Chapter Summaries

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.

Azathoth opened the Elemental Throne and announced that he would become the Elemental King within 24 hours, persuading the nearby elemental lords and his allies to defend the throne for him. The ritual sent elemental forces into turmoil across the world, and the rival elemental rulers began mobilizing toward the throne as Azathoth waited for their arrival.

• The four Elemental Spirits explained that the Elemental King ritual required an elemental lord to hold the throne for one day, and the system announced that Azathoth had begun it with 24 hours remaining.
• Azathoth declared that he intended to become Elemental King, and the five nearby elemental lords pledged their loyalty and deployed their forces around the throne.
• Azathoth enlisted Maiev Shadowsong, Taelan Fordring, Mermaid Queen Ariel, other heroes, and adventurers to help defend the throne in return for promised rewards and alliances.
• Neptulon, Therazane, Al'Akir, and Ragnaros learned of the ritual and ordered their forces to assemble and march toward the Elemental Throne.
• Thrall and Malfurion sensed the elemental disturbance and began taking action, while adventurers worldwide found that their elemental summons had vanished and their summoning skills no longer worked.
• Azathoth's army took its positions around the throne, but no rival elemental lords had arrived yet, leaving him waiting in an uneasy calm.

After waiting for hours, Azathoth and his forces saw Al'Akir and the Conclave of the Four Winds arrive at the Elemental Throne amid a storm. Azathoth confronted Al'Akir and offered him a position as his right-hand man if he helped defeat the other false Elemental Kings.

• Azathoth and his allies waited for the elemental lords, and system notifications announced that Al'Akir, Ro'esh, Anshal, Siamat, and Nezir had entered the Elemental Throne.
• Al'Akir and his wind elementals approached inside a vast storm, and Al'Akir accused Odin of betraying the wind clan.
• Azathoth reassured Odin, transformed into a Chaos Dragon, and faced Al'Akir in the sky.
• Azathoth declared that he would become the Elemental King and offered Al'Akir the role of chief adjutant in exchange for helping him defeat the other false Elemental Kings.
• Al'Akir questioned Azathoth about the offer, appearing hesitant despite his anger.

Xiao Yu used Azathoth’s Void Barrier and attacks to prove his strength to Al'Akir, then persuaded the Windlord to withdraw rather than fight to the death. After four hours of waiting at the Elemental Throne, Neptulon and several water-aligned leaders arrived with their forces.

• Al'Akir surrounded Azathoth with storm clouds to test his strength, but Azathoth’s Void Barrier dispersed the lightning before it could reach him.
• Azathoth tore open Al'Akir’s cloud formation with Netherstorm and struck him with Hammer of Chaos, making Al'Akir concede that Azathoth was qualified to join the contest.
• Azathoth and Al'Akir agreed to postpone their conflict while Al'Akir withdrew his army to the battlefield’s edge, reserving the right to intervene if Azathoth failed to defeat the other contenders.
• Xiao Yu told Esmehalda and Mephist that he planned to hold the Elemental Throne and play the elemental kings against one another rather than fight them all at once.
• Four hours later, Neptulon, Derwala, Saizel, Raslet, Mowot, Lokholar, and Istra entered the Elemental Throne with their forces.

Azathoth confronted Neptulon’s water elemental army and persuaded him to withdraw after demonstrating the power of Simulated Black Hole. When Therazane and several earth elemental leaders arrived, Xiao Yu suspected Ragnaros was delaying his entrance so the others would weaken each other first.

• Neptulon led his water elemental army through a whirlpool passage and advanced on the Elemental Throne, where Taisuitou’s earth elementals formed a defensive wall.
• Azathoth warned Neptulon that fighting him would leave Neptulon vulnerable to Ragnaros and offered him a powerful position if Azathoth became Elemental King.
• Neptulon attacked Azathoth with Sea God's Grasp, but Azathoth used Simulated Black Hole to absorb the water arms and nearby water elementals.
• Neptulon acknowledged Azathoth’s strength but said he would still compete for the throne if another elemental lord defeated him, then withdrew his army.
• Four hours later, Therazane arrived with Typhon, Nate, Clyde, Dreivort, Xifolai, and Malazelle, leading Xiao Yu to suspect Ragnaros was waiting for the other lords to exhaust themselves.

As the Elemental King ceremony neared its end, Ragnaros arrived with a massive fire elemental army and proposed that the false elemental kings attack Azathoth together. Azathoth challenged all four rivals to fight him at once, relying on their poor cooperation as the deadline drew close.

• Therazane, Al'Akir, and Neptulon held their armies back while Xiao Yu waited for the Elemental King ceremony to end.
• Ragnaros entered the Elemental Throne with his forces and berated Big Ivan for joining Xiao Yu.
• Azathoth claimed responsibility for opening the Elemental Throne, triggering the second stage of the Road of Vengeance quest to kill Ragnaros.
• Ragnaros proposed that the four false elemental kings unite to kill Azathoth before the ceremony ended.
• Azathoth rejected the proposal and challenged Ragnaros, Therazane, Al'Akir, and Neptulon to attack him together.