52. At the Gates of High Heavens

When the Vigilant, cloaked in Eclipse's shadow, attempted to open a rift to the Sea of Darkness beneath the radiance of the High Heavens, the fierce backlash and vicious rejection he had anticipated never came.

Diakum had clearly sensed that subtle "acceptance" as well.

It seemed the will of the Void was not as resistant to this "wayward son" as he had imagined. Or perhaps, after all those long years, the Sea of Darkness had completed its "self-persuasion" and reached an inconspicuous "temporary reconciliation" with him, the greatest "traitor" in the history of the Void faction.

Having learned to be "pragmatic" through constant failures, the Sea of Darkness opened its arms to him once more, allowing his temporary return with an attitude that was neither welcoming nor rejecting.

When the Vigilant saw the ever-widening rift before him hanging quietly above the sacred platform of the High Heavens, reflecting the scenery of the Void world, he finally let out a long breath.

He dismissed his Voidform and returned to the light, then turned back to "look" at the assembled army of the High Heavens behind him.

Xe'ra floated in the air in the form of a crystal Naaru. Her gentle rotation brought hymns swirling around her, and beneath the stirring war hymns, the angels who had been continuously transformed over this period had formed solemn ranks.

Their numbers were not great.

Because of the harsh standards of the "High Heavens' careful selection," even with a cosmic-scale war erupting on Azeroth, the holy spirits of the People of Light recruited as angels over the past half month had only barely exceeded five thousand.

They were divided into five formations according to their duties, each commanded by one of Diakum's five golden Archangels.

The Vigilant was setting out on an expedition to the