Shadow Trails in Azeroth

“I’m back, Captain, but none of the bass were big enough today, so I put them all back in the river, and maybe we can have a different dish today.

During my time at the Temple of Storms, I learned to make a shrimp platter.

On the way back I bought a lot of shrimp from a friendly angler.

We are in for a treat today.

As the sound of joy sounded, Nat Pagle, carrying a small bucket, walked into the room with a smile on his face. He put his beloved fishing rod behind the door and diligently put the bucket of shrimps into the kitchen.

He rolled up his sleeves and planned to show off his skills to his captain.

Black walked out of the study with a dwarf pipe in his mouth, and Ms. Natalie Serling followed him. Nat, who was cleaning shrimps, paused when two footsteps approached him, but then continued busy as if nothing had happened.

Is Ms. Selling here too? That's great.

He looked back, showed a sincere smile to the person behind him, and said:

My mentor is a very kind man. When he was fishing with me, he learned that I came from the Eastern Continent and was a believer in the Holy Light. He has been discussing with me the similarities and differences between the teachings of Haitao and the blessings of the Holy Light. .

I didn’t understand those sacred scriptures very well. I only listened to the sermons of the pastors in Nanhai Town. Before encountering disaster, faith was just an embellishment in my life.

My scripture skills were simply not good enough to debate doctrine with my mentor.

But Ms. Natalie certainly can, and perhaps you would like to travel with me to Port Boralus, where my mentor is currently blessing the newly launched warships of Kul Tiras.

I believe that the two of you will be able to discuss these matters of faith very well.

You can debate doctrines whether you understand the scriptures or not, Nat. As long as you have faith in your heart and have your own understanding of your faith, then you are qualified to talk about this matter with others.

Natalie stroked the Void Scripture on her waist and said in a gentle tone:

You don't need to care about other people's evaluation of your faith, and you don't need to doubt your own path because of other people's words. How can faith be such an inconvenience?

But maybe before talking to your mentor, we could have a chat.

OK.

Nat did not refuse, he just turned around and said with a smile:

But I'm handling the ingredients and can't concentrate. I hope you don't mind.

it does not matter.

Natalie glanced at Blake, who took off his pipe and nodded to her. The black-robed ship doctor's fingers were gently clasped on his scripture.

She coughed and her tone became hoarse, as if some dark substance was entangled in her business, and her voice became muddy and unclear.

Surrounded by wisps of shadow-like void power, the priest who gradually entered the shadow form said softly:

Nat, tell me, what's the big fish you've always wanted to catch?

This voice contains a call of void power, mobilizing the mind magic that the Shadow Priest is extremely good at, allowing it to penetrate directly into the soul the moment the voice sounds.

Generally speaking, this method of casting is the starting point of the Shadow Word technique that Shadow Priests are good at.

Next, there will be a hearty mental whipping, and when the opponent is in agony, he will then follow up with a powerful mental blast.

If the opponent is not unconscious or dead due to severe mental pain, use another Shadow Word: Destruction or Shadow Word: Pain.

If the opponent can still fight after everything is like this, then we should consider using forbidden spells such as Shadow Demon and Vampire Touch.

However, today was for talking therapy, so Ms. Natalie's desire for aggression was not that strong. She just used this method to follow the captain's request to force out the real Nat Pagle.

This doesn't seem to be a matter of faith, right?

As a result, Nat took a Shadow Word spell and was completely unaffected.

The Haixian robe on his body was shaking due to the vibration of energy, and the shrimps he was cleaning in his hands were affected by the aftermath of the Shadow Word spell one by one, and he died waving the shrimp claws in pain.

But Nat picked up another shrimp in his spare time and said without looking back:

“I really mean no harm, ma’am, and neither does the captain.

I just want to thank you for helping me, and take up a little bit of your time to tell you about the prophecy of the tide as I understand it.

Something's wrong, step back.

Natalie whispered to Blake:

I'm going to intensify my efforts. You'd better close your mind.

Who are you looking down on?

Blake played with the dwarf pipe in his hand, curled his lips and said:

There is a slut sister who is a hundred times darker than you living in my heart. You can come in all you want. If I am frightened, I lose. Also, control it, this is not our territory.

It's hard to wrap up something big here.

Um.

Natalie nodded.

As Blake watched, masses of warm void originating from the depths of the shadow surged out and draped over Ms. Serling like a layer of black gauze.

The shadow was so dim, it seemed to be actively absorbing the light. When the gauze was completely covered, Natalie seemed to be wearing the dimmest hooded cloak, covering her robe, skin, and long hair on her cheeks. superior.

As she raised her head, a pair of purple eyes slowly opened on the cheek where the shadow was swaying.

Anyone who looked directly into her eyes seemed to be able to feel the call of madness in their soul.

Good guy!

This shadow form is almost complete!

At least compared to when Blake met Natalie, her shadow form was more complete and powerful. The penetrating combat mode in front of her might be more appropriately called void form.

After all, Blake, who was standing next to Natalie, could even hear the faint whisper of chaos.

Nat, don't resist, tell me, what's the big fish you want to catch?

The place where Natalie is is like the interface between the void and the material world.

As the Shadow Priest asked again, it was revealed that the magic that was previously just a shadow word spell had evolved into the induction of mind control, invading Nat's spiritual world with a cold malice of interrogation.

Stop!

Nat finally responded.

The shrimp in his hand was crushed by the fingers with protruding veins, and the sticky blood stained his fingers. He turned pale and retreated, fell to the ground, covered his head with his other hand, and let out a low roar. .

Hae Hyun's secret method is failing.

Something special was awakening in Nat.

He may have sensed a threat, or he seemed to have been summoned by the madness of the void. The false pretenses are being torn apart, and the truest Nat Pagle is emerging.

I won't hurt you, don't resist.

Natalie raised her hand, and a shadow phantom exactly like her was created from the entanglement of shadows, facing her body in all directions, trapping the retreating Nat in four directions.

The shadow priest crossed his hands on his chest as if praying, and the three shadow phantoms also did the same work.

At this moment, Ms. Serling's voice had turned into a quartet of shadows that could drive a coward crazy, and every sound would create waves in Nat's spirit.

One level was higher than the other, which caused extremely terrible psychological pressure on him, and also made the evil thing break out of its shell faster and faster.

Blake looked at the seeping scene in front of him. Something was tumbling under Nat's skin, and the blood on his arms had even torn open, revealing black fish scale-like horniness.

The smelly pirate felt angry in his heart.

His left hand lowered, and the Origin Moon Blade jumped into the palm of his hand. As a member of the Watchers, no matter what the creature in front of him was, it was a dark thing that he must hunt and imprison.

He asked:

Did Nat give birth to it? Or did Nat become it? What role did the Tide Sage play in this process?

Shhh.

In the void form, Natalie looked like a real African. No part of her body was white. She put on the void robe and made a silent movement, saying:

You'll know the answer right away, but he's really special.

Nat whined.

He may have begun to blend into the void, but Natalie made the void her home.

Their understanding of void is not at the same level at all.

Now faced with Ms. Selling's questioning and guidance, the dark things in the fisherman's body finally couldn't be hidden.

Amidst the low roar, the Nat stood up. He still maintained his human form, but another form formed during the gradual evolution of darkness had been exposed in front of Blake and Natalie.

Nat's lower body has been transformed into octopus-like tentacles amid the tearing of flesh and blood, dotted with rolling yellow eyeballs between the black horns and white suckers.

Those tentacles were like feet, supporting Nat to stand in place.

There were not many changes in his upper body. Except that his right hand grew fish fin scales and black barbs, and his left hand turned into a gloomy claw. Only his left cheek was covered by fish scale-like cuticle, and his left eye became a one-pupil. of fish.

A large mass of flesh and blood grew on the back of his head, like a small octopus with compound eyes opening and closing.

I didn't hurt anyone!

My only gratitude is to Mr. Black, who rescued me from the fears of a coward, showed me the way, and sent me into the temple of the sea.

It was also he who guided me to realize the true meaning of fishing!

fishing?

That's a little girl's game!

Nat waved his hands, trying to push back the shadow phantoms staggered in front of him, and he shouted:

I'm fishing for a big fish! It's hidden in the dark waterfall. I've seen it in nightmares, I've seen it in the night, I've seen it in the morning light.

It roars to devour my dreams and inject poison into my nightmares!

This is a war between fisherman and fish.

I'm waging my own war and I mean no harm to you! Let me go, I won't hurt anyone. Captain, I won't hurt anyone.

Those eyes were watching me, they were everywhere!

I have to stay away from you, otherwise those eyes will fall on you, which is not good. I know that all eyes will eventually open.

but not now!

Shut up!

not now! ! !

To be honest, the changes before them shocked both Natalie and Blake.

It's not because of Nat's ugly appearance. Pirates and dark priests are both well-informed people and will not judge the good or evil of a creature based on its appearance.

Just because Nat still maintained the ability to speak even in this situation.

Moreover, he spoke clearly, and he still maintained his sanity. Apart from being slightly frantic and agitated due to the guidance of the void, his mind was completely clear.

Nat Pagle! Wake up!

Blake and Natalie looked at each other.

He retracted the moon blade, mobilized half of the void power that Xalatath had left in his body, covered it on his palm, flashed over and grabbed Nat's collar.

He waved his left hand and slapped Nat's changing face.

Two void forces from different sources collided at this moment, causing Nat to scream and fall to the ground, but when he raised his head, the changes on his face had faded.

It just left a slap mark on the cheek.

Huh? Does it still have this effect?

Blake's eyes widened. He looked at his palms, which were glowing with light, and then at his feet, covering his face with a horrified expression of The captain loves me again.

He noticed the change in Blake's eyes and saw that the stinky pirate was eager to take action.

He seemed to have guessed what Blake was going to do.

No! I can control it, don't

Nat screamed, trying to show that he was conscious.

But who cares about this?

With a grin, he raised his fists and punched Nat at his feet. Anyway, in his current half-man, half-fish state, he probably wouldn't die from a mere punch or kick.

so.

Okay, don't take the opportunity to bully others.

A few minutes later, Natalie, who had escaped from the void form, stepped forward and grabbed Blake, who was fighting vigorously. At his feet, the bruised and swollen Nat huddled together and shivered like a little girl who had been tortured.

The Tide Priest's robe on his body was torn to pieces, and his arms and body were covered in blood, which looked very oozing.

But this wasn't what Black typed.

The pirate had been controlling the force as he punched him, and that force would never have caused Nat such serious damage.

This blood was caused by the skin he broke when he transformed just now.

Tell me about it, Nat 'Shady Fisherman' Pagle.

Blake breathed out a sigh of relief, looked down at Nat, and said:

Are you awake now? What's going on?

I've been sober, Captain.

Nat said aggrievedly:

Actually, you don't need to beat me. I haven't lost my mind. What I just did was just the 'enlightenment' I got from the dim night pearl after overcoming my fear.

Revelation?

The pirate tilted his head and said:

What revelation could turn you into that?

It's that fish! It's the fish-man that always appears in my nightmares! It lives by devouring dreams and is an evil thing. The Netherlight Night Pearl I got is its treasure.

Nat, who was bruised and swollen, danced and said:

It cursed me with that night pearl. I must catch it! I must fish it out of the abyss on my own, otherwise the curse will not fade away.

It would eat away at my sanity and eventually turn me into one of their own.

But my mentor taught me to use the wisdom and power of the Tide Sage to suppress this curse. I must recite the Tide Scripture every day to continue to suppress the curse.

That's what he told you?

Blake pouted.

He said to Nat seriously:

No, you poor thing. You are just borrowing the power of a big monster to deal with a little monster. You are typical of drinking poison to quench your thirst! I seriously doubt that this is the conspiracy of your 'mentor'.

The manner in which you spoke to me just now was completely the ravings of a lunatic who was deluded by Haichao's teachings. You still want to preach to me and let me listen to Haichao's wisdom.

Is this something a normal person can do?

Nat was also shocked after hearing this.

He hurriedly threw aside the blood-stained Tide Scripture in his hand.

Apparently, between his mentor and Black, he trusted Black more.

This action pleased the pirate greatly.

Then if you can't recite the holy scriptures, my curse.

Nat asked anxiously.

Blake glanced at Natalie and said:

My ship's doctor, are you interested in taking on an apprentice? You just saw that my fishing friend Nat was still sane after being infected by the void, and he also has the ability to have 'prophetic dreams'.

This is the natural talent of a shadow priest.

I'm happy to, but I need to examine his mind to ensure that he can step into a deeper and darker void without being affected.

The ship's doctor rubbed her chin and said:

In addition, he must seize the time to end the dispute between him and the strange dream-devouring fish. Before this problem is resolved, if he does not recite the Tide Scripture, then he will not be able to sleep well.

But since you call yourself a fisherman, hurry up and catch that fish!

It would be a shame for a fisherman to be defeated by a fish.