Chapter 21

(WARNING. AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER THERE IS AN EXPLANATION)

(POV Of a handler hit right on the plan)

I had been totally fooled. Al'Akir planned everything, so much so that I did not expect his lack of final resistance. I'm sure he used Ragnaros to measure my ingenuity. How do I know, it is not hard to realize that someone who likes to plan like Al'Akir would make a plan where he involves the most powerful enemy, which we were supposed to suppress together and use him to measure his ally... My mistake was trying to plan with him, against Ragnaros. Surely it was his changing and chaotic mood that led him to make this plan against me.

*SIGH*

Anyway, I will soon be able to repay all this. I just have to wait and train, as I have always done.

While I was complaining about everything that happened, I was finishing the last pieces of Ragnaros armor. I decided to use the same style as in the game so I wouldn't kill my head by coming up with something awesome for "Ragnaros, Lord of Fire and Heavy Metal". His name, aptitude and voice are incredibly accurate for a singer of that musical genre.

Maybe I can make a music group of that genre and use magic for the performances, using the songs from the credits of Warcraft 3, the strategy game. Or maybe... I think I have an amazing idea, hahaha.

...

(Much later)

Finish preparing all armor and weapons for elemental lords and their most loyal and powerful subjects, such as elemental princes and lower ranks.

The appearance of Ragnaros and Neptulon changed slightly, because I used the style they had in the game. I added more spikes to Ragnaros using a different mineral that had a lot of fire element compared to the earth element, it almost looked like crystallized fire. That was the mineral I used for all the spikes. In addition, I made him a "crown" which was really just a pair of horns and matched the horns Ragnaros already possessed. The "crown" was on his forehead, so he now possessed 4 horns. 2 big ones, which are his original ones and 2 small ones, which are the ones on the "crown".

The effects of the crown should have a calming effect, but I see him still behaving the same way... His personality will not change easily.

As for Neptulon, I only added a hook with chains to his gloves. I was inspired by the tentacles I had on my hands that served a similar function. As for the weapon I made for him. It was a mixture of a crossbow and a trident. It possessed the 3 barbs that tridents possess, but further down are the 2 arc-shaped sides that are actually sharp blades that can be used as scythe sickles and generate a string if you wish to fire any spells, giving you more speed and strength if you charged the attack. In the middle of the weapon are a series of pearls that empower spells and can launch balls of compressed water or spears of ice. This is because of the way the internal structure of the weapon works. This means, that any being using it can use those attacks easily.

With respect to Al'Akir the change was not so great, as the lord of the air is clearly influenced aesthetically in the Middle Eastern assassins. Al'Akir's turban fulfills the same calming function that all the equipment that goes on the head of the elemental lords has. I made a weapon similar to the one I owned, which if I'm not mistaken is a Persian dagger or something like that. I made another weapon similar, but bigger, so this one is a sword. Finally, his sleeves can shoot hidden ninja weapons, made of wind or lightning. In addition to the small weapons that Al'Akir can devise.

I made Al'Akir's hidden weapons with the intention of combining the style of Middle Eastern assassins and the ninjas I knew from Japan. I thought it was fun. All of his equipment and armor I made from a unique mineral that looked metallic. It was formed in the dunes, as it was apparently a special grain of sand... The point is that it is a light, strong, sharp mineral that conducts lightning and wind beautifully. I think Al'Akir's weapons are the most balanced and sharpest I've made so far.

Finally, Therazane. She has no armor or weapon in the game. The only thing she owns is a necklace and it's some kind of skirt or something. Since she must be as tough as the earth itself, and I'm talking about all gathered into one, then there's no point in giving her armor. I know that she as well as the other elemental lords represent something cultural in my world. Therazane's case is that she represents the "Venus of Willendorf", so her apparent nudity makes sense.

Now, I will take my liberties to create what I consider Therazane should possess by following what he represents and linking him to another culture of my world, just as I did with Al'Akir.

I made a light brown Roman toga using the hardest mineral he gave me.

Anyway, I spun the mineral as a very fine mesh, so fine that it looked like thread. The ore he brought me was a kind of diamond, created deep in the earth under enormous pressures. I could only shape it with my skill and did not use my fire, since it was neither necessary nor useful to use it. In the end, this robe is stronger than armor, useful for storing energy and "light" so that it molds to Therazane's body. As decoration the robe had a brooch engraved with purple, orange mountains and some green stones that matched her necklace.

For Therazane's crown, I looked at the crown that Hera, the Greek goddess, wore. I made it with minerals of different colors, with a base of orange stones to match her eyes. Purple stones on top to match her hair and some green ones to give it a more elegant and beautiful touch. The function is to calm the mind as well as the rest. With this crown together with the toga, the horrible hairstyle that Therazane has changed.

Therazane's weapon is a mix between a scepter and a war hammer. I made it all with the ore he gave me. It's big even for a Tauren, but it's big enough for Therazane.

Having finalized the elemental lords' equipment, it didn't take me long to get to know the rest of the minions and put them together according to their own tastes. In the end, I would fight with them, and it is better for them to have respect for what I can accomplish than for me to antagonize them unnecessarily.

It took me about 1 year to do everything... I had to make some arrangements, before I was satisfied with everyone's equipment. I know it may sound counterproductive, but I have my own suspicions about the future.

In the end, what took me the most time was to fix Therazane's current style. I asked her to allow me to fix her hair, as the gown can be worn directly over her current "clothes". This allowed her hair to now fit without the need to cover her breasts. I must say that when I finished, Therazane looked prettier with a more reserved and mature hairstyle. The saying, "there is no such thing as an ugly woman, only a poorly sponsored one", is not a lie hahaha. Well, the saying has actually gone through some changes, but a groomed woman should look better.

With all the elemental lords and their minions, well armed and equipped, now was the time when I could start training. I am excited.

...

(Long After)

I have been training with the elemental princes less than before, as I have managed to improve my control of my elements and combine them. So now some of them are weaker than me. Others can barely hold their own against me and some are more powerful than me, but still can't do any real damage to me. Because of this, I have been training more with the elemental lords, especially Ragnaros. Why with Ragnaros, it's simple. I want to increase my power by adapting to theirs, plus my blessings change little by little with each elemental attack I absorb from them.

But all those battles have not been easy. Some are very frustrating. If I were to list who is most frustrating from most to least, they would be. Al'Akir, because of his fast attacks. His attack speed is so high, he can do chained attacks and combos... His lightning elemental attacks are very destructive, even though I can absorb them. Also, sometimes he simply dissolves into air and I have to receive his lightning attacks with no other choice.

Then comes Neptulon. Depending on the environment, it can be more dangerous. He usually turns the terrain into a large lake, or if we are in his territory, then we fight in the ocean. It is as frustrating as hitting the air with Al'Akir, and it is as fast and powerful in the water as the wind lord in the air.

Therazane is the third. Her constant attacks with huge stalagmites, or else she locks me in pits. She lifts me into mountains or crashes into me against huge stones... And all in a constant defensive game. When I finally manage to get close in a melee, a blow from his scepter can shatter my stone body. I am only held together by will, one that has been growing steadily in these battles, after sleeping for a short time...

Ragnaros is the least frustrating, and fights with him are usually epic, at least for me. His style of combat with strikes and fire spells is somewhat close to my style. His attacks still destroy my body, but at least I can return some attacks without so much trouble.

In the end I always end up, shattered and broken, burned, charred, melted, frozen and magnetized... which was a great discovery. And in general, my stone body is destroyed. Still, all this has other advantages besides the slight but steady increase of my power and blessings. I learn how to adapt and improve my body.

Lately I am trying to create some changes in my stone to make some attacks easier and more natural. Almost like adding air to fire to increase its temperature and strength. Or adding water to earth to form mud without me having to specifically create it.

A better explanation would be that I am trying to create what I would consider my final body. Spinning the elements of my body in such a way that there is a synergy of certain elements where I desire. The most problematic thing is trial and error. I have to constantly create my body and put it under pressure, then test it in combat and repeat. For now I have some parts of me that can be considered finished. At least until I figure out something that works better.

Luckily I can create the materials I want. Using as an example the materials given to me by the elemental lords, which are supposed to be the best minerals existing in their territories, imbued with their elements to the point that they can be useful, even for them.

...

(Long After)

Just when I thought I had finally found a good prototype that would guide the final shape of my body, the inevitable happened. I expected it to happen much later, if I'm honest. When I finally had an ideal shape and body ready to fight them. But time passes and waits for no one.

We all felt as a great darkness fell on Azeroth. I watched as great meteors fell, surrounded by black fire that corrupted the air in their wake... Darkness had come to Azeroth, with plans of domination and corruption. What was to come from now on, would be a new age of war and the inevitable end of obedience.

And me, I wasn't prepared...

Author's Note: I don't know if you believe me, but the end of this chapter caused me a "Déjà vu".

This chapter marks the beginning of the "Black Empire" in the WOW canon. It will take me some time to research, but I will try to update another chapter today. Just comment, the more comments the better, as every comment is a motivation to continue writing. Now, let's move on to the explanation of what had happened with the elemental lords.

FACTS: We have the protagonist acquiring a lot of power, so much so that his fire is corrupting him. It is to the point that the earth elementals do not recognize him as an ally, but as an enemy. This fact forces the protagonist to join one of the elemental lords in order to gain stability. As Therazane is someone with a philosophy of life that the protagonist shares, he decides to join her and obtain her blessing in the attempt. This in order to be able to keep his fire under control.

When he meets Therazane, the protagonist gets the first mission from the "GOD/DIABOL" who granted him the wishes and brought him here. (It was part of the deal with him).

Now, he can choose not to follow the mission or follow it and get a reward (only if he gets the blessings and fights them. Although the blessings part is optional).

Since it is in his best interest to get the blessings of the 4 elemental lords anyway, he decides to give it a try. This is where the whole plan begins. The protagonist in the middle of his explanation to get his blessing, decides to tell Therazane about the visions he has had, thus gaining his attention and perhaps his trust, as he wishes to fight against the darkness.

To convince her further, he decides to tell her his goals and swear to her that he has no desire to control the world, nor to rule over the elements. As it turns out to be true, Therazane believes him, despite knowing that he is hiding some things from her. For indeed, the protagonist seeks to do no wrong. Besides, he has helped his "children".

But in the middle of the explanation he gives to Therazane. The protagonist manages to increase his power over body control (YOU GUESS THIS, IF YOU CAN. OF COURSE IT HAS ITS REASON). But, even so, Therazane gives him her blessing with the intention of keeping him stable even though he can already achieve this on his own.

Then we see that Therazane decides to initiate an alliance with the other elemental lords. For the good of all. (This has a lot to do with my perception of the elemental lords, as I consider Therazane to be the strongest of the 4).

Then they meet Neptulon. This elemental lord is very "wise" because he is "distrustful". He is very wary of Al'Akir's trickery. So, although he believes the protagonist he hesitates, because he does not trust him. Still, in the end he joins Therazane because he knows the personality of the lady of the land and she doesn't play tricks. Plus he gets a good deal that only makes him more confident that something can happen. In spite of everything, he still doubts.

With 2 elemental lords on his side, the protagonist decides that the third to join would be Al'Akir. Taking advantage of the fact that the lord of the air surely heard everything they talked about (since the Kalimag language is understood by all the elementals). And at that time he had not received the blessing of Neptulon, so he does not understand the language of the water elementals).

He decides to talk to the air, as if he were talking to Al'Akir, to make a deal. One where he would give him weapons and equipment, in return he would get his blessing. Plus between the 3 of them they could suppress Ragnaros and force him to join, along with a few other things he was planning to give her to sweeten the deal even more.

When they go to meet Al'Akir, the lord of the wind had Ragnaros by his side. This makes us understand that he did not accept the protagonist's proposal, but that he has another plan.

The protagonist understands that he lost in his attempt to attract him, as he thought that with everything he decided to give him, he could attract Al'Akir. (You must understand that the lord of air has an intelligent personality, but as he represents the air and it is very changeable, then his mood can change constantly. His aggressive state is due to the low levels of the fifth element, which makes the elemental lord's aptitude more negative).

Now the protagonist must find a way to attract the elemental lords. But he is influenced by their fire and revenge burns in him. So, since Al'Akir indirectly denied his deal, he decides to make one with Ragnaros. This way they would still be 3 elemental lords and he could then pressure Al'Akir to join. This time asking Ragnaros for a favor in the deal he makes with him. The favor is unspecified, so he can use it on anything.

Ragnaros accepts and fights against the protagonist. This is because he wishes to test the protagonist, since one of the clauses of the contract says that he wishes to fight by his side in the war to come, but even more because he distrusts Al'Akir's real intentions in calling him. And because he also wishes to see how useful he will be in the future, for if he is powerful, he can use him to achieve his goals. In addition to its usefulness in forging equipment and weapons.

But Ragnaros is no fool (no elemental lord is. Mostly because they are very old and have dealt a lot with Al'Akir. So we can understand that Al'Akir's hard way of teaching works XD). So Ragnaros must lose to get even more power and armaments, because the weapon the protagonist made him is very powerful. Plus Ragnaros knows that it is because of Therazane's blessing that what he forges is so useful. Beating the protagonist would mean losing a surefire way to gain more power. Including arming his minions.

Once Ragnaros loses, he automatically becomes part of the alliance. Ragnaros accepts this, partly because he wants his new equipment and partly because he fears what is coming, even if he doesn't show it. (That's right, Ragnaros is a "coward". Why is this simple? The behavior of fire elementals is to hit the weakest and if they are losing, retreat. Ragnaros is the most powerful fire elemental, besides, in the WOW canon, when they are going to face Ragnaros in the dungeon, it is explained that he was cornered and they used magic to prevent him from escaping, by freezing the environment, turning it into stone. This means, that Ragnaros cannot retreat in case it is unfavorable to him. In the end he dies)

Now, Al'Akir planned all this with the aim of observing how reliable the protagonist is and how smart he is. In short he was curious how he would deal with the current situation. And also the lord of the air would not allow a minion to try to take advantage of him without being worthy of his powers, according to Al'Akir himself. (You must understand that the personality of the lord of the air, besides being chaotic, is a manipulative personality. But there is also talk that he is more honorable than Ragnaros, since he did not run when they invaded his territory in the sky wall in the Cataclyms patch. In the end he dies)

When Ragnaros loses, Al'Akir decides to voluntarily join them, only demanding the same as he has already given to the others and avoiding being pressured by the plan that the protagonist had against him.

Therazane accepts the deal, because he has no real reason to refuse them, he will give his blessing to the protagonist along with what the others have already discussed (to fight amicably against him and his strongest subjects as well) moreover, the protagonist is his "son", rather, subject. So he must obey Therazane.

In the end they laugh at him, not because they are bad, but because they know that he wanted to take revenge on Al'Akir, but he did not succeed because Al'Akir easily avoided him. They also laugh at the fact that he thinks it is so easy to plan against them, very old and experienced beings. Finally, Therazane could have accepted Al'Akir's conditions as a teaching to the protagonist. So that he doesn't think he can fool beings as powerful as them and plot against them just because he has power. (The protagonist didn't take into account that Al'Akir didn't really care about joining. For the protagonist thought he would resist joining, hence his plan to suppress him.)

The protagonist had just received the blessing of the wind. So understanding that besides being influenced by his elements (which is the only way to influence him for now) then this caused him to, not only increase the rage he already had because his plans didn't work out as he expected, but also to be laughed at. (Even though he tried to play with the elemental lords. His arrogance increased as far as I can see... dealing with such powerful beings of course has its own dignity and arrogance). This explains why it ends with him implying that his elements are furious as he is. This forms a cycle where he is enraged which forces his elements to also become enraged causing a feedback loop of his mind and body.

A sentimental explanation of the elements would be:

Fire is self-confident and courageous, seen in a positive light. The negative side would be, fiery hatred, arrogance and recklessness.

The positive side land has, which is calm, firm and honest. On the negative side (as explained with Therazane) is that it can hold a grudge for a long time and eventually explode violently.

Water, in a positive way is relaxed. Whatever your situation you will always find a way to flow and deal with the situation. It is intelligent but adaptable and learns from its mistakes. In a negative way you may end up crashing into a situation if you don't find a way to resolve it. His own vanity and confidence in his intelligence may lead him to believe that he can overcome obstacles by insisting.

Air has a cheerful positive side, he can see the positive in any situation, his personality can change and adapt to the situations he faces. His negative side is like a storm, his hatred may be fleeting and momentary, but if he holds a grudge he could explode constantly, going from serene to furious from one moment to the next.

Elemental synergies only increase these sentimental sides. An example. That of air and fire, or that of earth and water.

Finally, the protagonist is also influenced by the absence of the fifth element, which means that he is also in an aggressive state. And all this without him being fully aware of it. For he can control himself by his previous human mentality, but it still affects his current body.

QUESTION: How did the protagonist plan to use the other elemental lords for this to merit mocking him?

ANSWER: The protagonist tries to use the other elemental lords indirectly to suppress Al'Akir and get more benefits from him. Even though it is indirectly, they all know that he planned to do just that.

As I tell you, they are not fools and as the saying goes, "The devil knows better than the devil". None of them would allow you to use them, even indirectly, for your benefits.

I don't think anyone likes to be used and even less by someone they consider inferior, or consider their child or something like that. I repeat, they have their own arrogance.

Finally, you should know that the elemental lords were corrupted with the arrival of the "old gods", so their personality before being corrupted should be less evil and closer to a neutral personality.

Author's Note 2: I hope it is understood, if you don't understand, please ask. I will try to explain further.

I apologize if I did not know how to explain. And this explanation is 2k words long. Another chapter practically XD hahaha.

I encourage you to comment and express yourself freely, as long as it is not NEGATIVE. You can advise me, give me ideas and criticize me in a CONSTRUCTIVE way. We can all destroy, but only the wise can guide.