The Emperor Zandalar stood with his hands behind his back, his dark eyes remaining completely unmoved by Yeh'kinya's accusations.
"The Troll has just gained its freedom, and is currently in disarray. It is precisely the time for them to unite and build an empire. What is wrong with me stepping forward to lead them and shoulder the heavy responsibility of the world?"
"Haha, well said. Unfortunately, the Dark Scepter tells me you're only after your own ambition and pleasure," Yeh'kinya said incisively.
The Emperor did not deny it:
"That's right. Initially, I prayed to Xal'atath for the Dark Scepter to enjoy dignity all to myself. As the Zandalari Empire was established, everything was still in the process of exploration, and I gradually realized the heavy burden on my shoulders. I have made many mistakes in my life, but my original intention was always for the sake of the Trolls."
Yeh'kinya laughed sarcastically:
"Does this include the slaughter of civilians? During your reign, over ninety percent of your people were wiped out, with only a few escaping to the north, becoming the Man-eating Tusk Clan of later times."
"That's to purify the bloodline, you don't understand," the Emperor said in a deep voice.
Yeh'kinya snorted coldly:
"What is purification? You have simply forgotten your origins. Your appearance was originally the same as your people. It was Xal'atath, according to his own aesthetic sense, gave you a unique appearance and passed it on to your descendants, who consider themselves a noble imperial family. You think your people are ugly and deserve to die."
The Emperor glanced disdainfully at Yeh'kinya's fangs:
"This is only a temporary growing pain, for the future of the Zandalari Empire. Besides, I realized my impulsiveness. In my later years, the imperial family actively intermarried with the remaining tribes, resulting in a diverse range of Clans. The course of Zandalar history was not affected by my decision."
"But you unfilial descendants were actually defeated by Man-eating Tusk! The noble Pureblood imperial clan was humiliated by being mixed with lowly Man-eating Tusk. All my hard work Flowing Water. You are truly a bunch of useless trash."
Yeh'kinya pressed on, "And what about the slavery you established? Enslaving your own people, worse than pigs and dogs, forcing them to give birth in temples, their intelligence low, toiling day and night, spending their short lives in a daze, all their efforts only for your luxurious pleasures."
The Emperor's gaze sharpened. "Survival of the fittest, there's nothing wrong with that. Slaves created Zandalar's glory, making all the world's races take notice, and winning dignity for the Zandalars."
Yeh'kinya said viciously, "You issued Magic Prohibition Edict, forbidding ordinary people from learning magic except for Priests and Witch Doctors, wasting the Zandalar's great talent. Hundreds of thousands of years have passed, and their magical talent, once unparalleled in Azeroth, is now almost atrophied."
The Emperor retorted, "You should understand that the misuse of magic will produce all sorts of disastrous consequences."
"But your original intention was to prevent someone from deciphering the secrets of the Dark Scepter, so you didn't allow anyone to study the principles of magic; Priests and Witch Doctors were merely users of magic."
The emperor paused, then retorted:
"Greed is human nature. Of course, I would do everything in my power to seize it. You would do the same. There's nothing wrong with that."
Yeh'kinya's lips curled slightly. "Well said, Emperor Zandalar, you finally admit that everything you've done is for your own benefit."
The Emperor chuckled, "Yeh'kinya, don't think this world is merciful. Someone of my status would have been overthrown long ago if I didn't do this. That's how the world works. If you don't follow the rules, you'll be eliminated. Mercy and kindness are just a joke. No one will pity you."
Yeh'kinya confidently replied, "You've spouted so many high-sounding principles, why haven't you mentioned the initial conspiracy at all?"
"The initial conspiracy?"
The emperor was puzzled. "My life has been filled with all sorts of schemes and tricks. When enemies plot against me, I retaliate in kind. What's wrong with that?"
Yeh'kinya's gaze was piercing as he demanded, "How did you obtain your imperial throne?"
The Emperor remained unfazed. "I truly don't understand what you're talking about. My throne was, of course, bestowed upon me by the Old Gods Xal'atath."
"Emperor Zandalar, do you really think no one knows that history? You think it's well hidden? You're wrong. Ever since the Trolls gained their freedom, countless eyes have been on this place."
Yeh'kinya's eyes gleamed with smugness. "Am I right, Prophet Skeram? That is your true name."
The Emperor Zandalar was greatly alarmed, his dark eyes darting around nervously.
How did you know?
Emperor Ata was puzzled and asked, "This seems to be the name of the Qiraji. What's going on?"
Yeh'kinya gripped the Dark Scepter tightly, staring directly into the eyes of the Emperor Zandalar:
"This event is not recorded in the Dark Scepter. It occurred before the Dark Scepter was obtained. After the Zandalar Trolls gained their freedom, they were mind-controlled by a Qiraji. The Qiraji Priest, Prophet Skeram, devoured the Zandalar's soul and took over his body."
Emperor Ata was dumbfounded; the first emperor of the Zandalari Empire was actually a Qiraji.
Yeh'kinya said with deep disgust:
"The Prophet Skeram realized that the rise of the Trolls would pose a threat to the Qiraji, so he prayed to Xal'atath for the Dark Scepter. Xal'atath was in an unprecedented state of weakness and did not see that there was something wrong with his soul."
"It was because of Skeram's conspiracy that the Troll race suffered such a miserable fate: massacres, slavery, the ban on magic. Hundreds of thousands of years of suffering, oppression, and lies."
The Emperor Zandalar laughed heartily, "What, Yeh'kinya, do you intend to judge me guilty? To judge the founder of the Zandalari Empire guilty?"
"No, stop!"
Emperor Ata suddenly realized something, but it was too late.
Yeh'kinya raised the Dark Scepter high and said in a loud voice:
"I declare that Emperor Zandalar is guilty."
As soon as Yeh'kinya finished speaking, the Dark Scepter shattered with a crash.
Zandalari Empire are guilty, then the existence of the Dark Scepter has lost its legal basis, Xal'atath can only reclaim its power.
Yeh'kinya was stunned. The Dark Scepter shattered, and the shadow that had enveloped all the Zandalar vanished, including Emperor Ata.
The Zandalar people, who were huddled together below, began to riot.
"Oh my god, why are we here?"
"It was Emperor Ata, he ordered us all to die."
"You're crowding me! Get out of here! I don't want to die!"
"Your face is... monster."
An even greater upheaval ensued, and the appearance of the Zandalar, including that of Emperor Ata, changed. Their fangs grew rapidly, their lips protruded, and their once handsome faces became grotesque and ferocious.
Emperor Ata stroked his massive fangs and gave a bitter laugh:
"The Zandalar are all born in temples. The power of the Dark Scepter Pain Suppression the bloodline of the Man-eating Tusk, and now it has finally erupted. This is just the beginning; we will grow uglier and uglier."
Yeh'kinya looked dazed and murmured, "I think this looks good."
The Zandalar screamed and fled in all directions, resulting in countless stampedes and utter chaos.
Emperor Ata removed his magnificent robes, crown, and rings.
"Having lost the Dark Scepter, I am powerless to rule the Zandalari Empire. The Loa will never forgive me. Yeh'kinya, do me one last favor: send me down to the underworld, where I can live as an ordinary Zandalar citizen under an assumed name."