ata smiled with satisfaction, then smiled obsequiously in one direction:
"Great Hakkar the Soulflayer, the people are ready."
Hakkar's towering figure appeared beside the throne, with Yeh'kinya standing beside him.
"I am deeply moved that the people of Zandalar are willing to give their lives."
Hakkar looked smugly at the people below, who were like puppets on strings. "Then let's begin."
Only Hakkar could perform a ceremony of this scale.
A strange Blood Moon appeared in the sky, seemingly very close to the ground, covering the entire sky, and a sea of Blood Moon with towering waves could be clearly seen on its surface.
A massive vortex floated in the air; it was a spatial passage leading to the Blood Moon. Corrupted Blood through the passage, coalescing to form a thick cloud of blood.
Hakkar's expression was extremely solemn. He had to ensure that every Zandalar received the right amount of Corrupted Blood; too little Children of Hakkar would not be able to conceive, too much and they would explode and die.
Suddenly, another eerie aura wafted over.
Hakkar suddenly opened his eyes wide and looked in the direction of Nazmir.
In the center of the Blood Marsh, countless wisps of blood mist churned and converged, generating a large amount of flesh and bones that formed a hideous monster resembling a silkworm, with a single horn at its front and sharp, rotating fangs in its mouth.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, G'huun created a clone.
The newly formed G'huun spewed out a cloud of blood, which formed a straight red cloud of calamity that stretched towards the City of the Sky.
Not good.
Hakkar knew this was G'huun's blood Plague; if even a single drop fell into the crowd, it would instantly infect all the people, rendering all of Hakkar's efforts futile.
"Jin'do, you are to preside over the rest of the ceremony. It doesn't require great strength, just skill and sufficient caution," Hakkar commanded in a low voice, maintaining his composure.
Yeh'kinya bowed and took over the operation of the ceremony.
Hakkar flapped his pair of intricate and enormous wings, streaking across the sky like a blood-red comet, successfully intercepting the red storm clouds.
Then, Hakkar locked onto G'huun, revealing a fierce expression.
Yeh'kinya was very cautious, trying to avoid making mistakes. Although the ceremony was slow, it was getting closer to success step by step. The blood clouds in the sky had separated into countless raindrops, each of uniform size.
Emperor Ata, felt somewhat bored on his throne.
Suddenly, Emperor Ata felt a pang of unease; it was coming from the direction of the Emperor's Temple.
Seven tall figures appeared in the air, their eyes shooting out crimson light, their bodies enveloped in a dense aura of the Undead.
Enshrined within the Emperor's Temple, the seven greatest emperors in Zandalar history have been resurrected as Undead creatures, awakening from their endless slumber.
The first to charge was the Rhino, clad in blood-red armor and wearing a skull mask, his blood-red greatsword pointed at Emperor Ata:
"My descendants are so incompetent, betraying millions of their people to the evil god Hakkar. In the name of my ancestors, I command you to immediately cease this Evil ritual."
The Dark Scepter in Emperor Ata's hand pulsed continuously. The Zandalari Empire revered ancestor worship, and the ancestors held a higher status than the current emperor.
Yeh'kinya looked flustered and paused the ritual in his hands, now he could only rely on Emperor Ata.
"Seven Emperors of the Emperor's Temple, who resurrected you as Undead? Was it my unfilial son, Dasa? Impossible, he doesn't have that ability."
Emperor Ata's expression was grim. As a revered ancestral emperor, the Seven Emperors of the Emperor's Temple were entitled to reclaim his Dark Scepter.
"No, I cannot give up now; I must fight."
The Dark Scepter in his hand gradually slipped out of his control. Emperor Ata gripped the Dark Scepter tightly, as if it were his own life. His expression gradually turned ferocious as he gritted his teeth and made a firm decision.