"We shall purge the Shadow together, scouring the filth from this world to save the entire cosmos. Azeroth is merely the first world of your salvation; I will lead you to others, where you shall behold infinite knowledge and boundless power. We shall complete a grand crusade that reaches the very end of creation," Sargeras proclaimed with stirring fervor.
Who knew? Rhodes thought. The big boss of the Burning Legion, the Dark Titan himself, is actually an orator. No wonder he could persuade so many demons and various races to join the Legion's ranks; this old fellow's "Talk-no-Jutsu" was quite impressive. A pity you ran into me. This time, I'm going to fleece you until you don't even have your undershirt left.
A look of shock, contemplation, and a hint of struggle surfaced on Rhodes's face at just the right moment. He remained silent for several seconds, appearing to undergo a fierce internal conflict—a display of truly masterful acting.
The avatar of Sargeras waited quietly, a patient light flickering in his eyes of green fire. The more powerful the soul, the more magnificent the radiance when they were converted. Rhodes was proficient in the Holy Light and possessed a life-level at the demigod rank; once transformed into a Legion commander, his combat prowess might even surpass Archimonde's, making him a cornerstone of the Legion.
Sargeras was even prepared to bestow several planets upon Rhodes as his personal domains, building a base world similar to Argus. (In the grander scheme of the Legion's reach, while Argus was the headquarters, they possessed many base worlds of similar scale and military might.)
Finally, Rhodes looked up. The Holy Light in his eyes seemed to dim slightly, replaced by a stunned realization of the "grand truth" and a blurred longing for this "mission of redemption." Seeing this, Sargeras wore a satisfied expression. He had seen this look many times; he always knew how to make mortals understand their true purpose.
"I... I have never considered the crisis of the universe from this perspective," Rhodes's voice sounded a bit dry. "In my travels, I saw only burning planets and ruined civilizations... but if behind all of this lies a struggle against a deeper darkness... I did not realize that everything you do is for salvation, not mere destruction."
Rhodes took a deep breath, as if making a final resolution. "Great Sargeras, your philosophy... is staggering. If the Void is truly the ultimate evil lurking beneath the surface of Order, then your path... perhaps... is indeed necessary. Thank you for your invitation. I am willing to join your ranks, to contribute my part to this universe, and to repel the malevolent forces of Shadow."
"A wise choice, Rhodes. I knew you would agree; you possess a vision that transcends the mundane. Destruction alone is meaningless. What I wield is the fire of purification and reshaping, used to forge a truly eternal new order upon the rotting flesh of the Void. I am a Titan. Though I wield Fel now, I still lean toward Order. Once we defeat the Void, I will remake the entire cosmos. Life shall then flourish across the stars, and I shall establish an unparalleled world of order. You shall have the honor of witnessing it all," the phantom of Sargeras said.
"I am deeply honored, Lord Sargeras. Truthfully, I do not 'worship' the Holy Light; I simply utilize it. I firmly believe that only the physical is real. When I first encountered Fel energy, I researched it, but I found it too destructive to life, so I rarely used it." As Rhodes spoke, he raised his palm, manifesting a sphere of Fel energy that hovered above his hand.
With the Heroes of Might and Magic spellbook, Rhodes could wield all six primal forces, provided he learned the corresponding spells. During the Battle of Mount Hyjal in a different timeline, he had even obtained the top-tier spell Word of Chaos, though he had never used it. Perhaps during this invasion, he could try it out; he truly wanted to see the Legion's reaction to being chased by their own Infernals.
"You continue to surprise me, Rhodes. You are a true explorer of order and knowledge. You utilize powers without becoming dependent on them or subservient to them. This is quite different from the Light-users I have encountered before, and it explains why you haven't been 'assimilated' by the Light despite your strength. Let me tell you the truth: you think the Light is a benevolent force, but it is not. You have not seen its corrosive nature; in essence, the Light and the Shadow are no different."
Sargeras was clearly pleased that Rhodes could already manifest Fel. With a wave of his hand, he conjured an illusion of a serene planet. The entire world was golden, devoid of anything but the Holy Light. Every other force—Life, Shadow, Fel, and Order—was obscured.
"Behold the truth, Rhodes. This is a world I conquered centuries ago. It had been contaminated by the lackeys of the Light. They erased everything else. Only one energy remained: the Light. Anything that did not worship it was deemed a heresy to be purged. The Light is more cruel than you can imagine. Their power corrupts plants and animals; everything is 'Light-bound.' The entire planet exists in a state of holy zealotry. But this is a fallacy. It is no different from a world ruled by the Shadow, for if the Light wills it, it can turn all that gold into pitch-black shadow in an instant. This, you see, is contamination."
Rhodes listened intently. Sargeras wasn't lying; according to cosmic records, the Light could indeed be extremely radical and invasive. A "Light-bound" world was indeed a mirror to a Fel-corrupted one. Of course, Sargeras was no better—Fel-infected worlds were arguably more horrific—but Rhodes kept that to himself. Only Azeroth's concept of balance between the six forces was truly correct.
"That is terrifying, Lord Sargeras," Rhodes said, counter-bluffing. "I once visited a planet where 70% of the population followed the Light. In one city, the plants had been infected, turning into 'Light-bound' flora that attacked anything lacking the power of the Light."
"Exactly, Rhodes. That is the other side of the Light. It seems you have seen it, which explains why you sought to learn Fel. You have made the correct choice." Sargeras felt he had won over a great talent.
"Thank you for your grace, Lord Sargeras. I hope you will personally infuse me with Fel energy, so I may become a supreme demigod, join the Legion, and serve as a Commander," Rhodes said, nodding.
"I shall grant your wish, Rhodes. But verbal agreement is not enough. To be part of the Legion, to truly understand and master the great power of Chaos, you must embrace the Fel—not just as a tool, but by letting its fire burn within your essence. Let it merge and transform with your Holy Light to birth a higher power."
Rhodes was genuinely stunned. Wait, what? Merge Light and Fel? Normally, a recruiter would tell you to abandon your old power.
"My power comes from the Light; it seems to be the polar opposite of Fel. Forcing a merger... wouldn't that..." Rhodes started.
"Listen to me, Rhodes," Sargeras interrupted. "You are different from those other fools. I value you because, in addition to the Light, you possess powerful Arcane magic—the power of Order—and your life-level is already that of a demigod. To find one being who holds Chaos, Order, and Light simultaneously is rare indeed. Before I met you, I traveled the universe and found that while forces can be converted, usually embracing one means losing another. When I embraced Fel, the power of Order left me, even though it was my very origin. Archimonde and Kil'jaeden were powerful Arcanists, but that power vanished when I gave them Fel.
It is a fundamental law of the universe. Even Titans must obey it. But seeing you, I realize I was wrong. There are beings who can master multiple primal forces at once. So, Rhodes, accept the Fel, but do not abandon your Light or your Order. Perhaps you will go further than Archimonde or Kil'jaeden. I look forward to your future."