It's just a temporary truce
Regarding Azshara's series of actions, Diakum doesn't really want to get involved.
On the one hand, although the queen has indeed tempered some of her character after thousands of years of repentance, it is said that a person's nature cannot be changed. If Azshara is dissatisfied by excessive involvement in the queen's private affairs, Diakum will probably suffer the same treatment as War of the Ancients and Destroyer Mannoroth.
Although there is a high probability that Queen Azshara can't defeat him now, if he can be a collaborator, there is no need to push things into a hostile state.
On the other hand, the series of actions in Revendreth are different from the actions in Bastion and Ardenweald before Diakum. Those two places are really just passing by "side missions", you can just do it casually.
But Revendreth's trip is Diakum's "main mission", and he must complete it with 100% enthusiasm and motivation.
Even in the face of this incident, the ending of Sire Denathrius seems not so important.
Therefore, Diakum spent the next few days recuperating in Floating City of Broker, and it was not until Veiled Market got close to Revendreth that he came out to do some activities.
So Cartel's Floating City is very lively now.
At the invitation of Big Boss Zou Leah, almost all broker scholars from all the broker consortiums active in the entire Shadow Kingdom who were interested in the knowledge and mysteries of the Firstborn were invited to this Veil Market.
With Nether-Stalker as the core, they formed an organization called "Cipher Society" to specialize in the knowledge of First Ones.
During the previous journey of Korthia, Nether-Stalker and Rafaam collected some cipher texts of First Ones in that mysterious broken country, but this kind of knowledge is very obscure and requires Broker scholars to do their best to decipher it.
However, after Azshara also joined them as an "honorary master", the speed of ciphertext cracking suddenly accelerated.
This is really not because Broker scholars are incompetent, but because Azshara has brought them another unconventional way of solving problems. The Queen believes that since Eternal Oness are shaped by First Ones, then by deducing the power of Eternal Ones, we will definitely get clues about the power of First Ones.
The best thing is that Azshara's sojourn in Shadowlands has collected enough samples of Eternal Ones's power.
She even has a physical sample of Chains of Domination in her hand, which is the "natal magic weapon" of the Jailer.
Under the leadership of Azshara, Broker scholars first deciphered the changes in Dominion Rune and Necromantic Rune, and then reversely deciphered Cipher of the First Ones based on the runes of these powers. They actually found some combination rules.
As Diakum said, Cipher of the First Ones is a "self-encrypted" text. This type of text itself has the power of First Ones. Therefore, you must always be careful when cracking it. Once the combination is wrong, it will cause a horrific incident.
Just yesterday, a Broker scholar's wrong combination directly turned it into a strange "stone".
The worst thing is that the guy's consciousness was trapped in it and screamed. Azshara couldn't restore it even if he tried his own hands, forcing other Broker scholars to combine the ciphertext more carefully while looking for a way to crack it.
Finally, Diakum, who strolled over to watch this morning, couldn't stand it anymore.
He used a unique combination of ciphertext to restore Broker to its energy state.
"You can't just try to combine ciphertext here! It's too risky."
Vigilant said seriously to Broker scholars:
"Cipher of the First Ones requires special equipment to crack and combine without affecting or distorting reality. Before entering Zereth Mortis, you should do some theoretical work first. Don't try complex combinations as soon as you get started.
If there is one wrong character, the entire Veiled Market will explode on the spot.
I'm not threatening you
Cipher of the First Ones is the foundation used by the Creators to shape reality. The knowledge contained in these runes is a bit too advanced for us mere mortals.
They are Origin of the Force, containing all changes in power to date."
"But I'm more curious about the combination you just made!"
Azshara was staring at Diakum with bright eyes. The queen whispered:
"That's a fifth-level encryption! Diakum, but we haven't even figured out the second-level encryption yet. You shouldn't have mastered that technique, so aren't you going to share your secret with your queen?"
"I can only say that by Zereth Mortis, you will be able to understand the mystery of the ciphertext."
Diakum shook his head and said:
"These codes are used to shape reality, which means that if you don't step outside the reality they are based on, you will never be able to decipher their secrets.
But now is not the time to reveal all this, Revendreth is about to arrive, and I want to go down. Please sit in Veiled Market and wait for our final showdown with Sire Denathrius."
"But you have to wait for the "King's Sorrow" to be delivered to Denathrius before you can start the final game with him."
Azshara did not ask about the secret that Diakum did not intend to tell.
She frowned slightly and said:
"We haven't heard from Material World in a long time, you think. I mean, even if everything goes well with our progress on Shadowlands, by the time we get back to Material World, Azeroth."
"Please have some faith in your subjects, Your Majesty."
Diakum said casually:
"The demons came out Fallen Titan to conquer your hometown, but they obviously thought too much. Azeroth is more tenacious than you think."
"Well, as a king, when will I have such confidence as you?"
Azshara snorted, then put away his new magic book that recorded the combination of Cipher of the First Ones, shook his long moon-white hair, and said:
"I'll go down with you."
"No need!"
Dick shook his head and said:
"It's enough for me alone. If you go down together, my presence will be exposed. You have walked in Revendreth before. I think that land has recorded your breath. Sire Denathrius's control over Revendreth is completely unmatched by other Eternal Ones."
"But if I don't go down, with your pathetic spell-casting ability, how can you hide your breath from being discovered by the keen Venthyr?"
Azshara said:
"What's more, it's been several days since we met. Aren't you curious where my "Sinstone" is?"
"Well, your Sinstone, yes, I'm really curious about how big your Sinstone is and where you hid it?"
Dick was also interested.
Azshara smiled and said nothing, but the smile was somewhat bitter.
A few minutes later, the Broker sailors responsible for piloting Veiled Market reported news to Big Boss So Lea that left her stunned.
"What did you say?"
Suo Liya, who was admiring the cryptographic knowledge analyzed by "Cipher Society" so that she could learn how to use the First Ones sacred object in her hand, asked in shock:
"What do you mean by "a continent" blocking our route? No! Veiled Market came to Revendreth to capture Broker Black Market not once or twice. There are no obstacles on our route!
Could it be that you took the wrong route?"
"No, big boss."
Broker The sailor is also confused.
It says:
"I swear we didn't go the wrong way, but the looming "floating island" in the domain is really huge. It's like a suspended mountain. It blocks the road ahead. We must make a detour."
"What the hell?"
Sol Leah rushed out of her temporary residence without believing in evil, ran to the flying platform of Veiled Market, grabbed a special telescope with telekinesis, and looked forward.
Oops!
What a big blood-black floating island.
Its area is at least a quarter of the size of Revendreth. According to the tradition of Shadowlands, this can indeed be called a "land".
But where did this damn thing come from?
Also, why does the color of this island feel so familiar? I think I've seen it somewhere before?
"That island is coming! Boss, be careful!"
Several Broker casters were keenly aware that the floating island continent blocking the way was moving. It seemed that it was being pulled by some force and was approaching Veiled Market.
This floating city is already very big, but compared with the island that is approaching Planar Storm, it is still as small as a small insect. It may completely smash Veiled Market at the moment of collision.
As a result, the entire flying platform was in chaos. Suo Lia even took out his First Ones sacred object and planned to blow it to pieces.
But just when the rich man So Cartel raised the holy object manipulator, he was pressed down by the big hand beside him.
Diakum shook his head at her and signaled the big boss not to be nervous.
And Queen Azshara strolled forward. Under the gazes of the surrounding Broker and the shocked Wei Nali, their queen walked to the edge of the flying platform, raised her head, and her long hair flew in the wind of the space.
Under her gaze, the rapidly approaching floating island continent finally slowly stopped in an area only a few dozen meters away from the floating city.
"Everyone has his own sins, but some people have so many sins."
Azshara whispered something. She turned around and said to Diakum in the grand background of the black-red island continent suspended in the interrealm behind her:
"Holy Light's Saint, do you want to enjoy the scenery on my "Sinstone"?"
"This"
Diakum looked at the terrifying floating island continent. Although he had been mentally prepared before, he still couldn't help but complain at this moment:
"Isn't this too exaggerated?"
"It's okay, not as high as Mount Hyjal."
Azshara's mentality is actually pretty good, and he's actually in the mood to joke.
But Diakum just shook his head. If Azshara's Sinstone is really as exaggerated as Mount Hyjal, then let Sire Denathrius get out of Revendreth quickly, and leave the throne of the King of Sin to you.
"Does this magnificent Sinstone have a name?"
Diakum asked.
Azshara nodded and said:
"It's called "Arrogance"! But Diakum, have you ever thought about what your Sinstone should be called?"
"I don't know how to do this."
Dick shook his head and said:
"I may be guilty, but Denathrius is not qualified to Judgment me."
Broker Cartel has Black Market in Revendreth.
Only Revendreth will accept and help operate this kind of industry in a dark area just by the name. Broker will put some things that are very popular in Material World and Shadowlands for sale here.
Black Market Mistress Tower·Xe'ra is a very skillful Broker, and also very bold, so when Diakum and Azshara When arrived at Black Market in the transportation hall of Broker, he first saw the Black Market mistress inspecting this month's goods.
She was holding a summoning talisman in her hand.
"There is a Abyssal Lord sealed inside."
Azshara whispered:
"I really can't imagine what kind of buyer would consider something like this a treasure?"
"Probably Maldraxxus's war madman."
Diakum, who was magically cast by Azshara and disguised as Venthyr with black hair and black clothes, held a blue midnight rose in his hand and said casually:
"Maldraxxus's Theater of Pain will always need such ferocious "gladiators", Abyssal Lord is just the low-level stuff there, even only rationed to those Death Marquiss as appetizers. I heard that Brokers can even get the shadowed Naaru, or even Entropius
How bold."
"So, this Land of the Dead is actually more lively and energetic than we imagined."
Azshara also disguised herself as an elegant Venthyr lady. She held a black parasol and held a handkerchief in her hand and said to Diakum:
"I actually don't hate this place. After the threat of the Maw is eliminated, Shadowlands is indeed a place worth exploring for a long time. However, the world's expedition will not end so easily.
Do you remember why I came here?"
Dick nodded and said:
"You're trying to take back the life in the world that was stolen, but from the looks of you, it doesn't seem to be going well?"
"Well, Denathrius transformed a lot of world life into anima and put it into the Maw."
Azshara said coldly:
"This means that some of the endless Mawsworn under Zovaal are monsters shaped by Life Force from his hometown. They must be killed and transformed into World Life Force through mental energy conversion.
My expedition is far from over, this is just an intermission."
Vigilant has no comment on this.
He and Azshara did not stay in Black Market for too long. Riding the midnight bat that local Venthyr liked, the two of them flew all the way to the northwest area of Revendreth.
Since it was a different area from the gloomy tones of the entire Revendreth, the ever-gloomy sky seemed to be torn apart by a sharp blade made of light, allowing the golden light to slant down from the sky, eternally "illuminating" almost one-third of the area of Revendreth.
It was a ruin!
A Lightforging ruins, a desert that Venthyr fears the most.
The residents here are psychic vampires. They really possess a series of racial traits that are unique to vampires. Their love for the protection of the night and their fear of sun exposure are the most prominent features.
Therefore, it is clear at a glance that the area in front of Ashen Wilds is definitely the most terrifying "execution ground" in Venthyr's eyes.
It is said that those who lose in Revendreth's court battle will be exiled to this area and exposed to the sun, turning them into miserable Ash Ghoul.
In this Ashen Wilds that is dotted with crystal fragments of Gleam, you can even see the completely destroyed Venthyr palace and those Black Forest that have long since withered under the high temperature.
"When you lived in Revendreth before, didn't you have any doubts about the origin of this Ashen Wilds?"
Diakum Looking at the desert from afar, in the flight of the big bat, he asked:
"I guess the truth here cannot be hidden from you, who is wise."
"I spent most of my time in Revendreth hidden there, Diakum. The only place where the Emperor's eyeliner would not be there, it was also where my Sinstone was "carved"."
Azshara said:
"In order to complete the Sinstone, I even rudely kidnapped a "Duke" and forced his clay servants to work sleeplessly until it was fully formed. From the elegant Venthyr Duke, I also heard the story of Ashen Wilds.
It is said that this is the result of "Naaru Invasion" in ancient times?"
"The result? No, far from it!"
Dick corrected in a calm tone:
"As you just said, this Holy Light expedition has never ended, and the peaceful time Sire Denathrius has enjoyed for so many years is just an intermission.
Now that I'm here, it's time for Holy Light's "Punishing Expedition" to move forward."