The Lightforging Cathedral, with its high dome, is bathed in golden Holy Light that slowly flows, forming the phantom of the Naaru, like a deity looking down upon the crowd.
Faced with the totem that Zexia presented, the Prophet Velen felt a chill run down his spine.
Akama stared wide-eyed, unsure how to defend himself, sweat streaming down his face.
A Shaman will not lose his totem, just as Paladin will not lose his holy book.
Velen slowly closed his eyes. Having lived through ten thousand years, he had long since seen through everything. He quickly calmed himself and said serenely:
"The Holy Light foretold this day long ago, Akama, do you know your mistake?"
Akama fell to his knees with a thud, his body trembling like a leaf, filled with fear and unease.
Velen waved his hand and said, "Today we should thank the Holy Light. It is the Holy Light that brings hope to Draenor. Come, let us praise the Holy Light together."
The crowd was puzzled, but they knew that praising the Holy Light was not wrong, so they prayed along with Velen.
After the prayers ended, Velen said nothing, only snorted coldly, and got up to leave the Lightforging Cathedral.
This is Velen's tactic: delay.
This is a difficult matter to handle. If Akama is punished fairly, it will discourage the Lightforging Draenei.
If Akama is strongly defended, it will make the Lightforging Orcs unhappy.
It would be better to delay for a while, until the hype dies down and everyone stops caring about it. Then, no matter how Velen handles it, it won't cause any trouble.
Akama, Kilrogg, Zexia, as the parties involved, must have been extremely anxious and under immense psychological pressure during this period. Velen's subsequent verdict was a relief for them.
No matter how you look at it, delaying the situation is in Velen's best interest.
However, given Akama's mistake, Velen could no longer rely on him and temporarily sent him home to reflect on his actions.
The Lightforging Draenei needed a leader, Velen began to observe who was suitable to replace Akama. After several days of observation, Aman'Thul, transformed into Amado, came into Velen's view.
Amado was Akama's assistant and held a high position among the Lightforging Draenei. Coupled with Aman'Thul's deliberate performance, Velen was very satisfied.
Thus, Amado naturally replaced Akama as the leader of the Lightforging Draenei.
Under the bright sunshine, Velen, accompanied by Grommash Hellscream, Kilrogg, Amado, and others, inspected the Woshu Valley construction site. His face remained gloomy throughout the journey, leaving the others puzzled.
As the inspection drew to a close, Velen's expression grew increasingly grim. The Orcs were baffled, but Aman'Thul's eyes darted around, and he understood immediately.
After the inspection, Aman'Thul found an opportunity to sidle up to Velen.
Aman'Thul had considered killing Velen and taking his place, but Velen's identity was extraordinary, and the Holy Light paid close attention to him. Aman'Thul was not confident that he could hide it from the Naaru.
"Prophet, although they believe in the Holy Light, the Orcs are used to being lazy and lethargic, so the construction is bound to be delayed."
Velen felt a sense of relief that someone had guessed his thoughts, but he also said indignantly:
"The Holy Light has bestowed power upon the Orcs, yet they show no gratitude. At this rate, it may take ten years to complete."
Aman'Thul looked worried and deliberately sighed:
"Orcs are inherently lazy, and even the teachings of the Holy Light are not very effective. My suggestion is to train a new generation of Orcs and have them believe in the Holy Light from the moment they are born."
Velen's expression shifted, and he asked with interest:
"But Orcs need more than ten years to grow up, it's too late."
"We can use Holy Light to induce childbirth," Aman'Thul offered. "By using Holy Light, we can shorten the gestation period of Orcs women to only three days, and then allow them to grow into adulthood in seven days. Because they receive Holy Light from a young age, they don't need food or drink; they only need enough Holy Light to work tirelessly for twenty-four hours a day without complaint."
Velen's eyelids twitched, and he glanced warily at Aman'Thul, having never heard of the Holy Light having such a wondrous use.
Aman'Thul didn't care about Velen's attitude; suspicion and jealousy were inevitable. He continued talking at length:
"The Lightforging Draenei have learned my method, and they can spawn ten thousand Orcs a day. In ten days, we'll have ten thousand adult Orcs every day. Before long, new Lightforging Orcs will be everywhere in Nagrand, and our great undertaking will be accomplished."
Velen pondered for a long time. This use of Holy Light was beyond Velen's comprehension, and he felt extremely uncomfortable. Unfortunately, he had no choice, so he said with difficulty:
"I do know this method, but it goes against ethics and might displease the Orcs."
Aman'Thul chuckled inwardly, then deliberately swore a sincere oath:
"Prophet, why don't you leave this matter to me? I will take full responsibility."
Velen patted Aman'Thul on the shoulder with a smile, "I trust you to handle things."
Ten days later, ten thousand New Lightforged Orcs joined, causing an uproar.
Because they received Holy Light from their mother's womb, the New Lightforged Orcs into well-proportioned forms with kind faces.
Compared to the Old Lightforging Orcs, they are roughly equal in strength, have almost unlimited stamina, need no rest, sleep, or even food, and spend their days praying and working.
More importantly, they have an incredibly devout faith, never feel fatigue, and are as obedient as machines.
In comparison, the Old Lightforging Orcs felt they had been rendered obsolete, and resentment began to grow.
With 10,000 New Lightforged Orcs joining every day, their numbers quickly overwhelmed the Old Lightforging Orcs Old Lightforging Orcs, who dared not utter a word of complaint.
Late that night, after a long day's work, Grommash Hellscream, Kilrogg, Blackhand gathered together to discuss something.
"So, what's your opinion on these New Lightforged Orcs?" Grommash Hellscream asked tentatively.
Blackhand roared furiously, "They're just a bunch of machines, Draenei slaves. I've spoken with them; they've completely lost their Orcs traditions. I don't recognize them as Orcs."
Kilrogg covered his blind left eye and whispered, "We Orcs have been able to stand tall in Draenor World because of our indomitable spirit. Although we have accepted the Holy Light, we still maintain our identity. But the New Lightforged Orcs have made me realize the crisis. If this continues, we will surely be eliminated by the New Lightforged Orcs."
Grommash Hellscream nodded. "Things are already very serious. If only these New Lightforged Orcs remain in Draenor World, the Orcs are practically extinct, reduced to vassals of the Draenei. We must rebel."
Kilrogg said with difficulty, "But the New Lightforged Orcs far outnumber us and are completely subservient to the Draenei. We are no match for them."
The three Orcs chieftains pondered for a long time but could not find a solution.
"What a bunch of fools! It's because the Orcs have chieftains like you that they've fallen into this predicament."
A mocking voice came from behind, sounding like a female Orcs. Grommash Hellscream asked warily:
Who is it?
Appearing before the three was Zexia, followed by Akama.
It turned out that Velen deliberately delayed the matter, giving Akama a chance to catch his breath. He secretly contacted Zexia, and the two reached a settlement, agreeing to collude and give false testimony.
What Akama found intolerable was that his Adjutant Amado, had climbed above him, and seeing no hope of advancement, he, under Zexia's instigation, began to harbor rebellious thoughts.
Akama blinked and smiled, "The Lightforging Orcs are strong, but they have one weakness: their devout faith."