Azeroth: Starting with Eagle Eye in the Necropolis.

So what exactly is the anomaly that the Bronze Dragon King was referring to? Is it a person, an event, or something else entirely?

These things remain unknown. Azeroth himself needed powerful fel energy, and he also needed to ensure the timeline.

“Since you can go undercover, so can I. I’ve discovered that this green evil energy is indeed very powerful. Perhaps we can study this power,” Illidan said, looking at the fel altar in the distance.

If he cannot be accepted by these high elf mages and demons, then he will have no way to access the core. Since he doesn't quite trust Rhodes, the best way is for him to personally accept the power of fel energy.

Moreover, Illidan always had a feeling that those green energies were perfect for him, even more so than magic, and perhaps he was born to control that kind of evil green energy.

This feeling was so strange that Illidan even thought he was having a mental breakdown or being bewitched. But later, Illidan realized that accepting that power didn't mean he had to join the Burning Legion. He was always fighting for Azeroth, and as long as he stayed true to that goal, that was enough.

“We’re on the same page. I was just about to tell you about this. I’ve gotten to know Sargeras quite well, and I can take you to see him. We’ll see how you do then,” Rhodes said with a smile.

Illidan himself could deceive Sargeras, and Rhodes could go a step further and gain Sargeras's trust. As a Dark Titan, he also possessed some precognitive abilities, so he knew about the Prophet's Children, that the Children of Light and Shadow would end his Burning Legion and defeat his expedition.

Illidan was the one destined for him. Sargeras, upon discovering him, disdained to kill such a weak Illidan, so he transformed him with fel energy, wanting to break this so-called destiny. "Look," he thought, "your Son of Light has accepted fel energy, how can you defeat me now?"

“I am ready at any time. To protect Azeroth, and to allow my beloved Tyrande to continue living on this beautiful land, I am willing to make some sacrifices,” Illidan said.

“Then get ready, Illidan. I’ll take you to see Sargeras now. Remember, absolutely do not give anything away. No matter what I say, do not contradict me, understand?” Rhodes said meaningfully.

Next, I will offer Illidan, the true Son of Light and Shadow, to Sargeras to complete the timeline and give birth to the Demon Hunter.

“I am always ready, Rhodes,” Illidan said.

Rhodes nodded, turned and left Illidan's room; he needed to make some careful plans.

A few days later, Rhodes found a suitable opportunity to propose to Azshara that he bring a "promising night elf mage" to meet Sargeras, claiming that although the person was young, he had a unique understanding of arcane magic and a "strong interest and extraordinary adaptability" to more powerful forces (implying fel energy), which might add considerable combat strength to the Legion.

Azshara usually doesn't reject Rhodes's proposals, especially after witnessing Rhodes "teach Tichondrius a lesson." She felt that this advisor was highly regarded by Sargeras and had a methodical approach to things, so she agreed, only instructing him to ensure "initial screening of loyalty."

The initial screening of loyalty is not loyalty to Sargeras, but loyalty to him as the queen, or rather, to Rhodes himself.

Azshara is now already thinking about the future; after Sargeras's arrival, the entire planet will be ruled by fel energy.

At that time, he will also need his own stable team and subordinates. Edolas will always be his world, and Sargeras only wants the soul of the planet.

So, on another moonlit night shrouded in the green glow of fel energy, Rhodes led Illidan once again to that deep underground sanctuary.

Unlike last time, this time, in addition to the two Doomguards, several more High Elf mages, trusted confidants of Azshara, were recording energy data from a distance around the altar. Clearly, the construction of the portal had entered a critical stage, and the surveillance was much tighter.

However, Rhodes had already obtained permission from Azshara beforehand, and moreover, Rhodes himself frequently came to meet Sargeras, so naturally no one dared to stop him.

Rhodes easily led Illidan into Sargeras's summoning room and gestured to the Doomguards guarding the door, signaling them not to let anyone in. After entering, he set up a barrier to isolate the outside world, ensuring that everything was foolproof.

"No matter what happens later, stay calm and follow my lead, but don't appear too submissive. Show your pride and thirst for knowledge appropriately."

Sargeras admired sharp souls, especially those he felt he could 'polish' and 'conquer'. Rhodes whispered one last instruction to Illidan before stepping through the door.

Sargeras thoroughly enjoyed the experience, much like training a pet. During his interactions with Rhodes, Rhodes discovered that although this Dark Titan was born a true god, he was still somewhat inferior to a true strategist in terms of temperament.

The circumstances of their births were different. Sargeras was awakened by Aman'Thul immediately after his birth and followed Aman'Thul in establishing the Pantheon. His journey was smooth sailing.

Until the Void corrupted the soul of a planet, driving Sargeras to utter madness, this blow, frankly, was enough to make a warrior fall into depravity, which was quite astonishing to Rhodes.

Sometimes life is full of disappointments. If you are defeated by a little despair, that would be ridiculous. If you are a true warrior, after learning this news, you should fight back, even if it means dying in battle, instead of thinking about annihilating your own people.

Illidan took a deep breath, a resolute glint in his golden arcane eyes, and nodded. For Tyrande, for the nature cherished by his brother Malfurion, and for Azeroth not to be consumed by the evil fire, he had to step into this abyss.

“I’m about to begin. Remember, every word we say now is crucial.” Rhodes nodded and began summoning Sargeras.

The ritual resumed, the fel energy pool boiled, and Sargeras' avatar coalesced in the flames. The moment that massive, oppressive figure appeared, Illidan's body visibly stiffened—a natural awe on a spiritual level, and a rejection of the source of extreme evil and chaos from his soul. But he forced himself to steady his breathing, and like Rhodes, bowed slightly, but did not kneel.

"Rhodes, what would you like to talk to me about today?" Sargeras greeted Rhodes as soon as he appeared.

His interactions with Rhodes during this period greatly impressed him; the demigod possessed profound knowledge and advanced ideas. Rhodes proposed various development plans for the future of the legion, even outlining a concept for high-end combat capabilities. He believed that Rhodes should build a demigod-level army, rather than relying solely on low-level demons to fight against the Void.

We should eradicate them completely, find those planets that haven't been corrupted yet, those Void Lords wandering in the real universe, and then eliminate them.

Sargeras wholeheartedly agreed with Rhodes's statement. Rhodes was right; the Burning Legion's greatest enemy was the Void, and apart from himself and Apus, there was no one else who could fight the Void Lords.

Even most members of the Burning Legion struggled to deal with the Void Lords, let alone their subordinates, the ancient demigods, or even the Faceless Generals.

The strength of the legion is indeed uneven, and the combat power of the high command is still somewhat weak. I need an elite force composed of demigods.

Fortunately, Azeroth has a large group of demigods, at least a dozen or so, all of whom are invaluable talents. Sargeras has even made plans. After arriving in Azeroth, he will first deal with the Soul of the Planet, turning it into an entity like Argus, making it a member of his Dark Pantheon.

Once all this is settled, Sargeras will begin recruiting these demigods, bringing them all into the Burning Legion to ensure that each member's combat power is no less than Archimonde's. Only a squad composed of such demigods can hunt down the Old Gods on other planets, or even besiege Void Lords.

“Great Sargeras, as I previously reported to you, I have brought with me a native talent of Azeroth, Illidan Stormrage,” Rhodes stepped forward and introduced.

"Oh, you're going to recommend someone to me? I'd be very happy if it were a demigod."

"It's a pity that Lord Sargeras is not a demigod, but I think he is more valuable than a demigod."

He was an exceptional arcanist with an insight into the nature of power beyond his years, and... he was not content with the status quo.

He yearned to witness the broader truths of the universe. I observed that his eyes held not only the light of arcane wisdom, but also a primal desire to break boundaries.

"I think he might be worth your attention," Rod said.

“Is that the little guy over there? Lift your head and let me see you,” Sargeras said, turning his gaze to Illidan.

Illidan took a deep breath and also raised his head to look at the Dark Titan, their golden and green pupils meeting.

At first, the gaze was that of someone examining an interesting tool or experimental subject, with a condescending indifference. But just a few seconds later, the burning pupils suddenly contracted, and the fel flames churning around the avatar showed extremely subtle and unstable fluctuations, as if a pebble had been thrown into a calm lake.

“…” Sargeras fell silent, an unprecedentedly solemn gaze enveloping Illidan. That gaze seemed to pierce through Illidan’s flesh, looking directly into the deepest part of his soul, dissecting every magical echo and every trace of his life.

The night elf's eyes burned with intense holy light, not from an ordinary user of holy light, but from someone born with it.

This reminded him of an ancient legend, a prophecy of Zera, the Mother of Light, something he had always outwardly scoffed at but was actually deeply worried about.

Rhodes' heart tightened, knowing that the crucial moment had arrived. On the surface, he remained calm, even with a hint of smug satisfaction at successfully recommending a talent. In reality, he was fully focused on sensing every slight change in Sargeras' emotions and was ready to "add supplementary explanations" at any time.

“Interesting… very… interesting, hahaha, young night elf, your name is Illidan Stormrage?” Sargeras had clearly discovered something very interesting, and his tone of voice changed.

Rod smiled slightly, it seemed that Boss Sa had taken the bait.

"Yes." Illidan straightened his back, forcing himself to meet that terrifying gaze, his voice carrying the stubbornness unique to young people and the nervousness he tried to hide.

“I crave knowledge, I crave to transcend the limits that this well water can provide. Lord Rhodes told me that you are the true God of the universe, the great Titan of creation, who holds the ultimate truth of the universe. I want to follow you.”

“Truth? Hahaha, yes, I can grant you truth, I can grant you powerful fel energy.” Sargeras let out a low, enigmatic laugh that echoed through the hall, sending a chill down the spines of the Highborne recorders in the distance.

"You are... entwined with the threads of fate, faint but extraordinary in essence. You are a very rare talent, Rhodes, you have done well."

Regarding the Shadowchildren, Sargeras did not explicitly state that it belonged to the Burning Legion, a secret known only to him. This was because the Burning Legion had always denied this prophecy; to do so would mean the Legion's inevitable defeat.

Who could have imagined this attack? Azeroth was surprised by such a huge surprise. First, they discovered Rhodes, a demigod who could control multiple Forces, and then they discovered the Child of Light and Shadow, who might end their rule, completely destroy the Burning Legion's expedition, and ruin their plan to save the world. He was also the prophesied child of the Holy Light.

Things would get interesting if this prophesied child could be turned into one's subordinate, a general in one's own hands.

Look at this, Holy Light! The one you called the Son of Salvation, destined to defeat me, has become my subordinate.

When Sargeras first discovered that Illidan was the Child of Light and Shadow, he briefly considered killing him, but then abandoned the idea.

Who is he? He is the great Dark Titan Sargeras. He has no fear of the Children of the Light and intends to break the so-called prophecy. Legend has it that the eyes of the Children of Light and Shadow shine with golden holy light. If that's the case, he will break this legend.

"Light and shadow...it's a miracle, or rather, a malicious joke."

"The great Sargeras... Illidan possessed a rare quality. At the beginning, he was instructed to study life magic, but the demigod Cenarius rejected the system of life magic, so he began to learn the power of arcane magic."

However, after meeting him, I discovered something different. His eyes were golden, but unlike Azshara's, which was naturally golden, it was a mutation in his pupils.

"The gold in Illidan's eyes is the Holy Light power I'm familiar with, which is why I recommended him to you. I even wonder if he, like me, can wield multiple powers?" Rhodes said.

"Special? Heh, he is indeed very special." Sargeras's voice suddenly rose, carrying a mixture of excitement and cruelty at the discovery of a shocking secret.

He's more than just special! He's the 'Child of Light and Shadow' vaguely mentioned in the prophecy!

That 'Chosen One' whom the ancient relic of the Holy Light Legion, Zera, has been talking about for countless millennia! That 'Prophet' who, theoretically... should be on my opposite side, leading the laughable Holy Light Alliance to obstruct me!

Sargeras's tone was full of sarcasm and a predatory fervor. The enormous phantom avatar leaned forward slightly, the oppressive aura causing Illidan to turn pale and almost lose his balance.

"Fate has brought you before me, Illidan Stormrage. You have made the right choice." Sargeras's voice became alluring yet chilling.

Zera wants to mold you into a weapon against me? Ridiculous! A fragile balance is most easily broken. Light and shadow?

They are essentially one, and will ultimately all return to the great power of chaos!

Embracing evil energy will shatter this ridiculous fate and grant you power far greater and more real than that false 'destiny'!

The universe is still on my side; otherwise, why would it send the Child of Light and Shadow? As long as I burn away the holy light in his eyes, the prophecy will be proven false.

A cold smile appeared on Rod's lips. "What a pity, Mr. Sa. Your current state is similar to that of Xiong Ba. Have you ever heard of the saying, 'When the winds and clouds gather, the dragon roars and the world changes'?"

If you hadn't given Illidan fel power, the Demon Hunter wouldn't have been born, and your expedition wouldn't have ended. That's the terrifying thing about fate: when you think you've broken through it, you've actually been toying with fate all along.

"All I know is that my current power is insufficient to protect everything I want to protect. If you can give me greater power so that I can see the so-called 'truth' clearly, I am willing to pay the price."

“A good idea. Illidan, I admire you very much. You are a rare talent, just like Rhodes. Join me and I will give you the position of a high-ranking commander of the Burning Legion.”

"Unfortunately, you are different from Rhodes; you cannot control multiple Forces either," Sargeras said.

“Illidan Stormrage, I see the fire burning in your soul, a dissatisfaction with the status quo, a thirst for transcendence.”

The balance of light and shadow? That's nothing but shackles! Let me break them for you, and show you true power—the unbridled, all-consuming, all-reshaping ferocious energy!

Before he finished speaking, a pure and terrifying torrent of fel energy separated from Sargeras' avatar, transforming into a solid green pillar of light that surged into Illidan's head!

"Ahhhhhhh!!!" Illidan let out a shrill scream as Sargeras's fel energy struck his eyes.

That was not ordinary fel energy corruption, but a fel energy baptism personally guided by Sargeras, aimed at destroying the innate holy light within him and forcibly infusing and transforming his origin!

His eyes, those eyes that shone with a golden, holy light, burst forth with a blinding light the moment the fel energy was poured in. Immediately, the golden light clashed and intertwined violently with the green fel energy that was poured in. The intense pain caused him to kneel on the ground, his body trembling and convulsing uncontrollably.

Rhodes watched calmly from the sidelines. He knew that this was a crucial step in the birth of the Demon Hunter, a necessary part of history.

He could feel Illidan's body being violently torn apart, the traces of holy light becoming disordered under the impact of fel energy, but at the same time, a new, wilder, and more ferocious power was painfully being conceived.

The first thing destroyed was his eyes, which shone with primal holy light, and were slowly replaced by fel fire, causing Illidan to lose his original sight.

He was blind, but he saw something else entirely, and he saw it more clearly than when he had eyes.

"Suffer, struggle! And then, embrace this new life! When you get through it, your eyes will no longer see illusory light or shadow, you will see the truth—the flow of energy, the fragility of life, the cracks in the world!" Sargeras uttered cruelly.

Fel fire burned on Illidan, completely felifying him.

But deep within Illidan's soul, amidst the agonizing intervals of fel rampage, a sliver of longing for Tyrande, a yearning for the atmosphere of Azeroth's forests, burned like a candle flame in a storm, flickering and threatening to go out, yet stubbornly burning on, never to be extinguished.

This may well be the initial foundation for the future Illidan Stormrage, a complex, rebellious figure who always guards a certain belief in his own way.

Chapter 372 Boss Sa, I Need a Get-Out-of-Die Token! On the Eve of the Legion Invasion (Please Subscribe, Brother!)

With a burst of ghastly green light, Illidan's appearance changed. His eyes, which had originally shone with golden primal light, had turned green. His pupils and eyeballs had been burned away by the green fel flames, and two green flames seemed to burn eternally in his eye sockets.