Chapter Summaries

Anveena and Jarod studied the Shadow Chasing Swarm’s costly fight against the Mantid and arranged to capture Mantid heroes so the Swarm could evolve. As Klaxxi assassins moved against Grand Empress Shekzeer, Malik the Unscarred confronted Kil'ruk the Wind-Reaver and Rikkar the Cutter, urging them to join the Swarm.

• Jarod praised the Shadow Chasing Beast King’s power, then directed Anveena to assess the Swarm’s losses at Niuzao Temple.
• Anveena asked the Overmind to begin studying Mantid genes during the war, and it agreed in exchange for her help acquiring the Aqir Empire’s legacies.
• Anveena met the Gene Masters, agreed to capture Mantid heroes for their experiments, and learned that Alpha Abathur would join her if she brought him living specimens and King pheromones.
• Jarod advised Anveena to send Malik the Unscarred to protect Shekzeer and capture more Klaxxi heroes, while Anveena agreed to pursue the Grand Empress as a specimen for Abathur.
• Kil'ruk and Rikkar infiltrated Shekzeer's palace to assassinate her, but Malik emerged from the shadows and called on them to join the Swarm.

The Shadow Chasing Swarm captured Mantid heroes, strengthened Malik the Unscarred, and prepared to escalate its campaign against the Mantid. Grand Empress Shekzeer discovered the Swarm’s true scale and learned that the current battle was only a minor prelude to a much larger war.

• The Royal Chancellor ordered the dying Kil'ruk taken to Angshuk for research into Amber Regeneration, while Mantid commanders were summoned back to defend the palace.
• Diakum rewarded Malik the Unscarred with a divine war halberd and the Indestructible Body talent, while the Gene Masters prepared to experiment on captured Mantid heroes.
• Diakum asked Madam Guo Su to secure intelligence and more Sha-Touched weapons, and Anveena reported that Mantid lords Mel'jarak and Ta'yak were returning toward the Serpent's Spine, where she had prepared an ambush.
• Diakum told Anveena to send Jarod Shadowsong a Heart of Azeroth pendant and said he would travel with the Pandaren to the Isle of Thunder.
• Shekzeer touched the fossilized insect egg and saw the Overmind's vast Swarm fighting a Void god across the Sea of Darkness.
• The Overmind told Shekzeer that the evil god would become Swarm food in thirty thousand heartbeats and that the Mantid war was only an insignificant children's game before the real war began.

Anveena’s Shadow Chasing Swarm crushed the Mantid elites and attacked the Sacred Tree Palace, forcing Shekzeer to offer the Mantids’ surrender and demand an audience with the Overmind. Anveena halted the battle and invited Shekzeer to speak, leaving her final trump card and proposal unresolved.

• Anveena activated the swarm’s rage pheromones, and successive waves of bugs defeated most of the Mantid elites beneath the Serpent’s Spine, capturing Wind Lord Mel'jarak and Blade Lord Ta'yak.
• Mel'jarak and Ta'yak acknowledged the swarm’s overwhelming advantage before Ta'yak charged into battle and was lost beneath the bugs.
• Anveena told Jarod that the Overmind demanded the Grand Empress’s defeat within a strict timetable, and they discussed using extreme troop production in the already ruined Dread Wastes.
• Agamaggan demolished the Sacred Tree Palace, while Unscarred Tyrant Malik attacked Zor'lok and prepared to kill him.
• Shekzeer stopped Malik with her mental power, offered to make the Mantids part of the swarm, and demanded to see the Overmind, claiming she had a final trump card.
• Anveena appeared on the battlefield, halted the fighting, and told Shekzeer that the swarm was listening.

After Shekzeer surrendered, Anveena arranged for her to become an experimental candidate for the Queen of Blades, while the Shadow Chasing Swarm advanced into the Dread Wastes. The Wind-Reaver carried a baited relic containing the missing Sha essences toward the Klaxxi elders, as Diakum prepared to use their knowledge to locate Y'Shaarj's heart and warned Saloras that a greater crisis was coming.

• Shekzeer surrendered, and Anveena ordered the Shadow Chasing Swarm to seize the Grand Empress's palace while the Mantid guard underwent reformation.
• Anveena told Shekzeer that the Abathurs would study her royal pheromones and might transform her into a Queen of Blades; Alpha Abathur confirmed she would gain command over the swarm but lose her former identity.
• The Wind-Reaver escaped the ruined palace, killed a Mantid traveling with Shadewalker warriors, and took a box containing the Blade of the Black Empire and several Sha essences toward Klaxxi'vess.
• General Staghelm explained that the relic was bait meant to draw the Klaxxi elders into revealing the location of Y'Shaarj's heart, then set out to track the blade.
• Diakum told Saloras he needed the Klaxxi elders to locate the heart beneath the Vale of Eternal Blossoms and planned to forge a Thunder Divine Weapon; he warned her that they would face a coming storm of destiny together.

The Pandaren delegation reached the Isle of Thunder and secured peace with the Shan'ze Clan Mogu. Diakum revealed that he would take Lei Shen away and use the Heart of Thunder to forge a weapon, leaving Ugu to lead the Mogu into the new era.

• Lelan and Sun Rouxin discussed Pandaria’s new diplomacy and the Goblins’ push for exclusive trade rights as the Exodar approached the Isle of Thunder.
• Zhou Zhuo presented Lei Shen’s edict to the Shan'ze Clan, and their leaders agreed to make peace and send an honor guard for Lei Shen’s funeral.
• Zhou Zhuo and the delegation entered the ruined Palace of Thunder, where Chancellor Ugu welcomed them and the Heart of Thunder stirred the island’s storms.
• Diakum told Ugu he would take Lei Shen away and use the Heart of Thunder to forge a weapon, while Ugu agreed to continue leading the Shan'ze Clan.

Ovospark toured the Mogu’s Titan facilities and agreed to deal with dangerous failed specimens in exchange for access to mechanical technology. Meanwhile, Diakum forged a thunder sword for the Argus Lord with help from Aegwynn and Azeroth, then prepared to confront the imprisoned god whose confession the World Mother awaited.

• Ovospark learned that the Mogu had created the Pandaren and Lizardfolk, then accepted a mission to clear dangerous failed specimens from the sewers in exchange for the empire’s engineering knowledge.
• Li Li spotted phoenixes in the palace and planned to take them to the Wandering Isle, while Anzu offered to help tame them and restore their nobility.
• Consort Luolin and Consort Suku agreed to give Diakum control of the Throne of Thunder and considered relocating to the World Soul Temple.
• Diakum placed the Heart of Thunder in the Throne of Thunder and forged a thunder sword for the Argus Lord, with Aegwynn adding Azeroth’s World Power to the weapon.
• Diakum and Aegwynn discussed naming the sword and set out to meet the god imprisoned deep within the palace, whose confession the World Mother awaited.

Diakum and Aegwynn entered Thunder King's Palace’s hidden prison and confronted Ra-den, the Storm Keeper who had been imprisoned for ten thousand years. After learning the Titans had fallen and hearing how his absence had contributed to catastrophe among the Keepers, Ra-den agreed to help free the World Soul and seek to save the Titans, but Zul demanded that he also confront G'huun in Uldir.

• Chancellor Ugg led Diakum, Aegwynn, and the other representatives through the guarded tunnels to the secret prison, where Diakum revealed the chained Ra-den.
• Diakum told Ra-den that the Titans had fallen and provoked him into breaking free of his chains, then recounted the disasters that followed Ra-den’s absence.
• Aegwynn explained the danger posed by the Nalak'sha Engine and the Everything Unification Field, and offered Ra-den a chance to help free the World Soul and travel the stars.
• Ra-den said he wanted to save the Titans’ immortal souls, and Aegwynn ordered him to accompany her to meet the World Soul as a prisoner.
• Zul confronted Ra-den and demanded that he help the Zandalari deal with G'huun, the Old God sealed in Uldir.

After the Pandaren and the Shan’ze Clan signed an alliance, Diakum received control of the Emperor’s Fist Legion and Lei Shen’s artifacts. He planned to have Azeroth’s world-soul restore the legion’s forge, while Ugg sought help rebuilding the Mogu population and the chapter ended with Yrel using Lei Shen’s crown to command a wild phoenix.

• Chancellor Ugg and the Pandaren agreed to open the Vale of Eternal Blossoms, recognize Shan’ze Clan territory, and ally against the Mogu rebels; Zhou Zhuo drafted the treaty, and both sides signed it.
• Ugg gave Diakum the Emperor’s Fist war seal and Lei Shen’s axe, halberd, and spare crown, entrusting the legion to Diakum rather than the Shan’ze Clan.
• Steamwheedle negotiated with Ugg for Mogu technology, and Ugg asked the goblin to find spiritually charged soil that could help restore the Shan’ze Clan’s population.
• Diakum told Steamwheedle to search Deepholm for the soil and deliver a warning to Therazane from the Supreme Star Soul.
• Diakum explained to Saloras that Azeroth’s world-soul could restart the Emperor’s Forge and let Anveena command the Emperor’s Fist colossi.
• Yrel wore Lei Shen’s crown while riding a wild phoenix with Li Li and Lelan, prompting Diakum to complain that she was misusing the artifact.

Anveena’s Shadow Chasing Swarm stripped the Dread Wastes bare to fuel rapid troop production, while she prepared to attack the Mantid and pressure them into finding Y'Shaarj's Heart of Darkness. At Klaxxi'vess, the elders completed a ritual that revealed the Heart’s location and began choosing champions to become the Dominator’s God Chosen, even as they accepted that defeat might mean joining the stronger swarm.

• Anveena and Jarod surveyed the devastated Dread Wastes, agreed to end maximum troop production, and planned an attack on Mantid territory at midnight.
• Anveena described how Mantid genes had strengthened the Shadow Chasing Swarm’s fliers, ground troops, and ranged bugs, then learned that the Klaxxi elders had begun their ritual.
• Anveena told Jarod that the Mantid informant could assassinate the elder council’s leaders, but they would wait for a signal from General Staghelm before using him.
• At Klaxxi'vess, High Elder Ik lit the final Sha pillars with the Blade of the Black Empire, and the ritual’s resonance revealed the path to Y'Shaarj's Heart of Darkness.
• High Elder Ik declared that the Mantid would seek the Heart and ordered seven champions to become the Dominator’s God Chosen, while explaining that the Mantid would join the Shadow Chasing Swarm if they lost.

Diakum and Staghelm watched the Shadow Chasing Swarm overwhelm the Mantid while the Pandaren prepared to defend the Gate of the Setting Sun. As the Mantid champions set out to revive the Overmind, Anveena decided to use Shekzeer’s trump card and send the Mantid toward a greater war.

• Diakum told Staghelm to track the champions seeking Y'Shaarj's Heart and wait for him before confronting the Old God's Heart.
• General Yang refused to abandon the Gate of the Setting Sun, accepted Jade Lotus reinforcements under his command, and began fighting the attacking Mantid.
• Korven and six other champions absorbed Sha energy, and Klaxxi'va Ik sent them to awaken the Overmind's Heart of Darkness while Qital and Nilnak stayed to defend Klaxxi'vess.
• The Mantid elders ordered Klaxxi'vess to contract its defenses and resist the Shadow Chasing Swarm until the Overmind revived.
• Anveena and Jarod discussed the Mantid champions' departure, and Anveena chose to use Shekzeer's trump card to send the Mantid into a greater war.

The Shadow Chasing Swarm breached Klaxxi'vess after Anveena weakened its barrier, while Malik confronted the Mantid paragon Nilnak and traitor Kor'lik helped the attack from within. Kor'lik brought High Elder Ikk to witness the swarm devouring a dying Lesser God, where Ikk joined the swarm as its first Swarm Archon.

• The Mantid defended Klaxxi'vess with fanatical resolve as the Shadow Chasing Swarm's attacks grew more aggressive and its tactics evolved.
• Anveena's explosion weakened the Amber Echo Barrier, and the Blade Queen ordered the swarm to storm the city.
• Malik the Unscarred Tyrant led Warrior Bugs into Klaxxi'vess and confronted Nilnak, demanding his surrender for the value of his genes.
• Kor'lik destroyed the Amber stones sustaining the barrier and opened a void rift, then helped the wounded High Elder Ikk cross to the Sea of Darkness.
• Kor'lik and Ikk watched the Shadow Chasing Swarm devour the dying King Beast Agamaggan, while the Overmind explained that the victory was not yet a true godslaying war.
• Ikk offered his knowledge to the Overmind, which welcomed him as Klaxxi'va Ik, the first Swarm Archon, and said he could teach Shekzeer.

Taran Zhu and his allies raced into the Vale of Eternal Blossoms to stop the Mantid champions from reaching the Heart of Darkness, while the Light Weavers prepared to reinforce the Gate of the Setting Sun. As Diakum entered the newly opened Vale alone, Saloras gave him research suggesting Sha energy might be countered rather than merely removed.

• Taran Zhu reached the battered Gate of the Setting Sun, where Madam Goya and General Yang demanded that he honor Pandaria's duty to protect the Vale and its hidden powers.
• Taran Zhu, Old Chen, Cairne Bloodhoof, and Hamul Runetotem pursued the Mantid champions, but the Vale's mist separated Hamul from the others.
• Hamul met General Staghelm and joined the Shadewalkers, who were preparing to ambush Kaz'tik and the champions digging toward the Heart of Darkness.
• Taran Zhu, Old Chen, and Cairne charged into the mine, prompting General Staghelm to lead the Shadewalkers after them.
• The Four Celestials opened the gate to the Vale, and Diakum prepared to enter alone while sending the Light Weavers to reinforce the Gate of the Setting Sun.
• Saloras gave Diakum her research on a possible way to counter Sha energy, and he entered the Vale as the Light Weavers set out for the battle.

The defenders stopped most of the Sha-Touched champions while Korven the Prime opened Y'Shaarj's sealed chamber and released the Heart of Darkness. Diakum drove the Monkey King out of danger and faced Y'Shaarj, which possessed Korven and revived in the dark hall.

• Taran Zhu used a secret technique to create three chi avatars and fought Kil'ruk alongside Staghelm and Old Chen, but Kil'ruk fatally stabbed him before Staghelm brought the Wind-Reaver down.
• Kil'ruk hurled the Doubt Sha's power into the passage, where Iyyokuk the Clear-Minded One took it, while Staghelm sent the defeated Kil'ruk into the Sea of Darkness and led the wounded defenders away.
• Diakum arrived, healed the wounded with a Divine Edict, and told them to retreat as Korven defeated the Mogu guardian and opened the Titan chest containing Y'Shaarj's Heart of Darkness.
• The Heart of Darkness nearly ensnared the Monkey King, but Diakum rescued him and ordered him to remove the Mogu ancestor before sealing the hall.
• Y'Shaarj possessed Korven and re-formed as a vast Sha creature, then attacked Diakum, who met it with the Godfall Divine Sword and challenged it to return to its grave.

Diakum fought Y'Shaarj while the Old God spread nightmare illusions across Pandaria to feed on the emotions of its victims. Diakum revealed that Y'Shaarj's mass illusion served his plan, then challenged it to face the combined hope of all living beings.

• Diakum ignited Y'Shaarj's Power Incarnation with the Doomfall Thunderblade and tried to awaken his Solar Incarnation through combat.
• Y'Shaarj spread its mental authority across Pandaria, trapping Old Chen, Cairne Bloodhoof, Hamul Runetotem, the Monkey King, General Staghelm, and others in personal nightmare illusions.
• At the Gate of the Setting Sun, Yrel woke from her illusion when the Crown of Command shocked her, then prayed to contact Diakum while her companions remained trapped in their nightmares.
• Diakum told Yrel that Y'Shaarj's continent-wide illusion was part of his plan and urged her to call upon the Holy Light to encourage the warriors.
• Y'Shaarj overpowered Diakum and demanded to know whether he was indestructible, but Diakum explained how he confronted his own negative emotions and vowed to purify the Old God by gathering the hope of all living beings.

Yrel awakened the Eredar trapped in Y'Shaarj’s disaster illusion, while Old Chen and the Pandaren found the resolve to defend their homeland. Diakum destroyed Y'Shaarj’s manifestation, and the Mantid Prime recognized the Overmind and welcomed the swarm’s return home.

• Yrel used her Argus Heart pendant and the World Vow to awaken the Eredar, and the Twins urged them to kindle hope against Sha Power.
• Old Chen rejected the guilt and accusations in his illusion, declared his commitment to defending Pandaria, and awakened beside Cairne and Hamuul.
• Cairne, Hamuul, Old Chen, the Four Celestials, and Pandaren across the land raised lights of hope, while Anveena set Mantid territory ablaze and General Old Yang died after bidding farewell to his homeland.
• Diakum grew into a Giant of Light and struck down Y'Shaarj’s manifestation, purifying the Heart of Darkness and its Sha Power.
• Korven the Prime awakened, saw the Overmind’s shadow behind Diakum, and knelt to declare that the Mantid had come home.

Diakum defeated Y'Shaarj's resurrection plot, empowered the Shadow Chasing Swarm with the Heart of Darkness, and helped conclude the conquest of Pandaria's Mantid. As Pandaria considered opening itself to the world, its heroes prepared for new journeys and diplomatic missions.

• Diakum gained Sha Power and Heart Power, then fed the Heart of Darkness's Sha energy to Twilight's Hammer and gave the remaining heart to the Overmind to fuel the swarm's evolution.
• Diakum welcomed the Paragons into the Shadewalker Hive, where Korven the Prime and the others joined the swarm's campaign to devour gods.
• Anveena reported that the Mantid had been conquered and resigned as Queen of Blades to return to Silvermoon City for Kael'thas's wedding; Diakum agreed to attend.
• Diakum healed the gravely wounded Taran Zhu and urged Pandaria's leaders to discuss how the continent would engage with the outside world, while they remained wary of opening it fully.
• Li Li told Old Chen she had secured phoenix eggs for the Wandering Isle, and Old Chen planned to return to the Valley of the Four Winds for ancestral rites before the island resumed its travels.
• Taran Zhu said the Lorewalkers wanted the Wandering Isle to serve as Pandaria's diplomatic envoy and relocate their headquarters there; Old Chen agreed, and Taran Zhu chose Quel'Thalas as his first destination.

Madam Guo Su led the Jade Lotus’s black-gloved fighters through a portal to Gadgetzan to confront the Dirty Hands Gang, while Taran Zhu and the Four Celestials paid respects to the World Mother. The chapter left Diakum with a vision of Azshara being pursued in Revendreth and suspected that a force had severed the rings’ connection, possibly sending her to The Maw.

• Aegwynn opened a portal to Gadgetzan, and Madam Guo Su led the Jade Lotus fighters through it to challenge the Dirty Hands Gang.
• Taran Zhu and the Four Celestials entered the World Temple, where the Monkey King surrendered the Staff of Fuzan and joined them in paying respects to the World Mother.
• Aegwynn and Diakum told the Monkey King about intelligent monkeys enslaved by Gallywix, and he set off to seek justice for them.
• The World Mother granted Taran Zhu a Heart of Azeroth, and Aegwynn gave Diakum a newly forged ring that connected him to a vision of Azshara in Revendreth.
• Diakum saw Azshara being pursued through a castle and warned that some force had severed the rings’ connection, possibly sending her to The Maw.

Vastann Staghelm prepared to return to Ashenvale and visit his family, but first contracted the Swarm Tyrant Kil'ruk as his battle companion. They planned to travel to Northrend and confront the Nerubians, beginning with their commander Anub'arak.

• Vastann Staghelm packed phoenix eggs and other gifts for his family and learned that he had a month of leave approved.
• Vastann Staghelm urged Colonel Marlis to take leave and visit Natalia before they traveled together to Northrend.
• Vastann Staghelm summoned a Swarm Tyrant and contracted Wind Reaver Kil'ruk, who agreed to fight alongside him without abandoning his principles.
• Vastann Staghelm gave Kil'ruk a plan to intervene in the war between the undead and the Nerubians and named Anub'arak as their target.
• Kil'ruk judged Anub'arak a worthy opponent and agreed to join the hunt when Vastann Staghelm was ready.

After the Exodar departed Pandaria, Diakum prepared for diplomatic visits and continued his journey toward Stormwind. He then performed an extreme Flesh Remolding on Vashj to prepare her to protect Azshara, leaving Saloras alarmed by the results.

• Zhou Zhuo resolved to record Diakum and the Lightforged warriors’ deeds, while the Pandaren organized a diplomatic delegation for Kael'thas Sunstrider’s wedding and visits to other powers.
• Saloras told Diakum that she and her sister would return to Draenor to use a star chart to locate Eonar, and Diakum learned that Nomi had accidentally summoned Fire Elementals while cooking.
• The Exodar continued flying without Diakum at the navigation station because Lightforged artisans had installed Mogu-tech capacitors as backup power.
• Diakum persuaded Vashj to undergo treatment, then used Flesh Remolding to heal and enhance her so she could protect Azshara in Suramar.
• Saloras found Vashj transformed with six arms, two hearts, and three lungs, and objected when Diakum proposed spreading the imperial guard template across Azeroth.

Vashj returned to Suramar after her body was restored and resolved to protect the sleeping Azshara while preparing to undermine Elisande. After rescuing a child worker, she began recruiting the city’s children and their families as servants for Azshara’s court, alarming Elisande’s mage faction.

• Vashj woke in a forest near Suramar and read Archbishop Saloras’s letter explaining that her operation had succeeded, her body had been restored, and Commander Diakum had given her the Shockstrike halberd.
• Vashj discovered her enhanced speed and sharper mind, then decided to hide Azshara’s awakening, gather loyal officials, and prepare Suramar to welcome the Empress’s return.
• Vashj entered Suramar with Lord Etraeus and gave him an Azure Dragon Jade Talisman, claiming a Pandaren delegation would soon arrive with a letter from Emperor Shaohao for Azshara.
• Vashj reconsidered the Nightborne’s suffering under Elisande and planned to use their resentment to spark an uprising in support of Azshara.
• Vashj used her enhanced reflexes to catch a Nightborne girl falling from the Hall of Order, then appointed her an apprentice handmaiden and sent her to gather other children and their families for service at Nightwell Fortress.
• Vashj demanded that an Elisande-affiliated mage pay the girl’s wages, and the startled mage decided to report the renewed recruitment of imperial handmaidens to the Grand Magistrix.