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(A/N: Chapter 124 will soon be on Patreon!)
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After C35's shocking revelations, the gathered leaders and heroes were finally brought up to speed. The nature of the meeting expanded beyond discussing rebuilding and post-war recovery to also determining Azeroth's future moving forward.
Much was discussed, debated, agreed upon, and discarded until, finally, a very important topic arose.
What would Azeroth's stance and direction be once the planetary shields came down and they were finally able to venture into the wider galaxy?
A'dal had contributed by giving everyone a simplified overview of the current galactic situation. Since the Naaru were presently the only ones with extensive knowledge of the galaxy, aside from the Harlequins, his insight was invaluable.
Which had led to the current argument.
"Finding allies and partners would be the prudent course of action. Aligning ourselves with a faction whose goals are similar to ours would greatly benefit Azeroth." Daelin spoke, only to be immediately rebutted by Thoras.
"Spoken like a merchant! Daelin, when will you understand this isn't a business venture? From what A'dal has told us, the vast majority of the competing factions are driven by ambition and the pursuit of power, despite the threat of Chaos."
Alexandros rubbed his forehead in annoyance.
"And what would you have our people do instead? If our first instinct is to fight, then we're only feeding the very Chaos that is already consuming the galaxy!"
"Settle down, everyone!" Gelbin interjected as he tried to calm the increasingly tense atmosphere.
"All of you make valid points, but arguing won't solve anything. We need to reach a decision—or at the very least, a compromise."
Alastor watched somewhat helplessly as the meeting gradually devolved into arguments between people advocating vastly different approaches.
Ever since A'dal had painted a picture of the current state of the galaxy, based on what he and his brethren knew, tensions had steadily risen as different leaders supported different courses of action.
And that wasn't even the greatest problem.
The greatest challenge was deciding how Azeroth itself would be governed moving forward.
There wasn't a single person in the chamber who failed to realize that once Azeroth took to the stars, remaining a collection of independent kingdoms would be, at best, inefficient...
And at worst, a disaster waiting to happen.
In short, everyone would have to come together and establish a centralized authority that would not only represent Azeroth as a whole but also possess the full executive power necessary to act decisively on behalf of the planet.
Exactly what form that authority should take had yet to be decided.
Naturally, many rulers were concerned about what such a change would mean for their kingdoms, their cultures, and their people's way of life.
Alastor himself had also tensed slightly when A'dal mentioned that, on a distant world, there existed a powerful human warlord who was one of the strongest claimants for dominion over the galaxy.
It hadn't taken Alastor long to realize exactly who A'dal was unknowingly referring to.
The Emperor of Mankind.
No one present knew that Alastor likely possessed the greatest understanding of the Emperor, albeit through memories from his previous life.
Nor had Alastor ever spoken of him.
The subject was simply too sensitive.
Suddenly...
A warhammer slammed violently into the chamber's marble floor.
BOOM!
The deafening impact instantly silenced the room.
The marble cracked beneath the blow as spiderweb fractures spread across the floor from the point of impact.
Magni, who had already risen from his seat, rested his warhammer across his shoulder before confidently stepping into the center of the chamber.
"My lords... MY LORDS!"
"Here's what I have to say regarding the state of affairs."
Then, with all the refinement one would expect from a dwarf armed with a warhammer, Magni promptly spat on the floor in contempt.
His action drew a mixture of amused chuckles, disapproving frowns, and knowing smiles from those gathered.
"These so-called kings, warlords, and whatever ambitious cunts they choose to call themselves are nothing to me!"
"Why should they rule over me and mine from the comfort of their flowery seats? What do they know of war? Of suffering? Of resilience? Of honor!"
"I'd wager by the Maker's balls that most of those arses would rather stay far away from the battlefield while letting their armies grind themselves down for even a morsel of extra power or wealth!"
That elicited another round of dark laughter and amusement, especially with the way Magni painted the picture in his signature dwarven fashion.
But his next words caused everyone to pause once more.
"Why shouldn't we rule ourselves? Everyone out there is fighting for dominion over the galaxy. Why should we let any one of them rule us by proxy? What's stopping Azeroth from forging its own empire!?"
"And as for who should lead us through these times..."
"Do we truly need to ask?"
Magni turned and pointed his enchanted warhammer directly at Alastor, who looked back at him in surprise.
"There sits the only man I mean to bend my knee to..."
"The King of Azeroth!"
Magni bellowed as he dropped to one knee, slamming the head of his warhammer against the floor.
Alastor slowly rose from his seat, but before he could say anything, Genn stood as well, followed by several others.
"I'll have peace on those terms," Genn said gruffly as he drew his sword.
"Those bastards can keep their titles..."
"And their bloody egos."
He walked toward Alastor, followed by his son Liam and his right-hand man, Darius Crowley.
Stopping beside Magni, Genn drove his sword into the floor before kneeling alongside Liam and Darius.
"King of Azeroth!"
Varian was the next to move.
He met Alastor's gaze.
"Am I your brother?"
"Now and always?"
"'Til my dying breath and beyond..."
"You will always be my brother, Varian."
Alastor's unwavering answer brought a smile to Varian's face.
Without another word, Varian unsheathed Shalamayne, plunged it into the floor, and knelt, followed by Anduin Lothar, Mathias Shaw, and Gavinrad.
"I always believed you would have made the better King of Stormwind."
"But you were always too stubborn to accept the crown."
"Perhaps this is a fate more fitting..."
"And far more worthy of you, little brother."
"The King of Azeroth!"
Alonsus, Kael'thas, Gelbin, Thoras, and every other leader and hero present followed suit.
One after another, weapons were drawn.
One after another, knees bent.
All of them faced Alastor while proclaiming his newest title.
Their decision was unanimous.
Their trust absolute.
Their loyalty ironclad.
If there was any man worthy of bearing such a title—and the immense responsibility and power that came with it—it was the man who had repeatedly earned their respect through his character, his strength, and his wisdom.
Alastor looked upon them all.
Kings.
Heroes.
Commanders.
People whose decisions shaped the course of nations.
All of them now knelt before him.
Part of him had expected to feel the same unease he had always associated with kingship.
It was, after all, one of the reasons he had always rejected Varian's repeated attempts to convince him to become King of Stormwind.
Yet...
Although he still felt the familiar weight of responsibility...
It no longer felt crushing.
Nor suffocating.
In truth...
He realized it hadn't felt that way for quite some time.
He looked toward Jaina and Alleria.
Both smiled at him reassuringly, silently telling him that whatever lay ahead, they would stand beside him—as they always had—until the end of their days and beyond.
Vereesa and Calia offered warm, encouraging smiles.
Sylvanas merely smirked before rolling her eyes, as if asking whether he had honestly doubted she would have his back.
Tyrande gave him a solemn nod, though her eyes remained gentle and supportive.
Alexstrasza also nodded in agreement.
Yet, for the briefest instant...
A strangely intense look flashed across her face before disappearing just as quickly.
A chill ran down Alastor's spine.
It almost felt as though she wanted to attack him...
And yet...
He sensed not the slightest trace of hostility from her.
Thankfully, he didn't dwell on it for long.
His gaze eventually found Isha's.
She gave him an enigmatic smile before winking.
A moment later, her voice echoed gently within his mind through their connection.
"What are you waiting for?" Isha curiously asked within his mind.
"It's not every day someone is made king without any warning. Can you blame me for feeling a little out of my depth? I am mortal..."
"Well... mortal-ish."
Alastor replied wryly through their mental link.
"It amazes me," Isha giggled.
"You can reject the Chaos Gods at every turn without hesitation, yet at your core you're quite the shy man whenever you're praised."
"But you truly have nothing to fear."
"I can feel their emotions, you know."
"And what I feel tells me the same thing I felt myself..."
"You have won them over."
"Just as you won me over."
"You will be a great king, Alastor."
"What if I fail?" Alastor countered back.
"I don't want to let them down."
"They deserve at least that much."
"The fact that you worry about that..." Even with just her mental voice Alastor could feel her smile widening.
"Is answer enough of your worth, Alastor."
With that, Isha's gentle voice faded from his mind.
Her presence, however, remained.
Alastor closed his eyes for a brief moment before opening them again, now filled with quiet determination.
Drawing Dawn, he smoothly drove the blade into the floor before him and rested both hands upon its pommel.
"If you truly see me as your king..."
"Then rise."
"There is still much to be done."
"Preparations must be made for our voyage into the Void..."
"And toward the Sea of Stars."
"Rise!"
"A new era awaits us!"
And rise they did.
The grand hall erupted into thunderous cheers.
For the first time in Azeroth's history...
The world stood united behind its greatest hero.
Its greatest symbol of hope.
History would remember that day.
For with the masterstroke of the Phoenix...
The entire board of the Great Game had been reshuffled.
The future had become more uncertain.
The wars still raged.
But something new...
Something unknown...
Had entered the board.
And it had no intention of backing down.
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