"Preparing what?" Aiden asked.
"A game." Mu'sha used such a word, "Sargeras, the Old Gods, and you, the three of you playing a game in Silithus."
"Of course I'm not ready." Aiden answered matter-of-factly, "I only came to this world during the day, and before nightfall, I was forced to become a chess player in this game. My opponents have been scheming and preparing meticulously, even planning everything out long ago; while I don't even know the opponent's moves."
"This isn't a fair duel at all. I've already lost half of it before I even started," he answered with a frown.
"But at least you are still a chess player, aren't you?" Mu'sha retorted with inexplicable emotion, "While we—"
She didn't say the words that followed, but Aiden understood in his heart.
This Moon Goddess, in the setting, is the supreme god of countless worlds. Although she has countless names, they all share one will. She possesses unparalleled power and can even change the world, but this still cannot change a cruel fact—she and the mortals on the ground cannot control their own destinies.
They are confined within a framework and must act according to certain rules. Compared to those who understand the truth of the world—the Old Gods, the Titans, and Aiden before her—they all have their own clear purposes, and all their efforts are to achieve their goals. Yet, even though she is more powerful than many gods and Titans, she cannot change the cruel fact that she is merely a 'chess piece' in the hands of others.
Aiden suddenly regretted his previous actions—when he was waiting for resurrection in the Emerald Dream, he told Elune the "truth," although it was at her request, this truth plunged her into great distress.
It's clear that sometimes, a benevolent lie is also very necessary.
"I'm very sorry."
"No, no need." Mu'sha became calm again, "Actually, this isn't bad either, at least I know why Silithus has become a battlefield, and what Sargeras and the Old Gods want."
"You're not an Old God?" Aiden couldn't help but ask.
According to the legends of the Earth Spirits, Gohr and the other three Sun Gods are all Mu'sha's offspring, which means Mu'sha should also be an Old God—or rather, a primordial Old God.
"No." Mu'sha shook her head firmly, "I know you've heard some stories from my followers, but just like you told another me—Elune—this entire world, this game world, has only been born for over twenty years, yet we possess memories of hundreds of thousands of years out of thin air. These are inherently false, aren't they? Moreover…"
She looked at Aiden, "Whether it's actually true or not isn't that important. Even if the legends are true, the other four Sun Gods and I merely have a period of mutually verified memories." She smiled self-deprecatingly.
Mu'sha, or rather Elune, quickly accepted Aiden's initial statement. She fully understood her identity and situation, knowing that all her memories were compiled by the programmers who created this world. Stripping all this away, everything existing in this world becomes false—because all the things here, all the relationships, all the emotions, are actually built on a foundation of falsehood.
"During this time, I sorted out my memories and tried to look at everything from the perspective of people like you, who are beyond this world. Now it seems I've gained a lot."
The Moon Goddess paused for a moment, trying to put herself into the perspective of an observer: "I, my countless incarnations, including Mu'sha, Elune, Mu'sha, or other names, and ourselves, actually come from a place called the 'Material Library,' right?"
Aiden nodded.
Material Library—this is the setting collection of various things compiled by the programmers when creating this world. It includes detailed 'quantified' data such as characters, skills, personalities, levels, items, maps, buildings, power systems, backgrounds, and so on.
For example, the process of constructing Azeroth was the process of gradually adding 'materials' from the Material Library to the model of this planet.
"I noticed that I am defined as a 'True God,' a 'Moon Goddess,' and also an 'Ally of the Titans,' and so on. And after observing the Old Gods, I am certain that I am not the same as them. The Old Gods have no gender, but I do."
This alone can distinguish Mu'sha from the Old Gods. Aiden smacked his head; he was a bit muddled before and actually forgot this point.
That's right, the Old Gods have no gender.
But Gohr is clearly an Old God, so why is he Mu'sha's child?
Without him needing to ask, Mu'sha explained herself: "The relationship between me and Tarim, and the four Sun Gods, is actually just the conjecture of mortals. In fact, these myths are vastly different from the truth—Tarim was never my husband, and Gohr and the other three Sun Gods were never my sons."
Mu'sha first threw out such a subversive conclusion, then elaborated: "Silithus is just an unimportant link in the story framework of 'World of Warcraft.' It hardly appears in the 'players' line of sight, only appearing as a background story for the return of Turalyon and Alleria, so the settings made by the programmers are relatively rough. Since you told me the truth, I have carefully examined my memories and deduced for a long time based on some settings in this world, only then did I complete the full 'setting'."
Aiden listened carefully, but a sense of incongruity arose in his heart—it was as if the person speaking to him was not the Moon Goddess, but a "player" who had adventured in the game world with him and carefully scrutinized the plot.
These words did not sound like something an NPC would say. He realized that the Moon Goddess seemed to be somewhat detached from the "setting."
He didn't know if this was good or bad. He wasn't too sure.
"In the original setting, an ancient battle between the Old Gods took place in Silithus. One side was Tarim, the King of Mountains, who was the most powerful Old God in Silithus; while the other side was an alliance composed of Gohr, Sha'thyar, Y'shaarj and Jin, four relatively weaker but united Old Gods. The great battle between the two sides triggered the first great disaster. In that war, I was an observer. In the end, neither side was able to determine victory, and the war continued, only on a much smaller scale."
Mu'sha spoke of another script for Silithus's ancient "Four Suns," which sounded more terrifying, but surprisingly reasonable.
"After a long time, the Titans of the Pantheon came to this world. They were enemies of the Old Gods, and I didn't like these guys very much either, so I joined forces with the Pantheon and took action while both sides of the Old Gods were greatly weakened due to the protracted war. Subsequently, Tarim was killed, and the four Sun Gods on Gohr's side were also defeated. Gohr himself fell to the ground and was sealed under Mount Hyjal, while his three brothers were sealed in the sky, under my supervision."
"So Tarim and Gohr aren't father and son either?" Aiden was somewhat dumbfounded.
"Doesn't seem like it."
"Then Y'shaarj's current situation…"
"That parasite is helping it open the seal." Mu'sha stared at Aiden, "It's your man, are you still saying you weren't prepared?"
Aiden smiled awkwardly, feeling a bit guilty. However, compared to the original mythological version, where Y'shaarj was Mu'sha's son, Vek'nilash's actions were like a son opposing his mother, which made it even more difficult for him to face Mu'sha than releasing a prisoner who was originally an enemy. Now it seemed… barely justifiable…
"I guarantee, I didn't instruct it to do this, really!" Aiden raised his fingers and swore, saying with certainty.
"That's not important, I don't intend to pursue it either, don't worry." Mu'sha made a gesture to reassure him, "Even if you didn't come, someone else would release them. You and I are both very clear about this, aren't we?"
Aiden said, "So you're prepared to stand on my side?"
"I don't have any other options either, Lord Aiden."
That was also true. The Moon Goddess and the Old Gods were natural enemies, and there was nothing good to say to the Burning Legion either. Currently, only Aiden, who stood with the mortals, was her only choice.
"That's good!" Aiden's spirits lifted, and he immediately asked, "I want to know about Sargeras. Do you know what his purpose is in coming to Silithus?"
"Don't know." Mu'sha's answer was like pouring a bucket of cold water over Aiden's head.
He repeated in astonishment, "Don't know?"
"His identity is so special, how could I possibly guess his purpose? I'm afraid you'll have to investigate this matter yourself."
Aiden thought that after forming an alliance with Mu'sha, it would be equivalent to obtaining a True God-level cheat—but reality gave him a profound blow.
It seemed that he still had to rely on himself.
"However, I received a message from Elune that may be related to Sargeras." Mu'sha suddenly changed course when Aiden had almost given up hope for her.
"What message?"
"The Burning Legion is conducting an experiment in Reverse Karazhan, an experiment about mirror worlds. Sargeras had been preparing for it when he possessed Medivh, and later the demons restarted it." Mu'sha relayed the message she received from another self to Aiden.
"Mirror world?" Aiden muttered to himself. He became alert almost instantly and had a series of associations—he had come from Azeroth, and it was the self-destruction of the Twilight Dragon Dargonax that brought him from Reverse Karazhan to Silithus.
If all of this was premeditated by Sargeras, then sending Aiden here must be to prevent Aiden from interfering with what he wanted to do in Reverse Karazhan.
Aiden wouldn't underestimate himself. He knew very well that if anyone could stop Sargeras's plan, besides Aman'Thul, it would only be Aiden himself.
What was the most important thing Sargeras wanted to do right now?
He had considered it when he came to Silithus. One was to resurrect and master powerful forces, and the other was to completely resolve the crisis of the Void World.
Mirror world?
He suddenly became alert. Could it be that Sargeras wants to…?