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Within an endless expanse of pure white, Alastor floated before the Phoenix.
Even after the Phoenix had taken full control upon leaving Nurgle's realm, he had remained conscious of everything that transpired.
"What are you...?"
"Fire and Life incarnate. I am the Phoenix force."
The gigantic cosmic bird spoke in a surprisingly gentle tone as she regarded her Chosen.
"I don't understand. You're clearly not from this reality, so why are you interfering? And... why me?"
Alastor hesitated only briefly before voicing the questions that had been weighing on his mind ever since everything had begun.
"I wasn't. Well... not at first."
The Phoenix gazed across the endless white landscape as though her sight pierced countless dimensions and realities.
"My own reality has its own set of problems—the kind that would give even beings such as myself, as humans would put it, a headache."
"When my gaze first fell upon this universe—or, more specifically, this galaxy—my initial reaction was disgust after witnessing the state it had fallen into. And that was before I observed its countless possible futures."
"Honestly, had this not been a universe beyond my own multiverse, I would have simply burned this galaxy away and allowed new civilizations to arise in its place."
Alastor felt a bead of sweat roll down his forehead.
Judging by her calm, majestic tone, the Phoenix wasn't joking in the slightest.
If she truly believed destroying an entire galaxy was the best solution, she would have done so without hesitation.
"I had intended to leave matters at that."
"But then I was contacted by one of this universe's gods, who had also noticed me observing his reality."
"He goes by the name of Cegorach."
"The Laughing God?"
Alastor was surprised to hear that name once again.
Although he had never personally met either Cegorach or the Harlequins, he already owed them a debt of gratitude for helping convince the Night Elves to join the war early on.
Now he learned they had done even more.
"Yes."
"In short, Cegorach and I formed... a partnership of sorts."
"I could not enter this reality with sufficient power to accomplish what needed to be done while personally manifesting within it."
"So I chose another approach."
"Cegorach helped me search for suitable candidates."
"You were among them."
"And ultimately, you proved to be the most compatible choice."
"As your gestation pod traveled through both the Warp and the Void, I had already replaced your Warp essence with my own."
"Afterward, Cegorach guided your pod safely to Azeroth and secretly watched over you as you grew."
Alastor remained silent for a moment before asking another question.
"Then... you know my soul isn't originally from this universe?"
"I do. your point being?"
Alastor blinked in surprise.
The Phoenix continued calmly.
"While your soul may not have originated within this reality, your attachment to it has never been in doubt."
"In many ways, you were closer to a blank slate than most."
"As such, this universe naturally became the one you recognized."
Alastor quietly exhaled in relief.
"You mentioned that Cegorach watched over me and helped bring me to Azeroth?"
"Then what about the recent war?"
"If he was our ally, shouldn't he have warned me?"
"He would have." The Phoenix nodded as she explained.
"But those you call Chaos had also been making preparations long before the war began."
"And not merely through their mortal followers."
"One of those preparations involved ensuring that neither Cegorach nor another powerful entity would be able to interfere with the coming incursion."
"Who?" Alastor asked as his mind worked through the information. "The Emperor?"
The cosmic bird slowly shook her head.
"No."
"Concealing Azeroth from his gaze was not particularly difficult, especially considering its immense distance from Terra and the combined efforts of all four Chaos Gods."
"Simply know this."
"Even beyond him, there were other forces observing the war."
"Some merely watched."
"Others chose sides."
"Some became your allies."
"Others... your enemies."
Alastor immediately thought of the Scourge that had fought alongside Chaos, as well as Frostmourne and its sinister origins.
Then there were the Night Elves, the Naaru, and the Harlequins, each of whom had aided his side in their own way.
He understood what the Phoenix was trying to tell him.
He needed to keep not only his sword sharp, but also his mind.
There were powerful forces he either knew little about—or knew nothing about at all—that had been watching the conflict from the shadows.
Some had already begun moving their pieces.
Finally, he asked the question that mattered most.
"What do you want from me?"
"What am I now?"
"Your host?"
"And what exactly is your goal?"
"How is Cegorach involved in all this?"
"Balance." The Phoenix answered with a single word.
The white expanse dissolved around them.
In its place appeared the cosmos itself.
Galaxies.
Towering galactic clusters.
Nebulae.
Black holes.
Comets.
Countless stars and worlds stretched endlessly into the horizon.
The sight was so unimaginably vast that Alastor found himself speechless.
The Phoenix wasn't merely showing him the universe.
She was allowing him to witness a portion of creation itself.
It was magnificent, Beautiful, Terrifying, Awe-inspiring not to mention Humbling.
All at once.
"I am the nexus of all psionic energy."
"I embody the delicate equilibrium between life, death, and rebirth."
"My foremost responsibility is to preserve existence by burning away that which has grown stagnant and decayed, thereby allowing new life to flourish."
"In doing so, I ensure the natural progression of life... and evolution."
"This universe does not fall under my jurisdiction."
"Yet my very nature compels me to act."
"Especially when confronted with a galaxy that has become such a cesspit."
Alastor coughed awkwardly.
Embarrassing as it was, he couldn't exactly defend his home galaxy.
Even with only limited foreknowledge and simple logic, it wasn't difficult to conclude that the Milky Way had become an absolute dumpster fire.
"As for you, Alastor..."
"No. You're not my Host even we though you and I now share an exceptionally deep connection."
"If this were my own multiverse, I would have made you one of my Hosts."
"But because this is an entirely different reality, such an approach would leave you as little more than an incomplete Host."
"The channel through which I transfer my power would remain unstable, severely limiting your ability to draw upon it."
"So I adopted a different solution."
"When I replaced your original Warp essence with my own..."
"I effectively made you my progeny."
Alastor stared at her in stunned silence.
Surely he had misheard.
Because if that were true.....
"As humans would describe it..."
"You may consider yourself my child."
The Phoenix somehow managed to sound faintly proud of that statement.
Meanwhile, Alastor was experiencing what could only be described as a minor existential crisis regarding his increasingly bizarre family tree.
"...My family tree is starting to look very strange."
"Then you have never seen the Greek Gods."
"...Who?"
"You don't want to know."
For the first time since this conversation began, the Phoenix gave him an utterly serious look.
One that made it abundantly clear...
He truly did not want to open that particular can of worms.
Surprisingly, conversation flowed much more naturally between them once the initial awkwardness and overwhelming sense of majesty had faded.
Perhaps it was because they were, technically speaking, mother and son.
At least in a spiritual sense.
"Ah, yes. Cegorach."
"His goals happened to align rather well with my own, as a balanced environment would be far more conducive to the welfare of what was left of the greater Elven race."
"And that's actually working out for him?" Alastor quirked an eyebrow skeptically.
"Indeed."
"Far better than even he could have hoped."
"In fact, he himself was unaware that Lileath still lived, reborn as the mortal incarnation known as the Night Elf, Tyrande."
"And together, have we not also freed Isha from her captivity?"
Alastor's eyes widened.
With everything that had happened, he had completely forgotten about Isha after rescuing her, especially once he'd begun thoroughly introducing Nurgle to the business end of the Phoenix Force.
"Is she alright?"
"Where is she?"
He looked around anxiously at the endless sea of white radiance surrounding them.
"You need not worry."
A gentle pulse of Phoenix energy washed over him, soothing his emotions almost instantly.
"Isha is perfectly safe."
"She currently remains beside your physical body on Azeroth."
"And thanks to the nature of the White Hot Room..."
"...not even a single moment will have passed when you return."
Silence followed.
Alastor let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Then...
Another part of her sentence finally registered.
He slowly turned toward her with an incredulous expression.
"...The White Hot Room?"
Surely he had misheard.
There was absolutely no way this realm was actually called that.
Right?
She was an ancient cosmic entity.
He had expected something grand and majestic.
Something like The Eternal Crucible or The Heart of Creation.
Even the Realms of Chaos had names that inspired grandiose dread.
But this...
This sounded more like an industrial oven.
Or worse...
One of those suspiciously named rooms in an extremely questionable brothel.
As for how he knows-ahem-blame Rhonin for trying to bring him to such establishments.
The Phoenix suddenly thrust her enormous head directly in front of him.
She gave him a look that could only be described as mildly offended.
"Not."
"One."
"Word."
She emphasized each word individually before pulling back.
"The name is perfectly acceptable."
"I'll have you know that, at the dawn of creation, cosmic realms were given simple and sensible names."
"But then a certain Spider God rapidly ascended through the cosmic hierarchy..."
"...and decided to create a model of the multiverse that, despite being three-dimensional, somehow existed within five-dimensional space."
"Suddenly everyone became obsessed with his Web of Life and Destiny."
"And then they all started giving their domains absurdly grandiose names."
"It became one enormous cosmic contest to see whose realm sounded the most impressive."
Alastor simply stared.
One moment, the Phoenix had been calmly explaining profound cosmic truths.
The next...
She was ranting about what sounded suspiciously like cosmic office politics.
Honestly...
It reminded him far too much of his mother.
Specifically, the lengthy rants she would occasionally launch into after dealing with some particularly irritating dispute between nobles...
...or after chewing Llane out over one of his "stupid" decisions.
Recognizing the situation immediately, Alastor instinctively adopted the same survival strategy he had perfected over the years.
He nodded.
Frequently.
Enthusiastically.
Like an especially diligent woodpecker.
It didn't matter that he barely understood half of what she was saying.
Eventually, after what felt like an indeterminate amount of time, the Phoenix finally finished her rant.
She looked noticeably more satisfied.
Apparently pleased that Alastor had been such an "understanding" listener.
Apparently it didn't matter whether someone was mortal, immortal, divine... or even cosmic.
Some traits of women were simply universal.
"Sooo...Who exactly is this Spider God? Anansi, was it? Aside from apparently sharing authority over Life with you?"
"He is my consort."
Alastor blinked.
Somehow...
Her earlier rant suddenly seemed a great deal more understandable.
"Oh....Is he nice?"
"Yes. In fact I suspect that, if he ever met you...the two of you would become fast friends."
"And... that's a bad thing because?"
"That depends."
"Do you wish to spend the foreseeable future becoming involved in the endless absurdities that his Spider Totems invariably find themselves dealing with?"
"To say nothing of the Center Totem."
Alastor wasn't entirely sure what any of that meant.
But something told him that asking for further clarification would only open yet another cosmic can of worms.
Still...
He couldn't deny that the prospect of experiencing entirely new worlds—and the strange adventures that came with them—held a certain appeal.
The Phoenix grew serious once more as the endless white expanse dissolved around them.
In its place appeared a breathtaking view of the Milky Way Galaxy from beyond its borders.
"I have told you all that you needed to know."
"I have also revealed the purpose with which I now entrust you."
"To restore balance to this galaxy."
Alastor narrowed his eyes.
"And what makes you think I'm just going to accept your offer?"
The Phoenix regarded him with a knowing look.
"Because that is who you are, Alastor."
"Or rather...It is the kind of person you've always been."
"Your galaxy is engulfed in an age of turmoil, war, and endless conflict."
"Countless factions have already begun moving their pieces in pursuit of power."
"Chaos continues to encroach further upon reality with every passing age, seeking to transform existence itself into a grotesque parody of madness."
"And that is without accounting for the countless other horrors lurking within both the Warp... and the Void."
The vision shifted once more.
Now they looked upon Azeroth as it floated peacefully among the stars.
"But the greatest reason you will act..."
"...is because of them."
"Your world will inevitably attract the attention of countless powers, Alastor."
"Chaos has already stripped away much of Azeroth's anonymity."
"Whether driven by greed, fear, ambition, or simple curiosity..."
"They will come."
"And when they do, they will seek to claim your world for themselves."
"You will act."
"You will fight."
"And you will lead."
"You will do so to protect your people..."
"...your home..."
"...and those you love."
"And if, through those actions, you also restore balance and bring about the changes this galaxy desperately needs..."
"...then that is merely an added blessing."
Alastor remained silent.
What could he possibly say?
She had seen straight through him.
If he was being honest with himself, he had already made his decision the moment he opened that gate.
He wasn't even sure why he had asked the question in the first place.
Yet the way she answered reminded him so much of his adoptive mother, Taria.
Just like her it was as though she understood him better than he understood himself.
Then again...
She had already said that, in a sense, he was her son.
Perhaps she truly had been watching over him all this time, even if she had never revealed herself.
Alastor let out a quiet sigh before raising his head to meet her gaze.
His eyes were filled with quiet determination.
"You're right."
"I accept the responsibility you've entrusted to me."
"It may take years."
"It may even take centuries."
"But I'll do everything in my power to restore balance to this galaxy..."
"...or, at the very least, leave it a better place than I found it."
"You have my word. My word as a Knight and as a Prince of House Wrynn."
The Phoenix looked upon her Chosen with unmistakable pride.
The brilliance of her flames intensified, filling the entire dimension with a warm, comforting radiance.
"I know you will, Alastor."
"The blood flowing through your veins carries a great legacy."
"But it is my fire that now burns within your soul."
"Go forth, my child."
"Shield your home."
"Break your enemies."
"And let this galaxy remember what it means to witness the dawn."
"My fire shall always remain with you."
Eventually, the radiance became so brilliant that Alastor had no choice but to close his eyes.
Warmth enveloped him completely.
It felt less like standing within a cosmic inferno...
...and more like being wrapped in the embrace of a loving mother.
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The next thing Alastor knew, he had returned to reality.
He once again inhabited the Phoenix avatar, though the Phoenix Force herself had already withdrawn.
Even so, he could still sense a faint yet unmistakable connection to her deep within his soul.
Thank you...
He whispered the words silently through that faint but present link.
A gentle pulse of warmth answered him in return.
Alastor? Are you alright?
Isha's voice echoed gently within his mind through a different psychic link.
Isha!? Haha... am I glad to hear your voice. I hope you're alright.
I should be the one asking you that! I have so many questions, but... I'm simply glad to know you're safe. And I cannot thank you enough for freeing me.
What did I tell you about there being no need for thanks between us?
After everything we've been through, I think we're well past the point of owing one another favors.
Regardless, I shall remember it. This is not something I can simply brush aside.
Alastor smiled wryly.
Isha really could be stubborn when she wanted to be.
If that's what you wish, then I won't stop you.
Just promise me one thing.
Enjoy your freedom.
Because if I have anything to say about it... you'll never lose it again.
Alastor guided the Phoenix avatar as naturally as though it were his own body, soaring back toward the Isle of Quel'Danas before descending onto the Sunwell Plateau.
The gathered Alliance heroes tensed as the gigantic flaming phoenix descended toward them.
Only for it to slow.
Its colossal form steadily shrank before dissolving into a swirling vortex of golden fire that landed before the ruined Sunwell dome.
As the blazing flames gradually dispersed...
Alastor stood before them.
They should have been relieved to see him alive.
Instead...
They simply stared.
Apparently, before departing, the Phoenix Force had decided to give his wardrobe a rather significant makeover.
Even the most stoic among them couldn't help but stare in awe.
His armor had been completely restored.
Gone were the familiar shades of gray and black.
In their place stood brilliant white armor adorned with elegant golden accents.
Across his breastplate rested the image of a majestic phoenix with its wings fully spread.
A deep royal-purple hooded cape flowed behind him, embroidered across its back with an even larger version of the same phoenix emblem.
His eyes still burned with the radiant fire of the Phoenix, while Dawn rested calmly at his side.
Taken as a whole...
He looked regal, Majestic, Almost divine.
It was as though the Phoenix's majesty had not vanished with the disappearance of the avatar...
...but had instead been compressed into the form of a man.
Alexstrasza's pupils narrowed.
As the Life-Binder, she felt the purity of the life force emanating from Alastor more keenly than anyone else present.
Her instincts screamed at her to respond!
Only through sheer force of will did she suppress them.
Aegwynn, Tyrande, and Malfurion were equally astonished.
They could all sense that Alastor had undergone a profound transformation.
One that was almost certainly connected to everything that had just transpired.
Fortunately...
It appeared to be a positive one.
So they wisely held their questions for the time being, trusting that Alastor would explain everything soon enough.
The others could also tell something about him had fundamentally changed.
But what captivated them most was the sheer presence he now carried.
He looked less like a mortal hero...
...and more like a god who had chosen to walk among them.
Alastor, meanwhile, felt nothing but joy.
To him, it had been what felt like centuries since he had last seen any of them.
And after everything he had endured...
Simply standing upon solid ground that wasn't covered in blood, maggots, or countless other bodily fluids felt almost surreal.
It was good to be home.
"Oh? Are these your friends?"
Alastor froze.
Isha suddenly materialized behind him before looking curiously at the gathered heroes.
The Alliance champions blinked in surprise.
Standing beside Alastor was an unfamiliar red-haired elven woman whose closeness to him seemed... rather intimate and not like that of a friend.
Not to mention...
She was unfairly beautiful!
Even by elven standards.
"Sooo..."
"Al, care to introduce us before—"
Rhonin attempted to lighten the mood.
Only to stop mid-sentence.
He glanced sideways and found Alleria, Sylvanas, and Tyrande staring at the red-haired elf in complete disbelief.
Malfurion looked as though he were one heartbeat away from plucking out his own eyes just to make sure they weren't deceiving him.
Even Jaina, curious about the mysterious woman, became increasingly unsettled after seeing the elves' reactions.
She reached over and gently shook Alleria's shoulder.
"Alleria?"
"That...That...That..."
The eldest Windrunner repeated like a broken record.
"Oh... my fucking gods..."
Sylvanas muttered, genuinely wondering whether she was dreaming.
"By Nature's great balls..."
Malfurion stated with unusual eloquence.
"Lily!"
Isha suddenly recognized the familiar aura surrounding Tyrande's soul.
She instantly teleported over before wrapping the Night Elf in an enthusiastic embrace.
"You're here too!? This is wonderful!"
"We have so much catching up to do! So many things to talk about!"
"Gah!" Tyrande nearly choked under the strength of the goddess's hug.
"Y-Yes... it's wonderful to see you too..."
"But please let go before you accidentally snap me in half, Ish—"
"LADY ISHA!?"
A voice suddenly echoed across the plateau.
Everyone turned toward the newcomer.
Vereesa Windrunner had finally arrived after helping secure Kael'thas.
The youngest Windrunner stared at the red-haired goddess with open shock and reverence.
Hearing her name, Isha turned toward Vereesa before looking around at all the assembled elves.
Her face blossomed into a radiant smile.
"Oh, my little kin! I'm sorry I didn't notice all of you sooner."
"But it fills my heart with joy to see that my people still endure..."
"...that you still live."
While the elves busied themselves welcoming their newly freed goddess, Varian quietly approached Alastor with Anduin beside him.
Neither brother spoke.
Instead...
Varian pulled Alastor into a firm one-armed embrace.
Neither trusted themselves to say anything just yet.
Not when both felt dangerously close to breaking down.
When they finally separated, Anduin stepped forward and embraced Alastor just as tightly.
Words weren't necessary.
The embrace alone reassured each of them that they were truly alive.
That this nightmare was finally over.
"Brother...Thank Arda you're alright."
"You certainly gave us one hell of a scare, lad." Anduin tried to grin but it faltered due to the stress he felt at the thought of losing his surrogate son
Alastor could only offer them a tired, bittersweet smile.
Then something caught his attention.
His expression immediately hardened.
Without another word, he turned toward the ruined Sunwell structure and began walking.
"Alastor?"
Anduin called after him as he and Varian followed through the rubble.
Alastor remained silent.
He simply extended one hand.
With a surge of telekinesis, massive piles of shattered stone were swept aside all at once.
Beneath them lay the battered and broken body of Malak.
Somehow...
Against all odds...
He was still alive!?
Varian and Anduin immediately saw red.
Both instinctively drew their swords.
"That fucking cockroach just won't die!"
Anduin growled.
Before either of them could move, Alastor stepped in front of them.
Both looked at him in confusion.
"Trust me. He will die, But not on his own terms."
"And certainly not as a martyr."
Alastor calmly approached the barely conscious cult leader before giving him a light kick to turn him over.
Needless to say...
Malak had expected many things.
Seeing Alastor alive was not one of them.
"...H... How...?"
He barely managed to choke out the words.
The last remnants of his powers had somehow managed to keep him alive.
This man...
This man should have become Chaos's servant by now! The Dark Gods personally were handling him!
"Your gods failed."
Alastor looked down upon him with an expression devoid of warmth.
Combined with his transformed appearance, he resembled less a prince...
...and more a divine judge delivering sentence.
"They failed miserably. Just as you did."
"T-This...This wasn't my destiny..." Malak choked out refusing to accept the reality before him
"Your destiny was a lie."
"Just like everything Chaos promises."
"And everything it stands for."
Varian stepped forward.
Without another word...
He drove a brutal kick into Malak's head, knocking the cult leader unconscious before grabbing him by the leg and dragging him away.
"It's over."
Anduin let out a long breath as he sheathed Quel'Zaram.
"For now."
Alastor nodded.
His gaze slowly drifted upward toward the vast sky.
Or perhaps...
Toward the endless void beyond them.
"...For now."
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