Chapter Summaries

Diakum welcomed the First Daughter, now called Kyrestia, into High Heaven after stripping away her Death power, and promised her a future shaped by her own choices. He then found a hidden portal to Revendreth, where Sire Denathrius invited him to a banquet, and Diakum threatened to kill him.

• Xe'ra received the powerless First Daughter in High Heaven, and Diakum explained that Kyrestia would need to learn the Holy Light's paths and regain her strength.
• Kyrestia asked whether High Heaven would impose a fixed destiny on her, and Diakum promised that her work would help shape its uncertain future.
• Diakum instructed Kyrestia and Xe'ra to create angels for the Holy Light, while Xe'ra agreed to help give Kyrestia a body and guide her work.
• Diakum reflected that the paragons would take over Kyrestia's former duties in Bastion and reform its future under Devos's vision.
• Diakum discovered a hidden Venthyr Mirror in Bastion and saw Sire Denathrius inviting him to a banquet in Revendreth.
• Diakum told Sire Denathrius that he had killed the First Daughter and threatened that Denathrius would be next.

Diakum confronted Sire Denathrius over his conspiracies and the deaths they had caused, declaring that he would eventually bring him to judgment. After their magical connection ended, Denathrius and Sarkir began planning protective vessels and weapons, including a journey to Ardenweald to seek material for Denathrius’s ambitions.

• Diakum rejected Denathrius’s invitation to meet and accused him of manipulating Xe'ra’s fate and directing Nathrezim spies across the Six Realms.
• Diakum declared that he would collect the debts owed for souls who had died unjustly, then destroyed the magic mirror connecting him to Denathrius.
• Denathrius lost his composure and called Diakum an uncouth barbarian before their connection was severed.
• Denathrius asked Sarkir to help him obtain a phylactery and a weapon capable of resisting Diakum’s Radiant Sun and Eclipse.
• Sarkir proposed consulting the liches of Maldraxxus and traveling to Ardenweald to find material for a talisman that could extend Denathrius’s power across life and death.
• Denathrius approved Sarkir’s plan and agreed to seek a blade that could help him rule both the dead and the living.

As the Legion’s invasion approached, the Lightforged Fleet helped the Saviors regain momentum, while undead and Naga forces targeted Quel'Thalas and Suramar. A council learned that the Lich King might be trying to turn Empress Azshara into an undead, and Zandalar promised to protect her.

• Admiral Sfurax led the Lightforged Fleet in a devastating strike on the Legion’s orbital fleet, ending its uncontested air superiority over Azeroth.
• Empress Daenerys arrived at Silvermoon City, where Queen Lanathel explained how Kaldorei, Zandalar, and other allies had helped repel attacks on Quel'Thalas.
• Kael'thas and the council heard that the Lich King was advancing toward Suramar to target Empress Azshara, possibly using Frostmourne to raise her as undead.
• Farodis warned that Frostmourne could affect Azshara, while Broll Bearmantle and the Highborne envoy described the danger facing Suramar and the surrounding regions.
• Daenerys warned that Xavius and Grand Magistrix Elisande might also threaten Azshara, and the Zandalari shadow hunter announced that Dark Prophet Zul and Princess Talanji were already heading to the Broken Isles to protect her.

The Elves united to oppose the Trolls’ plan to restore Azshara as their empress, while Daenerys and Lanathel overheard Vol'jin tell Anzu that Diakum had gone to Ardenweald. Thrilled that his wife might soon return, Anzu sacrificed himself at Chi-Ji’s temple so he could enter the Shadowlands and reunite with her.

• Vol'jin declared that the Trolls intended to reclaim Elven legitimacy by helping Azshara become empress of the Zandalar Elven Empire.
• Kael'thas called on every Elf faction to unite against the Trolls’ ambitions and to prevent the Lich King from recruiting Azshara.
• Daenerys told Lanathel that the Trolls were really trying to bring Azshara back for the World Mother, then they overheard Vol'jin report that Diakum had gone to Ardenweald.
• Anzu decided to die heroically so he could enter the Shadowlands and reunite with his wife, Rukhmar.
• Anzu rushed to defend Chi-Ji’s temple from an attack and died in battle, while Chi-Ji understood his true reason for sacrificing himself.

Diakum entered Ardenweald and learned that soulseeds had been stolen for years, then offered to help Willow Wisp find her missing pet, Mao Mao. He set out with Willow Wisp as his guide while insisting that she not call Moonberry.

• Diakum arrived outside Ardenweald and spoke with Elune, who explained the realm’s place in the cycle of life and death.
• After entering the forest, Diakum learned from the grove wills that soulseeds had been stolen for years and that the Winter Queen had withdrawn into the Heart of the Forest.
• Elune asked Diakum to investigate the thefts because corrupted soulseeds could condemn immortal spirits to a terrible fate.
• Willow Wisp arrived searching for Mao Mao, and Diakum offered to help her find the missing pet.
• Willow Wisp suspected that Forest Spirits had taken Mao Mao and said she would call Moonberry, but Diakum asked her to guide him instead and told her not to bring Moonberry.

Diakum entered Ardenweald with Willow Wisp, who explained the groves and doubted the Light Butcher’s legend, while he searched for her stolen pet. After he charged into a valley of Forest Spirits, Marasmius warned the Winter Queen that Diakum was the White Lady’s messenger, and she ordered the Wild Hunt recalled so she could confront him herself.

• Willow Wisp told Diakum about Ardenweald’s dream trees, the Forest Spirits, and how the spirits had stolen her pet, Mao Mao.
• Willow Wisp argued that the Light Butcher was likely a myth because demons continued destroying worlds, and Diakum agreed before revealing that he was the Light Butcher.
• Diakum found the Forest Spirits tormenting Mao Mao, left Willow Wisp safely outside their valley, and attacked the Spirits with the Sunstrider Warhammer and Holy Light.
• Marasmius told the Winter Queen that Diakum was the White Lady’s messenger and warned that the Wild Hunt could not stop him.
• The Winter Queen ordered Marasmius to recall the Wild Hunt and clear the Heart of the Forest so she could face Diakum herself.

Diakum defeated Lord Herne and the Wild Hunt, then learned that Huen Highmountain had ambushed him and beat the Tauren hunter in return. After sharing news of Blackhorn, Diakum hinted that Huen might one day return to Azeroth to fight again, and Huen eagerly agreed.

• The Wild Hunt attacked Diakum, but he overpowered Lord Herne and healed him before asking him to deliver a message to the Winter Queen for a midnight meeting.
• Lord Herne agreed to carry Diakum’s message to the Heart of the Forest and warned him not to bring more trouble to drought-stricken Ardenweald.
• Willow Wisp returned with Mao Mao and a sack of stolen treasures, while Diakum denied having encountered the Wild Hunt.
• Lord Herne realized that Huen Highmountain had not returned from his ambush and feared the hunter had mistaken Diakum for prey.
• Diakum caught Huen’s arrow, destroyed his traps, and beat him after Huen attacked from hiding.
• Diakum told Huen that Blackhorn still guarded Highmountain and hinted that Huen might return to Azeroth to fight again; Huen eagerly accepted the possibility.

Diakum learned that stolen spirit seeds were being corrupted in The Other Side and sent to The Maw, while the anima shortage threatened Ardenweald. After Anzu revealed he had been captured, Diakum arranged a rescue and sent Huen to investigate Bwonsamdi’s imprisonment before continuing to meet the Winter Queen.

• Huen told Diakum and Willow Wisp that the Wild Hunt had traced stolen spirit seeds to The Other Side and suspected Zovaal, but the anima shortage and limits on entering that realm had delayed a rescue.
• Huen explained that Ardenweald’s anima shortage was worsening the groves’ withering and forcing the Winter Queen to prioritize the realm’s survival over reviving spirit seeds.
• Anzu contacted Diakum from a feather and revealed that Forest Spirits had taken him to The Other Side, where stolen spirit seeds were trapped among nightmares.
• Diakum asked Huen to locate Anzu and told Willow Wisp to make a sturdy dreamcatcher so he could rescue the captured spirits after meeting the Winter Queen.
• Diakum warned Huen that Mueh’zala had imprisoned Bwonsamdi and was working with Zovaal, then asked Huen to scout ahead while Diakum went to the Heart of the Forest.
• Willow Wisp left to find other fairies and make the dreamcatcher after Diakum promised that the Winter Queen would soon walk Ardenweald’s groves again.

Diakum arrived at the Heart of the Forest as Elune’s messenger, but the Winter Queen’s guardians tried to stop him, fearing the meeting would endanger their weakened Queen. After Diakum fought them, Elune took control of his body and charged at her sister, leaving the sisters to reunite through battle.

• Lord Herne and Lady Moonberry tried to keep Diakum from entering, while Alyssia warned that Elune’s Cold Moon signaled danger to the Winter Queen.
• Marasmius told Diakum that the Winter Queen had agreed to receive him and explained that the sisters’ apparent hostility hid a deep family bond.
• Diakum asked Marasmius to help him reach Bwonsamdi in the future, then fought the guardians after Marasmius urged him to teach them a lesson.
• The Winter Queen appeared and stopped Diakum after Alyssia and Lady Moonberry were injured in the fight.
• Elune took control of Diakum’s body and attacked the Winter Queen, who blocked the blow with her staff.

Lady Elune borrowed Diakum’s body to fight the Winter Queen, and their clash revealed years of resentment over their neglected duties and the failing cycle of life and death. As the sisters argued, they realized they might have been manipulated and began questioning when Ardenweald’s moonlight had vanished.

• The Winter Queen sent herself and Diakum away from the Heart of the Forest, where Lady Elune took control of his spirit body and battled her sister with Life Force.
• Elune adapted to the fight and broke the Winter Queen’s staff, but the sisters’ divine clash devolved into a physical brawl until Ardenweald’s Highlords urged them to restrain their power.
• The Winter Queen and Elune exchanged accusations over neglected responsibilities, scarce anima, the spirit seeds, An’she, and the dangers facing the material universe.
• When Diakum tried to intervene, both sisters told him to stay out of their family dispute.
• The sisters compared their memories of Ardenweald’s missing moonlight and realized someone may have played them against each other.

After the Winter Queen and Lady Elune cleared up their misunderstanding over Ardenweald’s missing moonlight, Diakum uncovered how Denathrius and Zovaal had exploited the anima crisis. He urged the Winter Queen to revive the soulseeds and promised to confront the culprits in Revendreth.

• The Winter Queen and Lady Elune returned to the Heart of the Forest and discussed why the moonlight over Ardenweald had disappeared.
• The Winter Queen explained that she had prayed to Elune for help with the anima shortage, while Elune said she had never heard those prayers and had thought the Winter Queen took away the moonlight herself.
• Marasmius identified the Naaru invasion of Revendreth as the likely opportunity for someone to steal the moonlight, and the Winter Queen suspected Denathrius and Zovaal were involved.
• Diakum proposed that Mueh'zala had helped create the misunderstanding and explained that Zovaal had turned the Primus’s Domination curse into a source of power.
• The Winter Queen offered to retrieve anima used to maintain Zovaal’s seal, but Diakum and Elune told her to use it to revive the soulseeds instead.
• Diakum promised to go to Revendreth, resolve the anima shortage, and deal with those responsible.

Diakum learned that restoring the Great Cycle would require the Winter Queen to spend Ardenweald’s scarce anima, then prepared to rescue stolen spirit seeds with the Kaldorei warriors. As Diakum entered the battle, Elune urged the Winter Queen to use the Shadowlands’ crisis to destroy Zereth Mortis and become a true Death God.

• The Winter Queen agreed to restart the Anima Garden, while Diakum reflected on the anima cost of resurrecting eternal spirits and the sisters’ strained relationship.
• Diakum arranged for Marasmius to retrieve Azshara from The Maw and planned to confront Mueh'zala before visiting Sire Denathrius.
• Marasmius transported Diakum to the Kaldorei spirits, where Dejana reported that fallen Night Warriors would help Tyrande if they could reach her in time.
• Captain Moonstrike and the Kaldorei warriors agreed to join Diakum in rescuing the stolen spirit seeds, and he called for Willow Wisp’s dreamcatcher.
• Elune asked the Winter Queen to help Diakum and urged her to destroy Zereth Mortis, seize her own power, and become a true Death God.

Diakum and the fairies entered The Other Side to recover corrupted spirit seeds, where Lady Elune taught him the miracle of resurrection. After rescuing Anzu’s seed, they learned that Zovaal planned to use spirit seeds as guides for invading living worlds.

• Willow Wisp gave Diakum a dreamcatcher that opened a passage into The Other Side, and the fairies followed him inside.
• The furious fairies and Elune’s holy spirits defeated the nightmares and began rescuing the corrupted spirit seeds.
• With Lady Elune’s permission, Diakum purified a corrupted seed using sunlight and shadow, then learned the resurrection miracle from her.
• Diakum and Huen Highmountain destroyed a ritual guarded by Mawsworn Valkyries and recovered Anzu’s spirit seed.
• Anzu warned Diakum that Zovaal intended to use Sethe and other spirit seeds to guide an invasion of Draenor and other living worlds.

Diakum rescued Anzu’s soulseed and brought him to Rukhmar in Ardenweald, where the long-separated spouses reunited. After entrusting them to the fairies for revival, Diakum reminded Willow Wisp that she had left her pet Mao Mao behind in the nightmare-filled Other Side.

• Diakum asked Old Mushroom Head to tell Queen Azshara to recover the stolen soulseeds and deal with the corrupted behemoths in the Maw.
• Diakum rode with Anzu’s soulseed and Willow Wisp to find Rukhmar, while Willow Wisp described how the fairies had cared for her.
• Willow Wisp learned that Anzu was Rukhmar’s husband, and Diakum told her how Anzu had sacrificed his wings to protect Rukhmar from Sethe.
• Anzu and Rukhmar recognized each other, collided while rushing to reunite, and shared affectionate promises as the fairies carried them toward the Soulseed Garden.
• Diakum told the fairies to arrange Anzu and Rukhmar’s revival, then reminded Willow Wisp that Mao Mao was still in the Other Side; Willow Wisp hurried back to find him.

Diakum entered The Other Side to free Bwonsamdi, who revealed the Jailer’s plan to use the Crown of Domination to shatter the Veil of Life and Death. As Diakum and Bwonsamdi prepared a trap for Mueh'zala, Sarkir and Prince Renathal negotiated with Mueh'zala before Diakum’s arrival interrupted them.

• Diakum suppressed his power and secretly entered The Other Side with Marasmius’s help.
• Bwonsamdi told Diakum that Mueh'zala and the Jailer had recruited the death gods and planned to use the Crown of Domination to shatter the Veil of Life and Death.
• Diakum freed Bwonsamdi and agreed to fight Mueh'zala while Bwonsamdi prepared anima totems to trap it.
• Bwonsamdi joined Diakum’s plan after Diakum promised it could claim Mueh'zala’s treasures.
• Sarkir and Prince Renathal asked Mueh'zala to find sprites for the Emperor’s phylactery, but Diakum’s arrival caused an explosion and sent Mueh'zala to confront him.

Diakum fought Mueh'zala in The Other Side, while Bwonsamdi and the Winter Queen helped trap the ancient death god. As Mueh'zala fell, Prince Renathal turned against Sarkir and demanded the phylactery knowledge scroll.

• Diakum defeated the Mawsworn in The Other Side and faced the giant spirit Mueh'zala at the Well of Souls.
• Mueh'zala attacked Diakum with reality-shattering power, but Diakum withstood the assault and struck off one of its tusks.
• Bwonsamdi planted Primordial Grip Totems and disrupted The Other Side's energy, leaving Mueh'zala vulnerable to Diakum's devastating Solar strikes.
• Mueh'zala tried to flee, but Bwonsamdi trapped its soul and called on the Winter Queen, who intervened to prevent its escape.
• Sarkir prepared to help Mueh'zala, but Prince Renathal held Vorpalia to his neck and demanded the phylactery knowledge scroll, saying it could not fall into his father's hands.

Bwonsamdi and Diakum defeated Mueh'zala, leaving Bwonsamdi free and in possession of his adoptive father's power. Diakum then discovered Sargerei working with him on a plan involving Sire Denathrius, while Prince Renathal learned his rebellion had been anticipated and was part of a larger scheme.

• Bwonsamdi used the anima in The Other Side to bind Mueh'zala, and the Winter Queen and Diakum destroyed the Lesser God of Death.
• Bwonsamdi claimed Mueh'zala's Anima Orb, thanked Diakum, and agreed to prepare something for his return to Azeroth.
• Diakum warned Bwonsamdi about Sargerei, who was waiting in the last remaining palace with the defeated Prince Renathal and the captured Bwonsamdi.
• Prince Renathal told Diakum that Sargerei was helping Sire Denathrius prepare a phylactery and a supreme weapon, and Diakum and Sargerei discussed how to proceed.
• Diakum and Sargerei revealed they had never truly split from the ancient Eredar leaders and were cooperating toward their original goal.
• Sarkir told Prince Renathal that Sire Denathrius had controlled his rebellion and expected him to return so they could finish preparing a trap for his father.

Prince Renathal learned why ancient Eredar could cooperate despite deep hatred and explained his rebellion against Sire Denathrius, while Diakum and Sarkir prepared their conspiracy. Sarkir revealed its plan to end the Eredar’s Eternal Life and told Diakum to find a vessel of life and death before it returned to Maldraxxus.

• Bwonsamdi explained to Prince Renathal that ancient Eredar set aside personal hatred to pursue the restoration of Argus, then Renathal revealed that he rebelled because Sire Denathrius was sending anima into The Maw.
• Renathal questioned Bwonsamdi about the conspiracy, and Diakum ordered him to take Renathal outside and explain why Sire Denathrius must be overthrown.
• Sarkir warned Bwonsamdi not to reveal anything he should not, and Bwonsamdi left with Renathal to discuss their circumstances and filial piety.
• Sarkir told Diakum that it intended to become the Eredar’s death god and end their Eternal Life so their people would once again value successors and civilization.
• Sarkir finished the amulet design, announced it would return to Maldraxxus, and demanded that Diakum find a vessel of life and death.

Diakum left The Other Side and said farewell to Willow Wisp before visiting the Winter Queen to obtain a vessel embodying life and death for Sire Denathrius's amulet. He departed with the vessel and planned to imprison the immortal Denathrius through Lightforging, while the Winter Queen considered going to Zereth Mortis.

• Diakum decided to ask the Winter Queen to create a vessel rather than sacrifice a fae, and he reflected on Sarkir finding a home in Ardenweald.
• Willow Wisp told Diakum that the Winter Queen was restoring the Soulseed Garden, and Diakum promised to take her to Azeroth someday.
• Diakum said goodbye to Willow Wisp and Huen Highmountain, who asked him to return for a visit to his homeland and children.
• Diakum met the Winter Queen, who shaped a vessel of life and death and gave it to him for Sire Denathrius.
• The Winter Queen asked whether Diakum would enter Zereth Mortis, and Diakum explained that she and the Primus might need to fight to reclaim their power.
• Diakum left, saying that Denathrius's immortality would let him endure endless imprisonment and Lightforging.

After Diakum left Ardenweald, Willow Wisp received his crown and an invitation for the fae to visit High Heaven. The Winter Queen approved the gift and promised visits once Soulseed Garden was restored, leaving the fae eager to work and Moonberry ready to accompany them.

• Willow Wisp learned that Vigilant had left Ardenweald without saying goodbye, then received a crown and an invitation to High Heaven from Diakum.
• Willow Wisp put on the crown, which enveloped her in Holy Light, and fought Moonberry when Moonberry tried to remove it for her safety.
• The Winter Queen examined the crown and invitation, declared the Holy Light harmless, and named Willow Wisp the fae’s guide to High Heaven.
• The Winter Queen said the fae could visit High Heaven once Soulseed Garden was working again, prompting Willow Wisp and the others to rush off to work.
• Moonberry asked whether Diakum had ulterior motives, and the Winter Queen told her to enjoy the visit and let the fae play as they pleased.