LRAB Page 18
Page 18
Chapter 34 Deception: My Titan Ruins Journey
Rhodes' voice was deep, carrying a just-right amount of awe, as if recalling a great adventure that transcended mortal comprehension:
"...huge, ancient, magnificent, it was not a flesh-and-blood creature as we know it, but a creation of steel."
"His body was almost entirely made of an unknown metal, and I estimate he was at least twenty meters tall," Rod said.
As a seasoned player of the world of Azeroth, Rod Titan's understanding surpasses that of almost everyone else in this era.
Rhodes knew everything about the Titan ruins and the affairs between the guardians.
The largest Titan city currently is Ulduar in Northrend, with others including Uldaman, Uldum, Halls of Valor in the Broken Isles, Stormforge in Kul Tiras, and Terrace of Everspring in Pandaria...
There are also the various Guardians, even the feud between the Chief Guardian Odin and his daughter Hela, and Loken of Ulduar betraying the other Guardians and joining Yogg-Saron.
“The archaeological society’s dwarf experts in Ironforge have done research and say that none of the Titan creations are flesh and blood; their bodies are made of steel. Even the ancestors of the dwarves and humans were made of steel,” the female mage said.
The idea that dwarves were once made of steel is widely accepted within dwarven communities, while humans, though unwilling to admit it, are, according to various signs, descended from the Vrykul.
The Vrykul were once enormous steel beings, so it's clear that Rhodes encountered a powerful ancient Titan being, though it's unknown whether he was a Titan Guardian.
"Didn't he hurt you? Or did he communicate with you?" Uther asked.
"I explored that vast labyrinth for who knows how long, and I was exhausted and thirsty. That enormous being took pity on me and saved me, saying that I was a creation of a degenerated Titan," Rhodes continued, launching into his charade.
The current goal is to create a powerful Titan Guardian for myself to use as an explanation for the endless stream of amazing things I will come up with in the future.
Killing elite or hero units can add wilderness facilities, which means that you may be able to acquire cities or wilderness nests of other races in the future.
In the future, the soldiers under my command will not only be the undead.
Upon hearing this, Uther and Jaina looked shocked. It seemed that the dwarves' research was correct, and even some mages in Dalaran had made the same deduction. Humans were indeed degenerate Titan creations.
"What happened next? Rhodes, what was the name of that mysterious being? Could you briefly describe its appearance?" Jaina asked anxiously.
"He was about 20 meters tall, wearing golden armor, holding a weapon made of lightning bolts, and wearing a golden helmet."
As for his name, that great being did not reveal it, and I dared not ask further. He simply told me to refer to him as the Titan Guardian. Rhodes then described the appearance of the Titan, the ultimate unit of the Three Towers race in Heroes of Might and Magic.
In the future, when I summon Titan Daddy, I'll use it to impersonate the Guardian. It'll be perfect!
"So how did you get these magical items from him? Did you learn your special magic from the Titan Guardians?" Jaina asked.
“That’s right! Actually, I didn’t know magic before, but after meeting that great being, he granted me the power to use magic in an unknown way.” Rhodes continued to make up stories for the two of them.
"It's amazing! You've directly granted a mortal the power to use magic, and you've even gained such incredible magical talent?" Jaina's eyes sparkled.
“What an amazing encounter, Rhodes. Was your Holy Light power also bestowed upon you by that powerful Titan Guardian?” Uther asked.
"No! My magic was indeed bestowed by this powerful Titan guardian, but the power of the Holy Light was something I comprehended on my own, which you may not believe."
Sometimes in my dreams I encounter a magical creature that seems to transcend time and space, pulling my mind into a fantastical world.
"I saw a life form that radiated holy light from head to toe, and whose body seemed to be made up of countless huge steel plates. Let me draw it for you!" After saying that, Rhodes picked up a small wooden stick and drew the image of the Holy Light Tangram Naaru on the ground.
These tangram puzzles of holy light are the source of the holy light.
Uther's expression changed drastically upon hearing this. He looked at Rhodes with shock, his body trembling uncontrollably. He believed what Rhodes had said.
Guided by the Holy Light, he had also vaguely seen the creature described by Rhodes in his dreams many times.
The creature radiated holy light from head to toe. It seemed to want to say something to him, but there was an endless distance between them, and Uther could not understand what the mysterious creature of holy light meant.
He often had these dreams, about the legendary creature, but Uther swore he had never told anyone about them.
Now that Rhodes had also seen this creature in his dream, Uther was quite certain that this young man named Rhodes, like himself, had also been blessed by the Holy Light.
Uther is now even more convinced that he should bring Rhodes into the ranks of paladins!
"And then? Rhodes, that powerful Titan guardian gave you more magical items, right?" The female mage was now eager to hear the rest of the story.
"That's right! He gave me medical tents, and more than one."
"Because in that Titan guardian's eyes, such a thing is nothing but a trinket, something he could easily make himself, and it's worthless," Rhodes said.
“Oh my god, I wish I could meet such a mysterious guardian. What happened to Rhodes after that? Did you have any new interactions with that Titan guardian?” Jaina asked.
"I lived there for a while, and then I was sent out by that mysterious Titan Guardian. But before I left, the Titan Guardian said some mysterious things to me. He said that I would do something earth-shattering in the future."
"And he gave me a privilege: if I need to return to his territory again in the future, he will provide me with any assistance he can," Rhodes said.
“My God! This is exactly what that prophet said, Rhodes, your future achievements will absolutely, absolutely make you a great man.” Jaina paused for a moment before saying this.
Uther, standing to the side, nodded in agreement. To be favored by the powerful Titan Guardians and blessed by the Holy Light, Rhodes' future achievements would certainly be remarkable.
Chapter 35 If you take Uther with you, go get the Silver Hand Warhammer!
“I don’t really have much confidence in myself,” Rod said with a perfectly measured humble smile.
"If it weren't for that fortuitous encounter with that Titan Guardian, I'd probably still be just a poor kid who knows a few basic Holy Light spells."
“There’s no need to belittle yourself, Rhodes.” Uther’s voice was steady and sincere, even carrying the encouragement of an elder.
"Your experience is a thrilling legend in itself. To be favored by the Titan Guardians and recognized by the Holy Light is proof of your talent and character."
"I would like to ask, did that great guardian... entrust you with any special mission?" In Uther's view, given that the Titan guardian had bestowed such a precious treasure, Rhodes must be carrying out a significant task on this journey.
If he needs assistance, he and the Knights of the Silver Hand will do their utmost.
Rhodes met Uther's gaze, his mind racing as he weighed his options.
If there is a mission involved, this first paladin might actually lead the Silver Hand to help.
Should we ask the Silver Hand for help against the Burning Legion, or rather, find a way to increase our own strength?
Dealing with the Burning Legion is not realistic at the moment. The Knights of the Silver Hand do not have the strength to do so, and the Burning Legion has not yet descended.
However, increasing one's own strength is an option: find elite monsters... defeat them, and obtain wild resource rewards...
Where are the most powerful bosses and elites near Lordaeron right now?
Rhodes suddenly thought of Tyr's Tomb near Tirisfal Glades, where there were three artifacts and a powerful monster.
No, it's still the early stages of the Third War, and Miss Sarasta shouldn't have appeared in Tyr's Tomb yet.
This weapon will eventually be brought over by a priest from the Church of Twilight named Fashion, but that's something that will happen during the Legion's re-establishment period, and its current location is unknown.
So now there are only two artifacts inside: the Silver Hand Warhammer and the War Destroyer, the weapon of the first human emperor, Thoradin.
It's better that the Dark Empire Blade is gone; that weapon was incredibly sinister, and Rhodes doesn't want to take it right now. Of the remaining two weapons, one belongs to a paladin, and the other to a warrior.
Although the Silver Hand Warhammer is a holy paladin's artifact in the game, which is the healing talent, you would be very wrong if you think it has strong attack power.
This weapon is even more powerful than Ashbringer, after all, it is the weapon of Tyr, the Titan Guardian.
As for the other weapon, its symbolic significance even outweighed its actual power, after all, it was the sword of the first emperor.
However, in the world of Azeroth, there is no such thing as the inheritance of a king's weapon. Just because someone obtains Emperor Thoradin's weapon does not mean that he can inherit the throne of Emperor Thoradin.
After all, they don't even acknowledge Emperor Thoradin's bloodline, let alone take his weapon. However, this saves a lot of trouble. If Rhodes gets this weapon, it won't cause much trouble.
Rhodes was eager to see how Arthas's expression would be if the Silver Hand Warhammer were released ahead of schedule and obtained by Uther the Lightbringer. You think Frostmourne is powerful? Well, I'll show you something even better.
Rhodes's main target was the monster below the cave, the Faceless Zarkaz who drove the guardian Tyr to his death.
Taking down this guy will definitely yield a lot; I wonder what the wild rewards will be. I should increase my strength before heading to Kalimdor.
Rhodes decided to take Uther and the troublesome Natasha with him to take down this Faceless General.
Zarkaz's true strength was enough to force Tyr, who wielded the Silver Hand, to his death. He was definitely not someone Rhodes could handle now. However, after being sealed away for ten thousand years, his strength was not much left.
Moreover, thousands of years ago, Emperor Thoradin entered this place and severely injured this Faceless General with his weapon, the War Destroyer.
Even if he were resurrected, he wouldn't have much strength left. With the power of Uther the Lightbringer, plus his own and Jaina's, they would be able to kill him.
Besides Zakaz, there are other Faceless Ones and Shadow Creatures in Tyr's Tomb. These are monsters formed from the shadow power left behind after Zakaz's death. Some of the elite ones may also refresh wild resources.
After some thought, Rhodes decided to pull off something big.
“That’s right! Lord Uther, the Titan Guardian did indeed give me a mission, and the Holy Light also gave me a revelation. Coincidentally, the target is the same place,” Rhodes said.
Watch me fool you with holy light!
Jaina and Uther immediately became interested upon hearing this, and they both gestured for Rhodes to continue.
"First, there was that Titan Guardian. He told me that over ten thousand years ago, the Titan Guardian Tyr fought an earth-shattering battle against two powerful Faceless Ones in Tirisfal Glades..."
Tyr successfully defeated two Faceless Generals, killing one and allowing the other to escape. The slain monster was named Zarkaz, while the escaped one was named Kisiks...
"Later! After Tyr's fall, his fellow guardians built him a magnificent tomb and left Tyr's weapon, the warhammer known as the Silver Hand, there." Rhodes recounted this ancient story.
"It's an epic story. There are indeed records of this in human history, though they are vague and unclear."
"The reason we, the Knights of the Silver Hand, are called that is also related to Tyr's weapon. Rhodes, are you sure Tyr's weapon is there?" Uther asked.
"Lord Uther, the Silver Hand Warhammer is right there, and now I have something else to say."
The Holy Light guided me to say that over 2000 years ago, Thoradin, the first emperor of mankind, visited the Tomb of Tyr, when Zarkaz, the Faceless One general, was about to be resurrected.
The Emperor of Man sacrificed himself in the battle and successfully sealed the opponent, but now, more than 2000 years later, the seal has loosened. If nothing unexpected happens, Zarkaz will be resurrected in less than 10 years!
The Holy Light gave me a revelation, instructing me to find a powerful paladin to inherit the Silver Hand Warhammer, while the Guardian's mission was for me to destroy the monster called Zarkaz.
"I believe that among all the paladins present, the only one qualified to inherit the Silver Hand Warhammer is none other than Lord Uther," Rhodes said.
Uther was stunned by what he heard. He looked around at the terrain. Was this really a coincidence?
They are currently near Tirisfal Glades, about 5 to 6 days away from the capital of Lordaeron, but only 2 to 3 days away from Tirisfal Glades.
Could this truly be the guidance of the Holy Light, leading me to inherit the Silver Hand Warhammer?
Chapter 36: Heading to Tirisfal Glades, Draining Uther's Holy Light Magic Reserves
Uther remained silent for a moment, then made a decision. The Scourge was ravaging Lordaeron, and that fool Arthas had chased the Dreadlord to Northrend. Lordaeron was now in a precarious state.
Having a weapon capable of inflicting fatal damage on natural disasters is indeed crucial.
Not long ago, when the undead plague was still raging in the East Wilder region, the Silver Paladin Mograine, along with Iselion, Abidis, Duan, and Fairbanks...
In the inn in Southshore, they discussed how to fight the undead invasion. Mograine took out a Shadow Crystal he had captured during the Second World War and proposed the theory that light cannot exist independently of darkness.
They believe that the ultimate darkness is the ultimate light! Everyone should work together to purify this Shadow Crystal, filling it with holy light, and use it to fight the undead scourge.