Recaps

Azathoth gathered the elemental, mermaid, and adventurer forces for a battle against Elemental Will and the naga on Lost Island’s beach. After both armies assembled and their leaders exchanged taunts, Faras Bloodfin arrived to announce that the naga queen had ordered the attack prepared.

• Azathoth announced the battle and invited adventurers to fight for reputation, while Xiao Yu and Qin Shiyue arranged for Ariel’s mermaid army to join him.
• Ariel brought forty thousand mermaids, and adventurer guild leaders discussed which enemy bosses they would target and how they would divide the loot.
• Elemental Will’s army and the naga army appeared offshore, keeping their forces separate despite their alliance.
• Azathoth confronted Monari and Gonggong, boasting that his stronger form could defeat their combined forces and dismissing Gonggong’s confidence in Elemental Will.
• Faras Bloodfin arrived and told Monari and Gonggong that the naga queen had ordered them to prepare for the attack.

The adventurers triggered the Second Lost Island War before Azathoth and Elemental Will could finish negotiating, and Azathoth devastated their forces with Netherstorm and Flame Storm. As the battle spread across the beach, Azathoth faced Gonggong and Monari, and Gonggong’s crushing blows buried him in the sand without breaking his Chaos Barrier.

• The Alliance and Horde adventurers abandoned the negotiations and started fighting Elemental Will, triggering the Second Lost Island War.
• Azathoth unleashed Netherstorm and killed hundreds of Elemental Will’s troops, then used Flame Storm to burn through hundreds more.
• Gonggong retaliated with Frost Storm, but the attack did little against water-elemental troops and killed only a few adventurers.
• Monari ordered the Naga and elementals to charge, while adventurers formed groups to meet the attack across the beach.
• Azathoth challenged Gonggong and Monari, and Gonggong charged at him with a crushing punch.
• Azathoth activated Chaos Barrier, which absorbed Gonggong’s repeated blows as they drove him into the sand.

Xiao Yu transformed into a giant Chaos Dragon and battled Gonggong, Monari, and the ambushing Tianwu, breaking through their defenses and trapping Tianwu in a black hole. Gonggong and Monari fled toward the sea, but Xiao Yu pursued Monari and tore through his wall of seawater.

• Xiao Yu transformed into a giant Chaos Dragon and blasted Gonggong, while Monari's ice attacks failed to penetrate the Chaos Barrier.
• Monari used Sea God's Grasp to seize Xiao Yu, and Gonggong shattered the Chaos Barrier with Iceberg Throw.
• Tianwu ambushed Xiao Yu, but Xiao Yu's Black Hole Simulation swallowed the Wind Elemental Lord and left him restrained.
• Gonggong and Monari decided to retreat toward the sea, and Xiao Yu pursued them with repeated blasts of Chaos Dragon Breath.
• Xiao Yu targeted Monari and tore apart the Sea Elemental Lord's protective wall of seawater with a swipe of his claws.

Xiao Yu killed Sea Giant King Dukates, drove off Tianwu’s Sky Guards, and then faced Azshara’s targeted lightning storm. As the storm also struck the elemental and naga armies, Xiao Yu prepared to use a healing skill to survive it.

• Sea Giant King Dukates charged Azathoth to let Monari escape, but Azathoth killed him and crushed his head.
• Xiao Yu pursued Wind Elemental Lord Tianwu after he escaped the simulated black hole, but Tianwu’s Sky Guard Corps distracted Xiao Yu and helped him flee.
• Xiao Yu killed dozens of cyclone and hurricane elementals with Netherstorm and Chaos Dragon Breath before turning to attack enemies in the sea.
• Azshara began casting a powerful storm spell, and its lightning repeatedly struck Xiao Yu as he flew over the battlefield.
• Xiao Yu led the targeted lightning over the elemental and naga armies, causing heavy casualties, while Azshara ignored Faras Bloodfin’s warning about the crossfire.
• Xiao Yu decided to use a healing skill rather than let Azshara’s lightning kill him.

Xiao Yu used Elemental Siphon to restore his health during the Second Battle for Lost Island, and the defenders repelled the naga and Elemental Will forces. With the island still besieged, he prepared a plan to keep adventurers committed while Elemental Will discussed containing him.

• Xiao Yu drained elemental power from nearby creatures with Elemental Siphon, restored his health, and flew back toward Lost Island as Azshara redirected her attacks.
• Both armies fought until evening, then withdrew, and the system awarded Xiao Yu 436 reputation points for completing the Second Battle for Lost Island.
• Monari lamented Elemental Will's losses, while Gonggong promised compensation and the elemental lords agreed to blockade ships carrying adventurers to the island.
• Xiao Yu assessed his own losses and worried that adventurers would leave if the enemy maintained its siege without attacking.
• Lady Xiwadelin arrived at the Water Elemental Temple, and Xiao Yu instructed her to carry out a plan beginning the next day.

After Jing Wuming discovered a secret letter revealing the naga’s alliance with N’Zoth and the search for divine artifacts on the Lost Island, he brought it to War Soul King. War Soul King began recruiting allies to protect the island and secure the artifacts, but rival guilds also started sending people.

• Adventurers returned to the Lost Island and accepted new war-related story quests as the naga and Elemental Will armies kept their distance.
• Jing Wuming found and killed a Naga Messenger near the Naga Cavern, then looted a secret letter addressed to Queen Azshara.
• The letter revealed that Lady Xiwadelin had freed N’Zoth, that Azathoth had unearthed a divine artifact, and that more artifacts lay buried on the island; reading it triggered The Naga’s Conspiracy quest.
• Jing Wuming took the letter to War Soul King, who realized adventurers might obtain divine artifacts and decided to bring more people to the island while keeping the news quiet.
• War Soul King’s subordinates reported that several rival guilds were also organizing expeditions to the Lost Path, so he accepted that the secret had spread.

Adventurers flooded the Lost Island, helping Azathoth keep its enemies occupied while he prepared to leave. Xiao Yu met Merlin at Blissful Home and hired him to arrange for Medivh to open the Dark Portal to Draenor.

• Alliance and Horde adventurers reached the Lost Island despite attacks from the naga and the Elemental Will, and druids hunted enemies around the Lost Path.
• Azathoth observed the growing crowd and decided it was time to leave the island, while Xiao Yu worried about failing to become the Elemental King.
• Xiao Yu invited Merlin to Blissful Home and revealed that he knew Merlin was the Sage of Fate on the Council of Sages.
• Xiao Yu told Merlin he was Azathoth and asked him to arrange for Medivh to open the Dark Portal to Draenor.
• Merlin offered to handle the request for three hundred thousand, and Xiao Yu accepted the price.

Xiao Yu arranged for Medivh to open the Dark Portal so he could lead an expedition to Draenor and begin the Elemental King ritual. He assembled a large force with help from Qin Shiyue, Abbendis, and Mofeitosi, and planned to meet them at the Dark Portal within a week.

• Merlin told Xiao Yu that Medivh would open the Dark Portal for twenty-four hours once Xiao Yu arrived with his army.
• Xiao Yu appointed Wotkud to defend Lost Island and mobilized most of The Immortals' forces for the Draenor expedition.
• Xiao Yu asked Qin Shiyue for five thousand troops and a merfolk lord, and she agreed to send them while remaining behind to lead.
• Abbendis promised to send three thousand Scarlet Crusaders under Taelan Fordring to the Dark Portal within a week.
• Mofeitosi agreed to send twenty NPC dragons for free and thirty player dragons for a fee, and Xiao Yu told him to prevent his forces from mistaking the allied troops for enemies.

Xiao Yu assembled dragons, mercenaries, and thousands of adventurers for an expedition to Draenor, then led his army away from Lost Island and toward the Dark Portal. After the naga and elemental forces failed to take the island, Xiao Yu’s force reached the portal in the Blasted Lands.

• Xiao Yu recruited Mephisto’s dragons, Estero’s gargoyles, Madman’s troll bat riders, and dark shamans from the Furnace Council, spending heavily to strengthen his army.
• Xiao Yu issued an epic quest for trusted adventurers and gathered more than five thousand high-level players for the expedition.
• Xiao Yu hired the Bloodsail Buccaneers to transport the adventurers, then led his army out of Lost Island by breaking through the naga encirclement.
• Gonggong and Monari joined Azshara in a probing attack on Lost Island, but the island’s adventurers wiped out their twenty thousand troops.
• Xiao Yu’s army crossed the sea, traveled through the Blasted Lands, and arrived at the Dark Portal.

Xiao Yu brought his water elemental and murloc army to the Dark Portal and established a camp in the Blasted Lands. After discovering a nearby night elf force, he learned from Esmehalda that they were Watchers.

• Xiao Yu ordered Sairen to establish a guarded camp around the Dark Portal and scout the area.
• Sairen warned that the dry climate was weakening the army, so Xiao Yu ordered the dark shamans to summon rain.
• A robed man watched the camp from a mountain, then transformed into a raven and flew away.
• Agnes reported that two or three thousand night elf soldiers were camped nearby, and Xiao Yu flew there with Esmehalda.
• Esmehalda identified the night elf troops as Watchers, and Xiao Yu recalled Moonmark?Shadow Chaser's Watcher title.

Xiao Yu met Maiev Shadowsong, agreed to take her to Draenor and help her hunt Illidan in exchange for her aid with his mission. The next morning, Medivh appeared at Xiao Yu’s camp and discussed the force he sensed in him.

• Xiao Yu learned that Maiev Shadowsong led the Watchers and decided not to attack her night elf forces.
• Maiev Shadowsong entered Xiao Yu’s tent under stealth and asked whether he could open the Dark Portal to Draenor.
• Xiao Yu offered to take Maiev to Draenor and help her deal with Illidan if she helped him complete his mission, and Maiev agreed.
• The system recorded the story event Maiev Shadowsong’s Hunt.
• Medivh appeared outside Xiao Yu’s tent and said he had been waiting to speak with him about opening the Dark Portal.
• Xiao Yu suspected Medivh was a phantom, but discovered he could touch him.

Xiao Yu met Medivh and wondered whether he was a GM or an unusually intelligent NPC. After learning about Medivh’s history as the last Guardian, Xiao Yu weighed the risks of questioning him against the secrets Medivh might reveal.

• Medivh entered Xiao Yu’s tent, conjured a chair, and revealed information above his head that he could hide or display at will.
• Medivh asked Xiao Yu to explain what a GM was and proposed exchanging information, while correctly guessing that Xiao Yu wanted to become an Elemental King.
• Xiao Yu considered whether Medivh was an independent artificial intelligence and feared the consequences of revealing information about players and GMs.
• Xiao Yu recalled Medivh’s origins and history: Aegwynn passed him the Guardian’s power, Sargeras possessed him, and he was later redeemed after his death and resurrection.
• Xiao Yu considered the danger of telling Medivh about the game against the chance of learning valuable secrets from him.

Xiao Yu and Medivh exchanged questions about magic, the world’s hidden forces, and GMs. Medivh explained how he shaped magic directly and revealed that the Council of Sages sought to rewrite the world’s laws.

• Xiao Yu agreed to exchange questions with Medivh, who demonstrated that he could freely reshape magic into spells and a fire elemental.
• Medivh asked about the truth of the world, and Xiao Yu described an all-encompassing Will of the Great Universe that governed fate.
• Medivh explained that mastering magic required breaking through the barrier between mages and magic itself, while Xiao Yu asked how to learn the technique.
• Xiao Yu described GMs as powerful beings who understood and used the universe’s laws, and Medivh decided he would need to catch one to investigate.
• Xiao Yu asked about the Council of Sages, and Medivh said it consisted of seven powerful mages seeking to rewrite the laws of the world.

Medivh explained the Council of Sages’ plan to reshape the world with magic and asked Xiao Yu why adventurers returned after death. Their conversation ended when Mephist arrived with the Flame Dragon Knights, a much larger force than expected, to help Xiao Yu and raise starred heroes.

• Medivh told Xiao Yu that the Council of Sages intended to create a spell that would establish new rules for the world, though its research had made no progress.
• Medivh asked why adventurers could not die, and Xiao Yu explained that beings from another universe returned through the Will of the Great Universe.
• Agnes interrupted their conversation to report that dragons were approaching the camp, and Xiao Yu recognized Deathwing carrying Mephist.
• Mephist brought thirty adult dragons, a hundred young dragons, and hundreds of smaller dragons, along with dragon knights and riders, far exceeding their agreement.
• Mephist explained that he and Deathwing had formed the Flame Dragon Knights under Alliance protection and brought the force to help Xiao Yu raise at least ten starred heroes.

Xiao Yu gathered his allies and armies outside the Dark Portal, intending to enter Draenor the next morning. After learning that the Elemental Will was marching to attack him, he summoned his allies and adventurer guild leaders to hear a plan to counter them.

• Medivh arrived to help Xiao Yu open the Dark Portal, while Mephist joined the gathering and asked when they would leave for Draenor.
• The Scarlet Crusade arrived with three thousand troops led by Taelan Fordring, followed by Estero with hundreds of gargoyles, frost bone dragons, death knights, and an undead force.
• Madman arrived with a large troll army, and Xiao Yu ordered everyone to prepare to enter Draenor the next morning.
• A messenger from Cecilia warned Xiao Yu that the Elemental Will was gathering an army in the Redridge Mountains and would reach the Blasted Lands by noon the next day.
• Xiao Yu summoned his allies and the adventurer guild leaders, announced the Elemental Will's attack, and began explaining his plan to deal with them.

Cuistre witnessed Houtu lead an enormous elemental army out of Redstone Rock Valley toward the Redridge Mountains, where it joined Zhurong’s forces on their way to confront Azathoth in the Blasted Lands. After the Alliance garrison was attacked and the Burning Redridge Mountains event began, Zhurong ordered most of his troops to continue pursuing Azathoth while others covered their rear.

• Cuistre and Guan Haifa watched Houtu’s earth elemental army pour out of Redstone Rock Valley and head toward the Redridge Mountains.
• Houtu and Zhurong joined their earth and fire forces in the Redridge Mountains, bringing twenty thousand elementals toward the Blasted Lands.
• Zhurong explained that he intended to pursue Azathoth through the Dark Portal and use the campaign to force undecided elemental lords to choose sides.
• An elemental force attacked the Alliance garrison, triggering the Burning Redridge Mountains event and a call for adventurers to aid the Alliance.
• Houtu reported that Alliance-aligned dragon riders had attacked the elementals first, but Zhurong suspected Azathoth was behind it and ordered most of the army onward.

Zhurong led the Elemental Legion toward the Dark Portal, but Alliance and Horde adventurers and Azathoth’s forces inflicted heavy losses along the way. At the portal, Zhurong found Azathoth waiting with a vast coalition army, leaving the two forces poised for battle.

• Zhurong ordered the Elemental Legion to retreat toward the Blasted Lands while adventurers attacked and killed nearly a thousand troops during the march.
• Zhurong stayed behind to burn the forest with Flame Barrier, but the Horde joined the conflict after the elementals attacked Dreadmaul Hold.
• Zhurong led his remaining troops across the Plains of Despair, reaching the Blasted Lands with only seven or eight thousand after losing more than half the army.
• Gonggong told Zhurong that Azathoth’s coalition had ambushed the water and wind legions on the Broken Shore, leaving them with just over ten thousand troops.
• Zhurong pressed on toward the Dark Portal despite the losses and discovered Azathoth’s roughly thirty-to-forty-thousand-strong coalition army drawn up for battle.

Azathoth challenged Zhurong, Gonggong, Houtu, and Tianwu to a duel, wagering the Elemental Will and The Immortals on the outcome. As the four elemental lords surrounded him, the chapter revealed Azathoth’s plan to exploit the clash between their elemental abilities.

• Zhurong and the other elemental lords hesitated over whether to fight Azathoth’s larger army or retreat.
• Azathoth approached the opposing army alone and rejected Zhurong’s offer to join the Elemental Will, demanding that its forces submit to him.
• Azathoth proposed fighting all four elemental lords alone, and Zhurong accepted after the terms were set for the losing faction to swear loyalty to the winner.
• The four elemental lords surrounded Azathoth as the duel began.
• Six hours earlier, Azathoth told Mofeitosi that he planned to challenge the four lords because their wind, fire, water, and earth abilities would clash when used together.

Xiao Yu, as Azathoth, fought the four elemental lords and killed Tianwu by trapping him in the void and petrifying his core. The remaining lords coordinated their attacks and knocked Azathoth from the sky, leaving him exposed to Gonggong’s freezing beam.

• Xiao Yu charged Tianwu, seized him, and carried him high above the other elemental lords.
• Tianwu transformed into a giant tornado and attacked Azathoth with wind and lightning, but Azathoth used Void Barrier to erase the air currents and relentlessly weaken him.
• Tianwu surrendered, but Azathoth continued attacking, petrified his elemental core, and killed him.
• Azathoth stayed airborne and bombarded Gonggong, Houtu, and Zhurong with dragon breath while they planned a coordinated counterattack.
• Houtu used Gravity Barrier to increase gravity and slam Azathoth into the ground, costing him more than a million health.
• Gonggong struck the fallen Azathoth with Polar Light, an enhanced ice beam with a powerful Freeze effect.

Azathoth survived Zhurong’s Starfall by using the Bulwark of Azzinoth, then turned the fight against the elemental lords. He banished Houtu with Simulated Black Hole and summoned sixteen Infernals to attack the remaining enemies.

• Zhurong trapped Azathoth in ice and summoned Starfall, a massive fireball aimed at him.
• Azathoth used the Bulwark of Azzinoth to enter phase space and survive the blast, then revealed himself unharmed.
• Azathoth struck Houtu with Simulated Black Hole and dragged him out of sight.
• Azathoth cast Rain of Chaos, summoning sixteen Infernals that swarmed the elemental lords.

Azathoth used Elemental Siphon to restore his health, then defeated Gonggong with fire attacks while Zhurong struggled against the infernals. When Houtu emerged from the black hole, Azathoth switched to Old God Form and crushed him with a protected fall, leaving Zhurong as the remaining elemental lord.

• Zhurong summoned hundreds of fire elementals with Elemental Gate, but Azathoth drained their elemental power with Elemental Siphon and recovered more than a million health.
• Azathoth transformed into the Chaos Dragon and fought Gonggong, using fire spells to melt his ice armor and destroy his elemental core.
• Zhurong struck both fighters with Meteor Storm, but Azathoth pinned Gonggong and killed him with Blazing Sun Ray, earning 889 reputation points.
• As the black hole vanished and Houtu reappeared, Azathoth activated Old God Form and protected himself with Chaos Barrier.
• Azathoth fell onto Houtu and killed the Earth Elemental Lord, earning 888 reputation points.

Xiao Yu’s Azathoth transformed into his terrifying Old God form and defeated Zhurong when the Fire Elemental Lord’s suicide attack failed to kill him. With Elemental Will’s four leaders dead, the remaining elemental lords swore allegiance to Azathoth and joined The Immortals.

• Xiao Yu revealed Azathoth’s Old God form, gaining abilities that inspired fear and let his tentacles cast spells independently.
• Zhurong refused to surrender and charged Azathoth, intent on fighting to the death.
• Azathoth ordered Infernals to hold Zhurong back and weakened him with Netherstorm.
• Zhurong detonated himself, but Azathoth’s defensive spells and distance limited the damage to just over a hundred thousand.
• After Zhurong’s defeat, Azathoth demanded Elemental Will’s surrender, and its remaining elemental lords swore allegiance and joined The Immortals.

Azathoth defeated four Elemental Lords, gained the allegiance of the remaining survivors, and led his army through the Dark Portal to Draenor. Medivh then reported to the Council of Sages, whose plan depended on Azathoth’s coming Elemental Ritual, before asking its mysterious leader whether he was a GM, an adventurer, or both.

• Azathoth accepted the allegiance of five Elemental Lords and received a system announcement recognizing his victory over the Elemental Will.
• Azathoth told Medivh to open the Dark Portal immediately and ordered the Elemental Lords and his army to march into Draenor.
• Medivh watched Azathoth’s forces enter the portal, then flew in raven form to meet with the Council of Sages.
• Medivh told the Council’s leader that Azathoth and his army were heading for the Elemental Throne, where the Elemental Ritual would draw the false Elemental Kings and Old Gods into a battle.
• Medivh asked the Council’s leader whether he was a GM, an adventurer, or both, and the leader began to reveal the truth.

A mysterious figure persuaded Medivh to join a plan to break the forces controlling fate by opening a passage between the Sky Universe and another world. Meanwhile, Azathoth led his army into Draenor and set out for the Elemental Throne through hostile territories.

• The mysterious figure told Medivh that fate controlled everyone and offered him a way to break free of it.
• The mysterious figure explained that the Old Gods came from another world and that their Blood was needed to study them and advance the plan.
• Medivh agreed to join and revealed that a female mage close to Azathoth would help collect the Blood of the Old Gods.
• Xiao Yu crossed the Dark Portal with Azathoth's army and looked toward the Elemental Throne in Draenor.
• Maiev Shadowsong described the dangerous territories and enemies along the route to the Elemental Throne.
• Azathoth ordered his army to move out toward the Elemental Throne.

After reaching Nagrand, Azathoth activated all four crystal pillars at the Elemental Throne to begin the Elemental King ritual. The throne rose to reveal a crystal containing a powerful golden scepter, and the ritual was about to begin.

• Azathoth led the expedition through Draenor, reached level sixty, raised his template rank to five skulls, and learned Gate of the Void.
• Sgelari explained that Azathoth had to activate the four crystal pillars and warned him about the challenges awaiting him.
• Azathoth activated the crimson, blue, and white pillars with fire, frost, and lightning powers, earning recognition from their elemental spirits.
• Azathoth activated the brown pillar, and the system announced that the Elemental King ritual was about to begin.
• The four pillars raised the throne and revealed a crystal holding a golden scepter surrounded by elemental energies.