Chapter 10
1158words
Liora placed her palm against the surface of the core, sensing a gentle power that belonged neither to light nor shadow — it embraced the fluctuations of the six primal forces like flowing water, yet maintained its own distinct nature.
"This is not a threat," she slowly opened her eyes, her voice filled with awe, "it's the 'Seventh Force' naturally born when the six great primal forces achieve balance — the Force of Balance."
Kael's gold and purple patterns suddenly illuminated, resonating with the silver-gray energy: "No wonder I can control the balance between light and darkness, this power has been guiding me all along." He looked toward the core, "Morrigan's final energy beam didn't awaken the abyss monster, but accidentally catalyzed the awakening of the Force of Balance."
Valery's Sin Stele floated before the core, where the newly engraved words "The Redeemer Becomes Guardian" merged with the silver-gray energy. The surface of the stele displayed a holographic projection of Azeroth—soul rifts across various regions were rapidly contracting, the spirit seeds of the Shadowlands were rejuvenating, and the Kyrian's reception ceremony had returned to normal.
"It's the World Soul using the power of balance to repair the world," she said softly, "but this power is still unstable and needs our guidance."
Zik suddenly jumped up, pointing at the Kaja Vein remnants around the core: "My ore can serve as 'conduits' for the balance power! If we transform these veins into an energy network, we can distribute this power throughout Azeroth!" He pulled out his family journal, "My grandfather's blueprints contain a similar energy network design that he never got to implement!"
As the four of them embedded Kaja ore into the vein nodes, silver-gray energy rapidly spread along the veins, and the tremors in the Heart of the Earth Cavern gradually subsided.
Liora's bronze plate transformed into a golden light, merging with the runes on the core's surface to form an eternal mark of balance.
"This way, the Unbound Space can stabilize again," she sighed with relief, "the cycle of souls will return to normal, and the void will no longer be able to penetrate easily."
Upon returning to the surface, the landscape of Azeroth had completely transformed.
The rifts in Elwynn Forest had disappeared, with villagers rebuilding their homes in the wheat fields; the corrupted undead outside Silvermoon City had been thoroughly purified, with rangers planting new saplings on the ruins; beside the Kaja Vein in Andorhal, soldiers from the Alliance and the Horde were jointly building an observation post — once opposing factions now truly setting aside their prejudices, united by the call of the power of balance.
A week later, a cross-faction meeting was held at the ruins of Theramore.
Liora presented the monitoring data of the balance forces: "The pulsations of the Star Soul have returned to stability, with the closure rate of rifts in the Unbound Space reaching 99%. However, we must establish long-term protection mechanisms to prevent similar crises from happening again."
Elias signed the "Soul Safety Protocol" on behalf of the Alliance: "The Order of Pure Light will disband its extreme branches and establish a 'Balance Guardians' organization to share void monitoring data with the Horde."
Grom planted the Blood Oath Clan's battle axe beside the protocol: "The Horde is willing to open up mining rights to the Kaja Vein and jointly maintain the energy network."
Vereesa stood before everyone with the Silver Covenant's gryphon riders behind her: "We will rebuild the Celestial Observatory in Dalaran and train a new generation of mages who can master both light and dark magic."
She looked at Liora and the other three, "And you will become the leaders of the 'Rift Watchers', commanding the cross-faction guardian forces."
On the night of the celebration, fireworks made of balance forces bloomed in the sky of Dalaran, with six primal powers weaving a rainbow within the silver-gray radiance.
Liora sat on the terrace of the observatory, turning to the last page of her mentor's notes — where a portrait of her and her companions automatically appeared, with the words "Balance is not an endpoint, but eternal guardianship" written below.
Kael came to her side, his longbow entwined with silver-gray balance force: "I plan to return to Quel'Thalas and establish an energy balance academy to teach blood elves how to master the contradictory energies within them." He looked toward the distant Sunwell, "Perhaps one day, the Sunwell can merge with the balance force to become a new source of protection."
Valery's sin stele shimmered in the moonlight as she explained the path of redemption to young Venthyr: "Sin is not a burden, but a stairway to growth. Just as the Balance Force embraces the Primal Force, we must embrace our past." The sin stele suddenly projected scenes of Revendreth, where Denathrius's remaining forces were helping rebuild the anima reservoirs — they too had chosen the path of redemption.
Zik was busy at the observation station in the Kaja Vein, his modified device monitoring the energy network's fluctuations in real time: "Look at this! The Balance Force has given the ore new properties, capable of warning against any Primal Force imbalance!" He excitedly patted the control panel, "The safety of Azeroth will depend on these 'stone sentinels' from now on!"
Late at night, Liora came alone to the Soul Anchor near Andorhal. Silver-gray Balance Force flowed around the anchor, and she seemed to hear the whispers of the Worldsoul — expressions of gratitude and also entrusted responsibilities.
Suddenly, a piece of Kaja ore in her pocket emitted a faint glow, projecting a blurry image: the Jailer's iron crown floating in the void, yet wrapped in the power of balance, gradually transforming into harmless fragments of energy.
She smiled, clutching the ore tightly as she looked up at the starry sky. The new star, illuminated by the power of balance, now emitted a soft glow, lighting up every corner of Azeroth.
In the distance, Kael, Valery and Zik approached, and the four stood side by side near the anchor point, watching the sunrise slowly emerge.
"A new day begins," said Liora.
"And a new path of guardianship," Kael responded.
The silver radiance of the balance power showered upon them, merging with the golden light of dawn.
Azeroth's story has not ended, but this time, whatever challenges the future may bring, there will be a group of guardians transcending factions, protecting every heartbeat of this world with balance and unity.
Deep in the Unbound Space, a strand of silver-gray energy was gently embracing each soul, guiding them onto their own path of reincarnation — that was the gift Azeroth bestowed upon all life after the balance was reconstructed.
